User group Newsletter Editors: Utilize this content in your newsletter -- PLEASE ... reference The User Group Network _ / _ UG Network Channel _ / _ NEWS_/ _ Info Manager Shareware Manager is coming: YUM! Show us the shareware! The Info Manager is looking for your rumors and tidbits... give him a post! ...or subscribe... see subscription notes below Info Manager - 8/04/Y2K Free Internet Service; Record Crowd; Handwriting recognition for OSX; Qube vs. Cube; **** Recently one of the Dallas Mac user groups looked at the possibility of turning its BBS into an ISP. It was quickly decided that becoming an ISP wasn't the way to go. A better service to members would be to let them know of the availability of free service providers. I have been doing research on that and here are the ones I found: (Note: I have not used any of them and have NO recommendations.) Free Internet Service Providers PC & Mac: * FreeLane via Excite http://freelane.excite.com/freelane/ * AltaVista http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/altavista/index.html * Lycos http://free.lycos.com/ * Dial Free http://www.dialfree.net/ PC Only: * Bluelight.com http://www.bluelight.com * NetZero http;//www.netzero.com * Freewwweb http://www.juno.com/about_freewwweb/index.html * FreeDSL http://www.freedsl.com * Family Connect http://www.familyconnect.com/free/default.asp?RN=R7229 For a general web site dedicated to Free Surfing, see: http://freesurfing.tripod.com/isps.htm They also have a page for free telephone service. **** Record Crowds at MacWorld Expo-NY Insanely Great Mac, quoted IDG World Expo that had a record number of attendees. According to IDG, the Expo had over 61,000 attendees, a record for an east coast MacWorld. (I was hoping Boston would keep that record and give IDG and excuse to move back there.) The show had almost 400 exhibitors, and covered nearly 295,000 gross square feet. Last year the show had only 45,000 attendees probably the difference is greatly explained by the introduction of a number of free tickets this year. IDG now claims the show is the second most attended IT event in New York. I assume that PC Expo is first. The San Francisco show had 85,000 in attendance, with 500 exhibitors. Think we can go for 100K in 2001? The San Francisco show made MacWorld the largest IT event in San Francisco.(January 9-12, 2001) **** OSX controlled by handwriting ZDNet is reporting that Apple is designing MacOS X so that it can be controlled with a product code named Rosetta Stone that uses its handwriting recognition technology originally developed for the Newton. Reportedly the new product is to be called InkWell. It would be nice to see Apple use that technology. I am really curious how you use a pen to surf the net though. **** Qube vs. Cube ZDNet is reporting: " Cobalt Networks Inc., manufacturer of the Qube server appliance, alleged on Friday that Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) had infringed its trademarks. Cobalt's Qube, which was launched in May 1998, is a deep blue, 7-inch-square server for hosting Web applications. " This maybe a difficult law suit for them to win as NeXT had its cube shaped computer in 1988, 10 years before the Qube. For the full story, complete with photos of each, see: http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2609260,00.html **** GlobalPC I mentioned GlobalPC once before. They are a company that is producing 486 computers with large hard drives using GEO OS to get people on the Internet at an inexpensive price. An advertisement that reminds one of Apple's 1984 commercial can be viewed at the Ad Critic: http://www.adcritic.com/content/global-pc-no-exit.html **** A $1500 486 Yes, you got that right $1500 for a 486 computer from Tigit Computer. It comes with a 66 MHz processor and with 16 MB of SDRAM. The reason is, it is a 2.75" 3 oz computer. There is an expansion card that will allow a standard SVGA connection as well as other standard ports. Sounds like a cool device. Bet Apple could make one with an 040 that would be that small as well. Picture at: <http://www.tiqit.com/computer/> Specifications: <http://www.tiqit.com/computer/specifications/> **** Web Site of the Week: From my nephew in Tulsa "Hey just thought I'd let you know about a cool site that I found about six months ago. You ought to put it in the Info Manager. It uses flash and only flash! It's at www.balthaser.com. Click on the "B" with the circle around it. It is awesome." -- J. David Wegley, Co-Founder S.W.O.R.D. Broadcasting You should check it out, it is amazing what these folks can do even over a 33.6 modem. **** Quote of the Week: If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible... what wine is so fragrant, so intoxicating, as possibility! ----- Soren Kierkegaar pau **** Don't forget ... the Info Manager invites you to use all or part of his column in your user group newsletter. Please let him know, and if possible send an electronic copy for the old scrapbook. Any suggestions for topics and reports of rumors are always welcome. Please me know. Thanks 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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