User group Newsletter Editors: Utilize this content in your newsletter -- PLEASE ... reference The User Group Network _ / _ UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS_/ _ Info Manager The Info Manager is looking for your rumors and tidbits... give him a post! ...or subscribe... see subscription notes below Info Manager - 0003.03 Don Crabb; Ulitma; iMate; Silly Putty; MS Office 10 **** Don Crabb What can I say, Don will be missed. He was a true friend to user groups and Apple Computer in particular. (Although they might not have thought so at times.) It can be said that Don made a difference in the world. What more is needed. See Roger Ebert's article at: http://www.suntimes.com/output/obituaries/xcrabb.html Also, see archives at the MacShow Live: http://themacshow.com/macshow0301d.mov (streaming audio) **** Ultima I remember playing Ultima II on my Apple ][+ back in 1983. It was lots of fun. Well, Lord British has moved on to Ultima Online. On 2/24 they announced that they have 150,000 people signed up to play Ultima Online. Ultima Online ("UO") was launched in September of 1997 and pioneered what is now referred to as the massively multiplayer genre on the Internet. Electronics Arts is now the owner of the Ultima games and supports the online game at its Austin studios. Players represent 115 countries including such remote locations as Kazakhstan and Antarctica. The average player logs on to Ultima Online more than 21 hours a week and more than 50 percent of UO players log on every day. I know I don't' have that kind of time. And don't believe I would be willing to spend $9.95 a month to play Ultima, but then I paid more than that to play StarWeb via snail mail back in the 70's. **** Griffin's iMate ADB-USB converter This is from Insanely Great Mac (good newsletter by the way). "Griffin Technology recently posted the first public 2.0 beta driver for its iMate ADB-USB adapter. The new version adds support for more ADB devices, hot-pluggability and a new control panel. Additionally, version 2.0 also sports fixes for several known bugs. The latest version support dozens of various ABD devices such as mice, keyboards, graphics tablets, touchscreens, monitor calibrators and hardware dongles." More info at: http://www.griffintechnology.com/imac/imate_devices.html **** Silly Putty Turned 50 on 3/2/00. Didn't think it was that old. They have a new version that contains gold color in honor of the occasion. Also there is a web site: www.sillyputty.com where you can see some of the imaginative uses for which it has been used. **** Microsoft Office 10 for Mac? MacWorld is reporting that Microsoft has several ambitious goals for the next version of Office 1) enhance user collaborative options 2) leverage rich-voice technology 3) further the company's foray into the application-hosting arena. Its code-name, Office 10 probably means it will require OSX to run. Microsoft seems to like to require the high end machines. Guess that is so they can complain about low sales. It is scheduled to ship before the end of the year. (Note: my personal Mac won't run Office '98 - guess I will need to upgrade one of these days.) **** Quote of the Week: "Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." ----- Dr. Harriet Braiker **** Web site of the Week: I didn't hear about this one until last week's column was submitted. How about a web site for people born on 2.29. Yep, for Leap Babies. Founded by Raenell Dawn born on Feb. 29, 1960 as part of the Honor Society of Leap Day Babies. Check it out at: http://www.leapdaybabies.com. BTW - If anyone know where I can find the web site for Sherman On the Mount, the '80s strip about a positive thinking friar. Please let me know. pau **** Don't forget Any suggestions for topics and reports of rumors are always welcome. Please me know at the address below. Thanks ... the Info Manager invites you to use all or part of his column in your user group newsletter. Please let him know at rumormangr@aol.com and if possible send an electronic copy for the old scrapbook. **** SO HANDY IT'S DANDY. Learn to build, repair, decorate, and in short, make yourself useful around the house with the tutorials at http://www.learn2.com . You can even learn how to properly build a snowman. (If you're in a warmer clime at this time, file this for future reference.) Another nice site is http://www.doityourself.com , and I particularly like the bulletin board described as "The Original Community Forum for Do-It-Yourselfers." Subscribe to Rumors@lists.user-groups.net DIGEST VERSION: rumors-digest@lists.user-groups.net (recommended) rumors-on@lists.user-groups.net for more information go to: http://www.user-groups.net/ugcommunity/subscribe.html The Info Manager is a veteran of the UGN (AOL User Groups Forum) and User Group Network. He's been a supporter and volunteer on many, many UGNet and User Group Academy projects. As a long time user group member, he's served as volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and many points in between. Currently working with the Apple Corp of Dallas, the Dallas Mac Pack, Cowtown MUG of Ft. Worth and TUMS (the Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society) doing newsletter articles and the monthly CD-ROM Update. UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS _ / _ UG Library _ / _ UG Bookshelf To Advertise or become a sponsor -- Contact Jennifer -- Press Releases for publication -- should be directed to: UGNN News Desk at: UGNN News Desk. Article Reprints -- User Group Network Affiliates may reprint articles as long as full credit is given. Other Non-profit or non-commercial publications should contact us. The UGNN cannot guarantee accuracy or timeliness of articles. Many have been forwarded to us by field correspondents, or press release services. All care is taken to assure the accuracy of URLs and email addresses. 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