SPAUG Newsletter June 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Notes from the Prez
by Jim Dinkey
THINGS I LEARNED IN SKAWINSKI'S KINDERGARDEN CLASS!
1. Play nice with your Registry. Always have ERUNT [N.B.- Emergency Recovery Utility NT] on your computer to assure that when the registry gets corrupted, you have a backup of the registry. If you don't, you get to reload the whole computer. Recovering is just a few minutes away. How does your Registry get corrupted? Use your RESET button at the wrong time. Turn off the computer when it is non-responsive. Software that isn't debugged. Set ERUNT to take a snapshot at startup.
2. Don't try to get your computer to run faster by putting your pagefile onto adrive other than the "C" drive. If you do, then when certain problems occur with the configuration, Windows is unable to recover. Long re-install follows.
3. Your best defense from losing data is Acronis set to incremental mode. Pick a time when the computer is expected to be on and idle, and let Acronis do its thing onto a separate HDD. Pretty well makes you bulletproof when things go wrong. Allows you to recover from everything except fire and theft.
4. Speaking of fire and theft, are you putting the entire contents of your computer (use Acronis) onto some DVDs and shuttling them down the street to your neighbor to be used in case of fire or theft or HDD suicide?
5. A review of the way a 'cheap' computer comes with all of the software ready to go and installed. The catch is that the anti-virus software and lots of other support programs all expire in 90 days of activation and the upgrade is at full price. Best to plan on a little bit more money to save the deferred expense. All of the manufacturers seem to be pulling this stunt. Squeeze the expiration date out of the salesman. If he doesn't know, find another vendor.
The CLINC is now scheduled for the second and fourth Saturday. This is in response to the fact that the need seems to have abated somewhat. For the next couple of months one of the two teams will be in training and then we will complete the effort with the other team. By doing this, we will be able to cover each Saturday and still permit the variable schedules of all the Clinic volunteers.
We are currently paid up with the Elks from July through January '06.
I'm looking for someone or possibly a pair of tutors for the office staff of the Elks Lodge. They need someone who likes to teach the fundamentals of PCs and data processing.
[ TOP ]
General Meeting Notes
by Stan Hutchings
Administrivia
- The Clinic is in operation, the second and fourth Saturday of the month. The 11th and 25th of June.
CrossTalk/Random Access
- [inaudible] If a Linux boot fails to complete, it's a good indication of hardware problems on your computer. Use one of the CD boot disks (such as Knopix). This is the quickest and fastest diagnostic check of computer hardware. Jim has a copy of Knopix for loan.
- Using Firefox, there is a problem with the CD distribution; a help person said it is better to download and install the online version. Jim hasn't seen that problem with the CD load.
- In Excel, what can you do if the chart lines are poor colors, or they don't have enough contrast? Use Excel Help from the menu, click the Answer Wizard tab, and type in change chart plot lines color. Read the relevant topics. You have to click on the line you want to format (you'll see some of the data markers displayed); click Format - Selected Data Series... and click the Patterns tab. Under Line, click Custom, and choose the Style, Color and Weight you want. You can also hide or display the data markers, and format their appearance.
- Problem using VOIP with Comcast cable. DSL is not available. Jim Dinkey is still trying to get broadband connectivity for a company he works with. Advice is to keep trying, eventually some provider will get to the area at a competitive price.
Presentation
Robert White gave a presentation on how Linux can be used for genealogy records. The presentation is here as a ZIP file. Create a folder and save the file to the folder; then double click the ZIP file after downloading to extract and run the presentation. If that's too complicated, you can open the ZIP file and double-click the genealogy_for_spaug.htm file; although the menu won't work, the information is all there and the links work properly. If you have more questions, or want a copy of the handout, . He put lots of useful information for getting started, where to go, sources of information, what to do, what to bring, etc. into the presentation. Some of the links from the handout, if you're interested:
Presentation
Nancy Blachman gave a very informative and interesting presentation on Google. It is Part 2 of the presentation she started last year. She based it on information in her Googleguide.com website. Go to the Contents link, and click Power Googling for tonight's presentation if you missed the meeting. You missed a very good demonstration of Google's capabilities. You can find out where Nancy is speaking on her website, too, so you could attend another presentation on Power Google.
You'll find many examples that are already worked. Try your own experiments to see what works and what doesn't.
Skype, the VOIP phone service provider
Bill Worthington gave a presentation on the advantages of using Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) as a telephone replacement or to complement a land-line or cell phone. Bill's example was the downloadable free application Skype, but other carriers are offering VOIP for a price (but usually much lower than cell phone or land-line).
The main advantage is low cost, but you need to have an Internet connection on both ends, and each must have Skype, a microphone and speakers (or a headset), and both need to be online. Calls to other systems are available for a price, but much less than cell phone and land-lines.
Bill demonstrated by calling his father-in-law. The sound quality was quite good, the connection was quickly established. The club internet connection is wireless and was easily sufficient to maintain good quality without any delays discernible.
[ TOP ]
Planning Meeting Notes
by Stan Hutchings
- The meeting was held at Bev Altman's house; attendees: Jim Dinkey, John Sleeman, Bev Altman, John Buck, Stan Hutchings, Richard Sweet, Robert White. The attendees enjoyed the refreshments served.
- Review of finances - Bev has $266 for Nat. Jim will mail it to Nat with a clinic check.
- Membership - 119 members currently. Bev doesn't have any more raffle prizes. Jim will get some new goodies. A scanner will be provided by Jim. Books, hardware and software should be timely or timeless.
- Review of topic vs. attendance - Nancy was a good draw, close to 50 attendees.
interesting topics result in better attendance. We'll try to schedule speakers with good draw.
- Setup/Cleanup support -
- WebSIG activities and schedules - next Tuesday 7:30 at Stan's
Linux interest - there will be a demonstration of interesting and useful applications by Dick Delp.
- Status of SPAUG CD - John B. tried to send messages to the new group, but hasn't gotten a reply. We'd like to include erunt on the next CD - it saves the registry, according to Hank S.
- Future speakers & pre-meeting dinner locations -
13 Jul - Tom Tuttle will discuss digital photography and editing. Dave Iuppa Caboodle will also give a presentation. Pre-meeting dinner at Cibo Bar and Grill, 3398 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
10 Aug - Jan Altman will make a presentation on Excel, pre-meeting dinner at Crowne Plaza Cabaña, 4290 El Camino Real. Need projector, laptop. allexperts.com is a good source of information.
14 Sep - Hank Skawinski, pre-meeting dinner at Armadillo Willy's
12 Oct - Les Laky , pre-meeting dinner at Chef Chu's
9 Nov - Seth Shostak of SETI, pre-meeting dinner at (tbd)
14 Dec - Paula Simpson, Palo Alto Library Director will speak.
11 Jan 06 - Gene Barlow of User Group Relations. The pre-meeting dinner well be at (TBD).
Possibilities for next year - Acronis, Dan Gillmor, Mike Langberg, Electronic Freedom Foundation, a creator of Firefox at Stanford, early history of the web (John S will arrange for Feb 06)
- Clinic activities and changes - the Saturday Clinic will be offered on second and fourth Saturday on a monthly basis. Next Clinic date is 25 June. Jim will make a list of standard preparations for the clinic, so people coming will have all the materials they need.
- Richard Sweet and Publicity - several guests at the June meeting came as a result of the San Jose Mercury article. The Merc is changing, but Richard will stay on top of it. The Sunnyvale Sun was contacted, and maybe we'll be in it. Where in the PA Daily could an announcement go? We've posted notices at the libraries, Action Computer, some other places. Fry's, Caboodle, Computer History Museum (Mr. Toole), Micro Center would be good possibilities.
- Individual reports and suggestions -
John B. is awaiting the meeting notes. The newsletter will come out after the notes and Prez letter are available.
John S. didn't get a chance to pick up the mail.
- Other items that came before the Committee -
MNC seems to be having problems with the mail server. Jim cannot contact the club members. Do we need a new web site host? Does the Stanford list server still function [Kendric]. Bev will email Jim a copy of the membership mail list.
The question/answer sessions needs a microphone for the questions, both random access and speakers. We'll try something, maybe Bev taking the mic to a person. Maybe a directional mic? Put the handheld mic on a wand? Jim will bring his golf ball retriever to get the mic to the questioner.
[ TOP ]
