Sarasota PC Monitor

Review Chairmans Industry Comments (04/01)

Reviewing Software

by Herb Goldstein, Review Editor

E-mail comments, suggestions, etc. to Herb Goldstein at: revieweditor@spcug.org

THANK YOU ALL for the very kind words and encouragements so many of you have stopped by the software review table at meetings to offer. Preparing this column and the review section monthly takes considerable time and effort. Being aware of whatever benefits and enjoyment you accrue makes it all worth while. By far and large, I have found dedicated computer users to be an especially intelligent, inquisitive, friendly and sensitive class lot of people among whom are many dear friends that I have enjoyed over a long period of years. Like most dedicated efforts, it's a labor of love.

INTERNET EXPLORER 5.01 SERVICE PACK 2 was released last month. It provides the latest updates and security fixes to Internet Explorer technology. Internet Explorer 5.01 SP2 can be installed as an upgrade to existing versions of Internet Explorer, or on computers with no previous Internet Explorer installation. Total download size for a typical installation is approximately 17 megabytes (MB). However, because setup downloads only those files that are necessary for your computer, this size may vary between 6 and 17 MB. You can get it by going to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/ie501sp2.htm

WHISTLER NOW WINDOWS XP. It's official. Microsoft will name the next releases of its Office and Windows software (formerly known as Office 10 and Whistler, respectively) "Office XP" and "Windows XP." The XP stands for eXPerienced. According to Bill Gates, "These breakthrough versions of Windows and Office will give people the most powerful end-to-end computing experiences ever available. The coming generation of Windows XP and Office XP will let customers communicate and collaborate more effectively, be more creative and productive, and have more fun with technology." Gates also mentioned an evolution from applications to eXPeriences starting with Office XP and Windows XP.

Windows XP is due to ship toward the end of 2001, while Office XP is expected around May. We will be providing more info in coming months.

A GLIMPSE AT LUNA. Windows XP will sport a new user interface, called Luna. According to Microsoft, Luna brings "a fresh, clean look" to the Windows desktop. It also includes a "skinning" system, where you can choose your own look and feel for Windows; and in the Home Edition, Fast User Switching for people who share a single PC. The new UI removes clutter by placing all desktop icons except the Recycle Bin in a reorganized Start menu. Windows XP will also include a new taskbar system, where open items are grouped together by likeness. Another new feature checks for dead shortcuts and icons and prompts you to delete them. For a glimpse at some of these features, go to: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/guide/newlook.asp

XP'S PROTECTION SCHEME. It looks like the new Windows XP and Microsoft Office XP are coming with a copy protection scheme that may raise your hackles. If all goes as indicated, you will be able to install these products on only ONE PC, and only ONE TIME! To add insult to injury, you will then be required to register the product to receive a product key, without which the software will have a very limited number of use sessions. The final details will be forthcoming, but it looks like Microsoft is going to throw you a big-time curve in order to put an end to software piracy. What these stringent limitations will mean will vary with the user, but they certainly appear to be universally onerous and not much to anyone's liking. We can only guess at how computer users are going to accept this or not. I will withhold further comment until I see the final offerings.

OFFICE XP GETS ITS OWN CORPORATE PREVIEW PROGRAM According to Valerie Ryan of topica.com, Microsoft recently announced a corporate preview release of Office XP. Formerly Office 10, Office XP is Microsoft's next-generation desktop application suite and has an expected final release date of May this year. For $19.95, including shipping and handling, you can obtain a copy of the release, which includes Word 2002, Outlook 2002, Excel 2002, PowerPoint 2002, Access 2002, FrontPage 2002, and "various multilanguage packs." To order, go to: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/technologies/resource.asp And just by the way, the release is only good until August 31, 2001.

BEWARE THE LATEST SPYWARE. Any time you go online you run the risk of accumulating spyware completely unbeknown to you. These small hidden spy files can linger indefinitely on your hard drive and give someone complete entree to what's on your computer, where you go online, and what you do. OUTRAGEOUS!! Fight back! Stop what you are doing and go to www.lavasoft.de and download the free AD-AWARE 4.5. Install and use it to find and destroy any of these hidden demons. Now I know I have told you about all this before, but let me relate my own experience. I installed Version 3 of this software some time ago and have been using it without realizing that it has been upgraded to detect much more with the latest version. Smug and complacent, I never checked for an upgrade until recently. I installed version 4.5 and indeed found 9 spy files and 2 comet cursors residing on my drive that the earlier version missed. Go and download the free and fabulous AD-AWARE 4.5 right now and give your hard drive a scan with it. You may be very grateful you did!

An added plus....If you want to support these good people to the tune of only 12 bucks, you can download a pay version (AD-Aware Plus) which consists of the same Version 4.5, but contains the added "AD-Watch" that stands guard to automatically detect and eliminate any spyware as you pick them up. They also give you automatic notification of news and upgrades. It's all available at the same Web site, www.lavasoft.de

PC-CILLIN; MY NOT-SO-SECRET LOVE AFFAIR. There are a lot of programs I enjoy. Then again, there are some with which I am truly in love, and none more so than PC-Cillin. That everyone needs an antivirus program on their computer today is a well-recognized given. Surf the Web or open an e-mail message today and you run the risk of infecting your computer with a nasty bug that will destroy everything on your hard drive. I guard against these intrusions with the best of antivirus software, PC-Cillin. New viruses come out on a daily basis. An antivirus program is only as good as your most recent update. PC-Cillin updates me automatically at least two or more times a week without my even asking. What's more, as changes and updates take place in the program, they are transmitted to me just as automatically as my virus pattern updates. You need this superb program. Get it today at www.antivirus.com

This dynamite program deserves a prominent place on your computer! The latest version of PC-CILLIN is offered on this month's Special Drawing. Don't miss it!

GREAT REGISTRY EDITOR! Also from Lavasoft comes a superb registry editor called REGHANCE. It is a shareware product that any of you who do occasional registry editing will thoroughly enjoy. It's very fast, easy to manipulate, and will find your references and permit you to edit them in a flash. Download a copy at http://www.lavasoft.de/aaw/index.html and try it out today. You will be delighted with this great utility from the makers of AD-AWARE. Keep an eye on these innovative people and their excellent software!

CHANGING FILE ASSOCIATIONS can be a gross nuisance. You have certain types of files set to open with your favorite application, then you go ahead and install new software that rudely and with neither your desire nor permission changes your associations to open with IT. Not too much you can do about it other than to re-associate your files as you prefer. Here's how:

In Windows Explorer, go to View, Folder Options, File Types. .A quicker way is to hold down the Shift key while right-clicking on a document, and you are given an option called Open With. Select this and then choose the program you want to open this particular kind of file with in the future. Check the box that says Always Use This Program To Open This Type Of File before clicking OK, and the file association will change to your choice.

PRINTING A LIST OF FILES WITHIN A FOLDER is easy if you use a freeware application called FolderPrint that you can get at http://www.homestead.com/algor/files/FolderPrint332.zip. This excellent tip was provided by computer guru and professional, SPCUG's own Marshall DuBois. Thanks, Marshall!

UNHAPPY WITH WINDOWS ME? In any case, if you're using ME either by choice or because it came with a new PC- and if you're not fully satisfied with it- please click on over to http://www.winmag.com/windows/features/merunbetter/02.htm and check out the tips waiting for you there. Some of the recommendations are not for novices, so handle with care!

NEW BATTERY POWER. According to Cnet news sources, Toshiba recently unveiled Advanced Lithium Batteries (ALB), which will allow electronics manufacturers to create small devices with the staying power of larger ones. Similar to lithium-polymer batteries, which are made of a gel, ALB technology derives its power from a polymerlike liquid. Both can be molded to about 1 millimeter, compared with standard lithium-ion batteries that are about 5 millimeters thick. What makes ALB superior to the others is that its slim figure packs the energy punch of its larger counterpart. ALB costs about 20 percent more than lithium-ion batteries but slightly less than lithium-polymer ones. Applications include such devices varying from cell phones, to PDA's, to laptop computers, and should aid in the further miniaturization of allof them.

WINDOWS ME AND DSL. Be aware that there is no uniform compatibility between DSL service and Windows ME. Check with your intended ISP before you switch, and see if the right drivers are available.

AT A MEETING WITH BILL GATES, insider professionals were recently treated to a synopsis of the salient features of the upcoming Windows XP. According to Gates, here's what you can expect:

  1. Much greater reliability, in the order of an improved Windows 2000.
  2. A newer, friendlier user experience that will surpass that of the Macintosh.
  3. Speed. It will be considerably faster than anything we have to-date.
  4. Dramatic improvement of Windows Media Player.
  5. Network connectivity to your machine. Tech support will now be able to access, operate, and connect to your machine to solve problems directly rather than just giving you advice.
  6. Makes more difficult tasks easier, like working with graphics, video and music files.
  7. Sharing a computer among two or more users will get easier, yet more sophisticated.
  8. Two versions will be available....one for home users and one for business users.
  9. There will be very close connectivity between Windows XP and Office XP.
  10. Look for a fall release with pricing similar to previous operating system releases.

WHAT BILL GATES DIDN'T TELL THEM ABOUT is the new copy protection scheme coming with XP that allows installation only one time and on only one computer. This may be Microsoft's answer to software piracy, but sticking with Windows 98 may be users answer to this onerous, unpopular and undesirable feature.

HARDWARE NUTS NEED LOVE TOO. If you want to keep up on the latest developments in hardware, there are a few particularly good sites you will want to visit: tomshardware.com, pcguide.com, ars-technica.com, madonion.com, and storagereview.com

LOOKING FOR PRODUCT REVIEWS? Currently, the best sites can be found at consumerreview.com and epinions.com For pricing and availability, try pricescan.com, pricewatch.com, dealtime.com, mysimon.com, shopper.com, and buy.com. Happy hunting! Additional good sources for reviews are zdnet.com and cnet.com

FIX INTERNET EXPLORER 5.5 PROBLEMS. IE 5.5 comes with a new repair tool. To get to it, launch Add/Remove Programs from your Control Panel. Click Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 in the window of the Install/Uninstall tab, and then click Add/Remove. Select the "Repair the current installation of Internet Explorer" radio button. Click OK.

SPOIL JUNIOR'S FUN! To control who sees what on your Web browser, go to Tools/Internet Options and open the Content tab. Click Enable under Content Advisor. You'll be prompted to create a supervisor password and define sensitivity settings for potentially offensive content types.

MAXIMIZE YOUR SCREEN VIEW in Internet Explorer by pressing the F11 key. It's a toggle, so hit it again to return to the default view.

GET RID OF YOUR CACHE FILES AUTOMATICALLY. One of your browser's greatest nuisances is the huge volume of temporary files it gathers as you use the Internet. There are various ways of emptying these files regularly which we have told you about numerous times in the past. Internet Explorer 5.5 has a much better idea. Go to Tools-Internet Options and click on the Advanced tab. One of your check-box choices will be Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder when browser is closed. Check it, and your garbage strewn Internet cache will be cleaned automatically when you exit Internet Explorer. I have found that most inexperienced users don't even know the trash is there and their hard drive is filled with many megabytes of Internet cache files they neither want nor need. Here's an easy way not to accumulate it in the first place. Alternatively, for a one-shot cleanup of your temporary Internet files and your recycle bin at the same time, you should periodically run Disk Cleanup. You'll find this utilty on the Start Menu submenu: Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools.

DEFRAG YOU MUST! As often as we've said it, it's apparent that many of you still have not gotten the vital message. Defragging is an absolute must to keep your computer running efficiently. As you use your hard drive, files become fragmented and little pieces of them scatter hither and yon. Heavy use calls for daily defragging. If not, do it at least weekly. In Win98 you'll find the Disk Defragmenter by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > System tools. (The program file is DEFRAG.EXE and it's found in the \Windows folder. Create a shortcut to it on your desktop by using the right-click "send to" command) Defrag performs three tasks to enhance performance: It places the pieces of all your files into fast-loading contiguous areas of your hard disk, moves your most frequently used files to the front of the disk where they'll load fastest, and groups your applications' separate pieces into the most efficient load order. Defrag often. Your computer will love you.

BOOST YOUR RAM. To give a virtual boost to your computer's memory, right-click My Computer and choose Properties > Performance > File System. There you'll find that the Typical role is usually "Desktop Computer." If your PC has more than 32MB of RAM it will operate slightly faster if you select "Network Server," even if it isn't really a server. (The Network Server setting uses a little more RAM for various disk buffers and caches to speed disk operations.)

REINSTALLING WINDOWS. If you've screwed things up badly, reinstalling Windows may be your best way out. It will replace any missing or corrupted essential files, but will retain the data files that you have created. Remember to not have any programs running in memory when you reinstall, especially antivirus software. Be sure to visit the Windows update site afterward (it's on your start button menu) and reinstall your tweaks and service packs.

ARE YOU CHOKING YOUR RAM? Your computer may be running like a turtle with a hernia because of all the junk you have running in memory at startup that you may not be aware of, but evident by the army of icons you have sitting in your system tray. Often, when you install some software or hardware, it acts like it is the only thing that belongs on your computer and inserts itself in startup memory. To control what you want sitting there, Click the Start button and select Run, now type MSCONFIG and hit enter. Up comes a really nifty (yes, I said nifty) dialogue box. At the top, select the Startup tab and you can now check the programs you want to start. The caveat is that you know what it is you are de-selecting. If you have any doubt, ask a more experienced user, or track the item down in Windows Explorer before you de-select it. Intermediate and certainly advanced users should have little trouble figuring out what each item represents.

ARE YOUR DRIVERS CURRENT? Drivers are small software applications that you install with your printer, scanner, and all other hardware peripherals attached to your computer. They are updated from time to time by the manufacturer of the hardware item. You can check for the latest drivers at the manufacturer's Web site, or you can go to drivershq.com to check out all your drivers.

DIFFERENT TIME FORMAT? You can change your time format at any time by going to Start, Settings, Control Panel and double-clicking the Regional Settings icon. Click the Time tab, and then select a Time Style from the drop-down menu.

RESTORING A WIN98 REGISTRY SAVE. Ethan Welkes, noted winmag.com author, reminds us that every time you start your Win98 PC, the Registry Checker automatically creates a backup of the Registry. It stores the five most recent backup copies in the \Windows\Sysbckup folder. They are stored as RB001.CAB, RB002.CAB, and so on. If you want to manually back up the Registry before installing software that may effect the registry, you should run the System Info utility (Start Programs > Accessories > System Tools), then go to the Tools menu and select Registry Checker. After a quick scan, Registry Checker will offer to make a backup. Click Yes to make it overwrite the oldest backup file with an updated one.

To restore a Registry backup, boot your computer to a C:> prompt and run ScanReg. Follow the instructions to view your backed-up Registry files and restore the most recent one.

For a plethora of good Windows and computer advice, visit winmag.com regularly. You'll get yourself an interesting education!

DSL FEES GOING HIGHER? Industry watchers predict that DSL fees which in our opinion are already too high will be going higher. Not a happy prospect for broadband enthusiasts.

1400 GIGABYTES? A new CD-R is under development (along with a drive to play it) that will hold an unbelievable 1.4 Terrabytes. When it hits the streets it will be the mother of all backup devices or whatever else you might want to do with a storage device of super-monstrous size. Just think of it-one CD that will hold more data than 20 of today's largest size hard drives. I can't wait! For more info, go to http://www.c-3d.net/

HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS is available today in several different formats. For a complete rundown, go to http://www.browsebest.com/

R.I.P. PENTIUM III. This year will mark the demise of the Pentium 3 which will give way to the Pentium 4 as a desktop system processor. It's a pity since in many ways the Pentium 3 is much the better processor than the Pentium 4. So much for the price of progress!

SPEED THINGS UP! The first thing that comes to the mind of most people seeking to make their computer run faster is a faster processor. That's only part of the story, and not necessarily the most important. Usually more important is the speed of the hard drive. If you are shopping, you need to focus on a 7200 RPM drive. It runs appreciably faster than a 5400 RPM. You may, in fact, have an older drive even slower than that. Hard drives of huge size are available today at a fraction of their cost not too long ago. If you are running more than one hard drive, remember to put your swap file on the fastest drive. Windows uses your swap file frequently, so it belongs there.

TO RECOVER SOME DISK SPACE... When you install Internet Explorer 5 over Win9x, you'll find a new folder called Windows Update Setup Files in your root directory. This folder is filled with setup files that take up between 10MB and 20MB of space on your hard disk. It's a good idea to save them for a while after installing IE5 to make sure it's running properly. That way, you won't have to download the app again if you run into trouble and want to reinstall. After using IE5 for a while without encountering any problems, you can delete these files to regain the disk space.

Performance Test provides a battery of tests that rate your PC's 2D graphics, 3D graphics, memory, disk, and other systems. You'll also be able to compare your results against other PCs, so you know how your system stacks up. (Shareware/Win95-98-NT) Click for more.

SNOOP INSIDE YOUR PC. If you are nosy about what's under the hood, here are 3 great little utilities that you will find among scores of others at one of the best shareware download sites in existence, http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/

  1. DR. HARDWARE 2000 gives you a comprehensive report on your system's hardware-you'll get detailed system information on everything about your sound board, BIOS, CMOS, memory, adapters, drives...pretty much the whole nine yards. You get to see the results in attractive 3D charts.
  2. WINBENCH is a techie's delight. It's a subsystem-level benchmark that measures the performance of a PC's graphics, disk, processor, and video subsystems.
  3. PERFORMANCE TEST provides a battery of tests that rate your PC's 2D graphics, 3D graphics, memory, disk, and other systems. You'll also be able to compare your results against other PCs, so you know how your system stacks up.

NEED BUYING ADVICE? Before you buy any computer products, get the expert information you need. Shop smart and SAVE from computershopper.com's How-To-Buy Guides. Find out how much you should expect to pay, which features to look for and which ones you can live without. You can get it all at http://cgi.zdnet.com/slink?83549:683154

GROSSFADER'S WISENSPOUTEN. Prominent among the many things true in this life are:

* If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

* A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

* Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

* For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.

* He who hesitates is probably right.

* Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.

* Sccess always occurs in private, and failure in full view.

* The colder the X-ray table, the more of your body is required on it.

* The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.-The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach.-Don't sweat petty things...or pet sweaty things.

* Hell hath no fury like the lawyer of a woman scorned.

* Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

* Never raise your hands to your children. It leaves your groin unprotected.

Sony, the consumer electronics giant, recently unveiled Double Density CD-R and CD-RW drives and discs. Dubbed DD-R and DD-RW, the discs can hold 1.3GB of data, or about 300 songs. That is twice the capacity of CD-R and CD-RW discs, which hold 650MB. The technology doubles the capacity of the discs by essentially shrinking the space between the tracks on the media. The drives will be available in retail stores by the beginning of April and will cost $249. DD-R discs will cost $1.99 each, and DD-RW discs will cost $2.99. Sony's new products are an attempt to provide a middle solution between CD-RWs and their giant cousin, DVD-rewritable discs, which offer 4.7GB of capacity. The DD-R/DD-RW drive will be able to read and write CD-R and CD-RW discs. But existing CD and CD-RW drives won't be able to play DD-R and DD-RW discs. The Sony Double Density ATAPI CRS200E-A1 is an internal drive with a maximum write speed for DD-R and CD-R of 12x, a maximum write speed of DD-RW and CD-RW of 8x, and a maximum play speed for CDs of 32x. :

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Copyright 2001. This article is from the April 2001 issue of the Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL 34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For further information about our group, email: admin@spcug.org/ Web: http://www.spcug.org/

The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,600+ members and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are members of the America Online Ambassador Program.

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