The Naked PC - http://www.TheNakedPC.com
What You Need to Know about All Things PC
Publisher:           Lee Hudspeth and T.J. Lee
Editor in Chief:     Dan Butler
Contributing Editor: Al Gordon
This issue is for Thursday, May 11, 2000 - Vol. 3 No. 10
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Table of Contents

** 01. Letter from the Publisher
** 02. Windows 2000 3rd Party Utilities (by Al Gordon)
** 03. Cell Phones, Getting the Right One: Part 1 (by Lee
       Hudspeth)
** 04. Computer Aided Mind Maps (by Dan Butler)
** 05. Are You Ready For Online Trading? (by T.J. Lee)
** 06. Featured Web Site - The Sci-Fi Chronicles
** 07. Featured Product - The TUGOffice Multimedia Thingy
** 08. Featured Book - "Access Database Design & Programming"
       (by Steven Roman)
** 09. Newsworthy - a potpourri of current events and
       interesting stuff
** 10. We Get Mail


** 01. Letter from the Publisher

We're still pushing to get every TNPCer to recommend this
newsletter to at least one person not already a subscriber. If
you could pass this issue along to someone (without spamming
anyone) we'd sure appreciate it.

In this issue you'll see Al has found some useful utilities that
have been upgraded to work with Windows 2000. Lee takes you on a
fast course on how to get the best cell phone deal around and Jim
shares his experience with online banking and stock trading. Dan
takes you on a quantum leap from outlining to the next level of
note-taking in his discussion of mind maps and some new software
that makes mind mapping on your computer a snap.

In the "we get mail by the truckload" department, many of you
queried Lee about using the receive window (DefaultRcvWindow)
speed tweak for cable modems as well as DSL connections. Lee
replied to as many as possible with this advice: Yes, go for it!
He also got this note back from Justin, founder of the
DSLReports.com site:

"The receive window tweak is very appropriate for cable modems
(and even more so for satellite). Anytime you have a setup that
has high latency and high bandwidth, the receiving end should be
able to maintain 'within sight' all the data that can be received
in the time it takes to ping the sender, otherwise it returns
'receive window full' signals to the sender, which slows down the
send rate, and so does not take full advantage of the link
capacity. Of course there is a downside: if there are packet loss
problems, large receive windows mean this is not recognized and
adjusted for quickly, so more data may end up getting transmitted
(and lost) and effective throughput can drop. Nevertheless,
people on faster DSL lines and cable modems can really boost
their download speeds by adjusting this from its low default
value. It's interesting that the biggest winners are Windows
users, typically other operating systems are configured right in
the first place."

As always, reader support is what keeps TNPC free, so please help
us with our subscription drive and pass a copy of TNPC on to co-
workers and friends (no spam please!) and remember to always say
"I saw it in TNPC!"

So now you know.


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** 02. Windows 2000 3rd Party Utilities (by Al Gordon)

OK, so I apologize.

A few weeks ago, in this space, I chided the makers of utility
software and other apps about their slowness to develop Windows
2000-compliant versions. Since then, I've had occasion to discuss
the situation with a number of utility technical gurus, and they
all had the same thing to say: blame Microsoft. The word from the
third-party vendors is that Windows 2000 was more than the usual
work in progress. Even the "final" code wasn't final. Several
companies tell me that last-minute changes were made, and the
third-party vendors didn't find out about them until after
Windows 2000 shipped.

No one is suggesting anything nefarious in Redmond; just that
Microsoft appears to have had problems coming to closure with
Windows 2000. Of course, this could just be other software
companies making excuses; but I heard the same story often enough
from disparate enough companies for it to be credible.

Anyway, with that as prologue, I can now report that the Windows
2000 utilities logjam is finally starting to break, and important
products are now starting to make their way to the market. This
is the start of an ongoing series of articles on the product
lineup.

As mentioned in our last issue, just out is Version 8.0 of what
is my all-time favorite utility, WinZip. I suppose it is
stretching the point to call this Windows 2000 related, inasmuch
as WinZip always has worked with Win2K. However, the new version
contains a number of interface changes that enable it to
integrate more smoothly into Windows. It also has a nifty new
feature that allows you to right-click on a file or files in
Windows Explorer or My Computer, create a zipped archive, and
send it on to your e-mail program all in one operation.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?util1

More truly tied to Windows 2000 are PowerQuest PartitionMagic
5.01 and DriveImage 3.0. PartitionMagic version 5.01 is a free
upgrade for customers who purchased 5.0, and is available for
download now. It is the definitive tool for resizing partitions
without erasing data, and is just the thing to reconfigure your
hard drive to handle Windows 2000. The new version provides
support for Win2K's new NTFS 5 file system. However, Win2K
support is limited to running from floppies. Native Windows 2000
operation won't come until the next version. PowerQuest officials
said they wanted to make Win2K capabilities available now and
work on integration with the OS later.

DriveImage makes bit-level copies of your hard drive, for backup
or for transport to another drive. I try to make it a practice to
create an image of my basic system configuration, and then burn
that image on a writable CD. That way, when the inevitable system
corruption takes place over time, I can minimize the time
required to restore a clean, functional system.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?util2

I'll have more to say about the PowerQuest products in a future
article, after I have put them to the acid test of using them to
reconfigure my system.

An interesting aspect of Win2K is that while the Big Fish in
utilities, Symantec and McAfee, are still at work on making their
suites compatible, some new players have gotten into the game.

Executive Software--which heretofore has specialized in
enterprise tools--has plunged into the end user market with
Diskeeper Workstation 5.0, a defragmentation program, and
Undelete 2.0. Executive Software provides Windows 2000's defrag
applet, and its knowledge of the new operating system is such
that it has been able to tightly integrate its product with
Win2K. Diskeeper incorporates what the company calls "FragGuard"
features that allow it to proactively monitor file system data to
prevent fragmentation, and it has a "Boot-Time Defragmentation"
feature for defragging directories, which the company says
normally cannot be touched during Windows 2000 operation.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?util3

It also adds the normal bells and whistles one expects when
purchasing a replacement for a Windows built-in applet:
scheduling, automatic operation, ability to defrag more than one
drive at once, and faster operation.

The company's undelete product replaces the Windows Recycle Bin
with a "Recovery Bin." As per the norm with this type of utility,
it relies on the fact that ostensibly erased data remains on your
hard drive until overwritten by something else. Your file system
perceives that the data isn't there anymore, but it is, and
Undelete tries to find it. The Recovery Bin has a no-nonsense
interface, which provides a drive and directory tree structure
limited solely to those branches where there are files to be
recovered. It is a more orderly array than the standard Recycle
Bin.

The same strictly business approach also holds for the Diskeeper
interface. The company's enterprise emphasis is obvious here.
Whereas consumer-oriented defrag products tend to feature
entertaining animations, in which flashing colored squares depict
data being rearranged, Diskeeper settles for boring, albeit
functional, bar graphics--long on performance, short on
entertainment value.

There is another interesting new entrant into the defrag
sweepstakes: PerfectDisk 2000 from Raxco Software. PerfectDisk's
defragmentation strategy is "Smart Placement," which is to
arrange files on your hard drive according to usage patterns.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?util4

The principle is simple: your basic program files (e.g.
winword.exe) almost never are modified, so they can be packed
away at the most distant reaches of your drive. Meantime,
something like your Outlook .pst file, which changes constantly,
needs to be placed somewhere where the defragmentation program
can readily consolidate it. This means that the first time you
run the program, the defragmentation will take a VERY long time,
but should pay dividends in future use.

I found that both Diskeeper and PerfectDisk did an effective job.
PerfectDisk's interface was somewhat more user-friendly, if only
because it offers fewer options. But Diskeeper got the job done
more quickly, and for me, minimizing downtime is always a plus.

You can reach Al Gordon at:
mailto:algordon@TheNakedPC.com


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** 03. Cell Phones, Getting the Right One: Part 1 (by Lee
       Hudspeth)

Jim and I recently wrote an eBay Magazine piece entitled "Choose
Your Cell Mate" (March 2000). Since that time I've been
approached by friends and clients alike, all curious about how to
get the right cell phone. It's a complex topic, and will take two
separate articles to address given the space constraints of the
newsletter. I'll list what I think the key questions are, in
order of importance, and I'll answer them as I go.

1. What are the most important features in a good cell phone?

First, a user interface (UI) that you grok on sight. If the
phone's display is too small, weird, or cumbersome, or its menu
too awkward for me to figure out *immediately* then I'm gone.
(Example: the Ericsson KF 788 that we reviewed for "PC Computing"
magazine in December of 1999 has such a bad UI, it reeks. As soon
as you power this phone up your brain goes "yuck.") Trust your
instincts on this.

Second, voice memorization (officially "digital voice dialing" or
"voice-activated calling"). The phone should be able to store
your voice speaking 20 or more names for dialing upon your spoken
command. I'm positively addicted to this feature. Also a great
way to impress your friends and bystanders when you flip the
phone open and tell it "home" . Seriously, please respect the
personal space of people near you whenever you use your cell
phone in a public place (and turn it off altogether when in an
intimate setting unless there is some overriding emergency or
safety issue that requires it being on).

Third, PC synchronization. You're not using your phone to its
fullest potential until you eliminate duplicate phone books and
stop keying in names and numbers manually. A good phone will
allow you to easily and quickly connect to your PC and download
your personal information manager's contacts into the phone's
address book. A synopsis of the key features to consider: which
Personal Information Managers are supported, ease of use of the
connectivity software (the best is FoneSync by Paragon), maximum
number of names in the phone book, and maximum name length.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?cell1

2. What cell phone provider should I use?

The answer varies depending on coverage in the area you call from
most frequently, whether you want a consolidated phone bill, and
another dozen or so factors shown below. Most important is
whether feature X is right for you. Don't get caught up in
"feature-itis" or you'll be paying for technology you don't use.

* Phone inventory - Look for a wide variety from super-cheap to
high-end.

* Caller services - These include a "message waiting indicator"
on the phone, voicemail, and caller ID.

* Consolidated statements - Many long distance companies that
also provide wireless service already--or will soon--conveniently
co-mingle these two bills.

* Paging and text messaging - You may be able to relinquish your
pager and save some bucks if you get the right cellular phone and
service plan. A convenient Web-based messaging center is a bonus.

* Rounding up - Beware! Most providers round up to the nearest
minute; a call lasting one minute and two seconds is billed at
two minutes. Provider wins, you lose. Not much you can do about
it except write a letter to the FCC.

* The contract - Read the fine print. Is this a long-term or
month-to-month contract? Also, can you do everything online, or
must you go to a local retail center? Study the termination
clause even if it's just a month-to-month deal.

* Signing up - Many providers charge a one-time activation fee
but don't like to talk about it until you sign up. Ask first.
AT&T Digital One Rate, a popular plan for high-volume callers,
charges $25.

* Getting out - Is there a termination fee? AT&T Digital One Rate
charges $10 for each month remaining on the 12-month contract.

* Plan details and fees - How many monthly minutes are in the
plan, how much, and do you get regional or nation-wide coverage?
AT&T Digital One Rate provides 600 minutes of nation-wide
coverage for $89.99.

* "Within plan" fees - What are the local, long distance, and
roaming charges (per minute) for within plan calls? For AT&T
Digital One Rate there are never any per minute fees for within
plan calls.

* "Over plan" fees - What are the local, long distance, and
roaming charges (per minute) for over plan calls? For AT&T
Digital One Rate the answer is $0.25/minute flat for any over
plan call.

* Caller services and paging/text messaging fees - Are these
features bundled or fee-based? AT&T Digital One Rate bundles them
for free.

3. How many minutes should I get in my plan?

If you don't have a plan yet, try this fun little game. For two
days pretend you have a cell phone, in fact, carry around a
similarly-sized object like a pack of cards in your pocket or
purse. Think about who you'd be calling while you're stuck in
traffic, waiting to get your teeth cleaned, whatever. Write down
who you would have called and how long you would have talked.
After two days, add up the total minutes, multiply by 15, and now
you've got a rough approximation of how many minutes you might
talk per month.

If you've already got a plan and are hopping to another provider,
study your last three statements and determine your average
calling pattern. Write down each months' total minutes, alongside
the average, and take an objective look at whether this usage
level is really appropriate for you. Provider plans typically
vary as a function of total airtime minutes per month so when
you're shopping, be prepared to think in terms like, "250 plan
minutes per month for $39.99 per month." Be sure to determine
exactly what the per minute charges (local, long distance, and
roaming) are for minutes in excess of the plan ceiling.

In the next issue I'll address the remaining questions:

4. How do I compare costs between plans?

5. How do I decide if it's time to change to another provider?

6. What accessories should I buy?

7. What are some good Web resources covering cell phones and
stuff?

8. What's the best way to get someone who's talking obnoxiously
on a cell phone in a public place to stop?

You can reach Lee Hudspeth at:
mailto:leehudspeth@TheNakedPC.com


** 04. Computer Aided Mind Maps (by Dan Butler)

There are many ways to think on paper. You might use outlines,
notes, or slips of paper. One technique that is often talked
about but seldom seen is mind mapping as popularized by Tony
Buzan. Mind mapping starts in the center of your paper and
radiates outward with many spokes, one for each major branch of
your topic with spokes for each branch going on as far as you
need to go.

Viewing your notes as a mind map helps you locate information
quickly and form new associations between your data. Note taking
can be faster with mind maps and gaps in your notes show up very
easily.

I've used mind maps since the early 80s. People have made fun of
my maps but often borrow them when their notes prove inadequate.

The only problem was getting the results of the mind map into my
computer. The software product MindManager solves that problem
and brings the power of mind mapping to your computer. After
going through a very short tutorial you'll find it quick and easy
to create mind maps. Updating and editing the map is very easy
and the results are quite satisfactory. After you create your
basic map, move your spokes around by dragging them with your
mouse. Then connect topics that have a relationship. Mind Manager
can export your maps to HTML or RTF formats for easy sharing with
others who don't have the software.

I start by making a mind map on paper then transfer that map to
the Mind Manager software. This goes quickly and new ideas often
come to mind as I enter the data. With the map in place I add
notes, hyperlinks, and flesh the information out until the map is
fairly complete. If, for example, I'm mapping notes for a chapter
for a book a quick export to RTF converts my map into a file for
my favorite word processor. One annoying feature here is that I
can't export directly to Microsoft Word with heading levels for
Outline view. As a writer I find Mind Maps to be indispensable.
You'll find a great article titled "Mind Mapping for Writers"
here:
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?map1

I can use maps to quickly bring myself up to speed on topics I've
studied in the past. A typical map takes me about five minutes to
read and digest. Much quicker than digging through any
traditional notes I've made. The notes are still useful but the
map helps me pinpoint exactly where in my notes to start looking.

I've become especially attached to the HTML export feature. The
mind map format is perfect for planning Websites and their non-
linear navigation. Mind Manager keeps track of the relationships
and hyperlinks for you and turns out a nicely formatted end
product. It's become one of my favorite tools for prototyping a
Web site, something I do several times a day.

My notes from this issue of TNPC are at:
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?map2

Notice how all of the notes are easily visible without having to
put a structure to them. The other link on the page will show you
the Web site of the issue created by the export module in Mind
Manager.

If you just want to get your feet wet with electronic maps try
eMindMaps also from MindJet. eMindMaps has a much more limited
feature set but is only $29.99 compared to the $139.00 for Mind
Manager. The export features are more limited in eMindMaps as you
can only export your map as a Web graphic, text outline, or
bitmap graphic. The full-featured Mind Manager can import/export
eMindMap files should you need to share. The Internet
collaboration features are only available in Mind Manager.

I wish you could watch me demonstrate this software. Everyone
I've shown it to can't believe how easily you can become
productive with it or how quickly you can outline a project. I've
helped colleagues convert their own projects from notes to a mind
map format and it instantly shows missing data and pinpoints
areas for further research. The computerized mind map created in
Mind Manager allows links to existing documents, spreadsheets,
and presentations keeping everything in perspective. Am I excited
about this software? Yes I am. Have a look and see what you
think.

Mind Manager (English and German):
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?map3

eMindMaps.com (English and German):
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?map4

(For more information on mind maps read "Use Both Sides of Your
Brain," one of the books in our information-processing trilogy of
books mentioned in TNPC #3.02 -- Ed.)
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?amazon1

You can reach Dan Butler at:
mailto:danbutler@TheNakedPC.com


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** 05. Are You Ready For Online Trading? (by T.J. Lee)

Perhaps a better question would be is online trading ready for
you? Based on my experience you might not think so. Granted a
sample size of one is hardly a statistical tour de force but my
foray into online trading demonstrates some of the pitfalls.

Ever since online trading and online banking services became
available they have intrigued me. As an accountant I understand
the allure of being able to review accounts online and as a
banking customer I like the incredible convenience of being able
to move money between accounts with a few clicks of the mouse. No
trip the bank (which never keeps the same hours as I do), no
parking hassles, no lines. It's great.

But I also understand all too well that the World Wide Web is
definitely NOT designed to do the things we're all doing on it.
Sales transactions, banking transactions, buying or selling
stocks, and these types of transactions really require what's
called a persistent connection. The Web does not support
persistent connections and instead uses cookies (see TNPC #2.08)
as a kludge to work around this problem.

What prompted my sojourn into online banking and trading was my
recent move. In cleaning out the family files I came across some
stock certificates from long ago and once settled in the new
house I thought I'd use the online service E*Trade to sell them.
Despite e-this and e-that the new economy still relies a lot on
old-economy things like snail mail and the telephone. To open an
E*Trade account I found that I could not do so online even though
I had an online bank account with a bank that was "partnered"
with E*Trade for electronic transfers. So I had to mail E*Trade a
check. Actually, I had to fill out the E*Trade online sign up
form, which I then had to printout and physically mail to them
with my check. They wanted my signature on the dotted line.

Once the account was finally set up I called E*Trade to make sure
I handled getting the stock for which I had the physical shares
transferred correctly. I read them all the information and filled
out the certificate as instructed over the phone and mailed that
in to E*Trade too.

And a week or 10 days later the stock showed up in my online
account. But when I tried to sell it I got the uninformative
message that my trade "failed" and that I should call customer
service. I call and was informed that this happens sometimes and
that the company had put a "hold" on my shares but for $75
E*Trade would be happy to research it for me unless I wanted to
call the company in Germany myself and see what was going on. I
declined on both counts and asked to speak to the supervisor.
After some shuffling around I spoke with someone at E*Trade who
was able to determine that it was E*Trade that put a hold on the
stock.

Seems that I did not fill out the back of the certificate
correctly and I would have to send them a signed, notarized
letter after which, in a week or 10 days, I could trade the
stock. The wheels of e-commerce turn slowly apparently and I'm
still waiting for the hold to be released some 15 days later.

Meanwhile, I decided to try to transfer some cash from my online
banking institution (who you will remember is listed as a bank
that E*Trade supports for money transfers). I fill out the form,
which once again I have to print out and mail in. I wait the
obligatory week or 10 days and noticed one day that when I clicked
on the transfer option for my E*Trade it actually worked instead
of telling me I wasn't eligible for that service. You'd think
that E*Trade would have heard of email to let me know that I
could now transfer funds, but I digress. I transferred a few
dollars to see how it works. You fill out the form, review the
details, confirm the transfer, and receive a confirmation that in
2 to 3 business days (depending on the time of day you make the
transfer) the funds will be available. So far so good. I try
again with a slightly higher amount only this time I don't get to
the confirmation page.

The next day I'm overdrawn at my online bank. Seems that E*Trade
make the transfer all right, in fact they made it twice. I call
E*Trade and they offer to call my bank for me and straighten out
the problem. I sit on hold for a while and am told that I'll have
to call my bank myself. My bank is not perturbed at all and they
say they would have refused the second transfer anyway since it
overdraws the account. But it takes 24 hours or so for their Web
site to reflect the adjustments so I shouldn't let the minus
balance bother me. Un-huh. A day later they've straighten out the
problem with my account balance and only charge me $15 for
refusing the second transfer.

Despite all this I actually worked up the gumption to place a
trade with E*Trade just to give them a chance to redeem
themselves. I placed the order at 11:55 AM on April 25th. As of
6:00PM April 26th the trade order has not been filled. This was
for a commonly traded stock and E*Trade's explanation is that
"sometimes this happens."

This story serves to illustrate that while the Web and the
Internet have indeed changed our lives, there's still a lot about
the technology that's still sorely lacking. I don't think it's
time to tear down the brick and mortar banks and brokerage houses
just yet.

You can reach T.J. Lee at:
mailto:tj_lee@TheNakedPC.com


** 06. Featured Web Site - The Sci-Fi Chronicles

For those of you who knew the answer to last issue's secret
question you'll fall in love with this site at first sight. At
Sci-Fi Chronicles you can get a mega dose of old trailers and
commentary with videos covering any number of future topics from
robots in science fiction to odd aliens. Visit strange worlds,
future worlds, and just plain weird worlds! Brush up on your Mad
Scientist trivia or travel time in great old B movie trailers.
And if you run into Gort, be sure to tell him, "Klaatu barada
nikto!" for us.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?fsite


** 07. Featured Product - The TUGOffice Multimedia Thingy

This is an oldie but still amusing. Be warned! It does nothing
useful whatsoever. Way back in the pre-Internet world Lee and Jim
wrote a book called "Scary Three Letter Acronyms" that was wisely
renamed by the publisher to "The Underground Guide to Microsoft
Office, OLE, and VBA." To promote this book we commissioned the
creation of the TUGOffice Multimedia Thingy, which is a wacky,
silly, well, it's really hard to explain. You have to see it to
understand. For example, with the TUGOffice Thingy you can
experience the wonder of the Monkey Mode; turn on the Surf Weasel
option; hear a number of custom MIDI tunes that lend a certain
feeling to the experience; and, of course, everyone's favorite,
the OLE Object Shoot Out. Are you fast enough? Are you feeling
lucky? Did we mention that this Thingy performs no useful work?
Take an entertainment break and check out this free Thingy and do
dare to read the "literary interlude" you'll find in the help
file.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?fprod


** 08. Featured Book - "Access Database Design & Programming"
       (by Steven Roman)

This book focuses on the core concepts of designing databases
with Access, and the programming tasks relevant to that design
process. Roman has done a good job organizing his book. It flows
smoothly from a discussion of the entity-relationship model of a
database to introductory relational theory, database design
principles, queries, and programming. The latter topic includes a
good overview of the Data Access Object (DAO) and Access object
models, along with a primer on the Access programming language
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Since VBA is common to all
the Office 2000 applications--Access, Excel, FrontPage, Outlook,
PowerPoint, Word (even Project)--if you're new to VBA then what
you learn here about its syntax and editing environment will
apply to all these other applications too. A set of handy
appendices provide the following: a reference to the DAO 3.0/3.5
object model, a discussion of the quotient (a specialized type of
record selection technique), how to get the sample material and
examples discussed in the book, and a "suggested reading" list.
This book focuses on what you really need to know to develop with
Access, not everything you could possibly know. And that's an
important distinction.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?fbook


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** 09. Newsworthy - a potpourri of current events and
       interesting stuff

*-* Symantec, the maker of Norton AntiVirus, has a free fix for
those infected with the Love virus (or any of several
variations). One reason for this largess is that one variant of
this troublesome email worm/virus has a subject line of "Virus
ALERT!!!" that appears as though it's an email message from
Symantec tech support.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?news1

*-* Speaking of which, by now everyone not living in a cave
without electricity will have heard about the Love bug
worm/virus. There are numerous variants appearing. Watch out for
messages with "Mother's Day Order Confirmation" or "Susitikim shi
vakara kavos puodukui..." in the subject line. And never, ever,
double-click on an attachment if you don't know what it is, or
where it came from (especially .vbs--visual basic script--files).
Even if it's from someone you know, confirm with that person what
the file is; even then save it to disk and scan it for viruses
before you open it. If you need to update your anti-virus
software check out this article:
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?news2

*-* Microsoft is quietly implementing a media-less OEM policy
wherein computer makers will no longer ship a copy of the Windows
CD with their systems. Instead, users receive one of two options
for disaster recovery: a "recovery CD" that is locked into the
type of system it's going to run on or a hard-drive-based
approach where a "recovery image" of the OS can be loaded on a
separate partition. If you've ever had to set up a computer
running an OEM version of Windows you know this is very bad news
for users.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?news3

*-* The Justice Department and FBI have launched a World Wide Web
site on which consumers and businesses can report suspected
Internet frauds. If you feel you've been stung give a shout to
the Feds.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?news4

*-* Microsoft is set to release the fix to the fix for Office
2000 that will be known as SR-1a. This version supposedly
addresses the numerous complaints about SR1, which was reported
as being buggy or even uninstallable, especially on NT 4 systems
that had to be upgraded to Windows 2000.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?news5

*-* If you couldn't wait and have already installed the SR-1
patch for Office 2000 and are having problems with applications
refusing to run, check out this article in the MS Knowledgebase:
"OFF2000: Program Quits Immediately After Starting When SR-1
Update Is Applied".
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?news6

Have you come across something newsworthy? Drop us a line at:
mailto:hottips@TheNakedPC.com


** 10. We Get Mail

*-* Here's the best TNPC reader quote we've seen in some time
(referring to the recent Outlook email worm/virus): "I still
can't believe some sharky lawyer hasn't tried to sue Microsoft
for the lost time in companies due to their non-secure software."

*-* TNPCer Glenn M. wants to mention that with regards to last
issue's Featured Web Site "Home Radar" that not all areas of the
country are covered. Before supplying any address/Zip Code
information, visitors to the site should check out their counties
page to see if their area is covered.
http://www.thenakedpc.com/t/310/tr.cgi?mail1

Be sure to stop by the Letters to the Editor page for more:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/letters/index.html


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To Sybil G. in the IS Department! Here's wishing you a very happy
birthday. Many happy returns of the day! From Sid E. in Support
(you'll always be number one on my call list!)

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All Rights Reserved. The Naked PC is a trademark of PRIME
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ISSN: 1522-4422

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