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Computer Universe Ezine Volume 2 Issue 5
This ezine has the support you need to fix that "Stubborn" computer.
11.10.2003
Subscribers: 1065
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Hello!
Welcome to another edition of "Computer Universe". I hope everyone has had a great October. It's been nice here but
it has been a bit chilly. I guess our summer is over. It's coming into the season where the computer will be used a lot
seeing that Winter is just around the corner. I hope that everyone hasn't had any huge problems with their computer, but
if you have please email me with the problem and I will try my best to answer it for you. Email me at: compuniversezine@yahoo.ca Also if you have any comments email me there too. As for
the articles in this issue I am trying hard to give the most useful information I can come up with that will help you
with your computer woes. Another thing that I'm doing is eliminating the Privacy watch section for this issue and adding
a one-time section that will help you choose between a PC and a MAC. I hope you like this addition and I'm sorry if I've angered
anyone with the elimination of the Privacy Watch section for the last 2 issues. As for the website, it is going to take longer then expected.
It probably will be up and running by the end of the year. I hope this hasn't caused any inconvenience. I will take off
now and let you read this month's edition.
I wish everyone a prosperous November, and happy reading!
Matthew Zator
Editor, Computer Universe
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name in the body.
1. Viruses: How to Prevent them Or Eraticate them
2. Comparing Multi-function Systems (HP Officejet & Samsung SF)
3. Inside The Computer: Cache in your chips and get a bus!
4. Business Section: Scam of the month (E-mail Sweepstakes)
5. Special One-time Section: Macs vs. PCs
6. Latest News!: Internet Explorer to Stomp Pop-Ups
7. Classifieds & Advertising Info.
8. Next Issue...
9. Info & Credits
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Viruses: How to Prevent them Or Eraticate Them
By Matthew Zator
In this article I will be telling you how to prevent various viruses that are plaguing the computer world.
First the prevention of these viruses. The biggest step to take is to buy a good virus protection program like Norton Anti-virus
or Mcafee Virus Scan. Once this has been installed it should block most of the viruses that will come up on the internet. Next
you should watch the files that you download on the internet or your e-mail. Be sure that your virus protection program has
the ability to scan the files that you download off your e-mail. Or if you use a web-based e-mail service, make sure that they
have a feature that scans the file before downloading it. If you take these precautions you shouldn't have any trouble with
viruses. One question that I've gotten lately is "Do I need a firewall?". My answer to this is unless you are on a network it
is not necessary. For a home computer that's not connected to a local network the firewall only slows the internet down. It slows
it down because all the information has to go through the firewall before coming to your eyes and that slows down the processing
of information.
The next thing I'm going to talk about is how to eraticate a virus that you have picked up before you have
taken the precautions outlined above. Eratication of a virus is easy or hard depending on the virus you are trying to eliminate. If
it is a virus that prevents your computer from starting up, there is no way to delete it unless your virus protection program has
a utility that can be accessed from DOS. If this is the kind of virus that you are battling with then you have to delete your hard drive
and start over. Hopefully this doesn't describe you. Now if you have a virus that just makes your computer freeze or restart then you
can eliminate the virus by getting an anti-virus program that will scan your hard drive for malicious programs or viruses. I recommend
Stinger (a free utility from Mcafee). This utility scans the vital windows files and current running programs and deletes any virus or worm
it finds. It is a very useful tool that completes the job fast.
I hope this has explained how to prevent or eraticate the viruses that you might come up against through your life
with your computer.
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Multi-function Systems (HP Officejet & Samsung SF)
By Matthew Zator
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Samsung SF-555P
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HP OfficeJet 6110
![icon]() |
| | C-NET Editor Rating | 7.0/10 | 7.4/10 |
| Price | $289.00 (+$20.35 Shipping) | $296.99 (FREE Shipping) |
| Review | This multifunction offers individual users a lot for the money, but small businesses will need more speed and capacity. | HP's OfficeJet 6110 offers quality printing, copying, and scanning services for the small office, but it may disappoint those who depend on faxing. |
| Specifications |
- Fax/printer/copier/scanner
- Resolution: 600 DPI Printing
- Print Speed: 12 ppm
- Connectivity: USB 1.1, IEEE-1284 Parallel
- Fax Speed: 33.6 Kbps/3 sec per page
- Scan Speed: 3 seconds
Supported Operating Systems: - Windows 95, 98, NT4, 2000, ME, XP
- Mac OS (Printing Only, No Scanning)
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- 1 Year Warrenty
- Fax / copier / printer / scanner
- Resolution: Up to 4800 Optimized DPI
- Print Speed: 19 ppm (black) 14 ppm (colour)
- Scan Size: 8.5"x11"
- Fax Speed: 6 sec per page (33.6 Kbps)
- Copy Speed: 19 cpm (black) 14 cpm (colour)
- Connectivity: USB
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| My Choice |
| X |
| Purchase Information | Buy Now!
| Buy Now!
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Some information is © Copyright 2003 C-Net.com
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Cache in your chips and get a bus!
By Seamus Dolly
Computer related terminology could sometimes be daunting to
newcomers. These are relatively new words or hybrids of words,
already in existence. Someone with a degree in English, for
example, could not necessarily guess, the function of a
particular devise, by its name. This is because such a devise
never existed in history or in the history of the English
language. Tolerance and patience is required. If you work in the
field of computers, these “new" words must be learned.
However, P.C.'s are designed for use by ordinary people, and the
gritty details regarding their construction, can be largely
ignored. A journalist, typist, builder or bookkeeper doesn't
need to know what an EIDE or SCSI is, or indeed isn't. Hard
drive description is not relevant to the majority, as long as
the devise is functional. A “BUS", though, could be
guessed by some, as it carries something, not unlike a
conventional bus. In this case, it carries
current/electrons/data, and is simply a conductor. A bus
conductor, if you like. For now, buses are made of copper with
experiments underway to utilise other materials. I read recently
that “prions", which are a type of protein, are been
considered as conductors. Will some of our computers' components
be organic? We shall have to see! Fibre optics, which are,
basically speaking, glass pipes around four thousands of an inch
(0.1 mms.), in diameter, employ the speed of light, for
signal/data transfer. A light (diode), is on or off, at one end,
and a photo-resistor at the other end registers its state. Now,
wasn't that simply put! These glass pipes are coated to reflect
the light inwards, meaning that light can be “bent" around
corners, while within its container/pipe. Heat generation is
minimal and electrical resistance is redundant. It is heat
generation and resistance that brings your “fan" into
play, keeping everything cool, and electron transfer at a
controlled level. Low resistance= high current. Your starter
motor for your car has really thick cables allowing electrons
from the twelve volt power source (battery) to do their job in
turning over you engine, which is a considerably difficult task.
A smaller cable would have a higher electrical resistance,
causing it to overheat, and eventually, melt. Keep listening for
that “fan". It is your computers first line of defence. In
fact, it is the principle of electrical resistance that is
employed by electrical heaters.
CACHE is not legal tender in most countries, but a type of
memory that your CPU (central processing unit ) first looks for.
It does this, not to be awkward, but more because it is the
fastest route, from a users point of view.
In internet marketing, you have words like ROI (return of
investment ), matrix, forced matrix, residual income ( money for
years to come, for work done now ), multiple streams of income
(residual income being one of them) and network marketing
(affiliation, for example ). Residual income and multiple
streams of income, combined, are mechanisms essential to growth
over time. Its like having index-linked rental income, without
the maintenance. Online success is pretty much guaranteed
whereby a combination of approaches are used and the long term
is considered as much as the short term. The prosperity is in
the plan.
About the Author:
Seamus Dolly is a webmaster with a background in analogue
electronics and mechanical engineering.
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Scam Of The Month: E-mail Sweepstakes
A recent scam that has been going around the e-mail world is the online sweepstakes scam.
Let me set up the scam for you.
First you get an e-mail with the subject: Congratulations! or RESPOND IMMEDIATELY!, etc.
In the body of the e-mail, someone is telling you that you won a large amount of money in a draw that a certain
company put your e-mail address into. All of this looks genuine all the way down to the directions on how to
obtain your money. At this point the victim is very excited about this and is anxious to get their money. BUT...
All the e-mail tells you to do is call the phone number of the agent that will get the money
to you. This phone number is probably a long distance number that will charge a significant amount of money to
your phone bill. And once it's on the phone bill, you can't dispute it. Don't let this scam fool you. The scammer
is trying to play on your desire to win something. If you had genuinely won something they would phone you, not e-mail
you. To avoid this don't open the email, just delete it and forget about it. And if you see this e-mail with the
sender's e-mail at the domain, "@netscape.com", then it is probably that scam.
I hope this has prevented you from falling into this scam. I will be back with another scam of
the month for you to avoid next month.
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Macintosh Vs. PC's -- Which System Is Right For You?
By Philip Naudus
Should you purchase a Macintosh or a PC-compatible computer? If you ask a person who has only used a Macintosh, they'll argue you to the end of time that this IS the ONLY system worth your time and trouble.
On the other side of the coin, if you talk to someone who has only used a PC-compatible, they'll put Macintosh systems down to the ground and argue until the end of time that this IS the ONLY system worth your time and trouble.
Well, guess what? I'm from BOTH environments and I like both of them! And to be totally fair in my evaluations, I operated the same software (PageMaker) on both systems. So, what do I suggest since I can be bias?
A Macintosh system is "graphic" based while a PC-compatible is "text" based. This DOESN'T mean that you can't do the same with both. It only means that a Macintosh's entire operation is centered around graphics and desktop publishing _ but both systems can perform the same functions and do well at it. In my opinion, a Macintosh is the "Cadillac" for desktop publishing. However, I own a PC-compatible. Why? Because of cost, compatibility and availability of parts and software. It all boils down to how much money you have to spend. The PC-compatibles now have Windows-based operating systems which work similar to a Macintosh. In the old days, Macintosh held the title for desktop publishing, but now a PC-compatible can do the same thing. For instance, I bought a 486-DX2, 66Mhz with a 340mg hard drive for around $2,500 complete (including software). The comparable Macintoshwould have cost me around $3,700 _ a $1,200 difference! The Hewlett Packard LaserJet III printer I bought for $1,200 can be turned into an Apple Laserwriter IINTX (Macintosh counterpart) for $350 by purchasing a Pacific DataPage cartridge. A true Apple Laserwriter IINTX for the Macintosh runs around $2,300 _ a $800 difference.
I like to also compare my PC-compatible with a Ford truck. If the starter on my Ford goes out, I can go down the street and get one from a junk yard and save lots of money. However, if I had a Mercedes Benz (Macintosh), I could only buy a true Mercedes Benz part and have to pay a real Mercedes Benz expert to put it on for me. Therefore, a Mercedes Benz is really only a status symbol. To me _ it's more important to save money than impress people. People don't put food on my table or pay my rent!My programmer told me that a Macintosh system will normally run faster than PC-compatibles if you compare the same type of systems. However, the negligible difference in speed in not worth the extra money. I've tried both systems, run them side-by-side and really couldn't see a difference that would be worth paying $1,200 more for. Before you make a decision, sit down and demonstrate both systems at your computer dealer. Then look at your pocketbook and make the decision YOU want. Here are a few mail order companies that will be able to assist you with PC-compatibles:
Zeos International, 800-272-8993
ABS Computer Technologies, 800-876-8088
Computer Discount Warehouse, 800-348-4CDW
Expotech, 800-284-EXPO
Zenon, 800-899-6119
Dell Systems, 800-627-1440
Maximus, 800-394-6299
Digital PC, 800-215-8765
Midwest Micro, 800-972-8822
About The Author
Philip Naudus is currently webmaster of four websites. One of his websites is "www.xenolth.biz", which is designed to help webmasters find the best web page design software available. Are you looking for a used piano? Check out www.xenolth.biz/mewzik4u (one of Philip's sites)
NaudusFamily@aol.com
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Internet Explorer to Stomp Pop-Ups
By Stefanie Olsen
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Microsoft plans to add pop-up blocking features to Internet Explorer next year as part of its Service Pack 2 update for Windows XP, a move that would go far toward stamping out the Web advertisements.
Darin Linnman, a Microsoft spokesman, said that the company plans to add the pop-up blocking feature to an updated version of Explorer with Service Pack 2 (SP2) when it's released in the first half of next year. But one caveat, he said, is that Microsoft will be gathering customer feedback that will be weighed as part of the final decision to add the feature.
"I can confirm SP2 will include an update to IE that adds pop-up blocking," Linnman said.
By adding pop-up blocking tools to IE, Microsoft will belatedly join a host of other Web browser makers that let people avoid flashy pop-ups, or advertising windows that appear over or behind requested Web pages. Opera, Mozilla and Netscape--all of which have only a minor share of the total browser market--give users the option to seamlessly block intrusive advertising while surfing the Web. Because Microsoft dominates the browser market, it could greatly influence people's ability to remove the ads with ease.
"A lot of marketers may be mad at Microsoft (because of it), but it could go a long way to killing the pop-up problem. It's just an easier solution to turn it off in the browser" rather than to download anti-pop-up software, said Richard Smith, an Internet security consultant.
Internet service providers have also responded to a consumer outcry against pop-ups in recent years despite potential losses from advertising sales. EarthLink led a trend among ISPs to introduce anti-pop-up tools in 2002. AOL upped the ante last year by promising not to sell pop-ups to third parties, and it released technology to fend off the ads in AOL version 8.0 last October. Microsoft matched AOL's move in its own Internet access software. And just this September, Yahoo and SBC Communications updated their joint Internet access services to include a pop-up ad blocker.
Google has also given people tools to suppress pop-ups through its popular search toolbar.
The moves were the result of deep consumer loathing of pop-ups. About 88 percent of broadband users and 87 percent of dial-up users in North America find that pop-ups interfere with their Web surfing experience, according to Forrester Research. But only 15 percent of consumers have downloaded ad-blocking software. Having a tool in IE could make avoiding the ads simpler.
"It's a recognition that pop-ups are very disruptive to user experience--they're the most hated type of advertising," said Charlene Li, principal analyst for Forrester.
This news story is used with the permission of C-net Tech News and is © copyright 2003.
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- Privacy watch WILL return.
- Q & A Section (notice will come by email) It will happen this time!
- And more!
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Copyright © 2003 Computer Universe Ezine. All Rights Reserved
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