Anniversary of Computer Virus No Cause for Celebration, by Beverly Rosenbaum, Member, HAL-PC (Houston Area League of PC Users), Texas. Did you know that viruses date back at least 20 years and maybe even 30 years? The term “worm” was first used in a 1982 paper by researchers at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center to describe the automated program they used to update an Ethernet performance-measuring application. And, over several decades, viruses and worms have grown from academic exercises to online threats, wreaking havoc on millions of computers worldwide. We can always learn more information about viruses & worms and Beverly’s article makes interesting reading in this time of more and more outbreaks.
Digital Photography and Printing, by Charlotte Semple, President & Editor and Charles Mahan, Wi-Fi SIG Leader, Los Angeles Computer Society, California. In southern California we have been having wonderful presentations by The Digital Guy, Lee Otsubo. This article is an overview of what he talks about at his presentations. From newbie to expert, it has information that will enhance your members’ digital experience. It’s 2,250 words so I’m going to break it up into two parts for my group’s newsletter.
Don’t Be a Victim of Health Scare Stories, by Alicia King Padgett, Alicia-apcug@comcast.net, APCUG Advisor for Region 9. This article was originally in the April Reports but I thought you might want to put it in your newsletters. It has important information about healthcare scams on the Internet and should be of interest to all of your members.
Internet Annoyances, by Sherry Zorzi, Secretary Cajun Clickers Computer Club, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Advisor for Region 8. The Internet is full of creepy-crawly beasties. Spam, popups, hoaxes, cookies, spyware – what are these critters and how do you tame them? Sherry’s article contains timely tips & tricks for conquering the critters.
Tech News, by Sue Crane, Vice President and Editor, Bearly Bytes, Newsletter of the Big Bear Computer Club, California. Sue has compiled some interesting information for us about our computer world. From Entertainment PCs and Lifestyle PCs to Internet2 and IBM’s new Web-based desktop software, you’ll have some of the latest computer news at your fingertips to amuse & amaze your friends & relatives.
Use Run commands for fast access to almost everything, by Linda Gonse, Editor, Orange County PC Users’ Group, California. Did you know that the Run command is the Swiss Army knife of Windows’ built-in apps and using it can make your computing time move along more quickly and smoothly? Techies use the Run command frequently and after reading this article, we’ll all be able to use it to access various systems diagnostics and information.
Charlie’s Tidbits, Charlie Paschal, Editor/Publisher, Palmetto Personal Computer Club, Columbia, SC Columnist, The (Columbia) State newspaper, SC. As an editor, Charlie says he is always looking for short articles to fill a little bit of white space on a page. Charlie’s Tidbits features four articles from 159 to 210 words that you can use as fillers.
For beginners only – Using Internet to increase buying power, by Charlie Paschal, Editor/Publisher, Palmetto Personal Computer Club, Columbia, SC Columnist, The (Columbia) State newspaper, SC. Buying on the Internet may intimidate some but the Internet can serve other purposes, such as a way to check prices against what you can find locally or in nearby stores. Another way to use the Internet is to check the features of different models or the features of a model you’re thinking about buying. This can reap dividends because while doing this research, you may find that the model you’re buying might not have the features you really need.
Getting to Know Google, by Billy Mabray, Oklahoma City PC Users Group. Google rose to the top of the search engines because its formula provided more relevant search results than any other. After reading Billy’s article, your readers will find out some new information about Google and also learn how to refine their searches.
The Intel PC User Group Website, by Steve Peyrot, APCUG Treasurer, APCUG Board of Advisors – Region 13, Vendor Relations Director, East Tennessee Computer Society. The Intel PC User Group website has been developed by our partners at Intel to assist us in tackling our everyday challenges through a vast portal of information and knowledge. They have always realized the importance of user groups and are providing us with this repository of information and support. Follow Steve through the article as he takes us on a tour of the Intel PC User Group landing page.
The Music Wars, by Wayne Steen, Q-Bits Contributing Editor, Quad-Cities Computer Society, Bettendorf, Iowa. What do Apple, Microsoft and Wal-Mart have in common with the music industry? They have already introduced, or are introducing their own online music services. Of course, not all famous artists are available for download with one of the online services. Will we need to subscribe to several services or still pay $18.99 to buy the CD at the store?
Virus Attacks Continue at Record Rate, by Ira Wilsker, APCUG Board of Directors, APCUG Representative & Bylaws Chair for the Golden Triangle PC Club, a columnist for The Examiner in Beaumont, Texas, and has two radio shows. The number of attempted computer attacks from viruses, worms, and Trojans has increased to a record level. According to Panda Software, the average daily number of new viruses and variants appearing for the week ending April 16 was 122 a day, a rate that has been steadily increasing over the preceding few weeks. Ira’s article also covers the security threat at all levels from our own computers to the national infrastructure. A must read for all computer users.
Whither the Yellow Box?, by Moe Norris, Topeka PC Users Club, Kansas. Kodak’s landmark shift in focus from film and film-based products to digital equipment and processes is a huge gamble. If fortune does not smile on Kodak, then not only may the Yellow Film Box disappear, but the company itself may go down the same path – and it won’t be the Yellow Brick Road!
Computer Rage, Elise M. Edgell and Jim Sanders, North Orange County Computer Club, California. Do you know someone who reacts as a put-upon individual when using their computer, which they would rather not use, can’t really see the benefit in using it, would rather be doing anything else other than sitting there in front of it? Share this article with them and let them know they can acquire the information and skills they need to feel in control of their computer by visiting and joining your user group.
Computers – From the Very Beginning for New Users, Charlie Paschal, Palmetto Personal Computer Club, Columbia, South Carolina. Just about anything can break Windows – such as installing a new program or getting rid of an old one. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do both – but even if you do things the right way, you still can have problems. Windows 2000 and XP have better ways to recover than 98 but it’s still not a perfect world! That’s where the knowledge of one keystroke might be able to save your skin. Suspense!!!! Your members will learn from his article about that keystroke and more to ‘fix’ their Windows.
Do you use one space or two spaces at the end of a sentence? June Hall, Editor, Windows on the Rockies User Group, Colorado. This article will let your members know how to save time and be up-to-date -- one or two spaces at the end of a sentence – when writing articles and reviews for your newsletter.
E-mail is 32 years old, Jim Smith, President, Business and Professional Microcomputer Users Group, Inc., Connecticut. The very first basic e-mail program was written and the “@” sign was chosen for its “at” meaning in March of 1972. Jim’s article talks about scams, hoaxes, jokes, Phishing, plus the wonderful things that e-mail has brought us over these 32 years.
How to safely troubleshoot your system, Siles Bazerman, User Group Columnist, Orange County IBM PC Users’ Group, California. This article isn’t written to show how clever Siles is at problem solving, but to show an example of how to problem solve. Do you know what the most important utility to use when troubleshooting? The one behind your eyes and between your ears.
Reflections on the Mac at 20, Lowell J. Erickson, Mountain View Users Group, Arizona. Another birthday! Twenty years ago, in January 1984, two momentous events occurred. The first was an ad that appeared during the TV broadcast of the Super Bowl (LA Raiders v. Washington Redskins; LA won 38-9). The other, two days later, was the introduction of a new kind of personal computer. The ad is one of the most renowned in advertising history – announcing the Macintosh computer. Your members will enjoy remembering that they saw the ad during the broadcast of the game and learn about the Macs’ history during those 20 years.
Accessibility for Everyone by Billy Mabray, Oklahoma City PC Users Group. There is a wide range of physical conditions that can make using the Web difficult. 100% of Internet users are growing older. At some point, we will all need help navigating the Web. Billy shows us many ways we can make the Web more accessible.
Computer Memory by Brian K. Lewis, PhD, Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., Florida. Just how much memory can be put in a computer? The answer is “it depends.” It depends on just what you mean by memory (RAM or hard disk), what OS you are using and the capabilities of your computer’s motherboard and its chipset. Brian’s article is about RAM – the volatile, or temporary, memory where everything disappears when you turn off your computer.
Ergonomic Gizmos by John R. Chait, D.C., Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., Florida. Are you an occasional user who works on your laptop for short periods of time, or are you a full-time user with the laptop as your main computer? Check out Dr. Chait’s hints on how to use your laptop more comfortably (or can you?).
Hi, I’m from the Government and I’m Here to Help Your Computer by Ira Wilsker. How much should the government be involved in our personal computing? Did you know that there is an increasing amount of influence government agencies are having in our routine computer utilization? Ira tells us about several alerts’ we can subscribe to such as Cyber Security Tips, alerts from Homeland Security, and more.
IRS Again Offers Free Online Filing Services by Ira Wilsker. It’s that time again, and our friendly IRS is coordinating a variety of free online filing services. Free is always a good thing.
PCI Express – Say Goodbye to AGP and PCI Slots by Tim Everingham, TUGNET, Granada Hills, CA. Remember when card slots were referred to as ISA, EISA, Microchannel, and VESA Local Bus. ISA, EISA and Microchannel were replaced by PCI, then AGP slots --- who can keep up! PCI Express uses serial networking at high speeds and allows concurrent transfer of data. Tim leads us through the ins and outs of this new architecture.
What is APCUG? By Charlotte Semple, President / Editor, Los Angeles Computer Society, CA. Are your members clueless as to why your group belongs to APCUG? Are your BOD members not too sure, either? Charlotte’s article is full of information about APCUG and reminds us why we belong.
Choosing a Surge Suppressor, Vinny La Bash, Sarasota PCUG, Florida. Very informative article on spikes and surges and why we need a surge suppressor, surge station or uninterruptible power supply.
Computer Viruses and Spam Rules in 2003 – Be Prepared!, Ira Wilsker. As the gruff sergeant on “Hill Street Blues” said at the end of every roll call, “Be careful out there!” We may be better prepared to deal with spam in 2004, but there are indications it is still increasing at a rapid rate.
Is that a PC in Your Pocket/Purse?, Lee Schwab, Napa PCUG, California. For some, the Pocket PC is an incredibly useful tool while some people confuse it with a Palm. The Pocket PC uses a scaled down version of the MS Windows operating system called MS Windows Mobile 2003. This article will give you the information to decide if you want to put one in your pocket or purse.
Picture and Video Files: Size Matters, Timothy Everingham, TUGNET, Granada Hills, CA. Hmmmm, size does matter in regards to the size of picture, graphics, and video files. Pixels, color bit depth, small file sizes, lossless compession – all in this article that helps you through the endless maze of the ways you can save picture and video files.
Still Annoyed with Your PC? Keep Fighting Back!, Steve Bass. Steve tackles another handful of his most (and quite possibly your) irritating annoyances.
What is Your Resolution?, George McGinnis, Computer Society of West Florida – Pensacola. Don’t worry, George isn’t talking about New Year’s Resolutions. Instead it is about the resolution of your monitor and how correctly the monitor will portray the textual and graphical material that is sent to it by the graphics board in your computer.
Accessories for that New Digital Camera, Ira Wilsker. The national media predicted that digital cameras sales will soar this holiday season and Ira lets us know about some items we should buy to enhance our digital camera experience: cases (don’t practice the fine art of “buying cheap” and trusting a several-hundred dollar camera to a five dollar case), additional memory, photo editing software, printers and more.
Essentials for that New Computer, Ira Wilsker. Didn’t get a digital camera? Well, according to preliminary sales figures, computers were among the most popular items purchased this holiday season. Almost all of the new computers straight from the box were most likely manufactured prior to the release of the latest security patches and will require the downloading and installation of all critical updates. Ira has a lot of tips & tricks for people who bought those new computers.
Inhuman Computers, Elizabeth R. Wright, Oklahoma City PCUG. Cars often take on the personality of the owner, much like pets do. Computers, on the other hand, have no soul, no compassion, and certainly no desire to please and cannot be humiliated by ridicule or strengthened by praise and most certainly don’t respond to human reasoning. But your computer can be tricked ---- find out how in Elizabeth’s article.
New Year’s Computing Resolutions, Ira Wilsker. Important resolutions to make & keep regarding your computer --- whether you have a new one, an older model, or are getting ready to upgrade.
Online Information for the Elderly & the Disabled, Steve Rosenthal, Space Coast PC Users Group, Cocoa, Florida. Steve gives seniors, or those approaching senior-hood, a wealth of information that will enable them to find out important information about their benefits.
Take Rest Breaks, Exercise to Prevent Computer Ailments, Ken Fermoyle. First published in 2000, Ken’s article is full of suggestions on how to stay healthy while using your computer.
To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade!, Timothy Everingham, TUGNET. OK, you didn’t get that new computer as a holiday present. Timothy asks whether it is nobler to upgrade the computer you have or to put aside the invested fortune of your current computer and get a new one.
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