OPCUGroup - Oakmont PC Users Group

OPCUG Board The Board meets on the second Monday of each month at 1:45 and the meeting lasts no more than one hour. All members and guests are welcome to sit in. Following the meeting, our "Talk Session" begins. Members bring in questions or problems they are experiencing and using the club's laptop computer, the projector and very large screen, the item is discussed and almost always,resolved. The General Meeting is held on the third Monday of each month at 2:00 and goes for a nominal one hour. Various subjects of interest to computer users are presented. All meetings are at the Western Recreation Center.

President 2009 - Gordon Ramsey - With the start of 2009, Gordon takes over as President. He is a strong leader who has participated in the leadership of the club for a number of years. For quite a few years, Gordon has been one of the volunteers with their name and phone number in our Newsletter and the Oakmont News indicating willingness to help solve PC problems when asked. He is eminently qualified to continue to lead our club forward and make it better. He solicits the help and cooperation of all the members in that endeavor.

Past President 2007 - Art Nichols - Art took over in January 2008. He thanks the membership for the wonderful spirit of volunteerism that they continue to exhibit and asks that you give him the same cooperation. Art is serving the club this year in the office of Secretary.

Vice President - Ruth Caldwell - Ruth has been Secretary to the club for a number of years and will now take on the job of Vice President. The job includes communications with the membership and assisting the President.

Treasurer - Gary Goodenough - is on hand at each General Meeting at a table by the front door of the Western Recreation Center to serve the membership and distribute door prize tickets. Gary has been our treasurer for six years and hasn't lost a penny yet.

Helper Committee Chairman Granville DeMerritt maintains a list of resources available to solve computer problems. This includes volunteers who provide assistance at no charge and also professionals who can be used (for pay) in the event the problem is too extensive or baffling for our volunteers.

Interesting Information

Your Computer as an Entertainment Center

The Oakmont Computer Learning Center sponsored an evening on this subject at the Berger Center on May 13th. Black and White copies of the slides used in the presentation with live links to the references can be downloaded by clicking on: The_Computer_As_Entertainment.pdf . Additional material on this subject is available at: The TV Set and the Computer Converge and Podcasting, Music and Internet Radio below. Live links are also included in the latter.

The Wonderful World of Google

The club meeting on April 20, 2009 featured a presentation by George McKinney demonstrating many of the features and programs available at http://www.google.com . Google has expanded to include a vast reservoir of important information and techniques. The handout is available by clicking on: Google-AQuickGuide2009.pdf and the PowerPoint slides used are available, four to a page by clicking on: Google2009presentation.pdf . It's worth making some extra effort to obtain skill in using Google.

The TV Set and the Computer Converge

That was the title of the program at the general meeting on March 16, 2009. There is much TV available on the internet and it becomes increasingly practical to do the viewing in the TV set in your living room. You need a fast, better than 1.5 MHz, internet connection for best viewing. The slides give numerous links that tell the story. Click here: TheTVSettheComputerConverge.pdf

Trash Pickup Discounts for Seniors

The City of Santa Rosa and the North Bay Corporation Santa Rosa Recycling and Collection Service offer senior citizens discounted rates for weekly trash pickup. The discounts range from 18% to 22%. To learn the criteria for the reduced rates, Click Here: TrashPickupDiscount.pdf

Making the Most of Your Computer

The program on February 16, 2009 covers twelve steps to take with either a new or an older computer to obtain the best results. The slides along with all the internet links are available by clicking on: MaketheMostofYourPC.pdf

Computer Maintenance and Security

Computer Maintenance and Security was the subject of the club meeting on January 19, 2009. Many valuable links to useful web sites are included in the handout which can be found by clicking on: ComputerMaintenanceNotesHandout.pdf

Skype for Free or Economical Communications

Skype was the main item on the program for November 17, 2008. Skype provides computer to computer communications, both voice and video, for free. A small web camera and microphone (usually one unit) that connects to the computer via USB, are required. Calls can also be made, computer to land line or wireless phone anywhere in the world at modest cost. In the demonstration, video calls were made to Iceland and Alaska. Details and a download are available at: http://skype.com/ .

A copy of the presentation slides is at: OakmontPCUsersGroupSkypeNew.ppt.pdf .

The least expensive camera and mike combination your webmaster was able to find was for $13.99 with free shipping. Go to:http://3btech.net/lawe22wmi64r.html. The specifications read OK but I have not tested it. I have purchased from this company and was entirely satisfied.

CrossLoop to Make Getting Help Easier

At the November 17, 2008 General Meeting a handy little program to permit a helper to access the computer of a person requesting help, from a remote location, was demonstrated. The program was written up in The Wall Street Journal in both the print and online editions. A video describing use and obtaining a download are available at: http://crossloop.com/ . The program can be used by Club Volunteer Helpers to get a look at the problem and possibly effect a solution without having to go to the home of the person needing help. The person being helped can monitor and help in the solution.

Using the Internet to make Life Easy

On November 5, 2008 a PowerPoint presentation on the above subject was given at the Berger Center. To view as a PowerPoint use : OCLCNov52008-2.ppt . As a PDF : OCLCNov52008-2revised.ppt.pdf

Podcasting, Music & Internet Radio

The Club program on this subject was conducted on October 20,2008. Gary Pickering presented the portion on Podcasting while the portion on streaming music and internet radio was given by Bob Stinson. The material presented on Podcasting and more can be viewed by clicking on: http://www.senioresolutions.com/index.html . A large group of music and internet radio links are provided by:MusicandRadioBookmarks.pdf Enjoy a large variety from these sites.

Vista Tips and Tweaks

On September 15, 2008, our own Judie Coleman gave a presentation on this subject. Because the OVA Office copier was down, copies of the handout were not available. You can download the document to your computer by clicking in this link: Vista-Tips-and-Tweaks.pdf . Several of the links in the document can also provide an assist for Windows XP, especially the Freeware Defragger for defragmenting all or parts of your hard drive to speed up your computer.

BullZip PDF Printer

When we transmit a document, the recipient is required to have a program which will open the document and the font/s used, if the document is to look the same as the original. This can be severely limiting for something like a party invitation done in a flowing script like font. The answer is to use the PDF - Portable Document Format - originally pioneered by Adobe. Most computers have Adobe Acrobat Reader.

To make a PDF document to be read by you or others, you need a PDF generator. The Adobe program to do this costs $300 and more. However, there are many freeware programs to generate PDFs which are quite adequate for home or small business. One of the best of the freeware group is the BullZip PDF Printer. It installs a virtual printer alongside of your regular printer/s and PDFs are generated by printing the document using the PDF printer.

Step by step instructions and the download link are given in: BullZipPDFPrinterWeb.pdf. Further information about the program is also provided.

Wireless Internet Security

On March 17, 2008 our own Judie Coleman gave an interesting presentation on Wireless Internet Security. She demonstrated how there are tools available to persons, bent on malevolence, to attack unprotected home wireless networks. She also demonstrated how to maximize the security provided by a router. If you missed it or failed to get the handout, click on WirelessSecurityHandout-1.pdf .

Fun & Games

At the general meeting on February 18, 2008, a wide and most interesting array of web sites were demonstrated. The thrust of the demonstration was to have a pleasant time and simultaneously foster mental agility. Folks, you either use the "old noodle" or you lose it. If you wish to avoid " loosing it" click on the following link which will download the document with clckable links to all of the sites. OPCUGProgramURLs02-08-2008.pdf

Internet Explorer 7

Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) is a free download from Microsoft for Windows XP. At our last “Talk Session” the installation of IE7 was discussed. It was noted that in IE7 the menu bar (the top line of text in IE6 which displays: File, Edit, View, Favorites etc.) is no longer present in IE7. It was pointed out, subsequent to the meeting, by our Vice President Gordon Ramsey, that while this is true it is quite possible to bring the menu back. All one needs to do is go over the to the right hand portion of the taskbar and click on Tools. The drop down menu for Tools includes an item for Menu bar. Clicking this brings back the good old menu bar.

Are you Vista Ready?

Microsoft has a web page to describe the versions of Vista and to download Windows Vista Advisor. If interested, go to: Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

Here you can go to: Download Windows Vista Advisor. The download is a small application which you can install on your Windows XP Computer. The applet will analyze your system and tell you which items are and aren't Vista Compatible and also describe the different Vista versions.

APCUG Push Articles

The Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG), each month, publishes a series of articles selected from those published by Member Groups. These are called Push Articles and cover subjects of interest to PC users. To obtain these for your computer, right click on the link and select Save Link as. When the Save As dialog box appears, save to the Desktop. At your convenience you can double click on the desktop icon and open the folder and then double click on the individual files in the folder to read the files. The link is: PUSH2-07.zip

Especially note the article titled The Big Red X. The Oakmont PC Users Group is a member of the APCUG.

Working with USB Sticks (Travel Drive or Flash Drive)

Several members have raised questions on the above subject and the free download from Visual Steps. To obtain a copy of the document in Adobe Reader format (pdf), right click on the link and select Save Link as. When the Save As dialog box appears, save to your Desktop. This will place the pdf file on your desktop and by doubleclicking on the icon, Adobe Reader will open and you can read or print the document. The link is: Working with USB Sticks

Link to SeniorNet.org

One of the more interesting web sites you can visit is http://www.seniornet.org By clicking on this link you will visit the home page of SeniorNet and have available a treasure trove of information and help. SeniorNet is a non-profit organization that disseminates useful information and sponsors learning centers nationally. In the early days of OPCUG consideration was given to using their sponsorship and materials for a center here in Oakmont. However, one of their requirements is that the courses be available to all and the objectives of computer activities at Oakmont are centered on assisting our residents.

When you visit the site be sure to select the blue tab at the top labeled "COURSES". Then scroll down to the heading "Computers" and look at "Computer Tutorials and Demo's" or go further down and look at Internet Skills where there is instruction on "Learn to Search the Web" and two items on eBay. This web site is highly recommended.

Free 411 Information Calls

Cell and land line phone companies charge $1.00 or more for 411 information calls. This is a burdensome charge, since the process is entirely automatic. When you need to use the 411/information option, simply dial 1-800-FREE411 or 1-800-373-3411 without incurring a charge except for the minutes used to make the call. The one downside is that you will be subjected to a short commercial message but if you do not mind being offered, "a free vacation by pushing 2 after getting directory information," it's a very good deal.

Google Pack - An Astounding Group of Free Programs

Google Pack offers an array of programs. They are available for download at http://pack.google.com

Clicking on this site gives a survey of any of the Google Pack programs

already installed and permits selection of any additional programs desired. The download includes Google Updater which installs the selected items and provides future updates.

To learn more about the individual programs, click http://pack.google.com/intl/en/learn_more_frameset.html In the left column you can select the program of interest. After selection, the right frame gives several options including a product tour. After finishing one to your satisfaction, you can go to another through some sixteen separate programs. Some are Google’s own while others are third party programs. They are always free – no trial versions or spyware.

The ones of most interest to your author are:

Picasa	Spyware Doctor Starter Edition
Google Earth	Skype
Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar	Star Office 8

Star Office is the star of the lineup. It is sold by Sun Microsystems as a competitor to Microsoft Office and sells for $ 70.00. The difference between the Google Free version and the direct sale item is telephone support.

I have tried out Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents in both directions, saving Star Office documents in Microsoft format and opening them in the corresponding Microsoft program and vice versa, and did not detect any difference. If your version of Office is old or you do not have Microsoft Office, Star Office is highly recommended.

Windows Movie Maker

The General Meeting program for January demonstrated how to make a movie using Windows Movie Maker (WMM). A step by step proceedure for performing the steps demonstrated and some additional material is available for download by clicking WMMCourse.pdf . Download to your desktop and the document will open using Adobe Reader.