April 1998 IN THIS ISSUE:
Save Your Searches Answer Wizard Rename Your Icons 'Save' Magic 'CD' Magic Windows 95 Resource Kit...FREE! Where's My Window? DOS Help Launch Mail at Startup (Re)formatting Diskettes FEATURE STORY: Downloading With Confidence ...also... From Russia With Love.....and Fangs Supply, Demand and Price: What's your system worth? Crashing Hard Drives: Do This Now! For Business or Pleasure: Associations on the Net $38,000,000,000 US Have Bookmark...Will Travel Mail 'Display'? The Right Stuff - Skills2000 Website Marketing "Parents' Guide To Net Filters" Back to MCM Systems newsletter index The sites referred to in this newsletter are only a few of the thousands that exist on any specific topic. We suggest these few, simply to GET YOU STARTED. Future issues of this newsletter may revisit related noteworthy sites. 1. Save Your Searches It's taken you dozens of queries in various engines, but you've finally found what you're looking for. To save you the time and frustration in repeating the process next time, just add the results of your search to your Bookmark or Favorite file. Some engines give you the option to save your search right on the results page. Study the page carefully to look for this option. Back to Table of Contents 2. Answer Wizard Click Help from within an application and go to the Answer Wizard. Here you can type/phrase a question using 'your own words' ! Click Search and the Wizard will return topics that relate to your question. Back to Table of Contents 3. Rename Your Icons Click on the icon you want to rename.....pause for a second.....then click again. You can now rename the icon. Back to Table of Contents 4. Save 'Magic' You're just about to save a file and you decide that you want to put it in a new folder that does not yet exist. Try this: In the Save File dialogue box, right-click the dialogue box. One of the options that appears will allow you to create a 'new' folder. Back to Table of Contents 5. 'CD' Magic If you create a shortcut to your CD-ROM drive, the icon will show you what's in the drive. Simply locate the drive (usually D:) in Explorer or My Computer. Right click on the mouse and drag it to your desktop, then release. Now click Create Shortcut(s) Here. Presto! Back to Table of Contents 6. Windows 95 Resource Kit....FREE! Here's a nice surprise. If you haven't already found it, the Windows 95 Resource Kit comes FREE with Windows 95. The file name is WIN95RK.HLP (it should be in your WINDOWS directory). If you can't find it, it's also on your original W95 CD in the ADMIN\RESKIT\HELPFILE folder. Sorry, if you've gone out and paid retail for it! Back to Table of Contents 7. Where's My Window? If you've accidentally dragged your window off the screen, press ALT and the spacebar. Now, type m (this will activate the Move function). With the arrow keys on your keyboard, slowly nudge the window towards the center of your screen. When you can access the title bar with your mouse, drag it to a safe place. Back to Table of Contents 8. DOS Help Type Help at the DOS prompt (C:\>). This will load a handy DOS help file where you can select a topic for more information on a wide variety of commands, syntax and their uses. Get familiar with this file if you work or play in DOS frequently. Back to Table of Contents 9. Launch Mail at Startup If you don't surf a whole lot but rely heavily on email for communicating with friends and collegues, you can set up Netscape to open to the e-mail window instead of the Web browser. Simply launch Netscape, click the Options pull-down menu, select General Preferences, then the Appearance tab. Under "On Startup Launch:" select Netscape Mail. Back to Table of Contents 10. (Re)formatting Diskettes The less you reformat, the better. To use an analogy, try recalling what happens when you tape a song over a cassette that you've used before. Sometimes, in the background, you'll faintly hear the original songs that were on the cassette. The same thing can happen on diskettes if your drive is not in top shape. You may not be able to write or read the new data you are storing. It is also recommended that you never reformat new, preformatted disks. Manufacturers optimize the magnetic surface of the diskette, before they ship it out. Adhere to these tips and you won't diminish the quality of the data that you store. Back to Table of Contents FEATURE: DOWNLOADING WITH CONFIDENCE Many of the articles we've researched and writen for you in the past, feature sites and resources where files and software are available for downloading. If you've been too afraid to download in the past, perhaps this feature will help you feel more comfortable about the process. There is a wealth of very useful information and software on the internet, that we want you to enjoy. But first, the basics. Downloading files from the internet is a rather simple process. A download is simply a transfer of a file from a host computer (a computer anywhere in the world) to your computer. At one time the process was complicated, but recent advancements in technology have made it very simple. Your web browser, will do most of the work for you. Netscape and Internet Explorer handle downloads rather efficiently and almost effortlessly. You should keep in mind though, that depending on which browser you're using and the version you have, the procedure will vary slightly. You should also have two additional pieces of software before you download anything. Many of the files available for dowloading can be rather large in size. As such, these files are often compressed or zipped, so they can be transferred to your computer quickly. If this is the case, you'll need a compression or unzipping utility. It is also a good idea to have an anti-virus utility that can detect, clean and/or delete potential viruses that can exist in the files you download. Always check downloaded files before you open them! Files from relatively unknown sites pose the greatest danger. You should make it a habit of scanning everything you download. If you don't already have either of these utilities, we strongly recommend that you purchase them before you attempt any downloads. They range in prices, from $40 to $100+, but are worth the investment. Alternatively you can, yes...download, many different freeware, shareware and trial versions, from the internet. Can you see the problem here? Potential viruses and zipped files! If you're downloading from a popular and reputable site, you shouldn't have a problem. Visit the following freeware and shareware sites: http://www.download.com and http://www.32bit.com/software. (When you get there, you'll be able to search for the type of utility you need. Use keywords like "anti-virus" and "unzip". When you find what you're looking for follow the instructions in this article.) When you find a site that contains a file you want to download, simply click on the link, and the process will begin. If you're using Internet Explorer a box will appear that asks you what you want to do with the file. You can either open the file or save it to disk . If you select to open the file, it will first be placed in a temporary directory. If you choose to save the file, you can put it in any folder that you wish and view it later. We recommend that you save it first, then scan it for viruses. If it is 'zipped' you'll have to unzip or decompress it. If you're using Netscape, a similar box will apprear that says something like Unknown File Type. Choose Save File and select the folder in which you want to save it. You can also select More Info for other options. Again, always scan for viruses before opening files. If your file is compressed or zipped, your utility will guide you through the process of decompressing or unzipping it. Scan the files for viruses and you're ready to view your download. Utilities differ, so we can't offer specific guidance here. Read the Help or Readme files that come with the software, for more information. As you can see downloading files from the internet can be a very safe and simple process. Don't be afraid to try it. If you're still unsure, ask a more experienced friend to guide you through the process once or twice. It is 'really' very simple once you get the hang of it. Do yourself a favor and get familiar with the process. There's some great stuff out there, and we don't want you to miss out on anything. Back to Table of Contents FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE....AND FANGS If you've just finished reading our feature Downloading With Confidence, then you'll be glad to here about Net Vampire. This is especially true if you are a download die-hard. Russian netizen, Alex Skovkoplyas has developed a utility that simplifies and enhances your downloading experience. The program is a fully automatic FTP and HTTP file downloader. It comes with a timer/scheduler, resume function, drag-and-drop features and much, much more! It is specially designed to deal successfully with noisy servers and unreliable links, full of low-level code. It is loaded with so many features, it would be unjust to attempt to put them in our own words. So here's a sneak preview of what you'll learn and see about Net Vampire at the site: Download files:
Some more features:
Back to Table of Contents SUPPLY, DEMAND AND PRICE: What's your system worth? We spotted an interesting press release this week. It is reproduced in it's entirety below. This will be of special interest to those who are forever upgrading their systems. Or if you just want to monitor the erratic price changes in technology, you'll get the latest info here. The Free Market Comes to Electronic Commerce First Live Event Starts Today: Logitech Products San Francisco -- March 9, 1998 -- The ticker scrolling across the top of the emarketLive website (http://www.emarketlive.com) is the first indication to visitors that they are experiencing a whole new concept in electronic commerce. emarketLive is an online liquidator that allows consumers to buy computer hardware directly from top brand manufacturers--in an environment where pricing is determined completely by supply and demand. At emarketLive the prices for computer products are adjusted automatically as demand increases or decreases. If there is high demand for a product then the price will go up, and if demand slows down then the price will fall. When supply and demand reach an equilibrium then the price remains stable. emarketLive CEO Don Cowan calls this concept "@market pricing," and he believes it represents a new paradigm in online shopping. "You might not be interested in buying a new laptop computer at $700," Cowan said, "but imagine if the price fell to $300? I think a lot of people might take a second look at that kind of price. @market pricing allows buyers to experience the fluidity of the free market as it exists in the stock market and almost nowhere else." Cowan believes that emarketLive and "@market pricing" represent the purest possible implementation of Adam Smith's free market economic principles. These principles, which have successfully guided our country's economy for 200 years, are re-invented to meet the 21st century head-on. emarketLive utilizes a sophisticated algorithm that monitors the products that are currently being sold, and which is programmed to start dropping the prices of products that are demonstrating low demand, and raise those that are being bought more frequently. A ticker running across the top of the emarketLive site keeps visitors continuously updated on price and inventory fluctuations. There is also a Market Watch button next to the ticker that allows you to drop the ticker onto your desktop so that you can keep an eye on the market while working on other projects. When the price is right you can click on the product in the ticker and you're brought back into the market. Another feature of the site is the ability to make an offer on a product and have the item sold to you automatically if the price drops to your offer. You can experience "@market pricing" today by participating in a sale of Logitech products at emarketLive For more information contact Don Cowan at 503.620.9000, or Dan Monberg at 415.989.5483. Back to Table of Contents CRASHING HARD DRIVES: Do This Now! What happens when your hard drive crashes? Well, unlike most of the components that make up your computer, the hard drive is a mechanical device (not electronic). And as you know, anything with moving parts can sometimes fail. When your drive 'crashes', it is engaged in sort of, a head-on collision with what are called 'read/write heads'. The moving disk or drive is crashing with these heads. The end result is part of your drive being damaged and usually, data on that part of the drive becomes inaccessible. The most obvious indication of a crash is a computer that won't start. A 'startup' or 'boot' disk will allow you to re-start your computer and may allow you to fix problems and recover lost data. While installing Windows 95 for the first time, you were asked to create a 'startup' or 'boot' disk. If you skipped or ignored the instruction or bought your system with W95 pre-installed then you probably don't have a 'boot' disk. Creating one will allow you to re-start your computer if it 'crashes' (more on this in the future). To create a 'boot' disk for Windows 95, click Start, go to Settings then Control Panel. Double click Add/Remove Programs and select the Startup Disk tab. Click Create Disk and follow the simple instructions. If you're still using Windows 3.x, go to the DOS prompt and insert a blank formatted disk in your floppy drive. Now type a:setup /f . Follow the simple instructions. If you think your hard drive has crashed, simply insert the boot disk in your drive and re-start your computer. Your computer will use the files and information on the diskette to re-boot your system. If this doesn't work, it may be time to call in someone with a little more know-how. Back to Table of Contents FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE: Associations on the Net One of the most frequently overlooked resources for finding specific information about your hobby, business or industry, are trade or special interest associations. There are literally thousands of them, each with very specific mandates. If you're in business, or thinking about starting one, trade associations can be a great source for sales leads, competitive intelligence, marketing research and industry statistics. If more than one company makes or provides it (whatever it is!), then there's probably an association for it. Many associations publish newsletters, trade magazines and member directories, that can provide a wealth of information. Why would a hobbyist need to find a trade association, you ask? Well, your hobby likely includes the use of some type of product, material or service (ie. tools, miniature models, paints, classic car parts). And if you buy it, someone makes it. If someone makes it, they likely belong to an association (The National Association of Widget Manufacturer's?). Members of associations that have an internet site, often welcome feedback from 'end-users' (you) about their products and often provide valuable product information on their sites. Whether you're on the net for fun or profit, try the Internet Public Library at IPL Associations on the Net and Yahoo's Trade Associations. Back to Table of Contents $38,000,000,000 US Bill Gates it the guy everyone loves to hate. In the first week of March he was worth about $38US billion (give or take a couple of million!). If you want to track what he's worth at any given moment, check out http://photo.net/philg/humor/bill-gates.html or http://www.quuxuum.org/evan-bin/sock.pl . You'll also find some other fun and interesting links about Bill, at these sites. Back to Table of Contents HAVE BOOKMARK... WILL TRAVEL If you're one of those people who have a PC at home, one that you use at work and perhaps a laptop that use while on the road, then this resource will be of special interest to you. A site called the itList now makes it possible to create one central bookmark or favorites file, that you can access anytime and from anywhere. And no, you don't need to copy or update your bookmark file on every computer you currently use. If you've been surfing for fun or business, for any length of time, you likely have a large collection of favorite sites that you frequent. Just save a copy of your bookmark file at itList and you have instant and easy access to it from any machine, anywhere. If you want to add a bookmark, simply email the URL to your personal file that you create at the site. You can easily set up the security feature so that only you can access your file. Or if you want to share your favorite sites with others, you can make it accessible to everyone. And of course you can browse other bookmarks submitted from around the world. Registration and setup are quick and easy. And best of all, it's FREE! Back to Table of Contents MAIL DISPLAY? Wouldn't it be nice if you could screen out any unwanted email that is about to infiltrate your Inbox, before you retrieve it? Well now you can. POP3 Scan Mailbox is the email equivalent to the 'call display' feature you may have on your telephone. It acts like a 'filter' that you may already be using, to purge unwanted junk mail. The difference is that you can quickly see the subject, the first few lines and who is sending the mail, before you download anything. One of the advantages over the usual filters available in most email software, is that you won't accidentally delete/filter any messages you really want, since you can preview them first. If you subscribe to numerous lists, this can be a handy tool that can help you delete unwanted subjects and/or threads. This is definitely a time-saving utility. And once again, it's FREE. Back to Table of Contents THE RIGHT STUFF - Skills2000 Ever wonder if you have what it takes, to enter the high-tech job market? At Skills2000, Microsoft will help you find out. The site offers an aptitude test that will help you determine if you have the potential to enter the high-tech arena. This site is interesting because it dispells many common myths about the types of skills that are required to secure employment in the industry. Eight different careers are identified, along with the necessary skills that are needed in each. If you lack any of the required skills, the site also discusses courses that can help make you more marketable. If you spend more that a few hours per day tinkering, testing, fine-tuning or delving into areas that most are afraid to, then you just might have the right stuff. Check it out! Back to Table of Contents WEBSITE MARKETING If you currently have an online business presence or are planning to in the future, SITEOWNER-The Ultimate Bookmark for Web Site Marketers, offers some tips and analysis that might help. Here you can announce your Web page to seven search engines FREE! They include Excite, HotBot, Lycos, AltaVista, InfoSeek, Open Text and WebCrawler. The site also analyzes your Meta Tags. If you don't have them, you can create them on the spot. You can also check where your site ranks in various search engines, find out how many people link to you and analyze how fast the graphics load on your site. You can also subscribe to a FREE newsletter on Web site marketing. If you want a more comprehensive analysis, you can of course pay for the complete package. The site also provides additional links to sites and resources that can help improve you online presence. This isn't the only site that will help you fine-tune and announce your website, but it's a good start for beginners. Try locating similar sites and services with your favorite search engine. Back to Table of Contents "PARENTS' GUIDE TO NET FILTERS" The Internet is certainly a revolutionary tool that will change the way we learn and connect with the world. Knowledge empowers people to improve the quality of their lives and the quality of the communities in which they live. But this new medium, used irresponsibly, can have a negative impact on those who use it...specifically children. The people at DOWNLOAD.COM are doing their part in helping parents make informed decisions and choices about how to protect their children. They have prepared a feature called, "The parents' guide to Internet Filters". It addresses the issues surrounding the seamy side of the Internet and the dozens of 'filtering' software products that are available, that may help. Hat's off to those interested in responsible and informed decision-making! Back to Table of Contents 'Til next month... |
