CyberCoyote - August, 2006

NEWS, NOTES and NOTICES

Here's what you've been missing, unless you're a Desert Rat.
http://cybercoyote.org/url/200.html

The latest "Mr.-Modem!" column is now online.
http://cybercoyote.org/articles/modem.shtml

WINDOWS Vista

Windows Vista: A marketing manager that I worked with in a previous life usually offered the "The Nickel Tour" to new people when they came by. Walt Mossberg wrote an equivalent for those who don't want too much information about Vista. :-) And Paul Thurrott offers a more comprehensive tour at his SuperSite for Windows. ;-)
http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/report-200606.html -- the nickel tour
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_beta2.asp -- $5 tour

Will Vista slip? Back in April, I predicted that Windows Vista wouldn't ship to consumers until next March. I'm not the only one thinking in that time frame. Be sure to read the first response (below the entry) by "George" and Ed Bott's rejoinder. :-)
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=1413

Desktop Pipeline | "How To Stay Happy With Windows XP": It's fun to consider upgrading to Vista, but for most of us there's probably no rush. But if you're going to by a new computer, that's a whole 'nuther skillet of chitlins of course. ;-) [longish article, but very informative]
http://www.desktoppipeline.com/190302443?cid=rssfeed_pl_dtp

SECURITY

Security suites, e.g., Norton Internet Security, are a long way from being perfected. Most of them need to be redesigned from the ground up. Microsoft's OneCare sort of has been, but it still may not be ready for prime time.
http://cybercoyote.org/url/195.html -- recent analysis
http://cybercoyote.org/security/suite.shtml -- my thoughts on suites

Larry Stanford has been using "Windows Live OneCare" security suite for a while. It's good, but he's had some problems with it. He advises that you buy the CD rather than download it from Microsoft. You can get the CD at eBay, for example, or in retail stores.
http://cybercoyote.org/articles/onecare.shtml -- Larry's note

INTERNET

Speed up your Internet -- this works. It's a bit geeky, but it eliminates the initial pause before a website starts to load. As a bonus, OpenDNS blocks known Phishing sites. (Save their page to your hard drive so that you can quickly reverse the setting if you have trouble.) [instructions]
http://www.opendns.com/start/
Update: Some trouble using OpenDNS on some VPNs (virtual private networks) has been reported.

PCWorld has a WiFi Hotspot finder that really works. Of course you need to be online to use it, so look before you go. ;)
http://pcworld.jiwire.com/

55 ways to have fun with Google (download the full book as a free PFD or Word document):
http://www.55fun.com/
http://www.55fun.com/book-word.zip -- the Word doc

Most likely you've heard about MySpace.com -- probably something negative, but that's beside the point. If you've ever gone there, or any other "social networking" site, you may wonder what the buzz is. Don't feel bad, there may be a reason. :^)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1809647,00.html -- the story
http://myspace.com/ -- the site

ECLECTIC

Hitchhiker: http://cybercoyote.org/url/196.html

Oops! http://cybercoyote.org/images/oops.jpg

4th of July at Aunty Em's:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060702.html
http://www.eglobe1.com/index.php/2006/07/02/amazing-storm-pictures/ -- more

Hurricane weather: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060725.html

Hubbert's peak: Why we have an oil problem
http://cybercoyote.org/articles/oil.shtml -- via Larry Stanford
http://cybercoyote.org/url/201.html -- signs of the times
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil

Quaint, but not more so than many of today's outlandish beliefs. :-)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/21/opinion/edeco.php -- Hollow Earth
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22hollow+earth%22 -- still hangs on