Issue 340 - April 20, 2005
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2045 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====
Welcome to the 340th 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
Chris and I visited Fun
House today on Clifton Hill. It's been around for quite awhile, and I
can't believe it! We had free passes, and even that probably cost too much.
They charge $7.99 to get in and it probably only took us about 10 minutes
to go through the place. I was not impressed. I'll have some pictures to
post soon.
You'll notice that in this issue of PCIN I'm trying something new. I'm including
a link to the permanent post from our PCIN.net Updates blog. That way you can
comment on stories. Hopefully this will allow for some more interaction among
the subscribers. We'll see how it goes.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Rumors Roll On Despite Apple Suit
"As Apple Computer Inc. prepares to release its latest operating system
at the end of the month, the same Web sites that the company is suing for
publishing details of its products are continuing to reveal more of its upcoming
product plans.
The company is currently embroiled in two cases against several Mac news
Web sites, including Think Secret, AppleInsider and O'Grady's PowerPage.
However, the legal actions have so far failed to stem the tide of reports
revealing details of Apple's future product plans, with both AppleInsider
and Think Secret giving early reports of preparations for Tiger's release,
as well as publishing details of forthcoming upgrades to the Power Mac and
iMac range."
For more info:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1786643,00.asp
Comment on the article:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/19/rumors_roll_on_despite_apple_suit
Alberta fee means rise in PC costs
"Each computer his company purchases may be as much as $30 more expensive
today than they were this time last year, but you won't hear Darren Ruhr
complaining about the premium.
Ruhr, IT director at Precision Drilling Corp., a Calgary-based contract drilling
supplier servicing the oil and gas industry, figures it's money well spent.
It's a government-imposed fee, new this year. The extra money is supposed
to support computer recycling efforts in Alberta.
According to the Alberta government, the $30 could go a long way to improving
the collection, dismantling and disposal of computer parts in the province
- pieces that could release harmful material (mercury, for example) into
the environment if handled improperly.
For more info:
http://tinyurl.com/anlse
Comment on the article:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/18/alberta_fee_means_rise_in_pc_costs
Encarta encyclopedia tests edit system
"It happens all the time: You read an entry in an encyclopedia or other
reputable source and think, "That's not right" or "They forgot
this!" Microsoft Corp.'s Encarta encyclopedia is testing a system that
lets everyone be an editor - in theory at least.
Readers can suggest edits or additions to entries, although the changes are
vetted by editors before they reach the page."
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7502883/
Comment on the article:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/19/encarta_encyclopedia_tests_edit_system
Prince Harry 'told to get with IT'
"Britain's Prince Harry, who is scheduled to start his army officer
training next month, has been told to brush up on his computer skills after
reportedly failing a test at the elite Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Col. Roy Parkinson, protocol officer at Sandhurst, said Friday that Harry
underwent a series of tests, physical and academic, to measure his strengths
and weaknesses ahead of his arrival on May 8."
For more info:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/15/prince.harry.computers/index.html
Comment on the article:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/15/prince_harry_told_to_get_with_it
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Who does maintenance on your computer (hardware or software)?
I do it myself |
|
85 % (78) |
A friend or family member does it for free |
|
7 % (6) |
A friend or family member does it for a fee |
|
2 % (2) |
I take it into a store and pay someone to do it |
|
3 % (3) |
I don't do any maintenance on the computer |
|
3 % (3) |
Total votes: 92 |
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:
VMware Inc. VMware Workstation 4.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/vmware45.php
PCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/
Sunbelt Software iHateSpam 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam4.php
Micro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.php
Album Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Microsoft Time Zone
Subscriber John Mood sent me this:
"Microsoft has published Microsoft Time Zone, which is free, installs via
an .MSI install file. It's handy when needing to keep track of time in more than
one time zone. It sits in the tray, and displays the time in up to five cities
when (left) clicking on the tray icon.
Handy, cheap, and seems rather innocuous amd light ram load. It has not caused
any apparent stability problems on my system. Duron 950 / 256M ram. I got
back about 1.75 megs when I quit the program from the tray.
Go to http://www.microsoft.com/ and search for Time Zone. Small too, less
than a meg download."
Comment on this tip at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/19/microsoft_time_zone
Multi-Desktop Software
"Subscriber John Mood sent me this:
I just found a very neat program that lets you toggle between two desktops,
you can put a different BMP as the wallpaper on the secondary desktop.
It's at http://www.fatfreesoft.com/ and
it's called Double Desktop. It's easy, low memory loading, and free to download
and keep.
There are several other really nice programs at Fat Free, a business card
program (keeps track of the info on ones you receive) and some other interesting,
useful, and fun programs. Most of the other programs are shareware, but the
web site is well done, and offers on line purchase options."
Comment on this tip at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/18/multi_desktop_software
You can reach John by email at john@chipspeaking.com or
visit his web site at http://www.chipspeaking.com/
Browser Helper Objects
It has been my experience that Browser Helper Objects (BHO)
cause the most problems on your computer. The problems are caused by 'spyware'
that hooks itself into Internet Explorer and then opens pop-ups or slows
down your computer whenever you run Internet Explorer.
To check what BHOs you might have installed, you can either use HijackThis! or BHODemon. These both
show you a list of all BHOs installed, and then you can choose to remove
or 'unhook' them. Even if you don't have any spyware installed, it
may be a good idea to run the software now so you know how to use it
in case you end up with a problem.
Comment on this tip at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/04/15/browser_helper_objects
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 1998-2005, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author
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