What You Need to Know about All Things PC
Volume 5 Number 04Click 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, February 14, 2002 - Vol. 5 No. 04 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Table of Contents ** 01. Letter from the Publisher ** 02. FireWire Meets USB 2.0 (by Al Gordon) ** 03. Recycling PC Components and Paraphernalia: Part 5 (Finding Recipients for Donations) (by Lee Hudspeth) ** 04. eXPeriencing More Activation Annoyances (by Al Gordon) ** 05. The Best of Nigerian Letters (by T.J. Lee) ** 06. Featured Book - "Software Secrets -- Exposed!" by Ben Prater (reviewed by Dan Butler) ** 07. Featured Product - FinePrint (reviewed by Dan Butler) ** 08. Featured Web Page - The Windows (XP) Catalog (reviewed by Lee Hudspeth) ** 09. Newsworthy - a potpourri of current events and interesting stuff ** 01. Letter from the Publisher We're approaching a readership of 100,000. To get there, we need your help. Would you be willing to pass along a copy of this very issue of The Naked PC to a co-worker, friend, or family member? Right now? It would really be helpful if you would include a short note at the top of that forwarded email on how our newsletter has saved you time, enhanced your understanding of a technology or idea, brought a cool new tool to your desktop or a good book to your table, tickled your funny bone, inspired you, or whatever personal story you would like to share about your relationship with us. We appreciate your support. Another way you can tell a friend about our newsletter and Web site is to use our "refer" page. You fill in your name and email address, your friend's name and email address, click a button, and we handle the details of sending your friend a brief message, personalized from you (on the form you can include a comment string up to 1,000 characters) that points them to our site. The message professionally explains that you are referring them to our site. We also send you a short confirmation message. Try it, we think you--and your friends--will like it. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?publet1 In this issue... Al's been busy investigating FireWire, USB 2.0, and Windows XP. Lee answers reader requests for more tips about finding recipients for PC and PC component donations. Jim regales us with his and your best of the best Nigerian scam email letters. We have a featured book, product, and Web page for you, too. +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ MICRO-LIGHTS the Super POCKET FLASHLIGHT! Micro-Lights are the BRIGHTEST flashlights for their size in the WORLD. Reliable, incredibly bright light for any situation. A Micro-Light is small enough to clip to your key chain, carry it in your pocket or purse and you won't even know it's there. But you'll never, ever be caught in the dark! Instant light in emergencies, or just when you have to find something under your desk or the sofa. The Red, Orange, or Yellow lights run for 120 hours on a single lithium battery! Carry a Micro-Light for a week and you'll never go anywhere without one again. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/a/tr.cgi?pocketflashlight +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ ** 02. FireWire Meets USB 2.0 (by Al Gordon) So here we are having gotten used to USB and starting to think about adopting FireWire when along comes USB 2.0. Now what? How about having your cake and eating it, too? Adaptec, the leader in SCSI technology, has unveiled an extensive lineup of both FireWire and USB 2.0 products, headlined by the DuoConnect combo PCI card for desktop computers ($116). The combo card provides three USB 2.0 ports and two for FireWire: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?al1 Adaptec also makes desktop cards that are solely USB 2.0 or FireWire. But unless you have two PCI slots to spare I strongly recommend the combo card because you are likely to need support for both technologies in the months ahead. Since notebook cards are hot-swappable, there isn't the same need for a dual card. Nor is there enough real estate on a credit card-sized card to provide that many ports. Adaptec's solutions here include the three-port FireConnect for Notebooks ($90): http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?al2 There's a two-port USB2connect for Notebooks: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?al3 For pictures and more links, please go to my supplemental page: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?al4 The reason both come into play is that the standards have been adopted by different market segments. FireWire support was built into Windows XP, and Microsoft is due to release an XP update for USB 2.0. FireWire originally was Apple's trademark for what is officially known as "IEEE 1394," a designation so catchy that is no wonder FireWire became the generic term. It provides data transfers of up to 400 mbps (megabits per second) and is becoming the interface of choice for digital video and multimedia components such as digital video recorders and cameras. USB 2.0 (also called "Hi-Speed USB 2.0") supports data transfers of up to 480 mbps, compared with 12 mbps on current USB version 1.1 devices. It is being adopted in the PC world for data storage related devices, such as external hard drives and tape drives. 2.0 is backwards compatible, so your older USB devices will still connect (although, of course, only at 1.1 speeds). Happily, attaching an older, slower peripheral to a USB 2.0 hub does not slow down the faster components. The two versions will co-exist and run at their own speeds. Adaptec has taken advantage of this in designing some slick USB hubs (so you can attach more peripherals to your card) with up to seven ports. Both FireWire and USB 2.0 allow for plug-and-play, hot-swappable device connections. Given that they can exceed the data transfer rates of older generation SCSI and are simpler to configure, FireWire and USB 2.0 are likely to eventually displace SCSI as the leading technology for high-bandwidth external peripherals. As it happens, Adaptec recently has released new drivers and a firmware (the software embedded on the device) upgrade for its USBXchange adapter ($75): http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?al5 A sleek cable with a USB connector on one end and SCSI connectors on the other, USBXchange will allow you to plug low-bandwidth legacy SCSI peripherals--scanners and Zip drives, for instance-- into a USB port. The target is the class of external SCSI devices made before Windows fully supported USB and, thus, SCSI was the best available option at the time. In its original incarnation, USBXchange only supported USB 1.0. It now gives full 1.1 performance, which is more than adequate. My old SCSI Zip 250 is running like a charm. The adapter can give your legacy peripherals plug-and-play convenience, and help you save SCSI for devices that really need them. You can reach Al Gordon at: mailto:al@TheNakedPC.com +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ "Computer Tips Compendium" We've collected over 460 computer tips and have packaged them as an electronic book in PDF format. That means that the text of each and every tip is fully text searchable... you'll find the tip you need, when you need it. We've pulled together the BEST TIPS, tricks, and techniques that you're likely to ever find all onto a single CD. You also get free access to the restricted Tips Section of The Naked PC Web site! Tips on where to find the information you need on the Internet, shortcuts to settings, fixes and workarounds to problems, general computer tips, tips for specific software, over 460 tips to help people like you use your computer even more productively. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/a/tr.cgi?comptips +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ ** 03. Recycling PC Components and Paraphernalia: Part 5 (Finding Recipients for Donations) (by Lee Hudspeth) This is a new article in my ongoing series about greener recycling of PCs and PC stuff. For a quick index to my previous articles in this series see my supplemental page: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee1 Many of you have written in recently asking me for additional tips and ideas on how to find specific recipients for donations. One source I turned to for information is Dr. Ken Goldstein, founder, Hawaii Computers for Kids Program (www.catii.com), whose counsel and kindness I much appreciate. He provided several excellent leads which I include in this article. (Any errors in this article are entirely my own.) * Hawaii Computer for Kids Program -- This is Dr. Goldstein's site. If you live in Hawaii and have any surplus PCs or components, please visit this site. The Hawaii Computer for Kids Program takes your surplus equipment and software and distributes them to grade schools and high schools throughout the state of Hawaii wherever they can make a difference. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee2 * How to locate the right people to talk to within your local school system -- Start by looking in the white & yellow pages (either hard copy or on the Internet) for your school district's administrative office. For example, I used SuperPages.com (http://superpages.gte.net), entered "los angeles city board of education", selected CA for California, scrolled down the hit list to "Boards of Education" and was able to view a wide range of listings in my area. I then skipped over to AltaVista's search engine, located my school district, and--since Los Angeles county is so large--drilled down to the job title that related to information and technology, specifically, Assistant Superintendent, Information and Technology. That's where I started my calls. You can follow the same basic steps for your area. * How to locate the right people to talk to at your local church, place of worship, or other non-secular entity -- I suggest you use the white & yellow pages (again, either hard copy or online) and call the organization's administrative office. Staff will welcome your interest in making an equipment donation, or if not, be able to refer you to another local cause that is interested. * Computers for School Foundation (CFS) -- According to its Web site, "CFSA is a non-profit professional association of organizations involved in the management of refreshed (functional systems replaced by up-to-date equipment) computers and their placement into our nation's schools and educational institutions." From the site's home page you can branch off to read about the CFS, study FAQs, learn how to donate, find out more about the repair process, and so forth. This page explains how to donate: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee5 * PEP: Resources for Parents, Educators & Publishers -- This group maintains a National Directory of Computer Recycling Programs that has international, national (U.S.), and state listings. For example, their links under California provide 21 state-level resources. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee6 * U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) -- Computers for Learning (CFL) is a federal Web site run by the GSA. "The program transfers excess Federal computer equipment to schools and educational nonprofit organizations, giving special consideration to those with the greatest need. The CFL website connects the registered needs of schools and educational nonprofit organizations with available Government computer equipment. Federal agencies use the website to transfer computers based upon indications of need." http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee7 * PhilanthropySearch is a nonprofit and philanthropic search engine: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee8 * Give.org -- Here you can read what the BBB Wise Giving Alliance has to say about its set of standards for charitable solicitations, and its evaluations of various charities. (The Alliance is a self-described "...merger of the National Charities Information Bureau and the Council of Better Business Bureaus' Foundation and its Philanthropic Advisory Service.") The evaluations include a yes/no on meeting the CBBB Standards for Charitable Solicitations, along with descriptions of programs, governance, fund raising methods, tax status, and financial data. I once donated an aging car to the American Heart Association, but at the time I didn't know about this resource to validate the organization's status. Wish I had (not that anything is wrong with the AHA, but knowledge is power and more is better). http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?lee9 If you have any ideas or suggestions for ways to use the Internet to find eligible recipients for PCs and component donations, or know of any agencies, institutions, or other resources related to the donation of these types of material. I would like to hear from you. You can reach Lee Hudspeth at: mailto:LeeHudspeth@TheNakedPC.com +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ "The Book That Should Have Come with Your Computer" "This book should come with every PC - it has become MY BIBLE." "I find information in this book that I can't find anywhere else." These are just a few of the comments we've received on this book. This book-on-a-CD-ROM is fully searchable! Written by the same guys who bring you this newsletter, T.J. Lee, Lee Hudspeth, and Dan Butler, tell you what every computer user needs to know. As Chris Pirillo at Lockergnome says, "It's amazing how much stuff you'll find on the care and feeding of your system in this book." If you use computers you need this book! Check it out! http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/a/tr.cgi?tugpc2 +++------------------------- sponsor -------------------------+++ ** 04. eXPeriencing More Activation Annoyances (by Al Gordon) We expressed annoyance in this space awhile back space about Microsoft's anti-piracy "activation" scheme in Office XP and Windows XP. With the passage of time, we have duly considered the real world results--and we are even more annoyed. After installing the Adaptec DuoConnect card reviewed in the accompanying article, Windows XP demanded that I re-activate. According to the official Microsoft White Paper on activation, neither USB nor FireWire cards are among the components that are part of the activation scheme. But this, after all, is a Microsoft program, so there always are "issues." According to the technical representative on the other end of the 800-line at activation central, Windows XP regularly decides that FireWire cards are network cards, which WinXP activation does monitor. Hence my activation eXPerience. But that's only the #2 annoyance. As part of another test, I had been checking out Adaptec's family of SCSI cards, the 19160, 29160, and 39160. These did not trigger Windows XP activation. No, no, no, nothing that simple. Instead Windows XP decided that it needed to re-install each of the hard drives connected to the SCSI cards. The drives had not changed, but routing them through a different SCSI card sufficed to make Windows see new hardware. This, in turn, triggered an OFFICE XP re-activation. On the plus side, the people on the 800 lines provided the necessary codes to re-activate without protest. But all things considered, I have better uses for my time than having to dial an 800 number every time I test something on my PC. You can reach Al Gordon at: mailto:al@TheNakedPC.com ** 05. The Best of Nigerian Letters (by T.J. Lee) I've warned our readers about the infamous Nigerian letter before. It's an old-time confidence game that's been refitted for the world of free email accounts and mass spammings. If you've never heard of the Nigerian Letter scam check out this previous article: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?jim1 Anyway, a number of you have shared with me the letters you've received so I'd thought I list some of the more interesting here. TNPCer Mark S. forwarded me a note he'd received from the desk of Prof. Tanko Bunu via the good prof's free Yahoo email account, and who is with the Federal Government Of Nigeria Contract Review Panel. It's an offer of 20% of an undisclosed sum if he can park some funds in Mark's bank account. Apparently realizing that he forgot to mention the amount Mark would get, the Prof sent another message that same day telling Mark he'd make a spiffy "overseas partner" into whose account the Prof and his fellow review panel cohorts would transfer "the sum of US$38,020,000.00 (Thirty-eigth million, twenty thousand United States dollars)" (sic). TNPCer TM shared an offer from Dr. Andrew Coker on behalf of the Director of Contracts and Finance Allocation of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Nigeria. Seems the good doctor needs an overseas agent to whom he can entrust "USD$15.4Million (Fifteen Million, Four Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)" and is willing to give up 30% for TM's help. Dr. Coker also transacts his business via a free Yahoo account. Meanwhile, TNPCer Judy B. shares that Mohammed Abacha, who she was assured is the son of the late General Sani Abacha, who apparently was the former military head of state in Nigeria is in need of a foreign partner to whom he can pass the cool "sum of US$75,000,000.00 (seventy five million United States dollars)" for a percentage to be negotiated with Mohammed's lawyer Hama Clifford who uses a free Lycos email account. Apparently Nigeria is awash with cash just dying to get out of the country. Not to be outdone I've seen where a Mr. Moshood Mobutu Sese Seko, son of the late President Mobutu Sese Seko of Congo Democratic Republic wants to move $50 Million out of the CDR and will gladly pay 20% for some minor assistance. Finally, Azizi Anam from Sierra Leone only has Sixteen Million United States Dollars (USD$16 000 000.00) to transfer into friendly hands. This is another deal where the percentage to the person willing to act as his overseas business manager is negotiable. It seems the majority of the letters shared by our readers come from Nigeria with a smattering from other remote parts of the globe. The one thing all these letters have in common is the belief on the part of the authors in the maxim coined by Mr. P.T. Barnum, "There's a sucker born every minute." You can reach T.J. Lee at: mailto:tj_lee@TheNakedPC.com ** 06. Featured Book - "Software Secrets -- Exposed!" by Ben Prater (reviewed by Dan Butler) Did you ever have an idea that you thought would make a great software program? I have, but where do you start? Recently Ben Prater sent me a copy of his book "Software Secrets -- Exposed!" The title seemed a bit over the top and left me somewhat skeptical. Being curious, I began reading the book. And I have to say, I was impressed. Ben really knows his stuff. Just this past month I've been involved in four software projects of my own and consulted on several others. Had I read this book first I would have saved lots of time and had better programs. I know this is one of those books I will refer to often. Several things I enjoyed about the book include: * A simple way of generating solid software ideas, including turning your hobby into a profitable software business. * Step-by-step system for creating your own software "blueprint" on paper before any code is written. * How to build a compelling website that will help you to successfully market and distribute your software. When you learn how easy it is to get your software completed you'll appreciate the special information in this book. You see, Ben not only tells you what to do, he tells you what not to do. And that will save you time and money. More importantly it will give you peace of mind as you watch your ideas turn into reality. I asked Ben if he could set up a special discount for our The Naked PC readers, and he finally agreed--as long as you pick up the course before February 20th. As you read his offer look for the extra special discount for our readers. You might find the letter sounding more like a late-night infomercial. But if creating and selling your own software interests you, don't miss the opportunity to get the powerful course. Get all the details here: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?fbook You can reach Dan Butler at: mailto:danbutler@TheNakedPC.com ** 07. Featured Product - FinePrint (reviewed by Dan Butler) My NEC Silentwriter 870 is a fine printer. I really liked the ability to print watermarks, booklets, etc. In fact those features are what prompted my article on using Multiple Printer Setups in TNPC #3.01: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?dan1 When I upgraded to Windows 2000 my fancy print capabilities went away. After looking around for a solution I stumbled upon FinePrint Software's FinePrint 2000. All the features I was missing were there. What can FinePrint help you do? Here's a partial list: * print Watermarks - using the text of your choosing * make small booklets and keep the page numbers straight * use various stationary * print multiple pages on each sheet of paper * combine multiple print jobs into one FinePrint starts with a nifty Printer Wizard. It prints a few sheets of paper and asks you a few questions. After you answer the questions, the program knows what capabilities your printer has and only offers you those settings in the future. When you want to print you simply select the FinePrint printer and print normally. After spooling your job FinePrint pops up with a preview screen. From this screen you can delete individual pages, play with your settings, and generally work with the program. You can even combine multiple print jobs from different applications into one job. Just keep printing and FinePrint collects all your print jobs until you tell it to print. See some pictures of FinePrint in action here: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?dan2 When you have multiple printers, say a laser and an inkjet, you simply run the Printer Wizard for each printer. The program then stores the settings for each printer for future use. Very handy. Overall I'm very pleased with FinePrint. It has given me all the former capabilities my printer had, plus some. In addition I know I have all those features for every printer on my system. After setting up multiple FinePrint printers with different settings, everyone who uses the system can easily print in special ways without learning different settings. Download your evaluation copy of FinePrint here: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?fprod You can reach Dan Butler at: mailto:danbutler@TheNakedPC.com ** 08. Featured Web Page - The Windows (XP) Catalog (reviewed by Lee Hudspeth) This page on the expansive (read: gargantuan) Microsoft site is a catalog of hardware and software products that were designed especially for Windows XP. There's a home page, a Software page, a Hardware page, and a search feature. You can easily drill down on a variety of different categories and sub-categories, for example, Hardware, Cameras and Video, Digital Still Image produces this listing of Windows XP-friendly digital still image cameras: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?fsite1 Find the Windows (XP) Catalog Home page here: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?fsite2 ** 09. Newsworthy - a potpourri of current events and interesting stuff *-* States want a close look at Microsoft Windows source code. "Microsoft cannot base its defense [for its claim that it is not technically feasible to offer a stripped-down version of the OS] on the design of its source code and simultaneously deny the litigating states the opportunity to test those arguments by interrogating the code," the states said in their filing. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?news1 *-* New chip may revolutionize the digital photo marketplace. Foveon is shipping its X3 sensor that it says generates better pixels. If the hard science and the economics work out, by this fall there may be a price war in the digital photo marketplace. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?news2 *-* Wireless LANs have some firms concerned about security. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?news3 Have you come across something newsworthy? 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Cookie Encryption - lets you safely access and use Web sites that require cookies. URL Encryption - encrypts your page requests so your ISP can't log them. http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/504/tr.cgi?anon +++-----------------------------------------------------------+++ **NEED INK? SAVE 40-70% OVER RETAIL!** High Quality Inkjet Printer Cartridges, JetPaks, Refill Kits. Super Prices! Your Satisfaction IS Guaranteed. NEW! We now offer High Quality Remanufactured Toner Cartridges Save 30-40% * FREE Printer Utilities! * MaxPatch Ink Supplies http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/a/tr.cgi?maxpatch +++-----------------------------------------------------------+++ DISCLAIMER Personal computers are individual machines with performance that can vary with components, software, and operator ability. The Naked PC is not responsible for the manner in which the information presented is used or interpreted. 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Also, if you wish to post this newsletter to a newsgroup or electronic discussion group, you may do so if you preserve the copyright and subscription information. Thanks. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe, surf on over to: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/subscribe.html To make comments or suggestions, surf on over to: http://www.TheNakedPC.com/tnpfeedback.html or send email directly to: mailto:tnpc@TheNakedPC.com WEB BULLETIN BOARD Check out our 24x7 Web bulletin board. 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 The Naked PC 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) 2002, 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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