Volume 8,=20 Issue 8 - October 2004
www.suncitycc.org

Please submit any comment, article, = tip, or=20 suggestion for the November issue to Sandy Tucker (5085 or sandy1959@davtv.com) no = later than=20 October 22. Remember that articles should be submitted by e-mail = or placed=20 on disk and delivered to Sandy=92s lower box at 2 Coburn Dr.=20 E.

Index
MONTHLY=20 MEETING
CLASSES<= /A>
PRESIDENT'S=20 MESSAGE
FROM THE EDUCATION=20 CHAIR
Class In the = Spotlight
FREE=20 Special Interest Groups (SIGs):
= DIGITAL=20 IMAGING
GENEALOGY
KOFFEELESS=20 KLATCH
MAC
MEMBERSHIP
MONITOR= S
Class= room=20 Assistants Needed
PROGRAMS
REVIEW = WIN=20 MEDIA PLAYER 10
SOFTWARE/HARDWARE
TIPS= =20 AND TRICKS=20
MINUTES OF SEPT=20 MEETING

MONTHLY=20 MEETING
Monday,=20 October 11, 2004 7pm
Pinckney Hall

How to = Buy a=20 Computer

Featuring=20 Frank=20 Fahey, = president=20 of HHI Computer Club
and our own president, Allyn=20 Perdue =

Pre-Meeting=20 Q&A at 6:30pm

(Submit your questions = to suncitycc@mindspring.com = by October=20 8)

Index

To see = what is=20 offered click
Classes = This=20 Month or Classes = Next=20 Month

First sales=20 of November classes will be
Monday, October 11 = from=20 1-3pm in the Computer Room.

Remaining = October classes=20 can be purchased now
from the Class Sales Black Box in the = Computer=20 Room.

Index<= /SPAN>

PRESIDENT'S=20 MESSAGE
BY = Allyn=20 Perdue

This month = I=92ve=20 several topics to discuss. First, let=92s look at Windows XP = Service Pack=20 2 (SP2). SP2 is a major update for the Windows XP Home Edition = and=20 Windows XP Professional operating systems. It consists of a very = large=20 number of revised system files and altered security settings meant = to=20 reduce the risk of unwanted intrusion from the Internet. This = update is=20 critical enough that all Windows XP users should install this service pack. = Users of=20 Windows 98, ME, and Windows 2000 Professional are not = affected.

Within a = few hours of=20 releasing the full network install of SP2, it was being tested by = the=20 SCHHCC technical committee. Advanced information indicated a = cautious=20 approach to make sure there were no serious unknown bugs in the = service=20 pack. After a few weeks of testing, we have installed the service = pack on=20 most of the club=92s computers and believe most of you will have = no problems=20 with it providing you properly prepare your computer and = familiarize=20 yourself with system requirements and install procedures. Because = we did=20 encounter a problematic install on one machine, I=92ve made = certain to post=20 a link for automatic recovery in the group below.

The first = thing=20 Microsoft recommends is to ensure no unwanted software is present = before=20 installing SP2. It is suggested that Windows XP users download, = install,=20 update, and run Ad-Aware to detect and remove adware and malicious = software. Click here for = Ad-Aware=20 information.

The = following links=20 are excellent sources of preparatory information.

Top 10 = Reasons=20 to Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Learn = About=20 Windows XP Service Pack 2

What to Know Before = You=20 Download and Install SP2

How=20 to use the Automatic Recovery feature to recover your computer if = the=20 Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup program is not completed=20 successfully

Description of the Internet= =20 Explorer Information Bar in Windows XP SP2

How to = get Service=20 Pack 2

Service = Pack 2 may be=20 downloaded from the Microsoft website or may be installed from a = CD.=20 Downloads are available via either the Microsoft Download site or = via=20 Windows Update. If using Windows Update, you may also turn on = Automatic=20 Updating to download automatically. Dial-up users; be advised that = a very=20 long download time is required to obtain SP2.

Club = members may elect=20 to borrow a CD from the software tray in the Computer room and = return it=20 when finished. Alternatively, a CD may be ordered from Microsoft = at no=20 cost. Order=20 a CD

For more = information=20 about what to expect after the XP2 install consider attending the = XP SP2=20 Tutorials meeting Friday October 1 from 10-11am.

Security Software=20 for the Home PC

Last = month, I told you=20 I would make some recommendations for antivirus software. Due to = available=20 space, I will have to address that in my November = column.

But I do = have time to=20 tell you about testing methodologies and how I personally evaluate = antivirus programs. We=92ll begin with one well-known test method = from Virus Bulletin and = their VB100%=20 Award.

U.K.-based = Virus=20 Bulletin uses The=20 Wildlist, a compilation of viruses currently in broad global=20 circulation. To receive the VB100%<= /A>=20 award, submitted products must detect and protect against 100% of = the=20 Wildlist and report no false positives. A false = positive=20 disqualifies the product from a pass. The only other score is a = fail. This=20 means that a perfectly good product might report a false positive = due to=20 over-sensitive heuristics properties (the ability to detect = virus-like=20 behavior without a signature file) and would not receive the = VB100% award.=20 So when examining Virus Bulletin=92s test results, don=92t be = surprised to see=20 some vendor=92s with red X=92s.

Who is = the=20 winner?

It=92s = nice to see a=20 product scoring near the top. But that=92s not the whole story. = For example,=20 Virus Bulletin=92s longest running top honor goes to = a=20 European antivirus product called NOD32, which I used for two = months this=20 summer. Symantec=92s Norton = line=20 ranks second and Computer Associates=92 VET engine, the power = behind eTrust=20 Antivirus*, EZ = Antivirus, and=20 Zone=20 Alarm Antivirus, is third. But all that truly matters is that = all=20 three products received the VB100 award for the latest Windows=20 XP submission. This means they are actually all currently tied = for=20 first place and offer excellent protection based upon Virus = Bulletin=92s=20 tests.

*eTrust = Antivirus is a=20 dual-engine product but only one engine can run at one = time.

Now to = really make=20 things interesting, there is a free product that has recently = scored 100%=20 at Virus Bulletin. That is Grisoft=92s AVG free = edition, an=20 increasingly popular choice among Sun City residents. It is one = that I=20 like with the exception of its updater. The updater can confuse = less=20 experienced computer users and actually work against the goal of = simple=20 antivirus security. If Grisoft can fix that with the next version = release,=20 it would put AVG very close to the top of my preferred = list.

Currently, = I prefer=20 Alwil=92s Avast! Home=20 Edition, which did not receive a VB100% award this latest = go-round.=20 (Remember that a false positive can disqualify a product.) I am = confident=20 enough in its abilities that I use it myself and recommend Avast! = Home=20 Edition, especially for older computers that can=92t handle newer = Norton=20 products. I have Avast! Home Edition installed on my wife=92s = computer and=20 at this moment, it protects my Windows XP Professional = installation. Is it=20 my favorite? Not quite, but it=92s not far from the top. Read = on.

What = the President=20 looks for in an antivirus program

I look for = something=20 more than just a top score at Virus Bulletin or other testing = methods. I=20 like to try out products for myself. I also derive input from = users=92=20 problems at forums and from customers=92 computer issues within = Sun=20 City.

In = addition to=20 detecting and curing viruses and Trojans, I look at ease of use, = updating=20 complexity, ease of installation and removal, product support,=20 compatibility, and performance impact. All of these combine to = somewhat=20 shift the weight from pure detection and cure = performance.

So is = there an=20 antivirus program that I really like? Yes, actually there are = several. All=20 of them have excellent detection capabilities and are generally = easy to=20 use, but the pros and cons vary. Check back in November for = further=20 details.

Is there = one=20 product that I would avoid? Yes, there is. Some of you who have = benefited=20 from my in-home service can probably guess the identity of this = common=20 antivirus/security suite program. Have you guessed it yet? = Hint: The=20 antivirus portion is fine; it=92s the =93security=94 part of this = 2004 program=20 that gets my axe!

Check back = next month=20 and I=92ll tell you more. Better yet, email me and I=92ll send you = my=20 recommended and avoid list and tell you why.

High = Speed=20 Internet: Yea or Nay?

For me, = high-speed=20 internet access truly enriches the Internet experience. It saves = time and=20 for many of us, those seconds and minutes quickly add up. In my = situation,=20 because I require frequent updates for security programs and for = servicing=20 computers, it is mandatory that I use a high-speed connection at = home.=20 Otherwise, it would take many, many more = hours online to do=20 what I need.

Our = September meeting=20 featured a brief bit of marketing from Hargray=92s Jane Jude and = Ted Bailey.=20 One thing from their presentation that truly piqued my interest is = Hargray's Broadband Lite option. This is a very cost-effective = alternative=20 in our local market, especially if you are a=20 Hargray dial-up Internet customer and want substantially = faster=20 Internet performance for a minimal fee. There is also a = savings=20 opportunity for my household.

Presently, = Judy and I=20 have Davidson Cable for local high-speed access = while maintaining an=20 Earthlink/Mindspring unlimited dial-up account for additional = email=20 addresses and for traveling. Now that Hargray offers traveling = options for=20 on-the-road dial-up access and offers a highly competitive number = of email=20 addresses, we're sure to consider service consolidation = at a=20 future date. With Broadband Lite as advertised and by terminating=20 Earthlink service, we could reduce our monthly Internet = bill by=20 nearly forty percent (40%).

And = that=92s enough for=20 a good meal at Blake=92s or the Pub for two. J

Allyn=20 Perdue

suncitycc@mindspring.com=20

Index<= /SPAN>

FROM THE=20 EDUCATION CHAIR

Fall computer classes are well = underway. For a=20 list of classes offered in October and November, check the = bulletin board=20 in the Computer Room, or see Classes This Month and Classes Next = Month on=20 http://www.suncitycc.org/.

= First=20 sales for November classes will = be Monday, October 11 from 1-3 pm in the Computer Room. Beginning = October=20 12, any remaining classes may be purchased from the Class Sales = Black Box=20 during Computer Room open hours. These are the last classes we = will offer=20 until mid January, so sign up promptly.

When signing up for classes using the = Class=20 Sales Black Box, please pay by CHECK only.=20 If you find a tab for the class you are interested in, but no = slips, the=20 class is filled. Please do NOT remove class registration slips = from the=20 Black Box. These slips are numbered, and if we notice a = registration slip=20 is missing, it will NOT be honored.

Please join us in extending a long = overdue=20 public THANK YOU!! to Jackie Bushey for her years of = reliable behind=20 the scenes service as Classroom = Assistant=20 Coordinator. Beginning with November classes, Jackie is = turning=20 this responsibility over to Barbara Kirichok. Welcome, Barbara! = For more=20 information about becoming a Classroom Assistant see CAs = Needed below.

We look forward to seeing you in = class or at a=20 SIG meeting. In the meantime, if you = have=20 comments, questions or suggestions for the Education committee, = please=20 contact Robin Seaver (searobin@islc.net) or = Diane Hutchings=20 (dianeh@alum.bu.edu).

Index<= /SPAN>

In = the=20 SPOTLIGHT

Top Ten=20 Medical Sites on the Web

When we have health concerns, the = first place=20 many of us go for information is the Internet. But which are REALLY the BEST=20 sites? And how do we know the information is up-to-date and = reliable? If these are your concerns, you will want to take this = workshop=20 offered October 26 from 1-3pm.

Our instructor, Sharon Cann, is an = experienced=20 medical librarian and teacher who knows her subject in depth and = presents=20 it well even to novice Internet users. When she last offered this workshop = in 2003,=20 the level of satisfaction with the course was =93Excellent!=94, = =93More than=20 satisfied=94, and =9310 out of 10=94.=20 Sharon has recently completely updated her Medical sites program = for 2004.=20

Index<= /SPAN>

DIGITAL=20 IMAGING SPECIAL=20 INTEREST GROUP

The Digital Imaging SIG = is open=20 to members of the Computer Club or the Photography=20 Club.

The October meeting = will be=20 Thursday, October 21 in the Computer Room from 4-5:30. The topic = will be=20 "Creating = Photo Slide=20 Shows to Share with Others", presented by Jack = Wilfore from=20 the HHI Computer Club. As time permits, Jack will demonstrate = slideshow=20 options with Irfanview (freeware), PowerPoint, Adobe Elements (all = software available on computer room PCs) and ULead PictureShow = available=20 for about $50. If there is enough interest we may continue this = topic at=20 the November 15^th meeting.

For more information about the = Digital Imaging=20 SIG, contact Vicki Levy at (6580 or Robin Seaver at http://www.suncitycc.org/newsletter%20template%20March%20working.htm= .

Index<= /SPAN>

GENEALOGY SPECIAL INTEREST = GROUP

The = Genealogy Group=20 will meet in the Computer Room on Wednesday, October 6 at 7pm. It = is open=20 to all SCHHCC members. The guest speaker will be Sandee Hanahan who will discuss the=20 identification of old family pictures. It should be an interesting = and fun=20 evening. If you have questions about any of your own pictures, = please=20 bring them with you.

We are looking for someone to chair = this=20 group. If you are interested, please contact Gail below. For now = this=20 responsibility will be shared by a committee made up of Gail = Boggs,=20 Sharon Ede, Mark Swetland, and George Dexter.

For more = information=20 about the Genealogy Group, contact Gail Boggs at (7932 or kaila5@davtv.com.

Index

Sorry, no coffee allowed in the = Computer=20 Room!

KOFFEELESS=20 KLATCH

Do you have computer related = questions or=20 problems? If so, the Koffeeless Klatch is the place for you. We = meet most=20 Friday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 in the Computer Room. The = meetings are=20 informal. Feel free to come late or leave early. We know you are = busy.=20 Each week, we do a short presentation on topic of general interest = and=20 then handle questions and answers as time = permits.

Topics will be announced weekly via = e-mail. If=20 you wish to be notified of upcoming topics, send your e-mail = address to=20 Diane Hutchings: dianeh@alum.bu.edu.

The October 1 meeting will = differ from=20 our normal format in that it is exclusively for Windows XP users = and will=20 run for 2 hours.
From 9-10am Hugh Dinwiddie will demonstrate = Windows=20 Media Player 10 (read his review=20 later in this newsletter). From 10-11am Robin Seaver will access = some=20 online tutorials which highlight some of the changes you = can expect=20 to see after applying XP=92s Service Pack = 2.

Index<= /SPAN>

MAC = SPECIAL=20 INTEREST GROUP

Mac Group = will meet on=20 Monday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the Computer room. This month we = will=20 have a question and answer period and look at updates you might = want to=20 have on your computer. All Mac users are invited to = attend.

For more information contact Lynn = Conley=20 at (3906 or eubiec@hargray.com.

Index<= /SPAN>

MUSIC = SPECIAL=20 INTEREST GROUP is on = hiatus until=20 January.
Index<= /SPAN>

MEMBERSHIP

Welcome to the=20 following new members who have joined the Computer Club during=20 September!

Axler,=20 Sylvia

Leonard,=20 Nancy

Members are = reminded to=20 notify us if you change your email address.

Send=20 changes to

Diane=20 Frazier-Ciravolo

at DiSFC2@davtv.com. =

Thanks!

Belden,=20 Sally

Melamed,=20 Arleen

Cantwell,=20 George

Orsino,=20 Rose

Delaney,=20 Robert

Rice,=20 Linda

Delaney,=20 Roseanne

Rice,=20 Robert

Diorio,=20 Marie

Riner,=20 Beth

Eads,=20 Connie

Riner,=20 Jack

Egoroff,=20 Carol

Rosen,=20 Arnold

Egoroff,=20 Herb

Sager,=20 Don

Ferrelli,=20 Ann

Saunders,=20 Doug

Ferrelli,=20 Buzz

Staten,=20 Susan

Franklin,=20 Herbert

Taylor,=20 Norma

Jankowski,=20 Pat

Watts,=20 Chuck

Jankowski,=20 Rick

Weiss,=20 Jim

Kamenski,=20 Carolyn

Williams, Mary = Sue

Kelly,=20 Barbara

Willingham,=20 John

Kennedy,=20 Eldora

Willingham,=20 Paula

Lagerman,=20 Daniel

Wood,=20 Beverly