Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov Recent Developments .. by Roger Davies Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec Jul 1999 Soft Serve Direct Box 389, Magrath, Alberta, Canada T0K 1JO Phone (403) 388-4332 Fax (403) 758-3505

Email comments to news@ssdirect.com

ew and Improved?

Windows 98 Version 2 CD. According to the Microsoft site this is the greatest new thing since sliced bread. It has Internet Explorer 5 (hey, I already have that - downloaded for 'free' off the internet), NetMeeting 3.0 (seen it), Media Player 6.1 (got it) and DirectX 6.1 (been there). The only really new feature is a proposed Win98 Service Pack 1 (to fix found bugs in existing operating system and soon to be available for download from the internet) and a thing called Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). Now ICS is only any good to you if you have more than one computer, networked to each other,  AND you have to/want to access the internet from both AT the same time over an existing SINGLE internet connection. Since most users have just one computer, most of you will have no use for ICS either. So what's the deal. Microsoft claims that many users never bothered to upgrade their Windows 95/98 systems after the initial installation (see  the many fixes available for download at  windowsupdate.microsoft.com). This CD is their way of 'selling' the upgrade, by renaming it and reselling back to you what you are currently able to download for free. Great idea, right. But if you really want to, you can find out where send your $19.95 US plus shipping and taxes (Bill me Bill) via their website at microsoft.com/windows98/guide/Win98/Features.

Microsoft Office 2000 $$$. See microsoft.com/office/2000. Wow. What an impressive .. price. Only some $249 US (est. $325 Can) for the retail version and half that for the upgrade version. For my money we have stayed with the tried and true WP Suite. The latest version, WP Office 2000 (v.9) builds on the success of Suite 7 and 8 while adding better import/export emulation of the MS Word and Excel file structures.

Microsoft Windows 2000 $$$$. Many of you have expressed confusion over just what this product is and why we are still selling systems with Windows 98. Windows 2000 formerly referenced as Windows NT v.5, is, or will be (once it ever hits the shelf) the successor to the existing Windows NT v.4 product. Windows 98 is backward compatible with older Windows 95 and even most Windows 3.1 and DOS applications. Windows 2000 expects only 32 bit programs (newer Windows 98 stuff and beyond). I see a long future for the Windows 98 line. BTW: You will notice that most every new software product today includes the obligatory '2000' in it.

irus Attack Worm

Just when you though it was safe to go back into the water. Dumm-Dumm. More virus email attacks. This one arrives in the form of an email asking you to run the attached zipped file. Don't do it. Details on this can be obtained from microsoft.com/presspass/virus/06-14worm.htm. Fast on its heels is another nasty "medium risk" virus called Heathen.A which replicates itself across Microsoft Word 97 files, but it does not destroy data (see PC World article pcworld.com/shared/printable_articles/0,1440,11586,00.html).   At any rate, maybe it is time for you to update your virus definition files. All systems we sell include the Norton Anti-Virus Scanner v.4 program. Free updates (so far) can be downloaded from symantec.com/avcenter/download.html.

reebies - from Yahoo, Excite.

Portal sites (sites designed to be your 'front door' into the internet, with search engines, news, and of course, lots of advertising) are vying for your attendance. Yahoo has just upgraded its free 'Pager' program with its new 'Yahoo Messenger' program (see PC World article pcworld.com/shared/printable_articles/0,1440,11571,00.html). One of the neater features is the Calendar function, allowing you to use the Yahoo site as a remote PIM. It can also be called in a standalone mode (see calendar.yahoo.com). Excite has also been introducing a bevy of new features, including its new Assistant program (see PC World article pcworld.com/shared/printable_articles/0,1440,11576,00.html). Maybe you will be tempted to try them out. Have fun.

Revised: June 23, 2001 Design Copyright 1996-2000 by Roger Davies for Soft Serve Direct (SSDirect - Computer Consulting, PC Sales, and Service). Permission is granted for individual use and reproduction provided that this document remains intact, with this copyright message clearly visible.

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