COMPUTER CLUB COMMENTS

ByPhillip Shuppel

President

How to Buy a PC

My advice is aimed at mainstream Sun City users: e-mailing, web surfing, word processing, personal finance, home photo and basic gaming.

You don’t need a buyer’s guide to choose a Mac. Apple’s eMac and iMac Macintosh models, which run the Mac OS X operating system, are probably the best for digital media devices. They come with built-in software for managing and editing photos, videos and music. There are only a handful of models, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.

I like laptops because of their flexibility and portability but they cost, on average, $400 more than a desktop. A desktop running Windows XP with the bare-bones, brand-name, will run from $500 to $600. Brand-names with more ample features cost in the range of $600 to $1,000.

Processor speed: The latest and greatest is faster than 2.0 gigahertz. Don’t buy that much speed because you don’t need it. Buy around 1.8 gigahertz. Save your money, I will tell you when to spend it! Buying greater then 1.8 gigahertz is like buying a Ferrari that can go 180 mph and driving around Sun City at 35 mph on the Boulevards. Also, don’t buy a Celeron if you intend to set up a home network or to use a high-speed internet connection.

Hard disk: A 30 or 40 gigabyte hard disk is all that you will need. 60, 80 and more will cost extra. Save your money, I will tell you when to spend it! Buying a 60 or greater is like going back and buying a bigger house; you don’t need it in Sun City.

Memory: Spend your money here. Memory or RAM – not processor speed – is the most important factor in computer performance. I recommend 256 megabytes, and up to 512 MB if your pocketbook can stand it. The cheapest machines often have only 128 MB of memory. UPGRADE to 256 before leaving the store.

Ask whether the PC’s main memory is shared with the video system. This is becoming common in moderately priced PCs, where the video circuitry isn’t on a separate card with its own memory. If the memory is shared, it leaves less main memory for general use.

Digital connectors: USB 2.0 connectors, also known as Hi-Speed UBS is a must. Don’t settle for USB 1 connectors. To connect a video camera and the newest high-capacity music players, you’ll need another fast port called the 1394, FireWire or I-link.

Mass storage: Look for a PC with built-in DVD and CD-RW drives (CD Burner). This will allow you to back-up or exchange files. If you have money left over, you may want to invest in a DVD recording drive. I would suggest adding a 3 ½ floppy if it is not included.

Monitor: Flat-panel LCD screens keep getting cheaper. The 15-inch flat panels now cost close to $200. Larger, 17-inch models can be purchased for $400 or less.

High-speed Internet: If you hope one day to use a cable modem or a DSL modem, or a home network, get a PC with a built-in Ethernet networking connector.

Brands and Models: All Windows PCs are similar but, unless you’re a techie, I advise sticking with name brands such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, eMachines, Gateway and Sony.

With the Holidays right around the corner I hope this helped. If you need more help, come to the Computer Room when COMPUTER HELP is scheduled.

Phillip’s Web Site Pick of the Month

This site is for all of you cheapskates. Have you noticed that your ink cartridges cost as much as a new printer with new cartridges? That’s because the printer manufacturers are selling the printers at or below cost. The manufacturers make money on selling the replacement cartridges. Well, here is a site that evaluates different remanufacturers of ink cartridges. Why go to Staples when you can buy from one of these sites at 40% less. Check out – http://www.inkjet-printer-cartridges.org. Some sites have free shipping and others want orders of $50.00 to $75.00 for free shipping. Get together with a friend and buy together to get up to $75.00 to get free shipping. Don’t throw that old cartridge in the trash; bring it to the Computer Room for the Lions Club of Sun City/Okatie. Waste not, want not!

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MAC SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

The Mac group will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 6, in the Computer Room. John Walters will do a presentation on “Creating a Photo CD for Families & Friends Using PowerPoint.” Any Club member is welcome to attend.

For more information about the Mac Special Interest Group, call Lynn Conley at 3906.'

GENEALOGY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

October will be a meeting of sharing. Please be prepared to share progress in your hunt for ancestors and other successes. It can be an ancestor you found (and how you did it), a good web site or other resource, etc. We will also ask for suggestions for the new computer year. So, give it some thought and be there on October 1 at 7 p.m.

For more information about the Genealogy Group, please contact Sharon Ede at 705-7987 '

MUSIC SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

The October meeting of the Music Special Interest group will be Monday, October 20, 2003 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. We plan to demonstrate recording a vinyl record to a hard drive, called in-line recording.

For information, call Diane Hutchings 7805 ' or e-mail to dianehutch@aol.com.

PROGRAMS

Have You Ever Talked To Your Computer?

Our October program will feature the Voice Factor Bundle, which includes the Dragon NaturallySpeaking program.

NaturallySpeaking is the most advanced voice-recognition technology on the market today. After only five minutes of creating a user profile, you can become a skilled typist by using your voice instead of your keyboard and a mouse.

This will be a very interesting program which will make your computing fun with no worries of carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back strain, repetitive strain or arthritis pain. With the use of this software, you can sit at your desk with your feet up, kicked back in the chair and begin dictating to your PC.

There will be a short question period following the program.

Note- If you have suggestions for future program topics, please contact George Weyhrich at weyhrich@hargray.com or Marge Simms at margerys@davtv.com.

MEMBERSHIP

Please welcome the following new members:

Agner, Cathlene........................... 2592

Allen, Jean................................... 7476

Anderson, Elaine.......................... 2546

Barlett, H. Elaine & Jack.............. 7259

Bescos, Michelle.......................... 298-2956

Boulden, Dave & Pat................... 7780

Cherwon, Carolyn........................ 4447

Crocitto, Janet............................. 3210

Davis, Natalie.............................. 3534

Delude, Joan................................ 5482

Doyle, Tim................................... 2350

Fearns, Bill & Sandy.................... 3475

Fitzsimmons, Joseph..................... 5246

Hansen, Carol.............................. 5205

Hunter, Barry............................... 2774

Leary, Raymond.......................... 7774

McLean, Ronald.......................... 6278

Meyer, Adele............................... 5470

Morgan, Gary.............................. 3320

Murden, Raymond....................... 2486

Rees, Mary Jane.......................... 3585

Riek, Jack.................................... 2178

Rogne, David............................... 3803

Shane, Paul.................................. 2178

Sheridan, Eileen & Gerry.............. 2515

Stearns, Anne.............................. 6676

Townshend, Janice & Will............ 7165

Wakefield, Linda.......................... 4714

Wells, Jim.................................... 379-9482

Commencing at the Club Fair on October 31 we will be accepting membership dues for 2004. As in the past, dues will be $20 for one person and $35 for two members of one household. December 31 is the last date that 2003 dues will be honored for classes or Club membership. See you at the Fair!

Any questions regarding membership, e-mail Diane Frazier-Ciravolo at disfc@aol.com or call 3841. '

NOTES FROM THE EDUCATION CHAIR

Class sales for remaining October classes and all November classes are Monday October 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Computer Room and Monday October 13 from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. in Pinckney Hall. Our wonderful volunteer instructors will be taking Thanksgiving week and the month of December off, so if you are interested in taking a class, NOW is the time to do it!

We have some old favorites which have not been offered recently returning to the class schedule in November. Bob Rasmussen will be teaching “How to Buy a Computer”, a must if you are thinking of purchasing a new computer or even wondering if it is time to upgrade. Sandy Tucker will be teaching both How to Make a Great Looking Letter and Mail-Merge which together will help you get a handle on all your upcoming holiday correspondence. For Mac users, Lynn Conley will be teaching Everything You Need to Know about AppleWorks.

We also have two new offerings in November. Jack Tucker will be teaching an Introduction to Microsoft Money. If you would like to get your finances organized on the computer to start the New Year this is your opportunity. Bob Rasmussen will be teaching Intermediate Windows, a sequel to his popular Beginning Windows class. If you are relatively new to PC computing the Beginning Windows class, offered in both October and November, is a must for you. When you have graduated from Beginning Windows and want to boost your skills, Intermediate Windows is your next step.

We have a new bulletin board for membership and class sales information. Next time you are in the Computer Room, be sure to check it out. If there are any classes remaining for sale after October 13th, sign up for those classes will be available in the Black Class Sales box during Computer Room open hours. Sales close at Noon on Saturday for classes starting the following week.

If you have comments, questions or suggestions for the Education Chair, please contact Robin Seaver (searobin@islc.net) or Diane Hutchings (dianehutch@aol.com).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEPTEMBER MEETING

Phillip Shuppel, President, called the meeting of September 9 to order at 7:00 p.m.

Tips and Tricks – Robin Seaver reminded the group that the Club’s website is www.suncitycc.org. The topic for Tips & Tricks was “Weekly Computer Maintenance.” What’s New? on the Computer Club’s web site was introduced. This links you to a site called NetSquirrel by Patrick Crispen. Two of the five items he includes were discussed: 1) Updating virus protection, and 2) running windows critical updates and service packs programs. Most of these programs require you to restart your computer after installing them. Mac users should run the Apple update program. Instructions are included. There is also a link to TechTV, which is also a TV program on channel 66 on Davidson and 354 on Direct TV. Robin’s favorite program on this channel is “Call for help.”

President’s Report –The minutes from the last meeting were approved as published in the September Keystrokes. A Mac computer is missing from the Computer Room. Please let Phillip know if anyone knows anything about this. If not resolved, it will have to be reported.

Vice-President’s Report – Sharon Cann –TheClub Fair is October 31 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Computer Club will be involved again this year. If you wish to volunteer as a greeter or table sitter, please contact Sharon at sharoncann@aol.com.

Class Assistants Committee – Jackie Bushey –Additional assistants are needed for classes. Assistants actually help the students and assist the instructors. The assistants should have taken the class for which they sign up. You can sharpen your skills at no cost by being a classroom assistant. Contact Jackie at jbed@aol.com if you are interested.

Technical Committee - Bob Rasmussen – Only modest modifications have been made in the Computer Room this summer. The teacher’s PC has been changed to one of our most powerful new machines to provide support for new classes. The anti-virus software has been changed to AVG. A free version of this software is available to members at www.grisoft.com. The free version was not available to the Club for networked computers but the cost to the Club is less than half of the cost for McAfee or Norton.

It was discovered that a number of quarantined files containing viruses were on the Club machines. If you are downloading music, please copy directly to your own CD. Do not copy it to the hard drive. Also, never use a file sharing service in our Computer Room.

There are two CDs available in the Computer Room with software and instructions to fix the Blaster Worm. They may be checked out to use at home. If you are running Windows XP or Windows 2000 and have not yet verified that your PC is clean, you should take steps to ensure you are virus free.

Treasurer – Ron Garner

July 2003 Balance Forward........................................ $20,690.69

August Income................................................................... $80.00

August Expenses........................................................... $2,361.05

Operating Balance as of August 31, 2003.................... $18,409.64

Education Committee – Diane Hutchings - Several new classes have been added for September and October. The class What the Computer Club Can Do for Me, is full for September, but will be repeated in October. Three other new classes for October are Creating a Paperless Home Office, Using the Treasury Dept. Savings Bond Wizard and Basic Housekeeping for Computers. The committee is looking for suggestions for new classes and persons who would be willing to instruct classes.

NEW: There will be a black box in the Computer Room for members to sign up for the remaining classes whenever the Computer Room is open. Instructions for signing up are on the box. Attach CHECKS ONLY to the registration. The box will be checked on Saturday at noon for classes scheduled for the next week. Those classes are closed after that, so sign up before Saturday noon. Remaining available classes may also be viewed on the Computer Club web site. A book containing descriptions of the classes in detail is in process.

Membership Committee– Diane Frazier-Ciravolo –Since our last meeting, we have had 60 new members join. The total membership is now 637. There were 150 persons attending the meeting including five guests. Members were reminded to pick up their nametags after this meeting or in the Computer Room when it is open.

Monitor Committee –Richard LaFever -Richard thanked the monitors for the great job they had done over the summer. The room was open 142 hours in July and 130 hours in August. To date, the room has been open nearly 1200 hours. From now on, schedules for the monitors will be sent electronically and paper copies will only be delivered to those who do not have e-mail. Richie Sherson has been helping with getting the monitor’s list on line. A class for new monitors will be held on October 24 from 1-3p.m.

Program Committee – George Weyhrich - In October, Keith Ennis from Voice Factor will present a program on voice recognition for computers. November will feature Microsoft. December will be the annual holiday party. George is looking for someone to chair the party. There are records from the past three years of what needs to be done. Please contact George if you are interested in helping.

The evening program featured three of our members and their favorite web sites: 1) Robin Seaver with hotsheet.com, 2) Sam Sugarman with refdesk.com, and 3) Phillip Shuppel with HowStuffWorks.com and computerhistory.com.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Pat Beaty, Secretary

Tips and Tricks

The President’s Tip of the Month

The Problem: You’re curious how overseas newspapers are covering big stories, from Iraq to SARS but English is your first and only language.

The Solution: Several of the free web sites that translate between English and other languages are adding new features. Babelfish.altavista.com now offers the service in nine tongues, from Japanese to Italian, and is adding four others. It can translate entire Web pages or lines of text that you type into a box. This is handy for everything from researching Tuscan pensioners to communication with pen pals.

Translation2.paralink.com limits you to four languages (French, Spanish, Russian and German), but sometimes has smoother results. For constant access to a translation service, you can download toolbar.google.com. It sets a “Translate this page into English” button on your browser window.