Issue 259 - October 01, 2003

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2104 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====

Welcome to the 259th 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

The web server switch went very well. There shouldn't have been any major interruptions for anyone. Everything should be working completely off the new server. The only thing I haven't been able to test is the newsletter mailing script. If you see any problems, either with the newsletter or on the web site, be sure to email us so we can fix it.

I finally have some pictures up. Visit http://www.wingfamily.ca/alisajason/20030920/ for pictures of my sister's wedding. Visit http://www.wingfamily.ca/evyjeff/20030922/ for pictures of us at a Toronto Blue Jays game. And visit http://www.wingfamily.ca/lisagraham/Andrew/20030901-30/ for some various pictures of Andrew.

I will be doing the review for iHateSpam Outlook Edition this week. I've been playing with it for several weeks. I get about 3000 junk emails a week, and the software filters my email with about 95% accuracy. The server version of the product has just won two Readers' Choice 2003 awards (Best New Product and Best Antispam Tool). Look for my review next week.

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

The NEWS

Librarians to P2P critics: Shhh!

"In a hotly contested lawsuit before a federal appeals court, two peer-to-peer companies are about to gain a vast army of allies: America's librarians.
The five major U.S. library associations are planning to file a legal brief Friday siding with Streamcast Networks and Grokster in the California suit, brought by the major record labels and Hollywood studios. The development could complicate the Recording Industry Association of America's efforts to portray file-swapping services as rife with spam and illegal pornography."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-5082684.html

Canadian hailed as father of PC

"Canada is the birthplace of the telephone and cellphone. Now it has been recognized as the home of another invention - the first personal computer.
It never made a rich man of its inventor, Mers Kutt, who still works with computers and ekes out a living from his Toronto house.
But the MCM-70 Microcomputer, unveiled by Micro Computer Machines 30 years ago today and built at least four years before the Apple, has been recognized as the first of its kind in a recent issue of IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, a respected journal based in the United States."

For more info:
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030925.wcomp0925/BNStory/Technology/

AOL launches kid service 'KOL'

"After 10 months in the making, America Online is set to launch a children's version of its service Monday, featuring a host of new welcome screens, a daily Internet radio show for kids, original online shows, a new Batman comic strip and a revamped Internet presence for teen and tween phenoms Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Dubbed KOL, or Kids Online, the service naturally borrows from a host of child-friendly AOL Time Warner brands in its stable, including Looney Tunes, DC Comics, Sports Illustrated for Kids and Time for Kids. In fact, the only content coming from outside the parent company are the Olsen twins, though alliances with other children's brands are expected to be formed later, said Malcolm Bird, the kids and teens senior vp at AOL."

For more info:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/972473.asp

Symantec: Viruses Becoming Faster, More Complex

"Symantec Corp on Wednesday said more intricate computer viruses are appearing at a faster rate, making it harder for computer users to guard against malicious software.
Cupertino, California-based Symantec, one of the top providers of Internet security and services, said in its latest Internet Security Threat Report that hackers are using "blended threats" that combine the capabilities of different types of viruses to carry out their attacks."

For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=3541526

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

How is your computer's power protected?

UPS 32.41 % (47)
Surge Protector 47.59 % (69)
Power Bar 7.59 % (11)
It's not protected (plugged directly into the wall) 11.72 % (17)
What do I need to protect it for? 0.69 % (1)
Total votes: 145

This Week's Poll

How many email newsletters do you subscribe to?

0
1-10
11-20
21-30
> 30

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

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PCIN.net FREEHELP FORUM

Visit the PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to post your questions or answer others.

Question

New machine AsusA7N8X with 512RAM 80gb HDD Plextor Premium Radeon 9600. Set up in Win 98SE machine will not close down completely cursor still flashing top RH corner and CDROM light still on. Set up Win ME same result. Set up Win XP Pro reluctantly and it closes down correctly. Problem is I want to run Win98Se or Win ME can anyone suggest where I start.

Response

No responses yet.

To post a response, visit the General Discussion forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=2 and click on the "Machine will not shut down ME|98se" topic.

Visit http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to post a question of your own.

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PCIN.net UPDATE

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

Logitech Cordless Elite Duo Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lced.php

XemiComputers Ltd. DeskLook 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/desklook3.php

Symantec Norton Ghost 2003 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ghost2003.php

Amic Games Email Saver Xe Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/emailsaverxe.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

International LEGO Users Group Network

LUGNET: The international fan-created LEGO® Users Group Network -- where LEGO® enthusiasts of all ages find information, meet one another, and share ideas. As an independent site by fans, for fans, it is neither owned nor operated by the LEGO Company.
Check it out at http://www.lugnet.com/

Learn Piano Online

Want to learn to play the piano? Check out these sites:
http://www.gopiano.com/
http://www.learnpianoonline.com/
http://www.pianonanny.com/

Spybot Search & Destroy

With all of the viruses, trojans, and worms that are out there these days, you may find that even after doing all you can to protect yourself, you still end up with problems. A great tool to help you look for things is the Spybot Search & Destroy utility. You can download it at http://www.safer-networking.org/
"Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove spyware of different kinds from your computer. Spyware is a relatively new kind of threat that common anti-virus applications do not yet cover. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you didn't intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if your browser start page has changed without your knowing, you most probably have spyware. But even if you don't see anything, you may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging that is silently tracking your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile of you that will be sold to advertisement companies. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm in trying to see if something snooped into your computer, too :)"

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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.

  1. If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut and paste.
  2. You can only win one contest every 30 days.
  3. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
  4. Recommend PCIN to others at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php and be entered in a monthly draw.
  5. There are only 3 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, you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past, or you have registered with the FreeHelp Forum.
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net

Copyright 1998-2003, 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://PCIN.net/donate.php

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