|
Issue 167 - December 26, 2001
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2001
==== 2232 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====
Welcome to the 167th 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.shtml
Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.shtml
CONTENTS
OPENING THOUGHTS
Wow. Yesterday we woke up and there was no snow in sight.
Then at noon it started to snow, and it has been snowing ever
since. We've gotten around 15 cm (6 inches). It was nice sitting
down to dinner with Nanny, Dad, Mom, Lisa, Julia, Andrea,
and Brianna and seeing the snow fall. And for those interested,
our turkey turned out fine (our first one).
What did you get for Christmas, what did you give for Christmas,
or what did you do for someone for Christmas? If you have
anything you'd like to share, email me at editor@pcin.net.
Items with a technology edge would be preferred, but not necessary.
Lastly, I'm trying to clean up the mailing list a bit. If
an email address bounces 4 times, they are automatically removed
from the list. Unfortunately if mail is redirected, this make
it difficult to have them removed automatically. I have a
few addresses that have been bouncing for several months and
I can't figure out which email address is causing the problem.
So, I'm sending the newsletter out a little differently this
week. I don't think any of you will notice. But there is a
chance that I've messed something up, so consider yourself
warned. Next week I will send the list out the standard way.
Return to the top
The NEWS
20 factors that will change PCs in 2002
"Hot economies cool down and Net empires collapse,
but technology continues to move at light speed. Digital
tools are not only getting smaller, faster, and cheaper,
they're also insinuating themselves into every corner of
life. And these days they're as likely to be found in your
pocket as on your desk.
We've picked 20 trends and technologies that will have the
greatest impact on personal computing for business and home
use. We polled trend watchers, technologists, industry experts,
and our own editors to uncover the products that will change
how you work -- and possibly even how you live."
For more info:
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/12/25/pc.changes.idg/index.html
Microsoft sues Linux start-up over name
"The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant filed a motion
with the U.S. Court for the Western District of Washington
against Lindows, which is developing a version of the Linux
operating system that will run popular applications written
for Microsoft's Windows OS.
Microsoft contends the company, which plans to formally
release its product next year, purposely is trying to confuse
Lindows with Windows. The suit asks the court to order the
start-up to stop using the Lindows name and also seeks unspecified
monetary damages."
For more info:
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-8246647.html
Expedition to the lost net
"The global reach of the net is one of its greatest
charms.
But there are some parts of the net that no-one can reach,
parts that are cut off from even the most dedicated net
user either by accident or design.
A study of these lost sites by US researchers has investigated
the extent of the "dark net" and just what causes
a net address to fall off the map.
The study found that up to 5% of the net - potentially 100
million hosts - are completely unreachable."
For more info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1721000/1721006.stm
Return to the top
POLL of the WEEK
Visit http://pcin.net/polls/
to participate in the new poll this week:
For how long have you had a computer at home?
Return to the top
FREEHELP FORUM
Visit the PCIN FreeHelp Forum to post your questions or answer
others. Each week I highlight a question, and where to go
to get the answer.
Question
All was well until recently. I have not downloaded anything
that may affect my pc.
Firstly I noticed that the whole pc kept freezing up regularly,
whether working locally or on the net. The freezes first
then the whole pc goes!
Secondly, & more importantly, I cannot run CD-roms.
When I insert one, it says 'no CDROM found'.
The light works, the tray slides out & I can hear
it working away inside. So I try to check it in windows
explorer, it is not even there anymore, I look in 'My
computer', it's just not listed.
The 'A floppy' & 'c hard drive' is there but not the
CD-rom or the re-writer!!
Have I been virused?!?!? And, how do I fix it all?!?
Please..?? Anyone..??
Answer
No answer given yet.
Do you know the answer or have a suggestion? Visit http://www.pcin.net/cgi-bin/forum/index.cgi
and check out the Hardware Forum. Post your answer or post
a question of your own.
Return to the top
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Sonic Foundry SIREN Jukebox 2.0 Review
http://pcin.net/help/software/sj2.shtml
WE Compute Magazine's Cheap Tricks of the Week
http://pcin.net/help/articles/cheaptricks.shtml
(The entire collection is in Microsoft Word format and currently
has 100 tips and tricks. You can download the file from
here)
Windows Registry Tips and Tweaks
http://pcin.net/help/articles/registry.shtml
(The entire collection is in Microsoft Word format and currently
has 76 registry tips. You can download the file from here)
Return to the top
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
Cheap Trick of the Week
Serve Yourself
Windows 95 or 98 users can check what servers they're connected
to when they're online.
While connected to the Internet, click on the Start button,
Programs and MS-DOS Prompt. MS-DOS will open in a separate
window with the Windows directory showing. Just type netstat
at the prompt and hit Enter. After a few seconds a list
will pop up with the servers you are connected to and the
state of the connection.
Get your own copy of "The Little Black Book
of Cheap Tricks: 2001" by visiting http://www.pcin.net/lbbct/
SIREN Jukebox 2.0 Review
The market for media players has a lot to offer. Some programs
focus solely on audio, others on video. Then there are many
programs that try to do it all. Some people use the default
Windows CD player. Others use WinAmp. Others use any number
of other MP3 or CD players. I used to use WinAmp exclusively,
until I received my review copy of SIREN Jukebox 2.0 (SJ2)
by Sonic Foundry. Although not perfect, it is the best all
around media player I've tried to date.
The program has 7 main windows/tabs (I was able to test
all of them except for the Portable Player tab):
- Media Library
- Play/Rip CD
- Explore Files
- Internet Media
- Internet Radio
- Burn CD
- Portable Player
Read the full review at http://PCIN.net/help/software/sj2.shtml
Google's 2001 Timeline
Google has put together a timeline of the top searches
throughout the year. There are facts, as well as links to
search for the same things. Check it out at http://www.google.com/press/timeline.html
Fix Windows
This is a handy site that has some help articles for Windows
95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP. There are tweaks to optimize performance,
tips to avoid problems, and an email address to ask questions.
Check it all out at http://fixwindows.com/.
Return to the top
DISCLAIMER and OTHER
STUFF
PCIN is brought to you by PC Improvements. The opinions expressed
are those of the editor, Graham Wing. PC Improvements and
Graham Wing accept no responsibility for the results obtained
from trying the tips in this newsletter.
- If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you
may have to cut and paste.
- You can only win one contest every 30 days.
- To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit
http://www.pcin.net/ and follow the appropriate
links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.shtml
and be entered in a monthly draw.
- There are only 2 ways to get on the subscriber list. You
have either been subscribed by filling out a subscription
form on any of the pages on my site, or you have requested
FreeHelp from me in the past.
- If you have a web site or run your own newsletter, please
email me at editor@pcin.net and I will add it to the subscriber
web pages that I have on my site.
- Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.shtml
Return to the top
Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2001, PC Improvements and Graham Wing. All
rights reserved.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part,
as long as the author is notified and the newsletter is presented
as is.
Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.shtml
PC
Improvement News Home Page
PC
Improvement News Archive
|
