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HUG
Meetings
HUG General Membership
Meetings
Notes from the December
General Membership Meeting --
There were 12 members and no guests present at the December 10th General Membership Meeting.
The main item of business was the Annual Election of HUG Officers. These individuals will serve
in their elected capacities during 2003. Chuck Gordon served as the unbiased election officer and
counted "hands up" votes for the nominees. The results are as follows.
- President: Lou Samsel
- 1st Vice President: Dennis Mumma
- 2nd Vice President: Hazen Meek
- Treasurer: John Reinhardt
- Secretary: - no nominee -
Congratulations go to the HUG 2003 Election winners!
The election was followed by the annual Special Awards of computer hardware
and computer software items for members who served at the HUG Computer Show Table during 2002.
Each member who volunteered to work the HUG Computer Show Table during 2002 was
eligible for an award and will receive an award. Those eligible include George Eckard,
Eric Paul-Johnson, Chuck Gordon, Toni Donchak, Patrick Murphy, and Tom Lehman.
The actual order for award selection was determined by those with the most accumulated
volunteer points (one point for each half-day worked) going first.
Volunteers not present will select their awards, from the remaining awards,
at any future meeting they attend. So, if you are eligible but haven't received
your award, come to any upcoming meeting and select the award you choose.
The Award Items:
Hardware
- (2) USB Mouse
- (2) USB Speaker Set
- (2) Jamit Sound Mixers
- (2) Power Strip Protectors w/ Phone Line Protector
- (1) 12V DC to 120V AC Power Converter (use in a car to run a
computer, television, etc.)
Software
- (1) Digital Recording Studio II
- (1) Digital Recording Studio II - Pro Edition
- (1) Genetics Educational CD ROM
- (2) Norton Utilities - Win 95
Books
- (1) Upgrading & Repairing PC's w/ CD ROM, 11th Edition
- (1) Upgrade & Maintenance Guide
- (1) I Didn't Know That You Could Do That - Internet, 2nd Edition
- (1) Sun StarOffice 5.1 for Windows
- (1) Cluetrain Manifesto
Leftover awards will be used as doorprizes at future HUG General Membership meetings.
The December 10th meeting also included a general question and answer (Q&A) discussion
session for computer questions and computer problems. The discussion was lively and interesting.
Everyone who participated learned several new things. Several members said that they enjoy
these informal discussions and that they learn at least one important, new, useful procedure or tip.
Dennis Mumma won the doorprize of the evening - a 12V DC to 120V AC Power Converter. Now he can
recharge his laptop while traveling away from home on his motorcycle!
The meeting concluded at around 9:15 PM.
Coming up in January 2003 --
At the January HUG General Membership Meeting we will have a scheduled presentation
by someone from Comcast Internet Service. The speaker will tell us all about cable
modems for Internet access. This should be an interesting session if you have been
considering Comcast Internet Service or if you already have the service but need answers
to questions that have developed about it.
A Q&A by/for all attendees will follow, if time permits.
Coming up in February 2003 --
The scheduled presentation for February [or March] is "All About Usenet" by Bob Grabau.
Bob will explain:
- What Usenet is
- How to find it through your ISP
- For charge usenet news service (monthly fees)
- What's available: Sources of/for news groups,
MP3s, videos, pix, music, multimedia, hobby stuff,
computer info. ~ 43K groups in all
The Usenet presentation will be given in February or March, depending on Bob's
busy work schedule.
The scheduled alternate presentation for February is
"How to Give a Presentation With Your Computer - Part 2"
by Dennis Mumma. Dennis will explain:
- What software is available
- How to create a PowerPoint presentation
- Part 1 was presented at the September 2002
meeting by John Reinhardt - see the
October Newsletter
A Q&A by/for all attendees will follow, if time permits
Coming up in March 2003 --
The scheduled presentation for March 2003 will be whichever presentation
that was not given in February by Bob or Dennis, see above.
A Q&A by/for all attendees will follow, if time permits.
April 2003 --
April 2003: Scheduled Presentation - "MP3 and DVD" by Hazen Meek.
Hazen will explain all about how to create your own MP3s and DVD.
He will cover most of the basics and let the members see the
possibilities for themselves. In his demonstration, Hazen will:
- 1. Show the members a DVD player and Power DVD Software.
- 2. Show members how they can copy their own DVDs on their computer and DVD
writer.
- 3. Take a CD and convert it to a DVD using their computer and DVD writer.
- 4. Show how members can get other DVD files from a Napster-like company.
- 5. How to rip a DVD -- simular to ripping an MP3.
- 6. Show them a clip from a DVD movie so they can actually see that the
computer will play a downloaded one.
- 7. Introduce the latest MP3 Windows Media Player, Version 9, and
demonstrate its abilities.
- 8. Introduce substitutes for Napster -- Kazaa and Morphious.
- 9. Show us where to get MP3 and DVD files via the Internet and Usenet.
At past HUG meetings, Hazen's demonstrations of audio related software
have always been interesting and informative.
His experience includes working in the music studios in Nashville TN.
He has also written sucessful radio ads accompanied with his original
music and lyrics.
May 2003 --
May 2003: Scheduled Presentation - "Antique Computers" by Bob Grabau.
Bob will bring his collection of antique computers
to demonstrate and discuss.
This presentation was given several years ago and was a huge hit.
June 2003 --
June 2003: Scheduled Presentation - "What's New with Linux" by Lou Samsel.
Lou will demonstrate and discuss the two most popular Linux Releases,
Red Hat and Mandrake, and explain their differences and similarities.
Other, less popular, Linux distributions, such as S.u.S.E. Linux,
Corel Linux, and Turbo Linux wil also be discussed.
Lou will also demonstrate the new DemoLinux CD that allows you to run
Linux without installation,
disk partitioning, or other hassles that usually prevent people from
giving Linux a try.
This CD does not install Linux on your hard disk.
Instead, it runs from the CD and, therefore, allows you to play with
it at lenght before you eventually decide to proceed with a full
fledged installation.
[Copies of Demo Linux Version 3 will be available at the meeting,
on a limited basis, for a small donation charge.]
Popular, stand-alone Linux applications will be discussed as well as
applications that run on both Linux and Windows OSs. This includes
Office Suites that replace MicroSoft's expensive, yet limited, MS Office suite.
After Lou's demonstrations, Norm Wagner will lead a Linux specific
Q&A session.
Norm, Lou, Bob Grabau, Dennis Mumma, and other Linux users will be on
hand to answer your questions about Linux.
Norm will also explain why other countries in
Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia are shunning Microsoft Windows,
Microsoft Office, and Microsoft programming software and adopting Linux
as their national "standard" software.
How you can obtain the various Linux distributions for free (or at a low cost)
and how you can learn more about Linux for free (or at a low cost) will be covered.
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Note 1: The above schedule is tentative.
It is subject to change as most presenters must schedule these presentations
in conjunction with their normal, professional work schedules.
Meetings will be held even if the scheduled presentation is canceled -- an
alternate presentation will be substituted if possible.
Note 2: Anyone with a proposed presentation should contact either the
HUG President or the First Vice President to schedule it.
HUG Computer Workshops
The HUG Computer Workshop
(formerly known as the DOS/Windows SIG), where
beginners' questions are answered and problem computers
are analyzed for free, is held on the THIRD SUNDAY of
each month, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. If you are new to computers
and would like a little coaching in basic computer operations
or if you just need to have some techno-speak decoded, then
this is where you want to be.
Alternately, if you are an experienced computer user,
but are having hardware or software problems you can't solve
on your own, you can still come out.
We will handle all your computer problems one-on-one in
separate areas of the large, comfortable workshop
hall.
We also have a limited supply of computer components for sale at the
workshops in case you need computer parts, cheap. See the
For Sale
section of this newsletter for details about out current parts inventory.
Notes from the Last Computer Workshop --
Ten members and one visitor showed up for the November 17th Computer Workshop.
The visitor, Sunny Guest from Harrisburg, signed up as a new member. Welcome
to HUG, Sunny.
Two computers and one printer repaired.
Computer #1: Chuck Gordon and George Eckart installed a new hard drive and Windows XP.
Computer #2: Wes Samsel, Chuck, and George diagnosed a computer that exhibited
both slow booting and low resources.
They removed unnecessary items from the msconfig file.
That solved the problem.
Printer: Wes diagnosed an HP Printer/copier/fax machine that was not printing.
The printer's owner had spoken with Dennis at the November Computer show about the problem.
He said he installed a new ink cartridge but the machine would still not print.
Wes determined that the "new" ink cartridge that the owner installed was defective.
The Workshop closed at 5:30 PM.
Linux SIG Meetings
The Linux SIG (HAL) is held
concurrently with the HUG Computer Workshop at 2:00 in
the Skyline View Church. If you are an experienced
Linux user and wish to participate in a Linux
discussion session, or if you are want to learn what
Linux is about, then this SIG is for you. Guests are
welcome.
Norm Wagner has suggested that an additional monthly
Linux (only) meeting be scheduled. If anyone has any
desire to attend a Linux only meeting notify Norm at
normwag@comcast.net with your comments.
HUG Executive Board
Meetings
Thursday, November 21st is
HUG's Executive Board Meeting at Little Joe's Pizza
(formerly Brian's Pizza) in the Swatara Square Shopping
Center across from the east shore Wal-Mart. The center
is bordered by Route 322, Mushroom Hill Road, and
Grayson Road. Board meetings are always open to the
public. Here is where we handle the club's monthly
business -- so there are no demonstrations nor hands-on
help. But if you would like the club to benefit from
your input on policies and procedures or you'd like to
volunteer, then this is the place to be. Meetings start
at 6:00 PM and run about an hour or until the club's
business is completed.
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Computer Shows
There was a two-day show scheduled for the Harrisburg Farm Show Complex on November 16-17th 2002.
HUG had a table at the show both days to aid show attendees with questions and to sign up
new members to HUG. This is the principal way we get new members - through public exposure
at local computer shows hosted by
MarketPro Shows, Inc.
Saturday, November 16th - The all-day volunteers were Lou Samsel, Chuck Gordon, and George Eckard.
There was a moderately heavy attendance at the show on Saturday.
The volunteers signed up one new member and received one renewal from a present member.
George produced new CDs for distribution to new members so no membership fee discount
was offered. It was everyone's opinion that the free CD was a better incentive than
the $2 discount normally given in the past.
New members also received a hardcopy of the November UpDate.
Prices on SIMM memory strips are down.
- 16 MB, PC100 = $1
- 32 MB, PC100 = $5
- 64 MB, PC100/133 = $10
- 128 MB, PC100/133 = $17-22
- 256 MB, PC100/133 = $29-33
- 512 MB, PC133 = $56-58
Sunday - The all-day volunteers were Tom Lehman, Dennis Mumma, and Lou Samsel.
The afternoon (2-4 PM) volunteers were John Reinhardt and Hazen Meek.
Members who dropped by were Bob Grabau, Norm Wagner, and Axel Walson.
The Sunday attendance was moderately light crowd.
Even though the Sunday attendance was light the volunteers signed up five new members
and received three renewals.
Lou met Tony Sarkis at the show. Tony reported that SaberTech Computers
(owned by Tony and John Sarkis) is now Sarkis, Inc.
They are no longer doing retail sales to the general public and have
moved from Jonestown Rd. to 5340D Jaycee Ave in Harrisburg.
They will, however, still provided service to any previous customer.
Now that Tony and John won't be attending computer shows, The Computer Experts
from Gaithersburg will be the only full-line laptop vendor at upcoming shows.
Dale from Alliance Computer Stores is doing well at its new Derry St. location.
If you haven't yet been in their new store, stop by and visit them.
The new building is very nice and the staff is both knowlegible and helpful.
Upcoming Shows - There is a one-day show scheduled for the Radisson Penn Harris
in Camp Hill on January 20th, 2003.
This is a Monday show on the MLK Holiday.
If you are interested in volunteering to man the table then
email (or call) John or Lou.
There are several benefits in helping at HUG computer
show table. One, you get FREE admission to the show.
Two, you frequently get a "vendor's discount" from the
many vendors at the show - sometimes 10% on the more
expensive items such as drives, processors, memory,
cards, software, etc. Three, we take breaks from the
HUG table so you still have the opportunity to walk
around, shop, and enjoy the show. Four, you learn
something interesting and useful from the other HUG
members and the helpful vendors at every show. Five,
you get the satisfaction of helping someone who knows
even less about computers than you do by answering
their easy questions - that's satisfaction and an ego
boosting experience.
So how about it? Send either John or Lou an e-mail
message now and they will remind you in January so you
don't forget and miss a great computer show.
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Important Reminders and Information
Your Current Email Address
--
If you want to continue
receiving a HUG e-mail announcement then you must keep
your e-mail address current in our data base. You must
provide us with your correct and current address and
inform us of any changes. The best way to do this is to
e-mail Lou Samsel and John Reinhardt from the address
you wish to use. (Please place "HUG" at the beginning
of the e-mail's Subject Field.)
Lou Samsel -- HUG
President at:
lou.samsel@pa.net
John Reinhardt -- HUG
Treasurer at:
jreinhardt@state.pa.us
Snailmail to the HUG official address works too.
This eliminates typographical errors at both ends as
well as handwriting misinterpretations. If you are
planning on leaving one ISP for another, we recommend
overlapping them for a few months so we have time to
change your address without our getting "invalid
address" messages when we send you announcements.
Remember, this is your responsibility.
Members Not Receiving Meeting
Notices --
Dennis Mumma sends out e-mail
notices, as a reminder, before meeting. Many members
have reported that they do not receive them. This is
because members on the e-mail list have ignored
Dennis' invitations.
To get on the list do one of two things. Either: 1)
Contact (e-mail) the list manager, Dennis Mumma
with your request for an invitation and then reply to
the invitation when it arrives. Or: 2) go to the
groups' yahoo! web page at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hucg and sign up as a
new user.
Once you are signed up you can also participate in the
Club Chat Room held every Wednesday from 8-10 PM
online. Here, you can get all your computer questions
answered.
You say you didn't know about the announcements or the
Club Chat Room? That's because you didn't sign up! So
do it NOW!
Donations to HUG --
Modern and usable software
and hardware donations are appreciated. No DOS software
nor 386, 486 hardware, please. There is just no use for
it. Donations may be dropped off at any HUG meeting.
Your donation may be tax deductible for Federal Income
Tax purposes -- see our Treasurer John for
details.
Meeting Locations --
Remember, General Membership
Meetings are held on the SECOND TUESDAY of each month
from 6:30~9:00 PM in the Skyline View Church, 7733
Hillcrest Avenue, Harrisburg. Skyline View Church is on
Jonestown Road (Rt. 22) just 6/10 of a mile west of Rt.
39. It's on the south side of the highway, next to a
Fulton Bank and across the highway from a Getty-Mart.
Share the experience and bring a friend.
Workshops are
held on the THIRD SUNDAY of each month from 2:00~4:00
PM the above location. Visitors with problems are
welcome but members are given priority with assistance.
HUG Executive Board Meetings are held the THIRD
THURSDAY of each month at 6:00 PM in Little Joe's Pizza
[formerly Brian's Pizza] in the Swatara Square Shopping
Center across from the east shore Wal-Mart. The Swatara
Square is bordered by Route 322, Mushroom Hill Road,
and Grayson Road. All current members are welcome.
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Wanted or For Sale
Newsletter Editor Wanted
--
Lou Samsel and Dennis Mumma
are filling in as newsletter editors until a volunteer
for this position comes foreward. This position would
look good on anyone's resume. You have the opportunity
to style and provide content as you choose. Anyone
interested should contact Lou Samsel.
Newsletter Writers Wanted --
Anyone who has an idea or
submission for this newsletter should contact Lou
Samsel. Here is your chance to appear in print. As with
the editor position, published writing experience would
look good on your resume.
List of Links to Microsoft
Sites Needed --
We still need a few people to
submit a List of Links to Microsoft Sites. The last
section of this newsletter contains links to
interesting and informative Linux sites. There are no
Microsoft Windows sites listed -- I know this because
some of you have told me so. This is not an oversight.
If anyone wishes, you can prepare a list of addresses
(first) and site names (second) for whatever Microsoft
Windows sites that you think the other readers of this
newsletter might be interested in visiting. No
commercial ($$$) sites, please. We're not providing
free advertising without quid pro quo. E-mail this list
to Lou
Samsel.
Items for Sale --
We have the following items
for sale to active HUG members, only. [Unclaimed items
are available to non-members at slightly higher
prices.] All items are used, unless othewise indicated.
All items are believed to be in good working condition.
Anything that proves to be nonworking after purchase
may be returned for replacement or refund within 60
days of purchase. Free items have, of course, no
warranty. No additional claims as to suitability,
performance, or reliablilty are offered. [The stuff's
dirt cheap, after all!]
These items are offered while existing supplies
last.
Computer Components For Sale
- Hard Drives, 500 Mb, used - $5.00
- Floppy Drives, 3 1/2", Generic Style - $3.00
- Floppy Drives, 3 1/2", IBM Style (no seperate
power connector) - free
- Processor Chips, Intel 486, various speeds -
$3.00
- Memory, 72-pin SIMMs, 4 MB - $1.00
- Memory, 72-pin SIMMs, 8 MB - $5.00
- Memory, 72-pin SIMMs, ECC (IBM type), 8 MB -
$1.00
- Cases with power supplies, AT style, various
manufacturers - free
- Software: MS J++ with Windows NT 4.0 (new - last
one) - [SOLD]
- Cables, floppy drive, flat ribbon type -
$2.00
- Cables, IDE hard drive, flat ribbon type -
$3.00
- Cables, SCSI drive, flat ribbon type - $1.00
The For Sale Components may be
purchased at any workshop or at any other HUG meeting
-- if plans are made to do so in advance of the
meeting. Please call (or better yet, email) Lou Samsel well in
advance to assure availability.
The proceeds from sales are placed in the HUG
treasury.
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