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
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
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:
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
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
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 or
by clicking on the PayPal link below:
Return to the top
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.
Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php
PC Improvement News Home Page
PC Improvement News Archive
|