Issue 279 - February 18, 2004
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ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2197 Subscribers in 62 Countries ====
Welcome to the 279th 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
So far this week, I've done absolutely nothing! Well, that isn't exactly true...
I'm trying to do absolutely nothing :-) I'm on vacation this week.
We're going away today to visit Lisa's parents for a couple of days, but other
than that, it is just a break from working. We did plan on having a couple
more reviews done but they aren't ready yet.
One thing I've been doing while I've been off is playing around with some
borrowed photography equipment. Some of the photos have turned out fantastic!
I'll be sure to post them for you to see later.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Spam rage drives some e-mailers to extremes
"Charles Booher was so mad, he did what others have longed to do: He
told a spammer to stop - or else.
But the Silicon Valley tech worker went too far, prosecutors say. Last year,
he allegedly threatened to shoot and torture an employee of a Canadian company
that spammed him, court documents say. He also threatened to send a package
'of anthrax spores' to the company unless it removed him from an e-mail list,
the documents say. The testicular cancer survivor was especially enraged
at spam touting penis enlargements, he says.
Booher, 44, was arrested by federal agents in November and charged with eight
violations of interstate communications. He acknowledges he "blew his
cool" but says he wanted to be left alone. 'You're at the mercy of someone
controlling your machine,' says Booher, who has pleaded not guilty."
For more info:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-02-11-spam-cover_x.htm
Obsolete already?
"Just a few months ago, Virginia Tech was using 1,100 high-end Macintoshes
to enter the top of the supercomputer ranks. Now those same machines are
being sold off as surplus goods.
That's because in January the university said it was upgrading its "Big
Mac" supercomputer to use Apple Computer's rack-mounted Xserve. The
system, also known as X, was built using the bulkier Power Mac G5, which
was designed as a desktop computer, rather than as a supercomputing component."
For more info:
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040214.gtmacfeb16/BNStory/Technology/
Glitch IDs anonymous Amazon reviewers
"Many sign their names. Many don't.
They're the book reviewers on Amazon.com who use such words as 'masterful,'
'page-turner' and 'tear-jerker.'
But the ones who sign their critiques only as 'a reader from (fill in the
city)' lost their anonymity this week when their identities were revealed
on Amazon.com's Canadian Web site.
Among those named were authors who posted glowing reviews of their own work,
apparently to boost sales."
For more info:
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/02/14/glitch.reveals.ap/index.html
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Which spyware detector/remover do you use?
Ad-aware |
|
42.98 % (49) |
Aluria's Spyware Eliminator |
|
0.00 % (0) |
PestPatrol |
|
2.63 % (3) |
SpyBot Search & Destroy |
|
47.37 % (54) |
Other |
|
7.02 % (8) |
Total votes: 114 |
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:
Anyplace Control by Anyplace Control Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/anyplacecontrol.php
Inboxer 1.1 by Audiotrieve, LLC Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/inboxer.php
Microsoft Outlook Add-Ins by MAPILab Ltd. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/mapilab.php
SnagIt 7 by TechSmith Corporation Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/snagit7.php
Icon Catcher 4 by Helexis Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/iconcatcher4.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Linux on a single CD
"MandrakeMove : move with Internet, Office & Multimedia in your
pocket!
As a result of listening to customer needs, MandrakeSoft has created MandrakeMove
-- a new product based on Mandrake Linux 9.2 that provides a complete personal
desktop operating system on a bootable CD. Personal data and configuration
settings may be automatically stored on a dedicated USB Key.
MandrakeMove lets you bring your Mandrake Linux system wherever you go, all
on a single disc, so that you can connect to the Internet, create & edit
Office documents, listen to music, watch movies, and just about anything
you can imagine from wherever you happen to be!"
Check it out at http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/mandrakemove/
Don't forget the newsgroups
Usenet can be a great source of information when trying to solve a problem.
There are many free Usenet readers, and some that offer more features if
you pay for them. You can also use Google to read and post to Usenet forums.
Usenet was the original Internet community.
http://groups.google.com/
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/
Kim Komando
Kim Komando has been putting on a radio show for some time, and her website
offers many tips, Shareware reviews and a listing of Kool Sites.
Check it out at http://www.komando.com/index.asp
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.
- If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut
and paste.
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be entered in a monthly draw.
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2004, 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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