Issue 243 - June 11, 2003

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2240 Subscribers in 62 Countries ====

Welcome to the 243rd 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

Summer is almost here and the summer weather seems to be coming. It hasn't been unbearably hot or anything, but it is definitely getting warmer every day. I'm trying to get out and walk around a lot more, during my lunch and in the evening. It's just too nice to be inside.

Another week, yet another review. This week I finished a review for DeskLook 3.0 by XemiComputers Ltd. You may recall that I reviewed the DeskLook 2.0 product a few weeks ago. Well, the software has already been updated with a major new feature. Read The Tips and Other Stuff section for more, and don't forget to rate the review when you read it

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

The NEWS

RIAA Wrath Hits Teen

"On April 3, 19-year-old Jesse Jordan received a call that changed his life.
The freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., learned he was being sued by one of the most powerful trade groups in the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America.
Jordan, an information technology major, created ChewPlastic.com, the second most popular search directory on the RPI campus.
'You go to the site, you type in a search term, and it finds files on the network,' Jordan said. Jordan compares his site to Google, the popular Internet search engine.
But the RIAA likens Jordan's site to Napster, the now defunct song-swap service that revolutionized the distribution of music."

For more info:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/TechTV/techtv_RIAAvsteen030609.html

Intel's x86--25 years later

"Intel on Monday quietly marked the 25-year anniversary of x86, the basic architecture underlying the chips that power most of today's PCs.
Intel's first x86-based chip, the 5MHz 8086, was introduced on June 9, 1978. Earlier this year, the company passed the 1 billion mark for units shipped on x86 processors, a feat that might have been enough to prompt other companies to put up a tent and throw a party.
Not Intel, though. Instead of hosting an event, the chipmaker released a short statement by Pat Gelsinger, its chief technology officer.
Gelsinger said that 'the Intel Architecture (otherwise known as x86) has brought the benefits of digital intelligence to people around the world, making it the most successful computer architecture in the history of computing. Best of all, it continues to incorporate new innovations and enable new uses, promising to further transform the world of computing in the years ahead.'"

For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103_2-1014744.html

Patent ending to redefine graphic formats?

A patent underlying one of the Web's most popular graphics formats is set to expire later this month, raising the question of whether a rival, open-source format, created as a royalty-free alternative, will become obsolete.
The situation has also rekindled debate about patents, innovation and the freedom of communication.

In the U.S., the patent for the Lempel-Ziv-Welch, or LZW, compression algorithm expires June 20. LZW forms the basis of the popular GIF (Graphics Interchange Format).

For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-1014236.html

Dell Smells Gold in Computer Junk

"Taking several approaches to spur more recycling of old equipment, the PC giant now expects the effort to become 'a viable business this year'.
Dell Computer, the world's No. 1 PC maker, has sold millions of computers since its inception in 1984. And now it's trying to get them back -- at least the older ones. About 250 million computers will become obsolete by 2005, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and most of them contain nonrecyclable materials as well as toxins such as lead. Today, the bulk of aged electronics ends up in landfills, often contaminating water and soil."

For more info:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2003/tc2003065_6460_tc121.htm

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Do you have a personal web site?

Yes, my own domain name and site 15.45 % (19)
Yes, on a free "community" site (like GeoCities) 9.76 % (12)
Yes, with my ISP 13.82 % (17)
Yes, on my own computer as a server 2.44 % (3)
No, I don't need one 39.84 % (49)
No, I don't know how to set one up 8.13 % (10)
No, but I'd like one 10.57 % (13)
Total votes: 123

This Week's Poll

What do you use your personal web page for?

To learn how to build web pages
To share pictures with family
To share information about a hobby
To test pages before I put them on a better site
I don't have a personal web page

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

Windows XP has made a bad habit of shutting down the computer when i select restart the problem does not occur when i have made a clean install of windows xp but as soon as i install updates and any other software i have this problem. I'm 100% sure its something in xp cause if i boot from a diskette or cd i can restart the computer without fail.

Response

This often has something to do with power management. Check all of your settings to see if everything is set as expected.

To post a response, visit the Software How-To forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=6 and click on the "Xp Shutdown\Restart" 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:

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

XemiComputers Ltd. DeskLook 2.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/desklook2.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

XemiComputers Ltd. DeskLook 3.0 Software Review

Not too long before writing this review, I reviewed DeskLook 2.0. Both DeskLook 2.0 and this latest version, DeskLook 3.0 by XemiComputers Ltd. are system tray utilities that use desktop wallpaper to display data it reads directly from Microsoft Outlook. DeskLook 3.0 is pretty much the same as DeskLook 2.0 with one major difference; the desktop wallpaper that it creates is now "interactive". You can actually click on a task, date, or mailbox and have that item open up in Outlook.
Read the full review at http://PCIN.net/help/software/desklook3.php

Change Monitor Resolution

In a recent article in Windows and .Net magazine, it was reported that many people utilize lower resolution on their monitors, even though they have larger monitors capable of higher resolutions. To change your monitor resolution:
1. Right click on your Windows Desktop
2. Choose Properties
3. Pick the Settings tab
4. Slide the Screen resolution slider a little bit to the right (if possible)
5. Press apply (or OK)
You may be asked to restart you computer, or to test the configuration. If you are unhappy with the display, or it does not work, Windows will go back to the old display after 15 seconds.

Synchronize your system clock

Many computers do not keep very good time. One easy away around this is to use time sync software. This software will use your Internet connection to poll the time from one of many atomic time servers found on the internet. You can try Atomic Time Sync (http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/ats.htm) from AnalogX.com or you can try your luck with a search on Google (http://www.google.com/search?q=time+sync+software)

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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.

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  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.

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