|
Front Range PC Users Group Newsletter k-Byte |
 |
|
| v. 23, n. 9/10 September/October 2006 | Users Helping Users |
|
Front Range PC Users Group Newsletter k-Byte |
|
|
| v. 23, n. 9/10 September/October 2006 | Users Helping Users |
|
Contents 1 VHS to DVD - Vinny La Bash 2 About k-Byte 4 Report on the Internet War - a.k.a. Net Neutrality - Mike Moris 11 Tip of the Month 11 Security Alert-FDIC Phishing Scam 12 Costello Calls to Buy a Computer from Abbott 14 Calendar of Events 16 October/November Calendars 18 Membership Application 20 Accessing Family Accounts In Cases of Emergency - Gabriel Goldberg 21 NEW Services Available at FRPCUG Online 22 A Lot of Assembly Required - Karen Rhodes 26 Software and Website Reviews - Herb Goldstein 29 Dues are Due 30 Trading Post 31 FRPCUG Contacts Popular Mechanics (1949) FRPCUG Elections Members are invited to submit their nominations for elected officers at the November 7th General Forum Meeting. Elections will be held at the December 5th General Forum Meeting. Contact any board member to volunteer. VHS to DVD by Vinny La Bash, vlabash@comcast.net Member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. A lot of people would like to take their old VHS tapes and transfer them to DVD. Most folks don't know how to get started, so their VHS tapes continue to lie in a closet, unwatched, and slowly deteriorating. Let's see what we can do to get the material on DVD where it belongs. Whoever manufactured your computer will be no help whatsoever as this really isn't a problem with a faulty piece of equipment. The problem is in not knowing how to make the computer do what you want. The idea behind the procedure is quite simple. Transfer the material on the tapes into a digitally formatted file on your PC. Then edit the file to create your new video. When your editing is finished, you can transfer from file to DVD. Yeah, right! If you've never done this before it's a good idea to reserve an afternoon or even a weekend. The process tends to be time consuming until you gain some familiarity with how things are supposed to go. Before you decide on the methodology, you have to understand that you are taking material stored on VHS tape, which is analog, and somehow turning it into a digital file that a computer can recognize. You need some specific hardware and software for this task. Let's do a hardware check first. You obviously need a playback mechanism for your VHS tape which will most likely be a VCR with s-video or RCA video output. Attached to the video output will be a cable connecting to a video card on your PC. Here's where things can get sticky. A typical PC will have an S-Video or RCA video output attached to its video card. Output to output won't work. You need a video card that has a video input connection so you can transfer the material from VHS to digital format on your PC. When you buy your new video capture card, be absolutely certain that it has a video-in connection which will be either an S-video or RCA input port. A coax cable TV connection won't do the job. That kind of connection is designed for something else. After you have the proper connection, you'll need video capture software. If you're using Windows XP and want to do the job on the cheap, you can use Windows Movie Maker which is included in XP. Locate it in the Accessories Menu in the Entertainment submenu. When you're ready, load a tape into your VCR. Don't press Play yet. There are a few setup steps you need to do first: Open Movie Maker from the Entertainment menu. From the File menu, click Capture Video Under Movie Tasks, click "Capture from video device". Your VCR should be the only device available. Select it with your mouse. Give your video file a name, and then click Next. Take note of the folder name where you're saving the file. Select the highest quality AVI setting listed, and click Next. Choose "Capture parts of the tape manually." Note: There is a checkbox labeled "Show preview during capture." It's probably best to leave this unchecked, unless you are absolutely certain your machine has enough power to handle the task without degrading the quality of the video file. The Capture Video window will display a "Start Capture" button. After you locate it, press the Play button on your VCR, and then click the Start Capture button in the window. If you've done everything right, your VHS video is being captured and saved as a digital file on your PC. When the recording is finished, simply click the Stop Capture button, and close the program. You can use Movie Maker to edit the file, and use any DVD burning program to record your movie to a DVD disk. If you own a PC with Windows Media Edition, you most likely already have everything you need to record from digital file to DVD. Unfortunately, you may still need to buy a video capture card if you bought a low-end machine. Check your DVD manual to determine if your drive can support both DVD-R and DVD+R. Most drives accept both kinds of disks, but a little caution here will prevent you from wasting money buying disks you can't use. Alternatively, you can buy an external DVD recorder, and connect it directly to your VCR, but you give up the ability to edit the file. If editing is not an issue this is a hassle-free method. The recorders are easy to use, and you don't need a computer. If you enjoy a moderate challenge, you can have a fun-filled weekend learning how to use your computer in a new, exciting, and different way. Then again, you could always pay somebody to do it for you. Published bi-monthly, k-Byte is the official newsletter of the Front Range Personal Computer Users Group (FRPCUG): our mailing address is PMB 152, 305 W. Magnolia, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. Opinions expressed in k-Byte are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the group or its members. Publication of information in k-Byte constitutes no guarantee of accuracy. Use of any information found in this publication is at the sole risk of the user. Neither k-Byte, nor its officers, nor k-Byte, nor its editors or contributors assume any liability for damages resulting from use of information in this publication. Submissions Articles, letters and short items of interest on computer-related topics are welcome and encouraged. All items submitted for publication are subject to editing. Send your contribution to the editor via e-mail attachment or submit on disk. If you have questions about a submission, please contact the editor for information. Copyright k-Byte is copyrighted ©2006 by the Front Range Personal Computer Users Group. Unless otherwise noted, other nonprofit users groups may reprint or quote from any articles appearing in k-Byte without prior permission, provided that proper author and publication credits are given and that a copy of the publication in which the article appears is sent at no cost to k-Byte at the above mailing address. User groups wishing to exchange newsletters with FRPCUG are invited to send a copy of their newsletter together with an exchange request. IBM PC, OS/2, Compaq, MS-DOS, UNIX, Windows and other trademarks occasionally mentioned in k-Byte are registered trademarks of International Business Machines, Inc., Compaq Corporation, Microsoft, Digital Research, AT&T or their owners respectively. Neither FRPCUG nor its newsletter k-Byte are connected in any way with any manufacturer or seller. Advertising Classified advertising is free to members for non-business ads. See "Trading Post" for pricing for camera-ready display ads. Charges for ad makeup from sketches, etc., are available on request. Deadline for camera-ready and classified ads is listed in the Calendar of Upcoming Events. Deadline for ad-makeup is the same as for articles. About FRPCUG FRPCUG is an independent nonprofit computer society, so incorporated with the State of Colorado and open to anyone interested in MS-DOS, Windows, or UNIX/LINUX microcomputers. Its purpose is to provide an educational and scientific forum of mutual benefit for members of the micro-computer community. FRPCUG holds a monthly meeting and conducts various special interest groups (SIGS) and seminars. Members have voting privileges, subscription to k-Byte newsletter, SIGs and selected seminars. Annual dues are $25 for individual/family membership and $50 for corporate/group membership. by Mike Morris Front Range PC Users Group http://www.frpcug.org There is a WAR underway over the future of the internet. It is a war of words, not bullets, but some of those words are very aggressive in their attack on the opinions of others. Wikipedia notes that ".this controversy.is extremely complex, as it mixes technical, economic, ideological and legal arguments.." Perhaps it is the inclusion of ideological arguments that stimulates some writers to use "loaded" phrases such as ".extorting cash from online content providers.." A search using Google on the phrase "net neutrality" returned 11.5 million hits within three months. That level of response provides sufficient evidence that Net Neutrality is a "hot" topic. It is not easy to find objective discussions of this issue. Included in this article are two discussions that can be considered objective, and two discussions that may, or may not be considered objective, depending on whether you have already drawn conclusions about this topic. Several of the legislative events described in these discussions occurred several months ago, but the war is far from over, and the links provided in these articles will provide valuable information (and access to many more links) that will help you stay informed about this war. John Brewer of the Computer Club of Oklahoma City offers this analysis: Legal Bytes: What is Congress Doing with the Internet? (http://www.ccokc.org/articles/2006Articles/May_2006/May06_legalbytes_WhattheInternet.htm) There is a current issue being waged in Congress regarding "net neutrality." In summary, the issue involves the use of the broadband infrastructure of the telecommunication companies and the Internet by third parties and may also extend to use of the Internet by end users. It is a complicated matter. Congress is currently considering the COPE bill (Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act). The COPE bill will modify the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The debate is rather spirited on both sides. The genesis of the current issue began in August, 2005, when the Federal Communications Commission issued a ruling that affected the telecommunications companies and DSL service. The ruling said that the Telcos were not subject to the same regulations when furnishing DSL service as telephone service. DSL was classified as an "information" service. The Telcos will not have to open their broadband networks to third-party ISPs. The underlying concept behind the ruling was to "level the playing field" between the cable companies (unregulated) and the Telcos (regulated). A one year transition period was provided, after which the Telcos could arbitrarily end their agreements with third party ISPs. The FCC ruling followed a decision by the US Supreme Court that said cable companies could not be forced to open their infrastructure to third parties. Apparently, European governments have taken the opposite approach to the open access issue as opposed to the ruling of the FCC. They have forced the incumbent Telcos to open access to their broadband networks to independent ISPs at terms and prices set by the government. One vocal proponent of the "net neutrality" position is http://www.savetheinternet.com. The site states the following: "Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment-a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you-based on what site pays them the most. Your local library shouldn't have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to have its Web site open quickly on your computer. Net Neutrality allows everyone to compete on a level playing field and is the reason that the Internet is a force for economic innovation, civic participation and free speech. If the public doesn't speak up now, Congress will cave to a multi-million dollar lobbying campaign by telephone and cable companies that want to decide what you do, where you go, and what you watch online. This isn't just speculation-we've already seen what happens elsewhere when the Internet's gatekeepers get too much control. Last year, Canada's version of AT&T-Telus-blocked their Internet customers from visiting a Web site sympathetic to workers with whom Telus was negotiating. And Shaw, a major Canadian cable company, charges an extra $10 a month to subscribers who dare to use a competing Internet telephone service." Scary stuff-huh? Of course, the Telcos respond that they simply need the ability to compete with the cable companies and that "net neutrality" is balderdash. CNet News reports that on April 26, the House Energy and Commerce Committee rejected a Democratic-backed Net Neutrality amendment that also enjoyed support from Internet and software companies including Microsoft, Amazon.com and Google. The Committee voted 34 to 22 to reject the amendment to the proposed bill. "I'm concerned about e-mails being blocked from advocacy groups, of all sides," said Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat who supported the amendment. "I'm concerned about start-ups that may be shut down." "Did the Bells create the Internet? Did the cable companies create the Internet?" asked Rep. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat and sponsor of the amendment. "The answer is no. The Internet was built on a different model, a public interest model, funded by American taxpayers." For their part, major broadband providers have repeatedly pledged not to block traffic or censor Web sites. Instead, they say, it will only be economically feasible to invest in higher-speed links if some bandwidth can be reserved for paid content. In an interview with CNET News.com, for instance, Verizon Chief Technology Officer Mark Wegleitner said movie-quality video could be delivered to DSL subscribers if the copyright owner would pay." Common Cause says that end users could be affected in a number of ways: Discriminating against the services of competitors-a provider could make sure that preferred content or applications load faster and more efficiently while competing services are slow or spotty. That would effectively create a tiered Internet-with a fast lane for those who will pay, and a slow lane for everyone else. Limiting diversity of content-a provider can enhance its own web content and services by featuring prominent menus, program guides, start screens, etc. while systematically excluding competing content. Favoring commercial services-the nonprofit and noncommercial sector could be distinguished from the for-profit sector of the online community in terms of services offered, and would suffer because they cannot compete in an environment where they have to pay for better service. Restricting Internet telephone-services that allow you to make low-cost, long-distance telephone calls using a high-speed Internet connection (sometimes called VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol) are becoming more and more popular. But traditional phone companies who are now getting into the Internet business don't want to lose their customers to Internet phone companies like Vonage and Skype. However, there is nothing stopping them from blocking their competition from using their network. This author is uncertain at this point where the equities lie but there is one certainty, when 800 pound gorillas wrestle, it is important to watch to make sure you don't get "squashed" during the process. John Brewer practices law in Oklahoma City, is a member of the Governor's and Legislative Task Force for E-Commerce, and enjoys issues relating to eBusiness and cyberspace. Comments and questions are welcome and can be emailed to johnb@jnbrewer.com. Wikipedia has this to say about the topic: Network neutrality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality) Columbia University law professor Tim Wu popularized the phrase network neutrality as a term designating a network that does not favor one application (for example the World Wide Web) over another (such as online gaming or Voice over IP).[1] Wu claims that the Internet is not neutral "as among all applications" as it favors file transfer over real-time communication. Large Internet content and network providers maintain that network neutrality primarily concerns the question of whether or to what extent networks should be able to favor or disfavor certain subdivisions of applications, such as certain websites (e.g. Google[2][3]) in the case of the World Wide Web or certain brands of Voice Over IP or any other application. Network neutrality also designates a contemporary controversy mostly local to the United States regarding the role that government should take relative to Internet access providers providing multiple levels of service for different fees. This controversy, which emerged following regulatory developments in the United States, is extremely complex, as it mixes technical, economic, ideological and legal arguments. In essence, network neutrality regulations proposed by Senators Snowe and Dorgan[4] and Representative Markey bar ISPs from offering Quality of Service enhancements for a fee. Network neutrality is sometimes used as a technical term, although it has no history in the design documents (RFCs) describing the Internet protocols. In this usage, it is claimed to represent a property of protocol layering in which higher-layer protocols may not communicate service requirements to lower-layer protocols, a highly idiosyncratic interpretation of protocol engineering. (In conventional network engineering practice, each protocol in a layered system exposes Service Access Points to higher layers that can be used to request a level of service appropriate to the needs of higher-layer protocols.) The proposals for implementing network neutrality have since taken the form of various regulations to govern Internet communications, including commercial interconnection agreements between Internet Service Providers (ISPs), carriers, on-line service providers, and broadband users, usually on the basis of principles of public service obligations associated with special access to public rights of way. In this sense, network neutrality means a state in which Internet providers provide interconnection services on a uniform basis, or "without discrimination", although there is considerable disagreement about how this principle applies to applications with different needs[5]. Google provides this "guide:" A Guide to Net Neutrality for Google Users (http://www.google.com/help/netneutrality.html) "Net neutrality" is an issue that will shape the future of the Internet. Google has created this guide to net neutrality, which includes a brief overview of the subject, an update on where things stand in the U.S. policy debate, a set of actions you can take to protect the Internet, and the text of an open letter from our CEO, Eric Schmidt. What is Net Neutrality? Network neutrality is the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. The Internet has operated according to this neutrality principle since its earliest days. Indeed, it is this neutrality that has allowed many companies, including Google, to launch, grow, and innovate. Fundamentally, net neutrality is about equal access to the Internet. In our view, the broadband carriers should not be permitted to use their market power to discriminate against competing applications or content. Just as telephone companies are not permitted to tell consumers who they can call or what they can say, broadband carriers should not be allowed to use their market power to control activity online. Today, the neutrality of the Internet is at stake as the broadband carriers want Congress's permission to determine what content gets to you first and fastest. Put simply, this would fundamentally alter the openness of the Internet. What is the Current Status of Net Neutrality? Net neutrality is a major issue as the U.S. considers new telecommunications laws. The U.S. House of Representatives passed its telecommunications bill, H.R. 5252, in May, without adequate net neutrality protections. Now the fight has moved to U.S. Senate. On June 28, the Senate Commerce Committee passed its own telecom bill, S. 2686. While an amendment to the bill that would have added meaningful net neutrality safeguards failed 11-11, this tie vote marks a significant political victory and gives the effort new momentum. The debate now shifts to the full Senate, where advocates will be working to get strong net neutrality language in any bill that the Senate considers. For more intense discussions of this topic, visit the website of the Champaign-Urbana Computer Users Group (http://www.cucug.org) and read the articles on Net Neutrality from several of the past newsletters (The Status Register) of this group. There are many additional links to additional information on this topic in the newsletters of this computer users group. The following discussion was extracted from the June issue of the Status Register: All on the Net (http://www.cucug.org/sr/sr0606.html#COMMON.1): by John Anderson (mediaminutes@freepress.net) Media Minutes: June 2, 2006 Audio: http://freepress.net/mediaminutes/archive/mm060206.mp3 Text: http://freepress.net/mediaminutes/transcripts/mm060206.pdf The issue of network neutrality is now the number one telecommunications issue facing the U.S. Congress. As a result, lawmakers are looking to associate their names with Internet freedom, and this has led to an explosion of competing bills pending in the House and Senate. There are six pieces of legislation in all: the two front-runners are the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act in the House and the Communications, Consumer's Choice and Broadband Deployment Act in the Senate. Both of these bills deal with a wide range of telecom issues and thus are likely to be the legislative vehicles that will ultimately come up for votes. And although they have nice names, the bad news is neither of the bills contain any meaningful provisions when it comes to protecting Internet freedom: the COPE Act allows the FCC to investigate cases of data discrimination but it's prohibited from actually making rules on the subject, while the Senate omnibus bill simply asks the FCC to study net neutrality and report back to Congress. That's why four other bills have been introduced explicitly dealing with the issue. In the House, the front-runner is the Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act, which has bipartisan sponsorship and treats net neutrality as an antitrust issue. This bill cleared the House Judiciary Committee late last month, although Republican House leadership may conspire to keep the bill from coming up to the floor for a full vote. The other House bill, the Network Neutrality Act of 2006, currently languishes in the House's Commerce Committee. On the Senate side, two similar bills await review by the Senate Commerce Committee - the Internet Freedom Preservation Act and Internet Non-Discrimination Act-both of which would essentially prohibit phone and cable companies from extorting cash from online content providers in exchange for smooth service. The Internet Freedom Preservation Act also has bipartisan sponsorship. Conclusion: It is worth staying informed on this topic, however busy your schedule. It won't be easy, considering the difficulty in finding objective information. But this is a topic worth the effort, and even worth a letter to your congressman and senator. Lehigh Valley Computer Club http://www.lvcg.org Changing directions in Excel. With so many places (or cells) to go to in Excel, navigation expertise is essential to productivity. By default, when you press Enter, the cursor goes to the next cell down. But it doesn't have to be that way. To change the default direction to right, left, or up, select Tools, Options, click the Edit tab, check the Move selection after Enter box, and then select your direction choice from the pull down menu. Then click OK. Lehigh Valley Computer Group Journal (http://www.lvcg.org/newsletters/2006/2006lvcgjuly.pdf) [Ed. Note: The following description of an FDIC phishing scam was extracted from the LVCG newsletter. It is a particularly malicious scam-especially for casual computer users-as it threatens to report non-compliance to the FBI. Members of FRPCUG should warn family and friends about this scam.] The IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center), the FDIC, and other government and non-government agencies have received complaints concerning a spam e-mail purportedly from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This scheme was originally unleashed in 2004, but is currently resurfacing. The e-mail claims: In cooperation from the Department of Homeland Security and Federal, State, and Local Governments, your account has been denied insurance from the FDIC due to suspected violations of the Patriot Act. Recipients are requested to click the link provided (link deleted), to verify their identity. Once your identity is validated, all suspensions of insurance on your account will be lifted. Failure to complete the identity verification will result in termination of insurance on your account and all records of your account will be sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington D.C., for analysis and verification. Failure to provide proper identity may also result in a visit from Local, State, or Federal Government or Homeland Security Officials. Additional information on this-and other scams-is available from The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) (http://www.us-cert.gov). If you were affected by the FDIC phishing scam, please refer to the FDIC Consumer Alert for assistance (http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/phishing.html). [Ed. Note: After all the unpleasant news of the past few months, your editor has decided it is time for a little humor. This item, by an anonymous author, has been floating around the internet for awhile, so if you have seen it before, don't complain, just enjoy it again.] ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer. ABBOTT: Mac? COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou. ABBOTT: Your computer? COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one. ABBOTT: Mac? COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou. ABBOTT: What about Windows? COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here? ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows? COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look in the windows? ABBOTT: Wallpaper. COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software. ABBOTT: Software for Windows? COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What have you got? ABBOTT: Office. COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything? ABBOTT: I just did. COSTELLO: You just did what? ABBOTT: Recommend something. COSTELLO: You recommended something? ABBOTT: Yes. COSTELLO: For my office? ABBOTT: Yes. COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office? ABBOTT: Office. COSTELLO: Yes, for my office! ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows. COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, lets just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need? ABBOTT: Word. COSTELLO: What word? ABBOTT: Word in Office. COSTELLO: The only word in office is office. ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows? ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W". COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers. OK, forget that. Can I watch movies on the Internet? ABBOTT: Yes, you want Real One. COSTELLO: Maybe a real one, maybe a cartoon. What I watch is none of your business. Just tell me what I need! ABBOTT: Real One. COSTELLO: If it's a long movie I also want to see reel 2, 3 & 4. Can I watch them? ABBOTT: Of course. COSTELLO: Great! With what? ABBOTT: Real One. COSTELLO: OK, I'm at my computer and I want to watch a movie. What do I do? ABBOTT: You click the blue "1." COSTELLO: I click the blue one what? ABBOTT: The blue "1." COSTELLO: Is that different from the blue w? ABBOTT: The blue "1" is Real One and the blue "W" is Word. COSTELLO: What word? ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. COSTELLO: But there's three words in "office for windows"! ABBOTT: No, just one. But it's the most popular Word in the world. COSTELLO: It is? ABBOTT: Yes, but to be fair, there aren't many other Words left. It pretty much wiped out all the other Words out there. COSTELLO: And that word is real one? ABBOTT: Real One has nothing to do with Word. Real One isn't even part of Office. COSTELLO: STOP! Don't start that again. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: I need money to track my money? ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer. COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer? ABBOTT: Money. COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer? ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge. COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much? ABBOTT: One copy. COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money? ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy money. COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money? ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT! A FEW DAYS LATER. ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off? ABBOTT: Click on "START".... - IMPORTANT NOTICE - FRPCUG meetings are held at the Fort Collins Senior Center. Check below for directions to the Senior Center. October General Forum Meeting We will meet at the Fort Collins Senior Center on Tuesday, October 3 at 7:00 pm. Meeting Agenda 7:00 - 7:15 Announcements 7:15 - 8:00 Open Forum 8:00 - 8:15 Break 8:15 - 9:00 Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) November General Forum Meeting We will meet at the Fort Collins Senior Center on Tuesday, November7 at 7:00 pm. Meeting Agenda 7:00 - 7:15 Announcements 7:15 - 8:00 Open Forum 8:00 - 8:15 Break 8:15 - 9:00 Virtual Computing See you at the meetings! Directions The Fort Collins Senior Center is located at 1200 Raintree Drive. This site is situated at the northwest corner of the Shields and West Drake intersection, on the north side of the Raintree Shopping Center. Check the marquee at the main entrance for directions to the specific meeting room. Up-Coming SIG's, Seminars and Meetings Board Meeting FRPCUG's executive board meets on Wednesday of the week following the General Forum Meeting at 7:00 p.m. All members are welcome and are encouraged to attend. These meetings are held in the Staff Board Room of the Fort Collins Senior Center. New Technology SIG The LINUX SIG and the Telecommunications SIG have been combined to form the New Technology SIG. This SIG provides advanced support for all PC-related operating system and telecommunication issues. The meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month at Bluebird Manufacturing Inc., 1421 Webster Avenue, in Fort Collins. For more information contact Chuck McJilton at 493-2987. Upcoming FRPCUG Meetings OCTOBER: SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS Jamie Leben, Owner of IT-Works, Loveland, CO; Warren Turkal, Research Associate, Colorado State University, Dept. of Atmospheric Science; and Kyle Haefner, Communication Programmer Colorado State University. TOPIC: Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), the enabling technology for internet phone companies. NOVEMBER: Virtual computing: Using a single computer to simultaneously run more than one operating system. 3 FRPCUG General Forum Meeting 7:00 PM 11 FRPCUG Board Meeting 7:00 PM 19 New Technology SIG 7:00 PM November 2006 7 FRPCUG General Forum Meeting 7:00 PM 15 FRPCUG Board Meeting 7:00 PM 16 New Technology SIG 7:00 PM 23 Holiday - Thanksgiving by Gabriel Goldberg, APCUG Advisor, Columnist, AARP Computer & Technology Website, http://www.aarp.org It's clear how important it is for each of us to maintain current wills, powers of attorney, medical directives, and other such documents. And family members, trusted friends, and advisors such as lawyers need quick access to them. In their absence, at stressful times, important actions and decisions become needlessly difficult. With much data now stored electronically, emergency preparedness requires that loved ones or advisors can access personal information stored online, on computers, and in electronic gadgets like cell phones and PDAs (personal digital assistants, Palms and Pocket PCs). This preparation merely adds our electronic lives to a readiness checklist. It's no more exotic or worrisome than opening joint bank accounts or giving a house key to a trusted neighbor. Actions we should take are as unique as our legal, medical, and financial profiles. Preparation is especially important because laws and business practices don't match today's technologies. News stories highlight some of today's challenges and risks. A soldier in Iraq used e-mail and a Web site to communicate with the world. When he was killed, his parents wanted to preserve what he had created. But his ISP refused to allow access or provide the data, citing privacy concerns. Similarly, when a Texas man's wife died, he canceled her cell phone. The company also disconnected his phone, which had been on the same account. He couldn't reactivate it, leaving him isolated at a difficult time. Where to begin? Many such legal and logistical problems can be avoided by simply including two names on accounts such as online banking and investing, mortgage service, bill paying, e-mail, and Web services. This way either person can deal with accounts on the other's behalf. But ensure that both names aren't required for routine actions. Then record account names, passwords, and Web addresses for family members, trusted friends, or a lawyer, accountant, or executor. They needn't have the list until it's to be used so just ensure that they can find it and that it's kept updated. Those of us in the baby boomer "sandwich generation" may have parents and children to look out for and with whom to share our technology preparation information. Preparation requires replacing the common mindset of independence with one of readiness and collaboration. An estate attorney can be a valuable resource, providing legal documents, objective advice, and what-if scenarios. While organizations typically handle employees' work information during emergency situations, supervisors and individuals should inventory what they use on the job and how others might need to access it. At home or at work, the largest obstacle to emergency preparation is the wealth of information we use from memory. You can start an inventory by noting details of online accounts, Web site bookmarks saved, and passwords stored. Then make a list to share with someone who may need to follow in your electronic footsteps. Remember to safeguard your list, whether it's on paper, a PC, or a flash drive. But don't hide the list itself behind a secret password! Finally, there's a very tangible step to take. Emergency responders encourage the use of the prefix ICE (In Case of Emergency) in cell phones or PDAs to identify your important personal contacts. They commonly check victims' cell phones or PDA directories for entries filed under "ICE" ("in case of emergency") to determine whom to call. This article originated on AARP's Computers and Technology Web site, www.aarp.org/computers, and is copyrighted by AARP. All rights are reserved; it may be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, or transferred, for single use, or by nonprofit organizations for educational purposes, with attribution to AARP. It should be unchanged and this paragraph included. Please e-mail Gabe Goldberg at gabe(at)gabegold.com when you use it, or for permission to excerpt or condense. Thanks to two members, Jim Bragonier and Charles McJilton, there are two new services available from the FRPCUG website. Connect to the very professional looking-and operating-Web BBS. Is there something you particularly like-or dislike-about a meeting topic? About an article in the newsletter? Is there a topic on which you would like to have a presentation at a General Forum meeting? Need help with a software or hardware problem? You will find these forums: Comments & Suggestions News & Activities Saturday Morning: SHOP TALK Items for Sale (Computers/Accessories) Items for Sale (General) Connect to FRPCUG.pbwiki.com and let the board and other members know of your thoughts on the future of FRPCUG and the services you would like FRPCUG to offer (Wikis are easy-to-use Web pages that let you collaborate online and share information). by Karen Rhodes, Honorary Member of the Rochester Computer Society, Inc. waxtadpole(at)comcast.net http://www.rcsi.org My computer died. It was old, in computer terms, and the motherboard had had it. It wasn't much of a task to get my data files off before it completely went west, as I keep most of my data on Zip disks or USB portable drives. But it was time for me to get a new computer. It isn't my first choice to go to Gateway or Dell or Hewlett-Packard and buy an already-assembled machine. First, I want on my computer only the software I will be using, not some techie-nerd's idea of the latest "in" thing. Second, I don't want to have to go round and round with someone on the other end of a telephone about what components are available. The bottom line is that I want what I want when I want it, and nothing more-or less. My preference for assembling is made much easier by having someone in-house who is experienced at it-my husband, who is a computer specialist. He does everything; he installs hardware, software, LANs, the whole works. There are some things he doesn't know, but he knows enough to be able to put together a computer-one that works. He's done it before, for himself and for others, on the job and at home. He did the shopping for me because I get lost when it comes to putting one part of the computer in concert with another, and knowing what is more likely to work with what. You notice I said "more likely;" there never is a guarantee that it's all going to work once you get it together! Having done business with Newegg.com before, he settled on them. He gave me a list of recommendations. I ordered; the next week, we had all the parts. That next Saturday, after breakfast, the assembly began. I'll go though the process he used, making what I think are some important points to remember: Don't always settle for the power supply that comes with your case. I ordered a mid-range case, which came with a 350-watt power supply. Probably not enough for my powerful and large genealogy database program and a lot of multi-tasking that will inevitably accompany its use, and certainly not enough for the motherboard I bought, because I also play games for which I bought a powerful graphics card and a muscular motherboard. And the motherboard I ordered states in its manual that it requires a minimum of 400 watts in the power supply. I bought 550 watts. If you do boost the power supply or you live in a hot climate (both apply to me), buy extra case fans. They're inexpensive, and the extra cooling they provide is crucial to computer health. The case came with one fan installed. My husband put in the two extra case fans first. Then he put in the power supply (Just PC model JPC-550C-12V). Next he put onto the motherboard (EPOX EP-8 NPA) the CPU (AMD Sempron 64 3100+), the memory (Corsair, 1 GB), and the graphics card (MSI NVidia P317). The sound card-sound chip, really-and the Ethernet card are integrated onto the motherboard. All during the installation, my husband used his digital camera to take pictures of each component and of the process. In addition, for my own file, I made notes of all the model numbers and serial numbers. Document, document, document! You'll be glad you did when a tech support person you're talking to on the phone about your misbehaving computer asks you for the serial number on your hard drive. You'll have the information right in front of you, either in a paper file or in a photograph, and won't have to open up the case and bend yourself into a pretzel to get the serial number off the hard drive! Meanwhile, back at the installation procedure, when my husband installed the motherboard into the case and tried to hook it up to the power supply, we hit a snag. Understand that the connector on one part which is supposed to connect to another part may not match up and may need an adapter. In my case-you'll forgive the pun-the power supply connector was 20-pin and the motherboard's corresponding connector had 24 pins. No panic yet-there was an adapter in with the motherboard. But when my husband tried to hook it up at the power-supply end, the connector wouldn't connect. It was mismanufactured. Understand that there are going to be snags and that you just have to accept them when they happen, and come up with solutions. Cussing is optional. Understand that nature always sides with the hidden flaw. We live in a rural area, outside of an unincorporated little town in Florida. The nearest city is Jacksonville, up in the next county. It's quite a ways-especially at these gas prices-to go into the city for our needs. We try to avoid it as much as we can. However, there was not another adapter of the type we needed nearby. The next day, Sunday, my husband and I made a 60-mile round trip into Jacksonville to CompUSA for another adapter. He had been told on the telephone that morning that they had 20 of the item in stock. Fine. We got there, carrying with us the faulty adapter and the case's original 350-watt power supply as a test bed, since it had the same type of connection. Which leads me to: Be prepared. If you need to go to the store to replace a faulty component, take the bad one with you! Don't try to remember what type, brand, number or placement of pins.you never will. And telephone ahead, and make sure you talk to someone who knows what he's talking about, or should! We looked all over the store, ending up at a rack right beside a help station. A young woman came to the counter. We asked her about the adapter. Her first answer was the wrong one: "We don't have those." I informed her curtly we had been told over the phone they had 20 of that item in stock. She then gave some lame routine about not having been there long and something about some boxes just having come in. She looked to her left, at the rack where we ended up, and said, pointing, "There they are, right there." Do not take nonsense from store personnel. Speak plainly and to the point. Go to the next level, if you have to, repeating that subroutine as many times as necessary, until you get satisfaction. We wanted to open the package and see if the adapter therein would fit the power supply. We didn't mind making one 60-mile round trip, but would have been angry to get the new adapter home and find it also didn't fit! The young woman said we'd have to pay for it first, then take it to Customer Service and talk to them about opening and testing it. Thence we went. Two young men confirmed what we'd been told, then gave us a look that said, "Okay, go away." Not me. I took out my money, plunked it down on the counter, and said, "There's my green." I took the receipt, and then we opened the package, took out the adapter, and tried it. It fit. Always ask for what you want. Be firm, even adamant, about it. I could have ordered another of the adapters from Newegg.com, I'm sure. But there would have been several days' wait, and I wasn't willing to do that when we could find one near and in a short time. The thing only cost $7, and I probably would have paid that much just in shipping! Be willing to shell out a little bit more to get what you want when you want it. Back home, the assembly proceeded: hard drive (Western Digital Caviar RE 160Gb), DVD-RW (LiteOn SHW-160P6S), DVD/CD-ROM (LiteOn SOHD-6P9SV), card reader (Arrow Micro AICR-01), and the old 3.5" floppy drive from my old computer. He set it all up with the monitor (Samsung SyncMaster 740N: I had to treat myself to a flat-panel monitor), the keyboard (LiteOn SK-1688U), and the mouse (Radio Shack optical mouse 26-592, which I already had), and tested it. It all worked! I had followed all of my husband's recommendations except for one. Even if someone who knows more than you makes recommendations, check them out and see what you think. When making my hardware selections, I had gone online to Newegg.com and read the reviews and specifications for the components my husband had picked out. I agreed with all except one: the keyboard. The keyboard he selected was criticized in user reviews for sticking keys (which was why I had trashed my old keyboard) and for having too short a cord. I need a longer cord in my setup, so I selected another keyboard, which I'm happy with. We set up the machine at my desk. We looked at the BIOS and set it up the way I wanted it, which didn't involve many changes. Then it was time to install Windows XP professional (SP2). It seemed to go well, by all appearances, but we know how deceptive that can be! And it wasn't long until we found out we'd hit another snag. Somehow the OS had set itself up to think the C: drive was a removable drive which had no disk in it, and it wanted to call the hard drive "local drive I:." That would not have worked with some software which insists it be placed on Drive C:. This snag also caused the persistent appearance of an error message telling me that there wasn't a disk present in C: when I knew there jolly well was. Murphy loves operating systems! Whatever can go wrong, will. Here I will make a long story short: we used a software program my husband has (Darik's Boot and Nuke) to wipe the hard drive and start all over again. It took two more tries installing Windows XP Professional before the stupid software decided to give the drives their proper names. Be patient, persistent, and courageous when installing software, especially the operating system. It is going to fail a few times before succeeding, trust me! The computer works well, all things considered. I am not able to play a couple of my games, for evidently they require Intel rather than AMD chips. I haven't yet, but I'll go to the respective web sites and see if there are any patches for us orphaned AMD users! No matter how well the installation goes, no matter how well the computer is working, there will still be problems. They're inevitable; get used to it or go back to the mid 20th century! The important thing is that it will run my genealogy software (The Master Genealogist), word processor (OpenOffice.org), e-mail program (Pegasus), and browser (Firefox), and other things vital to me. As well, it will run some of my games, so I'm happy with that. Once you get it going - enjoy it! Karen Rhodes is not a techie, but she does appreciate a well-put-together computer. She's had many careers, some of them quite brief, and is currently studying genealogy through the distance learning facilities of the University of Toronto. She lives in Florida with her husband, her younger daughter, and a calico cat named Tiger. by Herb Goldstein, Review Editor Sarasota PC Users Group http://www.spcug.org/reviews/hg0606.htm E-mail comments, suggestions, etc. to Herb Goldstein at: revieweditor@spcug.org [Ed. Note: The following information was extracted from a longer article] VIDEO PROFESSOR SCAM For those of you who have asked me about the frequently advertised computer learning lessons from Video Professor, I refer you to http://www.clariondeveloper.com/videoprofessorscam. You will see some very unsettling information about the product. VOICE MAIL COMPRESSOR allows you to record and send voice email messages to anyone with an email address. Voice Mail Compressor generates compressed .wav files reducing the size by 10 to 16 times. The recipient doesn't need any special software to listen to messages; they simply click on the file and listen in their default audio player. The app also supports file compression as GSM or MP3 files. http://www.lagolento.com/ CLONE CLEANER LITE HCC is an easy-to-use program designed to find out and remove duplicate files with same name, same size, same content on your local or network computers. With HCC you can easily reclaim disk space wasted by all the extra unnecessary file copies and keep your files well organized. Unique smart marking feature enable you to keep files in particular locations and guarantee that their duplicates will be removed from elsewhere. http://www.clonecleaner.com/index.html JARTE is a compact word processor-small enough to put on a USB keychain drive-that's completely free of charge. Jarte's small size doesn't keep it from offering some well-selected features. For instance, WordWeb integration offers dictionary and thesaurus word look-up on the fly. Firefox fans will like its tabbed document windows. http://www.jarte.com/ HP PHOTOSMART ESSENTIAL helps you get great prints without having to buy anything new. With this fast, free download, you'll not only save time and money, but you'll also get the power to create professional-looking prints in a snap. Designed to streamline the most frequently performed photo software tasks, it's a quick and easy solution for organizing, fixing, printing, and sharing photos. Featuring a mere two clicks to printing lab-quality photos and one touch auto fix, it's surprisingly simple for the novice and convenient for experienced user. Optional plug-ins allow you to do more with your photos. Version 1.9 (formerly Image Zone Express) now features new sharing options: upload, share, order prints and photo gifts at Snapfish.com or let Photosmart Essential auto downsize your photos perfectly for home printing and automatically send them in your default e-mail program. Also includes more borderless home photo album templates. http://www.hp.com CCLEANER.Somewhere under the layers of software detritus, your PC is vigorous and eager to work. CCleaner claims to search through several programs and remove useless files. Many cleaners scrub out just your browser cache or your temporary files folder, but CCleaner was developed to go several steps further. It cleans temporary files from a number of applications, including Adobe Acrobat, eMule, eTrust EZ Antivirus, Firefox, Google Toolbar, Kazaa, Nero, Netscape, Office XP, OpenOffice, Opera WinAce, Windows Media Player, WinRAR, and WinZip. An advanced Registry scanner removes old and unused entries, including file extensions, ActiveX Controls, uninstallers, shared DLLs, fonts, help files, application paths, icons, and invalid shortcuts. http://www.ccleaner.com/ FREERAM XP PRO includes automatic memory monitoring and optimization; advanced tray support; fast, threaded freeing with a stop option; multiple system-metric monitors; a simple and attractive GUI; memory reporting and diagnostic logging; and real-time memory information. FreeRAM XP Pro's AutoFree feature intelligently scales how much RAM is freed with your current system status, thus optimizing RAM without slowing down your computer. Additionally, FreeRAM XP Pro's unique Global Memory Compression technology frees memory instantly in a way that is completely unlike other memory managers. FreeRAM XP Pro has been designed to be easy to use yet highly customizable by computer novices and experts alike. http://www.yourwaresolutions.com ADOBE READER 7.0.7 This software lets you view and print Adobe PDF files on a variety of hardware and operating system platforms. Adobe Reader provides a host of features that enable you to submit PDF forms created with fillable form fields to such applications as Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional and Adobe Form Designer. Read and organize high-fidelity e-books. Activate search and accessibility capabilities built into your PDF files, and display Adobe Photoshop Album slide shows and electronic cards. Version 7.0.7 offers enhanced performance with faster loading and zooming, expanded device compatibility, and extended application support for files attached to PDF documents. http://www.adobe.com PROCESS LIBRARY QUICK ACCESS INFOBAR Deep in the recesses of any computer, mysterious processes run silently in the background. Process Library Quick Access Info Bar help you identify them. Armed with information, you can protect your PC from resource hogs, privacy-violating spyware, and Trojans that give hackers carte blanche on your system. This Windows Task Manager plug-in provides you process information and advice from ProcessLibrary .com, a free online knowledge Web site that's home to over 9000 process definitions. To access ProcessLibrary .com from Windows Task Manager, click the icon that appears next to processes in the Process tab. Each icon links to ProcessLibrary.com's defininition, which details the exact nature and purpose of every known process. http://www.processlibrary.com/ ENABLING AUDIBLE CAPS LOCK WARNING It's easy to hit the Caps Lock key by mistake and find yourself typing in capital letters. Worse, if you don't know Caps Lock is on, your password may be rejected for no apparent (to you) reason. You can use the built-in ToggleKeys feature to sound an audible warning when you hit Caps Lock, Num Lock or Scroll Lock. Here's how: In Control Panel, click Accessibility Options. >Click the Keyboard tab. >Check the Use ToggleKeys checkbox. >Click OK. ESSENTIALPIM FREE combines several functions-calendar, contact manager, to-do list, and notes manager-into one interface. This program performs the functions you'd expect, plus some bonuses like color-coding, drag-and-drop functions, and integrated Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express data importing. The to-do list allows you to sort and prioritize by category, priority, and completion status. Adjustable program views and several printout options help you keep the data you need at hand. Everything can be password-protected and encrypted with AES 128-bit encryption. http://www.essentialpim.com/?r=products FOXIT READER Adobe Reader isn't your only option for viewing PDF files. FoxIt Reader is a free utility that includes some tools that Adobe lacks, including a "typewriter" tool that lets you type text over any PDF, not just files that have been set with form fields. FoxIt launches very quickly (in about one second) and it requires no installation-you just run the executable file. It allows you open, view, print, and change the page layout in PDF files. http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php FILE LOCKER will protect your files so they can not be used by other people. It uses three levels of security including 128-bit encryption and Locking. It can lock a single file or millions of files at a time. With true "Point, Select, Lock", its never been easier to maintain your privacy than with File Locker 5.5. Version 5.5 features File Protection so your most important files will never go missing as well as Secure Delete-to destroy all traces of your deleted files. http://www.file-locker.com PHOTOMEISTER helps you to process, edit, and publish photos from your digital camera. Import your photos from your digital camera or local folder and easily edit them to remove red eye, make color or other adjustments and, rotate them more. You can then choose from a variety of options to further process your images - they can be published as a HTML photo gallery or printed, or even packaged for email delivery. You can also create screensavers from your image collection, create PDF files or Palm albums, and more. PhotoMeister can also burn your image collections or album creations directly to CD-ROM without the need for any additional burning software. The program comes with an easy to use interface and step-by-step wizards for every task. Additional features include batch processing, Web publishing support, custom templates, album search, and more. http://www.photomeister.com/ November is the month to renew your Front Range PC Users Group membership. Your support will bring you a continued series of informative meetings, web site improvements, and much more. Bring your payment to the November meeting (or maybe even the October meeting) or send it to the mailing address listed on page 2. k-Byte runs classified ads in Trading Post for three consecutive issues. Trading Post ads up to 10 lines (or 70 words) long are free to FRPCUG members: $5 for non-members. To place an ad in Trading Post contact Rick Mattingly at 970-613-8968 or email rmatt@mesanetworks.net Commercial Advertising Specifications (Monthly rate) Full Page (8 1/2" X 7") $30 Half Page (3 1/4" X 7") $20 One Third Page (3" X 4") $15 Business Card (2" X 3 1/2") $5 We offer a substantial discount for repeat ads and continuing contracts. For additional charge, we will design your ad for you. Contact Rick Mattingly for information on this service at 970-613-8968 or email rmatt@mesanetworks.net. |
FRPCUG Officers Name Work Home e-Mail
President Rick Mattingly 613-8968 rmatt(at)mesanetworks.net
Vice President Don Anderson 498-3534 482-0943 doande(at)gmail.com
Treasurer Virginia Febinger 223-0908 gingercln(at)cs.com
Treasurer Robert Clayton 493-4124 rclayton41244(at)msn.com
Secretary Jim Bragonier 484-9061 james.bragonier(at)comcast.net
k-Byte Staff
Editor-in-Chief Mike Morris 461-2002 461-2002 twriterext(at)gmail.com
Features Editor Mike Morris 461-2002 461-2002 twriterext(at)gmail.com
Advertising Coordinator Open - We need a volunteer! Contact Rick Mattingly in interim.
Other Contacts
Membership Coordinator Jack Linder 663-2151 jack(at)frpcug.org
New Technology SIG Chuck McJilton 493-2987 cdmcjs(at)gmail.com
Door Prize Coordinator John Goldey 221-0877 johngoldey(at)juno.com
FRPCUG Fax Line 493-1408
FRPCUG Home Page w/E-Mail http://www.frpcug.org
FRPCUG Officer E-Mail board(at)frpcug.org
Membership in the Front Range PC Users Group is $25 per year for individuals and $50 per year for companies.
Mail your completed application and payment to:
FRPCUG
PMB 152
305 W. Magnolia
Fort Collins CO 80521
or join in person at the monthly meeting on the first Tuesday of each month.
