June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 1 | The Outer E
July 2010 Vol. 23, No. 12 d Whole No. 279 ISSN 1055-4399 g e
The Friendly Computer Club Helping Make Computers Friendly. On the Web at www.cipcug.org
COMMAND.COM Attendance at the By Rick Curry, President June general meeting appy Independence Day! Mandatory history fun facts: We de- 67 members and guests clared Independence on July 2 (to the arriving British Navy); July
4 was the day Congress settled on the text of the Declaration of
Independence. July 8 was when the Declaration was first read to Hthe public. The actual fireworks began a week later at Lyndley’s Fort, S.C. It To Contact CIPCUG was about 2½ weeks later (Aug 2) that the famous signatures began to appear The Outer Edge...... 805-485-7121 on the documents. General Information………...805-289-3960 Mailing Address...P.O. Box 51354, Oxnard, CA Thanks to Dan Holmes for his Tips & Tricks for digital 93031-1354 photography. I think the most interesting parts of his talk were on composition and not specific to digital media. Dan is a local Ventura businessman and can be found on the Web at http:// danholmesphoto.com Sit Up Straight! Officers re-elected Curry The importance of my mother’s cheerful reminders about The current officers were re-elected by posture was recently emphasized to me by a chiropractor. It is acclimation at the June meeting. President not just about appearance — who knew? Rick Curry’s two-year had not expired, so he What the chiropractor showed me was how the spine should look like a was not up for election. cobra standing up for a strike: a curve at the base near the waist and a curve Vice President Craig Ladd, Secretary at the top by the head. Then he showed me what I was doing. Then I went Diane Mortensen and Treasurer Art Lewis back to work and could easily see half of the people doing the same thing! were re-elected. I, and apparently a lot of other people, crane my neck toward the screen The immediate past president, Paul Weste- when I get engrossed in a problem. In some apparent attempt to gain enlight- fer, is also an officer. The other board mem- enment through proximity to the radiance of the pixels, I arch forward seem- bers are appointed positions. ing poised to literally dive into the problem. This somewhat comical and mostly harmless histrionic becomes an issue Inside when the position is sustained. Aside from the unflattering turtle appearance I give myself when I do this, it pulls on the muscles in the neck and shoulders Photographer shares tips and tricks and gives me an ache between my shoulder blades. — Page 9 And this was my epiphany for the month: Proper posture at a computer Attendees report on computer conference means sitting like a concert pianist (hint: Your back should not be against the — Page 11 back of the chair if your hands are on the keyboard!), and your head should Open source program to create PDFs be back (I am still having to work on this one). — Page 15 And of course, if you are feeling a need to slouch, you probably need to get up and walk around or perhaps to take a short nap. It is surprisingly diffi- (Continued on page 3) Page 2 The Outer Edge June 2010 Channel Islands Root Directory PC Users Group CIPCUG mailing address: CIPCUG NEWS P.O. Box 51354, Oxnard, CA Benefits ...... 23 93031-1354 Board minutes ...... 3 Coming CIPCUG events...... 3 Executive Committee Contributors to TOE...... 20 (Elected members of Board of Directors) Command.com...... 1 President……………………...Rick Curry CIPCUG is a member of APCUG, Editor’s Corner...... 20 .………….…………[email protected] The Association of PC Users Groups F1 — Your Help Key...... 22 Vice President/Program Chairman Map, schedule ...... 24 ………………………………..Craig Ladd The Outer Edge Membership report...... 21 ……………[email protected] Editor……………………..John Weigle Program: Photo tips and tricks ...... 8 Secretary………………..Diane Mortensen P.O. Box 6536, Ventura CA 93006 Q&A session ...... 4 …………………[email protected] Treasurer’s report...... 20 485-7121………[email protected] Treasurer…………….……....…Art Lewis The Outer Edge is published monthly by Channel ………………….…[email protected] Islands PC Users Group (CIPCUG), P.O. Box 51354, GENERAL Immediate Past President Oxnard, Calif. 93031-1354. an independent, nonprofit ……………………...…..Paul Westefer corporation. Contents of The Outer Edge copyright Comuting 101: Some tips for ……...………[email protected] 2001 by Channel Islands PC Users Group. beginners...... 19 Permission for reproduction in whole or in part is Excel and Word tips...... 16 granted to other computer user groups for internal (Appointed members Highlights of Southwest nonprofit use provided credit is given to The Outer of Board of Directors) Computer Conferenct...... 11 Edge and the authors of the reproduced material. All Technical Adviser…………..Toby Scott other reproduction is prohibited without prior written Penguin’s Lair: An open source Web Page Editor….… Penelope Curry consent of Channel Islands PC Users Group. PDF document creator...... 15 ………………[email protected] Opinions expressed in this journal are solely those of Rick’s rant: Taking an SSD test the authors or contributors, and do not necessarily TOE editor.…….………….John Weigle drive: Wow! ...... 13 represent those of Channel Islands PC Users Group, ……………………[email protected] Smart Computing tips and its officers or membership as a whole. The Membership Chairman.…...Ken Church information provided is believed to be correct and fun facts...... 14 ………………[email protected] useful; however, no warranty, express or implied, is Windows 7 and Carbonite: made by Channel Islands PC Users Group, its officers, A personal horror story ...... 18 editorial staff or contributors. This disclaimer extends Ex-officio members of Board of Directors to all losses, incidental or consequential, resulting from Chief Protocol Officer……George Lakes the use or application of the information provided. ADVERTISEMENTS CIPCUG ISP Signups………..Art Lewis Channel Islands PC Users Group does not endorse or Creative Technology...... 13 Sound Equipment Technicians recommend any specific hardware or software products, Members’ classified ads...... 15 dealers, distributors or manufacturers. All trademarked ………… Jim Burke and David Minkin or registered trademarked names are acknowledged to O’Reilly ...... 13 Marketing Director……… Ron Pinkerton Ventura County Computers...... 14 be the property of their respective owners, and are used Program Chairman………..…Craig Ladd for editorial purposes only. Publicity Chairman...…..…Paul Westefer SIG coordinator…..…….;..Larry Hudson Advertising in The Outer Edge Advertising is accepted for computer-related Past Presidents materials, businesses and services only. Rates are Walt Yates………………………1987-1989 for Camera-Ready copy (clear, clean black and Lois Evans de Violini…………...1989-1991 white masters). Typesetting and graphics are Terry Lee………………………..1991-1993 available at an additional fee. Jerry McLoud…………………...1993-1995 Robert Provart…………………..1995-1997 SIZE Toby Scott………………………1997-1999 Cost/Issue George Lakes …………………...1999-2001 FULL-PAGE (9½”H x 7¼”W)...... $50.00 Andy Toth……………………….2001-2003 HALF-PAGE (4½”H x 7¼”W) David Harris…………………….2003-2005 or (9½”H x 3½”W )....…...... $30.00 Lois Evans de Violini ...... 2005-2007 THIRD-PAGE (3”H x 7¼” W)………….$25.00 Paul Westefer…………………….2007-2009 QUARTER-PAGE (4½”H x 3½W)...... $20.00 (With the exception of the immediate past BUSINESS CARD ad...... $15.00 president, past presidents are not board members.) Discounts for multiple issues (3, 6, 9 and 12 Life members months) Frank Segesman* Ad copy deadline is the 5th of the month of Toby Scott publication. Lois Evans de Violini Make all checks payable to CIPCUG . Art Lewis 2006 Southwest User Group *Deceased Members’ classified ads are free but are limited to Conference: second place in both the 105 characters, including spaces. newsletter and Web site contests.
June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 3
Coming events Infogrip presentation scheduled in July
Programs Computing 101 SIG start at 8:45 a.m. If announced. Aaron Gaston of Infogrip Inc. inVen- you can show up early to help set up, tura will be the speaker at the July 24 please do. The room seems to be different SIGs meeting at the Camarillo Boys & Girls every month, and we have to move lots of Except for the Thousand Oaks PC Club, 1500 Temple Ave. (southeast cor- tables and chairs around. Club Photo Group, the Special Interest ner of Ponderosa Drive and Temple Ave- Other coming meetings: Groups (SIGs) are sponsored by CIPCUG nue), Camarillo (see map on page 20). Aug. 28: Tentatively, a presentation and led by volunteer club members. Infogrip, 1899 E. Main St., Ventura, by Toby Scott and Michael Shalkey. Unless otherwise noted, the CIPCUG offers a variety of assistive technology Sept. 25: Iolo — Michael Simpson SIGs run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at hardware and software in several catego- and/or Abbas will discuss Search & Re- Ventura County Computers, 2175 ries: keyboards; pointing, mice, track- cover and Drive Scrubber. Goodyear Ave., Unit 117, Ventura; phone balls; software; ergonomics; switches; Oct. 23: Klassic Specialities, Don 289-3960. From the 101 Freeway, exit at vision; communication; mounting; adapt- Baker (ink, paper and other printing Telephone, take Telephone south to ers; desks/workstations; and miscellane- needs). McGrath, turn left and go one block. Turn ous. The company’s website is in- Nov. 20, Third Saturday: Jim Glass, right on Goodyear and right again into the fogrip.com. Ins & Outs of Digital Photography. second driveway. Unit 117 is the back, The doors open at 8:30 a.m.. The Dec. 18, Third Saturday: Toby Scott right corner of the building. Internet and Networking SIG and the and Michael Shalkey on a topic to be (Continued on page 4) Minutes of June Board of Directors meeting By Diane Mortensen attended June 4-6, 2010. All expenses Discussions ensued on how to promote secretary @cipcug.org were covered with $4.25 remaining, this SIG to a broader population. The CIPCUG Board of Directors held which was given to Art. Craig and Diane John announced that the cutoff date its monthly meeting on summarized their experiences at the for TOE articles is Sunday, July 4, 2010. June 26, 2010. In atten- Southwest Computer Conference. Helen volunteered to update CIP- dance were President Rick Ken notified the board that today’s CUG’s website to the degree she is able Curry, Immediate Past meeting and SIGs were recorded with the and has time. President Paul Westefer, new digital recording equipment and that The subject of future meeting presen- Vice-President Craig Ladd, Diane would receive the USB flash drive tations was discussed, and Toby again TOE Editor John Weigle, containing today’s regular Q&A session offered, if requested in advance, that he Tech Adviser Toby Scott, Mortensen recording and the transcription software and Michael could develop a range of Treasurer Art Lewis, Helen will be loaded on Diane’s computer. topics to present. Toby suggested one or Long, Membership Chairman Ken Diane will keep the transcription kit con- more could be on free open source pro- Church, and Secretary Diane Mortensen. taining the footswitch, software disk and grams or “freeware.” Of interest is more The meeting was called to order by headset. A backup cassette tape was also information and “how-to” for Office 2010 Rick, who asked if there was any old made of today’s meeting including the and the numerous free programs avail- business and/or updates : Q&A session and given to Diane, just in able, including OpenOffice. Along this Diane provided the board with a case. line, members discussed when Toby and breakdown of expenses for the Southwest Turning to new business: Michael make the next presentation on Computer Conference she and Craig Craig provided the board with a tally freeware, that a variety of freeware pro- of the meeting surveys collected from grams be loaded on to new flash drives More on Command.com CIPCUG attendees at the April meeting and available for sale. and published in the May issue of TOE. Art presented the treasurer’s report for (Continued from page 1) There were only 12 returned surveys. May 2010 to board members in addition cult to absorb new ideas without a nap; The majority of the respondents were to presenting it in today’s business meet- our brains need a chance to file the in- satisfied with the club’s meeting presen- ing. A copy of the treasurer’s report ap- formation away. tations and some would like to see more pears elsewhere in TOE. Now remember what your mother diversity in door prizes and SIGS. With no further matters to discuss, it told you and sit up straight! Paul commented that there were only was moved, seconded, and approved to Happy computing! three people at the Beginner’s Sig today. adjourn the meeting.
Page 4 The Outer Edge June 2010 Q&A NoScript Firefox add-on, Java Script Unless otherwise noted, the questions it blocks, and you can decide whether to als write add-ons for it, including some are answered by Toby Scott, our let them run or not. He went to CNN.com for FTP, news readers and various social technical adviser and a partner in with NoScript running and showed both networking sites. When I tell you it’s Ventura County Computers. — Editor the notification and blank spots on the customizable, I’m not kidding, but don’t screen where the script items would nor- load it up because that will slow its open- Internet and networking SIG mally appear. ing. If you find Add-ons you don’t like, Toby Scott: Most of these items are delete them rather than just letting them Reported by John Weigle ads. The sites get paid if you click the run. NoScript Add-on link to an ad. The most common one is JavaScript Q: Last time, you discussed an add-on DoubleClick.com. If you look at the Q: What’s JavaScript? to Firefox that stopped something from cookies on your browser, you’ll find A: It’s like a batch file, a series of playing. Can you go over that again? some that track the DoubleClick ads you commands to run. It’s an unfortunate A: You’re probably talking about No- go to. name because it’s not related to Java. Script, which allows Flash, JavaScript, Michael Shalkey: NoScript puts an JavaScript gets browsers to do things, Java and other executable content to run icon in the lower right of your browser some of which you don’t want done. It’s only from trusted domains. You can al- when it’s running. Clicking on it brings a constant war between script writers and low scripts to run on sites you trust. up several options. script blockers to prevent the bad things. Michael Shalkey: When you have it Toby Scott: Firefox can be modified installed, you’ll get a notice of scripts that in many ways. Companies and individu- (Continued on page 5)
More on coming events ...
(Continued from page 3) Door prizes The club gets 10 percent of the sales The pre-meeting SIGs are at 8:45 a.m. price. Sold items must be picked up at at the Boys & Girls Club. The after- We have two types of raffle tickets: one for prizes offered by the presenter the end of the day’s meeting. Any items meeting SIG is at 1:30 p.m. at The Star, and one for club-provided prizes. The not picked up will become the property of 550 Camarillo Center Drive, Camarillo. tickets for the presenter’s prizes are free CIPCUG and will be subject to disposal There is no charge for members to and limited to one per member. at the club’s discretion. attend the CIPCUG SIGs. The tickets for the club-provided CIPCUG is not responsible in any Until further notice, the Photo prizes are $1 each, $5 for six tickets, $10 way for items bought or sold at the table. Group is not accepting new members for 13 tickets, $15 for 20 tickets and $20 Each item is sold as-is unless otherwise or guests because it is close to for 27 tickets and are available to stated. outgrowing its meeting room. The anyone. Those who can’t stay until the Meeting, SIG notices TOPCC Photo Group, which meets at drawing may sign their tickets and give the person selling the tickets a list of the If you would like e-mail notices of 6:30 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Library, regular meetings and SIGs, go to 1401 E. Janss Road, charges $3 per prizes they would like in the order they’d pick them. Winners’ prizes will be held www.cipcug.org, where you’ll find a link meeting for those who are not members until the next meeting. on the home page to sign up. The URL is of the Thousand Oaks PC Club. The Web cipcug.org/listserv.cfm. site is http://topcc.org/dnn/SIGsPrograms/ Consignment table You will need your membership PhotoGroup/tabid/65/Default.aspx. A consignment table is set up at every number, which is on the back cover of The general schedule meeting. Anyone can buy, but only TOE, to complete the sign-up. First Monday (except in months that members can sell. have holidays on or near the first Monday): TOPCC Photo Group. It is not The Star, 550 Camarillo Center Drive, August taking new members or guests until Camarillo. Tuesday, Aug. 24: Linxu SIG. Topic further notice. The schedules for the balance of July TBA. Fourth Tuesday: Linux. and all of August follow: Aug. 28: regular meeting and sigs, Fourth Saturday (or the regular July program TBA. meeting day): Computing 101 SIG Saturday, July 24: regular meeting Be sure to check the calendar on (Jessica Scott and Mark Maidel) and and SIGs, program is Infogrip. cipcug.org for updates on event pro- Internet and e-mail SIG, 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 27: Linux SIG. Ques- grams, dates and times. Michael Shalkey’s after-meeting SIG at tion-and-answer session. June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 5 More Q&A: Eudora, Linux viruses (Continued from page 4) Playing games online If you don’t do updates to your browser, This month’s Q&A topics: Office emulation it’s vulnerable to attacks. Internet and e-networking SIG NoScript Add-on No upgrade price for Office 2010 Acrobat Reader; Windows 7 boot disk JavaScript Reading 2010 documents in 2003 A question on blocking scripts in Ac- Acrobat Reader; Windows 7 boot Scanning document to fill in robat Reader was delayed to the general disk blanks Q&A. Eudora Finding a missing menu A question on preparing a boot disc Linux viruses Making Windows 7 boot disks for Windows 7 was delayed to the general E-mail problems Finding cheaper Office 2010 Q&A. Recovering from disks Eudora Regular Q&A Restrictions on new drive Q: Is there a new version of Eudora? Free Microsoft Office A: Not really. Qualcomm stopped making the e-mail program because there my replies to Hotmail messages back to A: That shouldn’t happen. I don’t were so many free e-mail programs they Hotmail. have a solution. couldn’t make any money from it. A: If you answer the mail from Thun- Q: I’ve sent mail that didn’t arrive, Mozilla is working on a new version, but derbird, Thunderbird keeps a copy of the and people have sent me mail that didn’t so far the only versions are beta, which I sent mail on your computer. That’s true arrive. I have accounts on Yahoo and don’t recommend. The older Qualcomm of any e-mail client. If you answer the Hotmail. versions don’t work very well any more. message from Hotmail, a copy of the A: Both programs have anti-spam (Those who want to follow the develop- message will be saved in the Hotmail sent tools. Hotmail puts what it believes to be ment of Mozilla’s Eudora and go to box. If you want a copy of the answer on spam in a suspected junk mail folder. https://wiki.mozilla.org/ Hotmail, you can work around it by send- Yahoo is more destructive and just elimi- Eudora_Releases .) ing a blind carbon copy (Bcc) to yourself nates some messages it thinks are spam The Mozilla Foundation is good about at your Hotmail address and then move it and doesn’t give you a chance to decide. I not releasing things too soon, unlike some to your sent messages folder. find that unacceptable. of its competitors. If you want to sync your e-mail on I check my Yahoo account every three Linux viruses different machines you can use this tech- months because I have it listed as an Out- Q: Can Linux get a virus? nique, but do it judiciously. Open Thun- look task so they won’t disable the ac- A: Yes. At a white hat hacker confer- derbird, go to Tools > Account Settings count. I use it only for testing if a cus- ence recently, Macintosh was the least and open an account. Go to Server Set- tomer calls and says his client with a Ya- safe architecture. But it’s not attacked tings and check the box “Leave messages hoo account isn’t getting a message. If it because of its small market share. This on server” and pick a comparatively short goes to my account, I know the problem year, a hacker got into a Linux box faster time period. This will let you download is with the client’s account. I just delete than Windows 7. mail to one computer, leaving the mes- everything when I go to it. You need a Windows 7 and Vista are architectur- sages on the server. Then sign on with the Yahoo account if you’re an e-mail admin- ally safer than Mac and Linux, but more other computer and download the mes- istrator. I don’t approve of any e-mail people use Windows machines, so they’re sages. Be sure to delete messages after administrator playing God and deciding attacked more. The sophistication of most you’ve downloaded to both computers or what messages will be eliminated without Windows users is also less. Windows has your ISP is likely to get quite unhappy the intended recipient’s knowledge. I about 90 percent of the market and Mac with you. have no problems with suspected spam about 5 percent, with other systems mak- Q: Does it work with accounts on the being sent to a junk or spam folder that ing up the rest. More information about Internet? Live Mail can bring in mail you can check. market shares of a variety of software, from other accounts. Sometimes if I de- If you decide to switch e-mail ac- including operating systems and brows- lete items in Gmail, Live Mail picks them counts, you’ll have to notify everyone ers, can be found at http:// up again. you want to get mail from. One way to do marketshare.hitslink.com . Audience: Gmail says it can pick up that is to send them a message from the Windows has a reputation of being messages from lots of other online pro- new address noting you have a new ad- more insecure because more hackers try grams. dress and when they reply it’ll go in their to get into it, and Windows machines are Michael Shalkey: Check or uncheck address book. easier to find when hackers search the the “Leave on server” box for each ac- Michael Shalkey: Hotmail and some Internet for insecure computers. count you have to change the option. other programs have a “not junk” button E-mail problems Q: Gmail sometimes doesn’t appear in on messages. Q: Thunderbird doesn’t send copies of Sent mail. (Continued on page 6)
Page 6 The Outer Edge June 2010 More Q&A: Office versions, online games
(Continued from page 5) can get confused about what has been this available for those who do not yet Toby Scott: I like Gmail and Hotmail downloaded. (Note: if you delete have Windows 7? but not Yahoo. Yahoo is fine if you get ‘popstate.dat’ and you still have messages A: Correct. You would use Skype for little mail. But if a message doesn’t show on the server that have already been your chat, play the games, and include up in the inbox or junk, you’ll never see downloaded once, they will all get voice. You can go on with XP. There are it. downloaded again.) many online games, but stay with major Michael Shalkey: To be fair, they’re “As a last resort, you can try creating links. Microsoft has a lot of online games fighting spam, but it’s incredibly aggres- a new profile , setting up your accounts in and Sierra, too. I do not know that much sive. it, and then migrating your mail and ad- about gaming. Toby Scott: My wife is an architect, dress books over from the old profile. Audience comment: Most kids have a and Yahoo won’t accept her big files or “If you share your mails with Win- Wii and you can hook up the Internet to send any kind of error message or indica- dows/linux viaThunderbird (prefs.js tip), the Wii and play games that way. tion that the mail was not accepted. It’s a and you always get the leaved message Office emulation problem when clients say they didn’t get again, ensure you’ve removed all the rela- Q: In Office 2007, there is a getting a message, and she says she sent it. tive paths in the prefs.js you’ve modified. started selection you can hit on, go back Q: Thunderbird is getting duplicates “Of course, if you try deleting files or and it will bring up an emulation of 2003 of messages. I’ve unchecked “leave on making a new profile, it’s wise to first if you can’t find your commands in 2007. server.” make a temporary backup of your mail There is also a lone custom toolbar across A: I don’t know for certain. The only and settings.” the screen you can populate with your thing I can think of is that it’s not com- personal commands. It is terrible, but at pleting the download and starts over. Af- Regular Q&A least it is there. My question is can you ter the server sends the last message, it purchase Office 2003? Reported by Diane Mortensen sends a message to the e-mail program A: Possibly on eBay, but not from saying, “that’s all; did you get every- Free Microsoft Office major vendors so you may not feel too thing?” If your computer says yes, the Q: Which of the Microsoft Office comfortable. server deletes the messages; if your com- 2010 editions is free? No upgrade price for Office 2010 puter says no, the process starts over, and A: A starter edition will be free, and Q: I like to have everything that is you might get duplicates there. The proc- they are about to announce that; however new, but I am resistant going to 2010 ess is called “ack exchange” (for the starter edition is just Word and Excel. because they do not offer an update. You “acknowledgement exchange”). Playing games online have to get the full version. Michael Shalkey: MozillaZine at Q: Does anyone in the group have any A: Yes, there are no upgrades to 2010. http://kb.mozillazine.org/ suggestions on how I can play games Understand Microsoft-think and increas- Duplicate_messages_received has some with my 9-year-old grandson who lives in ingly Microsoft money is made from cor- possible solutions, but use them only if Indiana? Could that possibly be done by porate sales and not from people like us. you’re getting duplicate messages. The using Skype or is there a way that I being What they are trying to get people to do is possible solutions (taken directly from the here and he being there can install a pro- to essentially license a product on an an- Web site): gram so that we might be able to play nual fee and you can get Office with the “Set Thunderbird to delete messages together? software assurance and it gives you a from the server: go to ‘Tools > Account A: In Windows 7, you can go to the certain amount of tech support and any- Settings > Server settings’, and uncheck games and there is Internet. Microsoft time a new product or conversion comes ‘Leave messages on server.’ came up with Internet Checkers, Internet out you get a license for it automatically. “Compact your mail folders on a Hearts, Spades, and several games that That is what they want to sell, the product regular basis. are Wild Tangent. I do not like WildTan- with software assurance. In order to en- “Compact folders, exit Thunderbird, gent games because of spyware, but there courage that, they got rid of the upgrade and go to your mail folders (in your pro- are several of these gaming things. What rates. It’s a corporate decision, not much file folder ). Delete the index files, named you can do is use Skype or a chat window you can do about it. Understand you can ‘*.msf’ (such as ‘Inbox.msf’). These will and sign into like Game 435 when there is use Office ’97. I did it. be rebuilt when you launch the applica- an empty seat. Kids can do card games or Reading 2010 documents in 2003 tion again. (You should not need to do whatever kind of game you are in. You Q: Those of us with 2003, can we this on a regular basis, however.) can pick your opponent. read 2010 documents? Do we use the “Try deleting the popstate.dat file Q: So, is there like one table in front same translator used for 2007? from the account subfolder in the ‘Mail’ where each one of us can move in, and it A: Yes, same format as 2007. They folder in your profile folder . If shows up on both? With Skype, can we ‘popstate.dat’ gets corrupted Thunderbird also talk back and forth? In addition, is (Continued on page 7)
June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 7 More Q&A: PDF documents, boot disks
(Continued from page 6) sometime this year, Adobe will beat Mi- 32-bit and 64-bit repair disks. You want changed the format between ’97 and 2000 crosoft as the most vulnerable part of to make sure you are using the right re- and then it was the same format to 2000, your computer where bad people can pair disk if you are trying to repair a com- 2002, 2003, and they changed it for 2007 come in and take over. They are going to puter . When I do it on the computer I am and it is the same as 2010. There are win. working at and it is a 64-bit, then I will three formats — ’97 format, 2000 to 2003 Here is one of the ways to prevent it. create a Windows 7 Home Premium 64- formats and then 2007 to 2010 so far for- Open up Acrobat Reader (any version bit repair disk. This will boot only the mats. from 6 to 9) go to Edit > Preferences, and machine I am at and repair any problems Scanning document to fill in blanks click on Javascript then definitely UN- I am having. That is why everyone should Q: Can you scan a document in 2010, CHECK that box where it says, “Enable” burn his or her own boot disk. then go in, and fill in the blanks. In Open which should be left blank. That means You can also do a restore disk. Once Office, you can, in Microsoft Office, no. that when I open up a PDF file such as an everything you want is installed and Michael: I had this as the topic as one attachment to an e-mail, it can have em- working correctly, in Windows 7 click of the after-meeting SIGs three months bedded in it a Java script, which could be Start and type “backup” and then select ago. I can rerun that SIG and show you malicious and can take over my com- Backup and Restore from the options how to turn any piece of paper into a syl- puter. If I just look at a PDF, my com- presented. On the left, select “Create a lable, audible PDF. I can do that as a tuto- puter can now be infected. Also note at system image.” If you have a new com- rial to show you that; it is easy to do. the bottom where it is says trust manager puter, it will take three DVDs; the more Q: Is it something you can write up in and states “allow opening of non-PDF file stuff you have on it, the more DVDs it TOE? attachment with external applications.” will take. Once you get your computer set A: It is a little complicated, and there Think about what that sentence means: I up and have all of the updates done and are many pictures and would take up too want a PDF I am opening to actually open everything like anti-virus programs, etc., many pages in the TOE. It is hard to ex- up some other program on my computer you burn it on to DVDs. Then if your plain in words and you have to under- and do something else without my knowl- hard drive ever dies, you have your own stand how to do it by seeing it. I could do edge or permission. The concept of that restore DVDs to put in a new hard drive a PowerPoint presentation and put it up sentence is stupid, and, by default, Adobe for your computer. It will completely on the CIPCUG website. Another SIG I checks it. Make sure the box is left blank. rebuild your computer to the state it was would like to work on is how to record Audience Comment: I work at AT&T when you created the disks. your screen as a movie and then save that and we have several patches of Acrobat 9 This is a much better method of re- image as a file. I could do a tutorial that at work, and at home, I have Acrobat Pro. storing especially if you bought a Dell or way. I can do the whole thing and then I receive updates from Adobe all the time HP and they gave you system restore save the tutorial of the video of how it and when installing, I lose my security disks. By the time you do it, hopefully, looks, then save it as a file. That is some- updates. Apparently, they are aware they you have already gotten rid of the junk- thing I want to work on in the next sev- are vulnerable. ware that HP put on and you are creating eral months. I am running out of topics Michael: Adobe announced that they an image without the junk. If you use the for my SIGs. are going to do security patches once restore disks, you were given by the every three months. Everyone in the secu- manufacturer, all the junk will come back Finding a missing menu rity field laughed. They have been doing like McAfee Security Suite 30-day trial Toby: In Internet Explorer and in al- it once every month, and now they may and all the other things you do not need. most all of the new Office things and the go to doing it once every two weeks be- Another thing is that with some of the default settings for Windows, you will cause they are finding so many to fix. vendors, if you lose your restore disk(s) notice that the menu bar — File, Options, you are out of luck. If you burn them, you Edit, View, Tools, etc. does not exist. If Making Windows 7 boot disks can save them yourself. you hit the ALT key, it will pop up. Any- Q: How do you make boot disks for The boot disk boots an operating sys- time you are in a program that you expect Windows 7? tem on to the CD and you can make im- to see that and you do not see it, hit the A: Disks for repair: Start, type repair, provements and change things in your ALT key, which is right next to the space take the first option, put your disks in, Windows system. You can use the boot bar. It is a pop up to the menu so you do and go create repair disk. The CD is only disk when the hard drive is working, but not lose your space. I do not know any- a repair disk; it does not re-install Win- if something happens, it will not boot way to pin it back up. Get used to it, be- dows; it only repairs your existing instal- correctly. It will not erase the data, and cause it is here to stay. lation. It will boot only the computer you there is an option to restore this image, We are going to revisit the security are sitting at. This is crucial to do if you what we just spoke about, and if you settings for Acrobat. In news broadcasts want to be someone, like me, who helps want, one of the options on the repair disk about Internet security, it is stated that other people. There are two types of re- (Continued on page 8) pairs for the two versions of Windows — Page 8 The Outer Edge June 2010 Program: Digital photography tips and tricks Ventura photographer shares some secrets
By John Weigle photos and made lots of other suggestions lege, he asked his parents if he could bor- [email protected] for better pictures. row money to buy a Canon F1 from a Photographer Dan Holmes of Ventura Holmes said he got his first camera — friend in Hong Kong, and they refused. summed up his presentation on tips and probably a Brownie — as a child (7, 8 or He got the camera for Christmas. tricks for digital photography this way: 11, he said) and took pictures at Big Sur He retained his interest in photogra- Tip No. 1: Learn the fundamentals. of big waves breaking on rocks at mid- phy and over the years made it his profes- Tip No. 2: Get it right in the camera. day (a time he now normally never sion. “It became something I had to do,” Trick No. 1: Learn the fundamentals. shoots, he said). “When I got the photos he said. Trick No. 2: Get it right in the camera. back from the corner drug store, some- Holmes’ journey to becoming a pro- But before he got to that, he answered thing happened. I looked at that and went, fessional began after a visiting friend told lots of questions, showed some beautiful ooh,” he said, and was hooked. In col- (Continued on page 9) More Q&A: Office versions, boot disks
(Continued from page 7) MS Access. If you have an Access data- you burn the setup disk right after you is “restore an image.” If you do not click base program, you’ll need MS Office Pro bought the computer and you restore from on “restore an image” it will not destroy at around $500. those, your data will not be there, only the any of your data. Recovering from disks set up from earlier on. If some of you Just to be clear, there are two different Q: With the backup drive on the disks, were using Carbonite or other online kinds of disks to create. The first is the if my hard drive dies, what would be my backup storage, you would restore your Repair Disk on a CD, which will allow recovery process? What do I have to do computer, then go to Carbonite, and re- you to fix minor problems with your before? store all your data. If you are using a USB Windows. The second is a Restore Disk A: When it was much harder to do drive and Windows 7 backup or some- set on several DVDs, which will allow backups than it is today, when your hard thing like that and you have created an you to re-create your entire system setup drive died, you cried a lot. In many cases, image, continuously update the image in the event the hard drive dies or be- it was cheaper to buy a new computer with new data, and newly installed pro- comes so severely damaged that recovery than to repair the old. What you do now is grams. If you have all your updates, etc. is not possible. back up on DVDs, do a system repair stored on a USB drive you have all that is Finding cheaper Office 2010 disk, which is a bootable repair disk on a needed should the computer crash. Car- Q: On Office 2010 last time I checked CD, and then say something dies on your bonite does not restore everything, only it was $500 for 2010 Pro. Where would laptop. You go buy a new hard drive, flip backup data, not programs. someone who is an average user buy the the laptop over, unscrew the hard drive Restrictions on new drive program at less cost? cover, take the old hard drive out, and put Q: Are there any restrictions on the A: They are going to cost a lot even in the new unformatted hard drive. Then new hard drive you put in — physically. with a discount. Our cost was around hit the power button, start with a boot A: Yes. One of the options is if your $460. You can use the beta until Oct. 31, disk, it will ask if you want to restore, hard drive dies, you use this process, and 2010, but it will nag you saying, “You are you click Yes, and put in the DVDs one you are back to normal. If the hard drive not activated.” Using the beta is a way to at a time and in about 20 minutes, the you have is too small and you go buy a test the program; it will definitely shut off computer is exactly how it was when you larger one, you do the exact same proc- Oct. 31 or Nov. 1, 2010, and you will not created the DVDs. If you have backed up ess. be able to use it after that time. Office your data to flash drives, stick your flash The only restriction is that the hard 2010 came out on June 17, 2010. drive in the computer and restore your drive you put in to replace the old hard For most of the people in this room, data, and you are back in business. drive must be the same size or bigger; it OpenOffice is a better choice than Micro- You start the repair process with the cannot be smaller. And it must be the soft Office even if they cost the same. It CD, and it creates a mini-operating sys- same kind of drive architecture. You can- is smaller, tighter, has more features you tem that will allow you to do things — to not put a Serial ATA (SATA) drive in a can use in anything other than a corporate fix your computer or if you have a new Parallel ATA (PATA) computer. As a setting and will read and write MS Office hard drive and you want to restore, you general rule, if your laptop came with XP, documents. And it is free (it’s on the CIP- can tell it to restore and point it where it is probably PATA. If Vista or 7, proba- CUG flash drive if you have it). you have your restore image. What you bly SATA. There are exceptions, so be The only program to watch out for is restore to depends on what you have. If sure to check.
June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 9
Recommendations of Dan Holmes
Books Software “Natural Light Photography,” by Picasa, free basic editing Ansel Adams Adobe Light Room, a $300 pro- “Mountain Light: In Search of the gram for advanced work Dynamic Landscape,” by Galen Row- Camera ell A digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) “The DAM Book: Digital Asset (Nikon, Canon and Olympus are the Management for Photographers,” by three top brands that should be Peter Krogh around for a long time) The Rules of a Good Photo “National Geographic Photogra- A good tripod Tell a story phy Field Guide: Secrets to Making Printers and ink Simplify Great Pictures,” by Peter K. Burian Canon and Epson, with HP a Get Close O’Reilly Books digital photography close third Eliminate guides Epson papers and inks More on Dan Holmes ...
(Continued from page 8) son said digital is cheaper, but that’s not “because I’m shooting at the break of him that “Galen had died.” “Galen” was the case, Holmes said; he buys a new dawn and the break of night” for land- Galen Rowell, a student of Ansel Adams camera body every two or three years, scapes with exposures are 8 to 30 sec- and well-known photographer in his own there’s software to buy, along with a good onds, he said. “The best way to save $700 right. Holmes’ wife started buying some monitor and printer and other equipment, on a tripod is to buy the right one the first of Rowell’s books for him, which served and most of all, your time is expensive. time,” he said. as inspiration. “As far as the image goes, there’s no Shoot with the highest quality settings Holmes shoots many genres: land- difference” between digital and film, he a camera has, he said, so you’ll have as scapes, wildlife, portraits and weddings; said, and he doesn’t shoot differently much data as possible to work with when and teaches workshops. “Shooting is all when using one or the other. A sensor and making prints. about light. It’s all about color, It’s all film are both substrates to capture light, Holmes sometimes shoots several about emotion” he said. he said. “It’s a lot more about the image exposures of the same thing and uses lay- “The way I look at it is first there’s than about the hardware,” he emphasized. ers in PhotoShop to do HDR blends. He’s the capture — seeing and grabbing the Although he still sometimes uses a not a big fan of HDR software (high dy- image in the camera. The camera is the point-and-shoot camera to take pictures namic range imaging) yet, he said. hardware. The software is your vision. of kids (it’s less intimidating than a big He was asked how to shoot a person “Then there’s the development; I’ve camera), he recommends that people who in front of a waterfall and get what you called it the creation. Taking the photo plan to be serious shooters graduate to a want. “What made you stop? What one from the camera and using software to DSLR – digital single lens reflex. The thing made you grab that camera? Why finish the image. You can let the camera point-and-shoot camera, he said, doesn’t did you pick up the camera? Was it about do it … and guess what you’ve got. allow much opportunity to use depth of the person or was it about the waterfall?” You’ve got a picture that’s not going to field effects and other creative tech- he replied. If you want to tell a story be much different than the millions of niques. about the person, get close and concen- other pictures that were taken with all Digital Single-lens Reflex cameras trate on him / her. If you want to tell the those other digital cameras.” (DSLRs) have two sizes of sensors, the story of the waterfall, move back and let Adams would definitely work in the six-tenths and a full sized 35mm. The the person seem small. digital darkroom, Holmes said. He spent six-tenths is cheaper and smaller than 35 Scenery can ruin a picture he said, lots of time when making his prints burn- mm. (It makes a telephoto lens longer, because “there’s so much stuff.” It is ing and dodging to get the effects he but it takes away the wide angle, which, important to look to the one thing you wanted — “he called the negative the for Holmes, is more important than tele- want to emphasize in your picture and score and the print the symphony,” photo. eliminate the rest. It took him a while to Holmes said — and “what you see in his Buyers of DSLRs should be careful learn, he said, but when we look at some- pictures is not what you see with your when buying lenses, he said. If you buy thing we concentrate on one thing, not an eye.” lenses made for the 6/10 th sensor, they entire scene. If you experiment with a Holmes asked the audience the differ- will not work with the larger sensor. group of people — such as his audience ence between film and digital. One per- Holmes uses a tripod regularly (Continued on page 10)
Page 10 The Outer Edge June 2010 More on Dan Holmes ...
(Continued from page 9) — you’ll see that if you look at one per- son, that person will be in focus, while others will be out of focus. The focus changes as you look at different individu- als, he said. The same is true of whatever you’re looking at. A successful image has one point of interest that makes it clear why you took the picture, he said. There are emotional reasons to take a picture — it’s cold, the wind is blowing, the dog just bit the cat, you just had a fight with your wife, and so on — but the camera doesn’t pick up any of those things, so you can’t convey all those events and feelings in a snap- shot, he said. “We’ve spent a lifetime looking at lousy images,” he said, “and that kind of set the bar really, really low. I like to make imagery that says, ‘Wow I would have loved to have been there’ and it’s kind of the feeling that I got when I was Photo by Jerry Crocker there,” he said. Speaker Dan Holmes, left, receives the microphone from Vice President He was asked how he felt about tak- Craig Ladd. ing a picture of the full moon in one loca- tion and a picture of a mountain peak in shoot. There may be too much “stuff” and archival pen and write on the inner rim of another and composting the two. “I think it is difficult to find form and composi- the CD or DVD. The best backup system the compost word is just right,” he said. tion. is one that is used. External hard drives That’s art rather than photography, he Concentrate on one point of interest, and some of the Iinternet backup pro- said. He will adjust colors with software he added, “If you’ve got a “plural” or grams are excellent. to bring out the colors we see at a sunset more than one point of interest, it’s not Always carry extra batteries and or sunrise, but won’t change the content going to be a good image.” cards, he said. of the phot, he said. Asked why he uses a Macintosh, he Holmes said prints of his picture, sev- To make a large print, get the best said he doesn’t want to worry about how eral of which were displayed at the meet- picture you can by locking the camera an operating system works. He just wants ing, are $125. His calendars were sold for down on a tripod, Holmes said, because to turn the computer on and have it work. $7. Orders can be placed on his website. the bigger you make a picture the more its Most graphic artists use Macs, but PCs slightest flaws will show. work equally well, he said. (The author expresses his apprecia- Adjusting the computer monitor is He said he uses cable shutter releases tion to Dan Holmes for reviewing this important so what you see on the monitor and should use the mirror lock-up more report for accuracy.) and the print will match, and it’s even than he does. more important if you take your photos to Buy the very best CDs and DVDs you On the Net: an outside lab for printing. Buying the can to store pictures, but remember that http://www.danholmesphoto.com/ software to do that is another cost of digi- everything degrades over time, he ad- Danholmesphoto.com/Home.html tal photography, he noted. vised. Also label them so you can find His blog is at http:// Some things, including snow, lava pictures on them. Don’t put a label on www.danholmesphoto.com/ and a forest, are especially difficult to them or print on them, he said. Use an Danholmesphoto.com/Blog/Blog.html
John Weigle, editor of TOE use? I could make good use of any 128 Members’ classified ads ([email protected]), within the week after MB flash drives you care to donate for Classified ads are free to members. the regular meeting. Otherwise, the ad is next year’s volunteer income tax program. Each ad is limited to 105 characters, held to the following month. — Art Lewis including spaces and to one ad per Wanted member per month. Copy has to be to Have a small flash drive that you don’t Other categories as needed
June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 11 Highlights of Southwest Computer Conference
(Diane Mortensen and Craig Ladd attended the Southwest Computer Confer- ence as representatives of CIPCUG. Here are their reports. — Editor)
By Diane Mortensen appreciated the opportunity to rep- resent CIPCUG at the Southwest Computer Conference 2010. Last year was my first time at the confer- ence,I and it was more familiar this time around. Even though the format was the same for 2009 and 2010 conferences, it had some changes. Several items I liked better this year than last were: Vendors exhibits: On Saturday night, attendees had more time this year to speak to representatives from various companies who were exhibiting. At the end of the greet-and-meet, vendors were Photo from http://www.microsoftstore.com/missionviejo/ introduced and gave a summary of their The is the Microsoft Store in Mission Viejo. product. All the vendors contributed door prizes, and names were pulled after the was located. They all said the map and the store. We also showed him the Bing each vendor’s presentation. directions were totally wrong and redi- map and directions, and he could not be- At lunch on Saturday, there was a rected us to the main intersection, The lieve a map could be so wrong. We were Microsoft presentation , which, in my Shops. We were thinking a store located impressed with the design of the store, the opinion, was greatly improved over last in a minimall or similar to a Fed-X- quality of information the rep provided, year. There were four representatives, Kinkos store, and that is what we kept and the ability for customers to try out two older gentlemen and two younger. looking for. various equipment before buying. Having been longer employed at Micro- We found The Shops street where the Microsoft has to date avoided making soft, the older representatives provided store was supposed to be but could not any more definitive plans regarding fu- “information.” The two younger repre- find the number. The store was located in ture stores and is rumored to be taking a sentatives were more enthusiastic about the Mission Viejo mall where I shopped wait-and-see approach to avoid over- all the new products Microsoft was put- many times when I lived in Orange committing to retail without signs it will ting out. They were especially excited County. No one said, “the store is in the be successful. The pressure is nonetheless about the new Microsoft retail stores Mission Viejo Mall,” only that it is on high on the company to expand as Ap- opening in California, Arizona, and Colo- The Shops street, which I never heard of. ple’s retail revenue grew nine percent this rado. The first store opened in October Once in the mall we found the store on summer even in spite of an ongoing eco- 2009 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Approximately the upper level. It is a large, modern nomic slump. a week later on Oct. 29, 2009, the Mis- store, well designed and for a Sunday, By Craig Ladd sion Viejo store in Orange County had its there were quite a number of people try- t the Southwest Computer grand opening. The San Diego store will ing out the equipment and products. Conference I attended seven open soon and there is another planned Both stores are poised to follow a workshops. There were others for Denver, Colo. common formula partly based on Apple’s I would have liked to attend, Craig and I rode to the conference retail shops that includes a theater for butA they were conducted at the same time together and decided on the way back concerts and learning sessions as well as as ones I attended. So I will do a quick home we would stop off and visit the “answer bars.” Ironically, Apple also has overview. Microsoft Mission Viejo store. Before a store in the same Mission Viejo mall Insight Into Photography: Rick Ed- leaving the conference, I downloaded off where the Microsoft store opened. wards, associate of The Royal Photo- the Microsoft website directions and a For a Sunday, there were quite a few graphic Society, official photographer, map to the Mission Viejo store. We even- people trying out and buying. We told the Kenya Wildlife Service. tually found the store but not until after rep who greeted us we had just come Rick covered many aspects of photog- driving around and around, stopping to from the computer conference, where raphy during his presentation, including ask three or four people where the store Microsoft reps had spoken highly about (Continued on page 12)
Page 12 The Outer Edge June 2010 More on conference ...
(Continued from page 11) evernote.com, store any file, free 40 What’s Not in Consumer Electronics showing a 15-minute slide show. Ed- megabytes per month, 500 megabytes per — Dave Whittle: Want to find the best wards is dedicated to developing the es- month for $45 per year. and avoid the worst gadgets, software, sentials that will help you add an extra Linux — Orv Beach: I introduced and goodies? Dave, with help from dimension to your photographs. One im- Orv Beach and stayed for his presentation friends John C. Dvorak (PC Magazine), portant point I took away was using Pic- on Ubuntu. He talked about open source Steve Bass (PC World), Robin Raskin turestoexe Deluxe 6.0
icrosoft has to date avoided making any more definitive plans re- garding future stores and is rumored to be taking a wait-and-see approach to avoid over-committing to retail without signs it will M be successful. The Outer Edge is printed and prepared for mailing by:
June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 13 Taking an SSD test drive: WOW! By Rick Smith guys). But once you know the facts, you, toss-up if your hard drive’s data would [email protected] too, will become a fan of this new and survive the impact. Vibration can also hope everyone had a great Fourth promising technology. Here are four rea- cause a drive to fail over time. Intel SSDs of July holiday this year. We live in sons to consider an Intel SSD on your PC have been tested up to 1,500 G’s. Now what I believe to be the greatest or especially your notebook. maybe at the next meeting I can throw country in the world, and I fly my 1. System Responsiveness. The per- one around and jump on it as a demon- flagI proudly outside my home. My sister formance bottleneck of modern PCs has stration of what I’m talking about. in Hawaii was lucky enough to buy a been the only main mechanical device, its 3. Power Consumption. SSDs have no home in Oahu that was previously owned hard drive, for data storage. The new moving parts and subsequently use far by a military man who erected a real flag- SSDs, solid state drives, use nanotechnol- less power than a mechanical device. This ogy instead of mechanical rotation of turns into greater battery benefits for your Rick’s pole in the backyard. You’ll never find me “Striking the metal data platters. The average total sys- notebook and makes you nice and green. rant Colors.” God Bless The tem performance increase is somewhere When the drive is in an idle or low power USA! OK, now that I’ve from 43 percent to 57 percent. That’s state you can save up to 98 percent power done my patriotic duty let’s phenomenal! In one fell swoop you can consumption compared to a regular drive. talk about computing. You get that kind of performance increase. I’m 4. Total Cost of Ownership. Even may have noticed that in surprised the phone is not ringing already though today’s solid state drives are more our monthly ad I’ve been with callers requesting this new product. expensive than a conventional hard drive, touting Intel’s “My SSD It’s what is known in the industry as a if you take in all three previous factors, Smith Rocks” promotion. Well “Game Changer.” greater productivity, reliability and lower today I’d like to explain 2. Ruggedness. Because of a lack of power consumed, an Intel SSD drive will why I am such a fan of this moving parts these devices are far more have a lower cost of ownership over time. new technology and some of the terms rugged that regular hard drives. This is The more systems you own, especially in associated with it. I’ll try not to get too especially useful in notebook PCs. If you business, the more this becomes evident. technical, (I’ll leave that for those Linux dropped your notebook, it was always a (Continued on page 14) Ventura County Computers (805) 289-3960 www.vccomputers.com 2175 Goodyear Ave. #117 Ventura 93003
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Page 14 The Outer Edge June 2010 More on Rick’s rant ...
(Continued from page 13) went down to 72; they then caught up to in an SSD device. This is where better Now, you’ve probably noticed that I the industry at 50 nanometers and then controller technology makes a big differ- Control the auto only seem to mention Intel SSDs, not led the industry at 34 nanometer technol- ence. other products. I believe that the Intel ogy and are now at 25 nanometer technol- Write Amplification. Write amplifica- MLC solid state drives are better than ogy. And because the cost of NAND sili- tion is a phenomenon where the host PC their competition, and I’ll explain why. con is about 98 percent of the cost of pro- wants to write one gigabyte of data to an But first let’s get up to speed on some of ducing the product Intel has a distinct SSD device and poor controller technol- the terminology involved in NAND flash advantage at producing the best technol- ogy will actually write up to 20 gigabytes memory. ogy at the lowest cost. of information to get that one gigabyte of Lithography. Nanolithography refers Multilevel and Single-level Cell. Sin- data written. If you can lower your write to the fabrication of nanometer-scale gle level cell was the original design of amplification to the drive it produces less structures, meaning patterns with at least all flash memory. It was reliable and has thrash, the quicker the drive works and one lateral dimension between the size of high endurance. The only thing that can your endurance goes way up. Intel has the an individual atom and approximately wear out a flash memory cell is how lowest write amplification in the industry 100 nm. Nanolithography is used during many writes you write to it. You can read at 1.1 — for every 1 gigabyte of informa- the fabrication of leading-edge semicon- indefinitely, you can have millions of tion to be written only 1.1 gigabyte is ductor integrated circuits (nanocircuitry) reads. But what wears a NAND out is used. This allows Intel MLC SSDs to last or nanoelectromechanical systems how many times you cycle the flash by much longer than the competition. (NEMS). That is the Wikipedia defini- writing and erasing. Single cells deliver So there it is. You are now all experts tion. Here’s a more simple explanation: more than 100,000 write cycles. A multi- on SSD NAND technology and can now Lithography is a measurement of how cycle cell can hold two bits of data or go out and bore everyone at the next thick the circuit lines are. So the smaller more and is more susceptible to write backyard barbecue. Or better yet hang out Lithography, the more bits or data you cycling. Now you go down to 5,000 or at a Linux SIG where your newfound can cram into any given space. As you 10,000 write cycles. This is why the knowledge is sure to be appreciated. My- get smaller and smaller, everything gets NAND controller technology is so impor- self, I’ll be waiting right here by the more difficult as voltages and other fac- tant: It can tweak the memory-writing phone taking orders as America wises up tors become more pronounced. Intel part- process to get better cycling out of the to the advantages of SSDs in their PCs. nered with Micron in manufacturing multilevel cell to minimize writes and P.S. Many thanks to Intel’s Troy about three years ago when the technol- improve the life of the drive. There can Winslow for providing me with the tech- ogy was at about 90 nanometers. It then be anywhere from five to 85 flash chips nical information.
Smart Computing tips and fun facts Reprinted with permission from Smart Definition Multimedia Interface) 1.3, is cooler Windows 7 windows management Computing. Visit http:// still important, but today, you should also tricks involve docking windows to the left www.SmartComputing.com/Groups to look into an HDTV’s Internet connec- or right half of the screen. This feature learn what Smart Computing can do for tivity features. Most Web-enabled TVs expands or contracts the current window you and your user group. can connect to your home network router to half the Desktop and pins it to the edge Improve your PC’s performance: If through an Ethernet cable, powerline of your display. Press WIN (the Windows you have a lot of data on your PC, adding adapter, or wireless adapter (all sold sepa- logo key)-Left arrow or WIN-Right arrow an external hard drive to your notebook rately). Once online, they can access con- to dock the current window to the left or or desktop setup could help improve your tent such as movie- and video-streaming right side of the screen, respectively. If PC’s performance. You’ll be able to services, “widgets” that update you on you continuously press WIN-Right arrow avoid bogging your system down with weather or sports scores, and a Web or WIN-Left arrow, the current window additional files. This will help save your browser for general surfing without a will cycle between its original size and computer’s main hard drive from normal computer. Also look for support for other placement and being pinned to the left or wear and tear, thus helping it last longer. connections, as they make a TV even right half of the display. HDTV shopping tip: Consider con- more versatile. For example, many sets To ensure CIPCUG receives credit nectivity: Connectivity used to mean, can play video files and slideshows of for new subscriptions and renewals, “Does a TV have enough of the ports photos stored on USB devices and/or always subscribe and renew using the your A/V equipment uses?" Having memory cards. Subscribe or Renew Today! feature enough A/V ports, such as HDMI (High- Windows 7 shortcuts: Some of the (Continued on page 15)
June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 15 An open source PDF document creator
By Bill Wayson the Export menu offering PDF as one of opened the PDF. [email protected] the export formats. Whichever choice you The User Interface tab provides addi- reating PDF documents may make to export to PDF, the same options tional control of the initial view of the not be an everyday task for dialog will be presented, and this dialog is PDF, but here the options affect various most computer users, but it is where you get many chances to tailor elements of the recipient’s PDF reader. C for some. Perhaps you print up exactly what you want in your exported The reader can be resized to fit the initial notices for your club; invitations to a document. The dialog is divided into five page, centered in the user’s screen, party or shower; a sign notifying tabbed pages. The defaults will almost opened in full screen mode, and be made neighbors of a lost pet; or brochures for a always give you acceptable results. But to display the document’s title. Next, you nonprofit organization. Often, the final for finer control of your export, here are can choose to hide the reader’s menu bar, product of these endeav- some of your options. tool bar, and window controls, possibly at Penguin’s ors is a PDF document. The General tab controls basic fea- the risk of annoying the recipient of your Lair Now, you or your or- tures of the output. Here you choose PDF. The Use transition effects option is ganization might part which pages to print: all, single pages, or specific to Powerpoint-like documents. with a few hundred dol- ranges. Ranges can even be noncontigu- Saving such a document with transition lars to purchase one of ous parts of the source document. You effects produces a PDF that can be the Adobe Acrobat prod- can control the final size of your PDF file viewed as a slide show. The last option ucts, the standard ver- by changing the quality of embedded allows you to limit the number of book- sion of which will proba- images in your document. Keep in mind mark levels that appear in the reader pro- bly have everything you that this is a tradeoff. The lower the qual- gram. In OpenOffice.org, bookmark lev- need in a PDF document ity, the less sharp the images will be. The els are equivalent to header style levels. Wayson production application. higher the quality, the larger the docu- The Links tab is useful if you are ex- Before you do, though, ment, especially if there are a number of porting a series of linked documents. If you may want to consider a cost-free al- images. If the best image quality possible so, then you’ll want to convert your book- ternative that also supports most every is required, then a lossless setting is avail- marks to named destinations (of links in feature you might desire, an alternative able. The lower section in this tab con- another PDF), convert your document that has been around a while, is robust, tains several miscellaneous settings. You references to PDF targets (links to an- simple to use, and will run under Win- can select PDF/A-1a output format, other PDF), and make the document links dows. This month we will survey the PDF which is the choice for documents meant relative to the filesystem (allowing the production features of OpenOffice.org, a to be archived; Tagged PDF so that the links to work no matter where the group free office application suite. document produced can be opened by of files is saved). Lastly you can allow Its PDF export functionality, and ex- certain document readers; create the out- the links to open in the default mode of port functionality in general, has come a put as a PDF form, which has fields the the recipient’s PDF reader or force them long way since the earlier versions of recipient can enter information into, and to be opened by a PDF reader or a Web OpenOffice.org. Perhaps this explains the format of the data they enter; whether browser. why the latest version of OpenOffice.org or not you want the export to include any The last tab, Security, controls certain Writer has both plain Export and Export bookmarks, comments, or blank pages security options of your PDF. Be aware to PDF choices under the File menu, with that OpenOffice.org has created in the that the true security of a PDF document, document; and create a hybrid document no matter how it is produced, is very low. More Smart Computing ... that includes an ODF-formatted version Software and instructions are easily found of the document within the PDF file, al- and freely available on the Web that al- (Continued from page 14) lowing the PDF to be edited at a later low all PDF security controls to be cir- available within the User Group portion time. cumvented. But if you wish to or must set of the Smart Computing Web site. From The Initial View tab allows you to up security in your document, here you here, select us from the drop-down list choose what recipients will see upon set a password required to open the PDF provided to ensure we received credit for opening your PDF. Options are whether and another optional password that, the subscription order. or not to show bookmarks or thumbnails unless it is supplied, limits what the re- You can also call 800-733-3809 to along with the document, a specific initial cipient can do with your opened PDF. subscribe or renew and give us credit by magnification, the page layout (single or These limits include if the PDF can be telling the representative you want us to multiple pages), and which page to start printed and, if so, at what resolution; receive credit for the order. on (perhaps to skip over a title page or whether the PDF can be modified by, say, Following these instructions will table of contents). Of course, the reader inserting or deleting pages, or filling in ensure that we get as many free of your document will be able to change form fields; whether any part of the PDF subscriptions as we possibly can. to the view they prefer after they've (Continued on page 16)
Page 16 The Outer Edge June 2010 Excel and Word tips
Excel: Indenting Cell Contents Microsoft Excel allows you to format the contents of a cell in myriad ways. One of the formatting op- tions you can apply is to indent the contents of a cell by a certain amount. This is similar to indenting done in a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, except that the indenting is specified in a number of characters, not in a linear distance such as inches or points. To set the indent to be used in a cell, follow these steps: 1. Select the cells you want to format. 2. Display the Format Cells dialog box. (In Excel 2007 display the Home tab of the ribbon and click the small icon at the lower-right corner of the Number group. In older versions of Excel choose Cells from the For- mat menu.) 3. Make sure the Align- ment tab is selected. The Alignment tab of the Format Cells dialog box. 4. In the Horizontal drop-down list, choose Left (Indent). If you are using Excel 2002 or a later version, you can also choose Right (Indent). 6. Click on OK. Copyright © 2010 by Sharon Parq Associates, Inc. Reprinted by permis- 5. Using the Indent control, specify the number of charac- sion. Thousands of free Microsoft Excel tips can be found online at http:// ters by which the cell contents should be indented from either excel.tips.net. the left or right side of the cell. You can pick any whole number between 0 and 15. (Continued on page 17)
More on Penguin’s lair ...
(Continued from page 15) Windows and PDF them. Only the more fourth Tuesday, the 27th, at 6:30 p.m. at can be copied and pasted; and whether advanced creators of PDF documents will Ventura County Computers in Ventura. the PDF’s content can be used by accessi- miss anything. Everyone else will find We will have a question-and-answer ses- bility tools, like a text-to-speech con- everything they need to produce a pol- sion this month, and will try to resolve verter. ished PDF document. And if you start to any problems brought forth. See the CIP- Even if you never use OpenOf- explore the additional features of CUG web site for more information. If fice.org’s productivity applications, you OpenOffice.org, all the better. you have a question or topic you would could still use it to open Microsoft Office If you have questions or would like to like the Lair or Linux SIG to cover, drop documents (it will even read the latest learn more about Linux and FOSS, come me a line at [email protected]. Office 2007 file formats) from within to the July Linux SIG meeting on the Until next month, happy computing. June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 17 More Excel and Word tips ...
(Continued from page 16) Word: Inserting a Non-Breaking Hyphen When Microsoft Word calculates line length and wraps text to the next line, it tries to wrap (or break) the line at a space or a hy- phen — a short dash. Sometimes, however, you may not want Word to break a line at a dash. For instance, dashes are used in telephone numbers, and you might not want a line to break in the middle of a telephone number. The answer is to use non-breaking hyphens in- stead of regular dashes when you don't want Word to break a line at the hy- phen. To do this, hold down the CTRL and SHIFT keys as you type the dash (this is the same as typing CTRL and an underscore). Word will The Special Characters tab of the Symbol dialog box. then not break the line at that point. You can also insert a non-breaking hyphen by following 2. Click on the Special Characters tab. these steps: 3. Highlight the Nonbreaking Hyphen character. 1. Choose Symbol from the Insert menu or, in Word 2007, 4. Click on Insert. display the Insert tab of the ribbon, click Symbol in the Sym- 5. Close the dialog box by clicking on Cancel. Copyright © 2010 by Sharon Parq Associates, Inc. Reprinted by permis- bols group, and finally click More Symbols. This displays the sion. Thousands of free Microsoft Word tips can be found online at http:// Insert Symbol dialog box. word.tips.net.
Beware of messages purportedly from your bank, PayPal or other financial sites asking for personal information, such as your login name, password or Social Security number. They are likely to be from scammers who hope to empty your bank ac- count. If in doubt, go to the site of the institution by typing in a known URL, not by clicking on the e-mail link, and look for messages there.
Page 18 The Outer Edge June 2010 Windows 7 and Carbonite: A personal horror story By John Weigle [email protected] s a firm believer in the value of backing up my computer and as one who likes a bar- gain, I subscribed to Car- boniteA several months ago during its three years for the price of one campaign. I installed the program on my XP ma- chine and had to leave the machine run- ning 24/7 for several days for my initial backup. That sounds like a long time, but it’s not unusual because Carbonite is copying all the information you want to back up to its online servers. Carbonite receives high praise from Jeff Levy, Kim Komando and Leo La- Porte, so I felt confident that, with a fast enough Internet connection, I should not have any problems. And it meets one of the principles for good backups: having one offsite in case your computer is sto- len or destroyed by fire or other disaster. After the initial backup, Carbonite time exchanging e-mails and on chat with If I reinstall Carbonite, it works fine chugged along as expected, backing up Carbonite tech support, which advised me — until the next reboot, at which point new or changed files when my computer to: the problem reappears. was idle or when I told it to back up im- — Turn off the firewall. Obviously, having to reinstall a pro- mediately. — Turn off the anti-virus. gram every time I want to use it is not a I was a satisfied customer, ready to — Eliminate the local hosts file ex- satisfactory solution — and it certainly recommend the product to anyone who cept for a Carbonite listing. doesn’t inspire great confidence that I might ask. I had seen some of the com- — Allow the Carbonite programs in would be able to restore my files if I ever plaints at various online forums, but the firewall. had to. every program has people who don’t like — Turn off Windows Defender I like the idea of an offsite backup if it it, so those didn’t bother me. (which, according to Windows, wasn’t doesn’t cost me a small fortune, so I’d Then I switched to Windows 7. turned on). like to make Carbonite, or a similar pro- I have Windows and my programs on None of those worked. gram, work, but I don’t know what to do. a solid state drive and my documents on a A tech support person took over my My current guess is that there’s some- my old C: drive (not solid state). I rein- computer, did all the same things again thing about Windows 7 that Carbonite stalled Carbonite, and it seemed to be and looked for other programs that might doesn’t like or something about Carbonite working fine. conflict with Carbonite. She found noth- that Windows 7 doesn’t like, but that I turned off my computer for the night ing. doesn’t help me much. and when I got up the next morning and I was told that the problem had been I’m considering buying another exter- rebooted it, I noticed the Carbonite icon kicked up to the next level of support nal drive, backing up to that, and keeping was not on the task bar, meaning it had several weeks ago, but have had no re- it in my car since I’ll be retiring from The not started automatically. I started it, sponse since then. Star in the next few months (still no date clicked on the Status link on the menu — I posted a question in the Windows on when our big changes occur) and and got the error message shown in col- Secret Lounge, and no one had an an- won’t be able to keep the drive at work. umn 2. swer, although several people had suf- Is anyone in the club using Carbonite I tried the obvious: temporarily turn- fered a variety of problems, none the successfully on Windows 7? If so, did ing off the firewall and Norton Anti- same as mine. One of the recommenda- you have to do something special to make Virus, hoping they weren’t the problem tions, of course, was to turn off Norton. it work or did it just do what it’s sup- because I don’t like the idea of not having Been there, done that, thank you. posed to after being installed? Did anyone those programs running. Another writer said he is using idrive else try to make it work and fail? Either Carbonite still didn’t work. (http://www.idrive.com) with no prob- way, I’d like to hear your story. Maybe Over a period of several days, I spent lems. I might give that a try. it’ll help find a solution.
June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 19 Computing 101: Some tips for beginners By John Weigle but plan to go to Windows 7, as I did, you SourceForge.net to search for the pro- [email protected] need to know that you’ll probably have to grams you need rather than going to some The importance of passwords replace your scanner. site like “softwares” or “softwarez” and No one likes to think about this, but Scanners that worked fine in XP don’t hoping for the best. what happens to the information on your work in Vista or 7, and manufacturers Dire warnings computer if you die or are incapacitated? aren’t writing drivers that would let them If you get e-mail long enough, sooner Will your spouse, executor or other work. or later you’ll get a message that delivers family members be able to sign on to Just figure that it’s another expense of some dire warning about a new virus your computer or into your account? moving to a new operating system. along with a message to “send this to Will they have access to your banking Cutting down on programs everyone in your address book.” Before information? If you upgrade to Windows 7 or what- you panic and do that, spend a few min- Can they get to your e-mail? ever comes after it, it’s a good time to utes on the Web to do some checking Your Facebook (or My Space or look at all the programs you had on the because there are lots of hoaxes out there. whatever) page? old operating system and see if you really Visit, for instance: Your Excel financial information? want to reinstall them. (Rick will be sur- — Snopes.com, which tracks all kinds Your eBay or Amazon accounts? prised to hear me say this.) of rumors about everything from autos to Or any of the dozens of other files or If you weren’t using them in the old weddings. Most of the worst stories you accounts that are important to you and operating system, you probably won’t use hear turn out to have no basis in fact. could be essential to whoever is handling them in the new one, so don’t bother to — http://urbanlegends.about.com. your affairs or your estate for you? reinstall them. Doing so just takes time — http://www.scambusters.org/ For that matter, what if you forget an and clutters your hard drive. legends.html essential password and can’t unlock a file You might also learn that the new While you’re at any of those sites, you made secure that contains informa- operating system now includes features enjoy the stories that others have fallen tion you need right now. that you used to need additional software for — but remember that we’re all subject What if you use some kind of pass- for. Windows 7 has software to burn CDs to being suckered. word storage program and the password and DVDs so you might not need that Using built-in help to that just won’t come to you? program you bought to do the task a few Lots of programs no longer come with You need a backup of your passwords years ago. manuals, and after-market books are usu- in some form that isn’t locked up in your Free software ally expensive. What is one to do? computer. There might not be any such thing as For a start, press the F1 key or go the It could be a printout of a spreadsheet, a free lunch, but there is such a thing as Help menu of the program you’re inter- a handwritten list in a binder (or hand perfectly good free software. ested in, and you’ll probably find an printed list if your writing is as bad as Those of you who attend meetings online manual. mine) or even a box of 3x5 cards with the have heard Toby and Michael recom- If neither of those works, use your account or file name and password, along mend any number of free programs, and favorite search engine to seek a solution with the answers to any security questions CIPCUG has even offered CDs and flash on the Web or visit the manufacturer’s that you have to answer if your forget drives with programs that the two of them Web site for FAQs (frequently asked your password. recommend. questions), a downloadable manual or If you don’t want to keep such a list at And regular readers of the Penguin’s other help. home, put it in your safe deposit box or Lair know that Bill Wayson has recom- And there’s always the F1 column in file it with your attorney, but have one mended lots of open source software, every issue of The Outer Edge. somewhere. including various versions of Linux, a Serial numbers Naturally, you don’t want to spread free operating system and the popular Most commercial software today re- the list around to just anyone, but there OpenOffice, which is eating into Micro- quires a serial number to install (or rein- must be someone you trust enough to soft’s profits on its Office programs. stall). give them the information or at least a Exercise due diligence, however, and The number is usually on the package notice that such a list exists in your safe don’t just download every free program the software is shipped in or the CD con- deposit box. you hear about. As we’ve been warned tainer. If you’ve downloaded the pro- None of us will live forever, so plan several times during meetings and in gram, the serial number should come in ahead for the person who has to handle other forums, lots of the purported free an e-mail. Keep those numbers where you your affairs. anti-spyware programs are really the spy- can find them because you’re going to After all, you have a will, don’t you? ware and other malicious programs have to reinstall the program sometime, Scanners and Windows 7 / Vista you’re trying to prevent or remove. and without the number you’re in big If you skipped the upgrade to Vista Use trusted sources like CNET.com or trouble.
Page 20 The Outer Edge June 2010
News fragments Treasurer’s
report for about this and that May 2010 his issue is a little later than I would like, but I ran By Art Lewis into some time problems and the Fourth of July [email protected] holiday. Fortunately, United Parcel has several 5-1-2010 through shipping methods to choose from, so we can pay a 5-31-2010 Lewis Tlittle more to our printer for faster shipping. You should have Category Description this issue in plenty of time before the July meeting. INFLOWS Once again, I went to 24 pages, something I tried hard to Coffee income -17.50 avoid when we had to hand-fold TOE in the home of George Donation 2.00 and Arline Lakes. Getting a 24-page issue thin enough to fit Membership Income through the Postal Service’s template was a real problem. Now New members 40.00 that we’re mailing flat, the number of pages Renewals 425.00 Editor’s isn’t nearly the issue it used to be. TOTAL MEMBERSHIP 465.00 corner * * * Raffle 78.23 We’re all happy to see Helen Long up and TOTAL INFLOWS 527.73 around again and well enough to resume her
work on cipcug.org. Thankfully, the change in OUTFLOWS the photos section simplified the problem that Corporate Exp. 475.00 most frustrated her, so we’re now seeing regu- ISP Expense 255.00 lar updates on the page (the missing issues of Rent Paid 150.00 TOE were up soon after she took the job TOE 214.69 again). Weigle TOTAL OUTFLOWS 1,094.69 As Toby and others have mentioned at many meetings, we’re a volunteer organization and can always use OVERALL TOTAL -566.96 more help. If you’d like to work on a project, help Craig Ladd find programs (or give one yourself), or just help set up chairs Bank Balance 5-3-10 7,362.23 before the meeting, there’s always room for more. Come and be a member of the insiders’ clique. You won’t even have to learn a secret handshake. * * * There’s no Jeff Levy column this issue because I haven’t gotten permission from his producer, who now lives out of state, to use the lesson I picked. With luck, he’ll be back in the next issue. Jeff is now on KABC Talk Radio (790 on the AM dial), but his time slot is sometimes moved because of sports events. His July 10 show was from 5 to 6 p.m., but I’m not clear on whether that’s a new time or a sports-adjusted time. The KABC web site lists both the 5-6 p.m. and the 3-4 p.m. slots 2010 contributors to The Outer Edge for the show. If you’re near a radio on Saturdays, check both to be sure. Your name can appear Helen Long * * * here, too. Share your Diane Mortensen There’s a slight change in this issue that you might or knowledge with other Sharon Parq Associates might not have noticed: Each page has more type on it. Micro- members by sending an Inc. soft Publisher used to put up pages with one border represent- article, letter or computer tip Toby Scott ing the outermost boundary for type and another box inside to [email protected]. Michael Shalkey that I assumed was the preferred location for text boxes. That Ken Church Phil Sorrentino (APCUG) box doesn’t show up any more, so I’ve gone to the outside Jerry Crocker Rick Smith borders on all the pages, which, as the number of pages grows, Rick Curry Smart Computing adds a lot of characters. It required a lot of rejuggling this Bob de Violini magazine time, so enjoy. Jeff Levy Bill Wayson Art Lewis John Weigle — John Weigle, editor June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 21
Membership report: First Mbr# Last Name Pd to Dt Is it time to renew? Name By Ken Church 0878 Garner Bill 201006 email address: [email protected] 1221 Harris Jack 201006 0148 Leventhal Bob 201006 Welcome - CHURCH New Members: Needed 0469 Magallanes CB 201006 0342 Page John 201006 Attendance at the June 2010 general meeting: 67 members and guests July 2010 renewals payment due: Total membership: 210 First Last Name Pd to Dt MEMBER RENEWAL INFORMATION Mbr# Name $30 for single membership, 1028 Burke Jim 201007 $35 for two or more family membership. 0350 Colter Don 201007 NEW MEMBER INFORMATION 0354 Ferro Joe 201007 $40 first year for single membership, 1229 Kirschke Randy 201007 $55 first year for two or more family member- ship in same household. 0624 Lambert Ted 201007 1149 Little Robert 201007
Please send your payment to: 0331 Livingstone Robert 201007 CIPCUG MEMBERSHIP P.O. BOX 51354 1144 Mortensen Diane 201007 OXNARD, CA 93031-1354 0873 Pass Jim 201007
Or bring your payment to the sign-in table for 1157 Sifuentes Octavio 201007 the July 24, 2010, meeting. 0358 Tanner Henry 201007
May 2010 renewals payment due: 0020 Van Slyke Kathy 201007 First 0019 Van Slyke Noel 201007 Mbr# Last Name Pd to Dt Name 0977 Westefer Paul 201007 0584 Bircher Andrea 201005 0601 Wymore Bob 201007
0340 Burger Lou 201005 0774 Hoffman LaVern 201005 1175 Makuch Michael 201005 1175 Makuch Suzanne 201005 A 1204 Michrina Andy 201005
June 2010 renewals payment due:
Page 22 The Outer Edge June 2010
Initials Name (805) BDV Bob de Violini [email protected]
BR Bill Robinson 389-2997 (b) [email protected]
DM David Minkin 469-6970 (cell); 484-2974 (home); [email protected]
MS Michael Shalkey [email protected]
RP Robert Provart 498-8477 (b)
Phone: (d) = days; (e) = evenings; (b) = both
If you would like to volunteer to help others, please send F1—Your Help Key your contact information and programs you’re willing to (Revised Sept. 7, 2008) help on to [email protected].
COMMUNICATIONS/INTERNET (GENERAL) ...... World Wide Web DM
DATABASES WEB HELP SITES Access BR Annoyances Central blog (from authors of the O’Reilly Annoyances series, including Steve Bass): DOS RP www.annoyancescentral.com/ Steve Bass TechBite Newsletter: www.techbite.com/ E-MAIL DSL reports: www.dslreports.com Outlook MS Steve Gibson: www.grc.com/ Outlook Express BR, DM Kim Komando: www.komando.com Thunderbird MS Leo Laporte: www.leoville.com/ Jeff Levy: www.jefflevy.com GRAHICS PROGRAMS Linux distributions: www.DistroWatch.com IrfanView MS Microsoft: www.microsoft.com/ Paint Shop Pro DM Microsoft Windows XP The Official Magazine (UK): Photo Shop Elements BR www.windowsxpmagazine.co.uk/ Print Shop BR Microsoft Windows Vista The Official Magazine (UK): / www.windowsvistamagazine.com/US/ SPREADSHEETS Online safety tips: www.OnGuardOnline.gov Microsoft Excel DM PC Pitstop: www.pcpitstop.com/ PC World: www.pcworld.com/ WORD PROCESSING Recalled products: www.recalls.gov Microsoft Word DM SANS Institute — Computer Security Education and WordPerfect DM Information Security Training: www.sans.org/ Smart Computing: www.smartcomputing.com/ WINDOWS Spyware Warrior: www.spywarewarrior.com/ Windows 98, 95 DM, MS (98) User Group Relations (Gene Barlow): www.ugr.com/ Windows 2000 BDV Ventura County Computers (Rick and Toby’s shop): Windows XP DM www.vccomputers.com Virus Bulletin: www.virus-bulletin.com/ Windows Secrets: ww.windowssecrets.com/ ZD Net spyware blog: www.blogs.zdnet.com/Spyware
If you have a favorite help site on the Web, please forward it, so we can expand the section. If you find a link that doesn’t work, please tell us that, too.
June 2010 The Outer Edge Page 23
Why join Channel Islands PC Users Group (CIPCUG)?
useful freeware programs. address), $55. Every month, members of the Channel ♦ A chance to make friends with Renewals are $30 and $35 per Islands PC Users Group have access to: people who have similar interests. year respectively. ♦ The Outer Edge newsletter, which ♦ The ability to put your knowledge includes a list of members willing to help to good use by helping other members. CIPCUG E-MAIL ADDRESS other members. The whole concept of user groups is Members who would like to have an ♦ The general meeting, featuring a members helping members. e-mail address through CIPCUG in the question-and-answer session and program form of [email protected] may ob- on new software or hardware. Please clip the coupon below and tain one for $15 per year. ♦ Special Interest Groups — special send with payment to CIPCUG- meetings held several times a month. Membership, P.O. Box 51354, Oxnard, CIPCUG INTERNET SERVICE ♦ Door prizes at the regular meeting. CA 93031-1354. TECH TEAM Other benefits include: Please make checks payable to David Minkin, 469-6970 (cell), 484- ♦ Special user group discounts on CIPCUG. 2974 (home) books and software. [email protected] ♦ An Internet service provider at a Dues for new members Bob Thompson, 647-2287 large discount (see next column). Individual member, $40. ♦ A flash drive containing many Family membership (same
CIPCUG MEMBERSHIP Can you help the club as a volunteer? If so, what would you APPLICATION be interested in working on?
Amount enclosed: ______
Please Print the following information:
Name: ______
Address: ______
City: ______, State:______Date ______Member # ______
ZIP Code: ______
Phone (Home): ______(Work): ______
E-mail address: ______
User level: Novice ____; Intermediate _____; Advanced _____
Page 24 The Outer Edge NON-PROFIT June 2010 Channel Islands PC Users U.S. POSTAGE PAID Group Inc. OXNARD. CA P.O.Box 51354 PERMIT NO. 1785 Oxnard, CA: 93031
DATED MATERIAL Please Do Not Delay
DUES REMINDER
If the number above your name is 201007, your membership dues are payable in July 2010.
July 2010 meeting Of the Channel Islands PC Users Group
The map shows Saturday morning, July 24, at the the easiest route Boys & Girls Club, Ponderosa Drive to the Boys & Girls Club, but if and Temple Avenue, Camarillo, Calif. Meeting Schedule: you prefer, you 8:30 a.m. Doors open can take the 8:45-9:30 Internet and networking SIG, Carmen Drive Computing 101 SIG offramp to 9:30-10:30 Business meeting, Q&A 10:30-11:00 Break — Please contribute Ponderosa Drive, requested amounts for coffee which leads to and doughnuts Temple Avenue. 11:00-12:00 Program (Infogrip) Drawing 1:30 After-meeting SIG by Michael Shalkey