Info Manager for April 29, 2002

[*]  Mac vs PC in Schools;   [*]  StartupSounds CD;   [*]  Fun Web Site;   [*]  Internet via Satellite to Mac;   [*]  Apple = Satanism;   [*]  Rumor of new PowerBook;   [*]  Microsoft Laughs;   [*]  Upgrade your ATI card.;   [*]  Educational software for grade school kids;   [*]  View PowerPoint Slides;   [*]  Daily Internet Radio Show;   [*]  SPAM from YOUR Outbox;   [*]  Fifth Monday: Info Manager Specials;   [*]  MUG Sites of the Week: Waterloo MUG;   [*]  Web sites of the Week: Teoma;   [*]  Web Site Follow-up:;   [*]  Quote of the Week: Herm Albright;  
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Mac vs PC in Schools

Randy Singer sent a promotion message to the Mac EvangeList about his guest editorial on the AnchorDesk entitled: "How schools are tricked into using PCs--when Macs are better". I had glanced at it previously, but gave it a more serious read after getting his message. His SIG on that had a neat quote: "I didn't open the ad for Microsoft's Visual Studio.Net that appeared in the March 2002 issue of New Architect (p.9). I was afraid of what I might inadvertently be agreeing to by breaking the seal." - George S. Williams. I remember when opening a box of software we would find a legal looking document that said "By opening this box you agree to ..." So he has a point there as well. His school article is at:
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2846571,00.html

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StartupSounds CD

Not happy with all the press he has been getting, John Swerdan has sent out an e-mail to Mac user groups introducing himself and giving links to the reviews of his songs. He missed the UGN stories from the last couple of months, but he deserves to be mentioned again. (BTW one of his songs is on the MacAddict CD) Here are the links he mentions: Tech TV appearance: http://homepage.mac.com/aquaguy/.Movies/ttv.mov Wired.com: http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,50161,00.html MacDirectory: http://www.macdirectory.com/4U/4002226/ USATODAY.com: http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/2002/02/04/hotsites.htm His Site:
http://www.startupsounds.com/

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Fun Web Site

Here is a web site mentioned by Brian Bay in the MacWoburn mail list. Send it to your Windows friends:
http://www.yaromat.de/macos8/

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Internet via Satellite to Mac

Ron Carlson of Insanely Great Mac has published an article about connecting to the Internet via Hughes Network Systems' DW4020. It is expensive, but at least we are heading in the right direction. The story is at:
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=311

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Apple = Satanism

Glad they told me that this was a satire. It is so well done, that I could see some people believing it.

The Register had a story at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/28/24968.html
With the actual subject matter at:
http://members.truepath.com/objective/propaganda.html

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Rumor of new PowerBook

Remy Davison reported on IGM that Ogrady's PowerPage is predicting a new PowerBook at the end of April. Jason is saying that it will be a 667 MHz and 800 MHz will debut at that time. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, you can read his story at:
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=318

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Microsoft Laughs

Want some chuckles at MS Expense? See the "Totally Unauthorized Microsoft Joke Book" web site at:
www.msjokebook.com

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Upgrade your ATI card.

If you have an ATI graphics card in your mac, it is nice to know that ATI is now offering an upgrade option. Find out more at:
http://www.ati.com/shopati/traderebate/tradeupmacFAQ.html

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Educational software for grade school kids

RiverDeep.net had free software for kids in early grades school Even some pre-school software. Check it out at:
http://www.riverdeep.net/products/downloads/free_downloads.jhtml

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View PowerPoint Slides

Microsoft has long provided a viewer for its PowerPoint files. I just discovered that the viewer for PowerPoint98 is available. Download it if you don't have the full application. That way MS will keep it up to date.
http://www.microsoft.com/MAC/download/OFFICE98/powerpoint98viewer.asp

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Daily Internet Radio Show

Well, it might be to much to actually call it a show, but the folks at AppleAudio.com have been doing a daily news broadcast since October of 1999. Check it out and maybe even subscribe to the archives for $6.95 per year.
http://www.appleaudio.com

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SPAM from YOUR Outbox

Fred Showker recently pointed out on the UGN Info mailing lists that SPAM artists have a new trick up their sleave. Namely, that they somehow get you to forward their SPAM without you ever seeing it. He noticed that his Outbox had some mail in it when he hadn't prepared any messages. So beware of forwarding messages you don't know about. I had been automatically receiving and sending my messages each time I log on. (Several times a day). Now my software only receives. I will hit the "send now" button when I want to send messages.
You can see what the AACUG is doing about unsolicited email (spam) at:
http://www.AACUG.org/advocacy.html

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Fifth Monday: Info Manager Specials

The Fifth Monday report gives me a chance to mention again the Info Manager Specials. This is a monthly 2 page report that is available via a mail list to any user group member who requests it. The user group is welcome as well to republish it for their members under their banner with an acknowledgement. Here is an example of one special in the May newsletter to be published May 6th.

Broderbund Offers $10 off The Print Shop for Mac
Unleash the creative power of your Mac and save $10 with this exclusive offer. Sophisticated enough to handle most any print project, yet easy enough for anyone to use, The Print Shop will inspire your creativity. Packed with more than 11,500 premium images and over 4,500 pre-designed Templates -- including cards, brochures, calendars, labels, and much more -- you can easily design unique, creative projects for any occasion in just minutes. Plus, powerful, user-friendly features like integrated photo-editing and special text tools help you explore your creativity, while a built-in address book helps you organize and address all of your invitations, holiday cards, and envelopes with ease. Take advantage of this exclusive offer for Mac User Group members and get The Print Shop for just $39.99 (plus $5.99 for shipping and handling) -- you save $10 off the standard price.
http://www.broderbund.com/Product.asp?OID=4147509

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MUG Sites of the Week: Waterloo MUG

This UGN affiliated member is Waterloo (Ontario) Region Macintosh Users' Group (WatRMUG). They have a clean and interesting web site. I particularly like the way they cover meeting notes. This group of 50 people help to organize a Mac show in Toronto each year. Check out their web site at
http://homepage.mac.com/watrmug/

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Web sites of the Week: Teoma

Teoma is the latest search engine to come to my attention. Its new twist is that it will find "expert" web sites to answer your questions. I tried it by searching for "Home Networking" and got some really nice sites. Also got a couple of commerical sites, but I guess they have to pay the bills someway. The site is:
http://www.teoma.com

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Web Site Follow-up:

Just a reminder of a web site I listed a couple of weeks ago. Apparently it has been well received with the user groups:
http://home.wanadoo.nl/manual.man/manuals.html

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Quote of the Week: Herm Albright

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." - Herm Albright (via Information Week)

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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: 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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