C C C C N E W S L E T T E R
CENTRAL COAST COMPUTER CLUB
Santa Maria, California
VOLUME XXIII: NUMBER 4 APRIL, 2008
Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at the Knollwood
Village Clubhouse 4012 S. Bradley Dr., Santa Maria.
General meeting at 7:00PM. System Special Interest Group session is at
5:45PM. Guests are welcome.
Check out our web site: http://fourseas.apcug.org for the latest
program schedule information.
Membership is $15 for twelve months for individuals, $20 for families.
For this you receive: Monthly newsletters, EXTRA4C E-mail Messages,
Help-line support, Monthly presentations, Valuable door prizes, Question
and answer sessions.
NEXT MEETING: APRIL 15, 2008 KNOLLWOOD VILLAGE 4012 S. BRADLEY
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PRESENTATION: Arrow Camera representative on Digital Photography &
Processing.
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********** April COOKIE PROVIDER: BARBARA GODWIN **********
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| CONTENTS |
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(1) OFFICERS, HELPLINES, S.I.G.S
(2) PRESIDENT'S CORNER Vic McLaughlin
(3) EDITOR'S COMMENTS Dick Trissel
(4) BASICS S.I.G. Spence Stimler
(5) WEB WANDERINGS
(6) SYSTEMS S.I.G. Dick Trissel
(7) GOOGLE TOOLBAR SPELLING CHECKER Jack Dunning
(8) OEM XP LICENSES NONTRANSFERABLE Scott Dunn
(9) EMERGENCY KEYBOARD Pamela Tabak
(10) Eee LAPTOP PC SHREDS THE RULES Daniel Sorid
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OFFICERS HELPLINES
President Juno
Vic McLaughlin 937-8326 Dick Trissel 937-7572
vnmclaughlin2448@msn.com rtrissel@juno.com
Vice-President Help With Any Problem
Ray Shafer 934-0130 Ray Isenson 937-6938
rlshafer@msn.com risenson@juno.com
Secretary Hardware, Windows XP, Vista
John McCurdy 925-1825 Ray Isenson 937-6938
jmccurdy.1@verizon.net risenson@juno.com
Treasurer Custom Computer Design and Assembly
Gerry Miller 934-1396 Digital Imagery and Video
2741 Banyan Way Command Line Operations and Batch Files
Santa Maria CA 93455 Jim Tonge 937-0187
gandamiller@verizon.net jtonge1@msn.com
Publicity AOL
Bill Corning 934-0775 Frank Maciel 922-2318
foster95@impulse.net frm8198@aol.com
Newsletter Editor Visual Basic and Genealogy
Dick Trissel 937-7572 Gerald Miller 934-1396
rtrissel@juno.com gandamiller@verizon.net
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (S.I.G.) Windows 95/98/ME/XP & VoiceControl
Basics (6:00pm) Amy Malicki 925-5780
Spence Stimler msamym5@verizon.net
SPENCE932@msn.com
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (S.I.G.)
Systems (5:45pm)
Dick Trissel
rtrissel@juno.com
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CCCC Page 2 April 2008
PRESIDENT'S CORNER by Vic McLaughlin
We had 23 active members in attendance at our March meeting.
Our April meeting will be held at the Knollwood Clubhouse on April 15th at
5:45 PM for the special interest groups, and 7:00 PM for the general
meeting.
The meeting place suggested for the April meeting at the Arrow Camera Shop
has been changed back to our usual location.
Margrit Holmes, Manager of Arrow Camera Store on East Main Street is our
April presenter. She will discuss using a digital camera, ways to input
information into your computer, including a scanner, and what you can do
with it once it is in your computer. She will try to keep it general so she
will have time to answer your questions. Arrow Camera provides personal
services in all these areas, including help in scanning, adjusting and
cropping any photo that you would like to have them print. She will be
bringing some coupons and technical tips and tricks to share with us.
At the meeting of your board of directors it was decided to have a vote of
the membership to approve the expenditure of $290.00 for an annual
subscription for 10 copies of "Smart Computing" to be used for prizes for
the membership. These magazines have been popular prizes at the meetings in
the past.
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CCCC Page 3 April 2008
EDITOR'S COMMENTS by Dick Trissel
Some of you may be confused as to where the April CCCC meeting will take
place. The presentation WILL be at the Knollwood Village Clubhouse as usual
on the third Tuesday of April at the usual times.
One of our members has offered to bring his laptop with a cellphone Wi-Fi
adapter card to the meetings so we can access the Internet during our
meeting. That should be interesting and useful.
Computer Tech Support:
Customer: Hi, this is Celine. I can't get my diskette out.
Tech support: Have you tried pushing the Button?
Customer: Yes, sure, it's really stuck.
Tech support: That doesn't sound good; I'll make a note.
Customer: No , wait a minute... I hadn't inserted it yet... it's still on
my desk... sorry....
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CCCC Page 4 April 2008
BASICS S.I.G. by Spence Stimler and Gerry Miller
On April 15, 2008 at 6:00pm, we will hold another Basics S.I.G. in the Pool
Room. Our past attendance has not been great but the discussions have been
informative and helpful; at least for me.
Topics have run the gauntlet but are mostly about usage of programs such as
Picasa II, MS Publisher, Word, and a bit of venturing into photo programs
such as Adobe Elements. Your attendance is welcome.
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CCCC Page 5 April 2008
WEB WANDERINGS
HOW GOOD ARE YOUR EYES?
You've probably heard the expression "I'll believe it when I see it."
Probably, you've muttered it a few times yourself.
The expression implies that your eyes do not lie. But, in reality, we know
that our eyes often play tricks on us.
Optical illusions and other tricks fascinate me. Maybe it's because optical
illusions force us to change our perceptions.
If you like optical illusions, too, visit today's Cool Site. You'll find
dozens of illusions that will keep you enthralled.
Of course, you'll probably want to learn more about the illusions. The site
includes detailed commentary. So, you'll understand why your eyes are
playing tricks on you!
www.michaelbach.de
QUIZ FOR YOUR ROUTER
Did you know your router might be unsuitable for Windows Vista?
Vista includes advanced networking features. For example, Vista technologies
improve download speeds and online collaboration.
Unfortunately, older home routers may not support these features. So, you
may not be getting the most from Vista.
But before you replace your router, take a simple test! Just run Microsoft's
Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool.
It will check your router for compatibility with Vista's advanced features.
You'll get a detailed report.
The tool requires installation of an ActiveX control. So, run it in Internet
Explorer. And be patient! The test may take 10 minutes.
www.microsoft.com
CREATE A TEAM WEB SITE
Thanks to the Internet, we can connect with co-workers anywhere. We can
exchange messages and share documents.
But if you truly want to collaborate online, things become more difficult.
Setting up a site to share information and files is difficult.
That is, until now. Google Sites makes collaboration easy.
You don't need to know HTML to use Google Sites. You can get started with
free templates. Then, customize the site to make it your own.
You can upload files and add information from Google Calendar, YouTube,
Picasa and other programs.
Each account gets a whopping 10 gigabytes of storage. You'll need to sign up
for Google Apps to use the service. That's free.
sites.google.com
FUN WITH YOUR PHOTOS
Have you ever wondered what your face would look like on someone else's
body? Okay, that may sound like a silly question.
But we've all seen the boards with a hole cut out. You put your face through
the hole, and it looks like you have a different body. They're a lot of fun.
Well, now, things are going high tech. Visit FaceinHole.
You'll find a number of photographs-mostly of celebrities. They all have one
thing in common. The people have a hole where their face should be.
You can fill this hole with a picture of your face! Tools will help you
rotate and resize your photo so it looks perfect.
You'll have a lot of fun playing around with this site.
www.faceinhole.com
A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE BODY
Want to put together a human skeleton?
Want to explore a virtual map of the human body?
At The Virtual Body, you, too, can explore the body. The site has four
sections: brain, skeleton, heart and digestive tract.
There are tours, videos and interactive games. For example, you can see what
each area of the brain controls. Or, place organs in their proper place.
This is a great place for children to learn anatomy. Of course, most of us
could also use a refresher! I just wish the illustrations were larger.
To view the site, you'll need the free Flash Player. If you don't have it,
you'll be prompted to download it.
www.medtropolis.com
OLD-TIME JAZZ
If you like jazz, you won't want to miss today's Cool Site. You'll find more
than 18,000 jazz songs that you can listen to for free!
If you're thinking: Quality matters more than quantity. Well, you won't be
disappointed by the music offered on this site.
You'll find songs from jazz greats like Stan Getz, Charlie "Bird" Parker,
Django Reinhardt and more!
You'll need the free Real Player to listen to the music. If you want to
download tracks, you'll need to buy a membership. A three-month membership
is $5.
www.jazz-on-line.com
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CCCC Page 6 April 2008
SYSTEMS S.I.G. by Dick Trissel
Two of the door prizes were bottles of compressed clean air for the purpose
of cleaning the dust out of your computer. Some people wonder how so much
dust can accumulate in a computer. Of course, the fans draw dusty air
through the computer. But, you can reduce the amount of dust in the area of
the computer if you get it up off of the floor (and away from the dog and
cat hair). Some people don't have room on the desk for a computer tower,
but if you can, put it along side the monitor--it also makes it easier to
access the CD/DVD and floppy drives.
We spent some time discussing the computer clipboard. When you do a file or
text "CUT" (CTRL+X) or "Copy" (CTRL+C) of a selected item, it goes into the
clipboard. You then can "Paste (CTRL+V) where you want if to be
transferred. Note, however, the standard clipboard can only hold one item.
There are free clipboard expander programs available.
There is another way to put something into the clipboard--press the
PrintScreen button on your keyboard. A graphic of the monitor display will
be put into the clipboard and can pe pasted into a graphics program such as
the MS Paint program. If you do an ALT+PrintScreen, the overlaying window
will be put into the clipboard.
If you want to see what is in the clipboard, it can be accessed directly by
using a shortcut icon of the file C:\WINDOWS\system32\clipbrd.exe.
Speaking of keyboards, there is a key on most keyboards that looks like a
dropdown menu with a mouse pointer. It functions like a mouse right button,
displaying the dropdown menu for whatever the mouse is pointed to. The key
is usually in the bottom row between the Windows key and the Control key.
On some laptops in may be on the top row.
We talked about the control of first-party and third-party cookies. A
first-party cookie either originates on or is sent to the Web site you are
currently viewing. These cookies are commonly used to store information,
such as your preferences when visiting that site.
A third-party cookie either originates on or is sent to a Web site different
from the one you are currently viewing. Third-party Web sites usually
provide some content on the Web site you are viewing. For example, many
sites use advertising from third-party Web sites and those third-party Web
sites may use cookies. A common use for this type of cookie is to track your
Web page use for advertising or other marketing purposes. Third-party
cookies can either be persistent or temporary.
To control the cookies, go to Internet Explorer / Tools / Internet Options /
Privacy / Advanced. There you will have the option to "Override automatic
cookie handling". Check the box and check the options you want for first
and third-party cookies. The slider in the Privacy window can also be used.
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CCCC Page 7 April 2008
GOOGLE TOOLBAR SPELLING CHECKER
By Jack Dunning ComputorEdge magazine
Sometimes you're not even aware of great features installed on your
computer. In this case, it's related to the Google Toolbar . The Google
Toolbar is an add-on for your Web browser, available for Internet Explorer
and Firefox. I'm not sure when or how I added the Google Toolbar to my
browser, but I've found that the ability to do a rapid search by just typing
the keywords into a space in my browser menu bar, without first going to the
Google site, has been tremendously useful. Yet, there is even more below the
surface.
Someone recently prompted me to look into the page-ranking feature of the
Google Toolbar. In the process, I discovered that there was a spell checker
included in the menu. I have often thought about the problem of correcting
spelling when submitting a form online. After all, I don't want people to
think that I'm a complete idiot-I'm not a complete one. With the Google
spell checker, I merely select the Check item in the menu and the little
"abc" with a checkmark. Then, all the text-editing fields on the Web page
are processed for misspellings. It's quick and easy, and saves the
embarrassment of dyslexic fingers.
I'm sure that Yahoo! and other search engine companies have similar toolbars
with similar features; I've just never looked at them.
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CCCC Page 8 April 2008
OEM XP LICENSES NONTRANSFERABLE
By Scott Dunn Windows Secrets newsletter
My article on buying systems with XP preinstalled stated that your XP
license lets you remove the operating system from one machine and install it
on another. But that's only true if you bought a retail copy of Windows XP,
not a version that came preinstalled on your PC.
Not all copies of XP are licensed equally
Regarding the transfer of Windows XP to a different machine, a reader made
the same point as many readers:
"I just wanted to correct the error in your article. Most people have
preinstalled versions of XP (OEM), and those are legally tied to the
motherboard. Only retail editions allow you to transfer from one PC to
another. This is explained in a Microsoft document (a Word .doc file), which
provides more details." Thanks for clarifying that distinction.
Note that if you have any difficulty activating a retail copy of XP on
another machine, you can call Microsoft at the number on the screen and
explain the situation. This is likely to get you the activation code you
need, regardless of how you bought XP.
Include the world in your driver search
When looking for XP-compatible drivers for newer hardware, a reader has this
suggestion:
"Another tip you may give your readers is to check the manufacturer's
European sites (for example, English-speaking sites, such as the United
Kingdom). They may be offering XP drivers for machines sold in that country.
I found three drivers for my Acer notebook that weren't available on their
USA site because of Vista's stranglehold here.
"I actually bought a copy of XP Professional for this notebook (which came
with Vista), because it was such a dog. The machine runs great with XP."
Many large companies have region-specific Web sites with different content
for each. Some ask you to specify a country when you go to the main site.
Others require you to select a country from a drop-down list or link. But
with a little looking around, you can usually find your way to one of these
regional versions.
Naturally, you should take care to ensure the drivers you download and
install were intended for your specific hardware.
Another shopping alternative for XP systems
Another article pointed out some PC makers that still sell computer systems
with Windows XP preinstalled or with XP downgrade discs. But a reader has
another suggestion for last-minute shopping before the June 2008 deadline:
"Your article ignored a major option for those who are trying to avoid the
Vista morass as long as possible. With a bit of search work, it is still
possible to find refurbished Windows XP desktop computers from reputable
online sellers.
"Those who are queasy about getting a 'used' machine or who think a new one
has some advantage over a factory warrantied refurbished machine should
seriously reconsider. We always get refurbished systems for all our business
uses and have never been disappointed.
"I recommend only buying a machine with a 90-day factory warranty and
getting as much installed memory as you can."
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CCCC Page 9 April 2008
EMERGENCY KEYBOARD
Pamela Tabak, Orange County IBM PC Users Group
QUESTION: How can I access my keyboard if it malfunctions? I am
using Windows XP.
ANSWER: An on-screen keyboard is built into Windows XP. It can be useful if
you have mobility impairments, if you are using a tablet PC, or if your
keyboard goes down.
1. To access the keyboard:
2. Click on Start
3. Click Run, and type osk.
The onscreen keyboard opens on your desktop, featuring three typing modes
you can use to type data:
a. Clicking mode, you click the on-screen keys.
b. Scanning mode, you press a hot key or use a switch-input device to type
highlighted characters.
c. Hovering mode, you use a mouse or joystick to point to a key, which is
then typed.
TO MAKE AN ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD SHORTCUT ICON on your "Quick Launch Bar"
1. Right-click the desktop.
2. Point to New, and then click Shortcut.
3. Type osk, click Next.
4. Type a name for the shortcut, and then click Finish.
5. Drag the shortcut onto your "Quick Launch Bar" after unlocking the
Taskbar. Remember to Lock the Taskbar again to prevent it from moving. When
you need it, the shortcut to the on-screen keyboard utility is one click
away.
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CCCC Page 10 March 2008
Eee LAPTOP PC SHREDS THE RULES
By Daniel Sorid (Associated Press)
Didn't Asus know notebook computers need hard drives? Or that they're
supposed to run Windows - and the pre-loaded software must bloat the boot-up
process to the length of a long weekend? Don't they know you don't just go
selling laptops for less than $750 - let alone $400 - unless the hardware
has been aged like whisky?
Asustek Computers Inc. went ahead and broke the rules with the Eee PC. And
we should all be thankful.
A scrappy, aggressively priced two-pound notebook with a surprisingly broad
set of features, Eee is a no-brainer purchase for tech-savvy travelers who
want to downsize their luggage at low cost. It also makes a great gift, at
least as practical as Apple Inc.'s iPhone and about the same price.
In the month I've owned an Eee, I've used it to watch movies on an airplane,
read my favorite blogs and news articles - archived automatically - and
update my online calendar while on the road. Its quick boot-up has made it
perfect for writing quick e-mails (and this review) whenever I had a moment
of inspiration.
I'm not tossing my larger notebook computer, which I'll continue to use for
editing photos and for other tasks that feel constrained on the Eee PC's
tiny, 7-inch screen. But it's hard not to be impressed with a full-service
laptop light enough to be carried along with sunscreen and a magazine in a
flimsy plastic bag, as I did during a recent trip to Cancun.
As it refines the software and instructions, Asus - better known as the
world's largest maker of computer motherboards - could garner a following
among mainstream computer users who right now might be puzzled by some of
the eccentricities of Linux.
The $400, Eee PC is a new entrant in a fast-growing market for ultra-
portable PCs. All such computers, including the Eee, require sacrifices. Its
keys may seem painfully small. For people used to a desktop or a standard
notebook, its screen makes you feel like you've just moved from a McMansion
into a studio apartment. (Tricks for maximizing screen real estate when Web
surfing can be found on the helpful user forum, Eeeuser.com.)
Unencumbered by Windows, the Eee boots up so quickly I didn't bother
counting the seconds. Its Wi-Fi chip links with the Web in a flash, and its
webcam - a feature missing from many laptops triple the price - turns it
into a video messaging device with the help of eBay Inc.'s Skype, which
comes pre-loaded. There are USB ports for peripherals, a port to connect to
a monitor, and - most essential - a flash memory slot to expand its meager
storage. Battery life is advertised at 3.5 hours.
The Eee's custom version of the Linux operating system has a simple user
interface that takes some getting used to. It organizes the software by tabs
- Internet, Work, Learn and Play - but many users on the Eee forum dislike
its look. An upgrade to a more familiar, Windows-like interface is available
in "advanced" mode, which can be activated with a few minutes of careful
programming. (But you'll do that at your peril. On my second day, a badly
written command crashed my system. I had to reinstall the original
software.)
The Firefox Web browser, Adobe Acrobat Reader and OpenOffice - the open-
source equivalent to Microsoft Corp.'s Office - come pre-installed, as do a
music player, a video recorder and some addictive games. Google Docs - an
online document suite for storing files remotely and sharing them - is also
configured.
Links to Yahoo Mail, Gmail and other e-mail programs are already on the
desktop. A messaging program called Pidgin worked with AOL Instant Messenger
and Google Talk. Skype, the voice and video calling program, also worked
well when I called home from the international airport in Hong Kong.
Users willing to learn a few Linux commands can add the Picasa photo sharing
program, Google Earth and Audacity, a free audio editing program beloved by
bloggers.
The Eee runs quickly, despite a low-power processor. A disk drive made of
memory chips is fully functional, but the four gigabytes installed on my
model was insufficient for my needs. A memory card I purchased separately
for around $30 doubled the space. Its software package leverages recent
advancements in open source and online software. It may be hard to believe,
but you won't miss Microsoft Word, or Windows, for long.
While much of the computing world was focused on Windows Vista (or spending
hours trying to navigate its upgrade process), big software companies were
releasing new and upgraded versions of familiar software packages for Linux.
The Eee can be retrained to run Windows. But it can feel like a major
commitment. Asus's exhaustive instructions include a 12-step installation, a
four-step "optimizing" process and another 25 steps to get the operating
system to play nice with the Eee. (I'm thinking of giving my friends copies
of one of the instructions, "Deleting unnecessary Windows components.")
The Eee is not easy to find. At a large Manhattan computer store in
November, a clerk told me the store was out of stock. And why wouldn't he?
If a $400 PC sat next to higher-priced competitors on the shelf, would so
many people spend $2,000? I made him check the store's inventory in front of
me, and there were more than 40 Eees in stock.
Even if this Linux PC doesn't become a mainstream hit, rivals are certainly
taking notes.
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