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Issue 353 - July 20, 2005

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2067 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====

Welcome to the 353rd 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

We have finally had a break in the heat, even though it still seems hot. It came at a good time as I had a evening full of sports tonight!

Tomorrow we are finishing our move of our data center we spoke of in an earlier issue. We have four servers to move along with their various UPS's, phone and network cables, back up drives and KVM connections. We are going in to work early, and don't expect too much down time because of it. Hopefully, Murphy's Law will stay at bay.

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

The NEWS

Corrupted PC's Find New Home in the Dumpster

Add personal computers to the list of throwaways in the disposable society.
On a recent Sunday morning when Lew Tucker's Dell desktop computer was overrun by spyware and adware - stealth software that delivers intrusive advertising messages and even gathers data from the user's machine - he did not simply get rid of the offending programs. He threw out the whole computer.
Mr. Tucker, an Internet industry executive who holds a Ph.D. in computer science, decided that rather than take the time to remove the offending software, he would spend $400 on a new machine.
He is not alone in his surrender in the face of growing legions of digital pests, not only adware and spyware but computer viruses and other Internet-borne infections as well. Many PC owners are simply replacing embattled machines rather than fixing them.

For more info:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/technology/17spy.html?ex=1279252800&en=5b2b6783f66a7422&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/19/corrupted_pc_s_find_new_home_in_the_dump

9-year-old earns accolade as Microsoft pro

A Pakistani girl has qualified as a Microsoft Certified Professional at the age of 9.
Arfa Karim of Multan has officially become the youngest MCP in Pakistan, and one of the youngest in the world. Karim, now 10, met with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates last week--an experience she later described as second only to visiting Disneyland.
To attain the credential--at any age--a person has to display technical proficiency in areas such as .Net, Visual Studio 6.0 and Windows Server 2003.
Karim got excited about technology, when her father bought her a computer--primarily to use for e-mail, according to S. "Soma" Somasegar, a corporate vice president in Microsoft's tools division.

For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/2100-10881_11-5793614.html
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/20/9_year_old_earns_accolade_as_microsoft_p

Who are the new computer whizzes?

Pop quiz: Which schools produced the most degrees in computer science in 2001? MIT? Carnegie Mellon? Georgia Tech?
If you guessed any of these, you're wrong: try Strayer University and DeVry Institute of Technology.
And what kind of student is most likely to take up computer science at Strayer or DeVry?
If you guessed a young geeky guy with a pocket saver, guess again: try a 35-year-old African American or Hispanic woman who already has a full-time job at a company where information technology (IT) skills are a key to advancement.

For more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8420734/
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/20/who_are_the_new_computer_whizzes

How Google Maps Got Me Out Of A Traffic Ticket

In January of this year, I was pulled over by a traffic officer for "disobeying a steady red", a.k.a. running a red light. I pleaded "Not Guilty" to the charge, and today - nearly six months later - I went to court to find out the fate of my ticket violation. Check out how Google Maps saved me some serious cash - and points on my license!

Via Google Blogoscoped:
http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2005-07-19.html#n69
For more info:
http://www.gearlive.com/index.php/news/article/google_maps_helps_fight_traffic_tickets_07160942/
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/19/how_google_maps_got_me_out_of_a_traffic_

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

What kind of processor are you using?

AMD 36 % (32)
IBM 1 % (1)
Intel 61 % (54)
Motorola 0 % (0)
Other 1 % (1)
Total votes: 88

This Week's Poll

Do you still use snail (postal) mail to stay in touch with friends and family?

Yes, regularly
Yes, at Christmas and birthday's
I use email only
I can't recall the last time I sent one either way

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

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

PCIN.net UPDATE

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.php

PCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/

Sunbelt Software iHateSpam 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam4.php

Micro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.php

Album Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Planarity Flash Game

I can't remember where I found this, but Planarity is a very addicting line/dot game. You have to drag the dots around (the dots are at the end of the lines) so that none of the lines overlap. I can get past the first 3 levels, and then give up on the 4th. The number of dots and lines (and therefore the level of dificulty) increases each level. Check it out at http://home.cwru.edu/~jnt5/Planarity/

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/19/planarity_flash_game

How do I uninstall Microsoft Virtual Machine?

I found a link to these instructions in the latest issue of Windows Secrets newsletter. It's a great newsletter. There is a free version, as well as a paid version. There is no set price for the paid version. You pay what you think it is worth. It is worth far more than I pay for it. I couldn't afford to pay what it's worth.
Anyway, one of the articles was about some problems with the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine. They link to a Sun Microsystems page with instructions on how to remove the MSJVM. You can read the instructions at http://www.java.com/en/download/help/uninstall_msvm.xml

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/15/how_do_i_uninstall_microsoft_virtual_mac

Google Moon

In recognition of the anniversary of the first manned moon landing which occured on July 20, 1969, Google has released a new product: Google Moon. Similiar to Google Earth and Google Maps, Google Moon lets you view the surface of the moon and the locations of the six US landings.
You can see a great amount of detail of the surface of the moon when you zoom in all the way.

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/20/google_moon

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

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:

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

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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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.

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