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Table of Contents
============== Vista: A Week Away
We are only a week away from Vista and there are still some specialty software companies who haven't managed to make their software work with it. VCC has several customers who use software designed for specific businesses who cannot switch to Vista or IE7. If you so much more than use Internet Explorer, mail and Microsoft Word, be sure to check to make sure the applications you depend upon will run under Vista before taking the plunge. Understand, this doesn't mean there's anything wrong with Vista. It means software companies have been asleep or are using Vista as an excuse to force users to upgrade. As one example, only QuickBooks 2007 will run on Vista. Intuit has no intention of retrofitting earlier versions. For some companies, this will be a large expense. Other companies are forcing users to upgrade to their most recent version to run on Vista, although interestingly all versions of Microsoft Office from 97 on will run. Check out popular software on the Windows Vista RTM Software Compatibility List at http://iexbeta.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_Vista_Software_Compatibility_List. Interestingly, while several people on the Internet have reported that Office 97 will run on Vista, it isn't listed in any category. Most popular software can be found in one of three categories: (1) Works, (2) Has Problems with workarounds and (3) Heavy problems.
In addition, if you wish to upgrade to Vista, grab the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx which will check your system for problems. Hardware items it identifies as a problem may still work, but if not, you'll have to replace it before upgrading.
Generally, VCC is waiting before jumping into Vista too hard. We are pretty sure it will be a winning product -- one that most everyone will want -- but it is a huge change from Windows XP, needs considerably more horsepower and has potential problems that will undoubtedly surface after release. We'll sell systems right away, but certainly won't be rushing to upgrade existing systems for a bit.
============== Internet Explorer 7 Fixes and Tweaks
The Tools entry on the toolbar is your gateway to multiple settings: You can turn on or off the Popup Blocker, Check a website for Phishing, report those that fail the check and turn on or off IE7's Phishing Filter. You can also Find Add-ons or turn them off, the usual Windows Update link and several other items that were on IE6. When you navigate to a site that isn't what it represents itself to be, the tab for the site turns pink and "Phishing Website" is displayed. This should help users enormously. The fake bank sites have bilked millions from the ignorant.
There are some welcome new entries in the old Internet Options dialog box (Tools, Internet Options). In Content, Content Advisor you can setup rules on where IE7 can go and where it can't. You can restrict by category (alcohol, drugs, gambling, tobacco, weapons, language, sexual content, violence, nudity and several other). There's a slider bar to set up how restrictive the setting should be. I haven't used this yet, but it appears to be pretty well-conceived.
In Content, AutoComplete you can tell IE7 to use AutoComplete for Web addresses, Forms and User names and passwords with a checkbox to prompt to save passwords. On Content, Feeds you can setup automatic updating of RSS feeds. If you are into RSS, this is pretty slick. In Programs, Manage Add-ons you can look at all your ActiveX, toolbars, Browser Helper Objects and Browser extensions. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of having obnoxious spyware installed on your computer, this won't seem important. But ask anyone who has had to remove spyware and they'll tell you it is almost always installed via ActiveX or Browser Helper Object. Previously, we had to use their-party software, like Spybot, to remove them. And you can selectively enable and disable them -- or in the case of ActiveX, you can delete permanently. On the Advanced tab there's a Reset button that will delete all temporary files, disable browser add-ons and reset all changed settings. This is an excellent way to get rid of spyware that has become attached to IE7.
Some users regret losing the menu bar (File, Edit, View, Favorites, Tools, Help), but you can get it back by tapping the Alt key.
On the right, there's a Search window. If you click on the down arrow to the right, you can change the search site you wish to use, change the default search site and several other search options.
For those of you who haven't discovered the wonders of tabs, on the right of the current webpage entry, there's a small, square box. Click on it and another tab will open where you can go to another page. If you need an answer to enter into one page, you can search in another, get the answer and then cut and paste it into the first. There are tons of uses for tabs. I usually have about a dozen open at a time (more often in FireFox than IE7).
But if you don't like IE7 and don't want all its wonders, head out to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4516A6F7-5D44-482B-9DBD-869B4A90159C&displaylang=en where you can download a permanent blocker. This will allow you to keep automatic updates turned on, but not worry that IE7 will suddenly appear. If you have IE7 and don't want it, go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs and remove IE7. IE6 will automatically replace it.
============== 802.11n
Watch out. The draft specifications for the next wireless protocol, 802.11n, are out and wireless router manufacturers are starting to sell 802.11n routers. They had been selling their proprietary versions of the 108 MBS protocol under names like "SpeedBooster." They were upfront about the fact that you could only get this kind of speed if you paired the router with a network card from the same manufacturer. Now that there is an 802.11n draft specification, they are starting to call their products by that name and are less upfront about interoperability with products from other manufacturers. Understand that a draft specification isn't the final one. There will be a final specification which will be far more complete and specific than the current draft resolution.
All this means is that interoperability isn't guaranteed -- or even likely. It appears that different products using the same chipsets will interoperate, but as the chipsets go through several revisions before the specs are finalized, even that isn't dependable. There are several online articles where they have done tests on the various routers and network cards. It's not a pretty picture. If you have to have 802.11n now, be sure to use all the same manufacturer's products. Better yet, wait.
============== Rick's Rant: I'll Be a 'Son of a Gun'
In British naval slang, the term "I'll be a son of a gun" refers to children of questionable parentage conceived on Gun Deck. Hence, "son of a gun." However, children born on board British naval vessels to enlisted men were referred to as "true son of a gun."
When a Royal Navy vessel entered a port, it was common for local prostitutes to visit the ship and elicit custom from the sailors. The sailors and prostitutes then had sexual relations, usually on one of the gun decks beside the many guns carried, one of the few places Able and Ordinary Seaman could obtain some sort of privacy. Should the prostitute subsequently fall pregnant by the sailor, she would attempt to obtain compensation from the father or the navy for the upkeep of the child. This was usually not forthcoming, and the father's name would be withheld. When it was fairly certain that the child had been conceived upon board one of His Majesty's vessels, the infant would be entered into the ship's records as "child born to gun number X," the X denoting the gun position the sailor responsible for the errant behavior was allocated to, his name being omitted to maintain probity. These children born in this manner had no father's name on any official records and the male ones were referred to by knowing sailors as being "sons of guns," a term denoting illegitimacy and contempt.
Happy New Year to all my faithful readers. Now that the holidays are over, I am feeling like my old self again. So it's time to start griping and complaining about everything.
It's not often that that you get to see "The Cat in the Hat" get frustrated, but it happens, mainly when he's doing returns and trying to get the Holy Grail of Computer Techdom, an RMA. It stands for Return Merchandise Authorization. Obtaining one of these is better than a "Get out of jail free" card in Monopoly. I truly believe this process of obtaining an RMA number is one of the largest causes of hair loss in men. All I can say is I am thankful that it is no longer my job to do such things. You ask yourself, why make such a big deal over such a simple process? I'm glad you asked, and I'll be happy to tell you.
One of the big facts of selling electronic components is that the profit margins have been shrinking for years. Refer to my last article as an example of how to pay the least for an item. It is natural to assume, then, that when you make only a small percentage profit of the total cost of an item it can be painful to replace an item as your profit can easily become a loss.
Let's do the math. I sell you an item for $50. It costs me $40, so I make 20 percent profit. That's acceptable for some items -- I'll take 20 percent for selling notebook PCs all day long. Let's say the item is defective, and you bring it or your PC for me to determine its status. I've already spent time purchasing, inventorying, and accounting. Also, time talking you into buying the item. When you bring it in, I have to spend time confirming that the item is faulty and not an error in user.exe.
Now I either have to replace said item with another one in inventory or, if I am out-of-stock or that item is discontinued, I have to order a replacement. This all happens before I even attempt to receive compensation from the vendor for the returned item. Most vendors don't even want to answer the phone, so you fill out a form online and await a response.
If and when one comes with the coveted number, we can proceed to package said item according to manufacturer's specifications for shipping. Usually if it is local it costs $5 to $7, including paying for return and packing time.
Now you do the math. Add up the costs and time involved by the salary you would like to make as an example and go figure. Are you done yet? You don't have to be an algebra genius to figure out we just lost money. If I am any example of what happens, I can only imagine what happens to others on a much larger scale. If you are like Fry's and sell stuff for less than $10 it's cheaper to throw it away than to go through all the above effort, which is what we do with certain items.
So as you can see, returns can be a costly business if profit margins are low. Now, please, I know what some of you are thinking. This is just a ploy to justify overcharging our customers. Not so, but it is probably true that if more people came our way it could lead to smaller margins due to volume and more efficient managing.
One of the reasons we and you choose a vendor is partly based on ease of service and support. We recommend and use ASUS products not only because of the quality and reliability but also because they almost always answer the phone promptly. Now, granted, we have had hardware problems with every single vendor; no one is perfect. We have had to order more BIOS chips from ASUS than we would care to. That particular division is located in Kentucky, and we always seem to call after they are closed. MSI almost always has busy signal and NEVER, I mean NEVER, answers the phone. One recent vendor, ATI, which is based in Canada and whose products we sell, had a VERY expensive video card perform erratically. We sent it in for repair, loaned our client a replacement, received the new card, called our customer back in only to find the replacement had the very same problem. The only good thing was we talked to the manager and he offered to ship the second replacement for free. During this whole scenario, Michael was put on hold countless times, had the line disconnected and suffered assorted other hair-losing problems. We are still awaiting our "free" pickup.
But I'll be "son of a gun," the second replacement worked fine, and our faith in ATI was restored. Now, all we have to do is restore our customer's faith in us.
============== CIPCUG Notice
You don't have to be a member of CIPCUG to subscribe to this E-letter, but we do make a short notice of upcoming events.
This Saturday, January 27, Corel will be doing a webinar to demonstrate CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite, Corel® WordPerfect® Office, Corel Paint Shop® Pro, Corel DESIGNER® Technical Suite, Corel Painter®, and iGrafx®.
February 24: Panda will be here to demonstrate their award-winning Internet Security Suite (AntiVirus, Spyware and spam).
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