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 - 04/14/Y2K Green Computers; Sonnet; Privacy Illegal?; Corel; HomePlug; Byte **** Looking for a green computer? Wondering which manufacturer has the best recycling policy? Well, the Clean Computer Campaign did a survey. While Apple (recycles batteries & toner cartridges) and IBM (has developed lead free solder) top the list, no one really has a good recycling program in place -- read the full report card. BTW - recently Massachusetts made it illegal to dispose of monitors, TVs and other electronic devices. You are required to take them to one of several recycle, refurbish centers around the state. **** Sonnet Speeds things up again For those of you who think your 68K machine is a dead end, there is good news. Sonnet Technologies this week started shipping its Presto Plus upgrade cards. They upgrade 68020 and 68030-based Macintosh models to access the Internet, and run memory-hungry and performance-intensive applications under Mac OS 8. The card features OS-8 enabler technology, built-in 10-base-T Ethernet, a 66/33 MHz 68LC040 processor, and 128K level 2 cache, delivering up to 650% overall speed improvement. It also adds a 32 MB of RAM. Another version of the card is available with a 68040. While these cards were designed for schools who need to get their older Macs on the Internet. I am sure they will help a lot of individuals as well. An 020 Mac can be purchased for less than $100 so it might be justifiable to purchase an old machine and upgrade. (Normally I don't advise this, but it would bear a closer look.)It is more likely that is a better alternative if you already own those machines. More details <http://www.sonnettech.com/> **** Privacy illegal? Wired has a great article about privacy issues. In the US, it may be illegal for you to turn off software that is monitoring what you are doing. To read more, see: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,35498,00.html **** Corel Ever since Metacreations announced they were basically getting out of the software business many of us have been speculating who would take over their terrific graphic programs. Well at last we have a partial answer. On 4/10 __ Corel and Metacreations announced a deal. Corel will take control of MetaCreations' Painter, Kai's Power Tools, and KPT Vector Effects. The last two are plug-ins for Photoshop and several other similar products. Corel will thus become a major Mac graphic house. Its CorelDraw has failed to garner a lot of support in the Mac world, so it really seems to be a win-win. Corel is even said to be in negotiations with the creators of Painter to help improve it. Adobe has picked many of the other MetaCreations products. Now MetaCreations will concentrate on e-commerce visualization products. **** Home Network Thirteen companies have formed the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. The purpose of the group is to set standards for networking over home ELECTRICAL outlets. This would be an alternative to the wireless networks that are starting to take off. The theory is that faster connections will be possible than with wireless. As wll as better security. Intel, AMD, Motorola, Compaq and several others are involved. But Apple is apparently staying with its wireless options. **** Byte Yes, Byte. While the hard copy version of Byte isn't around any more, it is available as a web publication. Fred Langa has an excellent column on new products including efforts by a few colleges to produce a CD player that plays music based on your mood. I guess it is the ultimate "mood ring". Any way, check it out at: http://www.byte.com/column/BYT20000321S0002 **** Due to being out of town most of next week. (Boston) I will not produce a Info Manager column for 4/21. But keep those cards, letters and e-mail coming. Quote of the Week: "The Internet will catastrophically collapse in 1996." - Robert Metcalfe, inventor of the Internet **** Web site of the Week: One of my favorite hobbies is cooking. So when Internet World on 4/6/2000 announced the "Best entry into the Internet by a brick-and-mortar company" as the Williams-Sonoma web site, I had to take a look. It truly is an elegant site as fits their image. If you are into cooking and gourmet foods, check it out. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/home.cfm 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. 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. 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