Info Manager for April 8, 2002

[*]  Mandrake Linux User Group?;   [*]  FM Pro to iPod;   [*]  Modem Magic 5.1.2;   [*]  Copy Protection;   [*]  Microsoft Office Protection;   [*]  AppleWorks;   [*]  Comic - MS License;   [*]  USB driver;   [*]  WOW Tour;   [*]  Bare Bones;   [*]  Anti-Unix;   [*]  HotBurn;   [*]  Apple Manuals;   [*]  Just a bit of fun;   [*]  Web site #1 of the Week: Plugin Site;   [*]  Web site #2 of the Week: FairTunes;   [*]  Web site #3 of the Week: MacWeb;   [*]  Quote #1 of the week: Herb Kelleher;   [*]  Quote #2 of the week: Andrew Carnegie;   [*]  Quote #3 of the week: Benjamin Franklin;   [*]  IMHO (InfoManager's Humble Opinion)
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Mandrake Linux User Group?

Robert X. Cringely reported in his InfoWorld column that people who download the Mandrake Linux are asked to support the Mandrake Linux Users Club to the tune of from $2500 to $100,000. Robert failed to mention that was for a corporate membership. (Though that still seems pretty high for a "free" OS.) The individual memberships are only $60-$1200 per year. (Still high). And at this point there is almost no additional benefit for giving them the $1,200 as opposed to the $60. I guess it means you have less weight to carry in your wallet. Mandrake Linux is for Intel machines only. You can read all about it at: http://www.mandrakelinux.com

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FM Pro to iPod

Mac Network News (MNN) is reporting that a free utility allows users to export data from Filemaker Pro to the iPod. The story is at: http://www.macnn.com/news.php?id=13398
While the utility is at: http://www.dataparadox.com/files/products/

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Modem Magic 5.1.2

AppleLinks.com is reporting that the latest version of Modem Magic is available. It will optomize your modem setup strings to get maximum connection speeds. Full story at: http://www.applelinks.com/articles/2002/04/20020401130611.shtml Modem Magic at: http://mac56ktest.com/ http://mac56ktest.com/

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Copy Protection

Congressman Adam Schiff of California will introduce legislation soon in the US House of Representatives aimed at stopping media piracy, by using special chips in all digital devices. Senator Hollings will do the same in the Senate.

Which ever side of the issue you are on, you can let them know by going to DigitalConsumer.org at: http://www.digitalconsumer.org/fax.html

There are a number of media outlets that covered this story. A couple of them are:
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,51400,00.html
http://www.politechbot.com/docs/cbdtpa/ http://www.digitalconsumer.org/fax.html

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Microsoft Office Protection

There is an article at Network Computer magazine that tells how Microsoft enforeces the Licensing agreement on Office v.X. I personally don't see where this is a big issue. Perhaps someone can enlighten me. Even Filemaker Pro has checked the network for other copies with the same serial number. The story is at: http://www.networkcomputing.com/1307/1307rant.html

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AppleWorks

Our good friends at Insanely Great Mac has informed us that there is a new version of AppleWorks. This one will allow reading and writing of Microsoft Word files.
The story is at:
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=232 http://www.apple.com/appleworks/update/

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Comic - MS License

This is one of my favorite "high-tech" comics. "PC & Pixel." This one deals with Microsoft licensing. http://www.unitedmedia.com/wash/pcnpixel/archive/pcnpixel-20020326.html

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USB driver

For using USB input devices on your Mac under OS9 or OSX (OSX version in beta). From what I have heard it really helps on using devices that aren't normally supported on the Mac. (Mouse, trackpad, game controller, etc.) Check it out at: http://www.usboverdrive.com/

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WOW Tour

Jack Davis, author of the book Photoshop WOW! (from Peachpit Press) is doing a tour of the country doing seminars. He will be in Arlington TX at the Arlington Convention Center on May 17 and will be at other locations. To find out more, call 800-201-7323 or go to http://www.photoshopseminars.com

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Bare Bones

There were a number of good April 1st jokes pulled on the net. One of my favorites was the press release on Bare Software announcement of their Personal Analog Device. See it at: http://www.barebones.com/press/releases/2002/04.01-personalanalogdevice.html

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Anti-Unix

Microsoft and Unisys are sponsoring an anti-Unix web site. Until recently it was hosted on a Unix server. When this broke in the news, they quickly shut the site down and converted it to a Windows 2000 machine. There are several links on this
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=246
or http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/24681.html

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HotBurn

Iomega had announced a CDRW burning software called HotBurn. I would think it would be DOA except that they have priced it aggressively. So at $20 it is a good deal. Full story at: http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=238

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Apple Manuals

Recently on the Apple Corp of Dallas BBS, a member (Bob Eye) posted this link for obtaining PDF versions of old Apple manuals (User and Sevice). The are also available via Apple, but this appears to be a simpler interface. Thanks Bob
The direct Apple links:
ftp://ftp.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Misc/Service/servicemanuals/
http://manuals.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Manuals/ http://home.wanadoo.nl/manual.man/manuals.html

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Just a bit of fun

For a good laugh, see: http://hostpages.karoo.net/404.html Reminds me of Marvin the Paranoid Robot in the Hitchhiker books. I got the link from Insanely Great Mac. See their story at: http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=217 http://hostpages.karoo.net/404.html

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Web site #1 of the Week: Plugin Site

Ok, you need a Plug In for Photoshop or your browser. Where do you find it? Here is a web site that helps: http://wwww.THEPLUGINSITE.com

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Web site #2 of the Week: FairTunes

Are you feeling guilty about some of those MP3 files on your hard drive? Here is a web site that helps you support your favorite artists. Should help sooth your feelings. http://www.fairtunes.com/

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Web site #3 of the Week: MacWeb

LowEndMac has completed their best of the Mac Web survey, but are now trying to add "the Rest of the Mac Web". To participate or even find out about what is available, go to: http://lowendmac.com/botmw/020326.html

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Quote #1 of the week: Herb Kelleher

"Think small and act small, and we'll get bigger. Think big and act big, and we'll get smaller." - Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines

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Quote #2 of the week: Andrew Carnegie

"There is very little success where there is little laughter."

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Quote #3 of the week: Benjamin Franklin

"Well done is better than well said."

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IMHO (InfoManager's Humble Opinion)

I am going to take a week off from my spoutings. If you have any suggestions for topics, please let me know.

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News and Info you can use...

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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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