Issue 315 - October 27, 2004
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2001 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====
Welcome to the 315th 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
It still seems like a lot of people aren't getting the newsletter for some
reason. Everything seemed correct, so I deleted the original list and recreated
it. Hopefully everyone is reading this now. I don't think many (if any) HotMail
subscribers received the last 2 issues of PCIN. And since only 14 people have
participated in the poll, I can only assume that there are many others who
haven't received them. PCIN gets sent out every Wednesday evening. If you ever
miss an issue, you can find them all at http://PCIN.net/archive/
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Macs do Star Wars dirty work
"Since 1977 the Star Wars saga has been followed by hundreds of millions
of viewers and grossed more than $3 billion.
Now the original trilogy is out on DVD, and the hype for this matched that
of the biggest Hollywood premieres.
Far away from the hype there is a back lot in Burbank, California, where
a lot of the hard work was done.
The 70 MB per frame of film requires an enormous amount of storage, and fortunately
there is an impressive 400 terabytes sitting just down the corridor.
The processing power is quite formidable too. The brains of the facility
are 600 Apple G5s, each a dual processor 2GHz machine.
For more info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/programmes/click_online/3945149.stm
Blue Screen of Death: Why your computer still crashes
"There's nothing like an untimely computer crash to ruin your day -
or at least ruin your reputation for keeping cool on a deadline. Crashes
can range from moderately frustrating application shutdowns and 'not responding'
pop-ups to the fearsome Blue Screen of Death, which brings your entire PC
to a complete halt. Even my supposedly robust Mac isn't immune to this sort
of fatal system failure. My machine has seized up at least once a week for
the past two years, covering the screen with a transparent panel that says
'You need to restart your computer' in four languages."
For more info:
http://slate.com/Default.aspx?id=2107471
Someone Hacked Into Purdue's Computers
"Someone gained unauthorized access to Purdue's computer network, prompting
school officials to urge all students, staff and faculty to change their
passwords.
'We have confirmed that some computer passwords have been obtained by unauthorized
users accessing a number of computer systems,' said Scott Ksander of Purdue's
information technology office."
For more info:
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1681860,00.asp
Ballmer: We need a $100 PC
"What's one of Steve Ballmer's biggest headaches? It's not Linux or
security breaches. It's piracy, the Microsoft CEO said Wednesday.
'The biggest problem we have right now is that people who should be paying
for software aren't,' Ballmer told an audience of technology executives at
an industry conference here sponsored by market researcher Gartner.
One way to stem piracy is to offer consumers in emerging countries a low-cost
PC, Ballmer said. 'There has to be...a $100 computer to go down-market in
some of these countries. We have to engineer (PCs) to be lighter and cheaper,'
he said."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1012_3-5419179.html
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Since not everyone got last week's PCIN, I am continuing last week's poll
for another week.
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:
Album Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Administrator's Pocket Consultant, Second
Edition Book Review
http://PCIN.net/help/books/w2kapcse.php
Remote Task Manager by SmartLine Inc. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/remotetaskmanager.php
Flash File Recover by PanteraSoft Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/flashfilerecovery.php
Email Saver Xe 2.0 by WinGuides Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/emailsaverxe2.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Google Cheat Sheet
I've seen this mentioned on several different blogs and web sites, but just
in case you missed it, be sure to check out the Google Cheat Sheet. It shows
you all the different searches you can do with various operators (AND, OR,
DEFINE:, SITE:, etc.) and examples for each.
http://www.google.com/help/cheatsheet.html
Computer Tips Technical Information Pages
"Welcome to ctips.com
The only stop for technical information related to the PC computer. You will
find brief descriptions of each technology, technical information, interface
pinouts, signal descriptions and more. We also have a large database with
links to most major manufacturers and other related material."
Check it out at http://www.ctips.com/
Happy Halloween!
Here are a few fun and/or useful halloween links:
http://www.halloween.com/
http://www.halloween-online.com/
http://www.pumpkin-carving.com/
http://www.holidays.net/halloween/
Of course you can do a search at your favourite search engine for more sites...
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.
- To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and
follow the appropriate links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php and
be entered in a monthly draw.
- The only way to become a subscriber is by asking. You have either filled
out the subscription form or asked me directly.
- 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://PCIN.net/donate.php
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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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