Issue 353 - July 20, 2005
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2067 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====
Welcome to the 353rd 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
We have finally had a break in the heat, even though it still seems hot. It
came at a good time as I had a evening full of sports tonight!
Tomorrow we are finishing our move of our data center we spoke of in
an earlier issue. We have four servers to move along with their various
UPS's, phone and network cables, back up drives and KVM connections. We are
going in to work early, and don't expect too much down time because of it.
Hopefully, Murphy's Law will
stay at bay.
Chris chris@pcin.net and
Graham editor@pcin.net
The NEWS
Corrupted PC's Find New Home in the Dumpster
Add personal computers to the list of throwaways in the disposable society.
On a recent Sunday morning when Lew Tucker's Dell desktop computer was overrun
by spyware and adware - stealth software that delivers intrusive advertising
messages and even gathers data from the user's machine - he did not simply
get rid of the offending programs. He threw out the whole computer.
Mr. Tucker, an Internet industry executive who holds a Ph.D. in computer
science, decided that rather than take the time to remove the offending software,
he would spend $400 on a new machine.
He is not alone in his surrender in the face of growing legions of digital
pests, not only adware and spyware but computer viruses and other Internet-borne
infections as well. Many PC owners are simply replacing embattled machines
rather than fixing them.
For more info:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/technology/17spy.html?ex=1279252800&en=5b2b6783f66a7422&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/19/corrupted_pc_s_find_new_home_in_the_dump
9-year-old earns accolade as Microsoft pro
A Pakistani girl has qualified as a Microsoft Certified Professional at
the age of 9.
Arfa Karim of Multan has officially become the youngest MCP in Pakistan,
and one of the youngest in the world. Karim, now 10, met with Microsoft Chairman
Bill Gates last week--an experience she later described as second only to
visiting Disneyland.
To attain the credential--at any age--a person has to display technical proficiency
in areas such as .Net, Visual Studio 6.0 and Windows Server 2003.
Karim got excited about technology, when her father bought her a computer--primarily
to use for e-mail, according to S. "Soma" Somasegar, a corporate
vice president in Microsoft's tools division.
For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/2100-10881_11-5793614.html
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/20/9_year_old_earns_accolade_as_microsoft_p
Who are the new computer whizzes?
Pop quiz: Which schools produced the most degrees in computer science in
2001? MIT? Carnegie Mellon? Georgia Tech?
If you guessed any of these, you're wrong: try Strayer University and DeVry
Institute of Technology.
And what kind of student is most likely to take up computer science at Strayer
or DeVry?
If you guessed a young geeky guy with a pocket saver, guess again: try a
35-year-old African American or Hispanic woman who already has a full-time
job at a company where information technology (IT) skills are a key to advancement.
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8420734/
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/20/who_are_the_new_computer_whizzes
How Google Maps Got Me Out Of A Traffic Ticket
In January of this year, I was pulled over by a traffic officer for "disobeying
a steady red", a.k.a. running a red light. I pleaded "Not Guilty" to
the charge, and today - nearly six months later - I went to court to find
out the fate of my ticket violation. Check out how Google Maps saved me some
serious cash - and points on my license!
Via Google Blogoscoped:
http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2005-07-19.html#n69
For more info:
http://www.gearlive.com/index.php/news/article/google_maps_helps_fight_traffic_tickets_07160942/
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/19/how_google_maps_got_me_out_of_a_traffic_
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
What kind of processor are you using?
AMD |
|
36 % (32) |
IBM |
|
1 % (1) |
Intel |
|
61 % (54) |
Motorola |
|
0 % (0) |
Other |
|
1 % (1) |
Total votes: 88 |
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
Planarity Flash Game
I can't remember where I found this, but Planarity is a very addicting line/dot
game. You have to drag the dots around (the dots are at the end of the lines)
so that none of the lines overlap. I can get past the first 3 levels, and
then give up on the 4th. The number of dots and lines (and therefore the
level of dificulty) increases each level. Check it out at http://home.cwru.edu/~jnt5/Planarity/
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/19/planarity_flash_game
How do I uninstall Microsoft Virtual Machine?
I found a link to these instructions in the latest issue of Windows
Secrets newsletter. It's a great newsletter. There is a free version,
as well as a paid version. There is no set price for the paid version.
You pay what you think it is worth. It is worth far more than I pay for
it. I couldn't afford to pay what it's worth.
Anyway, one of the articles was about some problems with the Microsoft
Java Virtual Machine. They link to a Sun Microsystems page with instructions
on how to remove the MSJVM. You can read the instructions at http://www.java.com/en/download/help/uninstall_msvm.xml
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/15/how_do_i_uninstall_microsoft_virtual_mac
Google Moon
In recognition of the anniversary of the first manned moon landing which
occured on July 20, 1969, Google has released a new product: Google
Moon. Similiar to Google
Earth and Google Maps, Google
Moon lets you view the surface of the moon and the locations of the six
US landings.
You can see a great amount of detail of the surface of the moon when you
zoom in all the way.
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/20/google_moon
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.
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