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The Newsbits ispublished monthly byChalmette Computer
Users' Group-PCP.O. Box 1515
Chalmette, LA 70044Value—$2.00
WHAT'S INSIDE?Page 2
Back to BasicsMedia Player 10
BlueTooth
Page 3President's Corner
Page 4The Deals Guy
Page 5Printer Contest Winners
Page 6Calendar of Events
Page 7CCUG-PC Help DeskKim Komano—Taxes
Made Free & Easy
Page 8February Sites of Month
Page 9Didya Notice
Shareware Pick
Page 10Chuckles Cartoon
Fantastic Comp-Tips
Page 11Member ClassifiedsCCUG-PC Online
Page 12Ad SpotlightClassifieds
Volume 17. No. 2 FebruarVolume 17. No. 2 FebruarVolume 17. No. 2 FebruarVolume 17. No. 2 FebruarVolume 17. No. 2 Februaryyyyy, 20, 20, 20, 20, 200505050505
JJanuarJanuarJanuarJanuarJanuaryyyyy: Cor: Cor: Cor: Cor: Corel Wel Wel Wel Wel Woos Memberoos Memberoos Memberoos Memberoos Membersssss
Invision this gorgeous BenQ LCD Monitor onyour desktop? Sleek, super-modern styling anda 1280dpi will make any gamer, photolover oruser proude to own it. Go for it! Have enoughtickets to win this month? Purchase an extra 3 or6! Tickets: 6 for $10.00!
Upcoming Presentation
At a cross-road as to whether you havesomeone build your next computer? Buyone outright online/at the brick & mortarstore? Or, just tackle it yourself? We’ll helpanswer these questions and show you the“guts” of what makes up a powerhouse sys-tem. Jerry will help explain what goes intothem, so whether you’re planning or wantto know how they’re built, you’ll be informed.Caution: Learning is permitted here!
WITH Jerry Montalbano
March 5March 5March 5March 5March 5Spring Fling RaffleFP731 17" LCD Flat
Panel Monitor
Auto Adjustment, High Brightness, D-Subinput quality, True-Color Support
anuary was both "cool" and "hot" when itcame to a speaker presentation. CorelCorporation's Tanya Lux's second visit to
Chalmette Computer Users' Group was as thor-ough as it gets, considering she discussed a mini-mum of almost a dozen of her company's pro-grams. They included two ofthe company's "flagship" prod-ucts, Corel WordPerfect OfficeSuite 12, CorelDraw Suite 12,Painter, Quattro Pro, Presen-tations, Rave, Knockout, anda few of the company's newly-acquired former JascPaintshop products.
Tanya's best attributes includeher love for using her PC todraw. She appeared to be quitean accomplished digital artistwhen creating her design of anad using CorelDraw and Painter. Scribbling ona Wacom Table as her combo mouse-stylus, sheimmediately went to work designing her ad us-ing brushstrokes, text, photos and clipart. She,slowed at each step to illustrate how she
Computers - Building vs. Buying
touched up, rendered and used toolsto mask, cut, layer and other graphicsdesigner techniques.
Using WordPerfect, her speech centered on theproduct's compatibility and affordability, and
capability. Her confidencewas also exhibited during thepresentation when sheshowed an excellent featureof WP which "mimicked" aMicrosoft Word simulationfor Word users. She demon-strated its ease of use, "real-time preview formattingstrengths before committingto them. Much of herWordPerfect demonstrationcentered around comparingword processing strong-points when matched with
Word. A number of the group's WordPerfectusers were thrilled that their #1 word process-ing program keeps improving in a Corel
(Corel, continues on page 9)
2 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
(Bluetooth, continues of page 5)
"Have you tried "Backto Basics?" "Back toBasics" is a very popu-lar member benefit.
Long time boardmember & Mem-ber RepresentativeMargaret Wynn aswell as other mem-bers have devotedthemselves to help-ing members &new guests withtheir questions andproblems in a
semiprivate environment that is a quickly growing seg-ment of our membership! Meets from 9:30-10:20 A.M.monthly before the general meeting.
Try it once, you'll instantly want to join the group at a lowprice membership of only $25.00 per year...(Where elsecan you get so much information at about 2 bucks a month?)We're the "best kept secret in the whole Metro area" ac-cording to WWLTV's Jerry Serigni of Digital Gumbo!Don't wait—join today and enjoy all the member benefits!
by Chuck Guion, EditorRockport Computer Users’ Group, Inc.
Microsoft has a newWindows Media Player 10(WMP10) available now.Go to www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia todownload it. It wasdesigned for Windows XP.It does not have any helpfiles, but there is an article:Using Windows Media
Player 10 on the web and you can download it at:www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/usingplayer.aspx .
You can use WMP 10 to listen to music on CDs, MP3s,MIDI, Wave, etc. You can play CD’s and DVD’s (if youhave a DVD drive on your computer) with the program.You can also use it to watch your home movies, film clips,etc. You can also use the Internet to find moreinformation about a CD or DVD; i.e. the Album
and the Artist. You can quickly Rip from a CD to yourcomputer as well as use different Formats for doing this.
You can also burn your own CD’s. Most of the music CD’sthat you buy have only one or two songs you really like. WithWMP10 you can pick and choose your favorite songs fromseveral CD’s and put them on one Master CD. Isn’t that great& it’s free! .
You can also organize your digital media collection. Theprogram will even tell you where you can buy your favoritealbums! All in all, I think it is a great program and it is free!About the only disadvantage is not having anyhelp file.(www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/default.aspx) .
Ask The Expert
by Joe SchmittBits & Bytes Online, Tampa Bay Computer Society
What is this “Bluetooth” I keep hearing aboutand do I need it?
Whenever something like a mouse or keyboard is connectedto your computer,there are protocols andstandards in place sothat the computer cantalk to the keyboardand it operatesproperly. The samescenario also appliesto anything thatconnects to a computeror other electronicsaround your home. Your TV needs to know how the cablesignal is formatted so that you get the sound and video.Bluetooth is a wireless protocol that allows electronics tocommunicate. Bluetooth goes beyond your computer tointegrate electronics across a wide spectrum. Bluetoothoperates on two levels. The first is that all Bluetooth devicesoperate on the same radio frequency and speak the samelanguage. Secondly they all share the same procedures inexchanging data and verifying the data is received. That issort of like being able to speak the language and know thecustoms so no one misunderstands.
Bluetooth a standard developed and employed by close to1,000 different companies. This protocol would allow you totake a cell phone, get into a car with a Bluetooth radio andtransfer the call to the stereo so your hands are left free.
3 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
Hi, CCUG-PC Members!
NEWSBITS Newsletter is published monthly by CCUG-PC. Articles for publicationmust be submitted, typewritten and on disk to our newsletter staff by the 15th of themonth for publication. We welcome all articles of computing interest and we reservethe right to edit when appropriate. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH US. Ifyou have a tip or technique with a software program (or hardware), please enlightenus. All computer related articles are welcomed. Please submit your contributions tous in a file of any disk format or upload to [email protected] for our NewsbitsNewsletter Staff. CCUG-PC would love to hear from you! Submissions from ourmembers, or reprints from other publications are welcomed, but do not necessarilyrepresent the opinions of the Board of Directors nor the membership. Reprints aregranted when credit is given to the author. Submissions of any content, articles ormaterials become property of CCUG-PC for sole use and publication.
ARTICLE CONTRIBUTIONS
CCUG-PC Board MembersPresident/COBJerry Montalbano 279-2761e-mail: [email protected]
Vice-PresidentSue Wessing 279-1610e-mail: [email protected]
SecretaryLaura Brunies 271-2346e-mail: [email protected]
TreasurerHarry Cancienne 277-3891e-mail: : [email protected]
Membership SecretaryMargaret Wynn 242-3993e-mail: [email protected]
Program CoordinatorSheila McElroy 277-0953email: [email protected]
Member RepresentativeBob Faucheux 887-4341e-mail: [email protected]
Committees & HelpersInformation/Membership-
Sue Wessing & Carolyn Wagner50/50 Table - Staff
Raffles/Badges - Sheila McElroySetups - Buster Matthews
Parliamentarian/Sargeant-at-Arms-
Virginia & Curtis McElroy
Newsbits Newsletter StaffChief Editor
Jerry Montalbano
Assistant Editors, Graphics,Columnist & Circulations
Elaine PitreSue Wessing, Judy Favalora
CCUG-PC CONTACTSPhone:
(504)-279-2761E-mail:
[email protected] Page Address:
http://www.ccugpc.orgWebMeister—Jerry Montalbano
Jerry Montalbano
CCUG-PC
1996 LotusIntergalacticNewsletter
Upcoming Dates in 2005March 5April 2May 7June 4July 9
We’re in our 14th year and a hardcopy newslet-ter has been a milestone in CCUG-PC’s history.CCUG-PC has always been on the cutting edgeof computer technology and we have never lookedback.
Now, we’ve taken it one step beyond as we lookat how we can continue beyond any possibility ofdues increases and yet, keep our newsletter intactfor information dispensed to the membership. It’scalled Adobe Acrobat technology and you’ve beenusing it for years.
Our Newsbits Newsletter has been published on-line for the past 7 years. (www.ccugpc.org/newsbits/newsbits.htm). It’s colorful and conve-nient and can save us nearly $3000 a year to coverany future treasury insufficiencies toward expen-sive needed items. The board, with the help ofSue Wessing, has issued a needed proclamationthat helps explain the dilemma. So, as most ofyou have received it, it’s now in official form inNewsbits. It was a necessary change and we cer-tainly should welcome the beautiful PDF versionwhich will be delivered to your PC each month!
To our members:
CCUG-PC will no longer publish a printed edi-tion of our Newsbits newsletter after the January,2005 issue. Funds have diminished and costshave escalated. CCUG-PC will continue tomake the Newsbits available online in
Adobe .PDF format, which is standardon the Internet. Back issues will continueto be available on-line.
The Internet has changed so much of theway we all do business. Many organiza-tions and businesses are going to the elec-tronic format for publishing. You will beable to open, read and download a fullcolor version of Newsbits. Jerry Montal-bano works very hard to produce thisaward-winning newsletter, please continueto read and submit articles for it. The elec-tronic format is much faster and eliminateshand delivery and pickup of the newslet-ter. Our postcard has also gone electronic.This will free up our board members towork on presentations for the group.
The money saved (which is considerable)will be used to purchase prizes for themembership. Many software manufactur-ers are cutting back on speakers andawards that we count on for you the mem-bership. Everything changes, and manytimes it is for the better. CCUG-PC wantsto continue to offer you cutting edge tech-nology, user group support, and prizes.We encourage members to donate used ,unused and new items for auction; how-ever we’d appreciate the items being stillcurrently-used technology. Sincerely,
**CCUG-PC Board of Directors**Sue Wessing & the
August 6September 10
October 1November 5December 3
NOTICE!!
4 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
by Bob Click, GreaterOrlando Computer User Group
FROM THE DEALS GUY
Reminder
Don't forget about the Alpha 5 ver.6 special offer that is stillgood this month. The discount is great and you can order at[[email protected]]. You get it for just $179.00 ascompared to MSRP $349.00.
Below Are More Announcements OfferingDiscounts For User Group Members
AdWords Clever Wizard
"Our company, CleverStat, would like to announce the re-lease of AdWords Clever Wizard 1.4 forWindows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP. (Author's note: they includeda press release, but because it was lengthy, I did not include itso check the URL) "Note, all users group members will havea 20% discount if purchasing AdWords Clever Wizard 1.4.In order to get the benefit of discount they need to type thefollowing coupon code while ordering: TFBH-R4NT-IHNG."
This one was a bit hard for me to understand so I am passingit on to you with the URL to read up on it. [http://www.cleverstat.com/adwords-analyzer-software.htm].
NotePage's FeedForAll
"To celebrate the launch of FeedForAll, NotePage's new RSSfeed creation software, NotePage has created a User GroupPower Point Presentation that explains RSS and how it canbe used. RSS is becoming increasingly popular and is a hottopic in many user groups. NotePage, Inc. would be inter-ested in making this Power Point presentation available toyou, along with FeedForAll discount coupons for your mem-bers. The Power Point presentation can be downloaded from:[http://www.feedforall.com/rss.ppt]"
To read about this product, go to [http://www.feedforall.com].
Announcement of Flash File Recovery 1.3
Below is an announcement I received that includes a dis-count for user group members.
"Our company, PANTERASoft, would like to announce therelease of Flash File Recovery 1.2 for Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP. We'd like to offer your members and subscribers a15% discount off the regular price. (Author's note: They in-cluded a press release, but I didn't include it. Check theirWeb site) "Flash Fire Recovery is probably Net's oldest and
most powerful flash recovery software created specially fordigital cameras. The program brings back deleted imagesand salvages pictures from damaged or corrupted digitalmedia, including the camera's built-in memory. It works withvirtually all media types, including SmartMedia,CompactFlash, Memory Stick, MicroDrive, xD Picture CardFlash Card, PC Card, Multimedia Card, and SD Card. Whilethis program does not recover mp3 files, it does recoverimage files like JPEG, TIFF and such, as well as RAW im-age files - Canon CRW, Nikon NEF, Kodak DCR, amongothers. Video files - AVI, MOV, MPG/MPEG are supportedas well.
"Flash File Recovery is available at [www.panterasoft.com]for free evaluation. Registering the program is $49.50 USDollars per copy. Product Page: [http://www.panterasoft.com/file-recovery/index.html]"
I didn't see any code or downloading process in the announce-ment for getting the discount so I don't know how that works.
What Do You Want?
Joe Bendersky of Computer Club of Palm Shores periodi-cally writes a favorite Web site column and this one took myeye. [http://www.savvysenior.org] It is said that this site of-fers everything for seniors including 3000 free goodies.
That's it for this month. Meet me here again next month ifyour editor permits. This column is written to make usergroup members aware of special offers or freebies I havefound or arranged, and my comments should not be inter-preted to encourage, or discourage, the purchase of any prod-ucts, no matter how enthused I might sound.
Looks like 2004’s BOD? Nope, it’s 2005 and most positionsare swapped this year. Seated from left are: Laura Brunies,Secretary; Margaret Wynn, Membership Sec., Sue Wessing,Vice-President; Standing. (Left) are Bob Faucheux, Mem-ber Rep.; Jerry Montalbano, President/Founder; SheilaMcElroy, Programs Co-Ordinator; and Harry Cancienne,Treasurer. (Not pictured are the membership & the Creator,who helped make all this possible for 2005!). <smile>.
Bob (The Cheapskate) Click!!!!
New 2005 CCUG-PC Officers(“..the Dynamic 7”)
5 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
Printer Contest Winners
You must admit, the statement; “There is alwayssomething going on at CCUG-PC” is alive andwell. And that is made true by the membersthat never fail to get involved with the activitiesand functions CCUG-PC has to offer.
Were you there to participate in the printercontest this meeting? Well, if you weren’t youmissed out on participateing and seeing someof the fine entries submitted . I’m alwayssurprised by the quality of the entries andamazed at the different areas printers can beput to use that I have not had the chance toventured into. The entries on paper wereimpressive enough, but not long ago, not manywould have thought that a printer would be ableto put a picture on canvas or work with material.
All of the entries were quit impressive and it showed in thevoting tally. All entries received votes and there was not alarge difference between the winners and the other competingentries, which only goes to prove, anyone can win with anyentry at anytime.
And now for the winners. In the Black and White catagoryHazel Maniscalco.
The Color catagory winner was Bob Faucheux. PhotoQuality was won by Carolyn Wagner. Mixed Media waswon by Beth Montreuil with Judy Favaloria receivingHonorable Mention.
Congratulations to the winners they truly earned and deservetheir awards.
And many thanks to the members submitting entries. Byeveryone participating we all benefit by learning of otheruses for our printers and getting a chance to see andappreciate the effort other members put in when using theircomputers.
For their behind the scene assistance in putting the PrinterContest together thanks go out to Judy Favalora, SueWessing, Shelia McElroy, Harry Cancienne, and JerryMontalbano.
Don’t forget to start getting ready for the next Printer Contest;now, because when you participate we are all winners!
Bob Accepts forHazel Maniscalco
Beth Montreuil
Judy Favalora
Bob Accepts forCarolyn Wagner
Printer Contest Entries
6 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
Can you writean articleabout aproduct
you’ve tried?
We can useyour help!
Just submit itto us. We’ll do
the rest!!
On ComputersWODT AM
128012:05PM-3:00PM
Web/CNet
On ComputersWODT AM
128012:05PM-3:00PM
Web/CNet
On ComputersWODT AM
128012:05PM-3:00PM
Web/CNet
NewsbitsDeadline
On ComputersWODT AM
128012:05PM-3:00PM
Web/CNet
MargaretWynn: Win-
dows XP Tips& Tricks10A-1P
On ComputersWODT AM
128012:05PM-3:00PM
Web/CNet
February, 2005
CCUG-PC General Meeting8201 W. Judge Perez (Gov't Complex Bldg.), Chalmette, LA.
Board of Directors MeetingNunez Community College Library Conference Room 1-102
NOTE:
TechTVDaily-Mon-Fri
The ScreenSavers6 PM
Cox Ch.344
CCUG-PCMeets: 10AMVoiceFactor
NaturallySpeaking
TechTVDaily-Mon-Fri
The ScreenSavers6 PM
Cox Ch.344
TechTVDaily-Mon-Fri
The ScreenSavers6 PM
Cox Ch.344
TechTVDaily-Mon-Fri
The ScreenSavers6 PM
Cox Ch.344
Washington’sBirthday
On ComputersWODT AM
128012:05PM-3:00PM
Web/CNet
President’sDay
Lincoln’s Birth
Building YourOwn ComputerPt. 1 with Jerry
Montalbano10A-1P
Valentime’sDay
St. Patrick’s Day
BODMeeting
with Jerry Montalbano
CCU
G-P
C
CCUG-PCHELP!HELP!HELP!HELP!HELP! DESK DESK DESK DESK DESKQuestions &Questions &Questions &Questions &Questions &
AnswersAnswersAnswersAnswersAnswers
7 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
Q
A
by Kim Komando
(Komando, continues on page 9)
G
I have a lot of America Online e-mail saved on my com-puter. I want ot unload that e-mail to a file so that I can
access it after I stop subscribing to AOL. Can you suggesta technique or product that will enable me to do that inAOL 9.0?
Taxes Made Freeand Easy on the
Internet
(Helpdesk, continued on page 9)
ather up your receipts and W-2s, because it's taxtime. But forget about sharpening your pencils andfinding a calculator. If you use an online tax ser-
vice, all of the forms and calculations are done for you.And it's free.
To encourage taxpayers to file elec-tronically, the IRS, in conjunction withcommercial tax preparation softwarecompanies, offers free e-filing. Thatis, as long as those individuals meetcertain age, income, residency or otherrequirement.
To begin, you'll need an Internet connection and the neces-sary documentation (W-2s, 1099s, receipts, etc.). Then goto the IRS' Free File site (http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html) and click the Start Now! button. Thisleads you to a list of Web sites providing free e-filing ser-vice. Click "more details" for information on individualsites' qualification requirements. It also includes pricinginformation, if you don't qualify.
But you don't have to read the requirements of each site.Click Guide Me to a Service! This brings up a form thatasks about age, adjusted gross income, state of residenceand other questions. With that information, the IRS directsyou to those sites for which you qualify.
This year, several sites, including H&R Block, have openedfree e- filing to all taxpayers. TaxACT and TurboTax, whichare tax preparation programs, are also providing free e-filing with no restrictions.
Regardless of the service you choose, you must begin withthe link on the IRS' Web site. If you go directly to acompany's Web site, you will pay for the service.
Many sites offer different tiers of service. Generally, thefree e-filing gives you access to a basic level. This usuallyincludes access to forms and technical support through e-mail.
If you've never used tax preparation software, you may bein for a shock. Instead of filling out an online version ofthe 1040, the sites conduct an online interview. The inter-views are filled with easy-to- understand but very detailed
After more than a decade of leaving its users unable totransfer. their e-mail from its proprietary software, AOL
switched gears a while back.
AOL now lets its customers read and send its e-mail usingsoftware such as MS Outlook, Outlook Express and Eudora.
For example, in outlook you just click on Tools and E-mailaccounts and then set up an AOL account using IMAP, ORInternet Message Access Protocol. AOL customers get de-tailed instructions for making the switches by using the key-word Microsoft Outlook Type Control +K to call up thesearch box.
You might need to move your saved e-mail into differentfolders on AOL before you can use the software to retrivearchive messages, but this is a simple matter of draggingand dropping notes.
Remember that to drag and drop large numbers of messages,select the first one and then scroll down to the last one andthen hold down the Shift key and click on it. This will paintall the e-mails (highlight) so that you can delete them ormove them. I am confused about the new DVD formats, and in
one recent article I’ve read was discussing them hasonly added to my confusion. In the article, it says some-one has recorded photos to a DVD+R disc and that heisn't able to see them from any of his computers or hisDVD player. It was mentioned that the disks which wereneeded should use ISO 9600 to "finalize" the DVD, andthat it will then be able to play in other PCs as well asPlayStations and DVD players. Could it be that theDVD+R disc used was wouldn't work because onlyDVD-R compatible drives/players were available? Oris it perhaps that a DVD+R disc could be made to workin a DVD-R player if the disc is finalized?
Q
8 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
(Komando, continued on page 6)
(You can read my weekly syndicated column in over 100 newspa-pers across the country. I also host the three-hour weekend KimKomando Show. Every weekday you can hear my "Daily Com-puter Minute." I write a weekly column for USA Today, too, as youcan read my weekly syndicated column in over 100 Gannett news-papers across the country. Copyright C 2003, WestStar TalkRadioNetwork. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
February : Sites of the Month
Got a great site you’d like to showcase here?Send yours in to our staff at: [email protected]
The ever-popular Internet providesvast amounts of information to users.Newsbits will feature many popularInternet activities, sites and Internetaddresses available and offer briefdescriptions for your cyberspace plea-sure. Here are this month's hottestInternet sites. Check them out!
questions about income, interest earned, stock op-tions, real estate holdings and so on.
The programs do a good job of holding your hand. But ifyou're used to zipping through the forms, you may find thenumerous questions tedious and repetitive. If you get tired orbored, you can stop at any time and return later.
If you used an online tax preparation sitelast year, you might be able to import lastyear's income tax information into thisyear's forms. But you'll have to use thesame site you used the previous year.
Sites may urge you to upgrade to a highertier of service. But you are under no ob-ligation to do so. However, you may findthe basic tier inadequate.
For example, H&R Block offers 50 percent off its premiumonline tax program. This gives you free 24-hour technicalsupport, access to an interactive video library, a free phone ore-mail session with a tax advisor, and other tools.
Most sites will import your federal data and electronicallyfile your state tax forms for a fee. The cost varies from $6 to$20. If you want to fill out the forms yourself, some statesallow you to file electronically. You can get state Web linksfrom the IRS for more information at: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=97558,00.html
One of the great advantages of filing electronically is a fasterrefund. Your bank account could see a nice bump in less thantwo weeks.And your return will not be lost in the mail. You'll receive anelectronic acknowledgement when the IRS receives your re-turn.
Finally, the companies listed on the IRS Web site agree toabide by rules and standards. So your return should be accu-rate and secure.
Later you could take that same phone and possiblytransfer contact informationfrom the phone to a computer.This is just one example.Bluetooth can be found inphones, keyboards, PDA’s,and even stereo headphones. Itcould potentially show upanywhere you have a wire toconnect two devices now.
(Continued from page 2)
(Continued on next page 9)
Welcome to the Internet Movie Database,the biggest, best, most award-winningmovie site on the planet. The Internet MovieDatabase (IMDb) is a HUGE collection ofmovie information, cataloging every pertinentdetail about a movie that includes who made itThe Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is aHUGE collection of movie information.and trivia about it. See showtimes & tickets,what’s available to DVD and video and muchmore!
http://us.imdb.com/Visited by over 25 million movie
lovers each month!
9 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
Members expected to hear “canon” firing from the re-enactment activities of the Battle of New Orleans whicwas occuring simultaneously with the meetiing. Per-haps the gunpower became wet from the rain?
Who wasn’t spellbound from the one and one-half hourpresentation of Corel’s Tanya Lux. No less than 7 pro-grams were demonstrated leaving one gasping for airto keep up!
There were periods of time when it became warmenough inside the meeting room, that the doors had tobe opened. This was January, but few cared!
Have any questions that you need answered in nextmonth’s Newsbits or online? Write me at:[email protected]. I’ll be glad to help (if I can)!
It’s the heartbeat of CCUG-PC!
Earn $5.00 towardsmemberships! Introducesomeone to CCUG-PC!
Didya Notice??!!At the January Meeting?
market share that once dominated the ap-plication marketplace. Nevertheless,WordPerfect could not hide its head asstrongly as it competes with a huge of-fice suite currently dominated byMicrosoft.
Tanya rounded out the presentation with Paint programswhich is tightly integrated with her Corel products. One ofthe products included Corel Knockout--a powerful "mask-ing" program that Tanya used to mask fine details such aswhale with water spray and animals with
(Corel, continued from page 1)
A
I’ve use Ulead VideoStudio 7, Pinnacle Systems Studio 7,and Sonic MyDVD software.
I really hope you respond, since this whole DVD+R ver-sus DVD-R issue has been a major headache for me andcontinues to be a problem for a number of my friends andfamily.
Wow, Anybody who uses that potent collection of dif-ferent home-oriented audio and video software should beanswering questions, not asking them. Let's hope I can addlight instead of just more heat to the massively confusingissue of recording CDs or DVDs on a computer and thenplaying them on conventional video equipment.
As you suspect, there are a fairly large number of DVDplayers, particularly older models, some of which havesecurity features that block them from seeing the boot sec-tor of a home-brewed DVD.
You seem to have such a dud in your living room. Whenone scans major lists of DVD players by capability, it turnsout that there are some machines that will be able to see aDVD-R that has been finalized but not a DVD+R and soon. Go figure. Meanwhile, new players are built by com-panies aiming directly at home hobby discmakers and in-clude coverage for the whole ball of wax. You can driveyourself nuts reviewing product models at places likewww.videohelp.com, but look on the top of the left side ofthat Web site for "what is" DVD.
Click on that for a useful glossary of DVD flavors andwhat machines they work with.
(Helpdesk, continued from page 6)
Is this something you need? Just like anything else withcomputers, the answer depends on whether or not it meetsyour needs. Do you need a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse?Not if the wires don’t bother you. Could you use it to linkyour PDA or Pocket PC to the computer? Yes and that mightbe the most likely scenario that Bluetooth would aid youin. If you are the type of person that likes portable gadgetsas much as your computer, Bluetooth may be something totake a serious look into. For more information on thestandard itself and some of the products that use it, checkout the following sites: www.bluetooth.com andwww.bluetooth.org
(Continued from page 8)
CCUG-
10 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
Fantastic Computer Tips
More Useful TipsWINDOWS: X-Setup Pro 6.6Set up Windows as you intended. Previously hidden
settings can be tweaked. Wizards assist you whenchanging configurations.
MAC: MacScan
Greg’s BrowserThe Mac’s Finder has always seemed clumsy. Greg’sBrowser alleviates that. It displays multiple folders side-by-side in a single window.
SHAREWARE PICK OF THE WEEK: (Try before you buy--smart software of all sorts...)
PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
Does the darn thing work?Yes No
Don’t messwith it!
No Does anyoneknow?
You Moron! Did You messwith it?
Yes!
YesHide it!
vYou poorB*****D
v
v
Can you blamesomeone else?
No problem!!
Yes!
No
>
>
>
Will theycatch you?
Yes!<
Destroy theevidence
<
No
No
Chuckles
Chuckles
Chuckles
Chuckles
Chuckles
Chuckles
Chuckles
Chuckles
Chuckles
Chuckles
Updating Registry without rebooting
Here's how to update the Registry without rebootingWindows:
Press Ctr-Alt-Del, select Explorer, and click End Task.When Windows asks if you want to Shut Down, clickno, then click End Task at the next prompt. Soon youshould see the Start menu and Task Bar reappear asWindows starts the Explorer shell again.
Removing listing of programs from Add/Remove
If you remove an installed program and its files by de-leting the files, it may still show up in the Add/Removeprograms list through the control panel. In order to re-move it from the list (so you don't need to re-install inorder to just remove it again).
(Warning: This procedure, of course, this is either forthe skilled registry “pruner” or the nervey, confidentavid enthusiast who knows how to back up his registryand/or is capable of restoring the registry if needed!)
1.Start the Registry Editor2.Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE /Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion / Uninstall3.Delete any programs here.
This will only delete them from the list, not delete theactual programs.
Only programs designed for Windows95 will show uphere in the first place.
11 CCUG-PC Newsbits, February, 2005
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This publication is the monthly newsletter of the ChalmetteComputer Users Group-PC (CCUG-PC). The CCUG-PC, itsofficers, newsletter editor, and contributors express absolutelyno warranty for material published herein. This disclaimer ex-tends to all losses, incidental or consequential, from its use, orinability to use any or all information contained in any issue of thisnewsletter. Opinions expressed are those of the author and notnecessarily those of the CCUG-PC.
CCUG-PC's annual membership dues are $25.00.Please keep abreast of your membership duesdate. You can determine your expiration date bydoing the following:1. Check your Newsbits mailing address label.2. Inquire at the membership table.3. Remember your dues date from the time you
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Advertising Policy—Members are welcomed to placean advertisement for personal computer-related itemsin Newsbits at no cost. There could be limit-spacing ona first-come basis. Commercial ads from members andnonmembers are welcomed. For placement of memberads, call:
Jerry Montalbano, Editor at 279-2761
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Have you a tip for a great utility, a cool website, acure for a PC problem a lot of people have, or anylocal technology new? Please have them send it toJerry Seregni ([email protected]). If Jerry uses it fora 'Digital Gumbo' segment, he will send them a to-ken of his gratitude and give you credit on-air!
Any of you who haven't joined theCCUG-PC Yahoo Online Group aredoing yourself and your PC a dis-service. .
With all the things that are packed intoa limited time frame for the monthly
meetings we can't possibly answer all your questions fully ortell you: the latest news and virus alerts, software bugs andpatches, scams, trojans, spywares, new technology,workarounds, new software, great sites for pc resources, hard-ware and software bargains, the many MS bulletins that comeout each month and more.
There's no time limit on our CCUG-PC Yahoo Online GroupWe have over 400 members from all around the world whowill take all the time needed to get your questions answeredand your problems solved. You can post anything pc relatedand if it needs a reply check back at your convenience and seeif anyone has one for you.
It also takes some of the stress off of Jerry and other techs asthey can respond when time is available and not have to rushto something else to keep on schedule.
This is the best Free Support you'll find anywhere and youcan do it from work or home! Try it, you'll like it.
Buster Matthews, Yahoo CCUG-PC Online Moderator
The latest Plan: In the past, for every new member youbrought in you would get a $5.00 credit when you renewedyour dues. Now, for every new member you bring in, youwill get a $25.00 credit toward your dues. Yep, bring in onenew member you have a $25.00 credit; bring in a second newmember and you will have a $50.00 credit you can use torenew your dues. That’s the same as a two-year membershipat no cost to you. For now, we are going to give this idea atest run for one year; running through March 31, 2005.
Married and Families: You can now be a member under thefamily plan. Here is how it works: For the cost of one mem-bership you can have your whole family as a member ofCCUG-PC. Everything is the same as if your family were asingle member; one newsletter, one white ticket, one red ticketand one place to sign on the sign-in sheet. But your wholefamily gets the benefit of being a member of the group.
Well, any couples that have renewed their dues since the firstof this year will receive a credit for any amount above thecost of one membership. It's a good deal folks, take advan-tage of it and bring some friends to the meeting. They maylike what they see and join, and then everybody wins! --MW
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