1Orange County IBM PC Users’ GroupNovember 2000

Nov.2000

A

ACDsee 6All-in-one communications 1Annual Christmas Raffle! 1APCUG Shareware CD 6ArcSoft 50% off 6

C

ClickBook 2000 6Create editable file list 8

D

Digital Radar 8

E

Email self-destructs! 8

I

Irksome TV commercials 9

K

Ken’s Korner 9

L

Letters to the editor 2

M

Meeting location 12Members’ email 4Members Helping Members 3Members’ Renewal Dates 4Members’ Web Pages 4

N

Newsletter contributors 11Notepad 2

O

ORCOPUG Profit & Loss Report 5ORCOPUG web site 12

P

Peripherals 11Planning meetings 12Potpourri of current events 9President’s Message 5

Q

QuickBooks Pro 2000 7

R

Raffle prizes worth $390 3Reprint Policy 12

S

Software for paranoid users 8Software review 7

U

UG offers 6

W

Welcome new member! 5Windows Me? 10

Monthly Newsletter for Orange County IBM PC Users’ Group Members

NoNoNoNoNovvvvvember 2000ember 2000ember 2000ember 2000ember 2000VVVVVolume 18,olume 18,olume 18,olume 18,olume 18, Number 11 Number 11 Number 11 Number 11 Number 11

����� Notepad 2

����� Letters 2

����� Member news 3–5

����� UG offers 6

����� Reviews 7–8

����� Ken’s Korner 9

����� The Naked PC 9

����� Siles 10

����� Peripherals 11

Tuesday, November 14, 6:30 p.m. at the Hunt Branch Library, Fullerton — Bring a friend!

All-in-one communications demoscheduled for November meetingIsn’t it time someone combinedtelephones, fax, voice mail, email, datanetworking and high speed Internetaccess in one communicationssystem—designed especially for yourbusiness?

Someone has! Jeff Zoloto, a repre-sentative from Praxon, will tell usabout his company’s integrated com-munications system at ORCOPUG’sNovember 14 meeting.

The Praxon Phone Data eXchange(PDX™) is a standalone NextGeneration Phone System supportingvoice, data networking, messaging, andInternet access on an integratedplatform designed to operate withstandard desktop computers andtelephones.

With a Praxon Phone Dataexchange users can:

• Reduce the number of outsidetelephone lines • Set up an automatedattendant and/or receptionist • Managecalls as a PBX • Send and receivefaxes • Share voice, fax and data on

the same telephone lines • Managevoice mail from a telephone and/ordesktop • Operate local and remoteemail • Integrate email and voice mailinto standard email applications• Share a Local Area Network • Usemodems • Access office network froma remote location

Many companies currently functionwithout these key essential businessfeatures, or purchase separate productsand services on an ad hoc basis, withlimited opportunity to ensure ease-of-use, manageability, and overallefficiency. Praxon offers thesecompanies a cost-effective and efficientplug-and-go integrated businesscommunications solution that helps itscustomers to establish a level playingfield with larger competitors.

Praxon was founded in 1996 todevelop a next generation telephonesystem from the ground up. Allhardware and software is developed byPraxon which began shipping its PDXproduct line in late 1997. Today, itsproduct line is sold through a networkof over 700 Authorized Resellers in theUnited States and through Distributorsand PTTs in Europe, Pacific Rim andSouth America.

Praxon’s corporate headquartersare located in Campbell, California.

Recently, Maria Zeppetella, SeniorAnalyst with Probe Research said,

“The small business market isbooming. The Praxon PDX offers upan integrated product for smallbusiness that gives them the samecommunications capabilities that large

companies use. Praxon has done itsresearch and designed the PDX toaddress the particular needs andconcerns of small business. Praxon hasmade its PDX easy to use and install.It doesn’t require a great deal oftechnical knowledge. And it’s pricedvery reasonably.”

IIIIIttttt’’’’’s Cs Cs Cs Cs Coming!oming!oming!oming!oming!

AnnualAnnualAnnualAnnualAnnualChristmas RChristmas RChristmas RChristmas RChristmas Raffle!affle!affle!affle!affle!

ORCOPUG’s“Fundraiser of the Year”

December 12

3Orange County IBM PC Users’ GroupNovember 2000

PPPPPublished and distributed to club members by theublished and distributed to club members by theublished and distributed to club members by theublished and distributed to club members by theublished and distributed to club members by the

Orange County IBM PC Users’ GroupOrange County IBM PC Users’ GroupOrange County IBM PC Users’ GroupOrange County IBM PC Users’ GroupOrange County IBM PC Users’ Group

President, Mike Lyonsmike@orcopug.org

Vice President, OPENTreasurer/Membership/SYSOP, Charlie Moore

charlie@orcopug.orgEditor/Webmaster, Linda Gonse

linda@orcopug.orgReviews, Terry Schiele

terry@orcopug.orgPrograms, Lothar Loehr

lothar@orcopug.orgMembership, Carl Westberg

carl@orcopug.orgAPCUG Rep, OPEN

Directors

Submit items to the newsletter editor at:editor@orcopug.org; or Linda Gonse, 22655Valley Vista Circle, Wildomar, CA 92595-8334

(909) 245-0291.

The opinions expressed herein are the writers.They are not reflective of the Orange County IBMPC Users’ Group position, and are not endorsedby inclusion in this newsletter.

Visit ORCOPUG online!www.orcopug.org

P.O. Box 1779, Brea, CA 92822(714) 990-0580

info@orcopug.org

by Linda Gonseeditor@orcopug.org

Notepad

Letters to the editor

page 3 ☞

����� USB article coming soon

I have almost completed an article onUSB and several products that help

take maximum advantage of it. I’vebeen working on this for severalmonths, researching and testingvarious components.

As one who has struggled fornearly 20 years setting up IRQs andaddresses, I find USB to be wonderful.I strongly recommend that nobody buya new peripheral that doesn’t support it(which most do these days).

Ken Fermoyle,Ken’s Korner

kfermoyle@earthlink.net

It was as if a light went on at the lastmeeting. Several members came to meto say they were interested in a newLCD projector which I’d promoted inlast month’s Notepad. Talking to them,I sensed many actually welcomed theopportunity to discuss new equipment.And, several mentioned ideas forfundraising.

Several fundraising suggestionswere turned in, and I’ll summarizethem for you.

1. Increase dues another $5 a year2. Sell tickets at monthly raffle

instead giving away items3. Win cash back at raffle4. 50/50 cash prizes5. Solicit hardware/software dona-

tions from local vendors for raffles6. Figure the total amount needed

and divide cost among members7. Sell “How To” booklets/manuals8. Sell instructional PowerPoint

presentationsA few of the ideas were suggested

by more than one member: sellingraffle tickets for the monthly raffle,increasing the dues, and sellingmanuals and slide presentations.

But, there is other good news andbad news to report to you this month.

The good news is the APCUGShareware CD is here and ready forfundraising sales. It’s an excellentcollection of “must have” programs ata price you won’t want to pass up.This will make a great gift, and you’llwant to buy more than one.

The bad news is that there is only$62.20 in our treasury. (See the fi-nancial report on page 5.) This meansthat fundraising for our “wished for”equipment is probably not the questionany longer. Fundraising is going to becritical for our club’s survival.

First the good news…

We need to depend on everymember to help get the group throughthis emergency.

Also to aid the group, the followingproposals have been made and will bediscussed in the business portion of thenext meeting.

First, it would be a huge boost tothe club’s treasury for each memberbuy at least one APCUG CD at thenext meeting. (See page 6 for somedetails about what the CD contains.)

Second, at the beginning of theyear, we could phase out printednewsletters for everyone—not justmembers who choose to pay lowermembership dues. Newsletters wouldbe in PDF format only.

Third, increase all dues to $25,beginning next year.

Fourth, members would use theirown contacts in the community tobring in donations that can be raffled.

Fifth, each member would be askedto bring at least two new members intothe group in the coming year. Addition-ally, members would be urged bring afriend to every meeting.

These and other ideas must bediligently implemented in order for usto continue to function as a user group.

But, please don’t depend on a fewpeople—who are already giving theirtime and efforts to the group—toshoulder this extra effort. What you doto help is more important now thanever.

Thank you in advance for yourfeedback at the regular meeting whenthe proposals are discussed and forattending the next planning meeting.

Please volunteer your time, energy,and talents where they will do the mostgood. Together we can make it andcome out stronger in the end.

4Orange County IBM PC Users’ Group

November 2000

Windows 3.1, ’95-’98, Office 97, Linda GonseOffice 2000, PageMaker, Internet linda@orcopug.org

(909) 245-0291 eves. and wkendsMS Office, Access, Win 3.1, MS-DOS Sharon Graham

shgraham@earthlink.net(714) 533-6043 aft. 7a.m., bef. 10 p.m.

MemberMemberMemberMemberMembers Helping Members Helping Members Helping Members Helping Members Helping Membersssss

Won’t you please volunteer to answer questions for members who need help?Add your name to this list by writing to: editor@orcopug.org.

Merriam WebsterMedical Dictionary Value $69Larry Klees ExpiredDuane Gifford ExpiredMervin Frank Not PresentLinda Gonse Winner

AdobePhotoDeluxe Value $69Denny Turner Winner

AdobePhotoDeluxe Value $69Robert Chenoweth Not PresentBill La Mont Winner

Total AccessSourceBook Value $49Ralph Hedges Not PresentStan Leese Not PresentHelen Desmond Not PresentAlan Jarrett ExpiredTed Wirtz Winner

AdaptecT-shirt XL Value $5Ted Wirtz Prev. WinnerNolan Cave Not PresentMichael Lyons Winner

WildFireGoBack Value $89Art Bullis Not PresentDean Kise Not PresentJoe Gionet Not PresentElroy Schoppa Not PresentRalph Seymour Winner

NeoBookAuthoring System Value $10Robert Chenoweth Not PresentDonald Bickel Winner

HayesT-shirt XL Value $5Ray Fitch Not PresentDick McMillan Not PresentJim Brubaker Not PresentRalph Hedges Not PresentCarl Apponyi Winner

Prizes worth $390 givenaway at October meeting

����� UG members declining

I agree with you that user groups aretoo hard to find (on the Internet). Weare struggling with a declining mem-bership and I have come to the con-clusions that:1) People are really busy these days

and have a lot to do besides foolwith PCs

2) The mass marketing of computersmeans that you can’t count on theinherent interest of the techiecrowd to join anymore

3) Most importantly, we ain’t theonly game in town for informationany more; far from it.

And we do very little outreach, i.e.,going out and deliberately recruitingon a face to face basis. I am convincedthat we have to do this, at least in mygroup, to survive. But it is hard to getmembers, even those who agree withthe need, to actually seek out likelytargets, make appointments, etc.

If you have a solution, I wouldlove to hear it!

Reed Gustow, PresidentPhiladelphia Area Computer Society

www.pacsnet.org

����� LCD Projector support

Just read your newsletter! I wasintrigued byyour wanting aprojector. We(Plateau PCUsers Group,Crossville,Tennessee)bought a Proxi-ma SV1 for$2,800 lastNovember. Itwas a close call

on the Board vote to buy it. It squeak-ed by 7 to 5. After two meetings withit, everyone was congratulating every-one on what a smart buy it was, howgood it looked, and why didn't we dothis earlier?

Some observations:1. Get a minimum of 650 lumens2. A variable focus is good3. Make sure its native resolution

is 800*600 or better.4. Think about buying a

remanufactured projector with a goodwarranty.

Our club bought from http://www.projectorsuperstore.com/ I wasextremely happy with the service. (nowif they could just improve the web sitea little....)

Hopefully the APCUG CD’s canhelp you with fundraising.

Charlie, I hope you are doing wellin your recovery!

Steve MorganAPCUG Board of Advisors

Steve Morgan

����� CueCat tool discovered

For those who don’t know about theFREE barcode scanner/automaticwebsite finder (CueCat), you can getone at your local Radio Shack store.Just an amazing tool. Just walk in thestore and ask for one. Nearlyeverything has a bar code these days.

All you do is to scan the barcode ofwhatever, and its site automatically

page 4 ☞

page 8 ☞

Letters�

page 2☞

5Orange County IBM PC Users’ GroupNovember 2000

Members’ email

Apponyi, Carl......................... eubulus@netzero.netArnold, Dale.................... darnold33@hotmail.comBalazs, Frank.......................... fbalazs@netzero.netBazerman, Siles.................... siles.bazerman@gte.netBearss, Gloria......................... gbearss@pacbell.netBlack, Ike........................... ikeblack@msn.comBoutwell, Lloyd............................. LloydB8@aol.comBullis, Art...................... bullis@worldnet.att.netBrubaker, Jim...................... info@1homeseller.comCadish, Dan.................. dbcadish@netscape.comCave, Nolan........................ stonycave@juno.comChenoweth, Bob...................... Chenoweth1@aol.comEmigh, Glenn.......................... glenne@linkline.comFrancis, Joe............................... joefran1@gte.netFrank, Mervin........................... mfrank3@juno.comGonse, Linda............................ linda@orcopug.orgGraham, Sharon....................shgraham@earthlink.netHedges, Ralph............................ rhedges@juno.comJackson, Walter............................... wvjaxn@aol.comJarrett, Alan............................. alten101@aol.comKambeitz, Bob......................... rkambeitz@juno.comKaump, LeRoy............... leroy_kaump@hotmail.comKise, Dean..................... deankise@hotmail.comKlees, Larry............................... LKlees@aol.comLa Mont, Bill.......................WILLARD47@aol.comLake, Tony......................... TonyLake@juno.comLeese, Stan................... stan_leese@surfside.netLoehr, Lothar........................... lothar@orcopug.org

Lyons, Mike............................ mike@orcopug.orgMoore, Charlie......................... charlie@orcopug.orgMorrill, Trudy.......................... morrswiss@aol.comMusser, Dave.................dmusser@worldnet.att.netPrince, Leonard.......................... lenprince@juno.comSchiele, Terry............................. terry@orcopug.orgTooley, Richard D.......................... tooley@alum.mit.eduTurner, Denny............................ dlturner@juno.comWann, Harold.......... WANN.HSW@worldnet.att.netWebster, Marvin................. mwwebster@earthlink.netWestberg, Carl.............................. carl@orcopug.orgWirtz, Ted............................. twirtz@pacbell.net

FREE WFREE WFREE WFREE WFREE Web listing for ORCOPUG members!eb listing for ORCOPUG members!eb listing for ORCOPUG members!eb listing for ORCOPUG members!eb listing for ORCOPUG members!Send your information to editor@orcopugSend your information to editor@orcopugSend your information to editor@orcopugSend your information to editor@orcopugSend your information to editor@orcopug.org.org.org.org.org

September 1 Bob ClarkArnold FrancisDuane GiffordLloyd HarwoodDave Tennant

October 1 Alan JarrettLarry Kleese

November 1 Randy BremerBob ChenowethHelen Desmond

December 1 Donald BickelJim BrubakerJoseph DuffnerTrudy MorrillJerry PattersonDan SheffieldDick TooleyCarl Westberg

January 1 Carl ApponyiJoe GionetLinda GonseLeRoy KaumpChuck MooreLeonard PrinceTed Wirtz

February 1 Mike LyonsCharlie Moore

Submitted by Charlie Moore

MemberMemberMemberMemberMembers’s’s’s’s’ R R R R Reneeneeneeneenewwwwwal Daal Daal Daal Daal Datestestestestes

Letters�

page 3☞

����� October program comments

I sure want to be at that meeting(October) because I have AcrobatReader but know almost nothing aboutit. I would appreciate one of the fliers,and perhaps a floppy. Don’t wait forme because I am sure I’ll be a littlelate.

At the SCOUG club they used toput things like this on a CD or afloppy (for a couple bucks to coverexpenses).

Dean Kisedeankise@hotmail.com

comes up on your screen. As long asyou’re connected to the Net, ofcourse.)

Gordon Nelson, President & EditorDelta Computer Club

http://www.esky.com/dcc

page 5 ☞

Really sorry to miss your presentation!Saw Milt Gorman during my walkthe other day and he said it was verygood.

I’ll be glad to buy your manual andbe happy to get the other info. I haveAdobe Acrobat on my desktop, butdon’t know it’s capabilities, other than

Gloria Bearss—Great Dane BreedersGloria Bearss—Great Dane BreedersGloria Bearss—Great Dane BreedersGloria Bearss—Great Dane BreedersGloria Bearss—Great Dane Breedershttp://www.angelfire.com/ca3/glenglohttp://www.angelfire.com/ca3/dragonisle

Jim BrubakJim BrubakJim BrubakJim BrubakJim Brubaker—Discount Rer—Discount Rer—Discount Rer—Discount Rer—Discount Real Estateeal Estateeal Estateeal Estateeal EstateServices for Home Buyers and SellersServices for Home Buyers and SellersServices for Home Buyers and SellersServices for Home Buyers and SellersServices for Home Buyers and Sellershttp://www.1homeseller.com

Linda Gonse—PC Instruction, NewsletterLinda Gonse—PC Instruction, NewsletterLinda Gonse—PC Instruction, NewsletterLinda Gonse—PC Instruction, NewsletterLinda Gonse—PC Instruction, Newsletterand Wand Wand Wand Wand Web Peb Peb Peb Peb Page Designage Designage Designage Designage Designhttp://basicbytes.com

Sharon Graham—FSharon Graham—FSharon Graham—FSharon Graham—FSharon Graham—Family Photosamily Photosamily Photosamily Photosamily Photoshttp://home.earthlink.net/~shgraham/

Dan Sheffield—Educational CD-ROM SoftwareDan Sheffield—Educational CD-ROM SoftwareDan Sheffield—Educational CD-ROM SoftwareDan Sheffield—Educational CD-ROM SoftwareDan Sheffield—Educational CD-ROM Softwarehttp://www.act-4.com

Members’ Web Pages

6Orange County IBM PC Users’ Group

November 2000

����� “Tension” reliever

If you want a laugh to relieve any“tension,” just download this smallMPG: http://www.pcsupport.com/video/wwwpcsupportcom.mpg.

Paul Stephen, EditorWinnipeg Computer Users Group

editorpaul@wpcusrgrp.org

Letters�

page 4☞

I need it to download text sometimes.I’m looking forward to getting it at thenext meeting!

Stan Leesestan_leese@surfside.net

page 6 ☞

(We were sorry to miss you, too, Stan!Acrobat Reader manuals will beavailable at the next meeting. —LG)

����� Web site helps!

I went to the web site (www.orcopug.org) and found the (membership)application and printed it out, so I cansend in my renewal.

Before in the newsletter when yourmembership was due, there was areminder for 3 months along with thelittle renewal form. I guess I got torelying on that and just didn’t pay anyattention that time was slipping by onme *grin*. If I can make the meetingI’ll bring my filled out form and paythere, if not I'll stick it in the mail…

Gloria Bearssgbearss@pacbell.net

INCOMENew Membership subscription 20.00Other Income 14.60Membership Renewals 40.00Uncategorized Income 400.00Cash on Hand 646.80

TOTAL INCOME 1121.40EXPENSES

Bank Charge 71.30Misc. Cash 400.00Misc. Club expenses 48.71Newsletter costs:

Postage 39.60Printing 337.30

Office Supplies 52.79Utilities: Telephone 30.39

TOTAL EXPENSES 980.09BALANCE (9/30/00) 141.31

Submitted by Mike Lyons

President’s Message

by Mike Lyons

At the last planning meeting, I had planned on discussing how we couldraise funds for a new projection panel to enhance our meetings. Thediscussion got derailed. The board was informed that during the last

quarter, membership has dropped from 65 paid members to 55 members. Whatdoes this mean? It means that we have missed $200 in anticipated renewalrevenue. In addition to this, we also learned that we have $62.20 left in the clubtreasury as of October 18th.

The club has been paying more to print and mail the club newsletter. We havebeen paying $30 per meeting for use of the library (we are paid through January2001). We have already paid for our biggest annual yearly mailing (the Christ-mas solicitation letter). Revenues have fallen and expenses have risen over thelast year. Where do we go from here?

Several options were discussed at the planning meeting. Dues for mailednewsletters are going from $20 to $25 per year (dues for electronic newsletterswill still be $20 per year). We had planned on phasing in the move to electronicdistribution, but at our November meeting, I will ask for members to sign up forelectronic newsletters starting in January.

The Christmas raffle has been our only source of fundraising other than dues.In order to meet expenses, it was decided that we will hold a monthly event toraise additional revenue in addition to our normal drawings at every meeting. Iexplain more about this at our meeting.

I will also be giving a brief demo of the APCUG Shareware/Freeware CD.The CD is the subject of our January meeting. We are selling it for $5. If youwould like to get a copy early—it makes a great stocking stuffer—we will havesome for sale at the November and December meetings.

We may need to look into finding a new meeting facility that doesn’t tax ourresources, yet provides the things to conduct a successful meeting. If you know of

page 6 ☞

Welcome new member!

Jose Ramirez, from Los Angeles,joined our group at the last meeting.He is interested in computer repair andwants to learn about the latest in hard-ware and software.

Ramon Evans, from Yorba Linda,also visited us.

Submitted by Charlie Moore

ORCOPUG Profit & Loss Report7/1/00–9/30/00

7Orange County IBM PC Users’ GroupNovember 2000

UG offers

ClickBook 2000

Click Book 2000 is a utility that allowsyou to personalize and mobilize infor-mation gathered from various sourcesand prints double-sided booklets. UserGroup members will receive 20% offfor $39.96 (retail $49.95)at: http://www.bluesquirrel. com/index.html?ASCID=633. For more information, goto: http://www.clickbook.com

President’s message�

page 5☞

any such facilities, tell a boardmember. If you have a plan that theclub can use to save money or earnadditional revenues, please let us know.This is your club. Please help us getthe club back on its financial feet.

APCUG Shareware CD

ACDsee photo editor previewedby Carl Westberg

I’ll admit that this is no Photoshop, but I’d think that this will do themajority of your computer photo editing and printing and it offers thingsthat I have not found in the complex editors.

1. Whichever way you like to view, by directory tree or thumb-nails, it is there. In fact you have both and this software produces thumb-nails faster than any I’ve ever seen.

2. You want to do a little manipulation of the image to enhanceit. Those controls are there to; lighten, darken, reduce to black and whitefrom color. They are all simple, rapid and straight forward.

3. Maybe you want a special effect, like emboss or negative.That’s here too.

The APCUG shareware CD-ROM disk will be offered for purchase byORCOPUG at the November meeting, and again in January.

108 Windows 95/98 programs from Tucows alone!

This CD can be a great gift for yourself or someone you know!

And, each one adds to our treasury! (See President’s Message, page 5.)

You’ll want more than one!

IT’S HERE!

Over 200 Shareware and FreewarePrograms on CD-ROM from APCUG!!!

ORCOPUG is offering members thisORCOPUG is offering members thisORCOPUG is offering members thisORCOPUG is offering members thisORCOPUG is offering members thisbrand-new CD—just released by brand-new CD—just released by brand-new CD—just released by brand-new CD—just released by brand-new CD—just released by APCUGAPCUGAPCUGAPCUGAPCUG

These programs would take DAYS OF DOWNLOAD TIME using atypical modem. But, now, programs like Acrobat Reader, Zip

utilities, Aladdin Expander, Netscape, Internet Explorer, Opera,Eudora, Ulead GIF Animator, ICQ, FTP programs, Modem Moni-tor Graph, WinAmp, ACDSee, Label Creator, My Corkboard, and

so MUCH MORE are all together on ONE CD…

for just $5!!!Letters�

page 5☞

page 8 ☞

Sales from the CD will help raise crucial funds for ORCOPUG!Demonstrations of the programs will be given in November and January.

����� Royalty-free photos offered

PhotoSpin has an incredible new web-site that allows people to downloadphotos, illustrations, audio and videowhenever they want, for one lowannual fee ($99 or $199 year). We alsohave a FREE area. Check out http://www. photospin.com. We really believe

50% off ArcSoft software

ArcSoft, makers of digital imaging andvideo software products, is offering50% off to user group membersthrough November 30.

Visit www.arcsoft.com. During thepurchase process, enter this code:ARC1100UG. Your discount willautomatically be deducted at checkout.For more information, call or email theUser Group Manager at 510-440-9901x265 or ble@arcsoft.com.

ArcSoft will demonstrate itsproduct line at APCUG’s 15 AnnualFall Conference in Las Vegas. —LG

8Orange County IBM PC Users’ Group

November 2000

page 11 ☞

QuickBooks Pro 2000 from Intuit—Part 2by Bee Reynolds, Tulsa Computer Society

I n the last issue, I talked to youabout installing and getting readyto use QuickBooks Pro. This time

I will attempt to tell you how easy it isto setup and get running with QuickBooks Pro in your business. One of thereally nice things is that as you insertthe CD in and it starts up, it will walkyou through the basic stepsof getting started. If you haveyour manual and have readit, setup should be noproblem. Also, if you arenew to accounting and doingyour own books, this is a nice programto work in.

QuickBooks Pro is easy to learnand use. You can add features as yourcompany grows like inventory or salestax. You can customize your businessinvoices, estimates and statements. Youcan even add your company logo to theforms and print them yourself. You cantrack your checks that you write, whoowes you money and what you owe,track inventory and Pos and trackpayroll expenses, liabilities, printchecks, payroll reports. You can printout postage, create a web site andaccept credit card payments. Also inPro it has integrated contactinformation from ACT, Outlook andyour PDA with Intellisync. You canintegrate with MS Word to send outletters on business letterhead. You canuse MS Excel to receive reports andformulas and manipulate your datawithout re-entering data. Pro also letsyou prepare customizable estimates forbidding projects, tracks your time,automate job costing and invoiceclients by milestones by date orcompleted phases.

The best way to start using anaccounting package like this is to ask

some questions of how you will be using it in your business and what you expectto do. As you follow along with the manual you will be able to set up a tutorialand dummy company to practice with before you actually start using it. This wayyou can see what you need and don’t need of the program and how things workbefore you make other mistakes. Running a business is hard enough, don’t makeyour life miserable by not using all the right tools in this program.· Chapters 1 & 2 of the manual talk about business and business practices.· Chapter 3 walks you through setting your company with QuickBooks.

· Chapter 4 walks you through organzing your data effectively and how muchdetail you need to use.· Chapter 5 explains how to protect your data with passwords and backing upyour data.· Chapter 6 explains how to use QuickBooks Pro on a network and multi-users.· Chapter 7 walks you through establishing a website, creating timelyreminders and notes, creating checks and business forms with your companylogo.· Chapter 8 explains about choosing the right bank, benefits of onlinebanking, handling bank transactions on a day-to-day , month-to-month and as-needed basis.· Chapter 9 explains what Items you sell and purchase — your services,products and information on sales tax and reports.· Chapter 10 tells you how to track customers and the work you do for themwith reports and how bill them.· Chapter 11 explains how to track the money your business brings in fromcustomers.· Chapter 12 explains how to enter vendors and track vendor information.· Chapter 13 walks you through inventory setup and tracking.· Chapter 14 explains how to tracks and paying expenses, setup onlinepayments, using A/P to track and pay expenses, and how to handle business andpersonal funds.· Chapter 15 talks about sales tax. It helps you setup sales tax rates,collections, nontaxable sales, speical tax situations, keeping track of how much topay and reports with breakdowns needed to show all sales taxes.· Chapter 16 talks about income tax information for IRS all the forms andthings you need to collect and file your income tax and your reporting.· Chapter 17 is on time tracking so that you know how long you worked on a

Running a business is hard enough, don’t make your life

miserable by not using all the right tools in this program.

Software review

9Orange County IBM PC Users’ GroupNovember 2000

Let your computer keep watch for you

Software review by Lloyd Boutwell

Digital Radar by Connectix is a small program thatmonitors video input to your computer and records if itdetects any changes. The video source can be a videocamera through an appropriate interface device, which, in mycase, is Iomega’s Buz multimedia producer and a USB camera.

The program will record the video as a low-resolution AVI file (maximum of320 x 240) if it detects a change in the scene being monitored. The sensitivity tochange can be manually or automatically set. Recording ends after a selectednumber of seconds following the end of movement in the monitored scene. Eachfile is logged with date, time, duration, and size of each file. According to themanual you can store to hard disk, Zip drive, Jaz drive, networked file server, orCD-R. I tried only the hard disk storage so I can’t speak for the other storagecapabilities.

You can have the computer make some noise with included wave files whenit detects motion. These wave files include Barking Dog, Cavalry to the Rescue,and Zapped by Electricity. Using the wave files will announce that the programis recording which may not be desired if you are trying to use the program forsurreptitious surveillance. Fortunately you can make the program silent. Youcan also control the frame per second rate of recording. The program providesfor frames per second, minute, or hour rates. Obviously the recorded AVI file issmaller for the fewer frames per interval selected.

This is a handy program if you suspect that something is going on aroundyour computer at home or office while you are not physically present. Is some-one checking items in your office at night? Now you might find out who it is.

Connectix no longer sells or supports this program. They sold their Quickcam product line to Logitech sometime ago. I noticed that Logitech includesDigital Radar Version 2 with their Quickcam Pro, which sells for about $100 orless if a rebate is available.

I found the version from Connectix to be a bit difficult to get working withvarious video devices. Although I got it to work with a camcorder and a USBcamera, ironically, I could not get it to work with an original Connectix B&WQuickcam. Since Digital Radar software is apparently only available with theQuickcam Pro I am not able to recommend it unless you want to purchase theQuickcam Pro as well.

The software requires Win95/98, 12 MB physical RAM, 10MB free harddisk space, and Sound Blaster compatible sound card. According to the manual,it will work with Macintosh OS 7.1 or later. I assume similar requirements forthe Logitech version.

Create editable file list fromany folder in Explorer

Ever wanted a list of files—to archiveor edit—from one of your Explorerfolders?

If you don’t have a handy, dandybatch file or shareware utility programthat can do this, you might feel it’shopeless. But, wait! There is a method.

Open a DOS window, often called a“Command Prompt” in the Start menusin recent Windows versions. Go to thedirectory where the files are and issuethe command, “DIR > a.b” The outputof the “DIR” command will be writtento the file “a.b”.

DIR has several options that willadjust the format of the output or evenwhich files are included in the listing,and of course you can specify differentfile names and even the location of theoutput file listing your files.

Submitted by Nick LaFlamme

Raffle�

page 3☞

HayesBaseball cap Value $5Lothar Loehr Winner

Steve GibsonPassion… Books Value $20Leonard Prince Winner

Submitted by Mike Lyons

Send email that self-destructs!

A new product from SafeMessage, http://www.safemessage.com, allows con-sumers and companies to send email messages that self-destruct at a time desig-nated by the sender. The company also says its technology lets users send emailthat isn't routed through mail servers, thus avoiding data trails. A typical emailcan often leave a trail of eight copies in as many as four locations. —LG

Software for paranoid users

Letters�

page 6☞

����� Hmmm…Earthlink update?

Fishing on the Earthlink site, Idiscovered their posted upgrade 5.0, (Ihave 5.50), does not support Windows98 Me. Maybe the group would beinterested.

Myra MilgromWriteOnBiz@earthlink.net

this will save your endusers a lot oftime and money.

Duane Pearsonduane@photospin.com

10Orange County IBM PC Users’ Group

November 2000

Ken’s Kornerby Ken Fermoyle

Relief in sight from barrageof irksome TV commercials?

Are you fed up with the seemingly endless barrage of commercialscrammed into your favorites TV shows and sports events? If so, join theclub! But relief may be in sight, according to Electronic Digest (Sept. 5,

2000 issue).The magazine reports that sophisticated new integrated circuit controllers will

improve performance of Set-Top Boxes and Personal Video Recorders (STBs/PVRs). The new ICs will make the devices less expensive and more versatile.This should eventually change their status from novelties with appeal to a limitedmarket of “early adopters” to appliances that gradually will take the place oftoday’s VCRs.

Electronic Design also notes that the new controllers “can be used to managearriving and departing data streams, into and out of set-top boxes, storagedevices, digital TVs. PVRs,” from a variety of sources, including broadbandcable, satellites, terrestrial and IP (Internet Protocol) networks.

What does this have to do with computers? PVR technology is digital, likecomputers, not analog like VCRs, and data is stored on a hard drive, likecomputers, not on magnetic tape. A PVR will do everything that a VCR can, butwith significant improvements.

For example, I have about given up on watching a lot of TV when it is aired,especially movies. Instead, I record them on a VCR and play them back later,fast-forwarding through commercial breaks. This scenario works even better witha PVR. You can record a program in real time but pause it at any point, at acommercial break, for example.

The PVR keeps recording the program while you get fresh coffee, go to thebathroom or whatever. When you return and hit the Pause button again, therecorder picks up where it left off, playing the program back from the hard drive.Now you can fast forward quickly through the commercials and enjoy what youreally wanted to see.

You will also be able to do your own instant replays; just rewind, then replaysegments you want to view again. You can also preprogram a PVR to recordfavorite program automatically, just as with a VCR.

(Note: If you currently use a PVR and service like TiVo, Ken Fermoyle wouldlove to hear about your experiences with these technologies for possible use in afuture article. E-mail him at kfermoyle@earthlink.net.)Copyright ©2000 Ken Fermoyle, Fermoyle Publications

This is a NewsByte from Ken’s Korner. Ken’s Korner is available to User Groupswithout charge, and appears in more than 250 User Group newsletters world-wide. For reprint permission, write kfermoyle@earthlink.net.

Potpourri of current eventsand interesting stuffby T.J. Lee

T.J. Lee

• Documents released under the USFreedom of Information Act haverevealed that while the FBI has saidthat their Carnivore technology onlytargeted email that it may also be ableto track Web sitesvisited and voiceover Internet as well.http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/321/tr.cgi?news1• Get an early peekat the next version ofMicrosoft Office 10in this beta review byHarry McCracken.http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/321/tr.cgi?news2• With the Holiday Season breathingdown our necks, electronic componentshortages are starting to turn ugly.Sony has said it will halve initialshipments of its new PlayStation 2video game consoles, handhelds andPDAs may also be in short supply.http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/321/tr.cgi?news3• Microsoft has purchased 24.6% ofCorel. If this Microsoft ”partnership”is anything like others in the past,well, we’re gonna miss Corel.http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/321/tr.cgi?news4• Napster is still in business. Anappellate court maintains stay oflower court order keeping Napsteroperational until it delivers a rulingexpected within the next few weeks.http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/321/tr.cgi?news5

Reprinted with permission from TheNaked PC, a free, online newsletter athttp://www.thenakedpc.com. CheckAmazon.com for “The UndergroundGuide to PCs,” by T.J. Lee.

11Orange County IBM PC Users’ GroupNovember 2000

by Siles Bazerman

To install or not to installWindows Me…?

SaSaSaSaSaturturturturturdadadadadayyyyyNoNoNoNoNovvvvvember 18ember 18ember 18ember 18ember 18

This is being written less than two weeks after the release of Windows Me.A number of discussion newsgroups have been opened asmicrosoft.public.winme .(name). Surprisingly, or really not so surprisingly,

there is less activity and complaints than in the equivalent time frame forWindows 95, Windows 98, and Windows 98 Second Edition. Each release seemsto draw less problem reports than previous ones.

The most discussion is concerning “Should I or shouldn’t I install WindowsMe?”Aside from the serious discussions, it also seems to bring out those whosevocabulary consists of mostly vulgar or scatological expressions, and end with“Linux rulez.” If your system is running well with no problems, and you do notwant the System Health programs, advanced multimedia, or networking that arethe prime features of Windows Me, then don’t install it. If you do, than install.

The next most discussed item is clean install or upgrade. I want to be veryclear that ANY version of Me with the exception of OEMs will either clean

install or upgrade. The $49 Special Offer will only do an upgrade from Windows98 or Windows Second Edition. All they require is to insert your earlier CD at theappropriate time for proof of ownership. Which one you should do depends on anumber of factors.

For the first time Microsoft is recommending an upgrade over an existingwell-running system. Until now they have always recommended a clean install.The reason for this change is simple. A number of hardware manufacturers havenot yet released updated drivers for their cards.

Creative Labs, for example, has indicated drivers will be available, but havenot released them yet. An upgrade will only replace drivers if Me feels that a newone (certified to work with Me ) is available on the CD. Otherwise it will leavethe old one in place. If you have all the latest versions of the drivers your systemrequires, either downloaded or on original install disks, then you can clean installand update drivers as needed. In some cases, old drivers will work better than thenew ones. My ATI All-in-Wonder card runs better with the original install driversthan with the updated drivers available from ATI. Don’t know why. Despite whatmany claim, it is the hardware manufacturers responsibility to provide up to datedrivers for their products, not MICROSOFT. Some seem to be dragging their feetin hopes of selling new products which make a profit, rather than free updateswhich don’t produce revenue.

The next problem is non-working hardware. Sound cards are the worst. Themost prevalent and persistent problem is Sound Blaster Live. At this time the bestsolution is to reinstall the Windows 98 drivers. Also avoid loading any of the

additional functions of the card. Thesound drivers can and will also effectmodems, particularly voice modems.Remember, these use the sound card torecord and play sounds and messages.In my case, since I only use my 56kmodem for faxes I have totally disabledthe Wave Device for Voice Modem. Notneeded, so why activate a possibletrouble item.

Another problem area is scanners,particularly USB ones. Again it is adriver problem and seems to be bestsolved bu deleting the device in DeviceManager, letting Windows Me reinstallit and updating drivers. Most of themanufacturers have already placedupdates on their web sites.

If you are using Adaptec softwarecheck out the free updates on their website. The same goes for many of thesoftware products. There really should

be no excuse forlack of updates,as the month anda half delay fromRelease toManufacture toRetail distribution

should have allowed completion ofupdates. These should have been startedback in the Beta days, and only neededthe complete code to finalize the update.

For the first time, Microsoft is recommending an upgradeover an existing well-running system.

Siles Bazerman is Vice President ofWINNERS computer group in GardenGrove, and member of ORCOPUG.You can write him at siles.bazerman@gte.net; or call, 714-897-2868 (after9 a.m.).

12Orange County IBM PC Users’ Group

November 2000

Peripherals

Bee Reynolds, Carl Westberg, CharlieMoore, Dean Kise, Duane Pearson, GeneBarlow, Gloria Bearss, Gordon Nelson,Ken Fermoyle, Linda Gonse, LloydBoutwell, Mervin Frank, Mike Lyons,Myra Milgrom, Paul Stephen, ReedGustow, Siles Bazerman, Stan Leese,Steve Morgan, T.J. Lee.

NeNeNeNeNewsletter contribwsletter contribwsletter contribwsletter contribwsletter contributorutorutorutorutorsssss

QuickBooks�

page 5☞

job and how much you need to billyour clients. It has several differentmethods to tracking and using thestopwatch and timer.· Chapter 18 explains Payroll. Itexplains the service that QuickBookshas on payroll services you ansubscribe to for a fee each month. Itmay be worth while to use this serviceis you have lots of employees or if youhave don’t have the time to spend onall this extra work besides doing yourregluar work. Payroll is very timeconsuming and is definitely somethingyou don’t want to neglect in yourbusiness.· Chapter 19 walks you throughsetup reports and graphs on yourbusiness and how to pull theinformation in from Quickbooks toExcel.· Chapter 20 explains how to keepon target with a budget and how tograph your budget.· Chapter 21 talks about periodicaltasks to do weekly, monthly, daily,quarterly, and annually. It also talks

about condensing your data file andhow that affects your reports.· Chapter 22 talks about updatingyour QuickBooks software and to getmaintenance releases.· Chapter 23 walks you throughsynchronzing QuickBooks with ACTor Outlook and putting all your data inreports and working with theinformation.· Chapter 24 Advises you onworking with your Accountant oradvior.· Chapter 25 talks about importingand exporting data and transferringfiles.· Appendix A is on Troubleshootingproblems· Appendix B is on Intuit services,supplies, and technical support.

There are over 500 pages to thismanual. Thisis why I brokedown thechapters. Ifyou make upyour tutorialand followeach chapteryou will havea very good

model to use and setup your ownbusiness. It is will also help those whowork with you on the program tounderstand different aspects of thebusiness. If you are sole owner and doall your own work, then the payrollservices will work well if you haveserveral field employees. It will easeup your work and let you do the thingsthat are important. The payrollservices does cost. It can vary from$6.00 a month to $25.00 depending onhow much you need them to handle.

Overall, QuickBooks Pro is theway to go. Of all the flavors of thisprogram the Pro version allows for themost flexibility and lets you use it in

more ways with different businesses. Itis the program I use even for a smallconsulting business. It allows me totrack services and all my time as wellas to see where the taxes are going andthe products. QuickBooks Pro 2000sells for $220.00 retail or $150.00 forthe upgrade. QuickBooks 2000 sellsfor $120.00 and the upgrade is $70.00.These prices are from Intuit direct. Ifyou watch for sales and shop aroundyou can probably find it on sale.

QuickBooks Pro 2000 has becomea good product and will continue to thenumber one small business accountingpackage for a long time. It is easy touse and easy to learn as I said in thebeginning. It lets you setup yourbusiness in a very short period of timeand gets you working so that yourbusiness will run smooth and help youmake the money you need or collectthe money you need to collect. Yourwhole inventory can be setup and runwith this program.

I did not hit a lot of the details asthat would take up more space then wehave. All I can say is that this is theaccounting package you will need foryour business. There are otherpackages on the market, but they willcost you more money and moreheadaches, especially if you don’t havelots of experience with accountingpractices. Keep life easy and simpleand your business will run smooth andyou won’t get as many headaches. Seemore information about Quickbooksat: http://www.quickbooks.com .

Computer users helping one another

Orange CountyIBM PC Users’ Group

Post Office Box 1779 • Brea, California 92822

Tuesday, November 146:30 p.m.

See meeting mapon back panel

All-In-One All-In-One All-In-One All-In-One All-In-One

Comm Comm Comm Comm Communica unica unica unica unications tions tions tions tions

RRRRReeeeeprint Pprint Pprint Pprint Pprint Policolicolicolicolicyyyyy User groups wishing to reprint unaltered, uncopyrighted material, with credit to the author and Nibbles & Bits, are encouraged to write:editor@orcopug.org. In exchange for your newsletter’s name and date of publication, ASCII and image files will be forwarded to you for the desired article(s).

Will you help?Planning meetings are held the third Thursday of everymonth at 7 p.m. at Downey Savings & Loan, one blockeast of Harbor at Bastanchury in Fullerton. Everyone iswelcome to attend and participate in planning futuremeetings and events.

Visit ORCOPUG’s new andimproved web site—Now! Search engine on-sitewwwwwwwwwwwwwww.or.or.or.or.orcopugcopugcopugcopugcopug.or.or.or.or.orggggg

The Orange County IBM PC Users’ Group regular meeting isscheduled for the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at theHunt Library, 201 S. Basque Avenue, Fullerton, (714) 738-5364. Formore information, call (714) 990-0580, or go to www.orcopug.org.

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Directions: From the 91 Freeway, exit at either Euclid or BrookhurstStreets and go north. Turn onto Valencia Drive. Go to Basque Avenueand turn north. The Hunt Library is located at end of Basque. (Accessonly from Valencia).

User groups are organizations of personal computer users that hold monthly meetings to learnmore about their personal computer. At these meetings they answer each other’s questions, seeproduct presentations, and share experiences… Non-members are welcome to attend thesemeetings in order to see how joining the group might benefit them.

—Gene Barlow, PowerQuest User Group Relations, www.ugr.com