*CyberCoyote - February 1, 2007*

NEWS, NOTES and NOTICES

*The WOW is now!*
That's the theme of Microsoft's multi-million dollar publicity campaign for Windows Vista and Office 2007. That's about 0.1% of what they spent developing the software. :-) Kathy Jacobs, Vice President of Phoenix PC User Group, gave us a whirlwind presentation of Office 2007 today. I'd never seen Office 2007 before, but I'd heard that it has a "steep learning curve." Now I don't think so. My impression was there's a lot to learn, but it won't be *hard* to learn it.

One big change from previous versions is the classic menu is replaced by the "ribbon". It's a different but "brilliant" (as Europeans say) way to present a vast array of options, but keep the document tools you need close at hand when you need them. It's all so visual that you might never need to consult the help function. One way to understand the ribbon is to compare it to the revolution that tabs brought to browsers.

I was surprised at the amount of interest our club members have in Office 2007. I was once a power user of Office, in a different life, but I don't really need it now. Still, the new power is tempting. Where was it when I needed it? You'll want to consider the "Home and Students" version of Office 2007, which is attractively (as far as Microsoft goes) priced and can be installed on up to 3 of your computers.

Microsoft has a online test drive where you can try Office 2007 "Live". You can also download the demos that Kathy used. You might also be interested in the remarkable Hungarian who was behind the first version of Microsoft Office.
http://www.runaware.com/microsoft/en-us/2007office/td -- test drive
http://www.onppt.com/azacctour/office2007demos.zip -- the demos
http://www.technologyreview.com/InfoTech/17969/ -- Charles Simonyi

*Second Thursday reminder*
Meetings that fall on the second Thursdays of the month start at 3:00 PM. That includes next week's, even though there is no Board Meeting then. ;-)
http://cybercoyote.org/links/calendar.html -- HTCC Calendar

*Channel 2*
Gail King has Channel 2 online now. Go to the Happy Trails website, log on, and go to Channel 2. There you'll find the announcements and "Swap n' Shop". Beats the heck out of watching it twice just to get the details on one item that interests you. ;-) Mary Ann is covering "Using the Internet" -- 9:00 - 11:00 in the Chaparral Rm. on Thurs. -- in Computer Kindergarten, which will include how to access the Happy Trails website.
http://htresort.com/

*Made the front page of the WSJ*
Well... Page R2 actually, but I made you look didn't I? :-) Russell Dean Vines, chief security advisor, Gotham Technology Group, supplied this to "The Wall Street Journal":
Correction: It's Russell Dean Vines, not Russell Richard Vines. Phishing: Cutting the Identity Theft Line -- one of his many books

"Run by retired computer geeks, the club's site has a remarkable amount of usable information about computers and has helpful computer security protection tips."

Pardon the noise from my own drum. :-)
http://cybercoyote.org/links/029.html -- scroll down for his picture

*Mr. Modem*
I have his latest column online now.
http://cybercoyote.org/articles/modem.shtml

SECURITY

*WiFi*
I had forgotten that we have a WiFi webpage on our website. I've now updated it. It's a good place to start looking for answers to your WiFi security and other WiFi questions. IIDSSM

I had some fun adding a special Google search box to it too. The search zeros in on the most useful security websites. Did I mention that you can get lots of WiFi help straight from Windows help too?
http://cybercoyote.org/security/wi-fi.shtml
[Start > Help and Support > click "Networking and the Web], or
[Start > Help and Support > search for "wireless network"] for help.

*Oh Bother*
The security of Bluetooth -- used for wireless mice, headphones, cameras, etc. -- is even worse than WiFi's. Your computer is exposed to the usual wireless hazards when Bluetooth is enabled. An attacker could access everything on your hard drive, eavesdrop on your microphone, or execute remote malicious code. Not pretty.
http://cybercoyote.org/security/wi-fi.shtml#bluetooth

INTERNET

*Not your Father's Internet* [better with broadband]
Get a little attitude with your Internet searches. :-)
http://www.msdewey.com/

*How we didn't win the war... but the Russians did*
Without the Internet, most likely you would never have seen this article from London. It will probably surprise you, it did me. I wonder what they'll have to say in 50 years about our present times. ;-)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2437544,00.html

ECLECTIC

*Checking for Typos*
"Every writer needs a good editor."
http://karenshanley.com/blog/?p=106

*Snoop into your neighbors' lifestyle*
Find out all about them at neighboroo.com.
http://www.neighboroo.com/

*Flummoxed*
http://cybercoyote.org/links/030.html

*Penguin Batting Practice*
"Ok, Promise not to spend too many hours at this..." :-)
http://cybercoyote.org/links/022.html