Info Manager for February 11, 2002

[*]  Grammy;   [*]  ProVue;   [*]  DSL, broadband;   [*]  Why the new iMac sucks;   [*]  Toshiba;   [*]  Tennessee School;   [*]  iPod on Windows;   [*]  Security Warning;   [*]  Microsoft Update Search;   [*]  IBM tests transformer computer;   [*]  iPhoto learning;   [*]  Web Sites of the Week: Superbowl Commercials;   [*]  Web Sites of the Week: MacLand;   [*]  Web Sites of the Week: MacInstruct;   [*]  Quote of the week: Alice Roosevelt Longworth ;   [*]  Francois De La Rochefoucauld;   [*]  IMHO;   [*]  Features Schedule;   [*]  Discuss it with the InfoManager;  
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Grammy

Apple has been awarded a Technical GRAMMY Award for its efforts in bringing the computer into the broadcast arena.
Full story at:
http://www.grammy.com/news/academy/020131tech.html

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ProVue

The UK paper, the Independent has an article about how ProVue has developed a contact manager for the iPod. I believe I mentioned it before, but it is really cool to see such a great company doing something to get them attention all over.
Full story is at:
http://news.independent.co.uk/digital/features/story.jsp?story=117978

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DSL, broadband

Are you interested in exploring the world of broadband? Then you need to look at www.dslreports.com. It will show you if you have DSL available and if you do, what ISPs will serve your location.
That's:
http://www.dslreports.com/

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Why the new iMac sucks

"A totally informed and unbiased account from our leading technical expert, Phil Clive Lover." A real tongue in check article that is fun to read:
Go to:
http://www.snub.dircon.co.uk/revert_to_saved/zealot_dumbass_net.html

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Toshiba

According to Forbes, last month Toshiba announced a new notebook computer that is only 2/3 of an inch thick and weighs only 2.6 pounds. It comes with a 20 Gig hard drive that is only 1.8 inches in size. Also has a 780 MHz Pentium III mobile processor, 256 megabytes of memory standard and a 12 inch diagonal screen. All for "only" $2200. One major surprise is: IT DOESN'T HAVE A FLOPPY. I thought PC users were expecting to use floppies for the next 100 years. There is 4 USB ports, so you can hook up most any device you want. (It also has a slot for the secure digital flash-memory cards.) It sounds a little expensive to me too, when compared with an iBook, but then it is nearly 1/2 the weight.
The full story is in Forbes at: http://www.forbes.com/2002/02/04/0204tentech.html

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Tennessee School

A 12 student school in Knoxville, Tennessee has requested exemption from teaching computers. They feel that computers are a distraction and not a help in the educational process. The move puts into question some state's requirements. For example North Carolina requires that first graders be able to send e-mail.
Full story at: http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/2002/02/05/techwaiver.htm

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iPod on Windows

In an article entitled: "Apple IPod: Coming to a PC Near You", IDG is telling how great the iPod is. With the only shortcoming being that it doesn't work with Windows machines. Then they tell about the MediaFour product Xplay. They even talk about how it compares to iTunes.
Full story at: http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=636389

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Security Warning

If you have been on AOL for any length of time, you have got e-mail directing you to a web site to claim a prize or get a special message. There you are instructed to enter you ID and password. Of course, this is just someone wanting to get your account info for their own use.
__ Now that process has migrated to eBay. The sender is CustomerHELP@eBay.com and appears to be an eBay department. But it works very similar to the above and is aimed at getting eBay information even possibly your credit card number. So watch out. Don't'enter you password ANYWHERE just because an e-mail requests it.
A full story is at: http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/174269.html

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Microsoft Update Search

If you are looking for updates to Microsoft Software, then the place to go is: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp You can search by platform and find all the updates available.
In total there are nearly 500 files available here.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp

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IBM tests transformer computer

This sounds like an update to the old Duo dock. But IBM Research is experimenting with a device called the Meta Pad that converts from a handheld to a desktop and back again. As a handheld, the Meta Pac is a 9 ounce wallet sized device. It goes into a desktop size box to provide keyboard and mouse and other peripherals.
Full story at: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-830274.html

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iPhoto learning

I got this notice via an EvangeList e-mail. Atomic Learning Library now has a series of free tutorials on iPhoto.
Check them out at: http://www.atomiclearning.com/freeiphoto.shtml

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Web Sites of the Week: Superbowl Commercials

- if you are like me, I usually find the commercials more interesting than the game. (This year may have been an exception if I had been watching.)
To see all the ads go to:
http://www.superbowl-ads.com/articles_2002/ingame-web/

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Web Sites of the Week: MacLand

A new site that aims to teach the new user what can be done on the Mac.
See it at: http://members.aol.com/visitmacland/

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Web Sites of the Week: MacInstruct

As long as we are talking about learning, I thouht I would mention again MacInstruct. They have a lot of tutorials for doing specific tasks.
See it at: http://www.macinstruct.com/tutorials/index.html

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Quote of the week: Alice Roosevelt Longworth

"If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."

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Francois De La Rochefoucauld

"Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire."

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IMHO

Wow, Fred Showker and I seem to be thinking in the same direction. He is presenting a new column called "This Old Mouse" focusing on making your "old" Mac more productive, tips and tricks for making the system easier to use and answers to readers' questions.
I'd like to point out that our members are not all using G4 iMacs. In fact, many are using 040 and earlier machines as well as pre "G" machines. Apple and many of the commercial vendors are not doing much to support those machines as it becomes less financially sound to do so. However those people can still get much out of their machines.
In fact, I was reading recently of someone still using a Powerbook 100. That is a 68030 machine that came without a floppy standard. ($200 external option.)
__ In my view point, user groups should do what they can to support their members that use these "vintage" machines. Help them to get the most out of them. It is still possible to get any machine that will run OS 7.1 onto the Internet. Although the monochrome machines won't show the pages to the best benefit and the user will be limited as to what browser they use. That in turn will limit access to some web sites.
__ Also, nearly everything that can be done on today's machines can be done on older machines. Just not as fast and not with the specific software. So lets help our members use their machines. And help them make the upgrade or purchase decisions.
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__ The InfoManager invites user groups to use his column in full or in pieces in their newsletter. Or add a link to their web site. He would appreciate word that you are doing so however and if you can, please send a pdf version of the newsletter for his perusal. Or provide him with a link. You can also use that address for feed back.
The address is
mailto:InfoManager@user-groups.net

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Features Schedule

1st Monday Vendor of the Month; (VOM)
* 2nd Monday "InfoManager's Humble Opinion (IMHO)
* 3rd Monday TBA (What would you like to see?)
* 4th Monday: User Group Tips. (Send them in)
* 5th Monday: Nothing extra - my day of rest. ;-)
Of course I could make adjustments to this schedule as I see fit and will take suggestions.
Have a great week!
Post your comments to the UGNN InfoManager at:
http://www.User-Groups.net/InfoManager/pssst.html

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Discuss it with the InfoManager

The InfoManager maintains and ongoing discussion list at UGNN. Join us, post your comments, rumors or information for publication. Or, just stop in and get acquainted.
To subscribe, go to:
http://www.User-Groups.net/subscribe.html

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News and Info you can use...

The Info Manager invites user groups to use his column in full or in pieces in their newsletter. He would appreciate word that you are doing so however and if you can, please send a pdf version of the newsletter for his perusal. Or just provide him with the link.
Use this address:
mailto:Infomanager@user-groups.net

or... our online Information form

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. Post a lead Info Manager should follow up on.

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