Editor: Brian Christopher
(1) It is agreed that to get outside speakers for the Internet SIG does not make a lot of sense, since it would be in competition with the General Meetings. Therefore, in the future the General Meetings of both SMUG and SPAUG will feature an Internet subject every 3rd or 4th General Meeting, and when appropriate (i.e., if the topic is not platform dependent) each Club will invite the other to its Internet meetings via the Listservers.
Internet questions can be brought to the Q&A period before any General Meeting. Burning questions, or hot news about the Internet can be sent to ALL on the e-mail lists via the Listservers.
(2) If anyone wants to continue our **informal** meetings on Internet topics, they should step forward to volunteer to lead such groups for SMUG and/or for SPAUG. Since these meetings may be small, and there might even be several different SIGs on different topics (e.g., multimedia, VMRL, Java, HTML, etc.), perhaps such groups should meet at someone's home, so that a computer will be available. Volunteers should send their suggestions and comments to BOTH Clint Kraft and to Kendric Smith.
We look forward to your response. Best wishes for the Holiday Season!
Clint Kraft: ckraft@crl.com
Kendric Smith
Present:
Brian Christopher, President and PrintScreen Editor
Nancy Helmy, Vice President
Larry Weinberg, Treasurer
Beverly Altman, Director At Large
Mildred Kohn, Secretary
Kendric Smith, Internet Webmaster
Jim Dinkey, Member
Jim Bailey, Member
Walter Varner, Member
Bill Weber, Member
Unknown man
The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. in the clubhouse of Larry's condo. Larry Weinberg gave the treasurer's report. We are financially sound thanks to the Sidewalk Faire. The PrintScreen had been costing $35 per year per member last year, but now that Brian is putting out a briefer newsletter, the cost is down. The maximum saving could occur if every member had access to Internet. The treasurer's report was accepted.
Kendric Smith gave the Home Page update. Kendric is doing all of the work and requests more participation by members who could find interesting links for the Home Page, particularly links to other PC groups just as the MAC groups are linked. About 35 of our 89 members get e-mail. Ways of encouraging members to get modems and get Internet training and access were discussed. A number of our members have attended beginning Internet demonstrations given at SMUG (Stanford Macintosh Users Group) meetings, but it was suggested that the best learning occurs when one teacher teaches two or three others and these people then teach others in turn, which we dubbed "pyramid hand holding."
The club needs a computer for DOM (Disk of the Month) demonstrations and for the use of guests who present at our meetings. There was a suggestion that we build one to save money and as a learning exercise for members. This was countered by the fact that we have the money to buy a laptop, this size being a necessity for ease of carrying. Further, at present our priorities should be on building our membership, finding a regular place to meet, getting an overhead projector and a screen. Club members are urged to look for a place where we can comfortably meet on a regular basis at little or no cost.
The members of any board need volunteers to carry out various tasks. Come to the open Board Meetings to find out how your talents can help build the club. Members will be queried about their likes and dislikes among the club activities and asked for suggestions. There is no reason to have a club if it isn't serving the members. On the other hand, members have to give something back to the club to keep it going. , At future meetings members will be checked off at the door and given a raffle ticket. Guests will sign in and if they join, they, too can have a raffle ticket. Group cohesiveness can be aided by publishing the Board Meeting notes in the PrintScreen. A report of the general meeting should also be in the PrintScreen for the benefit of members who missed the meeting.
The Board criticized itself for not following up on ideas and suggestions, for discussing items without coming to a vote and a plan of action. Henceforth an agenda will be sent out and each item will be voted on or tabled. The presence of club members not on the Board would add to the ability to solve our problems and facilitate the implementation of the solution.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
Mildred Kohn, Secretary
[excerpt taken from Inside CompuServe, written by Richard Wagner, copyright 1994 by New Riders Publishing. Understanding FTP
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a tool for transferring files on the Internet. FTP uses a standard protocol for file transfer so that you can exchange files between two computers, no matter their make and type. You can use FTP to receive files from a remote system or to send files to remote computers from your desktop.
You can FTP almost any type of data you can think of--from entire text of book (such as the Bible, CIA WorldFactbook, or Alice in Wonderland), satellite images from NASA, official White House press releases, and research papers from universities. As with CompuServe, you can also find freeware and shareware readily available. Any files you retrieve will either be ASCII, binary, or compressed.
The principle function of FTP is to simplify file access between your computer and the remote Internet system. You can use FTP to view the contents of directories on a remote machine, move between directories, retrieve files from the remote site, or, if you have proper access, upload files from your PC to the remote computer. If you have an Internet account elsewhere, you could use FTP to access files from a remote location using your CompuServe account. However, the most common use of FTP is to obtain files from Internet systems that grant public access to their files. These computers are known as anonymous FTP sites. Anonymous FTP enables you to access a remote computer without an account already established at that host site. The standard anonymous FTP protocol is to accept anonymous as the username and your Internet address as the password. Once you are logged in, you are free to access the public files on the remote computer.
There is a risk for an Internet site to allow anyone to access the contents of their computer. Therefore, an anonymous FTP connection will have strict restrictions on access compared to a normal user of that computer.
An important thing to remember when you download a file is to check it with virus protection software. This contrasts greatly with CompuServe. Using CompuServe, you can have confidence that any file available in a forum library is free of any virus, because it is checked before hand by a forum administrator. The same is not necessarily the case for a file on the Internet. While viruses are rare on the Internet, they are not unheard of. The best advice is to always FTP with care.
by Brian Christopher
I have received the following software for review. Do you want to write a review?
Yes, then e-mail (see next section) me or call for availability [(H) 344-7174].
A. Life Form - personal health management by Fitnesoft (3 1/2" disk)
B. Trispectives - 3D modeling, illustration and animation Win95 (2 copies -CD-ROM)
C. HP Info Disk - covers new printer and scanner releases, etc. ( 3 1/2" disk)
Microsoft has sent me a box containing:
1. Field Guide to the Internet with Win95 - Book
2. Microsoft TechNet - CD-ROM and Book
3. MSTV - Microsoft Win95 - videos - part 1 & 2
4. MSTV - Office 95 Tour - video
5. MindShare Productivity Pack - CD-ROM for Win95 contains
a. Works & Bookshelf 95
b. Money 95
c. Publisher 95
d. Bob
6. Microsoft Home catalog
7. PR toolkit - generating positive press coverage about your user group
8. Microsoft Magazine (http://www.microsoft.com/magazine)
Do you want to write a review?
Yes, then e-mail (see next section) me or call for availability [(H) 344-7174].
Call Jim Bailey at 415-494-0631 for Time and Place
Nominations are open for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director at Large. Submit nominations at General Meeting or to a Board Member.
When I saw that Disk Depot in Mt. View had a 7-CD 2X changer, I decided that this was the device for me. Meant that I could stop fooling around with constant changing of CDs and I could just leave the whole mess alone after initial loading. And then there was the price -- $129 for a unit that was selling for $850 not long before.
It was only 2X speed, but that was not much concern to me as the unit would not be used for multimedia.
And further, I would gladly take slower equipment that worked rather than the new stuff that didn't work right out of the box.
So I bought one.
And a controller card that introduced a required SCSI-II bus into my IDE-oriented machine. My ulterior motive was to begin the ability to have additional disks on the machine as I was tight on disk space because of the demands of DOS, WIN 3.1, OS/2 Ver 3 (Warp) and Linux all on my machine.
For simplicity I wanted to be able to put each operating system on its own disk but IDE only allowed for 2.
So I bought their $99 interface card.
When I started the install, the instructions for the interface card seemed a little bit cryptic. After I took the instructions to out guys at work who deal with this every day, even they weren't able to decipher it. The software floppies could not even be run.
So I took it back. The store owner said that he had sold lots of this combination without difficulty. It seems that possibly my copy had some missing instructions. I didn't much like the pigeon English either. So I kept the CD and then went down to NCA and bought (for less money) an ADAPTEC SCSI-II interface.
What a difference!
Clear instructions. 100 pages rather than 4 if instruction manual. Software install that included even the CD I was installing and on-line support if I needed it (I didn't).
So the interface card install was trivial under Adaptec, the CD came on board with problems (read the instructions) and all was well.
When I brought up File Manager, there were an additional 7 icons for disks. I wondered how I could select each one and that is how. Software included a means of telling what the various disks were.
I recommend the buy.
New Member: Vincente Grande
Renewing Members:
Wes Anderson
Robert Cronin
Roger Finke
Karen Fung
Arlen Kertz
Clark Moore
Russell Smith
Larry Turpin
A lesson in sensitivity--case sensitivity that is. With so many different forms of Internet communication the following rules on case sensitivity may come in handy.
Domain names and the first part of URL's are not case sensitive. So, "MediaCity.com" is the same as "mediacity.com", is the same as "MEDIACITY.COM"
"http://www.mediacity.com" is the same as " hTTp://WwW.mediacity.com"
However, the path and filenames of URL's are case sensitive. Therefore,
"http://www.mediacity.com/mcu.html" is NOT the same as "http://www.mediacity.com/Mcu.html" nor is
"http://www.mediacity.com/images/mypicture.gif" the same as "http://www.mediacity.com/Images/mypicture.GIF"
E-mail addresses are generally NOT case sensitive. So, "paul@mediacity.com" is the same as "Paul@MediaCity.com"
Newsgroups ARE case sensitive and are almost always lowercase. Therefore,"alt.2600" not "Alt.2600"
The best tip of all is when in doubt, keep it lowercase.
Before I signed up with an Internet Provider and started to use the Internet, I used to say the Internet was an international junk-mail generator. Well there might be some truth in that but since I've started to use the World Wide Web, my attitude has really changed.
I signed up with MediaCity in Palo Alto as my Internet Provider for 3 reasons: (1.) they have the lowest entry rate ($7.95 for 5 hours) around, (2.) they take American Express, and (3.) they are within walking distance of where I live and work - sort of Global Village style.
I usually get very frustrated with modems and communication protocols, etc. but I have been pleasantly surprised with the ease of use of the Internet. I decided to install my software because I wanted to send an e-mail to Newt Gingrich and tell him what a great job I thought he was doing (your politics may vary). I installed the MediaCity software, logged onto the Net, brought up their shareware browser and in 3 or 4 clicks had found Newt's e-mail address. I then used Eudora shareware to send him an e-mail and logged off. All together it took me about 10 minutes. I was hooked.
For over a year I've been wanting to develop a Web Page to help me sell Chief Architect. Chief Architect is a really great house design CAD package for which I'm a dealer. I have now just completed my Web Page and I thought you would like to know what I learned from the experience. I have included designs for a house which I plan to build in the Bahamas someday. I've also included some really cool graphics from the Bahamas.
There is an avalanche of books coming out to teach you how to use the Internet and how to learn HyperText Markup Language. I prefer the practical approach versus the theoretical approach. The first book I bought was Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML in 14 Days by Laura Lemay and published by Sams.net Publishing. It tends to be a bit wordy and is a great reference book but it still wasn't practical enough for me. This is because it mainly teaches you how to code raw HTML code which reminds me too much of DOS batch files written in edlin.
The book I found to be the most helpful was Creating Your Own Netscape Web Pages by Andy Shafran and published by Que. I have a love/hate relationship with this book. I really like the book and the author took just the right approach. I think the publisher should have been put in the stockade and flogged because they obviously didn't provide the resources to proofread the book. Overall the book is the best to get a quick start to develop your own Web Page/Home Page.
This book is based on Netscape which can be downloaded either from Netscape's Web Page (Netscape.com) or from MediaCity's Home Page. I upgraded my desk top PC to Windows 95 in order to take advantage of the Netscape 2.0, the 32 bit beta version of Netscape's browser. The 32 bit version will let you run JAVA applets and is faster than the 16 bit version. Netscape 2.0 is considerably faster that 1.x versions currently on the market.
Shafran gives you a brief overview of the Internet and Netscape and then quickly recommends Hot Dog as an HTML editor. The book comes with a CD-ROM full of software and useful graphics. One problem I had was that I discovered the version of Hot Dog on the CD-ROM is not the version he is talking about in the book. The author gives you the address (sausage.com) for Hot Dog so you can download the Pro version which mostly matches up with the illustrations in the book. Hot Dog gives you 30 days of use before you have to buy it at $99 or download it again. Hot Dog is not WYSIWYG. You type in your text and highlight it and then hit a Hot Dog button to insert the HTML code. This is actually very good because you can always go back and key in your own code directly.
On page 43 Shafran tells you about his sample Home Page on the CD-ROM but doesn't tell you how to see it or copy it from the CD-ROM until you are half way through the book. (Que gets a day in the stockade for greed). When you bring up Hot Dog it gives you a button on the top left tool bar to automatically open Netscape so you can view the results of your HTML code without going on-line. While you have Netscape open you can open the sample Home Page Shafran gives you on the CD-ROM.
On page 45 after the
and paragraph there is some more code missing to make life interesting. (Add another day for Que in the stockade for greed). It wasn't till I got to page 54 that I realized that the author and I were talking about different versions of Hot Dog.A really cool piece of shareware on the CD-ROM is version 3.0 of Print Shop Pro which allows for 256 colors in a graphic - version 2.0 only allowed for 8 colors and so the program had a very limited color range by which to guess what was the closest color to the ones on your captured or copy and pasted graphic. Version 2.0 kept changing the white roofs on my house to black, same with the kitchen cabinet panels.
Included with Print Shop Pro is a browser that acts like a slide sorter you may have used for color slides of your last vacation. When it comes up it just asks you for a directory and then it displays a thumbnail of all the graphics in that directory. If you double click on a thumbnail it brings up Print Shop Pro.
One really nice feature of Netscape is that if you see a graphic you think you would like to use in your Home Page, you can just right-click on it and download it to your hard disk. I have the Web Page of the Ministry of Tourism of the Bahamas to thank for most of mine. I have actually been to most of these locations and SCUBA dived off some of these beautiful beaches.
One graphics problem I had with Print Shop Pro was that I was having problems with the pictures I had captured from Chief Architect. I turned them into GIF files and a couple of them looked OK in Netscape on my PC but others looked really bad. The black lines for the edges of walls and furniture had been stripped out and the background color came through. I took these over to MediaCity and Bob Marzewski, VP Web Sites, AKA the Wizard, converted them using Adobe's Photo Print Shop and they came out just fine. I also noticed that the palm trees I stole, eh, downloaded had transparent backgrounds. Well I just had to have that! Bob and Tom at MediaCity showed me how to download and use LView Pro which allows you to make the background transparent. I also got rid of the background of the picture of the house on my first page but the background looks slightly knurled.
You have to contact your Internet Provider for instructions on how to create a Web Page directory on the IP's machine. This you can usually find on their Web Page under Technical Support. One of the things nobody bothers to tell you is how you get your graphics and HTML files from your computer to the IP's computer - minor detail. You have to use FTP to upload the files. You then have to use FTP to change the names of your HTML files from .htm to .html. Also your first or main page should be called index.html so the system knows to bring that one up first.
Come visit Compucon's Home Page at http://www.MediaCity.com/~rharding and e-mail me what you think. There's always room for improvement. Download the Chief Architect demo along with the sample plans and try it out.
Dick Harding is a Member of the Board of Directors of SVCS, Inc. and dBASE and Chief Architect SIG leader. He may be contacted at Compucon, Inc. (415) 322-9645.
Excerpts taken from Microsoft TechNet CD
Several months ago, a person who had 32 megabytes (MB) of RAM, was selling 16 MB because he said Win3.1 couldn't access over 16 MB of main memory. I researched this through the Microsoft TechNet CD with the following results.
Memory Address
It is not possible for an 8086 or 8088 machine to have extended memory. This is a hardware limitation of the 8086/8088 processors, which can handle only 1024K of total address space. The 80286 processor can address 16 MB of total memory, and the 80386 processor can address up to 4 gigabytes (GB).
MS-DOS Applications
The 386 enhanced mode Windows 3.1 allows MS-DOS applications to break the 640K barrier if they are written to use the Microsoft DOS Protected Mode Interface (DPMI) specification. DPMI allows MS-DOS applications to run in protected mode under Windows 3.1, using up to 16 MB of extended memory directly.
386 Enhanced Mode
Windows 386 enhanced mode deals with conventional memory in much the same way that standard mode does. When 386 enhanced mode Windows 3.1 is started, it adds the amount of free conventional and extended memory; in addition, Windows 3.1 can use hard disk space as virtual memory (the "swap" file) and look at the total amount as one contiguous block of memory. Conventional memory has no special meaning under 386 enhanced mode, except when running MS-DOS applications. In 386 enhanced mode, MS-DOS applications run by creating virtual MS-DOS machines with up to 640K of free memory.
Virtual Memory Paging File
Windows 386 enhanced mode can use one of two types of virtual memory paging files, or swap files: temporary or permanent. Only one type of swap file can be used at a time when running Windows 3.1. Do not attempt to create a swap file on a RAM disk; this is a self-defeating pursuit--you would be sacrificing physical memory to provide a place to create virtual memory to replace the physical memory you have used to create the RAM disk. Windows 3.0 in 386 enhanced mode requires a minimum of approximately 1.5 MB of hard disk space free on the paging drive to provide virtual memory support with a temporary swap file. With Windows 3.1, that number is down to 512K.
Virtual Memory in Windows 95
Windows 95 uses a dynamic virtual memory manager to handle swap file duties. You should use the default virtual memory settings whenever possible. However, if you have limited hard disk space you may want to set some of the virtual memory settings manually.
In order to provide more memory to applications than is physically present in the computer in the form of RAM, Windows 95 uses hard disk space to simulate RAM. The amount of RAM in the computer plus the size of the paging file (also known as the swap file) equals the total physical memory, or virtual memory, size. Windows 95 uses a dynamic paging file that remains at a size of 0K until it is needed. The paging file can grow to use all the available space on the hard disk if it is necessary. This is the default setting for the paging file. You should use this setting if possible. If you have limited hard disk space, other applications may reduce the amount of virtual memory below that needed by Windows 95 and its applications. If this occurs, choose the "Let me specify my own virtual memory settings" option button on the Performance tab of the My Computer property sheet. You can use this option to set a minimum and maximum size for the paging file. You can also choose to use no virtual memory. You should use this option only if there is enough RAM to meet all the needs of Windows 95 and the applications you run.
Commonly Asked Questions About Virtual Memory in Windows 95
Q. In Microsoft Windows version 3.x, a temporary swap file is slower than a permanent swap file. Will letting Windows 95 set my virtual memory slow down my computer?
A. No. The temporary swap file in Windows 3.x has to switch between real mode and protected mode, slowing down the computer. As Windows 95 runs only in protected mode, the swap file is as fast or faster than the permanent swap file in Windows 3.x.
Q. I compressed my hard disk with DriveSpace. Can I still select my own virtual memory settings? In Windows 3.x I cannot use a permanent swap file on a compressed drive.
A. If your compressed drive is supported by a protected-mode driver, it is better to use the compressed drive for the paging file. If the compressed drive is not supported by a protected-mode driver then you must place the paging file on the host drive.
Q. How can I determine whether my compressed drive is supported by a
protected-mode driver?
A. At this time there are protected-mode drivers only for DoubleSpace and DriveSpace compressed drives. You can also check the IOS.INI file (if it exists) in the Windows directory to see which drives require real-mode support.
I sent out the following e-mail:
Reviewers of Internet Sites Wanted for Print Screen.
I need people to visit and write a review on an Internet site. A total of three reviews are needed each month. I can supply the URL. You supply the article. Length should not exceed one-half page. (10 point Times Roman font). The article for each site needs to cover:
1. name of the site
2. the URL
3. the purpose of the site
4. who owns the site
5. information found there
6. any cool stuff on the site (is it a VRML site?)
7. links to other sites.
8. a general rating of the site in relation to like sites (ex: (@@@@) top site!)
9. number of pages loaded to get to main page
10. speed pages load (ie: heavy graphics - go fix dinner!)
11. links to other pages
12. anything else you want to include relevant to the site
I can give you examples of site reviews. Reviews should be sent to my e-mail address.....See ya at the Writer's SIG Fancy Dress Ball!...Brian
Jim Dinkey responded with:
I need to review with you whether or not the subjects of the review are limited.
For instance, I have been working with the COCOMO site at USC wherein the site, while having much for our company, sure has some really painful hang-ups that seem to be generic in Internet worldwide.
Specifically, I am referring to the propensity of web sits to, in their attempt to show off and in their assumptions as the creator assumes, forgets that a busy site can become virtually worthless. What I am alluding to is that many busy sites are NOT really available for many, many GIFs because of the inability to repeatedly reestablish connections for the multiple GIFs.
If one notices how the network operates, if the first of several attempts to get to a given site is rejected because the ports are all busy, we can assume that other subsequent attempts will be facing an equally poor probability.
So we try, wait a few seconds, cancel the non-return, and then resubmit until the connection is made.
Once we begin the download, the download often turns around and attempts an additional ten or more connects to get the GIFs. This is not apparent to the person who is writing the program, as he is inherently on the same computer; but to those who are NOT on the same computer, the download is virtually worthless because the probability of obtaining up to 20 connections sequentially is quite poor.
We need a solution to this problem, including the ability to essential resubmit the base file so that the missing GIFs and be obtained.
That is my grouse for this months article.
Jim, the review sites are only limited by good taste.....Thanks.....Brian
John Helmer responded with:
My favorite sites are
www.princeton.edu
vsl.cnet.com
www.ix.netcom.com
I could write evaluations on these.
I have not been able to find a good site for free stock prices and evaluations.
I am somewhat of a maverick, in that I use the LYNX, text based browser on CRL, for high speed access. So I can't give you graphics evaluations.
It would be useful to discuss the time it takes to download the homepages of various URL's. Is this provider dependent? If it gets any worse the whole Internet system could fail. What good is a 28.8 Kbps modem if the bandwidth of the system is saturated? Why should I upgrade from 14.4 Kbps on a dialup connection at $17.50/month, with unlimited access?
John, I'm looking forward to your reviews..........Thanks...Brian
Aldora Lee wrote:
Please let me see a sample, so I can decide whether I want to volunteer.
Aldora
The following review is from "Internet San Francisco" from Hayden Books.
http://www.commerce.digital.com/palo-alto/FutureFantasy/home.html
Type of Service: World-Wide Web
Categroy 1: Buy & Sell
Category 2: Hobbies
Description: A bookstore of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Mysteries
Alternate Access: futfan@netcom.com
Review:
This is a fascinating online bookstore for the science fiction and fantasy lover. This site is one of the granddaddys of the Web. An interesting array of online services is provided. For example you can: read current or past newsletters, browse the online catalog, order books online, see covers from soon-to-be-released books, and more. This is a very cool site to visit either on the net of in person. When I go there, I try to bring a lunch because I know I will be there for a long time!
Suggested sites you could review are:
1. http://iguana.images.com- a QuickCam site
2. http://kksf.tbo.com-KKSF radio station
3. http://netmedia.com/ims/ssc/ssc.html Guide to Stanford Shopping Center
4. http://www.exploratorium.edu/ The Exploratorium
5. your choice
Aldora replied:
I hang out, when I can, at Stanford Shopping Center (the real one, not the viritual one), so let me take that site for review.
Sounds good to me......Thanks...Brian
Aldora wrote:
Pardon, but what's "VRML site"?
The Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) is a language for describing multiparticipant interactive simulations - virtual worlds networked via the global Internet and hyperlinked with the WWW............(ex: a virtual Mall)......Brian
What is Archie?
Archie is a tool people use for finding files at FTP sites. In essence, what you do is tell Archie that you're interested in files with a specific name or files that have a specified string in their names (a string is just a chunk of text). Archie goes out and looks through a list of files at an Archie server. Then it builds a list of files (and their Locations) that match your description and sends you the list. If you see something you want to retrieve, you use FTP to retrieve the file.
What is Gopher?
Gopher is, in essence, a menu of Internet resources. These menus are maintained by Gopher servers. The great thing about the Internet is all the information it provides, but there's a problem with this. You need a way to sift through everything. You need a way to find the specific piece of data you want. You need, well, you need Gopher.
**Brokers:
Charles Schwab.....http://www.schwab.com
Lombard Institutional Brokerage.....http://lombard.com
**Best of the Business News Sites:
CNN's Financial Network.....http://www.cnnfn.com
Dow Jones Business Information Services.....http://dowvision.wais.net
Reuters New Media
.....http://beta.yahoo.com/headlines/current/business/summary.html
**Center for the Abused Investor:.....http://www.investoraid.com
**Current Price Quotes:
PAWWS Financial Network.....http://pawws.secapl.com
Quote-Com.....http://www.quote.com
MIT Stockmaster.....http://www.ai.mit.edu/stocks.html
**Debt Councelors:
Debt Councelors of America.....http://www.debt-experts.com/
TRW Information Services.....http://www.trw.com/iss/isdiv.html
**Economic Indicators:
Concise Market Analysis......http://www.briefing.com
Economic Indicators.....gopher://una.hh.lib.umich.edu:70/00/ebb/indicators/ei.txt
**Finance 'Zines:
Bloomberg Online.....http://www.bloomberg.com
Fidelity Funds.....http://www.fid-inv.com
Hoover's Online.....http://www.hoovers.com
Interactive Nest Egg.....http://nestegg.iddis.com/funddir/fundindex/letindex.html
Mutual Funds Magazine.....http://www.mfmag.com
Wall Street News.....http://www.netmedia.com/forecasts/
**Government Sources:
Securities and Exchange Commission.....http://www.sec.gov
Internal Revenue Service.....http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/
**Insurance News:
Insurance News Network.....http://www.insure.com
Quotesmith Corporation.....http://www.insure.com/Quotesmith
**Mutual Fund Guides:
NETworth Navigator.....http://networth.galt.com/www/home/navigator.html
**Personal Finance Information:
GNN Personal Finance Center.....http://gnn.com/gnn/GNNhome.html
PR Newswire.....http://www.prnewswire.com/cnoc/prnewswire.html
**Stock Exchanges:
American Stock Exchange.....http://www.amex.com
Chicago Mercantile Exchange.....http://www.cme.com
Marketplex of the Chicago Board of Trade.....http://www.cbot.com/mplex.htm
**Virtual Libraries:
WWW Virtual Library: Finance and Investments.....http://www.cob.ohio-state.edu/dept/fin/overview.htm
Financial Data Finder.....http://www.cob.ohio-state.edu/dept/fin/osudata.htm
Wall Street Directory.....http://www.wsdinc.com
Here's a rundown on what actions were taken at last week's planning meeting. Attendees: Nancy Helmy, VP; Mildred Kohn, Sec.; Bev Altman, Dir.; Kendric Smith, Webmaster; Clark Moore, Member.
1. Program Chair: No volunteer.
DOM: Mildred Kohn will ask Robert Mitchell if he will prepare DOMs.
Publicity: No volunteer.
2. Election of Officers: No nominations for President, VP, and Treasurer. Mildred Kohn will run for Secretary, and Beverly Altman will run for Director. Beverly will contact two members suggested as candidates for President.
3. Meeting Place: List of suggested possible meeting places and person to check out the site and update information and availability.
Jim Bailey, Fry's
Nancy Helmy, Elk's Lodge
Beverly Altman, Varian
No volunteer, SLAC
Kendric Smith, Stanford
Larry Weinberg(?), Cubberley
No volunteer, HP
Mildred Kohn, SRI
No volunteer, Wall St. Journal
4. Treasury: In January, inflows were $40, outflows were $270. Balance at the end of the month was $4219. Report approved. An agenda item on a treasury reserve for SPAUG equipment was not addressed. (I forgot. The item can come up on next month's planning meeting agenda.)
5. Constitution: Clark Moore volunteered to draft a new set of bylaws. He collected comments and copies of the older, pertinent SPAUG documents. As Secretary, Mildred Kohn took possession of a set of documents consisting of the SPAUG Constitution from 1987, 1992 Articles of Incorporation, and 1992 Bylaws.
----------------------------------------------------
Post Meeting Research by Kendric Smith
Subject: Meeting Rooms at Stanford
It took 7 phone calls to different people to finally get to the "TOP".
The answer is NO. We cannot meet at Stanford under any circumstance,
unless sponsored by a Department at Stanford. Then it is $44/hour,
billable to and payable by the Department. So you can write off Stanford for ever more!
Cupertino, Ca., February 1, 1996- MediaMagic Solutions, Inc. Announced today the release of Instant Memos, a utility software program for the PC that works like the traditional sticky notes found on virtually ever desk. Developed by Daniel Oran, the designer of Microsoft's Windows 95 user interface, Instant Memos installs in seconds and is an easy-to-learn, easy-to-use and very effective organizational tool.
"I used the same process to design Instant Memos that I used to design the Start Button and Task Bar for Windows 95," says Oran. "I wanted this to be something that was quick and easy-to-use but was also extremely useful." Oran has taken this simple concept and created Instant Memos, a practical and efficient way to organize those small "to-do" lists that are hard to manage or anything else you might use the actual scraps of paper for.
The heart of the product is a note dispenser that's always on the screen. You can choose the color of the note, the note size and the style of the font. With one click on the word "New," a blank note pops up from the dispenser. Everything typed on the note is stored automatically. Each time you start your computer, the notes appear exactly on the screen where they were left. An unique alarm function lets you set the time and the date and instantly displays the note at the appropriate moment. Instant Memos is a simple and affordable solution designed to make time management and life a little easier.
System Requirements:
Win95 or Win3.1, VGA or SVGA, mouse or equivalent device and a 3.5" floppy disk drive. Also required are 350 KB of RAM and 1 MB of hard disk space. Anticipated SRP for Instant Memos is $19.95. User Group pricing is $15.95 plus shipping and handling.
MediaMagic Solutions, Inc. Is a young publishing company committed to bringing the world quality, affordable consumer products. The company aims to provide consumers with original products that focus on personal productivity and personal enrichment. MediaMagic Solutions, Inc. Stays focused by keeping a visionary eye on the future and delivering superior products that are unique, fun and easy-to-use.
MediaMagic solutions, Inc. Is located at 20245 Stevens Creek blvd., Ste 201, Cupertino. Ca. 95014. Tina can be reached at (408) 777-7980 or tina@magicstuff.com
The World Wide Web is aptly named for two reasons: one, it is a randomly interconnected matrix of information, and two, it is also a sticky trap for those who do not step onto it with caution and preparedness.
I would like to share with you six major areas of disaster that I have seen
both first-hand, and learned from other's experience in building and
maintaining World Wide Web sites. These six areas cover major stumbling
blocks that can totally destroy your efforts at a good web site if not put
you out of business entirely depending on your size and reliance on
computers and the web. Of course these are only the tip of the iceberg, but
if you can avoid these difficulties, you can get started faster, with a
better web product, and at a lot less expense.
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1. Ignoring your customer's impact on your web site
If you set up an E-mail response system and your customers are kind enough to actually use it to respond to your Internet efforts, DON'T simply file that information away.
There are two ways to totally waste the valuable research your customers are giving you for very little money. The first is ignoring negative responses and not doing anything about them because you or your web team think they know best. LISTEN, READ, REACT! If they like something about your site, don't just pat yourself on the back feel good about it, DO something about it. Whatever they liked, do it again! Or update it! Or double the amount! Once you've received that invaluable response, act on it.
Another way to waste the contact that your customers have with your web
site, is to get a successful site going, and then let it sit there and rot
into oblivion.
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2. Trying to do it all yourself
We at Kitty Hawk Studios run into this sticky situation all the time, and must remind ourselves that there are many talented, hard-working people out their in the world who are worth every penny we pay them to take our problems and turn them into solutions.
It's very tempting to see all of the nifty computer tools available to all of us today and think: Hmmm, I can do a little of this, and a little of that, and if I learn how to do THAT, I can do all of this myself (Or within your company). BIG MISTAKE.
Consider that most 3D computer animation sequences will take at least 8 hours (and maybe a lot more.) JUST TO BUILD THE MODEL. Then you have to deal with lighting, textures, rendering set-ups, movie compression and color table issues. You are talking a lot of details and a lot of expertise.
At this moment in time, even your text documents have to be converted from whatever word processor or page layout program you are using to create them. Yes, there are HTML filters that begin the process for you, but a truly effective and attractive page takes a lot of work after it comes out of the word processor.
Even knowing what your choices are is a daunting task. At Kitty Hawk Studios
we spend many hours each week just researching the latest ways to use
electronic forms, perform financial transactions, and of course add new
exciting interactivity to your web site. You have a business to run, you
can't possibly spend the kind of time we do to find these things out and
also evaluate them. Get in touch with a good Internet design firm and ask
them a LOT of questions.
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3. Thinking that Interactive media is some cute "Add-On" to your
present advertising/marketing media purchases.
Or that the traditional mass media will produce exactly what you need in the Interactive areas. WRONG. It's time to realize something. Regardless of what businesses think of the usefullness of interactive media, there are some huge, powerful groups who are going to force you into it whether you want to or not.
Namely, the telephone and cable companies. Realize that the telephone companies have enjoyed their closely protected market for many decades for ONE reason, and one reason alone. They controlled the only means of delivery. The PHONE LINES. It's as if they owned all the roads, and only their trucks were allowed to deliver goods to your home or business.
That exclusivity is about to go away however, and it's got the "TELCOS" (telephone companies) running very scared. Enter the CABLE companies. If you think of a telephone wire's capacity like a gentle babbling brook, the cable coax wire coming into your home is like the Colorado River that carved out the Grand Canyon. If the telephone wire can bring you simple voice communications, the cable coax can bring you real-time, live video conferencing with satellite connections around the world and a simulcast from the planet Venus.
This has got the phone companies just a LITTLE bit worried. So to keep their customers from all bailing out to sign up for communication services from their cable company, the TELCOS are pushing current technology at light speed to allow them to push anything they think you'll want (from Movies, to Video Conferencing, to Interactive Home Shopping.) down their skinny little copper wire. Which, by the way, they are replacing with Fiber Optics wherever they can, but short-term thinking makes Fiber Optics look expensive, so it's being put in rather slowly.
What this means to your business is that both traditional broadcast T.V., as well as many printed marketing methods you may be used to, like catalogs and coupons, are headed for obsolescence. Not total extinction, but they are going to give up a large part of their market share because the telephone and cable companies have HUGE amounts of money and credit that they are going to spend to try to beat each other up as well as take our other competitors for the advertiser's dollar.
If you're not learning how these new media work, you will be susceptible to
two weaknesses: Not knowing what is most effective for your needs, and not
knowing the true value/cost of what you're buying is. If you don't talk to
us at Kitty Hawk, find SOMEONE who has experience in MARKETING, not computer
programming when you begin to build your web site. Then talk to someone who
has experience in INTERACTIVE media, not television or magazines
exclusively. You MUST find that vital mix to prosper and grow on the World
Wide Web, please don't jump in with a blindfold on and hope you'll feel your
way around.
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4. Not presenting your site concept properly to your management,
stockholders, partners, or whoever has to sign the checks.
Skip the technical mumbo-jumbo, get it down to dollars and cents or strong business reasons.
Until the solid financial transaction software packages are in place, it's going to be hard to sell a direct sales impact unless you have a product/service that matches up well with the Internet user base (See "Six Vital Questions to Ask Your Web Site Designer"). In the interim, imagine the Internet as the World's most inexpensive, 24-hr., 7-day a week, Planet-Wide focus group for your company.
One of the strongest motivators for management is to see two or three competitors doing something that they aren't. The feeling of missing out on something is one of the strongest sensations that drives business. Try to match competitive information up with the motivations that get your higher management in gear.
Particularily emphasize the huge user base that the World Wide Web has over
more traditional on-line services, and the much lower cost. Not to mention
total control over how your content looks, is used, and accessed. The
on-line giants have one major factor going for them, huge marketing and
advertising of their services. But even if you've heard of America Online or
CompuServe, do you have ANY idea of the companies that have a prescience
there? We don't.
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5. Waiting to build the World's Most Perfect Site
Not unlike other business opportunities that come and go, a world wide web site will be a different animal at different points in its life cycle. If you try to guess right now what the "perfect" site for you will be, and delay its creation until that goal of perfection is achieved, then you will watch your competitors function with much less perfect, but quite functional sites as they pass you by.
It's not a matter of degree, you either have a use for a web site or you don't. Black and White. If you use a good web consultant to determine what your needs are, they will simply turn you down if you don't have a good reason to be on the World Wide Web. We do it weekly at Kitty Hawk Studios. We could just take your money and dump you on a site, but we have much longer vision than that and we hope you do too.
But if your dreams and visions for your company's future match up with the
reality of the Internet as it is now and will be in the very near future,
(And we just got information last week that is going to blow the Internet
into WARP speed, come back for THAT report in a few weeks.) then you are
only hurting your self and your customers by not attempting at least a
LITTLE research and development into what the World Wide Web could do for
you.
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6. Lack of proper security knowledge
If you have a computer hooked to the internet, and that includes those you use for temporary "surfing", it is hooked to at least 4,000,000 other computers at that moment. That should be a sobering if not scary thought.
There are a few things and/or thoughts that can make life easier for a company that is beginning to use the Internet as an important business tool.
First, realize that E-mail you receive from other on the Internet or through other commercial on-line services cannot harm your system in any way. This applies only to the "message" part of your E-mail, however. If someone sends you a file of some kind, a program, a game, a spreadsheet, or a word processing document that is an "enclosure" or "attachment", that file does have the ability to carry a virus.
This means you should NOT be afraid to set up a web site that receives E-mail messages from your customers or other inquirers. Their mail to you is absolutely harmless, and should be looked upon as one of the huge benefits that the Internet can bring to you. Instantaneous feedback and research on your product and/or your web site.
If anyone DOES send you an attachment with their text message, DO NOT open it or run it. Run a virus checker program on your hard drives, and then decide if what they sent you is worthwhile trying out, or if it is from a known trustworthy associate. If so, make sure you have a recent backup of all your important and new files (you do back-up every day don't you?), and run the program on a computer that isn't hooked up to your main computer network. Run the virus checker again, and proceed if everything checks out.
Some companies are even going as far as keeping a dedicated computer(s) hooked to the Internet all by itself, with no connection to the other computers in the company. This assures your production goes on with no surprises from the Internet. But with employees transferring files by floppy disk, or maintenance on hard drives, you may get some inadvertant "socializing" between "Internet" and "Non-Internet" computers anyway, so continue to be vigilant.
There is only one way to be 100% safe from viruses, and that is to never let
your computer communicate or receive any files from outside itself. Of
course that negates the usefulness of your computer in the first place, so
just use some common sense and some good virus checking software.
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For a FREE report on SIX businesses that are slated to be IDEAL for Internet
Marketing, send an E-Mail to 71414.1103@compuserve.com
If you have any additional questions regarding Internet Marketing, visit Kitty Hawk Studios on the World Wide Web at: http://www.webcom.com/kittyhwk or write us at the above E-mail address.
We have additional reports, samples, and other web-related information for you absolutely free, no obligation, just information.
It rode into town in a plain brown box full of literature and videos. Share the Win95 experience with the Redmond development team on Microsoft Television (MSTV) the videos beckoned. "Quick, easy answers" were promised by the Internet Guide book. A couple of jewel cases and a kind hello from the Mindshare User Group, Annie Sparrow, Kerri Grubb and Laura Hoffman-Spady. All this greeted me as I looked through the latest promotional package from Microsoft. It looked good but all my spare time was taken getting Print Screen to the Post Office. As that project was completed, I went back to researching Windows memory usage and ram drives. The material I found seemed to be researched from other sources. Not contradictory just second hand. I wanted the white paper from the people who designed the operating system. Funny how I was staring at the Technical Information Network (TechNet) CD when that thought hit me. My fingers popped the two disk jewel case open and slipped Disc 1 in the drive. Setup raced through the program install. Quickly I was looking at "What's New" and "Using TechNet". What really grabbed my attention was the left side column which read:
TechNet News
MS Backoffice
Personal Systems
MS Office & Desktop Applications
Databases & Development Tools
Hardware
Planning, Analysis & Implementation
Technologies
Service & Support
Knowledge Base
More than 1.5 gigabytes of technical information or over 100,000 pages of detailed answers all in one place. A search engine sat quietly waiting for my command. The "ram drive" query produced 113 topics found. The associated words "ram & requirement" query found 723 topics. The motherlode started at topic # 9 with "Memory Management with Win3.0 & 3.1". The next big score was the "memory win95" query with 165 hits. Number 12 got hot with "How Windows 95 Manages Virtual Memory". Finally, I could resolve this memory issue. The concise writing of TechNet lends itself to a quick shot of knowledge adrenaline. Pumping the mouse button, I pulled together an article that totally eluded me for months.
On Disc 2 are the Supplemental Drivers & Patches. This includes:
The latest version of the complete Microsoft Software Library
Drivers for the entire line of Microsoft Products
Code samples
Utilities and templates
Printer, video, and keyboard drivers
Entire software library, European Windows drivers library
The drivers and patches were easily loaded on my system by clicking on the button imbedded in the relevant article. Inserting Disc 2 into my drive copied the file to my hard drive.
TechNet is updated every month with two compact disks and a full text search engine. A highly recommend tool for system administrators, network managers, support professionals, and MIS managers. Microsoft TechNet 1-800 344-2121 (dept. 3129)
Last updated: 9 February 1996 Location: http://info.webcrawler.com/mak/projects/robots/faq.html
What is a WWW robot?
A robot is a program that automatically traverses the Web's hypertext structure by retrieving a document, and recursively retrieving all documents that are referenced. Note that "recursive" here doesn't limit the definition to any specific traversal algorithm; even if a robot applies some heuristic to the selection and order of documents to visit and spaces out requests over a long space of time, it is still a robot. Normal Web browsers are not robots, because the are operated by a human, and don't automatically retrieve referenced documents (other than inline images). Web robots are sometimes referred to as Web Wanderers, Web Crawlers, or Spiders. These names are a bit misleading as they give the impression the software itself moves between sites like a virus; this not the case, a robot simply visits sites by requesting documents from them.
What is an agent?
The word "agent" is used for lots of meanings in computing these days. Specifically:
Autonomous agents
are programs that do travel between sites, deciding themselves when to move and what to do (e.g. General Magic's Telescript). These can only travel between special servers and are currently not widespread in the Internet.
Intelligent agents
are programs that help users with things, such as choosing a product, or guiding a user through form filling, or even helping users find things. These have generally little to do with networking.
User-agent
is a technical name for programs that perform networking tasks for a user, such as Web User-agents like Netscape Explorer, Email User-agent like Qualcomm Eudora etc.
What is a search engine?
A search engine is a program that searches through some dataset. In the context of the Web, the word "search engine" is most often used for search forms that search through databases of HTML documents gathered by a robot.
What other kinds of robots are there?
Robots can be used for a number of purposes:
Indexing
HTML validation
Link validation
"What's New" monitoring
Mirroring
So what are Robots, Spiders, Web Crawlers, Worms, Ants?
They're all names for the same sort of thing, with slightly different connotations:
Robots
the generic name, see above.
Spiders
same as robots, but sounds cooler in the press.
Worms
same as robots, although technically a worm is a replicating program, unlike a robot.
Web crawlers
same as robots, but note WebCrawler is a specific robot
WebAnts
distributed cooperating robots.
Aren't robots bad for the web?
There are a few reasons people believe robots are bad for the Web:
Certain robot implementations can (and have in the past) overloaded networks and servers. This happens especially with people who are just starting to write a robot; these days there is sufficient information on robots to prevent some of these mistakes. Robots are operated by humans, who make mistakes in configuration, or simply don't consider the implications of their actions. This means people need to be careful, and robot authors need to make it difficult for people to make mistakes with bad effects Web-wide indexing robots build a central database of documents, which doesn't scale too well to millions of documents on millions of sites. But at the same time the majority of robots are well designed, professionally operated, cause no problems, and provide a valuable service in the absence of widely deployed better solutions.
So no, robots aren't inherently bad, nor inherently brilliant, and need careful attention.
Where do I find out more about robots? Indexing robots How does an indexing robot decide what to index? If an indexing robot knows about a document, it may decide to parse it, and insert it into its database. How this is done depends on the robot: Some robots index the HTML Titles, or the first few paragraphs, or parse the entire HTML and index all words, with weightings depending on HTML constructs, etc. Some parse the META tag, or other special hidden tags. We hope that as the Web evolves more facilities becomes available to efficiently associate meta data such as indexing information with a document. This is being worked on...
How do I register my page with a robot? For Server Administrators I've been visited by a robot! Now what? A robot is traversing my whole site too fast! Most importantly, start logging information: when did you notice, what happened, what do your logs say, what are you doing in response etc; this helps investigating the problem later. Secondly, try and find out where the robot came from, what IP addresses or DNS domains, and see if they are mentioned in the list of active robots. If you can identify a site this way, you can email the person responsible, and ask them what's up. If this doesn't help, try their own site for telephone numbers, or mail postmaster at their domain. If the robot is not on the list, mail me with all the information you have collected, including actions on your part. If I can't help, at least I can make a note of it for others.
How do I keep a robot off my server? Robots exclusion standard. Don't put any HTML or English language "Who the hell are you?" text in it -- it will probably never get read by anyone :-)
How do I prevent robots scanning my site? Where do I find out how /robots.txt files work? # /robots.txt file for http://webcrawler.com/ User-agent: webcrawler User-agent: lycra User-agent: Two common errors: Will the /robots.txt standard be extended? Availability Where can I get a robot? Where can I get the source code for a robot? I'm writing a robot, what do I need to be careful of? Lots. First read through all the stuff on the robot page then read the proceedings of past WWW Conferences, and the complete HTTP and HTML spec. Yes; it's a lot of work :-)
I've written a robot, how do I list it?
Scott Segal, Online Marketing Company/Web Rent 1. Always keep your target audience in mind. Every piece of information on
your site should cater to your target audience. The Internet is used by
millions of people every day; many of these people are part of your target
market segment. Before you begin to create your site, identify your target
audience and write your site based on what you would want to see if you were in
their shoes. Whether you are advertising on the World Wide Web or in Time
Magazine, never forget the basics. Be sure to make your web pages simple,
concise, focused, benefit driven and easy-to-understand. Always include a call
to action on your web pages.
2. The World Wide Web is only part of your on-line marketing campaign. With
all of the hype the World Wide Web is receiving, other key areas on the Internet
must not be overlooked as places to generate on-line sales and compliment your
World Wide Web efforts. Newsgroups and mailing lists are great places to get
word out about your offerings. While overt solicitations are generally not
accepted in Newsgroups or on Mailing Lists, you may carefully get your ad
message across by using "sig files". These are footers that you attach to every
message posted to a Newsgroup or Mailing List. Your footer should include a
very brief description of what you do, your World Wide Web address and the
address to your autoresponse mailbox that people can send messages to and
automatically receive information about your products or services. Your "sig
file" should never exceed 6 lines.
3. Be sensitive to different web browsers. Avoid having your web pages be
"browser specific." Generally, no two web browsers display pages in the exact
same way. With the wide variation of browsers on the market today, you cannot
assume that your viewers will be using any one browser. Try not to make your
web pages browser dependent. The tendency for many developers is to create
pages that look good in Netscape without regard for how other browsers will view
them. Test your pages through many browsers to assess their design points.
4. Take advantage of every opportunity to promote your on-line information.
Once your business is on-line you must let the world know that they can find
your company's information on the Internet. Remember to add your World Wide Web
and e-mail addresses to your: business cards, letterhead, fax cover sheets,
advertisements and marketing collateral.
5. Links = traffic = sales. The World Wide Web is essentially a mass of
documents connected together through hypertext and hypermedia. It would take
someone a long, long time to find your site if it was not linked to any other
document on the Internet. You must actively pursue links to your pages by
contacting other companies in your industry who sell complimentary goods they
promote via web pages and asking them to provide a link to your page and you
will link to theirs (trade). Getting your site listed in the major directories
and search engines on the web can mean the difference between a successful site
and a failed one. Links are the most important part of your world wide web
marketing campaign - bar none.
6. Information is king. Besides links, this is the other most important
element of a successful world wide web site. The most highly traveled sites on
the web provide useful information, often referred to as "content" in web speak.
For example, Hot Wired, which was one of the first on-line "magazines" receives
more than 300,000 hits per day. This traffic is due in large part to the
quality of the content in this electronic publication; not the quality of it's
advertisements. Information brings people back to your site; your sales pitch
will not bring most people back. Offer something of benefit to your target
audience on your web site and you will keep them coming back for more.
7. Don't put your viewers to sleep. Avoid making your web site too
"Harvard"-like, people using the web want to be entertained while they seek out
information. Snappy graphics will add life to your site. Make your web site as
fun and entertaining as possible, even if you cater to a business clientele.
Have fun with your site, people love to see it.
8. Change is good. Information on your pages should change daily. When people
know that your on-line material is regularly updated they are likely to return
often. A site that always says the same thing offers the active web "surfer" no
reason to come back. Always make time to keep your site current and changing.
The best feature of the 95 MS windows video program seems to be its being able to
detect and help the user resolve IRQ and DMA, and wrong driver conflicts for
multi-media cards and fax-modem configurations.
The only negative things on the surface seems to be the desire of the
program to have the TSR's and resident virus programs removed or disabled
before loading the new software!
[F8] seems to be another neat feature of 95 in that it provides a "safe
mode" of operation for trouble-shooting which allows you to eliminate
potential problems step by step.
There are also very good basic networking tips and problem solving issues
discussed in the tape.
Another issue was selecting the the "LBA" mode for your new 1-gig hard drive
to allow it to work properly.
Technically the best feature is the device manager icon:
The yellow mark indicates trouble. The red-x indicates 32 bit addressing
has been disabled and drivers may be in a default condition.
Additionally, you can look at all the system settings--far better than the
MSD stuff in 3.1 or 3.11/ All the IRQ, DMA,and even SCSI settings are available.
The last item is if you want to look at 95 for FREE, yes I said
FREE..1-800-583-0042 Dept A020 --- you can get windows 95 and Office for
windows for a free 90 day evaluation on a CD. Just pretent to be a
developer for software.
So there I was sitting there paying close attention to center stage at the last meeting thinking how nice it was to have somebody like Brian Christopher and all of the volunteers working with him taking on the responsibility of making the group work, and all I had to do was sit back and enjoy it. That all changed with a tap on the shoulder from Bev Altman. So much for my leisure time in retirement. Welcome to a new responsibility!
First off, a very large thanks to Brian and each of the individuals on the staff this last year who did their part in putting it all together. It is a major effort to obtain good guests for our meetings each month. Brilliant and talented individuals willing to demonstrate the applications that you want to see are not necessarily standing in line waiting for invitations from user groups. The contributions of personal time put into the planning and execution of the meetings, publishing and mailing PrintScreen, updating the Web Page, keeping track of membership dues, finances, publicity, picking up & distributing the mail, preparing the disk-of-the-month, and all of the other behind the scene activities, are sincerely appreciated
So who is Bob Mitchell? (not Robert Mitchell...he is the other club member who has the advantage of fewer miles, and certainly more energy). The older fella just retired last September from 43 years in "big time show biz". I have spent the last 41 years with KGO-TV (Channel 7) in San Francisco. That is one of the ABC stations along with the ABC network, and all other ABC properties that Capital Cities Broadcasting acquired a few years back. As you know it recently became part of the Disney Corporation. I left the station before having had the distinct experience of receiving a paycheck with a picture of a mouse on it, however Mickey does appear on the Disney stock certificates that were received to replace CCB certificates. During that period of 41 years I served as Film Director, Assistant Director of Programming and finally as the Program Operations Director of KGO-TV. A parent of three boys (now adults), there was past involvement in all the kid activities such as scouts, (as Scout master and Committee Chairman), and Little League (as League president). Other volunteer activities include the Chairman of a recreational group, membership on a church financial council and president of that church's Pastoral Council. This is not to say I am that good, but rather that I am too dumb to say "No" when asked to take on a leadership role. The real truth is, the habit of a lifetime of challenges and taking on responsibility is hard to break.
There will be more to come in the future, but the first priority is to obtain from you, your interests and your likes and dislikes in the matter of SPAUG. In that connection, you will find enclosed in the SPAUG PrintScreen a list of questions. Your answers and the answers of every member of SPAUG will serve to determine what we will strive to provide for you in future meetings. We want to offer you a compelling reason to attend every meeting. It is my firm belief that the reason for the existence of SPAUG still remains. The continuing success of other user groups attests to this. Based on this it is our intention (for openers) to restore the interest in the group and the attendance figures we once had. With your cooperation we stand a pretty fair chance of making it work.
Are you willing?
You may wonder why the viewable areas of 20- and 21-inch monitors don't match the advertised sizes. Well, monitor manufacturers borrowed the idea from television manufacturers, who label products based on the size of the tube. They measure the tube diagonally, including the size of the glass from edge to edge--before it's placed inside the case--and use this number to label the monitor. But a bezel is placed around the edges of the tube, which typically cuts down the viewable area of the screen. Some monitors lose additional viewing area because of the shadow-mask technology used to sharpen the image.
For this review, we measured the maximum area Windows occupies, ignoring all of the dead space. Large monitors are consistent (see below) with smaller monitors, generally providing a viewing area 1-2 inches smaller than the listed tube size.
Despite this confusion, there is a standard way to judge the picture size of a monitor. VESA (the Video Electronics Standards Association) has established a method of defining the usable image area for displays. Called VIAD (Video Image Area Definition), this standard defines the video-image area as the largest rectangular image, listed in horizontal length and vertical height in millimeters. Most manufacturers include this information on their product sheets, so look for it when you comparison shop.
Monitor Size (inches) / Actual Image Size (inches)
The ParaDisk PD350 is a Hard Disk drive kit which allows you to use up to an 8.4 gigabyte hard drive through the parallel port of any IBM compatible notebook, laptop, or desktop computer. It is SPP/EPP/ECP compatible and comes with all the necessary device drivers to get it up and running quickly.
The ParaDisk PD350 supports the most popular hard disk drives on the market. You can order your ParaDrive 525CD with a drive installed or you can order the kit and install the drive yourself.
The ParaDisk PD350 is convenient. It provides a printer pass-through port for simultaneous use of a printer.
The ParaDisk PD350 travels easily. Not only is it lightweight, but it comes with a deluxe carry bag.
The ParaDisk PD350 is affordable. FEATURES: While there is more than one way to get video on your PC, the PC industry appears to have settled on a single standard for full-screen, full-motion video. MPEG, named after the Motion Picture Experts Group, is an algorithm for compressing and decompressing digital video and audio. Since uncompressed video files are so large--a six-minute video clip with audio could occupy 35MB of hard disk space--you need to compress the files for efficient storage. You then need decompression software to recover the original digital data in order to view the video.
With a video card, MPEG software and a fast CPU, your PC can display full-screen video files at 30 frames per second--the standard used by broadcast professionals. As more video card manufacturers choose MPEG for full-screen, full-motion video, you won't have to view video clips the size of a matchbook anymore.
The MPEG 1 algorithm has a compression ratio of 150: 1. This standard CODEC (coder/decoder) is prevalent in PCs and is optimized for playback from CD-ROMs. If you are viewing full-screen, full-motion video on a PC, it's most likely using MPEG 1. PCs can play .AVI video files with Microsoft Video for Windows, but the video quality rapidly degrades as you expand the window to near full-screen size.
Right now, there are two ways to play back MPEG: You can use a hardware-assisted or software-based method. Hardware, for example, can be an MPEG daughter card that works in tandem with an existing video accelerator card, or an all-in-one card such as the Jazz Jakarta, which includes both MPEG and graphics acceleration chips. Some video card makers, on the other hand, offer an after-the-fact MPEG software solution. The Number Nine and Diamond Multimedia cards we received both included a coupon in the box for free MPEG software.
MPEG software is hardly the best solution, though. Experts doubt that an MPEG software solution is viable on a PC powered by anything less than a 90MHz Pentium CPU. There are also some rough edges. For example, getting the audio and video to synchronize--such as having an actor's lips and mouth move at same time--is often difficult.
Some argue that a hardware MPEG solution is required to free up an already overburdened microprocessor. By using an MPEG-dedicated chip on the video card or on the motherboard, as some companies are considering, the MPEG hardware solution frees up the CPU.
MPEG 2 is a follow-up to MPEG 1 and is aimed at the broadcast industry. According to John Reno, product manager for C-Cube Microsystems, MPEG 2 resolves four times as many pixels (720x480 pixels) as MPEG 1. "You really don't see that on the PC environment now," said Reno. "In two to three years, you'll see higher speed drives, cable or network connection for MPEG 2 for the PC. "Whether the final video solution is MPEG hardware or software, the pundits agree that the video output on a PC must match the performance of television and the price must ultimately drop to the $200 range to gain favor with consumers.
Why Cache?
When a microprocessor asks for information faster than system RAM can deliver it, the processor goes into a wait state. Essentially the processor is sitting around doing nothing until the system RAM is ready to deliver the information it asked for. This greatly slows down system operation. When a system is running without encountering wait states, it is said to be in zero wait-state operation, and runs much faster.
Memory speed is measured in nanoseconds (ns). The fastest affordable DRAM (Dynamic RAM) memory chips are 60-70ns. For a processor to operate in zero wait-states at a system-board speed of 33MHz (as with a 486DX/33, 486DX2/66, 486DX4/100) the system RAM would have to have a speed of 30ns - prohibitively expensive. For zero wait-states at a system board speed of 66MHz (as with a Pentium 66, 100 or 133) the memory would have to operate at 15ns! What's more, it would have to be more expensive SRAM (Static RAM), which is faster than DRAM because it doesn't require the system to refresh its contents periodically. At the time of this writing, 15ns SRAM is over ten times the cost of standard 70ns DRAM.
This is where memory caching comes in, making today's systems possible at a reasonable cost. You may be familiar with using a disk cache, such as Microsoft SmartDrive, which uses a small RAM buffer to speed up access to a large hard disk. Memory caching uses a small buffer of very fast RAM to speed up a large bank of slower RAM.
Level 1 and Level 2
All Intel processors since the advent of the 486 are equipped with an integral cache of 8kb-16kb in size. When a RAM cache is built into a CPU, it's known as a Level 1 (L1) cache.
Most systems today use a second RAM cache built onto the system board, called a Level 2 (L2) cache.
Hits and Misses
The cache is managed by an 'intelligent' circuit called the cache controller. A system with both an L1 and an L2 cache has two cache controllers; one on the CPU chip itself, and one on the motherboard. The cache controller uses various prediction algorithms to enhance cache performance. For example, it attempts to predict what memory segments the processor will ask for next, and read those segments into the cache before the processor asks for them. This is known as read-ahead caching.
When the processor asks for some data from memory, and that data can be delivered directly from the cache RAM, that's a cache hit. When the system has to take the performance hit of going to the main bank of memory to retrieve the data, that's a cache miss. The percentage of cache hits versus cache misses determines the system's performance versus other systems with the identical CPU.
Why an L2 Cache?
The cache hit/miss ratio, and therefore overall system performance, is determined by several factors (see below). One of the crucial factors is the ratio between the size of the cache and the size of system RAM. As previously noted, L1 caches are generally 8kb-16kb in size. This tiny cache is not sufficient to produce a large cache hit/miss ratio with any significant amount of system RAM. Therefore, performance suffers significantly without an L2 cache. It is not uncommon, for example, for a 486 system with an efficient L2 cache to far outperform a Pentium system without a cache. In a recent industry magazine test of notebook computers, a 486 machine (with L2 cache) outperformed a Pentium 90 machine (without L2 cache) by 30%. L2 cache sizes range from 64K-1024K, with 256K being by far the most common size. More on L2 cache sizing later.
Cache Performance Considerations
[The following factors influence the performance of a cached system:]
Cache Controller Design Efficiency
All caches are not created equal, even if they are of equal size. Given the trade press focus on cache size, most purchasers simply ask for a cache of a particular size, and don't focus specifically on performance measurements. Unfortunately, this has led some system vendors to develop very low-cost caching systems that allow them to advertise a 256K cache without regard to the performance of that cache. It's entirely possible, in fact common, for a smaller, well designed cache to outperform a larger, badly designed cache.
Cache Size to System RAM Ratio
See above. All things being equal as far as cache architecture and controller design is concerned, a larger cache-to-system RAM ratio will provide better system performance, up to a point. You quickly reach a point of diminishing returns. The important thing to remember in general, is that if you wanted to maintain the same cache hit ratio when you double the amount of system RAM, you would have to double the amount of cache RAM as well (although there are other factors that do not make this a linear relationship).
Cache RAM Speed and System RAM Speed
Most system boards are designed for a particular speed of system RAM and cache RAM. There are some exceptions that allow you to tune the system's cache parameters to different speeds of memory. For example, it is getting more and more common for system boards to offer a 70ns/60ns switchable memory speed option. Without such an option, adding faster system RAM than the board is designed for won't provide any performance benefits. In Pentium systems, 20ns cache SRAM is generally used for 50-60MHz system boards (using the Pentium 75/90/100/120), and 15ns cache SRAM is normally utilized for 66MHz system boards (using the Pentium 100/133). Cache SRAM at speeds up to 8ns has recently become available, although rare and expensive.
Software
Cache controllers are usually programmed with algorithms based on statistical analysis of memory access by popular operating systems. Many cache controllers are optimized for either 16-bit or 32-bit software systems. If your particular software accesses memory in a different pattern than the cache controller was optimized for, you can get significantly higher or lower than theoretical (benchmarked) efficiency. Upgrading an operating system from 16-bit to 32-bit can change system hardware performance dramatically in some cases. When evaluating systems for purchase, make sure to benchmark the systems under your operating system of choice, and if possible, the operating system you plan to implement next.
Software tools are available for measuring cache efficiency, such as those from Sofwin Laboratories (800-339-2579). Sofwin tools in particular have a feature to show whether a system cache is optimized for 16-bit or 32-bit operations. While such measurements can lend insight into system design, they are arguably less useful for purchasing decisions, because your real-world performance will depend on the software and operating system being used.
New RAM and Cache Technologies EDO DRAM
Enhanced Data Output (EDO) DRAM provides faster data throughput that partially obviates the need for an L2 cache. Systems using EDO DRAM and no L2 cache will be faster than similar systems using regular DRAM, but not as fast as systems with an L2 cache. EDO DRAM also provides a performance benefit when used with an L2 cache, but industry magazine test centers have reported that the performance difference in that case is less than 5%. Theoretically, EDO DRAM doesn't cost any more to manufacture than regular DRAM, so eventually EDO DRAM may replace regular DRAM. But at the time of this writing, EDO DRAM was significantly more than 5% more expensive than regular DRAM, and probably not worth the price/performance ratio on systems with an L2 cache.
EDRAM
You can think of Enhanced DRAM (EDRAM) as RAM that carries its own cache on each module. In an EDRAM-based system, essentially the entire system memory bank is the cache. This can provide dramatic performance improvements. However, at this time, EDRAM is scarce, very expensive and has not been adopted by many system vendors.
Burst Cache (Pipeline Burst or Synchronous Burst)
Burst cache technology brings a very large performance advantage to the Pentium playing field, made possible by Intel's recent introduction of the Triton chipset for Pentium systems, and also supported by other chipset vendors. Industry magazine tests show that burst cache equipped systems outperform their standard cache counterparts by 20% or more. In fact, the performance benefit is frequently more than the performance difference between Pentium chip classes, i.e. a Pentium 90 with burst cache has been shown to outperform a Pentium 100 with normal cache. Since the difference in price between normal cache and burst cache is usually less than the difference in price between Pentium chip classes, it only makes sense to standardize on burst cache systems. There are other considerations of course, because the Intel Triton chipset does not support some features that are required by corporate standards, such as multiprocessor operation, memory parity, and over 128MB of system RAM.
General Recommendations
The following general guidelines will help you specify systems that will give you the best possible performance under Windows 95 and Windows NT. However, it's important to remember that the key measurement is how your software performs on a given system versus that system's cost, service and warranty, reliability and compatibility. And needless to say, the other components of a system; hard disk, video card, etc; can affect performance as much as anything else. The key factor is balance; that all the components of the system are equal in performance, and no significant bottlenecks exist. That's why a real-world benchmark of your particular operating system and applications is so important.
L2 Caching
Industry publications clearly show the large performance advantage of an L2 cache. Since L2 caching is essentially an industry standard today, the only difficult choices you may have to make will be in the area of notebook computers, which have not yet embraced the L2 cache in significant numbers.
L2 Cache Sizing
You will find a lot of varying opinions on the benefits of various L2 cache sizes. The concensus among industry insiders seems to be that you can get by with 128K of L2 cache up to 8MB DRAM, with 256K of L2 the standard from 16MB-32MB, and 512K optimal for 32MB and up. Again, these figures are rough estimates, and performance can vary widely due to the cache performance considerations discussed earlier.
Burst Caching
Published benchmarks definitely point towards the burst cache superiority. And since its performance boost costs less than the equivalent investment in CPU power, it's said to be a smart choice for desktop machines. You may want to forego burst caching for servers, since the system board chipset that supports burst caching doesn't provide some mission-critical features at this time (see above).
Memory Technology
Since alternative memory technologies (EDRAM, and EDO RAM in systems with L2 cache) have not yet been shown in the media to provide a demonstrable price/performance ratio increase over standard DRAM, that remains the standard today. If you want the fastest possible system, and you're buying from a hardware vendor that doesn't give you a price hit for EDO DRAM, then by all means use it.
Conclusion
Implementing a cache system will heighten system speed and performance at a reasonable cost. By understanding how cache works, the types of cache systems available, and the factors that affect its performance one can make an informed decision configuring system cache in Windows NT and Windows 95.
In both the CISC (complex instruction set computers) and RISC (reduced instruction set computers) arenas, promising technologies have emerged rapidly. Microsoft saw that in order to exploit these and other hardware advances, it needed to produce an operating system for the 1990s - one that was portable and able to move easily from one hardware platform to another. Although Microsoft and IBM created the OS/2 operating system in the 1980s, Microsoft recognized that the system had many shortcomings, the most obvious being that OS/2 is not portable. It was written in assembly language to run on single-processor, Intel 80286 computers. Rather than try to overhaul the OS/2 system software, Microsoft decided to build a new, portable operating system from the ground up.
SUMMARY The Microsoft Windows operating system provides this interface today, by supporting digital and analog video under Windows. Both software developers and hardware manufacturers need only communicate with a single element -- the Media Control Interface (MCI) within Windows -- to avoid potential software/hardware incompatibilities. Because of the flexibility built into MCI, users can preserve their current investments but still gain access to future technologies.
This backgrounder discusses: The Digital Video Revolution Nowhere is the impact of this digital revolution greater than in video. The popularity of television (particularly the growth of cable), VCRs and home video rentals would suggest there's little wrong with the analog, or non-digital, form of video. Yet traditional analog video offers slower access through linear searching, lacks interactivity and loses image quality with each generation of reproduction.
The significant installed base of analog video systems (particularly in education and training) means that an ideal multimedia computing platform should continue to support analog video. But analog video, in itself, is not ideal. It will likely become less of a market factor over time as people turn to digital video, which overcomes the problems associated with analog forms.
For example, with digital video: Expect to find digital video behind applications as diverse as teleconferencing, entertainment broadcast/cablecast and videotelephony -- all using a multimedia-based desktop computer as the user's access to digital media. As digital video becomes increasingly popular, the distinctions among television broadcasts, video rentals and computer processing should blur.
A user, for example, may order and download video entertainment and application software from a "digital television network" direct to his integrated computer/VCR, add digitized representations of himself, customize the story via on-screen editing and then output a finished disk or tape. Or, consider the advantages of a palmtop unit that can download mapping data from remote sources via wireless networks, calculate the optimum route to one's destination and the time required to get there, display the route graphically and then provide video and audio narration of tourist attractions along the way.
Digital Video Compression: One Problem, Many Solutions Vendors and industry groups have devised methods that compress data at ratios up to 200:1. That extends single-disc play-time up to 72 minutes, and makes video conferencing feasible and economical over low-bandwidth phone lines. All of these methods use mathematical formula to delete redundant information from images, store them in short-hand form, and then expand them for display and use. But these methods vary in how, and how much, data they compress, and in their suitability for various applications. Some applications require little or no data storage, but call for equal use of real-time video compression and decompression; in video e-mail, videotelephony and teleconferencing, for example, video data is constantly being created, compressed, transmitted and decompressed for display. Other applications require only a single, non-real-time compression when the software is produced, then use frequent, real-time decompression when the data is called for viewing. These applications include electronic books, training, kiosks and point-of-purchase, and entertainment.
The various digital video solutions that provide options for this range in uses. Software-only methods, for example, make it easy to distribute video content. Full frame methods are appropriate for video editing.
The following are descriptions of the major video compression formats.
Audio Video Interleaved technology. A typical sequence of Audio Video Interleaved technology permits 15 frames-per-second of motion video to run within windows at resolutions of 160 x 120 pixels and includes support for 8-bit audio. That makes it a successful solution for mixed text/video applications -- such as interactive newsletters and books that would run video in a window much as printed books and magazines today have text pages that include photos. Audio Video Interleaved technology allows ISVs to include a video solution within the economic and technological reach of most multimedia users. It is not intended as a solution where full-screen, full-motion video is required -- for example, in interactive training manuals depicting complex images.
Motion-Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) specification. Because motion video is composed of a series of still images, one compression plan is based on JPEG, the standard for still image compression promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Consultative Committee for Telephony and Telegraphy (CCITT). Among M-JPEG's advantages: It produces a relatively high-level image that makes it suitable for all but the most image-sensitive applications. Unlike some compression plans still in development, the industry has endorsed M-JPEG and it's available today. Also, because it provides full access to randomly selected frames, it's useful for the cut-and-paste type of operations of non-linear video editing.
Among its disadvantages: M-JPEG's compression ratio -- about 25:1 -- makes it suitable for magnetic hard disk drives, but not for the CD-ROMs and T1 phone lines that will have to carry the bulk of video data. This format also lacks an associated audio compression specification, forcing vendors to adopt or devise their own. To achieve real-time compression rates of 30 frames per second, M-JPEG needs an assist from digital signal processing hardware. And because it's based on a single-image compression standard, M-JPEG doesn't consider the similarities between adjacent images in a motion video. While that facilitates non-linear editing, it also keeps M-JPEG from compressing data as effectively as other specifications.
Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) specification. MPEG is being designed from the ground-up as a motion video standard. The ISO committee working on this has included delta framing, also called temporal compression. Delta framing allows MPEG to compare adjacent frames in a video, wringing out more of the redundant data. As a result, it achieves compression rates of 1.2 Mbps (up to 8 Mbps) and ratios up to three-times as great as for M-JPEG, making it suitable for CD-ROMs and for T1 telephone lines. The standard also includes an 8:1 compression ratio for associated audio data. These advantages make MPEG a good format for electronic books, entertainment, and other applications that require the user to decompress pre-packaged and pre-compressed video. However, MPEG also requires additional video hardware and the standard is not yet set. Expect to see movement toward approving the standard later this year.
Digital Video Interactive. Now, Intel also licenses the software, and is working with other PC makers to include its chipset on their motherboards. Originally costing more than $20,000, DVI has come down in cost by a factor of 10, and Intel reportedly expects a single-chip solution will ultimately come down in cost by another 10-fold factor. DVI has traditionally supported two modes: a high-quality production level video (PLV) and a lower-quality real-time video (RTV). Title developers send their video on magnetic media to Intel, where a 64-processor computer converts it to digital-based PLV at 30 frames-per-second and 256 x 240 resolution. Or, developers can speed the conversion process and trade down in resolution by creating their own RTV compressed video (30 fps, 128 x 120 resolution) using the Action Media board. In addition to these two modes, DVI supports JPEG and Intel is expanding it to support MPEG and others.
Windows: Supporting Video Today Microsoft Windows operating system helps solve that problem for digital video because the MCI allows developers to select the video compression format that best suits the users needs. MCI is a flexible, extensible, platform-independent software extension that lets applications control: MCI also supports CD audio, MIDI sequencers and digitized waveform audio.
With MCI, end users don't have to worry about which video device or specification their application might have to control. Both developers and manufacturers need only communicate with a single element, the MCI layer that mediates between them. They benefit because their software and peripheral devices will work with the universe of Windows-based video and multimedia systems that include MCI. Microsoft believes this will speed broad user acceptance.
As long as they support MCI, all of the video variations can be called from a single set of commands for digital video (analog devices also have a command set within MCI). Users can be flind to the specific video implementation they're controlling through their applications. So MCI gives users options now -- and assurance later.
Device independence is extensible with MCI. In theory, there's little limit to the video device types that MCI can be expanded to support. So as additional video players -- such as television tuners -- gain MCI drivers, existing applications will be able to control them. And as entirely new video devices are invented, they can be brought under the MCI umbrella as well. Nor are those new devices limited to hardware; they can include any software-only video implementation.
Video Under Windows: A Closer Look at Making it Work The MCI interprets and routes the commands to the appropriate device driver. Some device drivers, such as those for videodisc players, control the device directly, while others call an existing low-level device driver to indirectly control devices such as software-only video players.
Through Microsoft's Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology, OLE client applications can access video devices acting as OLE servers. Drivers can access dynamic link libraries (DLLs) within Windows, for example, to add a video clip to an e-mail message. While programmers can write low-level command messages that MCI passes directly to the video device drivers, the interface also gives them the option of using simple, English language-based command strings that MCI can translate. With intuitive command strings, users will likely find that some applications let them use these commands to control video devices directly. And they shouldn't have to learn new commands each time they go to a new device. The command system is so simple, it is even opening multimedia software creation to an entirely new class of developers -- users who have little or no programming knowledge. Many of the people who may be writing multimedia titles with video, after all, are content experts (historians, linguists, political scientists, and so on) who have, until now, been limited to the role of multimedia users. Using a high level authoring tool that supports Windows, they can create sophisticated multimedia content titles that leverage digital video technology.
CONCLUSION Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication. This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT.
There is a Web robots home page on: http://info.webcrawler.com/mak/projects/robots/robots.html While this is hosted at one of the major robots' site, it is an unbiased and reasoneably comprehensive collection of information which is maintained by Martijn Koster
How does a robot decide where to visit?
This depends on the robot, each one uses different strategies. In general they start from a historical list of URLs, especially of documents with many links elsewhere, such as server lists, "What's New" pages, and the most popular sites on the Web. Most indexing services also allow you to submit URLs manually, which will then be queued and visited by the robot. Sometimes other sources for URLs are used, such as scanners through USENET postings, published mailing list achives etc. Given those starting points a robot can select URLs to visit and index, and to parse and use as a source for new URLs.
You guessed it, it depends on the service :-) Most services have a link to a URL submission form on their search page. Fortunately you don't have to submit your URL to every service by hand: Submit-it
How do I know if I've been visited by a robot?
You can check your server logs for sites that retrieve many documents, especially in a short time. If your server supports User-agent logging you can check for retrievals with unusual User-agent heder values. Finally, if you notice a site repeatedly checking for the file '/robots.txt' chances are that is a robot too.
Well, nothing :-) The whole idea is they are automatic; you don't need to do anything.
If you think you have discovered a new robot (ie one that is not listed on the list of active robots, and it does more than sporadic visits, drop me a line so I can make a note of it for future reference. But please don't tell me about every robot that happens to drop by!
This is called "rapid-fire", and people usually notice it if they're monitoring or analysing an access log file. First of all check if it is a problem by checking the load of your server, and monitoring your servers' error log, and concurrent connections if you can. If you have a medium or high performance server, it is quite likely to be able to cope a high load of even several requests per second, especially if the visits are quick. However, you may have problems if you have a low performance site, such as your own desktop PC or Mac you're working on, or you run low performance server software, or if you have many long retrievals (such as CGI scripts or large documents). These problems manifest themselves in refused connections, a high
load, performance slowdowns, or in extreme cases a system crash. If this happens, there are a few things you should do.
Read the next section...
Why do I find entries for /robots.txt in my log files? They are probably from robots trying to see if you have specified any rules for them using the Standard for Robot Exclusion, see also below. If you don't care about robots and want to prevent the messages in your error logs, simply create an empty file called robots.txt in the root level of your server.
The quick way to prevent robots visiting your site is put these two lines into your server:
User-agent:
Disallow: /
but its easy to be more selective than that.
You can read the whole standard specification but the basic concept is simple: by writing a structured text file you can indicate to robots that certain parts of your server are off-limits to some or all robots. It is best explained with an example:
# mail webmaster@webcrawler.com for constructive criticism
Disallow:
Disallow: /
Disallow: /tmp
Disallow: /logs
The first two lines, starting with '#', specify a comment. The first paragraph specifies that the robot called 'webcrawler' has nothing disallowed: it may go anywhere. The second paragraph indicates that the robot called 'lycra' has all relative URLs starting with '/' disallowed. Because all relative URL's on a server start with '/', this means the entire site is closed off. The third paragraph indicates that all other robots should not visit URLs starting with /tmp or /log. Note the ' ' is a special token; its not a regular expression.
Regular expressions are _not_ supported: instead of 'Disallow: /tmp/' just say 'Disallow: /tmp'. You shouldn't put more than one path on a Disallow line (this may change in a future version of the spec)
Probably... there are some ideas floating around. They haven't made it into a coherent proposal because of time constraints, and because there is little pressure. Mail suggestions to the robots mailing list, and check the robots home page for work in progress.
Where can I use a robot?
If you mean a search service, check out the various directory pages on the Web, such as Netscape's Exploring the Net or try one of the Meta search services such as MetaSearch
Well, you can have a look at the list of robots; I'm starting to indicate their public availability slowly. In the meantime, two indexing robots that you should be able to get hold of are Harvest (free), and Verity's.
See above -- some may be willing to give out source code.
Simply fill in this form and follow the instructions.
8 Tips To Live By For Marketing on the Internet
http://www.metroguide.com/detroit
1-800-586-5582
Also check out - http://www.algonet.se/~dip/
Review: MS Windows 95 Video Tapes
A MESSAGE FROM THE NEW PREZ
Measuring Up: What You See Is What You Get
ParaDisk
Contact Bill Weber at (415) 968-7351 or billw@mediacity.com
Built-in ATAPI (Enhanced IDE) Interface
Supports up to 8.4 gigabyte hard Drives
Hard Disk Auto-detection
Fast access time
No slot required
Compatible with SPP/EPP/ECP parallel ports
Printer port pass-through for simultaneous printer use
Ideal for Notebooks or Desktops
Easy to install and use
Supplied Device Drivers
Includes a deluxe carry bag
Video Via MPEG (Breaking the CODEC)
EDO RAM & Burst Caching
[Recently, several new RAM and cache technologies were introduced. These include:]
WHY WINDOWS NT?
THE DIGITAL VIDEO REVOLUTION
The digital revolution makes video a practical technology for personal computers. To store, manage and transmit the vast amounts of data needed for video, vendors and industry groups have produced various specifications for compressing and decompressing video. These different technologies need a consistent interface to allow both hardware and software developers to deliver this functionality to end users.
* The digital video market.
* Competing standards for video compression.
* How the MCI makes video within Windows a reality today, regardless of the digital video specification one uses.
The increasing synergy among the computer, consumer electronics, entertainment and telecommunications industries -- all of which are moving to digital media -- is fueling multimedia computing that incorporates video, sound, graphics, text and animation. The result will likely be one macro digital infrastructure where any equipment with a microprocessor -- computers, video players, stereo sound systems, electronic games -- can access, manipulate and deliver any type of digital data. The distinctions among such hardware will become less significant, and users will be able to receive and easily use information in more natural and intuitive ways.
* searching is facilitated by fast, random access
* interactivity is optimized
* copies can be easily reproduced with no loss of image clarity
* transmission is possible across local and wide area networks
* digital images can be easily and fully manipulated
Vast amounts of data are needed to represent moving video images. A single video frame could take up to a megabyte of storage. A full second of video could take about 28MB of storage. At that rate, a 650 MB CD-ROM, despite its large storage capacity, would hold only about 20 seconds of video -- not counting any associated audio data. Meanwhile, digital video applications used over networks and phone lines also run into problems because of the heavy data transmission that must take place over limited-bandwidth lines. High speed LANs support only 10 Mbps and T1 phone lines support an even slighter 1.5 Mbps.
Microsoft's own format is implemented completely in software. It works with standard Multimedia PCs and runs without extra -- and potentially costly -- video compression hardware. In contrast to hardware-assisted methods that can require video compression boards with digital signal processors costing from $1,500 to $4,000, Microsoft's format can bring digital video within financial reach of the broadest possible market.
Intel acquired this technology from RCA's Sarnoff Research Institute in 1988 and has since developed it. DVI displays a high-quality image at quarter-screen size, and can display low-resolution, full-motion video in a full-screen window. DVI is implemented via two programmable Action Media chips: a pixel processor handles decompression and a display processor handles video output. Intel began by manufacturing video hardware.
In using desktop video, the user has a range of peripherals, players, hardware and software from which to choose. Which ones should users, software developers, OEMs and systems integrators support? Software and hardware development around new technologies -- graphics, for example -- has typically been a chicken-and-egg problem. Software and hardware developers wait for an installed base to form around a standard before they invest, but users wait for a standard to emerge before they become part of an installed base. No one wants to be left holding an unsupported product. Meanwhile, the industry fails to achieve the volume production needed to lower costs, particularly of hardware, and broaden the market.
*hardware devices required under the Multimedia PC specification (e.g. CD-ROMs)
*optional hardware devices (e.g. laserdisc players)
*virtual devices such as software-only video players
The multimedia functionality in the Windows operating system is fully integrated into the standard Windows system software components; it sits between the user's multimedia application software and the video devices that software must access.
The application sends regular Windows commands to the Windows system software and drivers, and sends high-level video commands (and other multimedia commands) to the MCI. These device-control commands include "open", "play", "record", "seek", "pause", "save", and "close".
The first shots in the digital video revolution are now reverberating around the world. Digital video technology will change drastically in the years ahead, but the technology and products based on it are now a reality, and are coming to market. Microsoft is taking a leadership role to help ensure that digital video becomes an accepted and successful reality in the multimedia computing marketplace. It's doing this by providing an extensible architecture on Windows that will support a range of video formats today and tomorrow. That encourages the maximum amount of third-party hardware and software development. Maximum vendor participation will in turn benefit users by giving them the broadest range of digital video tools, while preserving their investment in Windows-compatible hardware and software. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") has become the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
WHAT DOES @ MEAN TO YOU?
The @ sign is commonly used in UNIX programming, and Internet e-mail addresses. In English we refer to it simply as the "at" sign, but in other cultures, @ has a number of different names.
In Italian it is known as "chiocciolina", and in French, "petit escargot", both meaning little snail.
In Germany, @ is referred to as "klammeraffe", or spider monkey. The Dutch refer to it as "api", a shortened form of "apestaart", meaning monkey's tail.
In Finland it is a cat's tail or "miau".
In Norway it is called the "kanel-bolle", a spiral-shaped cinnamon cake, and in Israel, it is called a "shtrudel".
In Denmark, @ is a "snabel", an "a" with a trunk. The Spanish refer to it as "arroba", a unit of about 25 pounds, for which it is the sign.
(Modified from InformationWeek, page 12, February 26, 1996)
With the advent of sophisticated desktop operating systems like Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT, and IBM OS/2 Warp, you've probably been hearing a lot about a feature called "multitasking." What exactly is this capability?
Simply put, multitasking is the process that enables you to run multiple operations at the same time. If you have a multitasking system, you can actually run two or more applications simultaneously . . . you're not limited to running one application while others are open but idle in the background.
Think of it as the ability to watch your favorite program on TV while you're recording another show on a different channel-your tasks are accomplished at the same time, exactly when you need them to be, with no waiting or loss of productivity.
The Advantages of Multitasking
When performing PC processes that take a relatively long time (such as downloading a file from the Internet, or loading a large file from your CD-ROM), multitasking allows you to start the process, then move on to more productive functions-without waiting.
If you're running a multitasking operating system, you'll quickly realize greatly enhanced system performance. Such an operating system allows you to run two or more programs simultaneously, so you can receive a fax, scan an image, crunch numbers in your spreadsheet, and watch a video from your CD-ROM . . . all at the same time. No waiting!
True Multitasking Requires SCSI I/O
Just as an intelligent operating system is required to allow your applications to multitask, an intelligent input/output (I/O) system is required to allow your peripherals to multitask. The feature that enables an I/O interface to support multitasking is called multithreading. Multithreading also refers to the related ability of a single software application to generate multiple, independent processes. When a PC can perform tasks with multiple peripherals simultaneously, the system is said to be multithreading. SCSI is the only I/O interface for PCs that supports multithreading, making true multitasking a reality and boosting overall system performance. With SCSI, your PC can talk to several peripherals at once . . . and, perform a whole range of tasks at the same time!
Here's how SCSI works:
Only SCSI allows multiple peripherals to access data simultaneously, delivering true multitasking and optimizing system performance. SCSI manages and negotiates multiple requests to move data, eliminating data bottlenecks that slow system performance.
Bus mastering (available on high-performance Adaptec host adapters) takes performance one step further. Because a bus mastering SCSI adapter has its own microprocessor, it frees the system's CPU to complete other tasks. The result is more tasks, running faster.
SCSI makes it quick and easy to add high-performance hard drives and many other peripherals, giving you virtually unlimited storage capacity. A single SCSI host adapter can support seven peripherals simultaneously!
Here's the difference in a nutshell:
IDE hard drives must have correct drive-table settings, to specify the adapter-drive geometry. SCSI drives don't need that.
IDE hard drives may get corrupted, when moved between controllers. I can move a SCSI drive between any two machines without worry.
IDE hard drives over 504Mb must be specially supported through EBIOS translation, or a software equivalent. SCSI drives and adapters took care of this problem transparently, many years ago.
IDE claims higher speed because of fast transfers (in certain operating modes) between controller and drive, but has its performance compromised in other areas. Lack of intelligent seeking makes it particularly bad for multitasking and multiuser operating systems. SCSI gives reliably good performance, especially when using bus-mastering host adapters, on any operating system, under any load.
An IDE host adapter can support two devices (hard drives, tape drives, and CD-ROMS} only), or four of them using two ATA-2 channels (and two scarce interrupts). A SCSI host adapter can support seven devices of almost any type, including scanners, optical drives, etc., using one interrupt.
An IDE chain may not support devices running at different speeds (lack of independent spindle sync support). SCSI always does.
Advanced IDE devices (ATA-2 adapters and ATAPI tapes/CDs) are highly dependent on driver support for each operating system to be run. Many of those drivers are flaky. SCSI is well-supported in all OSes, and driver bugs and performance issues were brought under control many years ago.
IDE drives can be difficult to set up without jumper diagrams and other documentation. If you're lucky, both drive and BIOS will support the Identity Drive protocol, and be able to fill in the drive table on request. Otherwise, you must deduce the parameters and supply them. SCSI drives can usually be set up without docs, by just setting unique SCSI ID jumpers (generally easy to find and guess), and ignoring all other settings, as the usual defaults are fine.
If you have an IDE hard drive installed, it must be the boot drive. SCSI hard drives can co-exist with IDE devices (or any prior standard), without any such requirement.
If I had bought into IDE, I'd have a difficult time using my IDE devices on other people's machines, when needed: There are driver, jumper, BIOS translation, and probably a number of other issues that don't even come to mind. As it is, if I need to use my SCSI-based external CD-ROM or tape drives on a friend's machine, I just plug my Trantor T358 parallel-to-SCSI converter into the machine's parallel port, and fire it up.
Oh, yes: External devices-you can't do that with IDE, at all. Pity.
Do I have fairly firm opinions on this matter? Why, certainly. I think that's fair to say. Some are going to disagree on sundry points, perhaps loudly: I would expect no less. However, the next time you hear them say that SCSI provides no real benefit to the average user, and that it costs $400 more, you'll know why I regard that as absolutely errant nonsense.
In the fall of 1988, Microsoft hired David N. Cutler ("Dave") to lead a new software development effort: to create Microsoft's operating system for the 1990s. Dave, a well-known architect of minicomputer systems (Digital Equipment Corp.), quickly assembled a team of engineers to design Microsoft's new technology (NT) operating system. Early in 1989, Bill gates and key Microsoft strategists met to review the operating system specifications Dave Cutler's group had defined. Their plans identified these primary market requirements for the new operating system:
Portability: Hardware advancements occur quickly and often unpredictably. RISC processors represent a great departure from traditional CISC technology, for example. Writing NT in a portable language would allow it to move freely from one processor architecture to another.
Multiprocessing and Scalability: Applications should be able to take advantage of the broad range of computers available today. For example, computers with more than one processor appear on the market regularly, but few existing operating systems can fully employ them. Making NT a scalable, multiprocessing operating system would allow a user to run the same application on single-processor and multiprocessor computers. At the high end, the user could run several applications simultaneously at full speed, and compute-intensive applications could deliver improved performance by dividing their work among several processors.
Distributed Computing: With the increasing availability of personal computers in the 1980s, the nature of computing was irrevocably altered. Where once a single, large mainframe computer served an entire company, smaller and cheaper microcomputers proliferated and are now standard issue for rank-and-file employees. Enhanced networking capabilities allow the smaller computers to communicate with one another, often sharing hardware resources such as disk space or processing power (in the form of file serves, print servers, or compute servers). To accommodate this change, developers of the NT system would build networking capabilities directly into the operating system and would provide the means for applications to distribute their work across multiple computer systems.
POSIX compliance: In the mid-to-late 1980s, U.S. government agencies began specifying POSIX as a procurement standard for government computing contracts. POSIX, and acronym rather loosely defined as "a portable operating system interface based on UNIX," refers to a collection of international standards for UNIX-style operating system interfaces. The POSIX standard (IEEE Standard 1003.1-1988) encourages vendors implementing UNIX-style interfaces to make them compatible so that programmers can move their applications easily from one system to another. To meet the government's POSIX procurement requirements, NT would be designed to provide an optional POSIX application execution environment.
Government-Certifiable Security: In addition to POSIX compliance, the U.S. government also specifies computer security guidelines for government applications. Achieving a government-approved security rating allows an operating system to compete in that arena. Of course, many of these required capabilities are advantageous features for any multi-user system. The security guideline specify required capabilities such as protecting one user's resources from another's and establishing resource quotas to prevent one user from garnering all the system resources (such as memory).
[The following was to a fellow who wanted to be able to set up the club's Internet Server Access Kit disk, but already had an existing "winsock"-type setup for another Internet Service Provider.]
Subject: MULTIPLE WINSOCKS
You Wrote: "The [Access Kit's] instructions ask us to see if we already have a winsock.dll file on our hard disks. I do. I do not want to delete it because it allows me to access another Internet Service Provider."
The advice in the instructions was the "chicken" version. That is, if we guarantee that there's no other winsock.dll on your hard drive, then we've guaranteed that none can interfere with Trumpet Winsock's, under any set of circumstances. Thus, we eliminate any number of support headaches from people with hopeless software tangles. In other words, it was the easy, safe (and thus "chicken") answer, that will always result in our stuff working correctly.
You wrote: "Can I install the SFpcUG Server files (including winsock) on my D: drive, or must they be installed on the C: drive? If they have to be on the C: drive, how can I proceed with installation?"
The drive letter has nothing to do with it. We just wanted to make sure that, when you fire up TCPMAN.EXE (the Trumpet Winsock Dialer), it won't find the wrong winsock.dll, before it finds the right one. Obviously, any arrangement that prevents such an undesirable outcome is just fine.
What kind of arrangement? We try not to get into this, because it involves understanding how DOS (the DOS that underlies Windows) finds files, and people generally don't want to understand that. It's their loss, but it's also their choice. However, you asked, so I must explain background. DOS tries to find executable command-names in its internal command set, then in the current directory, then in each of the directories defined in the PATH variable, in turn. As a special case, when you're in Windows and you (or one of your applications) are trying to invoke a .DLL file, Windows causes DOS to look in Windows, the Windows System directory, and all of the previously mentioned places (I don't know in what order). For purposes of Windows apps, the term "current directory" means whatever the application's icon says is the "working directory".
The long and short is that, if you make sure that your other dialer doesn't find Trumpet's winsock.dll, and that Trumpet doesn't find the other dialer's winsock.dll, you'll be fine, and will be able to use both pieces of software. The usual mistake that prevents this is to put one of the winsock.dlls into \WINDOWS or \WINDOWS\SYSTEM. Don't do that, if you want to keep two network "stacks" separate. (Yes, don't do it, even though the kit instructions tell you to copy or move winsock.dll from c:\winsock to c:\windows. Move it back.) The second most common mistake is to include DLLs in some other directory in the DOS PATH environment. (Type "SET" at the DOS command line, and you'll see what "PATH" is, among other things. Its value is usually determined by the SET PATH command near the top of AUTOEXEC.BAT.)
Set up each network stack entirely in its own directory. Don't put any part of either one in C:\WINDOWS, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM, or any directory that's in the PATH variable. Should work fine. If it doesn't, I guarantee that it's because you have the stacks mixed up. However, this continuing mix-up happens so frequently, when people try to run multiple stacks, that we don't include this recommendation in the kit instructions, and tend to advise people having trouble with it that they should settle on one stack or the other, and delete one.
By the way, perhaps you didn't realize that you can easily make Trumpet Winsock dial your other ISP, and therefore don't have to have two stacks. Just copy your entire Trumpet Winsock directory to another directory for the 2nd ISP, and make a second icon. Then, enter that Trumpet Winsock Dialer's setup screens, and enter the information for your 2nd ISP.
Q. Why Is Cyrix, a microprocessor manufacturer, selling PCs?
A. We want people to know about the outstanding performance advantages of the Cyrix 6x86 processor. Marketing 6x86 PC systems is a key element in promoting Cyrix processors to end users, thus promoting demand for our OEM customers' 6x86-based PCs.
Q. Will Cyrlx continue selling processors to OEMs?
A. Yes. The vast majority of Cyrix processors will be sold to OEMs and PC dealers who will market 6x86-based PCs under their own brand.
Q. How does it differ from the Pentium processor?
A. Most significant are the architectural differences which result in the 6x86 processor's superior performance gains. While both the 6x86 and Pentium processors are superscalar and contain an 80-bit floating point unit and a 16-Kbyte primary cache, other architectural features are found only on the 6x86. The 6x86 processor's integer and floating point units are optimized for maximum instruction throughput by using advanced architectural techniques including register renaming, out-of-order completion, data dependency removal, branch prediction and speculative execution. These design innovations eliminate many data dependencies and resource conflicts to achieve high performance.
Q. What Is the difference between the Cyrix 6x88 and 5x86 processor?
A. There are significant differences between these two Cyrix processors. The 5x86 processor, formerly the M1sc, is pin-compatible with a 486. However, the 5x86 uses many fifth-generation features (branch prediction, data forwarding, superpipelining, etc.) to achieve performance equal to Pentium processors. The goal for the 5x86 was to achieve an efficient design, obtaining the highest performance possible using the fewest transistors to obtain entry-level Pentium processor performance. A 120 MHz 5x86 performs on par with a 90 MHz Pentium processor.
The Cyrix 6x86 processor is a high-performance, sixth-generation CPU that is P64C socket-compatible. It incorporates a 64-bit external data bus (5x86 use a 32-bit external data bus) and a variety of innovative architectural features that enable it to outperform higher-megahertz Pentium processors to achieve best-in-class performance. Additional design information can be found in the 6x86 Processor Brief.
Q. Is the 6x86 processor compatible with existing software?
A. Yes. The 6x86 is compatible with x86 software and all popular x86 operating systems including Windows 95, Windows, Windows NT, OS/2, DOS, Solaris and UNIX. Additionally. the 6x86 Processor has been certified Windows 95 compatible by Microsoft.
Q. Is the Cyrix 6x86 processor certified for Windows 95?
A. Yes. Cyrix tested the 6x86 processor on hundreds of x86 software applications to ensure compatibility with new and existing software. Additionally, the 6x86 processor has been certified Windows 95 compatible by Microsoft. We're licensed by Microsoft to use the "Designed for Windows 95" logo.
Q. Can the 6x86 processor run 16-bit and 32-bit software?
A. Yes. he 6x86 was designed to run existing 16-bit software as well as the latest 32-bit software.
Q. Can I use the Cyrix 6x86 processor as an upgrade for my 586 computer?
A. No. The Cyrix 6x86 processor was never intended to be an upgrade.
Q. When I run Windows 95 on my 6x86 computer, the Windows 96 control panel system information identifies the CPU as a 486. Why?
A. The algorithm used in Windows 96 to detect the CPU was completed before the Cyrix 686 was released and therefore the Cyrix 686 responds to the algorithm just as a 486 does. To verify that your system is using the 6x86 microprocessor, please reference your computers BIOS startup screen. In addition, the following software utilities identify the 6x86 CPU correctly: Diagsoft QA Factory 6.02 and QA Plus/FE 5.42; Quarterdeck Manifest 4.01; and PC Doctor Rev 1.5.162 from Watergate Software. Cyrix will update this site with new software utilities that can detect a 6x86 CPU in the future. Please note that the 6x86 processor was certified by Microsoft for Windows 95, and Windows 96 performance results are available
Q. What are the performance results for the 6x86 processor?
A. We list full, competitive 6x86 performance results for several industry benchmarks. The tests show that the 6x86 processor outperforms higher-megahertz Pentium processors in each performance class.
Q. What Is this new performance, or P-rating, system Cyrix Is using?
A. The P-rating system was jointly developed by Cyrix, IBM Microelectronics, SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, and Advanced Micro Devices. The P-rating system allows end-users to base purchases on relative PC performance levels rather than just the clock speed (MHz) of the processor. The new evaluation system relates the results of industry-standard benchmarks to what is achieved by an Intel Pentium processor of a given frequency. For example, a processor with a P150 rating would have performance comparable to a 150 MHz Pentium processor, regardless of its actual clock speed.
Q. Why was the P-rating developed?
A. Clock frequency (MHz), while important, is no longer an accurate or consistent measure of CPU performance. Architectural differences between processor designs add another variable to the equation. With the P-rating in place a PC buyer can easily evaluate all personal computer processors for a given performance category - without scrutinizing the architectural merits of the different processors.
MicroDesign Resources (MDR) Labs conducted independent performance testing of the 6x86 processor. Commenting on the P-rating methodology, Michael Slater, president of MicroDesign Resources and publisher of the Microprocessor Report, said, "This is the first comprehensive and credible method for comparing competing processors based on the relative performance they bring PC users under real-world conditions. It standardizes test system configurations based on commercially available components, and it uses the most widely recognized and utilized application-based benchmark tests. l expect the new P-rating methodology to achieve broad industry acceptance."
Q. How does the P-rating work?
A. The P-rating process uses a standardized system configuration and application-based benchmark tests to establish a performance, or 'P,' rating relative to a Pentium processor of a given frequency (MHz). This levels the playing field and allows the measurement of relative processor performance under real-world conditions, regardless of the processors clock speed (MHz) or architecture.
Q. What benchmark test Is used in the P-rating?
A. Ziff-Davis Winstone 96 is used because it is a real-world, application-based benchmark that contains the most popular software applications (based on market share) that run on a Pentium processor. Winstone 96 also is the most widely used benchmark, and is freely distributed and available.
Q. Why Is there a plus mark In each 6x86 processor name?
A. For the 6x86 processor, a P+ designation is used to indicate better performance. Wlnstone 96 6x86-Pxxx+ Wlnstone 96 Pentium-xxx. (xxx = P-rating or Pentium megahertz)
For example, a 6x86 processor with a P-rating of "P166+" (regardless of processor name and clock speed) indicates performance faster than a 166 MHz Pentium processor. The plus mark indicates performance that consistently exceeds the same Pentium processor megahertz level.
Q. What 6x86 processors are currently available?
A. The 6x86 P120+ (100 MHz), has been in production since the fourth quarter of 1995. The 6x86-P133+ (110 MHz), 6x86-P150+ (120 MHz) and 6x86-P166+ (133 MHz) processors are in volume production now.
LucasArts Teams Up with Entertainment Giants to offer Gripping Interactive Story
SAN RAFAEL, CA-Combine LucasArts' expertise in crafting compelling interactive entertainment with inspiration from Steven Spielberg, special effects from Industrial Light & Magic and dialogue from award-winning science fiction writer, Orson Scott Card, and you have what amounts to one of the most dramatic stories ever told on CD-ROM-The Dig. LucasArts Entertainment Company's deep space adventure about a team of space explorers who become stranded on an alien planet, will release for PC CD-ROM in the fall of 1995.
Entertainment Experts Collaborate Armed with Steven Spielberg's vision of a game that conveyed the alien feel of Forbidden Planet and the fallible humanity of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Dig project leader Sean Clark created a story with depth, complexity and significance. "It's been an incredible experience to take an idea from Steven and then craft a game of this magnitude around it," said Clark. "Since Steven is an avid gamer, my team and I made story and gameplay our top priorities." LucasArts and Industrial Light & Magic artists combined their technologies to generate several special effects for the game. These effects focus on objects - such as asteroids, planets and alien ships - moving through space and incorporate techniques such as morphing, lens flares, prism effects and warping star fields. The shots are composited with OD and 2-D backgrounds and characters to create realistic, yet other-worldly, extra-terrestrial phenomenon.
Additional input into the game comes from science fiction writer, Orson Scott Card, winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards for his novels, Enderis Game and Speaker for the Dead. Card, in concert with Clark, is penning the game's dialogue. Providing the music behind the words and images is a Wagnerian-inspired score. Both The Dig's graphics and soundtrack reflect the mysterious, fantastical and alien feel of the game. The Dig also will be the centerpiece in another kind of entertainment collaboration. A novelization published by Warner Books, an audio drama and a CD soundtrack published by Polygram will release simultaneously with the game.
Transported to an Alien World
The Dig offers a riveting and expansive game experience centered around an original science fiction story, and the game's characters and their interactions are complex and dynamic. The player s alter ego is Commander Boston Low, a NASA veteran who leads a team of two- geologist, Ludger Brink, and Journalist, Maggie Robbins - on what should be a routine mission: (1) blast an asteroid in an unstable orbit around Earth into a stable rotation; (2) become a hero. Unfortunately, they don't make it home for the parade in their honor.
The asteroid transforms into an alien spaceship, and the team is transported to a strange, dangerous and seemingly abandoned planet. Then the apparitions appear. Through exploration and experimentation, the player learns about the species that formerly inhabited this planet - a specks that discovered immortality and now exists in a ghost-like state. They desperately want something from their captive trio. It's a high price to pay, but it may be the only way back to Earth.
Minimum System Requirements
486DX2-66 CPU
Double-speed CDROM drive
8 MB RAM
8-bit sound card
DOS 5.0 or Windows 95
The Dig Development Team
Project Leader, Sean Clark
Lead Artist, Bill Tiller
Lead Programmer, Gary Brubaker
Supervising Animator, Sean Turner
Kevin Mitnick, "America's Most Wanted Computer Outlaw", eluded the police and the FBI for over two years; his downfall was his Christmas break-in to Tsutomu Shimomura's computers in San Diego. Less than two months later, Tsutomu had tracked him down. Kevin was arrested by the FBI in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 15th. Here you will find everything you might want to know about the pursuit and capture of Kevin Mitnick, including gory technical details, live transcripts, media coverage, photos , audio, video, and links galore. Check out the Web site. If you don't have time to sort through all of this, take the scenic tour. And remember, you can always read the book.
What is the AMD5K86 processor?
The AMD5K86 processor is the first in a broad range of high-performance options from AMD. The AMD5K86-P75 and AMD5K8-P90 processors offer the best value for 64-bit, 5-class performance and provide complete Microsoft Windows operating system and x86 software compatibility. A plug-in alternative for the Pentium, the AMD5K86 processor is an ideal choice for entry-level desktop PCs. The AMD5K86 processor's fifth generation performance stems from AMD's independently developed four-issue superscalar core architecture with six parallel execution units arranged in a five-stage pipeline. This architecture contains 16-Kbyte instructions and 8-Kbyte data cache, providing highly efficient instruction throughput. The result is a processor with the power to run 32-bit operating systems and applications, as well as the huge installed base of x86 software.
How is the performance of the AMD5K86 processor measured?
To help PC manufacturers and their customers evaluate the performance of AMD5K86 processor, AMD uses the P-rating, an apples-to-apples processor performance rating system that employs the industry-standard Winstone 96 benchmark. For example, based on Winstone 96 tests using identical PC configurations, the AMD5K86-P90 processor has a P-rating of "90," meaning it offers performance greater than or equal to a 9O-MHz Pentium.
How does the AMD5K86 compare in competitive benchmarks?
Listed below are the Winstone 96 benchmarks for the AMD5K86-P75 and AMD5K86-P9O processors:
Benchmark Configuration:
FIC PA2002 motherboard
VIA Apollo Master Chipset
16-Mbyte EDO DRAM
256-Kbyte L2 cache*
PCI Diamond Stealth 64 3200 video card (640 x 480 x 256)
Diamond GT video drivers 4.02.00.218 for Windows 95
Quantum Fireball 1.2 GB EIDE hard drive
* (Size remains consistent. Type differs from system to system)
Is the AMD5K86 processor a hardware-compatible Pentium alternative?
Yes. AMD designed the independently developed AMD5K86 processor to be hardware compatible with the Pentium. This P54C compatibility enables PC manufacturers to take advantage of existing 586-class designs and infrastructure. A plug-in processor solution for Pentium-compatible motherboards, the AMD5K86 processor minimizes redesign costs and offers a truly viable Pentium alternative
What are the key features and benefits of the AMD5K86 processor?
Independent architecture
Enables freedom of choice with viable alternative
P54c(Pentium) hardware compatibility Leverages exiting infrastructure
Minimizes redesign costs
AMD5K86 superscalar core Delivers Pentium Performance
16-Kbyte instruction cache, 8-Kbyte data cache Provides ideal processor
Full out-of-order speculative execution/completion Offers foundation for Dynamic branch prediction
Integrated 80-bit floating point unit (FPU)
Enhanced SMM and clock control
Which motherboard manufacturers support AMD5K86 processor?
AMD has validated the following motherboard manufacturers that support the AMD5K86 processor. AMD5K86 motherboard validation consists of electrical and functional testing to ensure that the motherboard design meets the basic functional requirements needed to operate using an AMD5K86 processor. This list is not intended to represent all motherboards available on the market that support this product, but is a sampling of popular motherboards that have been verified by AMD to support the AMD5K86 processor. This information is updated on a regular basis.
Company - Model - BIOS
Abit - PH5 - Award
Abit - PT5 - Award
Atrend - ATC1545 - Award
Biostar - TAC8500 - AMI
FIC - PA2002 - Award
Gigabyte - GA586ATS - AMI
Note: Older versions of these motherboards may require a BIOS update from the manufacturer to properly recognize the AMD5K86 processors. Please contact your local motherboard representative for assistance?
What are the motherboard design requirements?
Vcc Spec (operating voltage) = 3.45 V - 3.60
Heatsink Required = Yes
Fan Required = Yes
Please consult the AMD5K86 Data Sheet for updates concerning valid operating voltage options.
When will AMD5K86 processors be available?
AMD5K86 processor volume production will begin in the second quarter of 1996 in a 296 pin SPGA (staggered pin grid array) package.
What is the difference between the K5 and the SSA/5?
K5 and SSA/5 are codenames for different engineering revisions of the AMD5K86 processor. Just as Intel improved circuit speed and process technology in moving Pentium from the P5 to the P54C revision, AMD is making improvements in logic, circuit speed, and process technology between the SSA/5 and K5 revisions. Together, these improvements will result in higher performance options of the AMD5K86 processor.
The Questionnaire - A Preliminary Look
Three weeks of vacation is now history and I can now devote some time to the business of attempting to fulfill some of the responsibilities that I agreed to take on with our group. My thanks to Brian Christopher who agreed to retain the leadership on my return. It wasn't easy considering a last minute cancellation of a guest for the May meeting.
In an effort to determine what you the members of SPAUG want, a questionnaire was offered that allowed us to determine what your interests were and allowed you to express your views. So far, out of approximately 75 paid up members we have received 32 returns. There were very interesting and in some cases very surprising results.
On general knowledge of personal computing in general, PC Hardware, DOS and Windows, almost everybody regarded themselves average or above average. There were 5 responses indicating being "very knowledgeable" 2 reflecting "little knowledge". On Windows 3.x, we discovered the club has at least 2 DOS diehards. On Windows '95, 22 indicated "little knowledge" with 10 individuals who already have it and 8 planning on installing it in the near future.
On the question regarding communication and information, responses were heavily weighted in the direction of "average" or "little knowledge" regarding the Internet and information systems such as AOL or CompuServe. This was surprising since of the 32 returns, 31 individuals indicated their systems included a modem. This does not mean that our group is not interested in the subject, rather you want information about the Internet so you can join the rest of the computer world. This was demonstrated by 20 responses of "very interested" and 12 "somewhat interested" to an area of the Internet explored at each meeting.
Information software seemed to be much more popular than game software. There were 21 responses indicating "not interested" in game software with 6 "not interested" in educational software.
LAN systems were of at least some interest to 12 individuals with 20 "not interested".
Reasons for not attending meetings included "family problems", "conflicts with other activities", "meetings run too late", "late notice" and "moves of meeting location" Compelling reasons for attending future meetings included the addition (or repeat) of software demonstrations that included more useful applications such as utilities that resolve software conflict problems, personal data organization, and uninstallers with hardware demonstration of color scanners color printers and CD Rom drives. There was also a suggestion that we should include some of the basics on hardware (e.g. how does it work?). A number of members felt that the notices of upcoming meetings should do more in "selling" them on attending.
Most likable parts of meetings included Random Access (Q&A), and presentations (demos) on new software and hardware. There were also votes for the drawings for free software. On changes or eliminations, we should locate the meetings in a place "like Varian" where the membership could see on a projected image what was being demonstrated (good news coming on that). We should avoid "glitzy" super salespersons, improve disk-of-the-month (demos on a projected screen would do this), and a "blow off" of questions during random access. There was also a suggestion that there should be an attempt on better name recognition among the membership. We should add: the mid meeting break, location where you can "see" and "hear" the presentations, more shareware information, non-product presentations on computer subjects, identify the officers, more members including younger people in college or recent college graduates.
Suggestions for hardware demos ran the gamut with particular emphasis on color scanners, Zip drives and other removable disk type drives such as Syquest, CD ROM drives, color printers, the fastest computers (133-166 MHz), Visioneer Paper Port and a PC to TV conversion unit, optical hard drives, sound cards, memory extenders, video boards, laptops, modems and (horrors) a Power Mac.
Suggestions for software demos also covered the world. They included utilities (high response) with individual requests for Windows '95, foreign language, uninstallers, Pagemaker, Printshop, Stackers, Family Tree Maker, OS-2 applications, CAD, accounting for small business, Quicken CD ROM Deluxe, MS Office '95 and Netscape.
Based on this and questionnaires yet to be returned we will be guided accordingly. At the moment, the input from 32 members will carry heavy weight in shaping the future of SPAUG. you still have time to exercise your "vote". Considering national averages for responses to surveys, this was outstanding. For all of those members who took the time to fill in the blanks and offer your comments, a very sincere "Thank you".
If there are substantial refinements to this report we will include them in the next Print Screen. We will also provide you with some thoughts on the plans for the future based on the results of this survey. Stay tuned!
The Dame Was Loaded is the world's first fully-interactive film noir detective adventure set in the world of a 1940's Private Eye!
The door opened slowly. A young blonde entered the room, her cornflower blue eyes widening as they adjusted to the piles of paperwork marked with the red stamp of "DECEASED." "Hello," she said. "My name is Carol Klein." I motioned for her to sit on the chair with the four legs. "I'm looking for my missing brother, Dan Klein." She reached into her purse, for what I hoped was a fist-full of cash, but knew was only a handful of trouble. "Do you have connections?" she asked hesitantly. "Unsavory connections?"
I looked at her naive expression, and realized the handful of trouble was actually a truck-load of sin. She passed me a photo of a rebellious-looking young man, the kind that end up face down in the river. Her sad, blue eyes pleaded with mine momentarily. I felt my heart jump. "You look like the kind of man who could help a poor girl like me." How could I refuse?
Dames are trouble, but trouble is my business. For a dame, and maybe a few hundred bucks in advance, I'd lose a few teeth and a few friends. For sweet Carol Klein, I might even stand in front of a gun or two. In a sleazy world of corrupt officials, stolen diamonds, lust and murder, I must solve the case to stay alive. I'm a private detective. That's my job.
"My name is Scott Anger." I said. "Welcome to my office." Scott Anger, Private Detective. That's what it says on my license, but you can't believe all you read. The only things I've investigated for the last month have been the bottoms of whiskey bottles. The heat of the summer made the excuses come easier, but the faces of the dead didn't wash away. I needed a tough case, a few bucks, and a reason to live. They all arrived at the same time.
In the 1940's in Los Angeles, a Private Detective has his work cut out for him. In a heat wave hotter than a hitman's gun barrel, diamonds have been lifted, lives have been taken, and people have disappeared. When a mystery walks through Scott Anger's door in the shape of the sweet Carol Klein, the detective is set on a twisting road of intrigue and danger. With his notebook, his wits and his wisecracks, Anger sets out to solve the case.
Rich 1940's world full of classy joints, sleazy dives and danger.
The world's first fully-interactive film noir detective adventure with incredible full-screen video graphics.
Thirty cunning characters in a deviously twisting, non-linear plot.
Play poker for cash and clues.
Proven graphic adventure gameplay with one-on-one character discussions and items to collect and use.
Nine gripping conclusions, dependent on your detective skills.
Two-disc set with over 40 hours of gameplay.
Original cool jazz soundtrack.
View the 13+ Mb demo at Happy Puppy
SyQuest Technologies (5/30/96) - (http://www.syquest.com)
SyQuest has manufactured removable cartridge hard drives since 1982. Over the years, the company has refined its technologies and processes, and now produces removable cartridge hard drives that demonstrate the quality level, reliability, performance and capacity associated with fixed disk drives.
SyQuest offers 5.25-inch, half-height SCSI II interface removable cartridge Winchester hard disk drives with formatted capacities of 88 and 200MB as well as 3.5- inch removable cartridge Winchester disk drives with formatted capacities of 230, 135 and 270MB, and a double-platter, 3.5-inch drive system, SyJet 1.3GB, to be shipped in the fall.
EZFlyer: 230MB, the newest addition to SyQuest's 3.5-inch EZ family, offers the highest performance at the lowest price per megabyte for computer users with data intensive applications like desktop publishing, multimedia, photography, video, audio, pre-press work and other imaging of complex computer graphics, or those who frequently download files from the Internet. EZFlyer's Winchester hard drive technology performs with an access time of 13.5 milliseconds and a maximum sustained data transfer rate of 2.4MB per second. At 230MB, the EZFlyer provides endless storage capacity with additional cartridges. It is the price/performance leader among removable cartridge hard drives priced under $500, and is the only removable cartridge hard drive in this category. EZFlyer reads, writes and formats 230MB and 135MB cartridges and is available in external SCSI and Parallel Port configurations for Macs and PCs.
SyJet 1.3GB: Packaged in a new user-friendly, slim line design is SyQuest's highest capacity, highest performance removable cartridge hard disk drive ever, the SyJet 1.3 gigabyte hard disk drive. SyJet 1.3GB reads, writes and formats to 3.5-inch, double platter, 1.3GB cartridges. SyJet provides a high performance minimum sustained transfer rate of 4MB per second and an average seek time of <11 msecs. SyJet also possesses the unique ability to go into an accelerated mach mode in extreme data intensive applications such as full motion video. SyJet 1.3 is the ideal solution for video editing and storage, desktop publishing, imaging, audio, high resolution photography and multimedia. At 7 cents per megabyte, the SyJet removable cartridge hard drive offers the world's lowest cost/MB. Configurations include an internal enhanced IDE and SCSI and external SCSI. SyJet ships this fall.
SyQuest EZ135: First in the SyQuest EZ family, the award-winning EZ135 ideal for the small office/home office user. Popular applications for the low-cost 3.5-inch EZ135 hard drive include easily accessible, secondary storage for high-performance Mac and PC users. The EZ135 has a 13.5 milliseconds access time, and a maximum sustained data transfer rate of 2.4MB per second. EZ135 configurations include internal enhanced IDE, and external SCSI and Parallel Port versions.
SyQuest SQ5110C: The SQ5110C extended the high capacity, high performance SyQuest removable hard disk cartridge standard to 88 MB. This product reads and writes both 44MB and 88MB SyQuest cartridges. The drive operates at an average seek time of 20 milliseconds and expands on the SQ555 feature set, including a 32 Kbytes buffer, to deliver a sustained transfer rate of up to 900 Kbytes per second.
SyQuest SQ5200C: First shipped in 1994, the SQ5200C raised the SyQuest standard to a new level: 200MB of hard disk capacity, 18 milliseconds average seek, 64 Kbytes buffer, and sustained transfer rates of up to 1.9 MB per second (5 MB per second burst). The SQ5200C reads and writes SyQuest 44MB and 88MB hard disk cartridges, protecting the investment of SyQuest's customers who have purchased more than a million SQ555 and SQ5110/SQ5110C series hard disk drives and several million 44 and 88MB hard disk cartridges.
SyQuest SQ3270: Ideal for the laptop and desktop market, the SQ3270 is a high capacity, high performance removable cartridge hard disk drive. It is packaged in the industry standard 1-inch high 3.5-inch form factor. Each cartridge contains 270MB of formatted hard disk storage. The average seek time of 13.5 msecs matches current high performance Winchester fixed disk drives.
Macromedia's Internet Thrust
Shockwave is a key component of Macromedia's solution for moving creative professionals who develop digital media to the World Wide Web. It enables them to use their existing authoring tools, skills, and
content immediately.
Shockwave consists of:
Shockwave plug-ins for Macromedia's Authorware, Director, and FreeHand authoring
Since December 5, 1995, when the first Shockwave for Director plug-ins were published on Macromedia's site on the Web, over a million people have downloaded and used Shockwave to view thousands of "shocked" Web sites.
"Shocked" contents fit into the dynamic Web sites created by the
Backstage tools that Macromedia recently acquired from iBand. This
combination anchors Macromedia's Internet strategy on two strong
pillars:
These two sets of products are tightly integrated and work together to provide all the functionality necessary to produce Web sites that are:
Moving Digital Media to the Internet
Macromedia's authoring tools are the de facto standards for the creation
and distribution of digital media by creative professionals. Shockwave
provides extensions to those tools so that the expertise and existing
body of work owned by those creative professionals can be moved
immediately to the World Wide Web. The shocked content that users of
Macromedia authoring tools bring to the Web completely change the look
and feel of Web pages compared to static HTML. Web pages now include
interactive multimedia, vector graphics, sound, interactive information,
and more as Macromedia's tools develop.
Shockwave is Everywhere in Macromedia's Future
Shockwave solutions are now available for Macromedia's three most widely
used authoring tools (Director, Authorware, and FreeHand), and will be
available for all of Macromedia's authoring products before long.
Likewise, Shockwave will be ubiquitous in that it will be available for
common computer platforms, and for the most widely used Web browser
architectures. Shockwave plug-ins for Director, FreeHand, and Authorware
are now available as Netscape Live Objects compatible with Netscape
Navigator 2.0. Shockwave plug-ins packaged as Active Objects for use
with Microsoft Internet Explorer will be available in the near future.
To encourage development and use of "Shocked" content on the Web,
Macromedia makes the Shockwave player plug-ins and Afterburner authoring
software freely available to download at http://www.macromedia.com/.
Development and release of Shockwave software will occur rapidly and
continuously, both in conjunction with major releases of Macromedia
authoring tools, and in parallel, so that our developers and authors can
keep current with the rapid evolution of the Web.
A Short History of Shockwave
Macromedia introduced Shockwave on December 5, 1995, when it unveiled
Shockwave for Director 4. Overnight, it revolutionized the Internet by
bringing interactive multimedia to the World Wide Web. On April 15,
1996, Macromedia introduces new Shockwave software with expanded
abilities to display additional forms of interactive multimedia,
learning, and digital arts to the World Wide Web.
The concept is simple. With Shockwave software, anyone using the
Netscape Navigator 2.0 browser can view interactive multimedia on the
Web including animation, sound, and high-resolution scalable and
zoomable digital art. Surfing the Web or in-house Intranets will now
become dynamic, informative, entertaining, and fun.
Customers who use one of Macromedia's authoring tools - Director, FreeHand, and Authorware 3.5 for Windows or Macintosh - can create a "shocked" piece for the Internet or in-house Intranet. Users simply create the piece, compress it using Macromedia's compression software (called the Afterburner) to optimize the piece for Web delivery, and upload it to their Web page. That's it! You've got interactive media on the Web.
Shockwave Nuts and Bolts
Shockwave software is made up of two distinct parts: the Shockwave plug-ins and the Afterburner applications. The Shockwave plug-ins are a set of viewers for Macromedia datatypes that are packaged as plug-ins to the two major Web browser architectures, and which play back Macromedia titles on the network. The Afterburner application is a Macromedia Xtra or separate utility program that compresses and optimizes standard Macromedia files for use on the Web. Separate plug-ins and Afterburners are currently available for Director, FreeHand, and Authorware, and for different platforms of Netscape Navigator 2.0, including 16-bit and 32-bit on Microsoft Windows, and 68K and PowerPC on the Apple Macintosh. Macromedia's evolving Shockwave offering also includes:
Macromedia Open Architecture (MOA) extensions to our authoring tools which enable developers to use their products and expertise immediately to generate digital media content for the Web. Technology for "streaming" or progressively downloading multimedia content over networks. The first example of this is in Authorware 3.5, which provides streaming of sound, pics movies, and other data, downloaded on demand, and developer-specified segmentation of content to tailor it to the specific delivery network.
Because Shockwave software operates on standard Macromedia files, the features of Macromedia's products for creating multimedia and interactive graphics applications are immediately accessible to the huge audience of over half a million creative professionals who use Macromedia authoring tools today.
What Can You Deliver with Shockwave Software?
Shockwave software is optimized for online multimedia and interactive graphics.
Developers have produced:
How to Get Shockwave
Shockwave is available free of charge on Macromedia's Web site at http://www.macromedia.com/. The Shockwave plug-ins can be downloaded in a single package ("Easy Installation") or the user can choose which Shockwave product version and platform to download. Each of the Afterburner compression programs is also available for downloading.
http://www.vdolive.com/
Watch streaming video with the VDOLive plug-in for Netscape 2.0b. Yahoo, Ziff-Davis Net and CBS are already sending live feeds down the Web. VDOLive is a cinch to install and doesn't bog down the view screen with proprietary navigation buttons or scroll bars. Currently only a Windows version is available.
http://204.62.160.251/
Xing's Streamworks is another tool for streaming video and audio over the Net. Country music station KPIG, NBC and Bloomberg Information News Radio WBBR are only a handful of the broadcasters using Xing's technology. Streamworks is available to Unix, Windows and Macintosh platforms.
http://www.worlds.net
Worlds Inc. has redefined chat as we know it. Download AlphaWorld and go for a 3-D spin in the virtual community of the future. Talk to, or walk through, your neighbors. Build city streets, blocks, houses or anything your heart desires. It's "Snow Crash" brought to life. Worlds Inc. software is available for Windows platforms.
http://www.paperinc.com/
WebFX is the first VRML plug-in for Netscape. It lets you fly through 3-D worlds seamlessly through the browser. This is currently only PC-compatible and the WebFX beta 3 version expires March 1, 1996.
http://www.realaudio.com/
The Real Audio plug-in is a must for Web surfers. So many sites are posting Real Audio files, you'd better download the player, lest you be left out of the loop. ABC, NPR, Hotwired, C/Net are among those using RealAudio to add sound to their sites. RA 2.0b allows for 28.8 modem connections or faster to play FM-quality broadcasts and is now available for Mac, PC and Unix platforms.
http://www.vocaltec.com
InternetPhone from Vocal Tec is a cool tool the phone company doesn't want you to know about. If you've got a microphone and sound card on your PC, you can talk in real-time to other Net users. Internet Phone works through voice-activation, so your conversations are seamless. You can also click to find who else is in your Net calling circle. The latest version, InternetPhone 3.1b, is now available for free.
http://home.netscape.com/comprod/products/navigator/version_2.0/plugins/
Netscape plug-ins are constantly being developed; it seems there is a new tool announced every day. Stay on top of the latest for-release and beta products available.
Welcome to WEB WHIRL with The Digital Diva
Your Host: Michelle Slatalla
Brought to you by Discovery Channel Online April 26, 1996
Sparky: Good Afternoon, and welcome to Web Whirl with the Digital Diva!
Web Whirl is designed as a guided tour: Our Fearless Leader, the Digital Diva, and me, her faithful sidekick Sparky, prowl the Web and sniff out interesting sites for your entertainment and edification. We'll check out about a dozen sites in the next hour, and keep Diva's flying saucer moving at warp speed.
Our guest today is Stewart Baker, former General Counsel for the National Security Agency, and presently an attorney in private practice in Washington, DC. We'll be discussing encryption and individual privacy on the Internet today.If some of these sites interest you, bookmark 'em and goback to them after the Whirl is over. That way, you won'tmiss any scintillating repartee from our Diva, you won't miss any new sites we push your way, and (most importantly) we won't melt anybody's server.
Now, without further ado ... LET THE WEB WHIRL BEGIN!
Diva: I want to thank Stewart Baker for joining us today as we examine one of the most precious and fast-disappearing rights we have: the right to privacy. In an increasingly digitized world, where bits of personal information and confidential conversations flow across insecure phone lines, we need to use a tool to protect privacy.
Everyone agrees that encryption -- encoding information until it reaches its rightful destination -- will assure some measure of privacy. But how to encrypt? Who has the right to use strong encryption? Should the government be able to preserve its right to conduct court-approved wiretaps, even though civil libertarians call the eavesdropping a violation of a citizen's rights?
Stewart, in another 20 years, just how much privacy will any individual American have?
Stewart Baker
http://www.us.net/~steptoe/baker.htm
Stewart Baker: The irony is that we will have very little if unbreakable encryption spreads everywhere. The spread of encryption will give privacy against certain kinds of intrusions, but it will come at a cost to public safety that could be significant.
To my mind, the real threat to our privacy doesn't come from eavesdropping. It comes from the free distribution of information we want to share with many people -- but not with everyone everywhere. For example, there's nothing more chilling than running your own name through Alta Vista, andseeing everything you've ever said published.
Diva: I found a photo of myself I didn't know existed.
Stewart Baker: Published Papers
http://www.us.net/~steptoe/pubtoc.htm
Diva: I can imagine that you found a trove of information about yourself. You've been very vocal on this topic for some time. At a recent debate last year, you and John Perry Barlow had a discussion about the role of government in regulating online discourse. You said then that people who believe the Net is going to create an anarchist utopia outside the authority of government are uninformed. In what way?
Debate
http://swarm.cs.wustl.edu/~mccap/debate/debate.html
Stewart Baker: The German prosecutor was able to keep CompuServe from giving access to dozens of newsgroups. It may turn out that cyberspace is being regulated by everyone.
Diva: How do we avoid having that happen? Or can we?
Stewart Baker: I think we can, but it's going to take international pressure on governments that try to regulate too much. That means the United States is going to have to take the lead in trying to prevent excessive regulation of the Internet.
Diva: In the areas of encryption specifically? Or are you speaking more generally about laws that govern online discourse, like the Communications Decency Act?
Stewart Baker: The latter. The regulations that will not work on the Net are regulations of individuals, like individual use of encryption. The regulations that arelikely to be excessive are those pertaining to businessesoperating online, or providing Internet infrastructure.
Diva: Where did the United States government go wrong in pushing the proposal to make the computer chip called Clipper the national encryption standard?
NSA Home Page
http://www.nsa.gov:8080/
Stewart Baker: The worst crime you can commit in Washington is to have a new idea. And Clipper was certainly a new idea. The chip is actually not quite as dead as many believe: There will be hundreds of thousands deployed in government operations over the next few years.
Diva: Deployed because they are imbedded in equipment the government purchased?
Stewart Baker: Yes. They will be in PC Cards used for secure e-mail, and some other functions.
NSA Security Guidelines
http://www.tscm.com/NSAsecmanual1.html
Diva: But Clipper as a national standard seems to be an idea that's passe.
Stewart Baker: Yes.
Diva: Where are we headed now instead?
Stewart Baker: The latest government initiative tries to encourage use of key escrow in which the user has more choice about who controls his keys. That has more appeal, because as more companies use encryption they frequently discover that employees who die or leave on bad terms don't decrypt the files they leave behind. Very few companies want to give the only set of keys to their employees. Most want to keep a copy somewhere.
Diva: So instead of a single repository that holds copies of keys to decrypt our private transmissions, we're moving more to a model where there are different, private escrow facilities? If this is true, will it dilute the government's ability to gain access to those keys in the event of a court-approved wiretap situation?
Stewart Baker: Yes. There are two problems with the private escrow system, from the government's point of view: First, very few companies have an interest in preserving the keys to phone conversations. So wiretapping will become more difficult....
Diva: Preserving those keys would mean archiving a huge amount of data, wouldn't it?
Stewart Baker: Not necessarily. There are companies that monitor the phone calls of employees for good reasons (and sometimes for bad ones), and if the employees have encrypted lines, the companies might want to keep keys just long enough to listen in and then destroy them. After all, if you keep tapes of the conversations, you don't need keys once the conversations are over.
RSA Security Inc.
http://www.rsa.com/
Diva: We're looking at the RSA home page. The RSA created a strong public key cryptography system, which was a breakthrough: You could split your key, and make it harder for an enemy to crack your code. Would any of the initiatives that we're discussing today -- public or private -- have been possible without RSA?
Stewart Baker: Public key encryption changed the world forever. Before that, keys were automatically escrowed with the person who administered the system. What RSA made possible was a completely decentralized encryption system.
Diva: No Big Brother?
Stewart Baker: That's right.
RSA Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.rsa.com/rsalabs/faq/faq_gnrl.html#gnrl
Diva: But no encryption system is inviolable. Didn't some hackers recently crack RSA using the combined strength of computers hooked up to the Net?
Stewart Baker: They broke what would now be described as a very short RSA key. We will always see advances in the ability of computers to break keys through exhaustion of every possible key combination. But with public key encryption, it is far easier to increase the length of the key than to increase the cracking ability of supercomputers.
Diva: It makes me feel like the search for Truly Strong Encryption is like the search for a Holy Grail. If what looks like strong encryption today becomes Swiss cheese tomorrow, who can we trust? Why bother to use any encryption?
Stewart Baker: First, most people in this business are too quick to assume that decryption is easy. I have heard many cypherpunks refer to 40-bit encryption as "toy encryption" or as "trivial to break."
Diva: Even two-bit encryption would stop me dead in my tracks.
Stewart Baker: Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the French government have had great difficulty dealing with encryption at even that strength.
Diva: Who was using such encryption to try to thwart the authorities? Do you know?
Stewart Baker: I don't have details on particular investigations, but I do know the French government was inclined to refuse licenses to US products containing 40-bit encryption.
Diva: Products containing encryption devices are sometimes classified as weapons, correct?
Stewart Baker: They are on the munitions list administered by the State Department. I'm not sure that an application was ever filed for them, but they were designated to require a license for export, and probably did.
Sparky: Stewart, is it true that T-shirts imprinted with the source for encryption algorithms and available via the Net were themselves classified as munitions?
Diva: Some guy had an algorithm tattooed on his body in Wired magazine.
Stewart Baker: I believe all these things were variants of Perl code.
PGP - Pretty Good Privacy
http://netaccess.on.ca/ugali/crypt/index/html
Diva: We're looking at a site now that deals with PGP, which as most people know stands for Pretty Good Privacy -- an encryption software programmed written by Phil Zimmermann and distributed widely.
Stewart, if everyone in the world adopted PGP to send their e-mail to each other, would that totally thwart the government's attempts to gain access to encrypted conversations?
Stewart Baker: It would certainly make the lives of investigators much more difficult. People who use encryption, even very good encryption, often make mistakes. Law enforcement could exploit those mistakes.
Diva: We're talking about these encryption programs as if they're easy to use. But I imagine a very small percentage of the public who uses modems actually uses encryption. Is that because people are uninformed about the importance of the issue? Or is it because encryption in its current incarnation is too hard to use?
Stewart Baker: It's not lack of information so much as a conviction that most of what we transmit doesn't require encryption. One of the dumbest things that industry has done in the debate is to insist that encryption is necessary for credit card numbers on the Internet.
Diva: It's not?
Stewart Baker: I have yet to hear of a single instance in which credit cards were stolen through eavesdropping on the Net and used to buy products. Meanwhile, we've scared off the consumers whose purchases would help to build a truly robust Net infrastructure.
Diva: This brings me to a key question (no pun intended): Do we have any idea how often someone -- a hacker, for instance-- is intercepting data transmissions such as e-mail over the Net?
Stewart Baker: I'm not a technologist, but it's my understanding that eavesdropping on the Internet is a lot harder than most people believe. The packets are traveling separately across the Net and are often reassembled only on the user's servers. So eavesdropping between servers is often extremely difficult.
AskMe: With the current level of encryption available, just how vulnerable are credit card numbers to being intercepted?
Stewart Baker: I think the risk is low. First, it's only going to cost you fifty dollars if it happens. Second, it requires access to a machine along the path of the message you sent. Finally, you have to ask yourself whether you treat your physical card with great care. Most people hand it to a guy earning minimum wage and wearing a ponytail and let him keep it 10 minutes a week!
Diva: You're referring to Sparky?
Sparky: (Hey!)
Stewart Baker: If you're willing to do that, you can probably trust your card to the Net.
Diva: And anyone who uses a Web browser should be aware that the browser company may be giving personal information about its users to the administrators of Web sites that their users visit: e-mail address name ... age ... and any other registration information. In that sense, we're giving away our own privacy.
Web Browsers & Privacy
http://www.uiuc.edu/~ejk/WWW-privacy.html
Stewart Baker: Yes. I think Americans would be better off if they took a slightly more European view to privacy. We see government as a great threat to privacy; Europeans see businesses as the principal threat. We should probably worry more about business invasions of privacy than we do.
Diva: But doesn't the United States government hold a huge amount of personal information at its fingertips? The IRS? The Social Security Administration? HHS? NSA??
Stewart Baker: Yes, they do. But it's not clear that they have more personal information than the credit rating bureaus and the insurers.
Sparky: And doesn't the government have stricter policies about the cross-referencing and centralization of that information than private business?
Stewart Baker: Certainly, the government has many more laws preventing the gathering and compilation of such information than private industry. That reflects our bias against government invasions of privacy.
Diva: You're guaranteeing that the IRS won't give my tax returns to NSA if asked??
Stewart Baker: It would be illegal for NSA to ask -- and illegal for the IRS to provide it. The government probably doesn't pay civil servants enough for them to take that risk.
The Stalker's Page
http://pages.ripco.com:8080/~glr/stalk.html
Diva: This is the Stalkers' Page. Why does it comes as a big surprise that this kind of personal information is available online when these public databases have been available off- line for years? As a newspaper reporter, I was able to use public databases to look up all kinds of really personal information about friends, colleagues, neighbors ... old college roommates....
Stewart Baker: ... boyfriends ...
Diva: Everything from their current addresses to how big of a mortgage they held, to whether they were registered Republicans or Democrats. I wonder if the average person has any sense at all of how exposed we all are. For instance: Our addressees are probably accessible through the databases on this Web site.
Stewart Baker:Yes, and this is part of the power of the Net. What you used to be able to do only if you were in the business of gathering information anyone can do today with a click of a mouse.
Anonymity and Privacy on the Internet
http://www.stack.urc.tue.nl/~galactus/remailers/index/html
Diva: Of course, what probably saves us is the fact that the average person is far less nosy than I am ....
Sparky: (and she's pretty nosy)
Diva: and wouldn't want to spend the time looking up the amount of his next door neighbor's mortgage.
Stewart Baker: Yes, this is security through being boring.
Diva: For years it worked.
Stewart Baker: For some of us, it still does.
Diva: Have you ever had a situation in your life where someone found out something about you -- something personal that you didn't know was in the public domain -- and it shocked you?
Stewart Baker: No. Although I sometimes have been surprised about the extent of people's knowledge of public facts about me.
Diva: Such as?
Stewart Baker: I remember seeing an e-mail posting criticizing my position on encryption and mentioning the town that I lived in.
Diva: Did that make you feel vulnerable?
Stewart Baker: When you work at NSA, you get used to the idea that somebody is probably trying to listen to all of your conversations.
Anonymity
http://www.stack.urc.tue.nl/~galactus/remailers/index-anon.html
Diva: Anonymous remailers are computers that act as post office boxes on the Net. You can just sign up for one with a number and drop off and pick up your e-mail there without revealing your identity. Don't anonymous remailers totally subvert government attempts at surveillance, since the identity of the person sending a data transmission remains secret?
Stewart Baker: They can -- although we've all seen rumors to the effect that some of these remailers are operated by secret services of various governments.
Diva: Do you believe the rumors?
Stewart Baker: It would be cheap fun for government agents. So it would surprise me if someone hadn't tried it at least once.
Diva: n your opinion, should our government try to regulate the use of anonymous remailers in any way?
Stewart Baker: Anonymous remailers are not widely used. At one point, they had nearly disappeared because of concern about liability for threatening messages through them.
Diva: The owner of the computer could be liable for the content sent through the computer?
Stewart Baker: This is America -- anybody could be liable for anything!
Steganography
http://www.stack.urc.tue.nl/~galactus/remailers/index-stego.html
Stewart Baker: Seriously, if providing anonymity prevented the police from tracing a criminal message, the risk of liability can't be ignored.
Diva: If I were a kidnapper, I'd send all ransom demands through a remailer in Holland.
Stewart Baker: I'd recommend sending it through about ten. Even in Finland, Scientologists were able to break the secrecy of anonymous remailers though government cooperation.
CryptoRebels
http://www.stack.urc.tue.nl/~galactus/remailers/index-stego.html
Diva: Back to cryptography. We can thank a scientist named Whit Diffie for the start of the crypto revolution. In the 1970s, he figured out how to split the key that decodes encrypted data. He devised a system in which each user has both a public and private key unique to the owner. Distribute your public key to people who want to send you messages; use your private key to decode the transmission. Of course, Diffie did not envision a time when a copy of a key might be escrowed. I think his purpose was to make sure that third parties would not be involved. In this way, the encryption would be considered stronger. Stewart, what would we do today if Diffie hadn't made this breakthrough discovery?
Public Key Cryptography
http://raphael.math.uic.edu/~jeremy/crypt/pub_key.html
Stewart Baker: Without encryption, we could do most of the things we're doing today. But most of the things we expect to do five years from now would be difficult. Diffie's prime contribution will be remembered as his use of digital signatures, rather than encryption.
Diva: Could you explain what digital signatures are?
Stewart Baker: They are the flip side of public key encryption. If I can encrypt a message with my private key, it can be decrypted with my public one. Since I'm the only one who knows my private key, I'm the only one that can send messages that my public key can decrypt.
Diva: Stewart, can you predict where all this is headed? What will our nation view of encryption be in, say, a year? or five years?
Stewart Baker: We are already beginning to see other countries jump into this debate. Some, like France, are trying to control encryption strictly. Others, like Japan, seem to favor a more laissez-faire approach. In the long run, my guess is that the United States will have a mix of strong encryption and escrowed encryption, while other countries will rely on escrowed encryption.
AskMe: What are the merits of having an encryption standard for doing business over the Net?
Stewart Baker: What we need for Internet transactions is a secure payment system. Those systems will use encryption. Once we have those, there won't be a risk of credit card fraud and impersonation.
Businesses will still want some encryption to make sure their trade secrets are protected, but we could have a very robust economy in cyberspace if we just have digital signatures and cryptography for credit cards.
Diva: We're out of time for today, unfortunately, so we'll say goodbye. Thank you again, Stewart, for joining us today.
Stewart Baker: It was a pleasure.
Where can you get NT drivers for Philips CD-ROM drives?
Philips has a BBS which has NT drivers for both 3.1 and 3.5. The number is (612) 331-2689. This driver works decently in polling mode, but is not optimized. Most people have received crashes when trying the driver in interupt mode.
Why can't DOS-shelled applications access my sound card?
Windows NT does NOT allow direct access to hardware. Therefore dos programs can not access hardware directly while running NT. (Comment from oshins@u.washington.edu: This can be solved by writing a VDD (Virtual Device Driver) that allows DOS programs access to any device. Such a thing has been done to allow DOS programs to use the networking parts. Unfortunately, nobody has gotten around to doing this yet.)
Do Parallel tape drives work on NT?
Currently, there are no drivers for parallel tape backup, like the Colorado Trakker systems.
Does the NEC CDR-260R work with Windows NT?
The new NEC CDR-260R, like all IDE drives that conform to the ATAPI 1.2 standard, works with the built in ATAPI.SYS driver. The older NEC CDR-260 is NOT ATAP 1.2 compliant and will not work.
How do I know if my hardware is compatible with NT?
Microsoft has an evaluation disk that will let you test your system and see how it will work for you. Call 800-426-9400, or download it from CompuServe or the MS ftp site (ftp.microsoft.com).
How do I use an HP Scanner with Windows NT?
To get a HP IICX scanner to work with NT and an AHA2940w PCI SCSi card, First to get NT to recognize the Adaptec PCI card enable "PCI SCSI BIOS FOR OFF-BOARD DEVICES" in your WinAMI BIOS. Next, to get DeskScan to work, you must have ver 2.1a (to work with third party scsi boards). This is available from HP at ftp-bio.external.hp.com in directory /pub/scanjets/win_dos, and the filename is ds21en.exe. The scanner must be powered on when NT boots or else it will remain unavailable no matter what you do. (jmardo@ix.netcom.com) at Hewlett Packard
How do I un-install a CD-ROM without NT crashing afterwards?
First you must go into Windows NT Setup (from program manager) and then go into Options->Add/Remove SCSI Adapters, remove the entry for you CD-ROM drive. It may ask you to restart, but select to continue instead. Next go into Control panel -> Devices and find the "ATDISK" entry. Select Startup and enable BOOT.
If you do not remove the CDROM from the SCSI Adapter in Win Setup and Enable the ATDISK driver, the system will still try to load the CD-ROM driver before ATDISK. If the CD-ROM driver fails, NT senses this as a failed boot device, and will not boot. This is most common with an ATAPI CD-ROM drive, since the ATAPI CD-ROM driver has a higher boot priority than the ATDISK driver.
Dan Gillmor, computing editor for the San Jose Mercury was the first guest of the evening. Mr. Gillmor spoke of what is ahead in the computer industry and more particularly the direction the Internet is taking and what we might expect. He foresaw the information potential of the Internet eventually causing a dramatic change in the newspaper business, particularly in circulation, which ultimately effects revenue and the ultimate need to downsize. He pointed out how low cost network computers built for the limited purpose of accessing the network will become as common as telephones. The question was posed for the need for some kind of control of the Internet and who should do it. There was also concern with first amendment rights with regard to potential censorship. One of a number of other subjects covered included the future of the Apple Corporation. It was predicted that whatever happens to Apple, the Mac platform is here to stay.
The second guest of the evening, was Audrie Krause, the executive director of CPSR (Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility). The mission of CPSR is to provide the public and policy makers with realistic assessments of the power, promise and problems of information technology and what effect it has on society in general. Ms. Krause broadened the subject of the future by presenting some of the concerns today in the computer industry and how those concerns will become very serious problems in the future. Those problems included invasions of privacy, unemployment, endangerment of first amendment rights, employee rights, and outrageous costs of services, hardware and software.
Robert Mitchell who had prepared the disk of the month, explained what it contained and it was offered to the members. (In the future with the availability of a large projection screen, the DOM will be demonstrated.)
The date and new location of the next meeting was announced as June 26 in the executive conference room at EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) on Hillview in Palo Alto. Gratitude was expressed to Bob Evans, Paul Krenski and Les Lakey at Media City for providing us with the facilities we have had for the past many months. Thanks was also expressed to Jim Dinkey for making the arrangements that will allow the use of the facilities of EPRI.
Random Access and a drawing concluded the meeting.
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System Requirements: Windows 95 - 386DX or better, 4MB RAM (8MB recommended), 0.5MB free disk space, VGA or better monitor. Windows 3.x - 386 or better, 4MB RAM, 0.5MB free disk space, VGA or better monitor.
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System Requirements: Windows 95 - 386DX or better, 4MB RAM (8MB recommended), 3MB free disk space, VGA or better monitor. Windows 3.x - 386 or better, 4MB RAM, 3MB free disk space, VGA or better monitor.
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Jaz drives and disks are the ideal solution for storing, transporting and playing multimedia applications. You can pack up to 1 gigabyte of each disk, and there is no limit to the number of disks you can use. The Jaz drive's speedy access times and rapid transfer rate mean you can quickly and easily move files around. And the Jaz drive can handle even the most demanding usage's, including full screen, fullmotion video.
Elegant backup for large systems. Backing up today's larger PCs and network systems has been tough. Now, with a Jaz drive, you can backup a 1 gigabyte hard disk in as little as 5 minutes. With the Jaz drive's speed and the Jaz disk's capacity (up to 2 gigabytes per disk with compression), even large system backups are easier. Eliminate the anxiety of hard drive upgrades.
Jaz is the 5-minute solution to upgrading hard drives. Simply plug the Jaz drive into a SCSI port and you instantly have a second hard drive: one that works faster than most and has a full gigabyte of capacity. And, you can have access to unlimited storage space by simply adding disks as you need them. For those who want a more compact solution, a Jaz insider drive fits into any available 3.5" drive bay.
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*Backup your entire system on one disk, quickly
*Collect 150 color photos in your very own digital photo album
*Record a 2-hour movie
*Network Manager
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Keeping track of several gigabytes of file space is simple with Iomega's Jaz tools. A cataloging feature tracks all your files on all you Jaz disks. Existing files on floppy disks, Bernoulli disks or any other removable media can be easily consolidated onto Jaz disks with a few simple commands. And, because of the huge capacity of each Jaz disk, backing up your hard drive has never been easier - get it all on one compact disk! Jaz product line
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Well we have had our first meeting at our new location at EPRI. There was an immediate improvement in attendance with around 35 people. That's based on counting the number of cookies that were taken from the plate and dividing by 3. Very scientific. The facilities worked just fine except for Kendric Smith's Mac Laptop that he was going to use to demo the Web Page, but of course what can you expect...it was after all a M--. There were no significant complaints about not being able to hear the speakers (so long as they were at the podium). The projection screen was large enough for all to see and the demo of REMOVE IT and a new application that hasn't even been released yet called FIX IT. We were one of the first to see it. It was claimed to offer what FIRST AID offers, but this one works. We will have an evaluation copy and verify the claims. At first glance it looks good.
Based on the newsletters we get from a number of other User Groups and a publication called User Group Connection, a UG cannot attain total success unless there are at least some SIGs (Special Interest Group). This gives the members a real opportunity to learn in an atmosphere that allows much more time for questions and answers that cannot be attained in the limited time available in a regular UG meeting. We used to have a number of them. Based on suggestions that we get a group together to build a PC from scratch, and with donations of components offered by Jim Dinkey, Jim Bailey and Walter Varner, we now have a PC Builders SIG. There were 21 people who signed up for it. We will be getting to all of those who signed up to determine when and where to have it. It's a start!
Brian Christopher will be adding a few items to PrintScreen on a regular basis. You will see listings of local television and radio programming on the subject of computers, listings of raffle winners and the minutes of all meetings. We do want to keep you informed on just what is going on. If you fancy yourself as a writer and you have something to write about that will be of interest to the group, do so, then E-Mail it to Brian. You may want to check with him first to see what his needs are in upcoming publications.
We also want to reestablish the practice of having numbers of our members evaluating new software. This provides those interested with free software. Well, not really free, we do expect you to provide an evaluation that will then appear in PrintScreen. More about that at upcoming meetings.
Now that we have a good location we want to encourage everyone to bring a friend to the meetings, and if the friends like what they see, encourage them to join the group. We may even come up with an incentive to sign up new members. Also if you have friends whose membership may have lapsed, encourage them to return to the fold. We also want to hear comments from guests as well as members on likes and dislikes of the meeting format. In the end it is your group and you do have some responsibility to continually provide us with the input that tells us what your reasons are to remain a member and attend meetings. On this one the ball is in your court!
I hope to see you and your guest at the next meeting.
This was the first meeting of SPAUG at its new EPRI location. With the general instructions in PrintScreen, on the Web Page and a number of sign posts leading to the location, everyone seemed to find the location with ease. The facilities at EPRI were most ideal. The projection system worked well with two different PCs, but did have a glitch with a MAC laptop that was to have been used to demo the Internet. That will be resolved for any future meetings should we need the use of a MAC for special presentations. The built in sound system at the podium with a feed to several room speakers seemed to work very well.
In response to a request for a favored end time of meetings, the consensus of the membership present (approximately 40 people) felt that 9:30 PM was an acceptable time.
Random Access included a suggestion from Jim Dinkey that he would be willing to contribute many components toward the building of a SPAUG group computer. This building of a computer was touched on at the previous meeting, and the offer of components has turned an idea into an actuality. At the suggestion we establish a SIG for this purpose, 21individuals signed up to be a part of this SIG. Lamont Shadowens offered a location at his office for this project.
Considering the number of members interested in this project, there may be a space problem and it may be necessary to consider a second choice of location with more available room.
At the request of a representative of Key Tronics a brief questionnaire was filled out by all members present which will result in the contribution of a Key Tronics keyboard to SPAUG. This timely contribution may very well be a welcome addition to our computer building SIG.
Mr. Elliot Lowe, the vice president of marketing for Vertisoft was our guest speaker for the evening. He demonstrated the latest version of Vertisoft's uninstaller program, REMOVE IT. He pointed out that the latest version of this application includes programming information of the install programming of several thousand applications, allowing it to "know" exactly how the applications in your computer have been installed without having logged those applications during your installation process. This answered a few questions to decision making problems faced when the usual uninstaller program gives you a choice of what to eliminate. He also offered a new application that is due to hit the market in July. It is called FIX IT. It was claimed that FIX IT will go far beyond the type of existing programs such as FIRST AID that according to some reviews does not always prevent crashes caused by FAT and DMA conflicts. Vertisoft will be supplying us with a copy of that program which we will evaluate and review for a later version of PrintScreen.
After a brief recess for coffee and cookies, the Disk of the Month (DOM) segment included a demonstration of the latest McAffee Anti Virus program. All DOM disks containing this program were sold. Robert Mitchell will have more available for the next meeting
Kendric Smith was scheduled to do a demo on accessing the Internet and displaying the SPAUG Web Page, however, the overhead projection system would not accommodate his MAC laptop. Apparently some prejudice there on the part of the system. You may be assured however that it will work the next time.
The meeting ended at 9:30 PM.
The meeting began shortly after 7:30 pm at Beverly Altman's home. Present were Bob Mitchell, Arlen Kurtz, Brian Christopher,Beverly Altman, Kendric Smith, Mildred Kohn. The results of Bob Mitchell's survey were discussed. The response rate was high, almost 50%, but the remaining members will be encouraged to respond and a prize will be given for the most helpful one.
We are looking forward to our first meeting at EPRI and its fine equipment. Lamott Shadoan will lend us both a laptop and a desktop as backup should other equipment fail. We are looking forward to the time when the disk of the month and other material from the members can be demonstrated instead of being just talked about.
The order of events at meetings was discussed. The survey favored a 10 minute break in the middle of the meeting. Random Access will start at 7:30 sharp. The guest speaker will be notified to start at 8:00. Up to now the method has been to invite two guests since one often was a no-show. However, when they both showed up, they had to hurry through their presentations and there is no time for discussion or questions. We decided to invite only one guest and have a member of SPAUG ready with an alternative presentation. General meetings are to end at 9:30.
When we discussed our newsletter we decided the practice of listing the email addresses of every member who has one will be stopped. The addresses of the officers will be listed as well as additions and changes among the members. Members will be encouraged to read their mailing label for information regarding expiration of membership date. We discussed possibly rewarding those who bring in new members with an extension of their renewal date. The newsletter deadline is the 10th of the month so that it can get to the members 5 days before the meeting. A list of the files on the disk of the month should be published.
Software reviews are a problem. From now on a record will be kept of who is handed software and each recipient will be given a deadline for turning in a review. The reviewer gets to keep the software as payment for effort.
The members of the staff do not recall the name of the attorney who is revising our constitution. Will someone out there wipe the egg off our face?
The meeting ended at 9:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mildred Kohn, secretary
The meeting began at 7:30 pm at Beverly Altman's house. Present were: Bob Mitchell, President, Arlen Kertz, Vice President, Brian Christopher, Editor, Walter Varner, Accountant, Beverly Altman, Director-At-Large, Mildred Kohn, Secretary, and Members Jim Bailey, Jim Dinkey and John McFall.
Random Access was the first topic: too long at the last meeting because the guest was late in setting up his equipment. Should Random Access be at the beginning of the meeting? Yes, it is very important, said Walter Varner. The guest should be told to be ready to present at 8 pm. If members need to continue Random Access, the President will announce resumption later.
Many more members than usual attended our first meeting at EPRI. The DOMs were sold out, due both to the excellent selections Robert Mitchell made and to their presentation on our Home Page by Kendric Smith. Members are requested to consult our Home Page more often, and to submit contributions to it through Kendric.
Internet demonstrations are of increasing interest to our members. Jim Dinkey warned us that we can lose the group while waiting for things to appear on the Internet; we should have two modems available. It was pointed out however that we had access to only one telephone connection. Brian suggested members capture and make videos out of their Internet finds with Screen Cam or Snag It. This would eliminate the waiting.
Based on information received from Nancy Helmy, Bob advised the name of the person revising our constitution is Clark Moore. He will be contacted to get an update on the progress.
Lots of members have signed up to build a computer for our group. Lamont Shadowens has already volunteered a computer workroom in his office but there might be a problem with limited space for a large group.
The PrintScreen deadline is the 10th of the month, giving Brian time to get it into print and mailed so that members can receive it one week before the meeting. Software review volunteers should be given a deadline for completing their reports. A map to EPRI will be published, and the restaurant where members can gather for dinner before the meeting will also be published.
Information contained in the Web Page was credited with bringing in our latest new member, Clyde Lerner.
Members are requested to sign in when they arrive and pick up their raffle tickets. The names of raffle winners will be published in PrintScreen.
Respectfully submitted,
Mildred Kohn, Secretary
New Member:
Clyde Lerner
Renewing Members:
Roger Flores
Sidney Gunther
Maynard Keeljian
Carol Liberato
John MacMurray
Robert Meltzer
Bob Mitchell
Delbert & Donna Philpott
Jim Powell
Norm Rossen
Burns Searfoss
Keith Smith
The last 30minutes of the next meeting will be tken up in hardware-oriented topics.
First I will demonstrate three different hardware diagnositcs:
1. QAPLUS
2. AMIDIAG
3. QEMM's entry
All of these are different and have different capabilities and sometimes different objectives. All of them will tell you the 'health' of a system and, more importantly, will tell you if the machine is OK, not broken. If not broken, then it is software fix time.
Following that, I will try to do the following concerning the Hardware SIG:
1. Purchase the motherboard for a 486dx-100. ($115)
2. Purchase the 486DX-100. ($36)
3. Purchase the fan. ($6)
4. Purchase a portable ESD sheet (if not Redwood City).
5. Set a meeting date & time.
6. Pass out the booklet for the 486 board.
7. Try for a consensus on what to put into the box.
8. Pass out a copy of inventory of avaiable parts.
9. Try to answer questions.
10. Pass baton to anyone that wants it.
A little over two weeks ago, I received an E-mail message about a one day temporary job at PC-Worlds Test center in San Francisco. Kendric Smith received the original message from a guy named Jeffrey Kuta, if anyone in the club would be interested in going. The message specified the requirements in three different groups. One group was those who have never installed a peripheral of any kind. Group two was for those who installed only memory modules, video cards and HD/FLPY drives, but nothing else like sound cards, CPU Upgrades, etc. And group three was those who have never installed a peripheral with conflicts, which involve moving jumpers. The other requirements were some knowledge of Word 6 for Windows and Excel. The testing was to go between Friday, May 31 and June 7th. There was also a number to call if you met the requirements and were free for a whole day.
I called the number and Jeff asked me about my computer experience and if I have installed any computer components, as well as having used Word 6 and Excel. I was scheduled for Thursday the 6th. Once I was there, he took me to this small room with a table, chairs, computers, a video camera and intercom system. The one side of the wall had a one way see through window. The other room on the other side of this room housed a video control room. He could see and hear everything I was doing.
My job was to test CPU Upgrade kits. The first of which were 486 to Pentium upgrades and the last was a Pentium Upgrade chip for a Pentium system. Once the camera rolled, I was on my own. I could talk to him if I needed to and he sometimes asked some questions as well. The idea was to see how easy it was to install the component. Things such as how easy is it to read the manual and understand it and if the machine starts without any trouble. This is called : "Usability". After running the specified tests on the three machines, I was asked to open up a couple of files and type up the specifics of the product as well the likes and dislikes of the products. This was phase one.
After lunch I went to phase two. This was called the Black Box Test. There where three other machines that had these same Upgrade chips in them. He didnt tell me which one was with which Upgrade in it. He asked me to do certain tasks with each one, such as load a Excel spreadsheet into a Word document through an OLE link & also play DOOM for the graphics speed. How long did it take to do these tasks and to load programs and files. After trying out a machine he would ask me what do I think of the performance of the machine. Was one machine faster than the other. He also asked me to write up information about these different tasks in some files that had been written up before. The day lasted about 5 hours. One person, on each of these days did the same tests. All of this data are compiled, and the article for the magazine is written accordingly . Either favoring these products or not favoring them. This is the way that reviews of products are done in these magazines. The whole idea behind these tests is to see if a person like me or anyone would spend the $300 or so and buy one of these products and be able to install it into our or their computer without any problem. There are products out there known to have problems and have terrible not so easy to read manuals. These such products are usually not recommended and should be avoided. I was asked not to discuss my findings with anyone, so I didnt tell anything about the exact findings, just the things that were done leading up to the findings. So find them out for yourself in the November Issue of PC-World.
All in all, I think the experience was worth the trip to San Francisco. I would do it again, if I were offered this opportunity again, even at Mac Worlds facilities. I was paid for my day at a rate of $15 dollars an hour for my service to them. I would recommend this opportunity to anyone interested in this type of work. I learned something new about how these reviews in these magazines are done.
ScreenCam is an interactive tool for creating ad hoc and formal audio/visual presentations. Users can capture screen activity, cursor movements and sound into an integrated file that can be saved and distributed across local and wide-area networks as well as the Internet. Addressing a wide range of business needs, ScreenCam is as easy to use as a VCR and provides a practical way for users to show and say exactly what they mean.
The new release includes significant enhancements, including captioning, sound compression, editing and Notes/FX integration. ScreenCam sound compression can reduce file size by as much as 50 percent, using algorithm technology from VocalTec, Inc. Soundless movies with ScreenCam captions can reduce file size by as much as 90 percent.
"ScreenCam 2.0 provides businesses of all sizes with added flexibility to customize sales, training and publishing applications that can be used again and again throughout an organization",said Steve Barlow, director of Lotus' Multimedia Products Group. ScreenCam sets the pace for Lotus Team Computing by leveraging the power to demonstrate and share ideas in action.
"With ScreenCam, businesses can easily and efficiently create show-and-tell ScreenCam screen movies to explain how a task is accomplished or demonstrate new products," said Jerry Michalski, managing editor, Release 1.0. With the new option of using captions instead of sound, businesses can now publish and distribute ScreenCam movies over a variety of mediums, including various on-line services and the Internet. In this way, not only is ScreenCam a useful in-house sales, training and publishing tool, it is also a robust application to share information beyond the enterprise.
New Functionality and Enhancements Offer Business-Practical Solutions.
The new captioning capability of ScreenCam 2.0 offers users the option of creating either sound or captioned movies. The captions allow users to store up to 15 minutes of screen movies on a floppy disk. In the past, users were limited to sound movies that averaged 1 MB per minute.
ScreenCam Release 2.0 also features time-saving editing abilities. Users can revise their screen movies immediately, without having to re-record the whole segment. Additionally, users will find that the new sound compression capabilities can significantly reduce the file size of both sound and captioned movies, optimizing them for distribution via on-line networks and floppy disk storage.
ScreenCam 2.0 also features new Notes/FX integration which provides seamless Notes interoperability and the ability to build, archive and manage libraries of screen movies.
ScreenCam screen movies can be saved and distributed either as stand-alone executable files or as embedded OLE objects in any document. Screen movies can be sent to anyone on the network via Lotus Notes, Lotus cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail or Novell GroupWise. They also can be posted on e-mail bulletin boards, the Internet, on-line services or in a Notes database for central access.
The ScreenCam 2.1 upgrade enables ScreenCam 2.0 customers to record movies under Windows 95. This free upgrade is available from the following sources:
1. The World Wide Web. [ScreenCam 2.1 Upgrade]
2. SmartSuite and Notes Knowledge Base. [Refer to the document ScreenCam Release 2.1 Upgrade (#2417 )
3. CompuServe. [Located in the LotusB Forum (Graphics and Info Management) in Library 6 (ScreenCam). The file name is UPGRADE.EXE.
4. The Lotus re:Quest BBS (617-693-7000). [Located in All Files, General Product Area. The file name is UPGRADE.EXE.
Note: The ScreenCam 2.1 upgrade is not available on disk from Lotus Customer Service.
Supporting Information:
ScreenCam UPGRADE KIT for Microsoft Windows 95
Lotus ScreenCam Release 2.1 (also known as Lotus ScreenCam 96) is a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to show what you mean when you can't be there in person. ScreenCam turns your PC into a VCR that records every click, scroll and action on your screen. Plus, you can add captions and the sound of your voice. Then edit your instant PC movies, and share them with others. Viewers can play the movies back even if they don't have ScreenCam installed.
This Upgrade Kit contains files for upgrading current ScreenCam Release 2.0 users. These files will enable users to record in Microsoft Windows 95. This current release DOES NOT support recording with Microsoft Windows 3.1 (including Microsoft Windows for Workgroups), or Microsoft Windows NT. If you still want Windows 3.1 recording capability, you should not copy these files over your Release 2.0 files.
The complete Lotus ScreenCam 96/Release 2.1 package is available at:
Lotus SmartSuite 96
System Requirements.
ScreenCam requires an IBM-compatible 80386-based PC running Windows 3.1 and DOS 3.3 or higher; an 80486-based PC is recommended for recording; a VGA 16-color graphics adapter and monitor. For sound recording or playback, a parallel port, soundcard-enabled device, or PCMCIA sound card supported by Windows 3.1, microphone(s) and speakers are recommended.
Yes I know that SPAUG has a Web Site or a Home Page or whatever you want to call it, but it doesn't mean a thing to me. I don't even know how to cause it to appear on my computer. Sound familiar? Well if you've gotten around to join America On Line, here is one not to well published quick and easy way to do it. As a matter of fact here is a quick and easy way to get to any of these Home Pages that you see listed in television commercials and in print ads....you know the ones that start with http://www, and are followed by a series of letters, dots and forward slashes. Incidently, that's called aURL.
1. Bring up America on Line (AOL) and take it through to the "Welcome" message.
2. Click on GO TO in the Menu Bar at the top of the screen. A drop down menu
will appear.
3. Click on KEYWORD in the dropdown message. The KEYWORD bar will activate.
4. Type in the SPAUG URL (http://www.mediacity.com/~spaug) and hit the ENTER
key. If you want any other URL, type in that one and hit the ENTER key.
5. AOL will automatically take you to the World Wide Web area of the Internet and directly to the desired Home Page or Web Site. Once you get there browse around a bit and see what Kendric Smith has put together for SPAUG.
This is only one of a number of other ways to get to a Web page, either through AOL, Compuserve or any other Internet Service Provider (ISP). We are planning on spending a lot of time on offering Internet information and tips at our upcoming SPAUG meetings. I think you'll find them helpful. By the way if your not sure of the date, place or guest of the day and you've misplaced your PrintScreen, the SPAUG Web Page is there to provide you with that information.
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The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows operating system v.3.x
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups v.3.x
Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 5.x, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22
Summary
Windows 95 supports the use of Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard disks larger than 504 MB (1024 cylinders) using any one of the following methods:
*ROM BIOS support for INT13h extensions (for example: Logical Block Addressing, or LBA).
*Hard disk bus adapter (hard disk controller) support for INT13h extensions (for example: LBA).
*Using only the first 1024 cylinders of the drive.
*Real-mode driver support for geometry translation.
In addition, the Windows 95 protected-mode IDE disk driver (Esdi_506.pdr) is used to provide 32-bit disk access when you use any of the first three methods listed above. When you use a real-mode driver to provide geometry translation, 32-bit disk access is provided by Esdi_506.pdr only if you use version 6.03 (or later) of OnTrack Disk Manager's XBIOS drivers.
More Information
IDE hard disks using the AT Attachment (ATA) interface are accessed via the system AT ROM BIOS INT13h services. IDE identifies a hard disk's capacity to the system BIOS by specifying the number of cylinders, heads, and sectors per track (CHS) in the CMOS memory.
Sectors are always 512 bytes in size, so the capacity of an IDE hard disk can be determined with the following formula:
cylinders x heads x sectors per track x 512 (bytes per sector) = capacity
The system BIOS INT13h interface allows for a maximum of 1024 cylinders, 255 heads, and 63 sectors per track. The IDE interface allows for a maximum of 65,536 cylinders, 16 heads, and 255 sectors per track. To ensure compatible communication between the system BIOS and the IDE interface, the least common denominators of 1024 cylinders, 16 heads, and 63 sectors per track must be used. When you are using the INT13h services to access a hard disk, therefore, the largest drive that can be accessed is 504 MB, calculated as follows:
1024 cylinders x 16 heads x 63 sectors per track x 512 = 528,482,304 bytes, or 504 MB
NOTE: Some hard disk manufacturers consider 1 MB to be 1,000,000 bytes and would therefore consider 528,482,304 bytes to be 528 MB. In standard programming vocabulary and in MS-DOS and Windows 95, however, 1 MB is equal to 1,048,576 bytes, so 528,482,304 bytes is equal to 504 MB.
IDE hard disks larger than 504 MB require more than 1024 cylinders in the CMOS memory (or they could instead use more than 63 sectors per track, but this is very rare). As a result, drives of this size are not compatible with the system BIOS INT13h interface and the entire drive cannot be used unless geometry translation is being employed by the hard disk controller. Because most IDE controllers do not use geometry translation, IDE hard disks are almost always subject to the 1024-cylinder limit as imposed by the system AT ROM BIOS.
NOTE: Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) controllers usually include a device driver or BIOS ROM that replaces the system AT ROM BIOS services when communicating with a SCSI hard disk and therefore are not limited to 1024 cylinders (504 MB). Enhanced Small Device Interface (ESDI) drives use BIOS ROM-based INT13h functionality to provide drive geometry translation that is compatible with the ATA interface. Also note that when you are using IDE hard disks, it is possible to have a CMOS Setup allow you to view the full number of cylinders but still have the ROM BIOS limited to only 1024 cylinders.
MS-DOS and Windows 95 support IDE drives that exceed the 504-MB (1024 cylinder) limit using either geometry translation or LBA. Geometry translation is implemented by BIOS drivers that translate the IDE hard disk's actual geometry into geometry that will fit within the system BIOS' INT13h limitations. LBA is implemented by the system BIOS or hard disk bus adapter, which translates the CHS information that is passed to the BIOS into a 28-bit logical block address that is used by the drive to retrieve data from the disk.
To use an IDE hard disk larger than 504 MB (1024 cylinders) with MS-DOS or Windows 95, use one of the following methods:
ROM BIOS Support for INT13h Extensions
Update your computer's ROM BIOS to a version that supports INT13h extensions. A BIOS that supports LBA provides automatic translation for IDE hard disks that are configured for more than 1024 cylinders. This allows you to partition and format the entire drive with MS-DOS or Windows 95 and to use the Windows 95 protected-mode disk driver (Esdi_506.pdr) for 32-bit disk access.
NOTE: Contact your computer manufacturer for information about updating your ROM BIOS or enabling LBA support in the CMOS memory. For information about setting CHS information for your hard disk in the CMOS memory, contact your hard drive manufacturer.
For more information about INT13H EXTENSIONS, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q122052, TITLE: Logical Block Addressing (LBA) Defined
Hard Disk Bus Adapter Support for INT13h Extensions
Purchase a hard disk controller card that supports INT13H Extensions or performs geometry translation. This allows you to partition and format the entire disk with MS-DOS or Windows 95 and to use the Windows 95 protected-mode disk driver (Esdi_506.pdr) for 32-bit disk access.
NOTE: For information about purchasing a hard disk controller that supports INT13h Extensions or performs geometry translation, contact your hard disk or hard disk controller manufacturer.
Real-Mode Driver Support for Translation
Use a third-party software utility to perform geometry translation. Examples of this type of translation software include SpeedStor from Storage Dimensions, EZ-Drive from Micro House, and Disk Manager from OnTrack Computer Systems. If you use version 6.03 of OnTrack Disk Manager's XBIOS drivers (both the Master Boot Record and CONFIG.SYS drivers must be version 6.03), the Windows 95 protected-mode driver (Esdi_506.pdr) obtains the actual geometry and sector skew factor from the OnTrack driver using an API defined in OnTrack Disk Manager's XBIOS specification. In this case, 32- bit disk access is available in Windows 95. If you use an earlier version of XBIOS or another third-party utility, Esdi_506.pdr unloads and disk access occurs in real mode using the systemBIOS' INT13h interface.
NOTE: Disk Manager 6.03 is supported in protected mode on hard disks on the primary IDE channel and when DriveSpace disk compression is not installed. For drives on the secondary IDE channel, Disk Manager 7.0 or later is required. When using the DriveSpace compression software that is included with Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Plus!, Disk Manager 7.04 or later must be used.
OnTrack Disk Manager's XBIOS driver (Xbios.ovl) is stored in the root directory of the boot drive and is loaded from the Master Boot Record to support the primary partition (drive C). The CONFIG.SYS driver (Dmdrvr.bin) supports extended partitions and must be loaded to access any drives in the extended partition.
For information about setting CHS information for your drive in the CMOS memory, contact your hard drive manufacturer. In addition, these programs usually require you to partition and format the drive with a special utility provided with the third-party software. For information about this procedure, consult the documentation included with the software or contact the software manufacturer.
Use Only the First 1024 Cylinders of the Disk
In the CMOS settings, specify the CHS parameters so that no more than 1024 cylinders are used. This allows you to partition and format the drive to a 504-MB capacity with MS-DOS or Windows 95 and to use the Windows 95 protected-mode disk driver (Esdi_506.pdr) for 32-bit disk access.
For information about setting CHS information for your drive in the CMOS settings, contact your hard disk manufacturer.
Using Large Hard Disks with Windows and Windows for Workgroups
The methods described above will also let you use a drive larger than 504MB (1024 cylinders) with Windows version 3.0 or later or Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 or 3.11. In addition, when you use one of these methods you can use the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 32-bit file access (VFAT) feature on most computers. Note that using INT13h extensions or geometry translation as described above does not allow you to use the Windows or Windows for Workgroups 32-bit disk access feature.
In Windows and Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1 and later, 32-bit disk access is provided by a FastDisk driver called WDCTRL. WDCTRL compares the total number of cylinders specified for the hard disk in the CMOS memory in the BIOS Parameter Block (BPB) with the number of cylinders reported by the hard disk in response to an Identify Drive command. If the BIOS reports more than 1024 cylinders, WDCTRL validation fails regardless of whether the system BIOS or bus adapter supports geometry translation or INT13h extensions.
To use 32-bit disk access with hard disks that are configured for more than 1024 cylinders and are therefore incompatible with WDCTRL, you must use a third-party FastDisk driver provided by the manufacturer of the hard disk or hard disk controller. You can also use such a FastDisk driver in place of Esdi_506.pdr to provide 32-bit disk access in Windows 95, although this should not be necessary for most hard disks.
Disk Manager is manufactured by OnTrack Computer Systems, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.
SpeedStor is manufactured by Storage Dimensions, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.
EZ-Drive is manufactured by Micro House, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.
WINDOWS 95 SETUP
[Q: What are some things I can do to make it easier to install Windows 95?]
Some of steps to follow to ensure a trouble-free installation are:
- Run a virus scan before running Setup.
- Run ScanDisk or Chkdsk before running Setup.
- Make sure you have at least 40-45 MB free disk space (50-55 MB to back up your previous MS-DOS and Windows system files so you can uninstall Windows 95 if needed).
- If you have had any problems with your hardware or software, fix them before installing Windows 95.
- Turn off any screen savers or utilities that are running.
- Backup your Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files to a floppy disk.
- Remove any unnecessary programs from Config.sys and Autoexec.bat. These may include Undelete programs, anti-virus software, boot configuration programs, or any disk utilities.
- Remark the load= and run= lines in Win.ini by placing a semicolon (;) in front of the load and run lines (for example, ;load=C:\Msoffice\Msoffice.exe).
- Shut down any anti-virus software you are running. If you install Windows 95 on a computer that has a CMOS or system BIOS based anti-virus setting, you will receive an error message and Setup will stop. Consult the hardware documentation for information on system BIOS or CMOS enabled settings such as virus detection.
- Run Setup from Windows or Windows for Workgroups.
- Shut down any running programs.
- Remove programs from the Startup group before installation.
[Q: How do I uninstall Windows 95?]
To return to a previously installed version of Windows 3.1, run the Uninstall program. To uninstall Windows 95, "Save System Files" must be chosen during Setup.
To run the uninstall program:
** If Windows 95 is running:
1. Click the Start menu, point to Settings, and then choose Control Panel.
2. Double Click Add-Remove Programs.
3. In the Add-Remove Programs properties dialog box, click the Install/Uninstall tab.
4. In the list of software that can be removed by Windows, click Windows 95.
5. Click Add/Remove, and then follow the directions on your screen. The Uninstall program will remove all long filename entries from your hard disk, and then run an MS-DOS-based program to remove Windows 95 and restore your previous MS-DOS and Windows 3.x files.
** If Windows 95 is not running:
1. Boot from the Windows 95 Emergency Repair Disk if you created one during setup.
2. Type UNINSTAL at the A prompt.
OR
1. Boot from an MS-DOS boot disk.
2. Type the following at the A prompt
Where x is the drive letter where Windows 95 is installed, and \windows is the name of your Windows 95 directory.
NOTE: It is recommended that you run Uninstall from within Windows 95, otherwise all long filename information may not be completely removed from your hard disk.
[Q: How do I install Windows 95 from a CD-ROM drive?]
Windows 95 can be installed from a CD-ROM drive from within MS-DOS or from within an existing version of Windows. The preferred and most reliable method is to install from an existing version of Windows.
To install Windows 95 from MS-DOS:
1. Boot to a C:\ prompt, and then insert the Windows 95 CD in the CD-ROM drive.
2. Type the drive letter followed by a colon (:) and a backslash (\), and the word setup. For example:
3. Press ENTER, and then follow the instructions on your screen.
4. Click Next to continue Setup, and then follow the instructions on your screen.
To install from your current version of Windows:
1. Start Windows, and then insert the Windows 95 CD in the appropriate drive.
2. In File Manager or Program Manager, click the File menu, and then click Run.
3. Type:
where x is the drive letter of your CD-ROM.
4. Follow the instructions on your screen.
5. Click Next to continue Setup.
[Q: How do I install Windows 95 from a remote CD-ROM drive?]
If the computer with the CD-ROM drive is running Windows for Workgroups or Windows 95, share the CD-ROM drive, and then follow these steps:
1. Connect to the shared CD-ROM by connecting to a network drive in File Manager or by using the "net use" syntax at the command prompt. For example:
2. Double-click Setup.exe, or at the command prompt type setup.
[Q: How do I prepare my computer for a clean installation of Windows 95?]
Windows 95 will install over MS-DOS, as well as over existing versions of Windows and Windows for Workgroups.
From File Manager in Windows or Windows for Workgroups:
1. Click the drive letter for the drive that Windows 95 will be installed from. Examples:
During installation, Windows 95 checks for available disk space. If the required hard disk space is not available, Windows 95 displays how much free is space available and how much is required. To free up space on the hard disk, remove unnecessary files.
[Q: Do I need to reinstall my programs when I install Windows 95?]
Windows 95 will pick up program settings when you upgrade an existing version of Windows or Windows for Workgroups. If Windows 95 is installed in a separate directory, all Windows-based programs need to be reinstalled.
[Q: How do I set up Windows 95 on a computer running Windows NT?]
The Windows NT computer must be configured as multi-boot between Windows NT and MS-DOS.
1. Start up the Windows NT computer in MS-DOS mode.
2. Run Windows 3.x, and then in Program Manager, select the File menu, and then choose the Run command.
3. Type:
where x is the drive letter containing your Windows 95 Setup disk or CD-ROM.
4. Install Windows 95 in a new directory.
NOTE: Windows 95 cannot be installed into the same directory as Windows NT or a shared Windows NT/Windows 3.x directory.
A FAT partition is required for the Windows 95 / Windows NT dual boot configuration to work. Windows 95 must be installed into a separate directory on the FAT partition. The Windows NT OS Loader automatically provides a choice for Windows 95 or MS-DOS on the menu.
[Q: I have 25 MB free on my hard disk, and when I try to upgrade to Windows 95 it tells me I do not have enough disk space. How much do I need for Windows 95 if I am upgrading?]
When you upgrade over Windows 95, you need 35-40 MB of free disk space, as opposed to 50-55 MB for a full installation.
NOTE: Actual numbers vary depending on options and accessories selected during Setup. If you use disk compression (MS-DOS DoubleSpace or DriveSpace, or Stacker), Setup may require more than 35-40 MB because of the way disk compression estimates available space. Setup will adjust the required free space to ensure that you do not run out of disk space during Setup.
[Q: Can I install Windows 95 on a computer that has OS/2 \MS- DOS\Windows? Can I still dual boot?]
Windows 95 Setup.exe will not run on OS/2. To install Windows 95, boot the computer to MS-DOS, and then run Setup.exe from the MS-DOS prompt.
NOTE: If you are upgrading over OS/2 on an HPFS partition, you will need your OS/2 disk 1 during Setup.
If you are using OS/2 Boot Manager to choose operating systems at startup, Setup will disable Boot Manager to insure that Windows 95 can reboot the system and complete its installation. Boot Manager can be reactivated by running the FDISK utility that comes with OS/2 (see procedure at the end of this section).
If you are not using Boot Manager, configure your computer to use Boot Manager, and then follow the instructions above. Consult your OS/2 documentation for information on Boot Manager.
If you start MS-DOS from a floppy disk and then run Setup, you will not be able to start OS/2 after Windows 95 is installed. You need to delete the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files that OS/2 uses before running Setup.
To remove OS/2 from your computer after you install Windows 95:
1. Back up the files you want to keep onto a floppy disk or network drive.
2. Delete the files in each of your OS/2 directories and subdirectories, and then delete the OS/2 directories.
3. In the root directory, you need to delete the following hidden files:
In My Computer or Windows Explorer, make sure hidden files are visible. To do this, click the View menu and then click Options. Then click "Show All Files". Then delete the OS/2 files listed above.
NOTE: If you have a version of OS/2 other than version 2.0, the names of your OS/2 files may differ from those in this procedure. Also, depending on which version of OS/2 you have, you may see the following files in your root directory which you can delete:
4. Empty the Recycle Bin to permanently remove the files from your computer.
5. If you had Boot Manager installed and want to remove it, restart your computer and then complete the following steps. (It is recommended that you print this file before restarting your computer.)
6. When you see the Boot Manager menu, choose to boot to MS-DOS and run FDisk.
7. Make the MS-DOS partition (C) your active partition.
8. Quit FDisk and then restart your computer.
To reinstall Boot Manager after you install Windows 95:
1. From the Windows 95 Start menu, click Run and then type FDISK.
2. Choose the option, Set Active Partition.
3. Enter the number of the Boot Manager Partition. This partition is the 1MB Non-DOS partition usually placed at the top or bottom.
4. Quit FDISK, and restart your computer as instructed. You can now start OS/2 at any time and change labels of partitions in Boot Manager through the OS/2 FDISK program.
[Q: How do I make copies of my original disks to install from?]
The DMF disk format is not compatible with the Diskcopy or Copy commands and increases the amount of data stored on a standard 1.44/3.5 in. diskette. There is no way to make a direct copy of these diskettes.
[Q: Can I make floppy disk images from the CD?]
The CD-ROM contains cabinet files (*.cab) files that are 2 MB each and will not copy onto floppy disks.
[Q: Setup keeps hanging during the information-gathering section, how do I bypass the problem?]
Occasionally Setup can stop while detecting a device on the computer.
1. Turn the computer off for 10 seconds, and then turn it back on.
2. Rerun Setup to bypass the problem by choosing Safe Recovery.
3. Setup will continue bypassing the detection problem it encountered on the previous attempt.
4. Continue to power off the computer, and rerun Setup as needed until the Windows 95 setup process is compete.
NOTE: If you have already run safe recovery several times, you can manually select the hardware in your system to minimize the chance of stopping, since Setup will detect only the hardware you select.
[Q: Should I set up a separate partition to install Windows 95?]
As with any software package, it is always a good idea to have a backup before installing it. Windows 95 has been tested on thousands of computers on many system configurations with a very high success rate, so we are confident that you will have few problems, if any, installing Windows 95.
An uninstall feature can be enabled during Setup. Uninstall copies your previous MS DOS and Windows 3.x versions and keeps a log, so that Windows 95 can be removed and the previous files returned to where they were before Windows 95 was installed.
Windows 95 does not require its own partition, however, it can be installed if you want to dual boot between your current Windows 3.x and Windows 95.
[Q: Should I install into my existing Windows directory or a different directory?]
Preserving your existing installation of Windows and upgrading on top of it is highly recommended as Setup is using your existing configuration files (Config.sys, Autoexec.bat, System.ini, Win.ini, Protocol.ini) for more accurate detection and installation. The advantage to installing in your existing Windows directory is that the previous settings and applications are used in the new installation.
The advantage to installing Windows 95 into a different directory is that it preserves your previous DOS/Windows configuration, allowing you to dual boot between versions. The disadvantage is that all Windows applications and possibly drivers for hardware peripherals (sound cards, tape drives, etc.) must be re-installed to put the proper support files in place as well as the application settings in the .ini files and/or the registry.
[Q: How do I set up Windows 95 into a separate subdirectory?]
During Setup, Windows 95 you are prompted to provide a directory to install Windows 95 into.
To install Windows 95 into a new directory:
1. Click the Other Directory option, and then click Next.
2. Enter the new directory. For example, C:\Win95.
[Q: What files do I backup to preserve Windows 95 settings?]
You can use the Windows 95 Backup utility to backup your system and all user and software specific preferences. In order to do this, use the Full System Backup File set which is described on the second screen that comes up when you run Backup.
NOTE: After installing Windows 95 into another directory, all programs (and possibly all hardware-peripheral drivers) must be re-installed.
[Q: I have installed Windows 95 into different directory than Windows 3.x or Windows for Workgroups 3.1x. How do I set up to dual boot between them?]
When installing Windows 95 into a different directory, dual booting is enabled by default. Dual boot is only available if the existing version of MS-DOS is version 5.0 or greater. If this criteria is met, dual booting to a previous version of MS-DOS is accomplished by:
1. Pressing the F8 key when you see the prompt, "Starting Windows 95" at startup.
2. From the menu select the option, Previous Version of MS-DOS.
[Q: What files does Windows 95 modify during Setup?]
Windows 95 is a new operating system, and affects many files on the system.
[Q: Can I run the Windows 95 Setup program from MS-DOS? Do I lose any functionality?]
If you have a running installation of Windows 3.x or Windows for Workgroups 3.x1, it is strongly recommended that you run Setup from your existing version of Windows. This provides the safest and smoothest installation. If you do run Setup from MS-DOS, and it detects Windows on the computer, it will recommend quitting Setup and rerunning it from Windows. If you do run Setup from MS-DOS, Setup may run slower (especially if installing from floppy disks).
[Q: Can I set up Windows 95 from a network?]
Yes. There are two ways to set up Windows 95 from a network location:
1. Create a Windows 95 flat directory by either using the COPY command for a CD-ROM, or by using the Extract command for floppy disks. Connect to the shared directory, run Setup, and then choose a directory on your computer to set up to.
2. Go to Nettools directory (CD-ROM only) to use the Netsetup Utility.
[Q: Setup stops after the first reboot, why won't it restart?]
There are several reasons, ranging from video problems to disk-access issues. Here are some steps to troubleshoot a no-start situation:
1. Restart Windows 95, and then press F8 when you see the message "Starting Windows 95...".
2. Choose Safe Mode from the Startup menu. If Windows 95 starts, change the video driver to the standard VGA driver by following these steps:
1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Display icon.
3. Click the Settings tab, and then click Change Display Type.
4. Click Change in the Adapter Type section, and then click Show Compatible Devices.
5. Click Standard Display Types, and then double-click Standard Display Adapter (VGA). Click OK.
6. Restart Windows 95.
If Windows 95 still stops during startup:
1. Rename Config.sys and Autoexec.bat and/or
2. Go to Control Panel, and then double-click the System icon.
3. Click the Performance tab, and then click the File System button.
4. Select the Troubleshooting tab.
5. Check all of the available boxes, and then click OK in all dialog boxes and reboot.
[Q: I was running Setup for the first time and it stopped during hardware detection. What do I do now?]
If your computer stops during the hardware-detection phase of Setup, turn off the power on your system, wait 10 seconds, and then turn the power back on. Do not press CTRL-ALT-DEL. When your system restarts, restart Windows using Safe Recovery, which will skip the portion of detection that caused the problem. If your system stops again, it will be in a different detection module. Perform these steps as many times as necessary to allow your system to complete detection.
[Q: Setup didn't detect my network card, how do I set up my network card?]
To add a network adapter:
From Control Panel, double click Add New Hardware, and let Windows try to detect the network card. If it does not, you can manually select it as follows:
1. From Control Panel, double click the Network icon. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1995.
ALL SPAUG MEMBERS TO RECEIVE $10,000
Well, now that I have your attention, here's the deal. Every member of SPAUG who is interested in participating will be given $10,000 dollars to be used to invest in a growth stock of their choice selected from one of the stock exchanges that will become a part of a SPAUG portfolio. At every general meeting we will take a few minutes to pull up our portfolio on America Online to determine how much we are ahead (or behind) as a group and who is the most astute investor in the group to date. At the end of a year's time we will note who the top three investors are and award them prizes. That's the good news. The bad news is it's a fantasy portfolio as is the $10,000 that you will have been awarded. But you must admit, your interest was held to this point. It should be fun to see how well our shrewd investors can make (or lose) for the club, and at the same time it might even stir up a little interest in the market. You might want to start doing a little research and be ready at our upcoming meeting to pick your favorite 3 stocks. There will only be one stock for each member and each member must pick a different stock. Thats the reason for three choices. If somebody has already selected your favorite stock, you will have a second or third choice. Good Luck!
The second meeting at EPRI went quite well. All computers were operating as they were designed to do. Kendric brought his new toy, an IBM laptop and left his Mac at home. A confession, the scurrilous remarks about his Mac in the previous Words from the Prez turned out to be a false and an unfair accusation of a noble device. The problem with its failure to feed a picture to the projection system was a connection problem. The Mac lives!
We now have an operating SIG for a very substantial group of people interested in building a computer. There was also interest expressed in an Internet SIG, and we actually had a hastily organized mini-SIG meeting a week after the general meeting. We'll open it up to additional members at the next meeting.
The upcoming meeting should be an interesting one for those who are thinking
about eventually hooking up a scanner, or adding an inexpensive color jet printer to their computer corner.Kevin Tiffin of Hewlett Packard will be there for a hardware demo. A number of people indicated an interest in scanners and color printers on the questionnaire that they returned, so here's your chance. Please start thinking about some of the problems you are having with your system and write down important info (like error messages) and bring them to the meeting for Random Access. We are surrounded with a lot of computer knowledge and this is your opportunity to get some
answers. We may have some other surprises to assist us in getting answers to questions. Don't miss it!
I hope to see you there.
General Meeting of August 28 GUEST Upcoming meetings SPAUG Constitution revisions PrintScreen General Meeting Programming Ideas
PC Builders SIG The Next Planning meeting is scheduled for September 4.
All present were reminded of the importance Random Access particularly to those individuals asking questions. It was suggested that we will strive to give proper attention to all questions with the understanding that there will be times when it will be more appropriate to provide the answers to some more involved problems on a one-on-one basis at the break or the conclusion of the meeting.
Robert Mitchell presented demonstrations on three of the applications on the disk-of-the month (DOM) that was being offered at the meeting. Brian Christopher provided a convenient one-sheet in PrintScreen that fully described the function of each individual application on the DOM.
A briefing on some of the basics of the Internet was offered by Bob Mitchell for those members who are not yet familiar with it. This was followed by a demo covering one content provider, America On Line (AOL). Several areas of AOL were accessed in order to provide members with an idea of the information and service available from a typical content provider without even accessing the Internet.
Kendric Smith took it one step further by demonstrating accessing the Internet in general and concentrating on the SPAUG Web page in particular.
Following the break, Jim Dinkey covered some of the details on our newly organized PC Builder's SIG and established the first meeting date for July 31 at the residence of Jim Bailey.
The raffle was held with prizes going to Jim Dinkey (Lotus Word Pro), Robert Mitchell (Name it) and Lamont Shadowens.
The next Planning meeting will be held July 31st at the residence of Beverly Altman. It is opened to all officers and other members who are interested in providing input to SPAUG planning. The next general meeting will be held on the last Wednesday, August 28, 7:30 PM at this same EPRI location. All members are encouraged to bring guests.
The meeting ended at approximately 9:35 PM.
History: The Internet was created in 1973 by the U. S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to ensure that their communications systems would continue to work in the event of war. For most of its existence the Internet was primarily a research and academic network.
Today: More recently, commercial enterprises and a vast number of consumers have come to recognize the Internet's potential. Today people and businesses around the world can use the Internet to retrieve information, communicate and conduct business globally, and access a vast array of services and resources on-line.
What will I find on the Internet? Where is all this information stored? How can I connect to the Internet? What do the content providers offer that I cannot get from a local ISP? Access to facilities that allow you to send and receive e-mail via the Internet
Such services as WWW, Usenet news, FTP,Telnet, and Gopher (explained later)
How do I locate a resource on the Internet? What if I don't know the URL address? There is also a non-graphical text oriented browser called Gopher, which enables you to browse for information without having to know where the material is specifically located, and then helps send the material to you, There are also related programs known as Veronica (searches for documents) and Jughead (searches for directory titles only),
What is the World Wide Web? What are Web Sites ? How can I obtain data files or copies of software programs from the Internet? There are probably millions of files available via FTP on the Internet. The search tool Archie, a client program, helps you find files stored on FTP sites using keywords that appear in the file names. You enter likely keywords, and Archie searches its database for matches. Archie then sends you a list with full file names and the address information you need to retrieve the file via FTP.
To Be Continued in the September PrintScreen
HP's personal desktop scanner for filing and sharing documents electronically.
HP's ScanJet 4s personal desktop scanner is easy to use, affordable, and small enough to fit between your keyboard and monitor. It's the perfect way to remove the barrier between the paper in your hands and your computer.
With the HP ScanJet 4s, you can scan a business card, magazine article, report, memo, receipt, and much more, and, with one click of your mouse, electronically file it, fax it, mail it, edit it, or copy it. And it's even simpler to use than a copier or fax machine--just insert your document into the sheetfeeder and it instantly appears on your screen.
The HP ScanJet 4s is a complete, low-priced solution that includes automatic links to e-mail and e-fax, plus integrated OCR software that lets you place text directly into your documents to save retyping. It lets you make copies right at your desk using your printer. And you can even integrate text and photos into documents.
The HP ScanJet 4s: the easiest way to share the information with people, when and where they need it.
Scans a typical text page in less than 10 seconds.
Scans documents as small as business cards and newspaper articles as large as 8.5" x 30".
Plugs into any available serial port-no need to install a card into your computer.
Makes document sharing easy with automated links to e-mail and e-fax.
Includes Visioneer PaperPort V. 3.0 with Auto-Launch links to over 60 popular applications with a single mouse click.
Integrated OCR lets you scan directly into your word processor to avoid retyping.
Has tools for filling in forms, editing, and adding electronic "sticky notes" to documents.
Turns on automatically when document is inserted into sheet feeder, and turns off when scanning is completed.
400 dpi enhanced resolution and 200 dpi optical for clear, easy-to-read documents.
Supports Windows and Macintosh operating systems.
Scan anything you want ... quickly and easily
The HP ScanJet 4p color/grayscale scanner is an affordable color scanning solution that's easy to use. It scans color and grayscale images and text in a time-saving single pass. And it comes with user-friendly software that lets you start scanning in just minutes, right from your application--even if you've never used a scanner before.
The HP ScanJet 4p is ideal for creating new documents, converting and storing documents in electronic file formats, and capturing images and pictures to create high-quality presentations, newsletters and other communications. It is ideal for word processing, desktop publishing, desktop presentation, OCR, e-mail, e-fax and copying.
Best of all, the HP ScanJet 4p is backed by HP's rock-solid reputation for quality and reliability, so you know it's built to last. Plus it comes with a one year warranty and a responsive service and support plan to keep you up and running.
A complete, affordable solution to all your color and grayscale image and text scanning needs. All in the box from HP.
1200-dpi enhanced resolution and 300-dpi optical resolution ensure the best results with your office printer.
Single-pass scanning provides fast color and grayscale operation.
HP PictureScan automatically scans images into your documents.
Capture photographs in 256 levels of grays and over 16.7 million colors.
Automated features and simplified user interface make scanning quick and easy for anyone, increasing productivity.
Output is automatically optimized for a broad range of printers and output devices.
HP AccuPage technology and integrated OCR software make it easy to scan text.
TWAIN/OLE support lets you scan pictures, logos, drawings and other images directly into your application.
HP ScanJet Copy utility lets you make high-quality color and black-and-white copies at your desk with your printer.
v
Visioneer PaperPort software helps you quickly find and organize scanned images and electronic documents visually instead of by file name, and provides automated links to a variety of applications, such as e-mail, e-fax and word processing.
Scans different types of media, including simple photographs, office documents, books and magazines.
Scans pages up to 8.5 x 14 inches.
Supports Windows and above, Windows 95 and Macintosh operating system. Optional 50-page automatic document feeder for hands-free scanning.
HP's ScanJet 4c color/grayscale scanner makes it easy to get high-quality images and text into your office communications in a single, time-saving exposure. And its user-friendly software lets you start scanning in just minutes, right from your application--even if you've never used a scanner before.
The HP ScanJet 4c is perfect for capturing high-resolution color and monochrome images and pictures to create presentations, reports, promotional materials, and more. It comes with image-editing software that gives you total control over your image. And it's compatible with most popular Windows and Macintosh office applications.
You can even use the HP ScanJet 4c with your printer to make color and/or black-and-white copies right at your desk. It also includes special software that simplifies document storage and retrieval, and makes it easy to distribute documents via automated links to e-mail and e-fax.
High-quality black-and-white, grayscale, and color scanning.
2400 dpi enhanced resolution and 600 dpi optical for high-quality images and line art.
Greater shadow detail with 30-bit color, 10-bit grayscale internal scanning.
Single-pass, single-exposure scanning for fast, superior results.
Includes easy-to-use HP DeskScan II scanning software with automatic settings, and Caere OmniPage Limited Edition OCR with HP AccuPage technology.
Comes with Corel PHOTO-PAINT 5 (Windows) or Adobe Photoshop LE (Macintosh) image-editing software.
Includes award-winning Visioneer PaperPort software for easy e-mailing, filing, and faxing.
Compatible with Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, and Macintosh System 7.0 and above.
TWAIN/OLE support lets you scan directly into your applications.
Scans up to 50 pages at a time with optional automatic document feeder, and scans transparent media, such as 35 mm slides, with optional transparency adapter.
HP's network scanner for distributing, sharing, and filing documents electronically
The HP ScanJet 4Si is a grayscale network scanner that quickly converts printed information to electronic format for distribution, sharing, and filing. The industry's first true network scanner, the HP ScanJet 4Si attaches directly to Novell NetWare LANs via Ethernet or Token Ring.
The HP ScanJet 4Si offers seamless integration with today's most popular e-mail, groupware, word-processing, and PC-fax applications. Documents can even be scanned directly to a networked printer to make copies.
An intuitive, front-mounted control panel and user-friendly Visioneer PaperPort software enable workgroup members to use the HP ScanJet 4Si with virtually no training. A 50-page automatic document feeder and fast scanning provide uninterrupted 15-ppm productivity. And included server software makes set-up and maintenance easy.
The HP ScanJet 4Si: The network tool that helps workgroups gather and distribute information more efficiently, resolve issues faster, and make better decisions.
Direct Novell NetWare LAN connectivity via Ethernet or Token Ring--no need for dedicated PC.
Front control panel for fast and easy destination and setting selection.
Integrated, highly reliable 50-page automatic document feeder supports letter, legal, and A4 formats.
Novell certification, SNMP- and MIB-II compliance, Open-View manageability, internal buffering, and Group 4 compression for easy network integration and control.
Complete client and server software solution includes20-seat license for Visioneer PaperPort V. 3.0 with integrated OCR and network administrative utilities.
Client "traffic light" helps users monitor status, and server software allows easy setup and maintenance.
1200 dpi enhanced resolution, 300 dpi optical, and 8-bit (256) grayscale scanning for superior text and image scanning.
Software compatible with Microsoft Windows 3.1 and above, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, and Windows 95.
What TWAIN Is
TWAIN defines a standard software protocol and application programming interface (API) for communication between software applications and image acquisition devices.
History: The Issues that started TWAIN History: How TWAIN Provided a Solution Users need a painless way to get image data into their applications. Software developers need compatibility with the widest range of output devices without writing and maintaining multiple device drivers. Hardware developers need compatibility with the greatest number of applications without application-dependent coding.
The solution to this situation is an open industry interface that directly acquires image data from external sources while within an application. With this, each software developer supports a standard data acquisition manager and each hardware vendor writes one driver for their device. Hardware vendors will benefit because they need only provide one standard driver for their device, which can then be used by all software applications supporting the standard data acquisition interface. Software vendors will be freedfrom writing and supporting device drivers, or from soliciting support for their own proprietary interface. Software vendors will also benefit because one single interface will support those vendors writing these device drivers. Users will benefit because they can place a smaller set of drivers at the operating system level and take advantage of seamless images acquisition from a large number of applications.
History : Forming the TWAIN consortium At the TWAIN Working Group's first meetings, engineers faced the huge task of reviewing specifications and resolving outstanding requirements issues. Most Working Group companies had written their own interface for direct image acquisition, and these were considered, as well as more than two dozen specifications provided by other companies. No single specification or protocol, including those from operating system vendors, provided the completeness, richness of functionality, and ease of implementation that was required. Eventually, a composite of Silicon Beach/Adobe Plug-ins, an internal Aldus protocol, an HP protocol under development and Logitech's SAPI was used as the basis for TWAIN.
TWAIN Working Group engineers participated in monthly workshops to define the specification.
The big news is JAN IS BACK. Jan Altman who along with her brother Rick Altman was a long time member of SPAUG with both serving as officers in the club. She has agreed to return to spend an evening with us at our next meeting offering us some tips and tricks on Word for Windows. For many years there was a major struggle for leadership between Word Perfect and Microsoft Word. Today, Word for Windows appears to have emerged as the clear winner becoming the most popular word processing program. If you're not yet convinced, Jan may convince you. Remember, that meeting will be on the THIRD Wednesday this month, September 18.
A number of members had their favorite stock already picked out at our last meeting and immediately became a participant in the SPAUG FANTASY PORTFOLIO. If you were planning on choosing Microsoft, Apple, Sun Microsystems or Berkshire Hathaway, forget it. They are already taken. We do want your participation however. Pick out your favorite and give me a call at 415-368-9530. You will have $10,000 fantasy dollars to invest in one stock based on the closing price of the stock on the day that you call it in. If you get your selection in prior to the next meeting on September 18, your stock will be represented in the total investment portfolio that will be displayed. You may establish yourself as the smartest picker in the pack.
Those of you who attended are last meeting know that we lost the use of our overhead projector. If it had to be it could not have come at a better time. Fortunately between our two guest speakers from Hewlett Packard and Palm Computing we had sufficient equipment to keep the show rolling, although it was somewhat delayed. Ironically, it was just that, the additional hardware, that caused the problem. It overloaded the circuit and took out the EPRI console that controlled the projector. All such
additional equipment will be on a separate circuit in the future.
Finally, we need your input. If you have some thoughts and suggestions on improving SPAUG we want to hear from you. Send me and E-Mail message or call me anytime. Brian Christopher and PrintScreen needs you. We are always open to articles of information from our members. Call Brian if you have any ideas for an article.
Our numbers at the meetings are building again. New people are joining us and some members who haven't attended for a while are returning. If you haven't been with us for a while, isn't it time? We hope to see you at the September meeting.
I hope to see you there.
PRESENT: Bob Mitchell, President, Arlan Kertz, Vice President, Walter Varner, Accounting, Brian Christopher, Editor, Beverly Altman, Director at Large, Mildred Kohn, Secretary.
The meeting was called to order at the home of Beverly Altman at 7:30 pm.
The past General Meeting was discussed. It was well-attended and one of the guests became a member. The question was raised about limiting visits since we have had one often-returning visitor who doesn't join. Means to avoid the unfortunate power shortage at that meeting were defined.
A way of improving Random Access was suggested by Walter Varner: submit Random Access questions in writing. This will enable the President to organize them, and may encourage shy members to submit questions.
Brian Christopher suggested that a member could be posted at a computer with Microsoft's CD-ROM to field Microsoft questions.
Bob Mitchell has a list of Fantasy Portfolio selections and is asking for those member who haven't done so yet to submit their choice of stock for the fantasy $10,000 purchase. The member making the most fantasy profit will be given an as yet unchosen prize.
The list of Members Helping Members should grow; more members should volunteer.
A new map of the EPRI location was given to Brian, who was praised for the great first page of the last PrintScreen.
The next General Meeting will be Sept. 18. The next planning meeting will be Oct. 1.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mildred Kohn, Secretary
This was the third meeting of SPAUG at the new EPRI location. Attendance for this meeting totaled 37 members and 7 guests. The guests were individually welcomed. Members who have not attended in the past many meeting were also welcomed back.
Announcements included the agenda for the evening, an update on the PC Builders SIG who in their last meeting hooked up a complete PC unit albeit outside of a case, at a total cost of $326.00, and the formation of an Internet SIG. The formation of the SPAUG FANTASY PORTFOLIO was also announced with a number of members who already had their stock picks available signing up to participate.
An unfortunate failure of the EPRI facilities console, which caused the loss of the overhead projector prevented a demonstration of the Disk of the Month. With only an explanation of the content and a printed one-sheet which was included in PrintScreen, all disks were sold out.
The first guest speaker was Paul Jacobson of Hewlett Packard, who demonstrated two Hewlett Packard Scanners, including the Scanjet 4P flatbed and the HP personal scanner plus an HP color jet printer. Fortunately he supplied his own projection system, which allowed a complete presentation in spite of the loss of the EPRI projection system. In addition to graphics scanning and printing the demonstration also included text scanning using optical character recognition (OCR).
The second quest speaker was David Glickman of Palm Computing which is a division of U.S. Robotics. He demonstrated the newly released Pilot Organizer. While the loss of the EPRI overhead projector inhibited a portion of that demonstration, the additional presentation equipment that he also supplied and David's verbal presentation made the operation of the Pilot organizer easy to understand. Palm Computing very generously provided SPAUG the gift of one Pilot organizer, which was then
offered in a drawing and won by a member.
A drawing was also held for several software applications.
It was announced that because of an EPRI scheduling conflict, the next SPAUG general meeting will take place the 3rd Wednesday of the month, September 18. Jan Altman will be returning for that evening as a guest speaker, and will provide us with tips and tricks in word processing using Word for Windows.
SPAUG members have enjoyed having dinner together before the general meeting. Our last eating place was the RED LOBSTER at the corner of El Camino Real and Los Altos Avenue in Los Altos and was so satisfactory we are going there again. It takes only a short time to go north from there to Arastradero (Palo Alto), Foothill and Hillview to EPRI.
RED LOBSTER has a table reserved for SPAUG. Their banquet menu allows a number of choices of sea food or chicken on a dinner which includes salad, bread, vanilla ice cream and choice of coffee, tea or soft drink for $10 including tax and tip. You can't beat that. If you prefer, you may come for the company, for a cup of coffee, or even a more expensive dinner. Their service is fast so you can get to the meeting on time. Individual checks are given out, preventing any confusion as to who pays for what.
See you there September 18!
Red Lobster System Requirements: Also available for the Macintosh as well. Retail Price: About $40.00
Want to win a million dollars by playing a mystery game?
The game to play is Treasure Quest from Sirius Publishing. The game contains all kinds of mysteries. From video clips, sounds to music. It has it all. The game consists of one main CD-ROM disk and a disk containing the music from the game. Only excerpts from the full songs are used in the game, but the full songs are provided on the second disk for listening to on a regular disk player as well as maybe providing some clues. The object of the game is to find the different pieces of a quote. Professor Johnathon William Faulkner has died, and has left an inheritance of $1,000,000.00 dollars to the first student who can solve the mystery. He has hidden words, phrases to a quote in all 10 rooms of his mansion. Once you have put together the quote, there is one more step to winning the million dollars. This step is to submit the claim to Sirius Publishing. If it is right than you could win the million dollars. More on the object of the game.
When the game is started up, there are some screens filled with pictures and a voice of a man talks about finding different parts of a quotation spread through out his house. These are single words and sentences that make up the complete quote. The opening screen is a like a wheel with spokes. There are small pictures of objects from different parts of the house. When this screen comes up, there is the sound of a ball going
around a roulette wheel. Click on any one of these pictures that particular part of the house. Only the ones that are in color are the rooms where one can enter. The other parts that aren't in color have to be entered into from the available ones. Once all the rooms have been entered into, then all those icons will be in color. Once all of the icons appear in color, then all the rooms can be entered into from this wheel. During the search in each of the rooms in the house, there will be different objects, such as furniture, books and musical instruments, that can be clicked onto. When clicking on these such objects, there will be sounds such as someone knocking on a door, water running and music. Pieces of songs on the second disk are played, also a pretty women will appear throughout the game. This women appears in 10 different dresses, in a ghost-like fashion. She appears as a Spiritual guide through out the game. There will be a white glow around her, to make her appear like a ghost. She says different things. Listen carefully to what she says. All of the sounds, sayings, music and words could be clues to solving the mystery.
For those of you, who are Star Trek Deep Space Nine fans will want to know that this women is played be Terry Farrell. Also through out the game are mathematical equations and musical instruments. As I said before, any of these things could help solve the game. This is a game of using your best judgment and thinking skills. It is like watching a mystery movie where you have to figure out what is going on.
This game is similar to another game called Myst. Both have a mystery to solve, as well as different sounds and objects to help solve the mystery. This game is a lot more difficult to solve by far. Myst can be solved in about 50 to 60 hours, while this one takes about a year. This is what the company says. The chances in winning the million dollars is about 1 in a million, but for those who like games that are challanging, have no violence and keep one entertained for hours on end, this is the game for them. I think this game is worth the $40 dollars even if one plays just for the fun of it and is tired of violence in today's most popular video games on Nintendo and so on. Last but not least, there is a Web Site at http://www.treasurequest.com where you can exchange ideas with other users of this game through out the States.
Good Luck.
SOLUTION: a second telephone line.
Call the phone company and you will be told that it costs about $85 dollars to install the second inside jack. You can save this amount if you can do it yourself. I can't. I finally yielded and had a second line installed. The cost was actually over $120 because in addition to the jack, the charge for installing the line was $34.75 plus $3.00 for the jack and a percentage of the monthly fees. Although the cost of the line is $6.00 per month, there is also a compulsory (FCC) charge of $3.50 per month Access for Interstate Calling fee. I say forget the installation costs and ask yourself if you can afford the benefits of a second line at $9.50 per month.
What a difference it makes in your life! No guilt feelings (unless this exclusive line encourages you to pile up a debt to your Internet server). Dial up your server whenever you want. Stay online as long as you like. What luxury! My stand-alone fax is turned on to Auto all the time, waiting like a 16 year old girl for the rare "dates." And, of course, you can plug a phone into the second line if you want to.
Join the 21st century!
In the days before Windows, the term "DOS box" best described the cramped confines of Microsoft's original operating system. Restricted to running one application at a time, unable to directly address more than 640 Kb, and lacking any provision for networking, MS-DOS was the definition of rudimentary.
All of these limitations were eventually circumvented, of course, as clever software engineers (most of which did not work for Microsoft) found ways to expand DOS's capabilities. One of the first of these bright ideas allowed DOS users access more than one program at a time.
Called "terminate and stay resident" (TSR), this technique left a small "stub" of the program in memory after it was closed. When restarted, the TSR program could be popped up on top of another conventional program. You still couldn't really run more than one program at a time, but users were able to quickly jump back and forth between programs.
The first wildly popular TSR was Sidekick, the grandaddy of all personal information managers (PIMs), from Borland. Later, the TSR technique was used to add a raft of features to DOS that it lacked as it came out of the box from Microsoft, including high memory management, undelete, and printer control.
All of these TSRs were important to the ultimate triumph of DOS and Windows, but that was then, and this is now. When Microsoft created Windows 95, it attempted to make the new operating system backwards-compatible with most legacy DOS applications, but not all. Interestingly, among those thrown over the side were some of the programs that contributed most to DOS's early success, including Sidekick, several aspects of Norton Utilities, PC-Kwik, and Cubit.
The following "deadly" TSRs may bomb your system, while the latter "dirty" TSRs may just cause you grief within Windows 95:
Golf the World - A 26-part television series that profiles the world's greatest golf destinations.
GolfAmerica - Extensive database of golf courses and information available.
Palm Springs Desert Golf Guide - Detailed course profiles and services for public and private golf
courses.
Pasatiempo Golf Course - Top 100 rated course in Monterey Bay area with a pro shop and restaurant.
Tahoe City Golf Course - Offering caddies and limo pickup services.
Blacklake Golf Resort - Central Coast Championship golf course 15 miles south of Pismo Beach, featuring stay and play lodging packages, tournament facilities, pro shop, lounge, and snack shop.
Cobblestone Golf Group
- Make reservations or set your tee time at one of San Diego's finest courses in the US.
A word of apology for the initial failure to activate the overhead projector at our last general meeting causing a general delay in the start of the meeting and the main presentation. With the help of a number of members and the suggestions made by them we were able to make it operative. Please don't ask what finally made it work. We have no idea. It just started working. The delay resulted in the cancelation of a number of scheduled activities. The good news is that we were able to allow Jan Altman the opportunity to present her full program on Tips and Tricks for Microsoft Word for Windows. As we would expect, Jan remained unruffled by the problems and presented one of the most interesting and informative programs we have had. Her presentation saved what might have been a disasterous meeting.
We did have a look at the selections made by a number of members in the Fantasy Portfolio however an update on who was the current leader was not seen because of a phone problem and a lack of time. It will take place at the next meeting. All members are encouraged to participate.
We are still looking for input on potential guest speakers and/or subjects you would like to see covered in future meetings. One suggestion was recently made that there may be some members who would prefer to submit questions in advance of Random Access to be discussed by the group. This may have a tendency to speed things up and would certainly then be better heard (and understood) by all members. We could also print some unanswered questions in PrintScreen for any member to answer, including those who may not be in attendence at the meeting.
Please check the Web Page as we get closer to the next meeting for an announcement of our guest speaker. We hope to see the attendence continue to improve at that meeting. To you members who have not been attending lately, you have been missing some very good presentations. Try it. You'll like it.
The group met on Saturday September 14, at Nat Landis' home in Woodside to work on assembling the club's computer. Attending were Cal Worley, John Sleeman, Doug Fong, Kieth Smith, Russell Smith, Laddy Hughes, Mildred Kohn and Walt Varner as well as the host, Nat Landis. In the four-hour session the mother-board, video card, hard drive, floppy drive and power supply were installed and activated.
The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 26 at 1 P.M. At this meeting it is expected that the computer will be completely finished with the addition of the CD-ROM drive and modem and application software.
The meeting came to order at Beverly Altman's house at 7:30 p.m. Present were:
Beverly Altman, Director at Large The complications regarding an initial problem with the equipment at the lastgeneral meeting were discussed by Bob Mitchell. It was indicated that In the future, Bob Mitchell or another person from SPAUG will arrive early, around 4:30 to check out the equipment with Dan Burke, the audio/visual person from EPRI. It was also suggested that in the next meeting all members be reminded that the facilities we now have are there by the grace of the executives of EPRI, and that as much as we might be frustrated at an equipment failure, if our presence causes the EPRI personnel any problems it is far too easy for our hosts to suggest that we go elsewhere. All agreed that we certainly did not want this to happen, but should nevertheless come up with alternate location that we might have available.
Jan Altman's presentation at the last meeting on Word 6 tips and tricks was highly praised. Since she wasn't selling anything, she gave us a talk full of rich content unlike some other presenters who often have something to sell, and have a tendency to understandably devote more time to 'sell' at the sacrifice of demo time. Suggestions from the membership for other speakers are requested. In line with this presentation, Brian Christophers indicated he will be running a series of Word Tips in PrintScreen, starting with the October issue. He will also be including Excel Tips which will also run as a similar series in the PrintScreen.
Those of us who had signed up for Fantasy Investments were given thestatistics of our gains and losses (as we will at each General meeting) by the Prez, who not only gave us Fantasy Money ($10,000) to invest, but also waived his Fantasy Stockbroker's Fees. Other members will be encouraged to sign up and join the fun.
It was also suggested that more members be encouraged to sign up for the "Members Helping Members" list. It was pointed out that in a sense that is what much of our club purpose is all about - everyone makes progress to a higher level assisted by fellow members who have more know-how.
It was announced that MediaCity has moved to Mountain View; the new address will be included in the next PrintScreen. It was also suggested that Brian include a listing for the 2-hour Gina Smith radio show with our PrintScreen TV listings.
It was reported that almost 20 of us appeared at the Red Lobster for dinner before the last meeting. In spite of some communications problems which caused a delay in being served for those who had to leave early. The good news is that the charges were minuscule, not the $10 which we expected. A reminder of the pre-meeting dinner will be sent by e-mail in addition to appearing in PrintScreen.
The computer a group of our members is building with some purchased parts and donations of parts by Jim Bailey, Jim Dinkey and Walter Varner is up and working. We expect to have a modem and a CD-ROM installed later. The date of this installation will be announced by Walter Varner in the next PrintScreen along with a report on the first meeting of the "construction crew" at the home of Nat Landis, whom we thank warmly for his hospitality. A suggestion was made that this computer will be offered to club members for sale and the profit turned over to the club should this be agreeable to all who made contributions. This would then provide us with a larger base to build another PC that would be a more powerful unit. We will extend an invitation to all those who wish to observe or help with the last installation.
Walter Varner submitted the club's financial report. Our bank account is reduced over that of last month probably because of a difference in the number of memberships that were up for renewal. It was recommended that a record be made of renewal dates by the month so that we can roughly anticipate income on a monthly basis.
The next General Meeting as announced earlier remains Oct. 30,with the next planning meeting to follow on Nov. 6. The November meeting is expected to be on the 3rd Wednesday, Nov. 20 to avoid Thanksgiving week. It was decided that as has been our tradition there will be no meeting in December. A suggestion was offered to hold a holiday potluck party. Mildred Kohn offered her home in Los Altos as a possible location. Members will be asked for their enthusiastic input.
Respectfully submitted, The ROYAL ORDER of the SCREWDRIVER has awarded Certificates of Completion to the following persons who are now dangerous in that they can not only open up a PC but they might even do some good with it.
Further, the Award signifies the effort to learn about the internal hardware structure of a PC and to benefit the Club by assembling a PC from the cast-off parts that have fallen out of other PCs; said PC to be used to:
* Provide a PC that can be preloaded with tested DOM demonstrations.
* Provide the video projector with an input signal that is sufficient to drive the color projector
electronics into saturation.
* Provide a Club Member with a platform to preload a demo.
* Provide a platform for comparison studies.
The members that completed are:
Jim Bailey, Frank Campbell, Brian Christopher,Doug Fong, Laddie Hughes, Mildred Kohn, Maynard Kuljian, Nat Landes, Clyde Lerner, John McFall, John McPherrin, Larry Mehl, Bob Mitchell, Donna Philpott, Delbert Philpott, John Sleeman, Russell Smith, Walter Varner, Vernon Wastman, Cal Worley, Keith Smith, Phil Harsh, Roger Finke, Bill Goldmacker, and Karen Fung
Congratulations to all.
Last month our dinner at the Red Lobster was hectic because the restaurant misunderstood that we were arriving at 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. Also, they were so unusually busy that they not only got backed up in the kitchen, but could not deploy more waiters for us.
The proprietor, Connie Munn, suggests that I call her the day of the meeting and give her a pretty exact number of diners, so will everyone who wants to eat there please call me at 415-949-1833 or fax me at 415-948-7919 a day or two before the October 30 meeting.
There is a new menu: Connie gave me an estimate of the cost including tax and tip of $10.50 for the $7.99 dinners; the others will be less, of course. Bread and beverage are included. I asked Connie to give each of us our check as we are served so that we can take off in a hurry when we are finished. Those who don't care to eat are welcome, but call me anyway.
I think things will go better next time. SEE YOU THERE!
RED LOBSTER Attendance for this meeting totaled 30 members and 4 guests.
As the official instructor of the PC Builders SIG, Jim Dinkey issued a special "Royal Order of the Screwdiver" certificates to each member who attended some, if not all of the PV SIG meetings. He announced that another meeting will be held Saturday, September 21 for a final assembly in a cabinet and final tests.
Lamont Shadowens made an announcement regarding his need for someone to run his computer room.
The main presentation was conducted by Jan Altman, who as most of the members know was a former member and officer with SPAUG and now is a consultant with a number of organizations, specializing in Microsoft Word and Excel. There was somewhat of a delay due to an initial failure of a cable connection between the laptop PC and the overhead projection system. After a time the problem was corrected and Jan presented tips and tricks on the use of Word for Windows that generated a number of oohh?s and aahh?s from those present. A summary of her tips and tricks was
distributed to all of the members present. It was a particularly informative presentation that all of the members who use Word regularly will find most useful.
A raffle was held for a number of prizes which were donated by Jan Altman. The winners are listed elsewhere in this issue of PrintScreen.
The date of the next General Meeting was announced as Wednesday October 30. The next planning meeting was indicated as Wednesday October 2. (This was changed later to Tuesday, October 1) The meeting ended at approximately 9:45.
Majordomo is a program which automates the management of Internet mailing lists. Commands are sent to Majordomo via electronic mail to handle all aspects of list maintainance. Once a list is set up, virtually all operations can be performed remotely, requiring no intervention upon the postmaster of the list site.
majordomo - n: a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another. From latin "major domus" - "master of the house".
Majordomo is written in Perl (at least 4.036). It should also work under at least Perl 5.001a. It will not work with Perl 5.001!!! It has reportedly worked with Perl 5.000 on some but not all platforms. It is recommended that you use the latest release of Perl that you can get, which can be found at http://www.perl.com/perl/.
Majordomo controls a list of addresses for some mail transport system (like sendmail or smail) to handle. Majordomo itself performs no mail delivery (though it has scripts to format and archive messages).
Here's a short list of some of the features of Majordomo.
* Supports various types of lists, including moderated ones. I am not the original author of this document, nor do I maintain it. You can find this posted regularly, with updates, in the newsgroup news.answers and available for anonymous FTP from rtfm.mit.edu. This document is provided here in this form for the convenience of Tezcat users, and for whoever happens to drop by and take a look.
Archive-name: usenet/what-is/part1 An Approximate Description Why Is USENET So Hard To Define? Any essay on the nature of Usenet cannot ignore the erroneous impressions held by many Usenet users. Therefore, this article will treat falsehoods first. Keep reading for truth. (Beauty, alas, is outside the scope of this article.)
What USENET Is Not
1. Usenet is not an organization. Granted, there are various activities organized by means of Usenet newsgroups. The newsgroup creation process is one such activity. But it would be a mistake to equate Usenet with the organized activities it makes possible. If they were to stop tomorrow, Usenet would go on without them.
2. Usenet is not a democracy. 3. Usenet is not fair. 4. Usenet is not a right. 5. Usenet is not a public utility. 6. Usenet is not an academic network. 7. Usenet is not an advertising medium. The "comp.newprod" newsgroup is NOT an exception to this rule: product announcements are screened by a moderator in an attempt to keep the hype-to-information ratio in check.
If you must engage in flackery for your company, use the "biz" hierarchy, which is explicitly "advertising-allowed", and which (like all of Usenet) is carried only by those sites that want it.
8. Usenet is not the Internet. 9. Usenet is not a UUCP network. 10. Usenet is not a United States network. The heaviest concentrations of Usenet sites outside the U.S. seem to be in Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan.
Keep Usenet's worldwide nature in mind when you post articles. Even those who can read your language may have a culture wildly different from yours. When your words are read, they might not mean what you think they mean.
11. Usenet is not a UNIX network. To Be Continued in the November PrintScreen
An earlier PRINTSCREEN contained some very basic information about the Internet and Internet Service Providers. It was an edited version of an article in Microsoft's Mindshare program that they distribute to User Groups. They also included a glossary of Internet terms, a portion of which we are reprinting here. Pay particular attention to all of the wonderful acronyms and remember to use them frequently in your everyday conversation. You will really impress people and convince them you are some savvy computer professional. They may not have a clue on what you are talking about but they will nod their head knowingly anyway and you will feel very good about yourself.
AN INTERNET GLOSSARY
Address America OnLine Anonymous FTP Archie Bandwidth BBS (Bulletin Board System) Browser Chatting Client .com CompuServe Cyberspace Delphi Domain Name .edu E-mail File-transfer protocol (FTP) Firewall Gateway GEnie GIF Gopher HTTP Host To Be Continued in the November PrintScreen
How do I insert special symbols into my document? 1. Move the cursor to where you want to insert the symbol Shortcuts Copyright - Alt + Ctrl + C - (c) What are some shortcuts for selecting text? Pressing the F8 key several times will allow you to extend the selection the following ways:
1. Press - Begin selection When the EXT is turned on, Shift + F8 reverses the above process. For example, if a paragraph is selected, Shift + F8 will reduce the selection area to a sentence.
Note: You may also toggle the EXT mode on and off by double clicking EXT on the Status bar. You cannot, however, use the Status bar EXT as a substitute for multiple presses of the F8 key or the Shift + F8 functions.
To cancel the EXT mode, press the Esc key.
Can I print a list of my custom keyboard assignments? You may easily print a list:
1. From the menu bar, select File - Print Word will then print a list of customized keyboard assignments for the Normal template as well as the current attached supplementary template.
What is the quickest way to find out all the different text formatting in a single document? 1. Place the insertion point next to the first word of the paragraph you want to inquire about What are some shortcuts I can use in formatting my document? To change the font itself choose Ctrl+Shift+F A great little short cut tip is the Shift F3 toggle. Are there any keyboard shortcuts for drawing tools? * To override the Snap of Grid feature, hold down Alt as you draw the object To Be Continued in the November PrintScreen
How do I activate and deactivate the Fill Handle feature? To activate or deactivate this feature:
1. From the menu bar choose Tools - Options - Edit tab To enter a text series:
1. Select the first cell of the range you want to use and enter the initial value What is a good shortcut to justify text across rows? 1. Enter the text any which way you want in one or more rows Now watch Excel do the hard work for you.
If you highlight cells in two rows and five columns (with the text entered in the leftmost cells), if the text will not fit in two lines of display, Excel will display the following warning message: Text will extend beyond the selected range. Press OK and the text will be automatically wrapped and fit in as many rows as are needed but within the five columns.
What are some shortcuts for entering formulas? An example will show this is a simple and useful tool. Suppose you are entering the following formula in cell $E$5:
If you start typing the equals sign and then use the mouse or keyboard to point to a cell, Excel inserts a relative reference. For instance, the first reference will be inserted as E1. If you press {F4} repeatedly, Excel will change the reference to $E$4, E$4, $E$4 and back to E4. You can highlight any part of an existing formula and use this shortcu to adjust references.
What are some common keyboard shortcuts? Start by selecting an area. Then use: Remember, these shortcuts work in many Microsoft Applications and are often faster than using your mouse.
What are some of the basic Excel keyboard shortcuts? You can Right-click and choose Format Cells from the shortcut menu: The standard way to open/close a file is by clicking on File - Open or File - Close. The standard way to maximize or minimize a window is by clicking on the boxes in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
Here are some keyboard shortcuts:
Ctrl+F12 Display's the File Open dialog box How does the Replace Feature work? If you want your search text to match the entire cell's contents, select the Find Entire Cells Only check box. To replace every instance of the text in the Find What box, click on the Replace All button. To replace only selected matches, choose Find Next and, when you find a match you want to replace, click on the Replace button.
Shortcut: Use Ctrl+H to display the Replace dialog box quickly.
How does the Repeat feature work?
If you need to repeat a command or dialog box command, Excel's Repeat feature enables you to redo an action quickly. To use Repeat, from the menu bar choose Edit - Repeat. The command will reflect the operation you're trying to repeat.
Shortcut: Press F4 to activate Repeat without accessing a menu or Click on the Repeat tool in the Standard toolbar.
How do I use the Undo Feature? To use Undo, from the menu bar choose Edit - Undo. The command will reflect the operation you're trying to reverse.
Shortcut: Use Ctrl+Z to activate Undo without accessing a menu or Click on the Undo tool in the Standard toolbar.
To Be Continued in the November PrintScreen
New Member: Jim Cambra
Renewals: Dick Harding, Nat Landes
New Members: Daniel McCaskill, Bob McCulloch
Renewals: Allan Holzman, Russell Smith, Ben Swan, Walter Varner, Carroll Worley, Seth Wu
Would you believe that the SPAUG WEB SITE will take you to a program that will give you printable maps and turn-for-turn instructions you can use on your next trip to Aunt Minnie's farm in Oshkosh. Not only that, it will allow you to choose between the quick trip or the scenic tour and it will tell you how long each route will take. You will have to find out for yourself what she is serving for dinner.
If you've done a bit of surfing to Web sites that have been limited to a brief description about the sponsoring organization and little else you are in for a big surprise with SPAUG. It has depth! Yes of course it tells the world about SPAUG, and it has PrintScreen editions going back to June of 1995 and the content of SPAUG disks of the month date back to October of 1995, but if offers much more. You will find steps for building your own Web page and how to publish it. It will guide you to News and Information sites, Federal government sites, Other User Groups (don't go there), Shareware, Freeware, Lists of search engines, and if you misplaced your list of Internet Acronyms, it will take you to the latest list so you can continue to impress your friends.
If you are not yet on the Internet and have yet to experience some totally fascinating Web sites, now is the time. You've read that AOL goes to unlimited service in December for $19.95. This can only mean that the local and national ISPs must come up with rates and services to be competitive with content providers. You might start out by giving Media City a call (415-237-1420). Shop around, pick the best for your needs and head for our Web Page. You'll like it!
Brian Christopher conducted the meeting in the absence of Bob Mitchell who
had another commitment. Opening announcements included a special welcome to
first time guests and those members who had not attended meetings in recent
months. Members were invited to sign up for the Internet SIG. Members were
also encouraged to add their names to the "Can I Help You" list.
Lamont Shadowens announced a silent auction for software donated from the
library he maintains for Larry Magid. He also made additional software
available for the raffle.
Robert Mitchell demonstrated the Disk of the Month. All disks available were
sold.
Bob Evans and Ian Aaron the guest speakers for Media City failed to show for
their scheduled guest aPearance. In their place, Brian Christopher took
their place, making a presentation covering all of the new advances in bells
and whistles for the new Media City which has changed ownership.
Walter Varner announced the next meeting of the PC Builder's SIG. Mildred
Kohn announced the date and the place of the SPAUG holiday get together as
December 11 at her residence.
Random Access took place with a number of excellent questions (and answers).
The first visual report for the SPAUG Fantasy Portfolio was presented. Based
on the closing price on October 29, the portfolio reflected a total gain of
$4,393.00 with Bob Mitchell, Brian Christopher and Leon Lowery the current
leaders with Walt Disney, Lucent and Merck Pharmaceuticals, respectively.
Bob thanked Brian for presiding at the last general meeting. Media City was suPosed to send a representative, but no one showed up. Brian recalled his policy of booking two or three presentations for general meetings, since almost invariably one didn't show, with or without prior notification.
The attendance at the general meeting was 31 members (one new member) and 9 guests. We received $33 for DOMs, extra tickets and from the silent auction. We are thankful for the books and programs donated to us by Larry Magid for the silent auction, and brought in by Lamont Shadowens. In the future we will put a $1 minimum on such items.
From now on the DOMs will sell for $2 since the $1 charge isn't much more than the cost of the disk. Robert Mitchell should have help in demonstrating the DOMs: one person at the computer and one person at the screen.
Kendric Smith needs a co-webmaster. Volunteers please call him. Bob Mitchell will start an Internet SIG at a mutually agreeable time and place as soon as he receives notice of interest from our members. Bob's Fantasy Portfolio was brought up to date; some of us were ahead and some of us had lost. It is a lot of fun as well as educational. More members are requested to choose a stock and join the fun.
Other items: The revision of the constitution is in limbo. We still need a publicity chairperson. PrintScreen deadline is the 10th of the month.
The HOLIDAY PARTY will be held Wednesday, December 11, 7 p.m. It will serve as our December meeting as well, so bring your Random Access questions for the experts who will be present. Significant others are welcome. Call Mildred Kohn, 415-949-1833 to "sign up" and discuss what you would like to bring for the potluck. The party will be at 198 Pine Lane, Los Altos.
Respectfully submitted, How do I insert special symbols into my document? HOW DO I INSERT SPECIAL SYMBOLS INTO MY DOCUMENT?
Word provides the Symbol command to enable users to insert a variety of special characters while editing documents. The Symbol dialog box stays open on screen while editing a document. This provides greater flexibility while inserting and editing special characters. To insert a special symbol:
WHAT ARE SOME SHORTCUTS FOR SELECTING TEXT? Most of the editing that you do in documents requires selecting text. Selecting text means that you highlight part of a document so that it can be modified, added to, or deleted. The F8 key, otherwise know as the ExtendSelection key, can be used in various ways to select parts of a document. By pressing the F8 key once, you turn on the ExtendSelection option. The EXT will be displayed on the status bar at the bottom of your screen. When the EXT is turned on, you may select text by moving the Cursor up, down, to the right, and to the left.
Pressing the F8 key several times will allow you to extend the selection the following ways:
When the EXT is turned on, Shift + F8 reverses the above process. For example, if a paragraph is selected, Shift + F8 will reduce the selection area to a sentence.
To cancel the EXT mode, press the Esc key.
CAN I PRINT A LIST OF MY CUSTOM KEYBOARD ASSIGNMENTS?
In order to expedite your work, Word allows you to create custom keyboard assignments for functions you use frequently. In the event that you have customized quite a few keyboard assignments, it may be handy to have a reference sheet of all your keyboard shortcuts. You may easily print a list:
Word will then print a list of customized keyboard assignments for the Normal template as well as the current attached suPlementary template. WHAT IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO FIND OUT ALL THE DIFFERENT TEXT FORMATTING IN A SINGLE DOCUMENT?
When editing a Word document, it may be necessary for you to know the text format used on this page. Word offers several different ways for you to find out the format of this particular text. However, most of them require that you repeatedly return to the Format menu and display the Paragraph Formatting box. This may become too time consuming. The quickest way to find out the text format is to : WHAT ARE SOME SHORTCUTS I CAN USE IN FORMATTING MY DOCUMENT? Word offers a variety of tools for formatting characters. One of these tools is the keyboard shortcut. When aPlied, these shortcuts will definitely save you time. The following shortcuts deal with changing fonts:
A great little short cut tip is theShift F3 toggle. Select a word, or set the cursor just in the word, and by pressing Shift F3, it will cycle through ALL CAPS, Proper, and lower case. this can be done highlighting an entire sentence as well. These keyboard shortcuts are a great way to navigate through a document or spreadsheet.
ARE THERE ANY KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR DRAWING TOOLS?
The drawing tools in Microsoft Word allow you to create elements such as a circle, square, freehand, text etc. and assemble them the way you like. There are many keyboard shortcuts for drawing tools that will help you use the tools more effectively. Some of these shortcuts are:
WHAT ARE SOME EASY KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR FORMATTING CHARACTERS?
The following keyboard shortcuts for formatting characters are both logical and consistent, making it easy to remember:
Hopefully these keyboard shortcuts will save you time in formatting your document. ARE THERE ANY SHORTCUTS FOR NUMBERING LISTS?
When creating a document that includes a list of items, you may want to number your list to show a sequence. Word offers some shortcut menus for numbering lists as well as formatting numbered lists. To number a list:
To interrupt a list to insert a heading or create another list: To remove a number from the list: CAN I USE THE SAME KEYSTROKES IN WORD AS I USE IN WORDPERFECT?
There used to be a template that shiPed with Word 2.0 that had WP keyboard equivalents. You could try to find this template off a set of Word 2.0 disks. Word 6.0 and 7.0 implement a WordPerfect help feature that would show the user the menu/keyboard equivalent. The idea being, to convert the user and not to have perpetuate WordPerfect's keyboard commands. In the Word users manual there is a whole chapter dedicated to the conversion of people from WordPerfect to Word.
HOW CAN I REPLACE AN EXISTING BULLET WITH A NEW ONE?
There are many symbols and fonts you can use as bullets in Word. To replace the default bullet by using the Bullets and Numbering dialog box.
You have the option of selecting a new default bullet. You may choose from the six bullets displayed in the Bulleted List Box or you may choose any character from the Symbol Dialog box. To replace the existing bullet:
ARE THERE ANY KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR APLYING STYLES?
There are definitely some really great shortcut tips for aPlying styles. Here are a few of the basic ones:
ARE THERE ANY KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR FORMATTING A PARAGRAPH?
There are many keyboard shortcuts that can be used in formatting paragraphs. The following are some shortcuts for line spacing:
When setting paragraph alignments and indents, use the following shortcuts keys: CAN I ASSIGN A SHORTCUT KEY TO A COMMAND, MACRO, OR ANY OTHER ITEM I USE FREQUENTLY?
You are able to assign a shortcut key to a command, macro, font, AutoText entry, style, or special character.
If you later decide that you want to remove a shortcut key from a command, then repeat the above steps, however, in the Current Keys box, find the shortcut key you want to delete and click Remove. To restore the shortcut key assignments to their original settings, in the Save Changes In Box, find the template that contains the shortcut key assignments you want to restore and click Reset All.
Worksheets at times require a text series of months or days (January, February, March or Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) or a numeric series (1, 2, 3 or 1993, 1994, 1995). The fill handle enables you to enter a series of text or numbers automatically. The fill handle is the small black square in the bottom-right corner of the active cell or range.
To activate or deactivate this feature:
When entering descriptive text into cells in successive rows, we need to judge when the next word will not fit in the available display width and move on to the next row, right? Wrong! Use Excel's Edit->Fill->Justify feature. Here are the steps:
If you highlight cells in two rows and five columns (with the text entered in the leftmost cells), if the text will not fit in two lines of display, Excel will display the following warning message: Text will extend beyond the selected range. Press OK and the text will be automatically wraPed and fit in as many rows as are needed but within the five columns.
When entering cell references in a formula, press the function key {F4} to cycle through the four combinations of absolute and relative references.
An example will show this is a simple and useful tool. SuPose you are entering the following formula in cell $E$5:
= E$1 * ($B$5+$D5) / C5
If you start typing the equals sign and then use the mouse or keyboard to point to a cell, Excel inserts a relative reference. For instance, the first reference will be inserted as E1. If you press {F4} repeatedly, Excel will change the reference to $E$4, E$4, $E$4 and back to E4. You can highlight any part of an existing formula and use this shortcu to adjust references.
Some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts used are the select, cut, copy and paste functions. In addition to the Edit menu and the Right mouse click, these keyboard short cuts can often make your work much easier.
Start by selecting an area. Then use
Remember, these shortcuts work in many Microsoft APlications and are often faster than using your mouse.
The standard way of changing Excel's font attributes is from the menu bar, Format - Cells or from the Formatting Toolbar. Excel provides a number of keyboard shortcuts you can use to select font attributes.
Making changes that effect your entire worksheet are easy using Excel's Replace feature. From the menu bar, choose Edit - Replace. Excel displays the Replace dialog box. Enter what you want to replace in the Find What edit box. Enter the replacement text in the Replace with edit box. For a case-sensitive search, activate the Match Case check box.
If you want your search text to match the entire cell's contents, select the Find Entire Cells Only check box. To replace every instance of the text in the Find What box, click on the Replace All button. To replace only selected matches, choose Find Next and, when you find a match you want to replace, click on the Replace button.
Shortcut: Use Ctrl+H to display the Replace dialog box quickly.
If you need to repeat a command or dialog box command, Excel's Repeat feature enables you to redo an action quickly. To use Repeat, from the menu bar choose Edit - Repeat. The command will reflect the operation you're trying to repeat.
Shortcut: Press F4 to activate Repeat without accessing a menu or Click on the Repeat tool in the Standard toolbar.
Occasionally a mistake is made when you are editing or erasing worksheet data. Excel has an Undo Feature that enables you to recover from making mistakes. Please note that only your most recent change is stored in Excel's memory. If you make a mistake and then make further changes to the worksheet, you won't be able to undo the error.
To use Undo, from the menu bar choose Edit - Undo. The command will reflect the operation you're trying to reverse.
Shortcut: Use Ctrl+Z to activate Undo without accessing a menu or Click on the Undo tool in the Standard toolbar.
Often you want to use a series of text or numbers in your worksheet. To enter these automatically, you can use the fill handle. The fill handle is the small black square in the bottom-right corner of the active cell or range.
To enter a text series, select the first cell of the range you want to use and enter the initial value. For a numeric series, enter the first two values and then select both cells. Place the mouse pointer over the fill handle, it will change to a plus sign (+). Drag the mouse pointer until the gray border encompasses the range you want to fill. Release the mouse pointer. The range will be filled with the series.
When used with numbers, this technique works, but will sometimes give you interesting results. If you select two or more numbers which have an unknown relationship to each other, Excel will calculate a relationship. For example:
Super Tip: As you drag the fill handle, what will be placed in the cells is displayed in the Name area (the left side) of the formula bar.
The Standard toolbar includes the AutoSum button to automatically sum a row or column of numbers. If you are summing a column, select the cell below the values. For a row, select the cell to the right of the values. Click the AutoSum button for Excel to enter the =SUM() function using the range of numbers indicated. Press Enter or click on the Enter button on the formula bar to confirm the action.
Shortcut: Use Ctrl+= (equals sign) to run the AutoSum feature.
If you need to copy data in a cell, you could retype it or you could use Excel's copy command. Select the cell to be copied and then from the menu bar, choose Edit - Copy. Next select the cell where the data will be placed and choose Edit - Paste. If you need to enter the same data in other cells, simply select the cell and choose Edit - Paste.
If you need to move data to a different cell, select the cell and choose Edit - Cut. Then select the destination and choose Edit - Paste.
Shortcuts: Use shortcut keys for faster action: Ctrl+C to Copy, Ctrl+X to Cut, Ctrl+V to Paste. Use the tool button for each command on the Formatting toolbar. 12. Usenet is not an ASCII network. 13. Usenet is not software. Software designed to suPort Usenet traffic can be (and is) used for other kinds of communication, usually without risk of mixing the two. Such private communication networks are typically kept distinct from Usenet by the invention of newsgroup names different from the universally-recognized ones. Well, enough negativity.
What USENET Is. (Note that the correct term is "newsgroups"; they are not called areas, bases, boards, bboards, conferences, round tables, SIGs, echoes, rooms or usergroups! Nor, as noted above, are they part of the Internet, though they may reach your site over it. Furthermore, the people who run the news systems are called news administrators, not sysops. If you want to be understood, be accurate.)
Diversity. It is almost impossible to generalize over all Usenet sites in any non-trivial way. Usenet encompasses government agencies, large universities, high schools, businesses of all sizes, home computers of all descriptions, etc, etc.
(In response to the above paragraphs, it has been written that there is nothing vague about a network that carries megabytes of traffic per day. I agree. But at the fringes of Usenet, traffic is not so heavy. In the shadowy world of news-mail gateways and mailing lists, the line between Usenet and not-Usenet becomes very hard to draw.)
Control. The administrator gets her power from the owner of the system she administers. As long as her job performance pleases the owner, she can do whatever she pleases, up to and including cutting off Usenet entirely. Them's the breaks.
Sites are not entirely without influence on their neighbors, however. There is a vague notion of "upstream" and "downstream" related to the direction of high-volume news flow. To the extent that "upstream" sites decide what traffic they will carry for their "downstream" neighbors, those "upstream" sites have some influence on their neighbors' participation in Usenet. But such influence is usually easy to circumvent; and heavy-handed manipulation typically results in a backlash of resentment.
Periodic Postings. Propagation. But things have changed. Nowadays, even the smallest Internet site has connectivity the likes of which the backbone admin of yesteryear could only dream. In addition, in the U.S., the advent of cheaper long-distance calls and high-speed modems has made long-distance Usenet feeds thinkable for smaller
companies.
There is only one pre-eminent site for UUCP transport of Usenet in the U.S., namely UUNET. But UUNET isn't a player in the propagation wars, because it never refuses any traffic. UUNET charges by the minute, after all; and besides, to refuse based on content might jeopardize its legal status as an enhanced service provider.
All of the above aPlies to the U.S. In Europe, different cost structures favored the creation of strictly controlled hierarchical organizations with central registries. This is all very unlike the traditional mode of U.S. sites (pick a name, get the software, get a feed, you're on). Europe's "benign monopolies," long uncontested, now face competition from looser organizations patterned after the U.S. model.
Newsgroup Creation. If you follow the guidelines, it is probable that your group will be created and will be widely propagated.
However: Because of the nature of Usenet, there is no way for any user to enforce the results of a newsgroup vote (or any other decision, for that matter). Therefore, for your new newsgroup to be propagated widely, you must not only follow the letter of the guidelines; you must also follow its spirit. And you must not allow even a whiff of shady dealings or dirty tricks to mar the vote. In other words, don't tick off system administrators; they will get their revenge.
So, you may ask: How is a new user suPosed to know anything about the "spirit" of the guidelines? Obviously, he can't. This fact leads inexorably to the following recommendation:
If you are a new user, don't try to create a new newsgroup.
If you have a good newsgroup idea, then read the "news.groups" newsgroup for a while (six months, at least) to find out how things work. If you're too impatient to wait six months, then you really need tolearn; read "news.groups" for a year instead. If you just can't wait, find a Usenet old hand to help you with the request for discussion. (All votes are run by neutral third-party Usenet Volunteer Votetakers).
Readers may think this advice unnecessarily strict. Ignore it at your peril. It is embarrassing to speak before learning. It is foolish to jump into a society you don't understand with your mouth open. And it is futile to try to force your will on people who can tune you out with the press of a key.
The Camel's Nose? A new newsgroup is unlikely to be widely propagated unless its sponsor follows the newsgroup creation guidelines; and the current guidelines require a new newsgroup to pass an open vote.
There are those who consider the newsgroup creation process to be a remarkably powerful form of democracy, since without any coercion, its decisions are almost always carried out. In their view, the democratic aspect of newsgroup creation is the precursor to an organized and democratic Usenet Of The Future.
On the other hand, some consider the democratic aspect of the newsgroup creation process a sham and a fraud, since there is no power of enforcement behind its decisions, and since there aPears little likelihood that any such power of enforcement will ever be given it. For them, the aPearance of democracy is only a tool used to keep proponents of flawed newsgroup proposals from complaining about their losses.
So, is Usenet on its way to full democracy? Or will property rights and mistrust of central authority win the day? Beats me.
If You Are UnhaPy. That doesn't mean you are without options. Depending on the nature of your site, you may have some internal political recourse. Or you might find external pressure helpful. Or, with a minimal investment, you can get a feed of your own from somewhere else. Computers capable of taking Usenet feeds are down in the $500 range now, UNIX-capable boxes are going for under $1000 (that price is droPing fast, so by the time you read this, it may already be out-of-date!) and there are several freely-redistributable UNIX-like operating systems (NetBSD, FreeBSD, 386BSD and Linux from ftp sites all around the world, complete with source code and all the software needed to run a Usenet site) and at least two commercial UNIX or UNIX-like systems in the $100 price range.
No matter what, though, aPealing to "Usenet" won't help. Even if those who read such an aPeal are sympathetic to your cause, they will almost certainly have even less influence at your site than you do.
By the same token, if you don't like what some user at another site is doing, only the administrator and owner of that site have any authority to do anything about it. Persuade them that the user in question is a problem for them, and they might do something -- if they feel like it, that is.
If the user in question is the administrator or owner of the site from which she posts, forget it; you can't win. If you can, arrange for your newsreading software to ignore articles from her; and chalk one up to experience.
Words To Live By #1:
USENET As Society Words To Live By #2:
USENET As Anarchy HTML Hypertext Internet Protocol (IP) IP Number IRC ISDN Jughead LAN Leased Line Listserv Login Message Mirror Modem Mosaic Name Resolution Netnews Netscape Navigator Network Network News Transfer Protocol (NNTP) Newsgroup Node Page Ping Point of Presence (POP) POP P Prodigy Protocols Server Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) TCP/IP Telnet Terminal UNIX URL Usenet Veronica Viewer WAIS WAN WWW Can I safely transmit information such as credit card numbers? Secure communications does not eliminate all of an Internet user's concerns. For example, you must be
willing to trust the server
administrator with your credit card number before you enter into a commercial transaction. Security
technology secures the routes of Internet communication; security technology does not protect you
from unreputable or
careless people with whom you might choose to do business. The situation is analogous to telling
someone your credit card number over the telephone. You may be secure in knowing that no one has
overheard your conversation (privacy) and that the person on the line works for the company you
wish to buy from (authentication), but you must also be willing to trust the person and the company.
Server administrators must take additional precautions to prevent security breeches. To protect your
information, they must maintain physical security of their server computers and control access to
software passwords and
private keys.
How does Netscape's security technology protect me? Without thorough security, information transmitted over the Internet is susceptible to fraud and other
misuse by intermediaries. Information traveling between your computer and a server uses a routing
process that can extend over many computer systems. Any one of these computer systems represents
an intermediary with the potential to access the flow of information between your computer and a
trusted server. You need security
to make sure that intermediaries cannot deceive you, eavesdrop on you, copy from you, or damage
your communications. The Internet does not provide built-in security.
The SSL protocol delivers server authentication, data encryption, and
message integrity. SSL is layered beneath aPlication protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, Telnet, FTP,
Gopher, and NNTP, and layered above the connection protocol TCP/IP. This strategy allows SSL to
operate independently of the Internet aPlication protocols.
With SSL implemented on both the client and server, your Internet communications are transmitted in
encrypted form. Information you send can be trusted to arrive privately and unaltered to the server
you specify (and
no other).
To what degree can SSL security protect me? A message encrypted with 40-bit RC4 takes on average 64 MIPS-years to break (a 64-MIPS computer
needs a year of dedicated processor time to break the message's encryption). The high-grade, 128-bit
U.S. domestic version provides protection exponentially more vast. The effort required to break any
given exchange of information is a formidable deterrent. Server authentication uses RSA public key
cryptography in conjunction with ISO X.509 digital certificates.
Netscape Navigator and secure servers deliver server authentication using signed digital certificates
issued by trusted third parties known as certificate authorities. A digital certificate verifies the
connection between a server's public key and the server's identification (just as a driver's license verifies
the connection between your photograph and your personal identification. Cryptographic checks,
using digital signatures, ensure that information within a certificate can be trusted.
To evaluate the strategic and quantitative implications of the SSL implementation of certification and
public key technology, consult the SSL Protocol specification via the Help|On Security menu item.
How can I tell when security is in effect? You can also verify the security of a document by examining the security icon in the bottom-left
corner of the Netscape Navigator window and the colorbar across the top of the content area. The
icon consists of a doorkey on a blue background to show secure documents and a broken doorkey on a
gray background to show insecure documents. The doorkey has two teeth for high-grade encryption,
one tooth for medium-grade. The colorbar across the top of the content area is blue for secure and
gray for insecure.
A mixed document containing secure and insecure information is displayed as secure with insecure
information replaced by a mixed security icon. Some servers may permit you access documents
insecurely (using http://) to view mixed documents in full.
More detailed security information can be found by choosing the View|Document Info menu item.
Several configurable notification dialog boxes inform you when you are entering or leaving a secure
space, viewing a
secure document that contains insecure information, and using an insecure
submission process. You'll always be warned if a secure URL is redirected to an insecure location, or if
you're submitting via a secure form using an insecure submission process.
The security protocol works as an adjunct to other protocols without limiting access capabilities. You
can use Netscape Navigator to bring either secure or insecure documents. Online forms can be secure
if the submit action is an https:// URL to a secure server.
You can save a secure document (though secure documents are not cached to disk among sessions).
You can also view the HTML source of a secure document. Security affects the transmission of a
document without affecting your ability to manipulate the document.
What does the Document Information page tell me? Security Status Certificate Information * The server's fully qualified common or host name (such as: hostname.netscape.com) Similar identifying information is provided about the certificate authority responsible for issuing the certificate. The certificate is identified by: Are certificates required and where do you get one? Netscape Communications has engaged RSA Certificate Services, a division of RSA Data Security,
Inc., to issue certificates to Netscape customers and will engage other certificate authorities over time.
The process to obtain
a certificate is explained in the Netscape Commerce Server manual. During the certificate request
process, your server software generates a public key/private key pair and you choose a distinguished
name. Online forms guide you through the process of submitting the form to RSA.
RSA verifies the authenticity of each certificate request (making sure requesters are who they claim to
be). The aProval process helps protect you, your organization, and the certificate authority. Upon
aProval, RSA
digitally signs the request and returns the unique digitally signed certificate to you through email. You
can then install the signed, valid certificate and enable security. You'll need to establish adequate
precautions to maintain the integrity of the signed certificate and your private key.
2. Click Add, and then click Adapter.
3. Find your make and model from the list of manufacturers.
4. Change the displayed settings to match your card's configuration.
--If it is not a listed network adapter, check the diskette that came with your adapter. If the driver came with Windows or Lanman (NDIS compatible) diskettes, then select "Have Disk" and point it to the path of the Oemsetup.inf file.
--If there are only Novell ODI drivers available, install the driver in Autoexec.bat using the LSL.com and the
Words from the Prez
EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!
SPAUG Staff Meeting - July 31, 1996
Attendance: Beverly Altman, Brian Christopher, Bob Mitchell, Kendric Smith, Walter Varner
Format: In order to move up the break time to approximately 8:30 the format of this meeting and all successive meeting will be changed. We will have announcements, Disk of the month, and the guest speaker preceding the break with Random Access and the Drawing following the break.
Kevin Tiffin of Hewlett Packard
Subject: Color Printers, Scanners
DOM demo (Robert & Bob Mitchell)
Location, dates and guests September 25 (Guest TBA)
Clark Moore is working on the revised edition of the Constitution and will have a draft available by the next meeting. He will be consulting with Arlan Kertz to insure that it meets whatever is necessary to comply with IRS rules covering a non-profit organization.
Next issue to include : minutes of Staff meeting and General meeting, Computers on TV (update), Raffle winners from last meeting, Article on Internet Q&A, Mini-map of EPRI location, Disk of the month list plus other articles. We will request updates of E-Mail addresses, then provide an insert in an upcoming issue of PrintScreen. The Web Page will be updated at the same time.
It was suggested that we establish a SPAUG Fantasy Stock Portfolio. Each member would have the opportunity to select their favorite stock to be added to the SPAUG portfolio and we would track the portfolio through America Online at each meeting to determine who is the most successful investor in our group. Details will be announced in the Message from the Prez column in PrintScreen. It was also suggested that we bring to each meeting a copy of the Microsoft Technet CD that is supplied to User Groups and access it in answering questions during Random Access that cannot be answered by the members of the group. A copy of the solution to the problem would be printed out and given to the person with the problem.
Purchases made for items not donated for our first member built SPAUG computer included a mother board, fan, AMD DX4-100MHz chip,and grounding kid. The cost for these parts totaled approximately $180.00.
General Meeting Minutes - July 24, 1996
This was the second meeting of SPAUG at the new EPRI location. All facilities were operating, working with both a laptop PC furnished by Kendric Smith and a desktop PC furnished by Lamont Shadowens. There were 24 regular members in attendance plus 7 guests. Preprinted name tags were supplied to all members and guests. This means of allowing members to know each others names was one of the suggestions that appeared on a number of replies to the questionnaire sent out to the members.
The Internet and Service Providers
What is the Internet?: It is a massive collection of computer networks that connect millions of computers, people, software programs, databases, and files. The parts and players are spread around the world and interact continuously.
* Electronic mail capabilities
* Thousands of Internet discussion groups
* Vast libraries
* Files transferable to user computers
* Bulletin Boards
The resources of the Internet, information and services, are provided through host computers, known as servers. These servers are maintained by the various branches of U.S. Government including the Military, Network Service Providers, Educational Institutions, Commercial Organizations plus any other type of organization that chooses to become a contributor to the Internet. The server is the computer system that contains information such as electronic mail, database information, or text files. Once you connect to the Internet, you interact with other computers using a client/server model.
This is done using a new kind of utility company known as an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This can be a small local operation (Media City) or one of the content providers such as Microsoft Network, America On Line (AOL), Compuserve or Prodigy, or something in between. They provide access to the Internet with a local phone number, precluding long distance charges for that connection to the Internet.
A wide assortment of commercial quality information, which the on-line service obtains from commercial servers such as Newspapers and Magazine reprints, Personal financial information, Travel, Consumer Advice, Sports Updates and background information and General Reference
Every resource on the Internet has its own location identifier or Universal Resource Locator (URL), an Internet address. This helps users identify the source of any information on the Internet. When you know the URL, you can key it in for immediate access The first part of the URL indicates the access method or protocol used by that server. For instance, all Web sites would have a URL that begins with "http://", since that is the protocol for accessing the Web. The second part of the URL is the computer's domain name, which is described below. For example, http://www.msn.com is the locator for the Web page about The Microsoft Network on-line service. The "www" indicates this is a Web home page, msn is the name selected by Microsoft for this site, the .com indicates this is in the commercial domain of the Internet.
There are applications know as Browsers (e.g.: Mosaic, Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer) which allow you to browse through directories narrowing your search as you move through various generations of sub-directories.
The World Wide Web is the multimedia part of the Internet. It is currently the fastest growing part of the network. WWW content displays as a page and, unlike other Internet sites, text is formatted in various fonts, styles, colors and sizes. Pages may also contain pictures, sounds, and movies. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the standard language that allows Web clients and servers to communicate. Sometimes WWW servers are called HTTP servers. HTTP is used as a part of the path
name for Web sites.
Companies and organizations establish Web sites by providing Web pages to sell their products, or simply to tell you about themselves. Individuals can also develop their own personal Web pages. The initial screen you see when you access a Web site is commonly referred to as a home page.
Sometimes browsing for information is not enough; you may want to obtain copies of software programs or data files for your own use and manipulation. FTP is a method of transferring files from one computer to another over phone lines. You can transfer many different types of files to your computer. For example, you may want the latest upgrade for a particular software product, or you might find your favorite movie star's photograph. This feature allows access to information more quickly than sending disks and hard copy materials through regular, or even express mail.
Hewlett Packard Scanners
ScanJet 4s Personal Desktop Scanner:
ScanJet 4p Scanner:
ScanJet 4c Scanner:
ScanJet 4Si Network Scanner:
TWAIN White Paper
Twain: Linking applications and images
In desktop publishing's early days, most publications contained only text and simple black-and-white line drawings that were output to black-and-white laser printers. In recent years, however, computer hardware and software has become much more sophisticated. Both business professionals and graphic artists can now create and output complex, full-color publications. This near-commercial-quality work may
include black-and-white, greyscale, and color images acquired from desktop and hand-held scanners, or from still video, digital cameras or image capture boards. This growth in technology means vendors are faced with a challenge: to supply customers with hardware seamlessly for an efficient, easy-to-use computing process. Unfortunately, image acquisition remained a difficult process. To acquire and place an image in your publication, you must leave the application in which you are working. Then you must locate and open a hardware driver, set the device options, acquire the image, save it to disk, close the hardware driver, return to the application, then locate and read in the image file from disk. The process was time-consuming and tedious, and not how business professionals, designers, or publishers wanted to work, particularly with the increasing need for on-demand integration of images acquired in real time.
When the image-acquisition issue surfaced, hardware and software developers began defining their own image acquisition interfaces. This was a step in the right direction, but it soon became apparent that high numbers of proprietary interfaces were not the ultimate solution. It's inefficient to require a software developer to write a driver for each device they need to support. Conversely, it doesn't make sense to ask a hardware vendor to write a different driver to interface with each software application. Most importantly, it isn't acceptable that users must deal with many unique application/device driver files.
In early 1990, the formation of the Macintosh Scanner Roundtable group heightened the imaging industry's awareness of the need for an open interface. While participation in the roundtable was high, it was difficult to resolve issues and progress was slow. At one of the group's last meetings in 1990, it was suggested that a smaller set of industry leaders form a consortium and create a specification for review, revision, and ultimate adoption by the imaging industry. The TWAIN Working Group was formed with representatives from Aldus, Caere, Eastman Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, and Logitech. The Working Group's primary goal was promoting imaging products through developing an easy-to-use image acquisition interface and educating users about it. A key requirement of participation was that members be willing to represent a broader interest than that of their own company. The number of participants was kept low so the specification could be written quickly, while representation from a wide spectrum of application developers (desktop communications and OCR) and hardware vendors (hand-held, desktop, and high-end color imaging devices) was maintained. The result was that working group members represent diversity in the industry, and bring in-depth imaging experience to both hardware and software development, and marketing fields.
Words From The Prez
SPAUG Staff Meeting, September 5, 1966
General Meeting Minutes, August 28, 1996
Join Us For Dinner on September 18
4390 El Camino Real
Los Altos
(415) 949-4945
Game Review: Treasure Quest
Windows 3.1/ 95, 8 megs Ram
10 meg Hard Drive
Sound Blaster Pro or equivalent
Vesa local Bus or PCI video card that supports 640x480, 256 color double speed CD-ROM drive.
SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE! KEEP YOUR FRIENDS!
BugNet ALERT
Windows 95's 'Deadly" and 'Dirty' TSRs
386 Max Disk Cache Utility Qcache.exe
8514 emulation driver Xgaaidos.sys
All Charge 386 Allemm4.sys
Anarkey Anarkey.com
ASP Integrity Toolkit Asplogin.exe
CED Command Line Editor Ced.com
Command Line Editor Cmdedit.com
Command Line Editor Ndosedit.com
Cubit Cubitr.exe
Data Physician Plus TSR Viralert.sys
Disk Cache Utility Cache.exe
DOSCUE Command Line Editor Doscue.com
Double Disk Data Compression Utility Dubldisk.sys
Flash Disk Cache Utility Flash.exe
HP Expanded Memory Manager Hpemm386.sys
HP Expanded Memory Manager Hpemm486.sys
HP Memory Manager Hpmm.sys
Hyper Disk Cache Utility Hyper286.exe
Hyper Disk Cache Utility Hyper386.exe
Hyper Disk Cache Utility Hyperdkc.exe
Hyper Disk Cache Utility Hyperdke.exe
Hyper Disk Cache Utility Hyperdkx.exe
IBM PC Support Ecyddx.sys
IBM PC Support Eimpcs.sys
IBM RAM Disk Utility Vdisk.sys
IIT XtraDrive Software Xtradrv.sys
Intel Expanded Memory Emulator Ilim386.sys
KBFlow TSR by Artisoft Kbflow.exe
Lansight Network Utilities TSR Lansel.exe
Lansight Network Utilities TSR Lsallow.exe
LaserTools Printer Control Panel Pcpanel.exe
Le Menu Menuing Package Le.com
Memory Manager Ems386.sys
Memory Manager Iemm.sys
Memory Manager Vmm386.exe
Memory Manager Vems.drv
MS-DOS APPEND Utility Append.com
MS-DOS ASSIGN Utility Assign.com
MS-DOS GRAPHICS Utility Graphics.com
MS-DOS JOIN Utility Join.exe
MS-DOS PRINT Utility Print.exe
MS-DOS SUBST Utility Subst.exe
NetRoom Memory Manager Rm386.sys
Newspace Disk Compression Utility Newres.exe
Newspace Disk Compression Utility Newspace.exe
Norton Desktop/Win Erase Protect Ep.exe
Norton Disk Cache Utility Ncache.exe
Norton Disk Monitoring TSR Diskmon.exe
Norton Speed Drive Speedrv.exe
Norton Speed Drive Speeddrv.exe
Norton Utilities NCache Ncache2.exe
Norton Utilities SmartCan Smartcan.exe
PC Tools Datamon Datamon.exe
PC Tools Desktop TSR Desktop.exe
PC Tools Disk Cache Utility Pc-cache.com
PC Tools VDefend Vdefend.com
PC Tools VDefend Vdefend.sys
PC-Kwik Disk Cache Utility Pc-kwik.exe
PCED Command Line Editor Ced.exe
PCSXMAEM Utility Pcsxmaem.sys
PopDOS Popdos.exe
Printer Assist Pa.exe
Pyro! Screen Saver Pyro.exe
QMAPS Memory Manager Qmaps.sys
RamType Utility Ramtype.sys
Sidekick Plus Skplus.exe
Sidekick Version 1.0 Sk.com
Sidekick Version 2.0 Sk2.exe
SoftIce S-ice.exe
SpeedFXR Speedfxr.com
Super PC-Kwik Disk Cache Utility Superpck.exe
Trantor T100 SCSI driver Tscsi.sys
UMB Pro Memory Manager Umbpro.sys
Undelete Utility Undelete.exe
Vaccine Anti-Virus Program Vaccine.exe
XMAEM Utility Xmaem.sys
CD-ROM Drive Remapper Utility Cdremap.exe
Central Point Anti-Virus Vsafe.sys
Central Point Anti-Virus TSR Vsafe.com
F-Prot Anti-Virus Virstop.exe
INFINITE Disk Software Iddrv.sys
INFINITE Disk Software Idres.exe
Ironclad Software Ic.sys
Norton Anti-Virus Software Nav.drv
Norton Anti-Virus Software Nav_.sys
Norton Anti-Virus Software Navtsr.exe
PC Tools Disk Cache Utility Pc-cache.com
PC-Kwik Disk Cache Utility Super.exe
Super PC-Kwik Disk Cache Utility Superpck.exe
Symantec Disklock Utility Tspdrv.sys
Golf on the Net
Golf Course Database -
Touch sensitive map access to Golf Courses in the US
Words from the Prez
Construction SIG
SPAUG Staff Meeting, October 2, 1996
Brian Christopher, Newsletter Editor
Mildred Kohn, Secretary
Clyde Lerner, Member
John McFall, Member
Bob Mitchell, President
Walter Varner, Accountant
Mildred Kohn, Secretary
The Royal Order of the Screwdriver
Dinner at the Red Lobster, October 30, 1996
Jay's Jump'n Jambalaya (hot!) with salad........$6.99
Chicken salad.........................................5.99
Herb Chicken, choice of potato & salad..........6.50
Bayside Salmon, potato & salad...................7.99
Fried Shrimp, choice of potato & salad...........7.99
4390 El Camino (at Los Altos Avenue, North of San Antonio Road and South of Arastradero)
Los Altos
415-949-4945 for directions; call me for "reservations."
General Meeting Minutes, September 18, 1996
What is Majordomo?
* List options can be set easily through a configuration file, editable remotely.
* Supports archival and remote retrieval of messages.
* Supports digests.
* Written in Perl, - easily customizable and expandable.
* Modular in design.
* Includes support for FTPMAIL.
What Is USENET?
Original-from: cChip Salzenberg
Comment: edited until 5/93 by Gene Spafford
Last-change: 22 Nov 1995 by Mark Moraes
Changes-posted-to: news.misc,news.admin.misc,news.answers
Usenet is a world-wide distributed discussion system. It consists of a set of "newsgroups" with names that are classified hierarchically by subject. "Articles" or "messages" are "posted" to these newsgroups by people on computers with the appropriate software -- these articles are then broadcast to other interconnected computer systems via a wide variety of networks. Some newsgroups are "moderated"; in these newsgroups, the articles are first sent to a moderator for approval before appearing in the newsgroup. Usenet is available on a wide variety of computer systems and networks, but the bulk of modern Usenet traffic is transported over either the Internet or UUCP.
The first thing to understand about Usenet is that it is widely misunderstood. Every day on Usenet, the "blind men and the elephant" phenomenon is evident, in spades. In my opinion, more flame wars arise because of a lack of understanding of the nature of Usenet than from any other source. And consider that such flame wars arise, of necessity, among people who are on Usenet. Imagine, then, how poorly understood Usenet must be by those outside!
No person or group has authority over Usenet as a whole. No one controls who gets a news feed, which articles are propagated where, who can post articles, or anything else. There is no "Usenet Incorporated," nor is there a "Usenet User's Group." You're on your own.
Since there is no person or group in charge of Usenet as a whole -- i.e. there is no Usenet "government" -- it follows that Usenet cannot be a democracy, autocracy, or any other kind of "-acy." (But see "The Camel's Nose?" below.)
After all, who shall decide what's fair? For that matter, if someone is behaving unfairly, who's going to stop him? Neither you nor I, that's certain.
Some people misunderstand their local right of "freedom of speech" to mean that they have a legal right to use others' computers to say what they wish in whatever way they wish, and the owners of said computers have no right to stop them. Those people are wrong. Freedom of speech also means freedom not to speak. If I choose not to use my computer to aid your speech, that is my right. Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one.
Some Usenet sites are publicly funded or subsidized. Most of them, by plain count, are not. There is no government monopoly on Usenet, and little or no government control.
It is no surprise that many Usenet sites are universities, research labs or other academic institutions. Usenet originated with a link between two universities, and the exchange of ideas and information is what such institutions are all about. But the passage of years has changed Usenet's character. Today, by plain count, most Usenet sites are commercial entities.
Because of Usenet's roots in academia, and because Usenet depends so heavily on cooperation (sometimes among competitors), custom dictates that advertising be kept to a minimum. It is tolerated if it is infrequent, informative, and low-hype.
The Internet is a wide-ranging network, parts of which are subsidized by various governments. It carries many kinds of traffic, of which Usenet is only one. And the Internet is only one of the various networks carrying Usenet traffic.
UUCP is a protocol (actually a "protocol suite," but that's a technical quibble) for sending data over point-to-point connections, typically using dialup modems. Sites use UUCP to carry many kinds of traffic, of which Usenet is only one. And UUCP is only one of the various transports carrying Usenet traffic.
It is true that Usenet originated in the United States, and the fastest growth in Usenet sites has been there. Nowadays, however, Usenet extends worldwide.
Don't assume that everyone is using "rn" on a UNIX machine. Among the systems used to read and post to Usenet are Vaxen running VMS, IBM mainframes, Amigas, Macintoshes and MS-DOS PCs.
More on the Internet (a glossary of terms)
Code by which the Internet identifies you. The format is username@hostname,where username is your username, login name, or account number, hostname is the name of the computer or Internet provider you use. The host name may be a few words strung together with periods.
A public Internet provider. If you have an account on America OnLine, username@aol.com is your Internet address, where 'username' is your America OnLine account name.
A way to use the FTP program to log on to another computer to copy files when you don't have an account on the other computer. When you log on, enter anonymous as the username and your address as the password. This gives you access to publicly-available files.
A system that helps you locate files located anywhere on the Internet. After Archie locates the file, you can use FTP to get it. Archie is both a program and a system of server computers that contain indexes of files.
How much 'stuff' you can send through a connection. Usually measured in bits-per-second. A full page of English text is about 16,000 bits. A fast modem can move about 15,000 bits in one second. Full-motion full-screen video would require roughly 10,000,000 bits-per-second, depending on compression.
A computerized meeting and announcement system that allows people to carry on discussions, upload and download files, and make announcements without being connected to the computer at the same time. There are several thousands (millions?) of BBS's around the world. Most BBS are very small and run on a single IBM clone PC with one or two phone lines.
A client program (software) that is used to search through information provided by a specific type of server. (see also: Client, URL, WWW)
Talking in real-time to other network users from any and all parts of the world.
A software program that is used to contact and obtain data from a Server software program on another computer, often across a great distance. Each Client program is designed to work with one or more types of Server programs.
When these letters appear at the end of an address, they indicate that the host computer is run by a company rather than a university or government agency. It also means that the host computer is most likely located in the United States.
An on-line information provider (sometimes abbreviated as CIS) that gives some Internet access. If your CompuServe account number is 7123,456 your Internet address will be 7123.456@compuserve.com. Notice that the comma in the CompuServe address becomes a period in the Internet address.
A virtual universe of computers, programs and data.
An on-line information provider that includes access to Internet services. If you have an account on Delphi, your Internet address is username@delphi.com.where username is your Delphi account name.
The unique name that identifies an Internet site A given machine may have more than one domain name but a given domain name points to only one machine. It is also possible for a domain name to exist but not be connected to an actual machine. This is often done so that a group or business can have an Internet e-mail address without having to establish a real Internet site. In these cases, an Internet Service Provider's machine must handle the mail on behalf of the listed domain name. (see also: IP Number)
When these letters appear in the last part of an address (info@mit.edu), they indicate that the host computer is run by an educational institution. It also means that the host computer is most likely located in the United States.
Electronic Mail. Messages, usually text, sent from one person to another via computer. E-mail can also be sent automatically to a large number of addresses by use of a Mailing List. (see also: Listserv, Mailist)
A method of transferring one or more files from one computer to another on a network or phone line.
A filter for messages. A system that has a firewall lets only certain kinds of messages in and out from the rest of the Internet. If an organization wants to exchange mail with the Internet, but does not want other Internet members 'telnetting in' and reading those files, its connection to the Internet can be protected using a firewall.
A computer that connects one network with another when the two networks use different protocols. The UUNET computer connects the UUCP network with the Internet, providing a way for mail messages to move between the two networks.
An on-line service run by General Electric. If you have an account on GEnie and your mail name is ABC, your Internet address is ABC@genie.gies.com.
Graphic Interchange Format. The file format commonly used to distribute graphics files on the Internet.
A system that lets you find information by using menus. To use Gopher, you usually Telnet to a Gopher server and begin browsing the menus.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The method by which World Wide Web pages are transferred over the network.
A computer on the Internet that you may be able to log on to. You can use FTP to get files from a host computer, and use other programs (such as Telnet) to make use of the host computer.
Inside MS Word
Word provides the Symbol command to enable users to insert a variety of special characters while editing documents. The Symbol dialog box stays open on screen while editing a document. This provides greater flexibility while inserting and editing special characters. To insert a special symbol:
2. From the menu bar, select Insert - Symbol
3. Click on the Symbols tab
4. Use the drop down arrow next to Fonts to select the desired font
5. Click on the character you want to insert
6. Click on the Insert button, or using your mouse, double click on the selected character and it will automatically be inserted
Here are some keyboard shortcuts for the most widely used symbols:
Registered - Alt + Ctrl + R - (r)
Trademark - Alt + Ctrl + T - (tm)
Most of the editing that you do in documents requires selecting text. Selecting text means that you highlight part of a document so that it can be modified, added to, or deleted. The F8 key, otherwise know as the ExtendSelection key, can be used in various ways to select parts of a document. By pressing the F8 key once, you turn on the ExtendSelection option. The EXT will be displayed on the status bar at the bottom ofyour screen. When the EXT is turned on, you may selec text by moving the Cursor up, down, to the right, and to the left.
2. Presses - Select word
3. Presses - Select sentence
4. Presses - Select paragraph
5. Presses - Select current section
6. Presses - Select whole document (if multiselection)
In order to expedite your work, Word allows you to create custom keyboard assignments for functions you use frequently. In the event that you have customized quite a few keyboard assignments, it may be handy to have a reference sheet of all your keyboard shortcuts.
2. In the Print What drop down list, choose Key Assignments
3. Click OK
When editing a Word document, it may be necessary for you to know the text format used on this page. Word offers several different ways for you to find out the format of this particular text. However, most of them require that you repeatedly return to the Format menu and display the Paragraph Formatting box. This may become too time consuming. The quickest way to find out the text format is to :
2. Press Shift+F1
3. The mouse pointer will now appear as a question mark (similar to the Help icon located on the toolbar)
4. Click on the first letter of the text whose formatting you want to know about
5. Word will display a Paragraph Formatting box that includes information on the text's paragraph and font formatting. Pretty cool!!!
6. To return to the regular mouse pointer, simply press Esc
Word offers a variety of tools for formatting characters. One of these tools is the keyboard shortcut. When applied, these shortcuts will definitely save you time. The following shortcuts deal with changing fonts:
To change the font size choose Ctrl+Shift+P
To increase the font choose Ctrl+Shift+>
To decrease the font size choose Ctrl+Shift+<
To increase the font size by 1 point choose Ctrl +]
To decrease the font size by 1 point choose Ctrl+[
To change the case of letters choose Shift+F3,
To format all your letters as capitals choose Ctrl+Shift+A
Select a word, or set the cursor just in the word, and by pressing Shift F3, it will cycle through ALL CAPS, Proper, and lower case. this can be done highlighting an entire sentence as well. These keyboard shortcuts are a great way to navigate through a document or spreadsheet.
The drawing tools in Microsoft Word allow you to create elements such as a circle, square, freehand, text etc. and assemble them the way you like. There are many keyboard shortcuts for drawing tools that will help you use the tools more effectively. Some of these shortcuts are:
* To return a graphic to its original size and shape after cropping, hold down Ctrl and double click the graphic
* To draw several objects of the same kind without having to click the button each time, double click the button to keep it active
* To create a rectangle, arc, or ellipse, center at a specific point by clicking the appropriate button, and then hold down Ctrl as you drag the object with your mouse.
* To create a perfect square or circle from a specific point, click the Rectangle or Ellipse button, and then hold down Shift+Ctrl, while dragging the mouse to create the appropriate shape
* To draw a vertical, horizontal, or 45-degree line, hold down Shift as you drag the line. (To maintain the line keep holding the Shift key)
Inside MS Excel
Worksheets at times require a text series of months or days (January, February, March or Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) or a numeric series (1, 2, 3 or 1993, 1994, 1995). The fill handle enables you to enter a series of text or numbers automatically. The fill handle is the small black square in the bottom-right corner of the active cell or range.
2. Click (or un-click) the Allow Cell Drag and Drop box
2. For a numeric series, enter the first two values and then select both cells
3. Place the mouse pointer over the fill handle; it will change to a plus sign (+)
4. Drag the mouse pointer until the gray border encompasses the range you want to fill
5. Release the mouse pointer; the range will be filled with the series.
When entering descriptive text into cells in successive rows, we need to judge when the next word will not fit in the available display width and move on to the next row, right? Wrong! Use Excel's Edit->Fill->Justify
feature. Here are the steps:
2. Highlight the cells in one or more rows across the display width you wish to use up
3. Under the Edit menu, choose Fill->Justify
When entering cell references in a formula, press the function key {F4} to cycle through the four combinations of absolute and relative references.
Some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts used are the select, cut, copy and paste functions. In addition to the Edit menu and the Right mouse click, these keyboard short cuts can often make your work much easier.
Ctrl-A to select the entire page.
Ctrl-S to save an open file.
Ctrl-P to send a file to the printer.
Ctrl-Z for edit undo.
Ctrl-X to cut the selected area.
Ctrl-C to copy the selected area.
Ctrl-V to paste the selected information to the new location.
Ctrl-B for making text bold.
Ctrl-I for making text italic.
The standard way of changing Excel's font attributes is from the menu bar, Format - Cells or from the Formatting Toolbar. Excel provides a number of keyboard shortcuts you can use to select font attributes.
Ctrl+2 or Ctrl+B Toggles the Bold style on or off
Ctrl+3 or Ctrl+I Toggles the Italic style on or off
Ctrl+F4 Closes a file, prompting you to save if necessary
Ctrl+F9 Minimizes the Window
Ctrl+F10 Maximizes a Window
Making changes that effect your entire worksheet are easy using Excel's Replace feature. From the menu bar,choose Edit - Replace. Excel displays the Replacedialog box. Enter what you want to replace in the Find What edit box. Enter the replacement text in the Replace with edit box. For a case-sensitive search, activate the Match Case check box.
Occasionally a mistake is made when you are editing or erasing worksheet data. Excel has an Undo Feature that enables you to recover from making mistakes. Please note that only your most recent change is stored in Excel's memory. If you make a mistake and then make further changes to the worksheet, you won't be able to undo the error.
New and Renewing Members
November Words from the Prez
General Meeting Minutes, October 30, 1996
SPAUG STAFF MEETING, November 6, 1996
Present: Bob Mitchell, President, Kendric Smith, Webmaster, Brian Christopher, Editor, Beverly Altman, Director-at-Large, Mildred Kohn, Secretary.
Mildred Kohn, Secretary
Inside MS Word, Part II
What are some shortcuts for selecting text?
Can I print a list of my custom keyboard assignments?
What is the quickest way to find out all the different text formatting in a single document?
What are some shortcuts I can use in formatting my document?
Are there any keyboard shortcuts for drawing tools?
What are some easy keyboard shortcuts for formatting characters?
Are there any Shortcuts for numbering lists?
Can I use the same keystrokes in Word as I use in WordPerfect?
How can I replace an existing bullet with a new one?
Are there any keyboard shortcuts for aPlying styles?
Are there any keyboard shortcuts for formatting a paragraph?
Can I assign a shortcut key to a command, macro or any other item I use frequently?
Shortcuts: Here are some keyboard shortcuts for the most widely used symbols:
Note:You may also toggle the EXT mode on and off by double clicking EXT on the Status bar. You cannot, however, use the Status bar EXT as a substitute for multiple presses of the F8 key or the Shift + F8 functions.
APly or remove bold formatting Ctrl+B APly or remove an underline Ctrl+U Double underline text Ctrl+Shift+D APly or remove hidden text Ctrl+Shift+H APly italic formatting Ctrl+I Format letters as small capitals Ctrl+Shift+K APly subscripts Ctrl+= (equal sign) APly super scripts Ctrl+Shift+= (equal sign) Remove formatting Ctrl+Shift+Z Change the selection to Symbol font Ctrl+Shift+Q Display nonprinting characters Ctrl+Shift+* (asterisk)
Inside MS Excel, Part II
How do I activate and deactivate the Fill Handle feature?
What is a good shortcut to justify text across rows?
What are some shortcuts for entering formulas?
What are some common keyboard shortcuts?
What are some of the basic Excel keyboard shortcuts?
How does the Replace Feature work?
How does the Repeat feature work?
How do I use the Undo Feature?
How do I use the Fill Handle?
How do I use the AutoSum Feature?
How do I use Excel's copy command?
HOW DO I ACTIVATE AND DEACTIVATE THE FILL HANDLE FEATURE?
To enter a text series:
WHAT IS A GOOD SHORTCUT TO JUSTIFY TEXT ACROSS ROWS?
Now watch Excel do the hard work for you.
WHAT ARE SOME SHORTCUTS FOR ENTERING FORMULAS?
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS?
Ctrl-A to select the entire page.
Ctrl-S to save an open file.
Ctrl-P to send a file to the printer.
Ctrl-Z for edit undo.
Ctrl-X to cut the selected area.
Ctrl-C to copy the selected area.
Ctrl-V to paste the selected information to the new location.
Ctrl-B for making text bold.
Ctrl-I for making text italic.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BASIC EXCEL KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS?
The standard way to open/close a file is by clicking on File - Open or File - Close. The standard way to maximize or minimize a window is by clicking on the boxes in the uPer right hand corner of the screen. Here are some keyboard shortcuts:
HOW DOES THE REPLACE FEATURE WORK?
HOW DOES THE REPEAT FEATURE WORK?
HOW DO I USE THE UNDO FEATURE?
HOW DO I USE THE FILL HANDLE?
Dealing with text is another matter. Excel will "fill" from a single cell when it understands a built-in or custom series. If you select one piece of text that Excel does not understand, like Baarns, and drag the fill handle, Excel will repeat the word over and over. If you want to repeat a series on the sheet by selecting several cells, Excel is smart enough to see what you're doing and anticipate your next request. For example:
You can create custom fill lists easily as well (see our FAQ on creating a custom list).
HOW DO I USE THE AUTOSUM FEATURE?
Excel 7 Hint: If you just want to know a total without entering it into your spreadsheet, select the range of cells and look at the Sum= are of the status bar.
HOW DO I USE EXCEL'S COPY COMMAND?
What is USENET?, Part II
The A in ASCII stands for "American". Sites in other countries often use character sets better suited to their language(s) of choice; such are typically, though not always, supersets of ASCII. Even in the United States, ASCII is not universally used: IBM mainframes use (shudder) EBCDIC. Ignore non- ASCII sites if you like, but they exist.
There are dozens of software packages used at various sites to transport and read Usenet articles. So no one program or package can be called "the Usenet software."
Usenet is the set of people who exchange articles tagged with one or more universally-recognized labels, called "newsgroups" (or "groups" for short). There is often confusion about the precise set of newsgroups that constitute Usenet; one commonly accepted definition is that it consists of newsgroups listed in the periodic "List of Active Newsgroups" postings which aPear regularly in news.lists and other newsgroups. A broader definition of Usenet would include the newsgroups listed in the article "Alternative Newsgroup Hierarchies" (frequently posted to news.lists). An even broader definition includes even newsgroups that are restricted to specific geographic regions or organizations. Each Usenet site makes its own decisions about the set of groups available to its users; this set differs from site to site.
If the above definition of Usenet sounds vague, that's because it is.
Every administrator controls his own site. No one has any real control over any site but his own.
To help hold Usenet together, various articles (including this one) are periodically posted in newsgroups in the "news" hierarchy. These articles are provided as a public service by various volunteers. They are few but valuable. Learn them well. Among the periodic postings are lists of active newsgroups, both "standard" (for lack of a better term) and "alternative." These lists are maintained by David Lawrence and periodically posted to the news.lists newsgroup. They reflect his personal view of Usenet, and as such are not "official" in any sense of the word. However, if you're looking for a description of subjects discussed on Usenet, or if you're starting up a new Usenet site, David's lists are an eminently reasonable place to start.
In the old days, when UUCP over long-distance dialup lines was the dominant means of article transmission, a few well-connected sites had real influence in determining which newsgroups would be carried where. Those sites called themselves "the backbone."
The document that describes the current procedure for creating a new newsgroup is entitled "How To Create A New Newsgroup." Its common name, however, is "the guidelines."
As was observed above in "What Usenet Is Not," Usenet as a whole is not a democracy. However, there is exactly one feature of Usenet that has a form of democracy: newsgroup creation.
Property rights being what they are, there is no higher authority on Usenet than the people who own the machines on which Usenet traffic is carried. If the owner of the machine you use says, "We will not carry alt.sex on this machine," and you are not haPy with that order, you have no Usenet recourse. What can we outsiders do, after all?
Those who have never tried electronic communication may not be aware of what a "social skill" really is. One social skill that must be learned, is that other people have points of view that are not only different, but 'threatening', to your own. In turn, your opinions may be threatening to others. There is nothing wrong with this. Your beliefs need not be hidden behind a facade, as haPens with face-to-face conversation. Not everybody in the world is a bosom buddy, but you can still have a meaningful conversation with them. The person who cannot do this lacks in social skills.
--- Nick Szabo
Anarchy means having to put up with things that really piss you off.
--- Unknown
More on the Internet (a glossary of terms), Part II
Hypertext Markup Language, used for writing pages for the World Wide Web. HTML allows text to include codes that define fonts, layout, embedded graphics, and hypertext links.
A system of writing and displaying text that enables the text to be linked in multiple ways, available at several levels of detail. Hypertext documents can also contain links to related documents such as those referred to in footnotes. Hypermedia can also contain pictures, sounds, video. Internet (uPer case I) The vast collection of inter-connected networks that all use the TCP/IP protocols and that evolved from the ARPANET of the late 60?s and early ?70s. The Internet currently (July 1995) connects roughly 60,000 independent networks into a vast global Internet.
The transport layer protocol used as a basis of the Internet. IP enables information to be routed from one network to another in packets and then reassembled when they reach their destination.
A four-part number separated by dots (e.g. 165.113.245.2) which uniquely identifies a machine on the internet. Every machine that is on the Internet has a unique IP number. If a machine does not have an IP number, it is not really on the Internet. Most machines also have one or more Domain Names that are easier for people to remember. (see also: Domain Name)
Internet Relay Chat. A system that enables Internet users to talk with each
other in real time over the Internet rather than in person.
Integrated Services Digital Network. Basically a way to move more data over
existing regular phone lines. ISDN is only slowly becoming available in the
USA. ISDN can provide speeds of 64,000 bits-per-second over a regular phone line at almost the same cost as a normal phone call.
A program that helps you find specified information in Gopher directories. Similar to Veronica, but more focused.
Local Area Network. A group of connected computers, usually located in close proximity (such as the same building or floor of the building) so data can be passed between them.
Refers to a phone line that is rented for exclusive 24-hour, 7-days-a-week access between your location to another location. The highest speed data connections require a leased line.
A family of programs that automatically manage mailing lists by distributing messages posted to the list, adding and deleting members automatically.
Noun or a verb. Noun: The account name used to gain access to a computer
system. Unlike a Password, the login name is not a secret. Verb: The act of
entering into a computer system, e.g. Login to the WELL and then go to the
GBN conference.
A piece of e-mail or a posting to a newsgroup.
An FTP server that provides copies of the same files as another server. Some FTP servers are so popular that other servers have been set up to mirror them and spread the FTP load to more than one site.
MOdulator, DEModulator. A device that you connect to your computer and to a phone line to allow the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system. Modems convert the computer?s digital signals into analog waves that can be transmitted over standard voice telephone lines. Modem speeds are measured in bits per second (bps) - also sometimes expressed as KILObits (thousands of bits) per second. As an example, 28.8Kbps and 28,800bps are the same thing; 28,800 bits per second.
A Windows-based, Windows Sockets-compliant program that lets you access information on the World Wide Web.
The process of maPing a name into its corresponding address.
Another name for Usenet, often refers to Usenet News when being received via the Internet, via NNTP.
A Windows-based, Windows Sockets-compliant program that lets you access information on the World Wide Web. This is an improvement on Mosaic.
Any time you connect two or more computers together so that they can share resources you have a computer network. Connect two or more networks together and you have an internet (small 'i'). (see also: Internet)
A protocol defined for distribution, inquiry, retrieval and posting of news articles.
A distributed bulletin board system about a particular topic. Usenet news (also known as net news) is a system that distributes thousands of newsgroups to all parts of the Internet.
A computer on the Internet, also called a host. Computers that provide a service, such as FTP sites or places that run Gopher are also called servers. Packet A chunk of information sent over a network. Each packet contains the destination address, the sender's address, error-control information, and data.
A document, or collection of information, available by way of the World Wide Web. To make information available over the WWW, it is organized into pages. A page may contain text, graphics files, video, and/or sound files.
A network management tool that checks to see whether you can communicate with another computer on the Internet. It sends a short message to which the other computer automatically responds. If the other computer does not respond to the ping, you usually cannot establish communications.
A physical site in a geography where a network Access Provider, such as UUNet, has equipment that users connect to. The local phone company's central office in a particular area is also sometimes referred to as their POP in that area. (As an example, AT&T's POP for the Seattle area is in downtown Seattle.)
Post Office Protocol. A system by which a mail server on the Internet lets you grab your mail and download it to your PC or Mac. Most people refer to this protocol with its version number (i.e., POP2, POP3) to avoid confusing it with Point of Presence.
Point-to-Point Protocol. A scheme for connecting two computers over a phone line (or a network link that acts like a phone line). Similar to SLIP.
An on-line system run by IBM and Sears. If you have a Prodigy account, username@prodigy.com is your Internet address, where username is your Prodigy user name.
When you send a message over the Internet, it is broken into tiny pieces, called packets, which travel over many different routes between your computer and the recipient's computer. The communications protocol used to route the packets across the Internet is TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). Use of this standard protocol enables computers using different operating systems to communicate with each other. DOS-based PCs, PCs using the Microsoft Windows, Windows 95, or Windows NT operating system, Macintosh computers, and UNIX-based systems all use TCP/IP to connect to the Internet.
A computer that provides a service to other computers on a network. An Archie server, for example, lets people on the Internet use Archie.
A protocol used to transfer e-mail between computers.
The Internet standard protocol developed to manage nodes on an IP network. SLIP
Serial Line Interface Protocol. A software scheme for connecting a computer to the Internet.
Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The system networks use to communicate with each other on the Internet.
The command and program used to login from one Internet site to another. The Telnet command/program gets you to the ?login? prompt of another host.
A device that allows you to send commands to a computer somewhere else. At a minimum, this usually means a keyboard and a display screen and some simple circuitry. Usually you will use terminal software in a personal computer, the software pretends to be ('emulates') a physical terminal and allows you to type commands to a computer somewhere else.
A computer operating system (the basic software running on a computer, underneath things like word processors and spreadsheets). UNIX is designed to be used by many people at the same time (it is 'multi-user') and has TCP/IPbuilt-in. It is the most common operating system for servers on the Internet.
Uniform Resource Locator. The standard way to give the address of any resource on the Internet that is part of the World Wide Web (WWW). A URL looks like this: http://www.matisse.net/seminars.html. The most common way to use a URL is to enter into a Web browser program, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. (see also: Browser, WWW).
A system of thousands of distributed bulletin boards called newsgroups. You read the messages by using a program called a news reader.
Very Easy Rodent Oriented Net-wide Index to Computerized Archives. A program that uses word searches to locate articles in Gopherspace. Developed at the University of Nevada, Veronica is a constantly updated database of names of almost every menu item on thousands of gopher servers. (see also: Gopher)
A program used by Gopher, WAIS or WWW client programs to show files with contents other than text. You would use a viewer to display graphics files, play sound files or display video files.
Wide Area Information Servers. A system that lets you search for documents that contain specific information that you are looking for.
Wide Area Network. Any internet or network that covers an area larger than a single building or campus. (see also: Internet, LAN, Network)
World Wide Web. A hypermedia-based system for accessing information on the Internet.
Web Security
You can enter your credit card number on a secure (https) Netscape Navigator form and transmit the
form over the Internet to a secure server without risk of an intermediary obtaining your credit card
information. The security features offered by Netscape Communications technology protects
commercial transactions, as well as all other communications, from misaPropriation and fraud that
could otherwise occur as information passes through Internet computers.
The security features built into Netscape Navigator and secure servers protect your Internet
communications with:
* Server authentication (thwarting impostors)
* Privacy using encryption (thwarting eavesdroPers)
* Data integrity (thwarting vandals)
SSL uses authentication and encryption technology developed by RSA Data Security Inc. For example,
Netscape Navigator's export implementation of SSL (U.S. government aProved) uses a medium-
grade, 40-bit key size for the RC4 stream encryption algorithm. The encryption established between
you and
a server remains valid over multiple connections, yet the effort expended to defeat the encryption of
one message cannot be leveraged to defeat the next message.
You can tell when you have a secure onnection by looking at the location(URL) field. If the URL
begins with https:// (instead of http://), the document comes from a secure server. To connect to an
HTTP server that provides security using the SSL protocol, insert the letter "s" so that the URL begins
with https://. You need to use https:// for HTTP URLs with SSL and http:// for HTTP URLs
without SSL. A news URL that starts with snews: (the letter "s" inserted in front of news:) is used for a
document coming from a secure news server.
Choosing the View|Document Info menu item produces a page with a document's
structure, composition, and security status. Structure information contains the URLs of images
contained in the document. Composition information includes location, file MIME type, source, local
cache file, modification and expiration dates, content length, and charset. Security information
informs you about encryption and certification.
Tells you the security status of a document. A secure document states the type of public key
suPorted and version information. For example, the medium-grade encryption key suited for U.S.
export (RC4-Export, 128-bit
with 40 secret) refers to the key size for the RC4 stream encryption algorithm.
The certification process requires that the certificate owner provide certain identifying information:
* Optional department name
* Legal, registered organization name
* Locality or city the organization resides or is registered in
* State or province name
* Country name
* Serial number
* Validation start and expiration dates
* Certificate fingerprint (hexadecimal digits)
Currently, certificates are issued to organizations running servers and are not issued to Netscape
Navigator users. To operate using security features, the Netscape Commerce Server requires a digitally
signed certificate. Without a certificate, the server can only operate insecurely. If you are a server
administrator and want to obtain a signed certificate, you need to submit a certificate request to a
certificate authority, a third-party
organization that issues certificates, and pay an associated service fee.