20020715 Lockergnome Windows Daily

CHRIS TEACHES THE BASICS: If you've got friends or family who want to learn more about their PC, from a guy who makes things nice and easy, check out the VHS release of Computer Basics in the GnomeStore. Chris teams with TechTV cohort, Kate Botello, to lead novices on a journey through their computer. From basic interactions, to installing apps, to using the Internet and e-mail, Chris and Kate have all the basics covered. Help out a friend and get them a copy today.

PC World Picks

WinZip v8.1
IrfanView v3.70
ACDSee v4.0.2
Microangelo v5.5
SmartDraw
Winamp v2.80
Paint Shop Pro
Cool Edit 2000
UltraEdit v9.00a
Backup Plus v6.1.1
TextPad v4.5
Mailbag Asst v2.6c
Time and Chaos v5.4.0
SureThing Labeler
WinRAR v3.00
Blaze Media Pro

First order of business: get broadband! According to AT&T's Web site, cable modem service is not available in the area. However, DSL is an option. So, it looks like I'm going to be purchasing an external DSL modem in a few days. Any suggestions? Yeah, I'm not even sure who I'll select for my provider. They currently use SBC to get online, so I might just stick with them for continuity's sake. Verizon has been solid enough for me here, but I believe our loft complex has a unique infrastructure. If I could make contact with someone from any capable system, I'd probably go with them. I should probably get the ball rolling soon, though - I'd hate to play the waiting game for too long. I've heard of installation nightmares, so I'll probably be rolling my own (again). 56k is quaint, but hardly enough pipe to get any real work done. When you download as much as I do, every bit counts. Oh, and did I tell you about the bites?

There are plenty of unique restaurants in just about every direction. Plus, we're right up around the corner from a Peet's outlet! If you need me, you know where you can find me. I'll probably also be setting up a Wi-Fi network before too long, too. My Proxim hardware still works, but I wasn't sure if I needed a crossover cable to connect it to my router. Furo tells me: "If the hub has an uplink port, then a straight cable should work between the two, as it provides the crossover for you. If both have uplink and non-uplink ports (workstation attachment ports), then you would need a crossover cable between like ports. For instance, if you were connecting a workstation port on one to a workstation port on another, you'd have to use a crossover. Same for uplink to uplink." How's that for home network helpfulness? Oh, if only he'd do a free Gnometome for us...

{Find Web site remnants} Who knows what evils lurk on the hard drives of mine? I'm always curious about what has been downloaded to my PC after I have visited a website. I suppose I COULD clear out my Temporary Internet Files before going to every single page... or I could just install Traces Viewer. This handy application gives me the power to see what my PC acquires for every website I visit. With Traces Viewer's easy-to-read interface, I can see what files come from each site, and also if the site contained any cookies. Mmmmmm, cookies... now, how could chocolate chip be evil?

{Make your own icons} I have a compulsive habit of changing the original desktop and icons in Windows to a version that mirrors my personality. So what happens if I can't find a desktop or set of icons that suits me? I load up Pixel Toolbox! This program allows me to flex my creative skills by creating Windows icons and pointers. Find yourself in a creativity slump? Well, you don't have to strain your creative muscle. PixelToolbox allows you to import an image that you already own, and work from there. If that isn't enough, you can fashion your own tiled desktop or share your creation with friends by exporting your masterpiece as a .jpg, .png, .tga, or .tif file.

You NEVER pirate software, right? OF COURSE YOU DON'T! (Good answer.) So, if someone came to your door and accused you of software piracy, could you prove them wrong? With the Software Audit Protection Program (SAPP), you could. You can track every piece of software you own with this application; you can attach an image of your paper receipt, add information like serial numbers and activation keys, etc., so you will never be left hunting for these items in the future. SAPP can even create and print reports detailing your inventory. If you own a small company and want to make confirm that you and your employees are "Software Compliant," this is the program for you. You can track your software using many different variables such as License, User ID, Software Title or Activation Key. Don't get caught second-guessing... be certain with the Software Audit Protection Program!

{Screen print utility} Time is money, and I endorse any program that can save me time. Luckily, that is exactly what Print! v1.6 does. Say that I want to share screenshots with my other tech friends to compare error messages and talk about possible fixes: every time I take a screen shot, I open up Word, paste the snapshot, and THEN I can print it. Too many steps, too much of my time! With Print!, I just hit my "Print Screen" key and out comes my screenshot without involving any other programs. Don't want a screenshot of your whole desktop? Not a problem, just press Alt + Print Screen and you'll have a printout of the active window only. Print! 1.6 goes so far as to put the date and time on your printout too... perfect for saving those high scores on solitaire! Other features include scaling, centering, and the ability to invert images. (So, not only will you save time, you'll also save on toner. Bonus!) You may also want to note that Print! saves your printer configuration without wreaking havoc on the settings in your other programs. You'll definitely get your money's worth with this program. Don't believe me? Start by checking out the evaluation version for yourself!

REMOTE ACCESS TO YOUR E-MAIL: LoudPC is a new product from Loudfire enabling direct access to your PC's Outlook(tm) from any Internet browser or web phone. Use LoudPC to access your work email from home, check your next appointment while at lunch, reply to an important email while in a meeting, etc. No synchronization required. Works with your existing email accounts. Accesses all of your folders. All changes reflected immediately in your Outlook(tm). Get more info on LoudPC

Gretchen is a self-professed pack rat: there are just some things that she can't throw away. For example, books. I, on the other hand, prefer my text in an electronic medium, and don't really miss those analog versions. (What's that stuff called again? Paper?) Many of my books are gathering dust on the bookshelf. The alternative? Free them into the wild! BookCrossing is essentially a worldwide book club. You register online and get a BookCrossing ID number to put on your books with a note sending the new reader back to BookCrossing (think of wheresgeorge.com). Then you just leave the book "in the wild" to be found by someone else; the folks at BookCrossing suggest a park bench, the pocket of an airplane seat, or just plain giving your book to a friend. "Sounds easy, right? Well it is. It's also a fascinating exercise in fate, karma, or whatever you want to call the chain of events that can occur between two or more lives and one piece of literature. Oh, and we should mention, it's absolutely free and absolutely private, too." BookCrossing also offers book reviews, ratings, and recommendations.

Any modem that relies on Windows to function is dubbed a "Winmodem." Most manufacturers use "Winmodems" because they are cheap and easy to set up on a standard model PC. I don't have any problem with the manufacturer saving money (because living in a capitalistic society, I would hope that the savings would trickle down to ME in one way or another). I do, however, have a problem with the way "Winmodems" function after you add more internal devices to your PC. "Winmodems" rely on Windows to mediate their serial communication (I/O address, COM port, IRQ, etc.) and as you can imagine, the more devices Windows has to manage, the higher the probability of running into a problem. And what if you want to run Linux instead? Will the "Winmodem" function well, if at all, in an operating system other than Windows? Don't bet on it! If you want to make sure you don't have any problems after upgrading your system, you'll want to get yourself a hardware modem. How can you determine this? Checking a modem's system requirements. If the modem says it REQUIRES Windows, then keep looking... you've found yourself a "Winmodem." However, if the system requirements for the modem say that it will work with Linux, then you've found yourself a hardware modem. Yes, it IS that easy.