Issue 287 - April 14, 2004
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2177 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====
Welcome to the 287th 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
I hope everyone had a Happy Easter! I worked Friday, Saturday, and Monday,
but we still had a nice family dinner on Sunday. My sister Alisa came down
from Toronto with her husband Jason and of course everyone in town was here
as well. My Mom made fantastic ham. I just can't get enough! Saturday was Alisa's
32nd birthday, so we also celebrated that. Another sister, Julia, has a birthday
on the 19th. When you're 1 of 6 kids, with 3 of us married, and 2 of us with
kids, there are a lot of birthdays!
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Is the tech world partying like it's 1999?
"Stock splits? Bidding wars on handhelds? Free stuff? The tech world
is showing signs of having boarded a time machine set for 1999.
A resurgent economy and increased technology spending have revived--on a
small scale, at least--some of the gung-ho business tactics and giddy public
behavior of the dot-com era. While no one expects the blind optimism of that
era to return, many of the trappings are certainly back."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1030_3-5187609.html
Lindows changes OS name to Linspire
"Embattled Linux-based software vendor Lindows.com Inc. formally changed
the name of its desktop operating system from LindowsOS to "Linspire" on
Wednesday, after a two-year trademark dispute with Microsoft Corp.
The San Diego company said it renamed its OS (operating system) product in
an effort to end Microsoft's international legal attacks. The Redmond, Washington,
software giant has sued Lindows for trademark infringement in several countries
over the similarity between the Windows and Lindows names.
Despite court victories in the U.S. and other countries, a name change is
still necessary to counter Microsoft's strategy of suing Lindows around the
world, company Chief Executive Officer Michael Robertson said in a statement.
For more info:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/04/14/HNlinspire_1.html
Righting copywrongs
"While Canada's content creators pored over a controversial Federal
Court of Canada ruling that seemed to set ideas about ownership of intellectual
property on its head, Lawrence Lessig, Stanford Law School professor, author,
and influential voice for copyright reform in the United States, was out
proving that free downloads and fewer restrictions can be a creator's best
friend.
On March 31, the Federal Court ruled that sharing digital music files over
the Internet did not infringe on copyright rules. Some filmmakers, TV broadcasters,
authors, software publishers and other content creators wondered if their
work was still copyright-protected under Canadian law.
The ruling sparked a debate on Canada's editorial pages and Internet chat
rooms about the rights of creators to control their work."
For more info:
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040412.wxlessig12/BNStory/Technology/
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
How much do you pay for Internet access monthly?
$10 and under |
|
11.76 % (16) |
$11 - $20 |
|
11.76 % (16) |
$21 - $30 |
|
11.03 % (15) |
$30 - $40 |
|
23.53 % (32) |
$40 - $50 |
|
34.56 % (47) |
More than $50 |
|
6.62 % (9) |
Nothing, it's free |
|
0.74 % (1) |
Nothing, don't have Internet access |
|
0.00 % (0) |
Total votes: 136 |
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Updated Windows Registry Tips and Tweaks Article
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php
MySlideShow 2.3 by Anix Software Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/myslideshow.php
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
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Add details to Microsoft Office files
Most people just save their Word or Excel file without thinking much about
it. Sometimes they don't even bother to come up with good file names. Well,
if you are interested, you can provide more detail. With your file open,
choose the File menu and choose Properties. The summary tab alls you to add
basic information such as title, subject, author (most likely already filled
in), manager, and company. You can also add keywords. The Custom tab lets
you add almost any other property you can think of. Check it out!
Change column views in XP
In the "old" days of Windows operating systems, you could only
view name, size, type, date modified, and maybe attributes when you viewed
a folder in detail view. Windows XP lets you view much more than this. Right-click
on a column header when in detail view, and you'll see a long list of other
details you can show, including title, subject, comments, owner, track, etc.
Of course not all files will have all properties, but you can play around
and see what works for you.
The Subservient Chicken
"Visitors to the site will find a person in a chicken suit, standing
in the middle of what looks to be a somewhat ragged-looking living room.
Beneath the chicken is a box to type in your request for the chicken, along
with the slogan 'Get chicken the way you want it. Type in your command here.'
Input a suggestion into the box, and then wait to see if the chicken (or
person in a chicken suit) will cooperate. Start off by typing 'riverdance'
or 'throw pillows' and then let your imagination run wild. There are a lot
of things the chicken won't do (and that is probably a good thing), but SubservientChicken.com
is a fun distraction."
Read more about it at http://www.snopes.com/business/market/chicken.asp or
see it for yourself at http://www.subservientchicken.com/
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:
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.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author
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