GREATER BOSTON SENIOR COMPUTER GROUP NEWSLETTER
Issue No.41,Sept. 4, 2002
CHAIRPERSON:: Arline Ekman, AVE@alumni.unh.edu
EDITOR: Harriet Mandell, harrietd@rcn.com
WEB PAGE: Garry Ziffer, http://users.rcn.com/gbscg
LIAISON: Eve Welts, ewelts@rcn.com
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WHAT'S NEW?? The group web page has a new address. Please make a note of it. The editor has a new email address and is ready to receive any and all contributions to this newsletter. Changing an e-mail address is similar to moving ones residence. I am keeping my old isp just to make sure I don't forget anyone and to give the spammers time to find me.
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GOOGLE.COM is one of the the Internet' s largest search engines today. However, www.AlltheWeb.com combines results for Web pages, multimedia files, FTP files, MP3 songs, video and supports over 49 languages. In addition, AlltheWeb combines real-time indexing of news stories from over 3,000 online sources, indexing up to 800 news stories per minute, with the world's freshest Web search results to create the most comprehensive integrated search and news resource on the Net. Try them when you want information on any subject.
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FLEA at M.I.T. The THIRD SUNDAY of Each Month APRIL thru OCTOBER in Cambridge, MA corner of Albany and Main Streets, rain or shine. Buy Sell SWAP Ham Radio, Electronics, Computers 9AM - 2PM
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MICROSOFT REPAIR PATCH… at http://www.microsoft.com/security. This patch is needed to maintain the secure nature of digital certificates on a user's computer. When the company offers a download to fix a bug, get it!
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WEB SITES….sent by Mack Rosenbaum with commentary include the following:
(you'll love it)… http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~pyang/flash/miniputt.swf
(I assume you know this one) http://www.igrandparents.com/gt/a/features/printables.asp
(This one is a little frustrating but fun; http://happyhub.com/network/reflex/
(here's a fun view of the future)… http://www.chronicle-future.co.uk/
From Dick McWilliams the suggestion is http://www.slate.msn.com Slate Magazine (timely comments across the board. Scroll down to New-Political click then scroll to cartoons which I find are the best.)
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AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION…it is strongly recommended that you always use up-to-date anti-virus software on your system. Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date because new viruses are being written all the time. The best place to find current virus information is on the Internet. Be sure the company that supplies your anti-virus software maintains a Web site with info on current virus threats, and upgrades to your software are available to you.
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MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP…The Service Pack 3 for XP update is expected to give end users more control over applications that launch by default on PCs, as well as more-advanced wireless connectivity. Users are expected to be able to download it from Microsoft's Web site by September 9. It will also be available for purchase on a CD for $9.95. Download Service Pack 3 for updates to application compatibility, security, operating system reliability, and Setup. This service pack includes the updates contained in SP1, SP2.
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NO-CHARGE E-MAIL SUPPORT FOR THE WINDOWS UPDATE SITE INCLUDES: help with Web site navigation, site content quality or error messages, and basic download assistance. All other assistance, including installation and setup issues, is available via our Personal and Professional support offerings at http://support.microsoft.com/directory/. For MSN products, visit http://help.msn.com/. In some cases a support fee may apply, please check the sites for details
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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR E-MAIL….When sending notes (jokes,notices etc.)to a group of people, protect everyone's privacy by using BCC (blind carbon copy)in the address portion of your e-mail. In the To line put your own address, and list all recipients in the BCC line. As a result each recipient sees your address in the To and From lines. There is no evidence on the e-mail that it went out to other people. All e-mail programs have a BCC area. In some cases you have to hunt for it. Start your message and then:
--In Outlook, if BCC isn't showing, click Options and select it
--In Outlook Express, click View / All Headers
--In Netscape, click the To button, then double-click BCC.
--In AOL, put the BCC addresses in the Copy To box, using parentheses.
--In Eudora, Hotmail and Yahoo BCC is immediately available The option is there in the new message window. For more info… http://overcomeemailoverload.com
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PRINT IN A FLASH Most people print a file by opening its application, then opening the file, choosing File, Print, and finally closing the app. To save on mouse clicks and keystrokes, try the following technique instead. Open Windows Explorer and locate the file or files you want to print. Right-click the file or a group of selected files and choose Print. For most file types, the associated application will automatically open, send the file to the printer, and close without further ado. Sometimes--for example, with image files in Windows XP--the right-click Print command will launch a special process, such as the Photo Printing Wizard. This adds a few steps, but if you're printing with the default settings you can zip through the wizard without changing anything.
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WANTED: URL's of web sites; Helpful hints for Mac users, Win 95/98/ME/XP. Software reviews, desired topics for future meetings. Send these items via email to the editor. Please sign your email with your name. We will publish your email address, but not your name, phone number or address without your permission.