PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 279 - February 18, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2197 Subscribers in 62 Countries ====

Welcome to the 279th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists mainly of news and tips. There is something for everyone, and if this is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something for you. If you give me two or three issues, I know that you will come back for more!

You can reach me at editor@pcin.net with any suggestions or comments.

Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php

Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php

CONTENTS

Opening Thoughts

So far this week, I've done absolutely nothing! Well, that isn't exactly true... I'm trying to do absolutely nothing :-) I'm on vacation this week. We're going away today to visit Lisa's parents for a couple of days, but other than that, it is just a break from working. We did plan on having a couple more reviews done but they aren't ready yet.

One thing I've been doing while I've been off is playing around with some borrowed photography equipment. Some of the photos have turned out fantastic! I'll be sure to post them for you to see later.

Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net

The NEWS

Spam rage drives some e-mailers to extremes

"Charles Booher was so mad, he did what others have longed to do: He told a spammer to stop - or else.
But the Silicon Valley tech worker went too far, prosecutors say. Last year, he allegedly threatened to shoot and torture an employee of a Canadian company that spammed him, court documents say. He also threatened to send a package 'of anthrax spores' to the company unless it removed him from an e-mail list, the documents say. The testicular cancer survivor was especially enraged at spam touting penis enlargements, he says.
Booher, 44, was arrested by federal agents in November and charged with eight violations of interstate communications. He acknowledges he "blew his cool" but says he wanted to be left alone. 'You're at the mercy of someone controlling your machine,' says Booher, who has pleaded not guilty."

For more info:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-02-11-spam-cover_x.htm

Obsolete already?

"Just a few months ago, Virginia Tech was using 1,100 high-end Macintoshes to enter the top of the supercomputer ranks. Now those same machines are being sold off as surplus goods.
That's because in January the university said it was upgrading its "Big Mac" supercomputer to use Apple Computer's rack-mounted Xserve. The system, also known as X, was built using the bulkier Power Mac G5, which was designed as a desktop computer, rather than as a supercomputing component."

For more info:
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040214.gtmacfeb16/BNStory/Technology/

Glitch IDs anonymous Amazon reviewers

"Many sign their names. Many don't.
They're the book reviewers on Amazon.com who use such words as 'masterful,' 'page-turner' and 'tear-jerker.'
But the ones who sign their critiques only as 'a reader from (fill in the city)' lost their anonymity this week when their identities were revealed on Amazon.com's Canadian Web site.
Among those named were authors who posted glowing reviews of their own work, apparently to boost sales."

For more info:
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/02/14/glitch.reveals.ap/index.html

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Which spyware detector/remover do you use?

Ad-aware 42.98 % (49)
Aluria's Spyware Eliminator 0.00 % (0)
PestPatrol 2.63 % (3)
SpyBot Search & Destroy 47.37 % (54)
Other 7.02 % (8)
Total votes: 114

This Week's Poll

How many software products do you use to protect against spyware?

1
2
3
4
5
More than 5
None
What's spyware?

You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/

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PCIN.net UPDATE

Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:

Anyplace Control by Anyplace Control Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/anyplacecontrol.php

Inboxer 1.1 by Audiotrieve, LLC Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/inboxer.php

Microsoft Outlook Add-Ins by MAPILab Ltd. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/mapilab.php

SnagIt 7 by TechSmith Corporation Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/snagit7.php

Icon Catcher 4 by Helexis Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/iconcatcher4.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Linux on a single CD

"MandrakeMove : move with Internet, Office & Multimedia in your pocket!
As a result of listening to customer needs, MandrakeSoft has created MandrakeMove -- a new product based on Mandrake Linux 9.2 that provides a complete personal desktop operating system on a bootable CD. Personal data and configuration settings may be automatically stored on a dedicated USB Key.
MandrakeMove lets you bring your Mandrake Linux system wherever you go, all on a single disc, so that you can connect to the Internet, create & edit Office documents, listen to music, watch movies, and just about anything you can imagine from wherever you happen to be!"
Check it out at http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/mandrakemove/

Don't forget the newsgroups

Usenet can be a great source of information when trying to solve a problem. There are many free Usenet readers, and some that offer more features if you pay for them. You can also use Google to read and post to Usenet forums. Usenet was the original Internet community.
http://groups.google.com/
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/

Kim Komando

Kim Komando has been putting on a radio show for some time, and her website offers many tips, Shareware reviews and a listing of Kool Sites.
Check it out at http://www.komando.com/index.asp

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PCIN.net AFFILIATED SITES

Both of us have other sites other than PCIN.net. These are all sites that we are actively involved in (they aren't client sites). Don't forget to check them out from time to time for updates:

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DISCLAIMER and OTHER STUFF

PCIN is brought to you by Graham Wing. The opinions expressed are those of the Editor, Graham Wing and the Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Graham Wing and Chris Empey accept no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this newsletter.

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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net

Copyright 1998-2004, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

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