What You Need to Know about All Things PC
Volume 3 Number 18Click here to return to the back issues page.Click here to return to the main newsletter page.
The Naked PC - http://www.TheNakedPC.com What You Need to Know about All Things PC Publisher: Lee Hudspeth and T.J. Lee Editor in Chief: Dan Butler Contributing Editor: Al Gordon This issue is for Thursday, August 31, 2000 - Vol. 3 No. 18 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Table of Contents ** 01. Letter from the Publisher ** 02. Veritas Releases MyCD Pro CD Burning Software (by Al Gordon) ** 03. How Can I Learn This Real Fast? - Part 2 (by T.J. Lee) ** 04. Identity Theft: Online Resources Can Help Protect You - Part 2 (by Lee Hudspeth) ** 05. Featured Web Site - Akoo.com ** 06. Featured Book - "Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit" (Microsoft Press) ** 07. Featured FAQ - Upgrading Windows 98 to Windows 2000! ** 08. For Recent Subscribers ** 09. Newsworthy - a potpourri of current events and interesting stuff ** 10. We Get Mail ** 01. Letter from the Publisher Welcome to another issue of TNPC! Dan's off this week to the Texas Association of Magicians annual convention in Dallas. If any TNPCers are part time prestidigitators in Texas for the convention be sure to look Dan up. Reacting to a truckload of reader feedback, Lee passes along a plethora of identity theft prevention tips from TNPC readers. Jim's celebrating his one-year anniversary living in a small rural town in central California (small after living in Los Angeles that is). Seems he has spent the last 12 months going to rodeos, farmers markets, Cub Scout meetings, and school functions. Despite this hectic schedule he continues the discussion he started last issue on what it takes to learn how to use a new piece of software and some reader reactions. Seems that everyone has or is getting a CD drive capable of burning custom CDs and the quest continues, looking for the perfect CD-RW burning software. Al checks in with the latest offering from Veritas. As always, reader support is what keeps TNPC free, so PLEASE help us and pass a copy of TNPC on to co-workers and friends (no spam please!) and remember to always say "I saw it in TNPC!" +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ >> NEW GREAT PRICES ON THE TOP NAMES IN UPS SYSTEMS!! In order to give you even better prices on the top brand names in UPS systems we've listed a few of our products on eBay! Check out our great deals today at eBay under the seller name: pei-ups If you are looking for a new or refurbished UPS for your system PEI offers some of the best prices around on APC, Best Power, and Powerware. Stop Losing Data! Protect your computer from power surges, spikes, sags, & brownouts. Call toll-free: 877-492-6408 or visit us today at: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?sponsor1 +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ ** 02. Veritas Releases MyCD Pro CD Burning Software (by Al Gordon) Could there really be more CD burning software out there to test? Yes, indeedie. We have only begun to scratch the surface of this type of software. CD-RW drives are quickly becoming must-have devices, coming installed on new PCs and they're a popular upgrade on existing systems. Everyone is trying to take the pain out of creating your own CDs by coming out with better burning software. Two more of these products have come to my attention of late. One is Veritas Software's MyCD Pro ($79), intended as the industrial strength counterpart to its MyCD (reviewed in TNPC #3.16). The Pro version adds the expected bells and whistles. Although there is a wizard-like starting screen to help you on your way to a recording project, the principal interface is an Explorer-like screen that allows you to assemble the elements of your recording and set the various recording options. Performance--the Pro version uses the same basic engine as MyCD-- is good, as is its reliability, but, frankly, it left me a little underwhelmed. There is nothing wrong with it, and as the new kid on the block, benefits from having support for some of the latest recording technologies. For example, it will work with the new 10x CD-RW drives and media, and will support anti-buffer underrun hardware. MyCD Pro also truly has "pro" features, including the ability to record on multiple drives simultaneously. However, its ease-of-use lags behind that of Adaptec Easy CD and- -most especially--that of the $39 version of MyCD. Veritas' consumer product set new standards for "don't bother me with decisions, just make the CD" simplicity with its well thought out wizard interface. Apparently, Veritas' marketing department must have had a similar reaction. In what is a breakthrough in CD software, the company puts both versions on the installation CD of Pro. So your $79 buys you two programs--the Pro for when you need it, and the standard version for simple jobs. MyCD Pro Version (Amazon price $51.99): http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?cd1 A couple of TNPCers suggested I take a look at Feurio!, a shareware program from Germany that comes in various versions costing anywhere from $29 to $79. The program is adequate, but only that. It is vaguely reminiscent of Nero (reviewed in TNPC #3.12) but has fewer features. Indeed, for its imaging capability (making a disk file of a CD--the technique required when you have only one drive on your system), the instructions are to download Nero's trial version and use its imaging features. You can download Feurio! here: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?cd2 At TNPC we always applaud entrepreneurship and Feurio! does support an impressive range of CD burners, but for the money, there are better choices. You can reach Al Gordon at: mailto:al@TheNakedPC.com +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ SO MUCH TRAFFIC, SO LITTLE TIME... Face it, your web site either sells or it doesn't. Learn to make YOUR site sell. With the in-depth knowledge in this book, you can discover the SECRETS of how to: GET the lead, GET the customer, and GET THE SALE. Make Your Site Sell! shows you how, like no other book or program ever has. Click NOW to start selling MORE! http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/318/tr.cgi?sponsor2 +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ ** 03. How Can I Learn This Real Fast? - Part 2 (by T.J. Lee) I was swamped with feedback on my "How Can I Learn This Real Fast" article in the last issue (TNPC #3.17). This rant of mine generated more reader comments than anything else I've ever done in TNPC. To all of you who sent me email I'm afraid that I cannot possibly reply to everyone, but I did read every message and I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful comments. The vast majority of those who wrote me agreed that most computer users don't have much patience when it comes to learning software and want the instant solution now. Needless to say many of these people were in a help desk or support environment. Many of these comments were quite eloquent and went on for several pages. It was very nice to know that so many of you believe in RTFM wholeheartedly. If you want to read some of the thoughts from other TNPCers that agree that a linear approach is still the way to go stop by: http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/318/tr.cgi?learn2 I did get less than a handful of responses that linear learning is dead and the "don't teach me how it works, just show me how to do it" is the right way to go. Consider this response. "Seems kind of strange that you have to buy a book to learn to use software? Doesn't it seem like going [sic] backwards. No one has time to learn by sitting and reading for hours. Books are picked up for short periods of time and each page should stand on its own." While I disagree with the premise, her outlook is one that I'm hearing more and more often. But is it backwards to learn about software from reading a book? I don't think so but then I feel that some theory is essential before practical application if you're really trying to learn something. Whether you get that from a book format, CBT (computer based training) materials, or a video tape doesn't matter. What's important is that you study the material so you'll know what you're doing. Then you must sit at the keyboard and start doing things with the software. Saying that no one has time to learn anything is perhaps something we can all identify with... even though it's not true. I agree that time is the single most precious thing that there is, and it is true that we're all overworked. Downsizing has forced those still left to do more work with fewer bodies. That today you need two incomes to keep a family going has hardly left time to have a family meal let alone read books. But if you're going to learn how to use a computer and the related software, you're going to have to make some time. You can't count on employers to make adequate training available. They don't want to spend the money or, and here it comes again, the TIME. (To any employers who may be listening, to do "job specific" computer training right you have to spend both time and money. For more on what it takes to do training right go here: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?learn1 ) You can either bite the bullet and learn it the hard way, be that by reading a book, taking a class, and always by pounding the keyboard, or you can wait until the software runs itself, which I think will be an awfully long wait. Software companies are trying for "ease of use" but there are some real problems with the approaches open to them. First, it's unwieldy to run a Wizard that walks you through every single process a particular application can perform. Imagine having a Wizard kicking off every time you want to save a file. The second problem is trying to dumb down the software interface so that it works for both novices and experienced users. As if to illustrate this very point another TNPCer asked, "Why isn't there an option that just says "lighten this picture," why should I have to know that this feature goes under some obscure terminology like "gamma correction?" Well, because gamma correction isn't the brightness control. Gamma correction allows you to change brightness *and* contrast in both light and dark areas, by differing amounts, which you can't do by adjusting either overall brightness or overall contrast alone. This lets you better bring out the details in both light and dark areas on the same photograph. Gamma correction is not a brightness control so it shouldn't be called one. Having a high-powered graphics software package does not make you a graphics artist or a photographer anymore than having a word processor automatically makes you a writer. No matter how easy they make the interface, the software is only a tool and you're going to have to learn not only the terminology but also the basics of what you're trying to do. Again, a linear approach of first laying a foundation of knowledge which is then built upon to the point where, hopefully, you actually know what you're doing. Finally, for the reader who said, "Linear is for novices, multi- dimensional learning is for the rest of us," all I can suggest is that you buy books with a good index. You can reach T.J. Lee at: mailto:tj_lee@TheNakedPC.com ** 04. Identity Theft: Online Resources Can Help Protect You - Part 2 (by Lee Hudspeth) In TNPC #3.14 I started this article series. In this episode I have compiled all the solutions, tips, and suggestions provided by the many kind and thoughtful readers who wrote in. (For privacy reasons I won't be listing even first names here, but you'll know who you are. Thanks to all the TNPCers who contributed.) 1. If the volume of your incoming postal mail suddenly drops, immediately check with your local Postmaster. Someone may have mailed a change of address card to your post office to start intercepting your mail, thereby acquiring your personal data, especially your social security number. 2. Make a list of all the dates on which your various credit card accounts deliver a bill. If any one of them is more than 1-2 mail-delivery days late, call the institution to verify that they still have your correct address. Identity thieves often monkey with an account and switch the address to one of their own choosing so you won't--they hope--notice what's happening to the account. 3. If you're a senior citizen and fall victim to identity theft follow this tip from a kind TNPCer, "If you are eligible for senior services, file a financial abuse report with the state/local agency. Many states are actively prosecuting elderly fraud and you may get more help (and faster action) when you have the criminal and civil agencies working together. Don't be surprised if they don't talk to each other; be prepared to provide the same information to all agencies." 4. Some readers swear by the "credit card insurance" services offered by most providers. Although I personally don't feel the need to pay for such a service (I maintain my own records about what cards exist and who to call about loss/theft), your mileage may vary. Remember that if you don't keep the service provider up to date on new cards, they can't be expected to cancel them for you. 5. A TNPCer's local police department provided a handout sheet entitled "IDENTITY THEFT: What to Do If It Happens To You" (a joint publication of CALPIRG and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, June 1998 Revision). The publication was funded by The San Francisco Foundation's Bank of America Consumer Education Fund. Under other useful resources it lists: * Federal Government Information Center (800) 688-9889 for help in obtaining agency phone numbers. * CALPIRG 11965 Venice Blvd., Suite 408 Los Angeles, CA 90066 Phone: 310-397-3404 Web address: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?id1 Find out about its support group, victims of Identity Theft. Participate in online victims' discussion group, voit- moderator@pirg.org, co-sponsored by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. * Privacy Rights Clearinghouse 1717 Kettner Ave., Suite 105 San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: 619-298-3396 Web address: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?id2 Obtain its book, "The Privacy Rights Handbook" (Avon, 1997). We couldn't find this book on Amazon, but did find a close approximation, "Your Right to Privacy: A Basic Guide to Legal Rights in an Information Society (An American Civil Liberties Union Handbook)": http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?id3 6. Social security number tips: if someone asks you for it, ask them why they need it; and never carry your SSN card with you unless it's needed, and then only for that day. 7. Destroy sensitive documents. Read: get a shredder. My dad has one that sits right on top of a standard office-sized waste basket. Cool! (Note to my parents: now you know what to get me for Christmas.) 8. Another direct quote regarding credit card transaction security, "If the store still uses the old carbon-type receipts, get the carbon copy of the receipt also. These could be pulled out of the trash by anyone knowing that particular business still uses the carbon-type receipts. This person will then have your credit card number, expiration date, and your signature." 9. Use a locked mail box, a slot in your door, or a P.O. box to secure incoming postal mail. 10. Mail credit card and similar bill payments directly at the post office rather than from your home's outgoing post box. Otherwise an identify thief has easy access to your credit card and bank account information. 11. Encourage and thank merchants who automatically ask for--and scrutinize--an ID for check and credit card purchases. 12. Keep a current list of bank account numbers, credit card numbers, contact numbers, and so forth; one copy at home and one in your safe deposit box. 13. If your wallet/purse is only misplaced temporarily, that doesn't mean all is well. Many readers related stories about identity theft that happened in a very short amount of time while their wallet/purse was misplaced, say, at the vet's office, fast food restaurant, library, airport ticket counter, etc. Sadly, you should assume the worst and treat a lost-but-then-found wallet/purse just like an outright theft. 14. Routinely photocopy the contents of your wallet, keeping one copy at home and one in your safe deposit box. 15. The National Fraud Information Center: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?id4 There were plenty more reader tips and suggestions, but I'm out of room so look for Part 3 in a future issue. You can reach Lee Hudspeth at: mailto:leehudspeth@TheNakedPC.com +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ >> GET YOUR DOG TO LISTEN TO YOU, ANYWHERE YOU GO! Even If He's Distracted By Food, Cats Or A Tennis Ball! Now you can learn the Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer. Click below, now! http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/318/tr.cgi?sponsor3 +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ ** 05. Featured Web Site - Akoo.com Sure you can check out the latest music videos by Brittany Spears or Christina Aguilera on this site, and it's cool that you can see the movie trailers for the hottest movies that are out in theaters (X-Men, The Cell, Scary Movie) and on video (Matrix, the Tigger Movie). That's all very nice. But what makes this a site that's head and shoulders above all other similar entertainment sites is... where else can you go to see full-length classic monster movies? We're talking gems here like Gorgo, Son of Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Megalon, or the critically overlooked Monster From Green Hell (with several stock jungle scenes added simply because they were handy). Okay, maybe you'll come by to check out the Radio page where you can find practically any station in the world that broadcasts a Web feed, but it'll be those guys in the rubber monster suits that will bring you back again and again. A speedy connection helps but they have clips for anything from 28.8 dial-ups to DSL and cable connections. Great fun. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?fsite ** 06. Featured Book - "Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit" (Microsoft Press) 1,768 pages rounds out to about 792,064 words... this is one hefty tome. Then again, with 35 MILLION lines of code purportedly in Windows 2000, that's only 0.022 words per line (of code). From that inside-out perspective the book seems somewhat sparse :-) All these whimsical calculations aside, if you are an Information Technology professional with a proliferating number of Windows 2000 desktops under your wing, or anyone else with a hard-core need to know everything Microsoft has to say--in print anyway-- about its newest Operating System, this is the book for you. It comes bundled with a CD that includes over 200 tools and utilities. Be prepared to part with $60, even with a 20% discount: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?fbook ** 07. Featured FAQ - Upgrading Windows 98 to Windows 2000! This is Paul Thurrott's outstanding piece on upgrading a Windows 98 machine to Windows 2000. Not an FAQ in the strict sense, it certainly answers a lot of questions that most users would have when thinking about making the leap from Win98 to Win2000. Paul discusses what types of systems make good upgrade candidates and what condition the computer should be in before embarking on the upgrade path. Dual boot is discussed and recommended (something we heartily agree with). If you're thinking of going with Windows 2000 on your Windows 98 machine you'll want to read this article, which is nicely annotated with screen shots from the upgrade process, from top to bottom. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?ffaq +++-----------------------------------------------------------+++ WANT TO GET YOUR WORD OUT? Classified ads in The Naked PC can be yours for ridiculously low prices. Get your message out to over 56,000 TNPC subscribers. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/tnpcadvertising.html?v3i18 +++-----------------------------------------------------------+++ ** 08. For Recent TNPC Subscribers TNPC has been adding nearly 1,000 new subscribers to our readership list every issue, so current readers may not be aware of some of the articles that have appeared in past issues of our newsletter. Here is a quick recap of some past articles that you may find interesting if you missed them the first time around. *-* Annoyances Alley - Range Names and Labels in Excel 97 (TNPC 1.11.04) If you're not using range names in Excel you are working way too hard. The Annoyances Alley series of articles are excerpts from our books on Word, Excel, Office, and Outlook that we wrote for O'Reilly publishing. This article deals with Excel's powerful range name feature. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?recent1 *-* Does Your System Have Warts? (Troubleshooting Win98 Catastrophic Failures) - (TNPC 1.13.03) Another in Lee's ongoing System Warts series, this discussed some of the troubleshooting strategies for Windows 98 that we used in our book, "The Unofficial Guide to PCs." http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?recent2 ** 09. Newsworthy - a potpourri of current events and interesting stuff *-* Users of the freeware ZoneAlarm under Windows 2000 will be pleased to hear that the ZoneAlarm 2.1 patch has been released that fixes the incompatibilities between the firewall software and Windows 2000 Service Pack 1. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?news1 *-* Repeating "ease of use" like a mantra, Microsoft has started trotting out some of the features to be found in MS Office 10 scheduled for release in mid-2001. Called a "stepping stone" on the way to the new and improved Office.Net way of computing (whatever that means) it's suppose to make getting to all of the features in Office, um, easier. Everything but Outlook gets what are called Task Panes (pain?) that'll walk you through things like formatting a word. Outlook gets Hotmail and Microsoft Instant Messenger rolled into it and MS's Digital Dashboard slapped on top (which finally gives a purpose to Digital Dashboard we suppose). http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?news2 Be sure to check out Paul Thurrott's first look at Office 10 which includes some screen shots of the new features. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?news3 *-* The FBI and FTC agree that online auction fraud generate more complaints than all other Internet enterprises. The auction services like eBay downplay the problems but with 1,000 complaints a month it's hard to ignore. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?news4 If you have had a problem with online auctions, either outright fraud or other shady practices, drop us a note at: mailto:tj_lee@TheNakedPC.com *-* Before you get worked up over reports of the Pokémon Pikachu worm/Trojan killer virus better check out Rob Rosenberger's reality site for a real read on the potential danger. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?news5 Hey! Have you come across something newsworthy? Drop us a line: mailto:hottips@TheNakedPC.com ** 10. We Get Mail *-* A large number of you sent in your favorite solutions to TNPCer Sharon M.'s problem with pop-up browser windows. Here are the three most mentioned by our readers. We've not tested any of these here at TNPC but our readers have said that these utilities will stop those annoying pop-up windows and/or advertisements from displaying. Pow! From Analog X: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?pop1 Naviscope: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?pop2 PopUp Killer: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?pop3 Be sure to stop by the Letters to the Editor page for more: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/letters/index.html **PLEASE SUPPORT TNPC BY VISITING OUR ADVERTISERS** +++----------------------- classifieds -----------------------+++ **NEED INK? SAVE 40-70% OVER RETAIL!** High Quality Inkjet Printer Cartridges, JetPaks, Refill Kits. Super Prices! Your Satisfaction Is Guaranteed. * FREE 3 Day / 2 Night Vacation Certificate! * MaxPatch Ink Supplies http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?class1 +++-----------------------------------------------------------+++ Do what you love. Set your own schedule. Be your own boss. Own your own technology superstore with no inventory! Sound like a dream? I'll show you how to turn your dreams into reality. Visit http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/318/tr.cgi?class2 +++-----------------------------------------------------------+++ LEARN HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS ON THE INTERNET NOW At Last - Web Hosting that Works Finally a web host that understands e-commerce. You get all the space you need and great support. Plus plug-in web sites to get you started fast. http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/318/tr.cgi?class3 +++-----------------------------------------------------------+++ >> ********** FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT ANYBODY ********** Background Investigations, Criminal Records, Vehicle Ownership, Military Records, Business Directories, Adoption Resources If you're looking to find them or find out about them this is the tool you can't do without! http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/318/tr.cgi?class4 +++-----------------------------------------------------------+++ DISCLAIMER Personal computers are individual machines with performance that can vary with components, software, and operator ability. 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If you've got a technical question about PC issues, or suggestions of your own, this is the place to hang out: http://www.PRIMEConsulting.com/annoyanceboard/ ADVERTISING To advertise in TNPC go to: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/tnpcadvertising.html Mail services provided by Blue Horizon Enterprises, one of the very few "Mom and Pop" operations left on the Web: http://www.bhorizon.com Copyright (c) 2000, PRIME Consulting Group, Inc. and Dan Butler. All Rights Reserved. The Naked PC is a trademark of PRIME Consulting Group, Inc. ISSN: 1522-4422 TNPC Hot Tips:
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