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Issue 354 - July 27, 2005

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2064 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====

Welcome to the 354th 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

In the 7 years I've been doing this, I've never missed 2 weeks in a row of not sending out the newsletter. 2 weeks ago I took the day off work and was in Palmyra, NY with a youth group from church, and then last Monday a good friend of mine passed away after a workplace accident and I was involved in getting the funeral arrangements ready. Everything went well, and we move on as best we can.

Today is Andrew's 3rd birthday. It's funny looking back at the original pictures I posted in Issue 198 after he was born. He growing up fast! This past Saturday we had a big family birthday party for him. Lisa made a Woody cake (he's a big fan of Toy Story) and got lot's of presents. You can see all the pictures in the family gallery.

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

The NEWS

Driven to distraction by technology

The typical office worker is interrupted every three minutes by a phone call, e-mail, instant message or other distraction. The problem is that it takes about eight uninterrupted minutes for our brains to get into a really creative state.
The result, says Carl Honore, journalist and author of "In Praise of Slowness," is a situation where the digital communications that were supposed to make working lives run more smoothly are actually preventing people from getting critical tasks accomplished.

For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/2100-10878_11-5797028.html
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/27/driven_to_distraction_by_technology

Downloading 'myths' challenged

People who illegally share music files online are also big spenders on legal music downloads, research suggests.
Digital music research firm The Leading Question found that they spent four and a half times more on paid-for music downloads than average fans.
Rather than taking legal action against downloaders, the music industry needs to entice them to use legal alternatives, the report said.

For more info:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4718249.stm
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/27/downloading_myths_challenged

Dynamic shift in way consumers access Web news

J.D. Lasica used to visit 20 to 30 Web sites for his daily fix of news. Now, he's down to three - yet he consumes more news online than ever. Lasica is among a growing breed of information consumers who use the latest Internet technologies to completely bypass the home pages of news sites and jump directly to articles that interest them.
He can scan some 200 Web journals and traditional news sites - all without actually going out and visiting them.

For more info:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2005-07-25-newsalacarte_x.htm
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/27/dynamic_shift_in_way_consumers_access_we

India's tech boom sparks recruitment rush

On a hot summer weekend in India's technology capital, 28,000 young graduates converge on a suburban indoor stadium and create a stampede for jobs in the exploding software and business service industries.
A large board advertising Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. falls to the floor with a thud, jostled by a crowd of graduates clutching their resumes in search of a big break with the Nasdaq-listed company.
Cognizant was among 24 companies taking part in a job fair organized by The Hindu newspaper last month. About 100 of its executives sifted through resumes, interviewing candidates for quick selection and offering jobs to 150 people.
" It is like speed dating," said Gautam Sinha, managing director of recruitment firm TVA Infotech.

For more info:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/india_jobs_dc
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/27/by_narayanan_madhavan_tue_jul_26_10_24_p

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

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

Yes, regularly 9 % (6)
Yes, at Christmas and birthday's 61 % (39)
I use email only 20 % (13)
I can't recall the last time I sent one either way 9 % (6)
Total votes: 64

This Week's Poll

Do you have a digital video camera?

Yes
No

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


How can I retrieve my Windows 2000/XP/2003 or Office 2000/XP CD Key?

Sometimes you might need to retrieve the CD Key used to install Windows in order to find out if it's legally purchased, or just for safe keeping. I usually find myself in that position whenever I'm at a client's location, trying to see if the copy of Windows 2000 he's using is indeed legally registered.
Luckily for us, some programs exist that can help you do just that - retrieve license information from the registry, and allow you to copy it for safekeeping or for documentation purposes.

Read more at http://www.petri.co.il/quickly_retrieve_windows_cd_key.htm

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/27/how_can_i_retrieve_my_windows_2000_xp_20

Getting files to other people when email just isn't an option

Subscriber AGD sent me this:

http://mytemp.philsworld.de/ is a pretty useful site for getting files to other people when email just isn't an option. It's free and requires no registration. The use that comes to mind is when you want to send one or more people from a chatroom a file but do not wish to share your email or web address. The test file I sent over a month ago is still there (http://mytemp.philsworld.de/9229/text.txt, just contains "test").

I haven't tried it myself, but if you have a need for something like this, then check it out.

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/27/getting_files_to_other_people_when_email

Google Logo Maker

I first heard about this at the Unofficial Google Weblog. If you visit Logogle.com you can create a logo similar to the Google logo.

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/07/25/google_logo_maker

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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