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Computer Universe Ezine Volume 2 Issue 3
This ezine has the support you need to fix that "Stubborn" computer.
09.06.2003
Subscribers: 877
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Hello!
Welcome to another edition of "Computer Universe". As you can see I've changed the format of the ezine so it
can be easily read and enjoyed by you. I hope everyone has had a great summer, and I hope work/school is good for
all of you. When this time of the year rolls around, the computer is due for its 6 month check-up and maintenance
routine. Unless you've just gotton a brand new computer that doesn't need any of that yet. There will be an article
on how to maintain your computer in the next issue. This issue includes a feature business article, inside the computer
section and several other articles that keep with the ezine's theme. The new computer universe website will be up
and running, hopefully, by the end of November or may be earlier. In the contents, you can click on the section
and it will go straight to the article/section. This should make reading easier and quicker. And anyone who
signed up for the chat, it will take place next Saturday at 3:00 pm PT. I'm sorry it couldn't of taken place
yesterday. I was just too busy.
I wish everyone a prosperous month, and happy reading!
Matthew Zator
Editor, Computer Universe
1. Is Windows XP all it's cracked up to be?
2. Comparing Notebooks (HP & Sony VAIO)
3. Inside The Computer: Installing More Memory
4. Business Section: How to write killer sales copy
5. Privacy Watch: Spyware is watching you
6. Next Issue...
7. Info & Credits
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Is Windows XP all it's cracked up to be?
by Matthew Zator
Since the day Windows XP came out into the market as a new Operating system from Microsoft it has been a headache for
every person that uses it. It has had the most updates for an operating system. I think I can speak for almost everyone
that this OS still needed a bit of tweaking before it was released to the public marketplace. It seems that the updates
never stop coming into the Windows Update website and now Microsoft has had its last excuse. A worm has taken advantage
of yet another flaw in the windows xp operating system (OS). And it has ravaged computers all over the world because of just
one little problem that could have been fixed before it went out.
On the bright side, windows xp has a lot of good points to it. Like the different accounts you can create if you want
to have different accounts for each member of the family, and the many new features that have been added to the software.
Despite all the flaws and problems with it, I think Windows XP is the best OS that Microsoft has come up with.
If you're having problems with Windows XP
If you have just gotton a new computer that was manufactured in 2001/2002, you probably have all the flaws and problems
that came with the version of the software that first came out in . If this is you, you should go to the Windows Update
website and first download the patch that prevents the Lovesan worm from entering your computer and takeing advantage of
the "RPC service" flaw. Then download all the vital security patches and recommended updates. If you do this, Windows XP
should work as smoothly as if you bought the updated version of the software that sells for $150 retail.
If you are one of the many people that was frustrated when you first used Windows XP, don't get angry and write insulting
letters to Microsoft. The updates are there and if you take the time to download them, your computer will run smoothly.
Trust me, I did it and my computer is running very well after I downloaded the updates. I think the good outweighs the bad
in many ways.
So in the end, I recommend you get Windows XP if you haven't already gotton it. I think it has lived up to my expectations
even if there are probably many more flaws that Microsoft has yet to discover. Don't get me wrong, I think the programmers
and testors that are employed by microsoft should take more time to weed out the bugs in the software before they give
it there approval for it to go out to the paying customers. If they really cared about the customer, they would give
it their all to make the software perfect or almost perfect.
Click on the link corresponding to the Operating System you want to buy:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Upgrade
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Installing More Memory
By Matthew Zator
Memory is a valuable piece of technology in your computer. It gives you more power and space for the computer's regular
processes. And when you are using the internet a lot, memory becomes even more important in your computer. It gives you
more bandwidth when you're downloading things from the internet. This article will tell you how install more memory quickly
and easily. Here are the steps to do it:
- First you've got to go to, or order online from a computer retailer like Office Depot, PC Mall, etc.
Once you are at the web site/store look for memory that is larger then the memory you have now on your computer. Here are
the links for the "memory" pages on the major computer retailer's web sites:
- Once you've purchased your memory card, open up your computer (ground yourself first) and find another card that looks
like the card you've just purchased. There should be an empty slot beside it, or above it. Once you've found the slot, take
the card in both your hands and push it into the slot until you hear 2 "snap" sounds. This indicates that the two white clips
on the slots have locked onto the new memory card. Once this has happened, the card should be firmly in place in your computer, and
it is ready to be used.
- Next, put the case back on the computer and turn it on. Once the computer has started up, it should detect your memory
card and install the required software. To see if it has detected it, look at the memory count that the computer does when
it starts up. It should show you this within a few seconds of starting up.
- Now your extra memory has been installed and it is ready to be used!
If some of this is confusing, email me at: compuniversezine@yahoo.ca
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How to write killer sales copy
By Scott F. Geld
Written words are a powerful marketing tool. They have the ability to
persuade, reason, explain & direct the reader to take action. They can
hold someone's imagination and open them up to possibilities never
before visualized. But used improperly or without due care & attention they
can destroy all the good work you have done in one foul swoop.
Developing copy for your website is therefore a job that should not be
taken on lightly. Here are 5 keys to help hold your readers' attention
and convert them to sales and sign-ups on your site -
- Your Headliner - It takes a matter of seconds for visitors to form
an opinion of your site. Many factors will come into play, such as speed
of download, graphics etc, so you'll need to grab their attention
quickly before they click off the site. A few words that stand out from the
background, graphics and the rest of your text will draw the readers'
eye - this is your chance to make an impact and keep them on the site.
It should be something that compels the reader to want to find out more.
- Develop Interest - Identify with the reader and let them know that
you understand how they feel about the challenges they face. Hint that
you have a solution to their problem. This will hook your visitor in,
and you can enhance its effect by using keywords and hot buttons to fire
the reader's' desire to find out more.
- Reveal the details - Show the reader your solution and how it will
solve their problems and/or meet their goals. Then hit them with
additional benefits as to how what you have to offer will exceed their
expectations. Use testimonials that verify the strength of the product or
service you are offering. Again use keywords and hot buttons that appeal to
the readers' emotions, and remember people buy on emotion not logic.
- Call to Action - No marketing copy is complete without a strong call
to action. It is the final push to close the sale that should be lined
with incentives. The benefits should be highlighted and the reader
urged to take action. You could even mention the consequences of not taking
action - a deal always looks better when someone is taking it back away
from you!
- Be Professional! - In the eyes of the reader, the professionalism of
your copy reflects the professionalism of its owner, and the more
professional it is the more confident the reader is of you and your
intentions. Make sure you run copy through a grammar & spell checker before
uploading it to your site.
About the author:
Scott F. Geld is the Director of Marketing for Marketing Blaster, Inc.,
a firm dedicated to providing targeted traffic and leads for ecommerce
websites:
http://www.MarketingBlaster.com
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Spyware is watching you
By Stephen Bucaro
Advertising is getting far too intrusive and invasive.
Advertisers that are weak in ethics, and strong in grabbing for
money, don't see a problem with installing spy programs on your
computer without your knowledge.
In Internet Explorer's "Tools" menu, select "Internet
Options...". On the "Security tab" click on the "Custom
level..." button. If you don't have the "Disable" or the
"Prompt" radio button set next to "Download ActiveX controls", I
can almost guarantee that someone has installed a spy program on
your computer and is monitoring your web browsing activities.
Your Web surfing is being tracked and the data is being sold to
third parties. These thieves make big money selling your profile
to companies who then target you for advertising. Popup
advertisements appear even when you visit web sites that don't
use popup windows.
The Lavasoft company keeps a reference database of all spy
programs and provides a free Windows program that scans your
hard drive and registry for spy programs. Their Ad-aware program
lets you remove the spy programs from your computer.
At Lavasoft's website www.lavasoft.com select "Download" in the
"Support" menu. On the Download page scroll down to "Full
install" and click on a download source, (ie download.com). This
will download the 1.45 Mb file aaw6.exe.
Double-click on aaw6.exe to execute the installation program
(with Windows 2000, first login as Administrator). The
installation program puts an icon for Ad-aware on your desk top.
Double click on the icon to execute Ad-aware. In the Ad-aware
program window, click on the [Scan now] button. On the
"Preparing system scan" page click on the [Next] button.
Ad-aware takes a few minutes to scan your hard drive and
registry for spy programs and data tracking cookies. On my
system it returned the results:
44 objects recognized 1 Registry key identified 43 files
identified
When the scanning is complete, click on the [Next] button. This
takes you to the "scanning results page" which displays a list
of objects found. One object found on my computer was "Alexa
Data Miner". Then click on the [next] button. A dialog box
appears asking if you want to remove the objects. Click on the
[OK] button to delete the spy objects.
The free Ad-aware Standard Edition removes spy software and data
tracking cookies from your system. The $27.00 Ad-aware Plus
Edition adds real-time monitoring and blocking to the program.
Not only can you remove spy programs from your computer, but you
can also BLOCK them from invading your system in the first
place! I found Ad-aware easy to install and use, and very
effective.
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Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to
maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a
Web site and make money on the Web visit
http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp
Newsletter Send a blank email to
bucarotechhelp-subscribe@topica.com
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- Inside the computer: Hard drive health: When is it dieing?
- The transcript of the chat (Next Saturday by the way)
- How to use a search engine
- How to maintain your computer at this time of the year
- And more!
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Copyright © 2003 Computer Universe Ezine. All Rights Reserved
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