ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
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Welcome to the 361st 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.
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I've mentioned before Freecycle. It's a community-based mailing list where you can ask or offer items for free. You are recycling for free (hence the name). In my region there are several different lists. I subscribe to all of them, and get a couple dozen message every day. So far I've been able to give something away that someone was looking for. I've also received a set of sheer curtains, as well as a lot of garden plants. I think the whole thing is just a great idea. Instead of throwing things out, give them away. Instead of buying something unnecessarily, ask if anyone has it. Remember, one person's trash is another person's treasure!
On Friday I received an APC Biometric Mouse. It looks very cool and I will be testing it over the next week or so and will then post a review.
Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net
U offers nearly free Office suite
Students looking for free and cheap - not to mention legal - software have a new option on campus.
In June, the Board of Regents approved a three-year, $2.7 million software contract. As a result, students taking at least one credit can buy licenses for commonly used Microsoft products, in some cases for less than the price of a meal at a fast-food restaurant. The deal is good for students at any of the University's campuses.
Windows users at the University can buy a Windows XP Professional upgrade CD for $3.60 plus tax.For more info:
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2005/09/07/64987
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/12/u_offers_nearly_free_office_suite
Kodak's long road to the digital age
Steven Sasson knew right away in December 1975 that his 8-pound, toaster-size contraption, which captured a black-and-white image on a digital cassette tape at a resolution of .01 megapixels, "was a little bit revolutionary."
When anyone asked, the Eastman Kodak Co. engineer ventured that it would become a commercial reality in 15 to 20 years.
It would be a quarter century, though, before Kodak began to capitalize on Sasson's breakthrough: the first digital camera.For more info:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/ptech/09/13/first.digital.camera.ap/index.html
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/14/kodak_s_long_road_to_the_digital_age
Professional gamers draw big-name sponsors
Is "frags per round" going to be the batting average of the 21st century?
Professional computer gamers certainly hope so.
Players of Counter Strike, a popular title in competition at the U.S. finals of the World Cyber Games last week, count their prowess in how many enemies they can shoot to pieces, or "fragment," in a frantic two-minute round of virtual gunplay.
Time and demographics, boosters say, argue for videogame tourneys becoming the next big spectator sport in the United States, where more than 108 million Americans now play computer games, according to the Yankee Group.For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9329248/
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/14/professional_gamers_draw_big_name_sponso
The family room goes digital
For many Americans, the family room is where more living happens than the living room. Increasingly it's also the media room, the place where family and friends gather to watch movies and sports events on big screens or the kids hang out for video games. And perhaps most uniquely, it's also where the family watches its own media - family videos or photos that once sat on a shelf or in an album, but which can now be far more accessible for spontaneous viewing.
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9065084/
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/14/the_family_room_goes_digital
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Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
VMware Inc. VMware Workstation 4.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/vmware45.phpPCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/Sunbelt Software iHateSpam 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam4.phpMicro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.phpAlbum Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php
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Digital Camera Resolution
I have been asked several times what equipment I use, and what to look for in a digital camera. We'll start with the easy one, my equipment.My digital equipment consists of a Canon EOS 10D which is a 6.3 MP digital SLR with a APS-C sized sensor. My lenses are a Canon 28-80 EF III USM, Canon 75-300 EF III USM, and a Sigma 180mm macro lens. I also have other various equipment that I use with the camera. The two Canon lenses are from my previous film camera, though they work fine with the digital. The Sigma lens is primarily used for close up work. I also have a 2.1 MP Fuji point and shoot digital camera that I use occasionally when I don't want to carry around my larger camera and know I won't be printing larger than 4" x 6".
Now the harder part of today's tip, what to look for in a camera. There are several factors involved in buying a camera, features, prices, resolution. Today I will discuss resolution.
There is a very big push these days for cameras with higher resolution (more megapixels). This alone should not be a deciding factor in your purchase of a camera. For most people, camera resolution should not make much difference. I'll explain why.
Your image is made of pixels, or dots. The number of pixels in an image determine how fine detail can be in the printed photo. The more the better, up to a point. A 4" x 6" print when printed at 300 DPI (dots per inch) needs a total of 1200 pixels x 1800 pixels to print, which work out to be just over 2.1 million pixels (2.1 megapixels). At that printed resolution (300 DPI) you can easily print up to a 6" x 8" print with a 5 MP camera. However, photos printed at a commercial lab (or even a big box or drug store lab) will look just fine printed at resolutions as low as 180 or even 150 DPI. At 180 DPI, a 5 MP camera will allow you to print an 11" x 14" print, and at 150 dpi, a 12" x 18 " print. So, how large do you really need to print? Most people I talk to rarely print larger than an 8" x 10" print, and even then that is only occasionally. The table below summarizes the various print size and the MP needed to print at that resolution. My recommendation is to use 180 DPI as your guide to ensure better photos.
Camera Megapixels Needed
Print Size | 180 DPI |
150 DPI |
4 x 6 | .78 |
.54 |
5 x 7 | 1.1 |
.79 |
6 x 8 | 1.6 |
1.08 |
8 x 10 | 2.6 |
1.8 |
11 x 14 | 5.0 |
3.5 |
12 x 18 | 7.0 |
4.8 |
16 x 20 | 10.4 |
7.2 |
I have checked a few of the large online photo printers, KodakGallery.com, Snapfish.com, iprintfromhome.com, walmartphotocenter.ca, and photolab.ca, and even the resolutions stated above are more than what they are recommending. For the average user, a 5 megapixel camera should supply enough resolution to meet their printing needs, and even cameras as low as 3.5 MP should be just fine.
One drawback of larger megapixel cameras is the file size. As the sensor size grows, so does the files size. You will be able to store less images on a given size memory card of a higher megapixel camera than that of a lower one. This also means that you will fill your hard disk on your computer faster and will require more CD's or DVD's to back up the same number of images.
Next week, I will discuss the other features to look for when purchasing a digital camera.
I have been asked what equipment I use and to discuss the various options for digital camera's. We'll look at those next week.
The digital photography tip of the week is a new feature of PCIN news and is written by our Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and member of the Niagara Falls Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send us, or a question about digital photography we can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.
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Free Laplink PCmover software
SlickDeals.net passed along the fact that Laplink is offering their PCmover software for free until September 15.
Studies suggest the average business spends $250 to set up a new PC - but they spend a fraction of that when they use Laplink PCmover.
PCmover makes it simple. Just install the PCmover software, click your mouse a few times, and PCmover does the rest. It really is that simple!Check it out at http://www.laplink.com/promos/pcmoverzd/
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/09/free_laplink_pcmover_software
Free Font Sites
Back in June (PCIN Issue 349) I included a link to DaFont.com, a site that has some excellent free fonts. Reader Mike Davis sent in a list of other good sites for free fonts:
Here are some other free font sites for those who were interested:
http://www.1001freefonts.com/
http://swank.ca/caffeen/fonts/index.htm
http://www.eknp.com/
http://www.fontfreak.com/index2.htm
http://www.fonts.com/
http://www.myfonts.com/
http://www.acidfonts.com/
http://www.fontfoundry.com/
http://www.searchfreefonts.com/Thanks Mike!
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/14/free_font_sites
Google launches blog search tool
Google has launched a blog search tool this morning that will present results extracted from blogs around the world. The tool is not exclusive to Blogger which Google owns, but should include all blogs.
Try it at http://blogsearch.google.com
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/14/google_launches_blog_search_tool
WinBackup 2.0
I recently received an email from Kevin J. Vella, the PR Manager for Uniblue, a global software development company. He passed along information about their WinBackup 2.0 product, "an extremely powerful backup and restore solution that is already proving to be highly popular."
WinBackup 2.0 is not just an improved version. After two years in development, the software has a wealth of features that make it better that its predecessor in every conceivable way.
In relation to ease-of-use we have kept to our tradition of being the leader in the market. The WinBackup 2.0 graphical-user interface is extremely user-friendly, highly intuitive and has been designed to allow anyone to start using the product within minutes of installing it. WinBackup also has a set of default Shortcuts which link automatically to the more popular Windows applications including all common web browsers and email programs, and to the 'Documents and Settings' folder. In this way, non-technical users are able to backup all their important data instantly at the click of a button.
Available in three versions WinBackup Standard, Professional or Server, we are now able to cater for home users as well as businesses. Please follow this link to learn more about WinBackup: http://www.liutilities.com/products/winbackuppro/ .
I haven't tried the product, but I thought I'd pass the information along.
Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/14/winbackup_2_0
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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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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.
Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2005, 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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