11.50.xC3: another pack of features...

IBM has just made available IDS 11.50.xC3. Traditionally, fix packs include bug fixes and eventually some minor improvements. I believe the concept of "minor" may have to be revised when it comes to IDS fix packs. Let's see what the good fellows of R&D decided to put into this release:

• MAX OS X improvements:
  • Silent installation
  • Ability to create Data Source Names (DSN)
• Enterprise Replication improvements:
• Dynamically change Enterprise Replication (ER) configuration parameters in the Onconfig file
  We can now do this using commands like cdr add onconfig, cdr change onconfig, and cdr remove onconfig
• Improved Consistency Reporting after Enterprise Replication Repair Operations
  The repair jobs have an option that forces the retrying if inconsistencies are found at the end of the jobs
• Administering and Monitoring Enterprise Replication with SQL Admin API
  The SQL admin now allows us to run cdr commands through SQL
• Ability to change ONCONFIG parameters with SQL Admin API
  SET ONCONFIG for session change and SET ONCONFIG PERMANENT for Onconfig and session change (session here means the current instance configuration and not client session)
  
• Three new dynamically changeable ONCONFIG parameters:
  LTXEHWM, LTXHWM, and DYNAMIC_LOGS
• Improved SQL Tracing with the SQL Admin API
  From now on we can define which databases, sessions and users will be traced. This gives higher control on the SQL tracing facility. We can also suspend and resume the SQL tracing (without loosing previously set specifications)
• Changing the Size definition of the First Extent of a Table
  Now we can establish a new definition for the first extent size of a table. Note that this will not change it's physical layout. It will be used if you extract the table schema, rebuild the table (by specifying a new fragmentation clause) or if you truncate the table with the reuse clause
• Implementation of SAVEPOINTs
  SAVEPOINTS are an SQL standard that allows the programmer to establish some points after the begin of a transaction to where he can ROLLBACK. Imagine that you're running a batch file, processing several customers in a FOREACH cycle. You may want to do all the customers as a unit, so you would COMMIT at the end. But also consider you want to do several DML operations for each customer and that you accept that you can skip a customer, but not one or more operations within a customer. To put it simpler, if one operation on a customer fails you want to skip it, but continue with the transaction. With this feature it's possible. You just have to set a SAVEPOINT after each customer. If something goes wrong in the next customer, you can ROLLBACK WORK TO SAVEPOINT and continue with the next customer (maintaining your main transaction open).
• Basic Text Search DataBlade Module Supports High-Availability Clusters
  In previous versions, the indexes created by the BTS needed to be created in external dbapces. This would mean that you couldn't use BTS searches on secondary nodes unless you used some (officially unsupported) external way of synchronizing these external spaces within the cluster hosts. Now, you can create these indexes in smart blob spaces, which can be logged, and thus can be replicated to all the cluster nodes
• Querying XML Attributes with the Basic Text DataBlade Module
  BTS now supports another index creation parameter that specifies that the XML attributes (on XML tags) should be indexed (and thus become available for searches)
• Setting the Frequency of Error Checking for Smart Large Object Transmission
  A new environment variable called IFX_LOB_XFERSIZE was introduced to specify the interval (in bytes) that will trigger error checking for SLOBs. After this amount of bytes the data will be checked for transmission error (between client and the database server). If it finds any errors it aborts with an error. Without this variable the checking is made only after the end of the transmission

A final note to the IDS Information Center. It now contains three new features:

• An RSS feed with updates to the Information Center
• Search engine add-ons for browsers, so that you can directly search on IBM Informix Information Center for your specific version
• An extended section with links for community sites. This includes forums, general sites, wikis and blogs about Informix. The Informix-Techonology blog is one of the additions to this list. I face this as an honor and a great responsibility. It's also a great incentive to keep the work that I started more than one year ago.

I keep repeating myself about this idea: The IBM Informix team (management, architects, developers etc.) is doing a terrific job improving IDS while maintaining the ease of administration, reliability and performance we all know and love! With new features come some complexity increase, but that doesn't mean the product has to be slower, harder to manage or more unstable.
I look forward to the next release/fix pack which I bet will bring some more great improvements!

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Posted in: 11.50.FC3,11.50.TC3,11.50.UC3,data capture,informix,savepoint

[TIPS] An English lesson gone global

http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2008/10/this-i-believe-goes-global.html

If you read my blog then I KNOW that you also read Karl Fisch’s blog, thefischbowl.blogspot.com. You may also read Ann Smith’s blog, Learning and Laptops. So this is just a post in case you’re behind on your reading.

Do you recall me mentioning the “This I believe” lesson that a couple of his teachers have done? (I mention it everywhere I go) I wrote about them on a couple of occasions; http://tipline.blogspot.com/2006/12/tips-smiths-9th-honors-class-blog.html and http://tipline.blogspot.com/2007/10/tips-this-i-believe-new-group-of.html. Ann Smith is the teacher/blogger behind this assignment. Well, she’s at it again. Here’s an excerpt from her blog post in Learning and Laptops ( http://learningandlaptops.blogspot.com/2008/10/this-i-believe-goes-global.html)

“We are approaching that time of year when I am going to start the kids on this writing adventure, but this year I wanted to add a little twist with the help of you out there in the blog-o-sphere. I want “This I Believe” to go global. I want my students to benefit not only from knowing what their peers believe, or what the other AHS classes believe, but to hear and see what the world values. What do kids elsewhere in the U.S. believe in? What do kids elsewhere in the world believe in? What do some of the learned professionals that I know believe in?”

She’s taking this lesson global. If you’re a classroom teacher, blogger, administrator or student, you should stop what you’re doing right now and go read either of those two links (It’s the same article, cross-posted). Pass this along to your favorite English teacher. Get involved. You’re going to be a part of something BIG.

Once again, congratulations to Ann and Maura and to Karl for their inspiration for us all, and for the inevitable hard work that will be involved with this project. This will be VERY fun to watch! It just ay take on a life of its own. Just watch and see!

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[TIPS] Great Google Docs tips

I LOVE my blogs. I learn SO much from them. Today, for example, I realized that I had lost track of Tim Lauer’s blog (http://timlauer.org) somehow, so I re-subscribed. (He’s the principal at LewisElementary.org) On the first page of his posts (he does LOTS of tips) was a post that pointed me here: http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dhn2vcv5_8323t58h3ft

In that GoogleDocs presentation were 11 tips about using the applications. I didn’t know, for example, that you could have up to 50 users in a spreadsheet at one time. Did you know that? And I didn’t know that the chat feature supported links to youtube, google video, and even flickr and picasa web albums. Try it out.

Go to the presentation about and paste in this youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyPQ4Qr8xks When you hit enter watch how it displays in the chat.  Got a flickr account? Paste in the url to an image to see how it shows up in the chat area. Very cool!

I LOVE my blogs! (I like my blogging buddies, I like them very much...)    :-)

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[TIPS] Blog Action Day - missed

I had every intention to participate in Blog Action Day ( http://blogactionday.org/ ) on October 15th. I even had the badge proudly displayed on my blog. But, CFF bootcamp sorta consumed all of my time that week and I didn’t get to write that article. It was to be an article that raised awareness of poverty issues around the world. I was planning to point to this site again - http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats and to some of the great TED videos dealing with world poverty. Alas, I just couldn’t do it.

So, I just removed the badge from the blog.

But, the statistics are impressive of those who did participate: Over 14,000 blog posts read by almost 13.5 million people.

Remember this post that points to the “Miniature World” description: http://tipline.blogspot.com/2008/10/tips-miniature-world.html Did you watch that? Do you recall that 6% of the population (the world) own 59% of the world. And, if you keep your food a in refrigerator and your clothes in a closet and you sleep in a bed with a roof over your head – you’re wealthier than 75% of the world!

Does that little bit of perspective change your outlook of the day?

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[TIPS] 15 things that will change everything

Thanks to a Diigo post by Cheryl Capozzoli I was pointed to this article: http://www.pcworld.com/article/152683-1/15_hot_new_technologies_that_will_change_everything.html

Very interesting. This article talks about the top 15 new technological innovations that will change everything we now know about computing. From chips with memory (making them instant-on machines, for example) to USB 3.0 (10 times faster than USB 2.0), to wireless electricity (remember this post http://tipline.blogspot.com/2007/06/tips-wireless-elctricity.html – GEEZ! I just noticed that I misspelled electricity in that title!!!) and even to open access cellular networks (allowing us to use ANY phone with our carrier – iphone here I come!).*

To get a glimpse of what awaits us in the next four to five years, read this article. It’s clear that manufacturers aren’t sitting on their thumbs – they’re inventing the future. Are we ready for it?

*You like that idea of using any phone on your network? Check out this article that the top article points to: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/139976/verizon_wireless_plans_to_open_its_network.html)

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[TIPS] Dr Scott McLeod's Presentation at K12Online Conference - WATCH IT!

http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=344

I just finished watching Dr Scott McLeod’s presentation at the k12online conference and I can’t seem to move fast enough to share it. It’s entitled: Leading The Change: Current Leadership Models are Inadequate for Disruptive Innovations” It’s 21 minutes long, and I truly believe it’s a presentation that every administrator should see.

He based his presentation of Dr. Clayton Christensen’s books, The Innovator’s Dilemma and Disrupting Class. Dr McLeod does an outstanding job of laying out the logic and presenting his case.

Now, some of you who know me and who have heard my occasional rants may think, “If HE likes it, then it’s got to be confrontational.” It’s NOT. He’s not saying that everything is broken and we’re doing it all wrong and it’s all your fault. Not at all. He talks about how disruptive technologies have historically functioned and how they came to take over the older models. Examples are cell phones taking over from ‘land line phones’ and cd’s taking over from cassette tapes and now mp3 players replacing the cd’s. He does a great job of explaining that, and then drawing a parallel with the disruptive innovations occurring in education.

Send this tip to every administrator you know and ask them to give you their feedback on it. Watch it for yourself, first, of course. It’s a great conversation starter. In particular, near the end of his presentation he suggests that instead of resisting change (i.e. Cyber schools, etc) we should embrace them. WHAT? I know what you’re thinking. That’s why you need to watch his presentation. It ties back to an earlier comment, “The existing educational model is not a given.” In the face of all the global changes, how can we argue that? But, there’s more. You need to watch and listen for yourself.

So, watch it for yourself and then send it to your principal, your fellow teachers, your curriculum director, and your superintendent. Wouldn’t this make an interesting discussion in a faculty meeting sometime?

Oh, and you can also download it in the original format, in ipod video format, and in audio only.

Way to go Scott!!!

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[TIPS] k12online conference

The problem with being busy is that you don’t have the time to do some of the things that you really enjoy. (“Oh really, Jim? We’re teachers. We didn’t know that.” )  ;-)

For example, I didn’t get to try to participate in the k12online conference this year, nor even view the presentations as they were being released. But, the good news is that all of the presentations are available on the website for you to watch when you DO have the time.

Then I read in Darren Kuropatwa’s blog (A Difference – http://adifference.blogspot.com) about this cool stack that shows the pages in the k12onlineconference  site. Scroll through them and click on those that interest you to be taken right to the page. (Darren gives the nod the David Warlick for showing this to him originally)

     http://www.searchme.com/stack/25acb

Give this a try. Very cool. And invest some time going through the presentations. You’re going to find LOTS of great information and ideas in there. Sheryl and Wes and the whole gang do a GREAT job with this every year. If you’ve not yet seen the site, GO THERE!

Oh, and be sure to check out Kathy Cassidy’s page about her “blogging buddies.”http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=319  Remember her VERY cute video? ( http://tipline.blogspot.com/2008/08/tips-wonderful-blog-and-video-to-see.html)

(“Hmmm. First graders blogging?  WHAT?? They can’t do that! Blogging is NOT permitted – even with our staff. Not sure why, exactly. Something to do with.. something, I’m sure. But, blogging? NEVER!”

<sigh>

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Encryption: All your (data) base are NOT belong to us!

If you were growing up during the personal computer boom you may notice that the title of this post is a joke with another joke. For details on that check the Wikipedia or the flash animation.
This is just a pretext to introduce a very serious subject. You probably know that Informix IDS can encrypt column data, but you may also know that it has some disadvantages (you cannot index encrypted data, you may have to change the applications etc.). There's nothing wrong with column encryption, but as with most of the features is has advantages and disadvantages.

Another option for encryption is to encrypt the files containing the data (chunks in IDS language). This brings up several questions:

• Performance
  If you're doing data encryption you're consuming CPU cycles
  
• Ease of use
  Is it transparent to the database? And to the application?
• Privilege users access
  Can root work around the encryption? Usually, being root is like being God...

IBM has a solution for these kind of transparent low level encryption. It's a partnership with Vormetric which resulted in a product called IBM Database Encryption Expert. It tries to solve all the questions above. It's fast and light, meaning you won't have too much performance impact, it's easy to use and configure, through an administrative console, and you can stop the root user from accessing your encrypted data files.

IBM has just released fixpack 1.1.3 of this product, which is the first version to support IDS (versions 11.10FC2 and 11.50). You can get more info about it at the product page ( http://www.ibm.com/software/data/db2imstools/database-encryption-expert/ ).
Up to now, it was certified for use with DB2, so it's probable that you find several references of the two products together. One of them which I find interesting, is a video showing it working with DB2, by Belal Tassi, a colleague from IBM Information Management:




As you can see from the product page, the fixpack Readme and the video above, it's transparent for the database, for the application and it can be setup to be safe even from root. It's also able to encrypt backups (it would be a breach of security to have your data encrypted and keep your backups without encryption). Hint: Version 11.10 introduced backup and restore filters...
The platforms supported at the moment are:

• AIX (64-bit):
• Linux (64-bit): Red Hat Advanced Server 4.0 Update 4
• Solaris 9
• Solaris 10 update 2
• Windows

Supported file systems

• Windows: NTFS
• AIX: JFS, JFS2, NFS, VxFS
• Solaris: UFS, NFS, VxFS
• RedHat: EXT3, NFS, VxFS

This product can be a solution for some compliance requirements, specially for companies who have to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), or simply for paranoid DBAs

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Posted in: Database Security Expert,encryption,informix,PCI,PCI DSS,Vormetric

[TIPS] Headlines from ASCD Brief

If you’ve read my tips for any period of time you know that I frequently mention something that I learned in the ASCD Smartbrief that I receive daily. I’ve even encouraged you to sign up. Here’s another reason why I think it’s a great publication. Just look at some of the headlines that point to stories on the web.

Survey: Three of Four teachers require Internet-based homework (encouraging article about teachers using technology to teach)

Technology transforms how students learn about presidential elections (featuring PA’s own Kristin Hokanson)

New Jersey leaders tackle dropout rates (lots of eyes will be watching how they make out)

Ed Dept.: Transcripts should avoid mentioning student disabilities (but report cards MAY include that info)

N.J. Proficiency rates plunge after standards change - (They made the test more rigorous and –BAM! - proficiency rates fall

Students address future issues in letters to next president (getting kids to focus on the issues)

Classroom politics in Racine (mother objects to using a text that mentions Obama)

Expecting Excellence: Rigor Redefined (Rigor in a global economy. Is it different, now?)

Wouldn’t you agree that this amounts to some interesting reading? LOVE that brief!

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Too many subjects...

Yes... Fortunately it's true: I can't keep up with everything that's been hapening....
In this post I'll mix a lot of topics. They've been covered elsewhere, but for the record, a few comments:

• Carlton Doe, a well know name within the Informix community, has published a new book. It's called Administering Informix Dynamic Server: Building the Foundation. You can find it at Amazon. I don't have a copy yet, but I look forward to check on the contents. Given the author's history on Informix and previous work this book should be a safe investment
• IBM has made available an Informix Virtual Appliance. This is essentially a virtual machine pre-configured with a lot of Informix software (IDS of course, Client SDK, JDBC driver, Spatial Datablade, Open Admin Tool, Data Server Drivers - JDBC/ODBC, and finally Data Studio). All running on top of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP2. All you need to run it is a copy of one off the VMWare players. You can get a complete explanation and download instructions on Guy Bowerman's site
• IBM started another initiative. It's called the Data Champion Program. The idea is to publicly recognize individuals who have made strong contributions to the Data Management community. The program website is located at http://www.ibm.com/software/data/champion. Today, Mr. Arvind Krishan announced at IBM Information On Demand 2008 conference (IOD) the inaugural champions.
  I'd like to congratulate all of them, with just one special note to Eric Herber for his wonderful job at Informix Zone ( http://informix-zone.com).
  You can nominate other champions on the program's website above until January 31, 2009.
• Speaking about IOD, the IBM Information On Demand 2008 conference, it started yesterday and you can expect some important news. For now, on the light side, there are a lot of Informix tattooed people there... Take a look at this photo for example, courtesy of Jean George Perrin, showing a familiar face for the Portuguese Informix community, with a "quality stamp on the forehead" :)
  

• One of the IOD news is about SolidDB. As you probably already know, Solid was acquired by IBM, and produces a product called SolidDB that can act as a cache for DB2 and Informix. SolidDB is an in-memory database, meaning it can speed things quite a bit. In this press release, IBM announces that it now supports RDBMS from other vendors. Specifically, SolidDB cache now supports DB2, Informix, Oracle, Sybase and in a near future SQL Server
  
• And finally, an announcement from Exact, about plans to support for Informix in two products: iReplay (capture and replay SQL), and iWatch (SQL monitoring). You can check the press release here: http://www.exact-solutions.com/aboutus/news/386

That's all for now. This post is just to keep you up to date. I'd love to return to long, boring, technical articles, but time is short... Hopefully soon...

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The 10th Carnival of Computer Help and Advice

Welcome to the tenth monthly Carnival of Computer Help and Advice. Another collection of blog articles to help you avoid problems and get the most out of your PCs.

We start this month's carnival with Michael guide to Whats inside a computer? from Too Easy Tech.

Next up is, Money 2000 to Money Plus: Will It Convert? posted at About.com Financial Software. The author of the article, Shelley Elmblad, says, "This post answers a question about running older versions of Microsoft Money on Windows Vista, and tells you how to get older MS Money data to convert for use with Microsoft Money Plus."

Four more posts about software: Jules of PCauthorities.com explains How to Uninstall IE8 Beta 2; the writers at ErrorSmart present instructions for Fixing Rundll32.exe; Satbir Singh lists 10 Essential Portable Applications for your USB Drive at Technotraits.com; bobby instructs us hwo to Login with multiple Ids at the same time in yahoo messenger with a Registry hack at Wonderful tech. stuff.

This carnival would not be complete without a post from Andrew Edgington. This month he presents 20 Photoshop on-line Video Tutorials at Learn Photoshop Smart, and his Quick Fix Tips at Learn Adobe Elements.

Thanks to everyone who contributed this month. As ever limits in space mean that not all submissions appear in the final carnival.

If you have an IT themed blog and would like to host the next carnival leave a comment on this post or use the contact form over at our Blog Carnival page where you can also submit your blog posts for inclusion. If don't wish to have the responsibility for selecting articles or writing the carnival post, don't worry I can do that for you.

More in the November edition.

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Posted in: Blog Carnival

[TIPS] This song says it all

http://cffmv.blogspot.com/2008/10/wake-up-everybody.html

Thomas Boito posted this song clip this AM in his blog. Check out the lyrics. Here’s a sample:

Wake up all the teachers time to teach a new way
Maybe then they'll listen to whatcha have to say
Cause they're the ones who's coming up and the world is in their hands
When you teach the children teach em the very best you can.

BTW – the song was published in 1975!!!

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[TIPS] Web two point over? - a Newsweek article

http://www.newsweek.com/id/163443

Dan Lyons writes about how the current economic woes (I’d rather not think about them, thank you very much) are impacting Silicon valley. Will this be another round of dot com collapses? Will twitter see its last tweet? Will ning disappear?

So there y’ go. As if you didn’t have enough to worry about, eh? Someone else will have to worry about this one, though. I’m too busy worrying about retiring in the midst of all this. ;-(

Oh, and thanks to Betsy Riter and Pete Winkler for sharing this with me in our last session of our grad class at Harrisburg University.

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[TIPS] Election rap

Have you seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-2g7tYbZ_M

Thanks to Julie Lehmer for sharing this with me today in our Web 2.0 grad class. What fun.

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How to use SmartArt Diagram in 2003 to 2007

2003 to 2007 SmartArt Diagram
To make your Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 presentation more compelling, you might insert a diagram. Unfortunately, clicking the Insert menu and then clicking Diagram presents only six available commands, and all of your supporting text must be entered in individual text boxes.

With Microsoft SmartArt in the 2007 Microsoft Office system, you can right-click an existing bulleted list in Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 or Microsoft Office Word 2007, and then click Convert to SmartArt. Then select from the 20 default options, or click More SmartArt Graphics and browse through a large gallery of available diagrams.

You can use the SmartArt Tools contextual command tabs to change the diagram type or apply interesting effects like three dimensions or color options. To edit SmartArt text, click the diagram, and then edit your text in its familiar list format in a box that appears to the side of the diagram. Watch your diagram dynamically change to match the new text.

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Posted in: 2003 vs 2007

How to Add and Editing Comments in MS Excel

Adding and Editing Comments in MS Office Excel
You can add and edit comments in Microsoft Office Excel by using the keyboard. To add a comment:
1. Press SHIFT+F2 to insert a comment in the current cell.
2. Type the text of your comment, and then press ESC twice.

To edit a comment:
1. Go to the cell that contains the comment and press SHIFT+F2. The comment opens.
2. Make your changes, and then press ESC twice.

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Posted in: MS Excel

[TIPS] Universal Declaration of Human Rights - animated

Many years ago – maybe fifteen or more – I acquired a cdrom about human rights. It was a haunting cd with incredible graphics that told of the basic human rights as set forth by the General assembly of the United Nations in 1949. I’ve still got it around here someplace, I’m sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTlrSYbCbHE

This is another animation showing those basic human rights.

WAIT!!! I found it! It’s on YouTube, as well. CHECK THIS OUT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epVZrYbDVis

Outstanding!!

Now, if this isn’t at least a writing prompt for you then I don’t know what is. Combine this with the other site I sent out recently ( http://tipline.blogspot.com/2008/10/tips-miniature-world.html) and you’ve got a powerful lesson. Wouldn’t you agree?

Send this to your favorite social studies teacher.

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[TIPS] Realworldmath.org uses google earth

http://realworldmath.org/Real_World_Math/Lessons.html

I once read about a math lesson that went something like this:

The teacher pointed the students to a link to a kmz (google earth) file that flew them to a zoomed in view of a particular building. Of course, the view is from the very top looking straight down. It wasn’t a famous building, but a rather tall one. The test was one question: How tall is that building?

Hmmm. So how would YOU find out how tall it was? You couldn’t look it up  online because it wasn’t that famous a building. The image shows a nice sunny day and this building casting a shadow. Where do you begin? Get in a group with four others and brainstorm how you’d solve this question. (Yes, I read it on the gearthblog a year or more ago)

Well, this realworld math site just may include that lesson. It does include lessons that involve using google earth. Lessons are grouped in four major areas: Concepts, Measurements, Project-based lessons, and exploratory. There are at least four lessons in each topic – mapped to the NETS-S standards.

And don’t even THINK of telling me that google earth is blocked in your school.

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The Success Story People Who Have Become Rich from Poor

Do you ever hear about the success story people who poor become rich? And really there are so many stories that tell about it. You should believe it, with the hard work and creative idea, someone be able to become rich with unpredictable. Nouveau Riche, which it means "new rich" or "new money" in French, has the large stories that you can read there. Most people there who is become rich in that stories come from real estate investment, of course from many sources like oil and gas investment, house and building investment, construction field, and many more. But, if you read carefully, you will also find some fields instead real estate like in the company of magazine, furniture, travel, and many more.

The success story is so important for you all especially if you are now in the bad financial condition. Don't worry friends, you must read others source that tell with fact many people who in the past as poor people and now has become the new Nouveau Riche and even wealth of them was entered in the list of the richest people in the world.

So, what are you waiting for? If you feel you should learn more from those success people in the real activity, you can visit to Nouveau Riche community website that filled with the richest people in this world. I hope, you will get motivation when all people from that community share success stories with one another. Are you ready?

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Posted in: Review

[TIPS] Miniature world

Thanks again to Sue Sheffer for sharing this one with me via email. http://www.miniature-earth.com/me_english.htm

You may have already seen one of the emails or websites that describe the world as if it were made up of 100 people. It’s a wonderful teaching tool for kids – it sure puts us into world perspective.

This one is very nicely done. Nice graphics. Haunting music.

If your students haven’t seen this yet, here’s a good one to share with them.

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Search Area Codes

There is a good information to you, for you who feel difficult during this to know information about a list of all U.S. area and the states that host them, now you can easily to find out. Yes, because has come Search Area Codes, reference site that gives information about all U.S. area codes and the phone numbers that fall within them. Through this site, you can know complete and detailed information about a list of all U.S. area and the states that host them.

In addition, for you who want to run reverse phone lookups and get detailed information about any phone number, you can also do through the Search Area Codes. This feature of course very important to track the "secret identity" from the "dark callers" who may ever call you some time ago. So, what are you waiting for? Visit this site today.

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Posted in: Review

[TIPS] Mathway

Robin Seneta just tweeted this: http://www.mathway.com/

Enter a math problem and this site will solve it. Now, entering the problem isn’t foolproof, but when you get the syntax right it’s very nice. Would it be helpful for students to see this site solve problems? I think so. It’s not like they can use this on a test, so if they do use it to get their homework answers, then this shortcut will catch up with them at test time. But, the way it solves the problems is that it TALKS the user through the the steps. “First, we multiply both sides by 5 to remove the fractions” - or something like that. I HAVE to believe that if they use this site frequently that the written instructions will HAVE to help even the student who is just seeking an answer.

Do you agree?

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[TIPS] k12 online conference

http://k12onlineconference.org/

I’ve been just too doggone busy of late to stop in here to view the presentations, but I WILL. If you’ve not “been to” the k12online conference before then this is a MUST DO! The top teachers in the world (yes, the WORLD) have prepared presentations on a wide variety of topics. They are EXCELLENT. This is your own personal professional development.

Trust me on this. Stop in there and look at the topics for the various days. Then plan to view those that interest you. You will NOT be disappointed.

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Nouveau Riche University teaches You Become the Succesful Real Estate Investors

Do you feel interested if there is a university that can make you gain new knowledge to earn the money? There are so many opportunities to make money from this world, but if you do not yet get the knowledge about it, likely you can not realize it. One of it is to follow courses in the Nouveau Riche University.

Nouveau Riche is a university that will teach the students an easy way to make money through real estate investment. The learning form is very intensives, where every student studying in that university will receive useful materials and easy in practice later when already graduated from this university. And the plus point is teachers in the Nouveau Riche University provides teaching methods that are easily understood by all students, namely in the form of a workshop where all students can be active during learning and exchanging opinions.

As an example, you will be more involved in learning such as: Participate in case studies, classroom discussion and role-playing exercises. And if you are as the parents, one of its learning method that allows you feel a little surprised to see your child become proficient in looking for the money soon because each student taught the correct concept about: “how-to” real estate investment concepts and strategies, and understand the advantages and disadvantages of several short-term and long-term real estate investment strategies. And do not forget, they also always happy to help each student while learning the procedures, concepts and rules of the real estate investment game.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s your time to take participation to Nouveau Riche University.

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Posted in: Review

Gateway releases 16-inch MC series laptops

Gateway on Monday released its first 16-inch laptops, the MC7801u and the MC7803u. With a 16:9 aspect ratio screen, 16-inch (and 18-inch) models are beginning to emerge.

Unlike traditional 16:10 laptop displays, a 16:9 screen matches the ratio of movies and HD content. Similar to the redesigned MacBook, the display on Gateway's MC series laptops features a glossy glass overlay that runs edge to edge. The 16-inch screen features a 1366x768 resolution; you'll need to bump up to an 18-inch model for 1080p playback.

The $950 MC7801u features a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T5800 CPU, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 64-bit Vista Home Premium, and a 320GB hard drive. So what don't you get on this sub-$1,000 laptop? You miss out Intel's latest Centrino 2 platform, and the laptop relies on integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics.

A second model in the 16-inch MC series, the $1,000 MC7803u, will feature a dedicated 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 graphics card. Providing the MC models with a distinctive look, a thin pleather strip runs down the middle of the lid. The lower-end MC7801u features a burgundy lid, and the higher-end MC7803u features a black lid.

Other features include HDMI and VGA ports, backlit keyboard and multimedia controls, Webcam, DVD burner, Draft N Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, four USB 2.0 ports, and ExpressCard and media card slots.

The Gateway MC7801u is being sold through Best Buy and is included in our holiday retail laptop roundup. Look for our review next week.

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Posted in: Gateway releases 16-inch MC series laptops

UPDATE 1-Dell's China sales up 30 pct so far this year

Computer maker Dell (DELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has seen 30 percent sales growth in China and Hong Kong so far this year, in line with recent years, although it faces near-term uncertainties, a senior executive said on Wednesday. "Honestly, how things will turn out next year is hard to say," Alex Yung, Dell China vice president, told Reuters before a presentation to reporters.

"We don't know what kind of policy the Chinese government will come up with. If they continue to encourage domestic consumption, we wouldn't be too worried," he said.

"And also if the Chinese banks are not pulled too far (into global financial turmoil), we wouldn't be too worried."

The company's 30 percent sales growth in China so far this year compares with 30 to 40 percent growth over the last five to six years, he added.

Dell, the second largest computer maker after Hewlett-Packard (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), said last month that slow demand had spread from the United States to Europe and Asia, and had not rebounded as expected after the summer lull. In August, it posted a steep drop in second-quarter profit, saying that companies were becoming more conservative in spending.

It has said it would realign its business to boost competitiveness, cut headcount, and invest in infrastructure and acquisitions.

Yung told reporters on Wednesday that the company was seeing a mixed performance in various sectors of the market in China, with a particularly major impact on demand from export-oriented small companies, which have been hurt by the global economic slowdown.
Continued

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Apple Unlikely To Sell Cheaper Computers

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs on Tuesday said the company is unlikely to start selling low-priced computers, despite the global economic slowdown, and has no plans to enter the emerging mini-notebook market or to build a variety of iPhone models.

Jobs made an unusual appearance at the teleconference the company holds with financial analysts after releasing quarterly earnings. Apple on Tuesday reported that profits rose to $1.14 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 27, as sales increased 27%, driven primarily by iPhone and Mac computer sales. The company also said that it had surpassed during the quarter its goal of selling 10 million iPhones this year.
In answering analysts' questions, Jobs said the company is prepared for the economic slowdown with a loyal customer base that's likely to delay purchases rather than turn to competitors, a successful product portfolio that offers strong value for the money, and $25 billion in the bank.

While Apple could get "buffeted around by the [economic] waves a bit," Jobs said he was confident the company would do well in the slowdown. "I think this economic downturn will present some extraordinary opportunities for companies with cash," he said.

Asked whether he would consider returning some of the cash to investors, Jobs dodged the question, but indicated that the company would prefer to invest the money in its business during the downturn. "It's not burning a hole in our pockets," Jobs said of the money stash. He also declined to say whether Apple would use the money for acquisitions.

As to selling cheaper computers to attract consumers with thinner wallets in a slow economy, Jobs said that wasn't a strategy the company would pursue, preferring instead to beat the competition on features within the high-end market.

"What we want to do is deliver an increasing level of value for customers," he said. "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk, and our DNA won't let us do that."

One new market Apple would stay out of for the time being is for so-called "netbooks," defined as sub-$500 notebooks with displays 10 inches or smaller and running a full PC operating system. Most of the major PC makers are offering such machines as second or third computers for people looking to check e-mail or browse the Web on the road.

"That's a nascent category that, the best that we can tell, not a lot is being sold," Jobs said. "We'll wait to see how that nascent category evolves, and we've got some pretty interesting ideas if it does evolve."

In the meantime, Apple has the iPhone, which can browse the Web from anywhere on a cellular network and fit in your pocket, Jobs said. Asked whether he would consider making a variety of models, like other mobile phone makers do with their products, Jobs said Apple plans to stay with one iPhone and make it a strong platform for software that would differentiate the product from rivals'.
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Posted in: Apple Unlikely To Sell Cheaper Computers

Acer Computer Aspire AS4530-5350 14.1" Notebook PC - Get more done and multitask with ease

Get more done and multitask with ease with the Acer Aspire AS4530-5350 Notebook featuring reliable AMD dual-core performance, 802.11b/g wireless connectivity and features to enjoy more of your digital media and get more done on-the-go. 2GB of memory for fast overall system response so you can power through your projects and multitask with ease and stream all your multimedia demands. This lightweight notebook with a 14" CrystalBrite display makes it easy to take your work and digital media anywhere. Watch DVD movies and burn CDs and DVDs of your documents, pictures and music with the Super Multi Double-Layer optical drive. 14.1 WXGA(1280 x 800) CrystalBrite TFT Display NVIDIA GeForce 9100M G Graphics DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wireless 10/100 Base-T Ethernet LAN 5-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader - SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro, xD ExpressCard 54 Slot 3 x USB 2.0, Headphone out S/PDIF, Microphone-in, Line-in Jack, VGA, RJ-11 (Modem), RJ-45 Approximate Unit Dimensions - 13.35 (W) x 9.57 (D) x 1.54(H) Approximate Unit Weight - 5.29 Pounds


Product Features

* Box Contents - Acer AS4530-5350 Notebook, 6-Cell Lithium-ion Battery, AC Adapter, Power Cord; Software Bundle - Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1, Microsoft Works 8.5, Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition - 60-Day Trial, McAfee Internet Security Suite 60-Day Trial Version, 1-Year Limited Warranty
* AMD Athlon X2 QL-60 1.9 GHz Processor
* 1MB L2 Cache, 667MHz Bus speed
* 2048 MB DDR2 (PC2-5300) RAM
* 120 GB (5400RPM) SATA Drive

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

* Hardware Platform: PC
* Processor: 1.9 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2
* Number of Processors: 2
* RAM: 2000 MB
* RAM Type: DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive

* Size: 120 GB
* Type: Serial ATA

Warranty and Support

* Amazon.com Returns Policies: You may return any new computer purchased from Amazon.com that is "dead on arrival," arrives in damaged condition, or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Amazon.com reserves the right to test "dead on arrival" returns and impose a customer fee equal to 15 percent of the product sales price if the customer misrepresents the condition of the product. Any returned computer that is damaged through customer misuse, is missing parts, or is in unsellable condition due to customer tampering will result in the customer being charged a higher restocking fee based on the condition of the product. Amazon.com will not accept returns of any desktop or notebook computer more than 30 days after you receive the shipment. New, used, and refurbished products purchased from Marketplace vendors are subject to the returns policy of the individual vendor.

Acer Computer Aspire AS4530-5350 14.1" Notebook PC

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Posted in: laptop,laptop review

Acer AL1916WAB 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor - offers the best visibility, performance and unprecedented value

Enhance your vision with the Acer AL1916WAB 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor. Incorporating the latest LCD technology, the Acer AL1916WAB offers the best visibility, performance and unprecedented value. The high level of brightness 300cd/m2 together with the optimal contrast ratio of 700:1 renders crisp images and enhances legibility. With its fast response time of 5ms, the Acer AL1916WAB brings remarkable display quality to your desktop.

Features

* 19" wide-screen TFT LCD
* 1440 x 900 native resolution
* 700:1 contrast ratio
* 150/130 degree horizontal/vertical viewing angle
* VGA connector
* 300 cd/m2 brightness
* 5ms response time
* Black bezel


Product Features

* 19" wide-screen TFT LCD
* 1440 x 900 native resolution
* 700:1 contrast ratio
* 150 /130 degree horizontal/vertical viewing angle
* 5 ms response time

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

* Hardware Platform: PC

Graphics and Display

* Dot Pitch/Grille Pitch: 0.294 inches
* LCD Native Resolution: 19

Cases and Expandability

* Size (LWH): 6.9 inches, 16.6 inches, 17 inches
* Weight: 24 pounds

Warranty and Support

* Amazon.com Returns Policies: You may return any new computer purchased from Amazon.com that is "dead on arrival," arrives in damaged condition, or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Amazon.com reserves the right to test "dead on arrival" returns and impose a customer fee equal to 15 percent of the product sales price if the customer misrepresents the condition of the product. Any returned computer that is damaged through customer misuse, is missing parts, or is in unsellable condition due to customer tampering will result in the customer being charged a higher restocking fee based on the condition of the product. Amazon.com will not accept returns of any desktop or notebook computer more than 30 days after you receive the shipment. New, used, and refurbished products purchased from Marketplace vendors are subject to the returns policy of the individual vendor.

Acer AL1916WAB 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor

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Posted in: LCD Monitor

Timebox Manager for Agile Development

I had the opportunity to speak with Nigel Goult of Olympic Limited, a MindManager developer last week about his very exciting project management application called Timebox Manager which is integrated with a MindManager add-in. TimeBox Manager incorporates the timeboxing methodology for agile development and is used primarily in the software industry. What follows is my interview with Nigel, which I trust you will find as interesting as I did. Brian

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BSF: Can you share with us a little bit about your background and how you got started developing the MindManager add-in?

NG: I first became involved with Mindjet and MindManager working for M-Urge Limited in 2001. M-Urge was, at that time, the UK MindManager Info Centre. After 3 years with M-Urge and seeing 3 incarnations of MindManager, MindManager Version 4, MindManager 2002 and MindManager X5, I left and started Visual Technology Solutions Limited, (VTS), with a business colleague. VTS was also a MindManager based business and during my time as co-owner/director I became more interested in how MindManager could be manipulated through its open API and programming. I became intrigued by the way, in which other companies where using MindManager to create other applications and solutions. The result of this was Visual Project Maps, (VPM), a very simple Project Management “add-in” for MindManager X5 Pro. Over time, VPM matured and became a PRINCE2 focussed solution delivered with MindManager Pro 6/7. In July 2008, I left VTS to pursue other opportunities through my own company, Olympic Limited. One of these was TimeBox Manager developed by Agile Force Limited, which was at that stage a beta application. With our help, Agile Force was able to complete beta and enable us to bring TimeBox Manager to the market.

BSF: Before you talk about your application Timebox Manager, can you share with us how this project management technique differs from more traditional PM and which industries is it most suited?

NG: Time boxing is a Project Management technique common in software development projects. Its purpose is to manage a project, for example, the creation of a new IT system, by splitting the project up in a number of separate segments, “time boxes”, (normally two to six weeks long). Each time box has its own deadline/delivery date and budget. By incrementally finishing one time box at a time, the project delivers within the desired timeframe.

The important thing about time boxing is that the dates are not flexible, but the deliverables are. Without time boxing, when the deliverables cannot be realised, the deadline generally slips. With time boxing, the deadline is fixed, and the deliverables adjusted. This goes hand-in-hand with the MoSCoW prioritization of deliverables, (must, could, should & won’t).

Time boxing is ideally suited to software development, publishing, broadcasting and any time imperative project/task where delivery dates are not flexible. It is also finding its way into more generic time/task management on a personal level i.e. your weekly tasks.

BSF: When did you see first see the fit between Timebox and using MindManager?

NG: When I first saw TimeBox Manager, I recognised immediately similarities it had with MindManager; the properties such as Task Priorities, Start and end dates and Resources mixed with the graphical representation of status. It just seemed to be an ideal fit in the MindManager world. This led to us helping Agile Force to develop an “add-in” that provided a way to move data between the two applications.

BSF: Can you share with us how your Timebox solution integrates with MindManager? In addition, how does it work?

NG: TimeBox Manager and MindManager integrate through the installation of a free add-in for MindManager. The add-in provides the ability to either:

• Import a TimeBox Manager Data file into MindManager

and/or

• Export a TimeBox Manager marked up map into TimeBox Manager

The add-in works by referencing a set of customised MindManager map markers. These map markers identify topics according to their status, which includes MoSCoW Prioritisation, Timebox Type, Percentage Complete and Resources. At present, this integration is a user initiated function i.e. selected from a MindManager ribbon menu. Planned development will take this into a seamless integration where connected MindManager maps and TimeBox Manager Data synchronises in real-time as data updates in either application.


BSF: What are the benefits of using MindManager and Timebox together?

NG: Using MindManager and TimeBox Manager together provides an alternative way to manage/manipulate project information; they also provide an alternative way of viewing the project status. When presenting information in a different way, it can very often alert the viewer to things that familiarity obscures.

BSF: Who is presently using Timebox and MindManager? What are your users saying about the tie in with MindManager

NG: Currently TimeBox Manager is in use by mainstream businesses and several corporate entities. There is a strong interest in the higher end of the Education market i.e. Management Colleges, Business Schools and Universities. Because of this, we are currently running an Educational directive, which offers a free TimeBox Manager licence to College/University lecturers and department heads for them to try TimeBox Manager and demonstrate the application to their students. Anyone interested in this offer should register on the TimeBox Manager website, www.timebox.olympic-limited.co.uk/education-offer. It is available for all approved lecturers and educational department heads from any country. You can go directly to the MindManager add-in by clicking here.

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Posted in: agile development,MindManager,Mindmanager add-in,Nigel Goult,Olympic Limited,Timebox Manager,timeboxing

Acer Aspire AS6920-6886 16" Laptop - incredible style, power, control, high-definition and sound

Explore the edges of mobile computing with an Aspire Gemstone Blue notebook from Acer. The Aspire 6920 series delivers incredible style, power, control, high-definition and sound.The unique style of the Gemstone Blue is expressed through a distinctive color, one that reflects the power, performance and control the Aspire 6920 series gives to everyone who uses it.Featuring Intel Centrino technology, the Gemstone Blue has power in abundance. At work the Intel Core 2 Duo processor allows you to do more with less effort, and at play it intensifies your digital entertainment experience.The Aspire 6920 series puts you in control. One of the most striking design elements is the touch-sensitive CineDash media console that responds instantly and keeps the entertainment flowing, just the way you like it.


Product Features

* Processor Type: Intel Centrino
* Hard Drive Capacity: 320GB 5400RPM SATA, Memory: 4096 MB DDR
* 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Blue Ray Drive
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 (GMA) with up to 358 MB of Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology 4.0
* Windows Vista Home Premium

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

* Hardware Platform: PC
* Processor: 2 GHz
* System Bus Speed: 667

Hard Drive

* Manufacturer: Portable

Ports and Connectivity

* Modem: Fax / modem

Cases and Expandability

* Size (LWH): 14.3 inches, 17.1 inches, 6.3 inches
* Weight: 12 pounds

Power

* Rated Charge (normal use): 2.3 hours

Warranty and Support

* Amazon.com Returns Policies: You may return any new computer purchased from Amazon.com that is "dead on arrival," arrives in damaged condition, or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Amazon.com reserves the right to test "dead on arrival" returns and impose a customer fee equal to 15 percent of the product sales price if the customer misrepresents the condition of the product. Any returned computer that is damaged through customer misuse, is missing parts, or is in unsellable condition due to customer tampering will result in the customer being charged a higher restocking fee based on the condition of the product. Amazon.com will not accept returns of any desktop or notebook computer more than 30 days after you receive the shipment. New, used, and refurbished products purchased from Marketplace vendors are subject to the returns policy of the individual vendor.

Acer Aspire AS6920-6886 16" Laptop (Intel Centrino T5750 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, Blu-Ray Drive, Vista Premium)

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Posted in: laptop,laptop review

Acer Aspire 5315-2698 15.4-inch Laptop - ultra-affordable entertainment performance

The Aspire 5315 delivers ultra-affordable entertainment performance for students and home users. Combining the Intel Celeron processor, Intel graphics media accelerator, Intel high definition audio support, and Acer Arcade deluxe, this notebook possesses powerful multimedia potential. Versatile communication is also in the mix, with the Acer Video Conference solution for go-anywhere, face-to-face contact with friends.


Product Features

* Celeron 560 Processor
* 1GB (512/512) DDR2 667 SDRAM
* 120GB hard drive; integrated Super-Multi drive (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RAM)
* Integrated webcam
* 15.4" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT display, Acer® CrystalBrite Technology

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

* Hardware Platform: PC
* Processor: 2.13 GHz
* System Bus Speed: 533

Hard Drive

* Manufacturer: Portable

Ports and Connectivity

* Modem: Fax / modem

Cases and Expandability

* Size (LWH): 15.5 inches, 13.2 inches, 5.5 inches
* Weight: 11 pounds

Power

* Rated Charge (normal use): 2 hours

Warranty and Support

* Amazon.com Returns Policies: You may return any new computer purchased from Amazon.com that is "dead on arrival," arrives in damaged condition, or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Amazon.com reserves the right to test "dead on arrival" returns and impose a customer fee equal to 15 percent of the product sales price if the customer misrepresents the condition of the product. Any returned computer that is damaged through customer misuse, is missing parts, or is in unsellable condition due to customer tampering will result in the customer being charged a higher restocking fee based on the condition of the product. Amazon.com will not accept returns of any desktop or notebook computer more than 30 days after you receive the shipment. New, used, and refurbished products purchased from Marketplace vendors are subject to the returns policy of the individual vendor.

Acer Aspire 5315-2698 15.4-inch Laptop (Intel Celeron 560 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, Integrated Super-Multi Drive, Vista Premium)

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Posted in: laptop,laptop review

Acer Aspire One 8.9-inch Mini Laptop - A great choice for business travelers

Weighing in at just over 2 pounds, the Aspire One mobile Internet device is the ideal traveling companion that lets you take the Internet on the road without the heavy load. Good things come in small packages, just like the Acer Aspire One mobile Internet device providing ultra-portable performance to enjoy full Internet browsing, communicate with friends and family and enjoy a variety of entertainment in a small portable design that keeps you connected on-the-go. The Intel Atom Processor combines performance, power and efficiency to explore the Internet and stay connected while on the go. Enjoy reliable on-line access with 802.11b/g Wireless to explore the Internet and view photos or video clips and listen to music in a comfortable browsing environment on the Acer CrystalBrite display. Windows XP Home Edition lets you surf the Internet, edit documents and photos, read email, and enjoy the webcam to chat online with or take still photos smoothly and reliably right out-of-the-box at a great price. Store all of your digital albums, music libraries and documents on the high-speed 160GB hard drive. Sufficient storage that's easy to upgrade, just pop in an external SD card. Whether you are a first time user or just want a second computing device to easily check e-mail and surf the Internet, the Aspire One was designed for simplicity with a intuitive desktop design, widescreen display and easy-typing keyboard. 8.9 diagonal WSVGA (1024 x 600) Acer CrystalBrite Display Integrated Acer Crystal Eye Webcam with Microphone Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Built-in Stereo Speakers Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wireless 10/100 Ethernet LAN Multi-in-1 Card Reader SD, MMC, RS-MMC, MS, MS Pro, xD 3 x USB 2.0, Headphone/Speaker/Line-Out, Microphone-in, VGA, RJ-45 (LAN) Approximate Unit Dimensions - 9.8 (W) x 6.7 (D) x 1.14 (H) Approximate Unit Weight - 2.5 Pounds


Product Features

* 1.6GHz Atom N270
* 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
* 1.3 Megapixel camera, SDHC and multi-format media readers
* 802.11b/g, Ethernet, three USB 2.0, VGA, and 3.5mm audio out
* One free mini PCI slot for WWAN, 160GB hard drive (2.2 pounds)

Processor, Memory, and Motherboard

* Hardware Platform: PC
* Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Core Solo
* System Bus Speed: 533
* Number of Processors: 1
* RAM: 1000 MB
* RAM Type: DDR2 SDRAM

Hard Drive

* Size: 160 GB
* Manufacturer: Portable
* Type: Serial ATA

Ports and Connectivity

* Modem: None

Cases and Expandability

* Size (LWH): 6.7 inches, 9.8 inches, 1.14 inches
* Weight: 5.3 pounds

Power

* Rated Charge (normal use): 5.5 hours

Warranty and Support

* Amazon.com Returns Policies: You may return any new computer purchased from Amazon.com that is "dead on arrival," arrives in damaged condition, or is still in unopened boxes, for a full refund within 30 days of purchase. Amazon.com reserves the right to test "dead on arrival" returns and impose a customer fee equal to 15 percent of the product sales price if the customer misrepresents the condition of the product. Any returned computer that is damaged through customer misuse, is missing parts, or is in unsellable condition due to customer tampering will result in the customer being charged a higher restocking fee based on the condition of the product. Amazon.com will not accept returns of any desktop or notebook computer more than 30 days after you receive the shipment. New, used, and refurbished products purchased from Marketplace vendors are subject to the returns policy of the individual vendor.

Acer Aspire One 8.9-inch Mini Laptop (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 6 Cell Battery) Sapphire Blue

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Posted in: laptop review,mini laptop

Computer security systems vulnerable to new attacks

New York: A new category of computer attacks may compromise memory systems touted as foolproof, particularly in laptops, a recent study has found.


The study, by researchers at Princeton, found these attacks overcome "disc encryption," a broad set of security measures meant to protect information stored in a computer's permanent memory.

The researchers cracked widely-used technologies like Microsoft's BitLocker, Apple's FileVault and Linux's dm-crypt.

They described the attacks in a paper and video published on Thursday on the web.

The team said these attacks are likely to break through other disc encryption systems because these technologies have similar structural features.

The attack is particularly effective against computers that are turned on but are locked, such as laptops in "sleep" or hibernation mode.

One effective countermeasure is to turn a computer off entirely, though in some cases even this does not guarantee protection.

"We've broken disc encryption products exactly when they seem to be most important these days: laptops that contain sensitive corporate data or personal information about business customers," said Alex Halderman of Princeton's computer science department.

Halderman's Princeton collaborators included graduate students Nadia Heninger, William Clarkson, Joseph Calandrino, Ariel Feldman and Professor Edward Felten of the Centre for Information Technology Policy.

The findings demonstrate risks associated with recent high-profile thefts, including a Veterans Administration computer containing information on 26 million veterans and a University of California, Berkeley laptop that contained information on more than 98,000 graduate students and others, said Felten.

The team wrote programmes that gained access to essential encryption information automatically after cutting power to machines and rebooting them.

"This method is extremely resistant to countermeasures that defensive programmes on the original computer might try to take," Halderman said.

link

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[TIPS] Google spreadsheets - new and improved

Have you seen the changes to the spreadsheets in Google Docs? Very nice! Stop in to see for yourself, but in the meantime, check out this blog post about the changes: http://googledocs.blogspot.com/2008/09/coming-soon-changes-to-spreadsheets.html

Very nice!!!

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How to run a program every time Windows starts

In a previous post I explained how to stop programs running when Windows starts up, but in this post I will explain how to make one run every time you boot up. There are a variety of ways of telling Windows to run a program when it starts, but using the 'Startup' folder on the Start menu is probably the simplest. For the purposes of this tutorial we will set Windows to run Firefox automatically.

Click on the Start menu and browse to the appropriate sub-menu. Right-click on the icon for the program you want to start automatically, and click 'Copy'.

Now find the 'Startup' folder on the Start menu, right-click on it and click 'Open'.

This will open a new window showing some of the programs that run whenever you start Windows.

Right-click on some empty space in that window and click paste.

If you cannot find the icon for the program you want in the Start menu, but you have it on your desktop then you can copy that one into the 'Startup' folder. You can repeat this process for all the programs you wish to start automatically; however, be warned that the more programs you have running the slower Windows will work.

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Posted in: Startup,Windows GUI

[TIPS] a national filter?

Do this:

 

Go here: http://www.shopliftwindchimes.com/archivesframe.html

Click April 2008

Scroll to the bottom of the page.

 

But I'll bet youtube is open!

 

;-)

 

btw- the owner of that site is Rives. You may have seen him on TED in one of these videos.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/rives_controls_the_internet.html

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/rives_on_4_a_m.html

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/rives_remixes_ted2006.html

 

Moral of the story - find something that nobody else is doing and do it well. Maybe?

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[TIPS] An interesting discussion (not a tip)

It’s Saturday after our 2008 cff (Pa’s Classroom for the Future) bootcamp. It was a great week, but a long one and I swore I wasn’t going to even turn my computer on. (“So, Jim, how’d that work out for you?) <sigh>

 

I wanted to talk about a conversation I had Thursday night with Sharon Gould, CFF coach from Shippensburg Area School district. We began by talking about “the good old days” (teaching DOS, Commodore 64’s, Hypercard, and more) And we then got to talking about how different people had different viewpoints about that new (Hypercard, at that point) software. Sharon’s remark made me laugh – cuz it was true. “All you needed to do to get an A was to make something move.” LOL! But true. They had no idea what it took to move things, nor had they enough experience, yet, to know to look past the movements to the content.It took too long to make that switch. 

 

She also mentioned that she had grown up in a tech family and was one of the very few kids in class who had a computer at home. But, for school she wasn’t permitted to use it. One of her teachers even went so far as to give the reason as, “You can’t use a computer because it’ll write it for you. You may type it or handwrite it.” (I’ll bet a lot of have similar stories, eh?)

 

Then we talked about her role as a cff coach. She said that she never told a teacher that they had to use a computer. Some teachers are just very good teachers, with very engaging, collaborative lessons. So good, in fact, that kids don’t even WANT to use the computers in that class because they miss the discussions. Do you know someone like that? She even suggested that a good undergrad class for education majors might be one in Improv Theatre, because “some folks just don’t have the personality for being an engaging teacher.” Hmmm.. Improv theatre. Interesting idea.

 

Finally, we talked about the misuse of technology. One person wanted to use discussion threads. No problem, right? But the teacher would have them use the discussion forums in class. The kids didn’t like that at all. It just wasn’t right. You don’t use discussion forums in class, you use them at night.

 

It was a good talk. I wish I could read the rest of my notes. ;-)

 

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Screensharing and More with Glance

Over the years I have used Glance to do webinars and for screen sharing sessions. One of the things that I like most about Glance is the ease of use and the lack of complexity. This is crucial especially when you are supporting others who may not be technically inclined. With Glance you simply select, Start a session and you are provided with your Glance.net URL and a session key that you provide to your client. It is just that simple- your client goes to the URL address provided, enters the session key you provided them and within seconds they see your screen. Like I said before, if you are working with clients that are new to this type of support it is crucial that the process is streamlined and easy. In the case of Glance, I have to say it is as easy as it gets.

Just yesterday, I received an email from Glance that they released a beta of the Glance application so that now you will be able to view your clients screen and take remote control to help provide support. To provide remote support using Glance it is as simple as selecting Start session - view guest's screen. You will be prompted if you want to just initially view or if you would like to view and take remote control of your clients computer when they log in. Again you simply provide your client with your Glance URL address and the session key. Once this accomplished they will be prompted to download a small viewing application. Having tested it out this past week the download and installation went very quickly. Once installed you will now be able to view your clients screen and remotely control their computer. This is a great tool for providing webinars and now for doing remote support without having to leave the office.

Glance starts at $49.95 a month or $499 dollars for a full year for a Glance Personal account. The program is cross platform and I have used it with my PC and my Mac with excellent results. For the Glance Personal account you can host an unlimited number of sessions and can have up to 100 users online with you- which is great for webinars. There are Glance Corporate accounts as well which you can find out more information about on their website. Some of the new features like sharing your clients screen and remote access are only available at this time on Windows. Hopefully this will change. Glance has been really good about adding support for Macintosh, so I will assume that it is just a matter of time.

In these tough economic times, tools like Glance are going to make a real difference in allowing consultants and trainers to provide high quality services without the need to travel. If you are looking for online training in Captivate 3, MindManager 7, JCVGantt Pro, Adobe Presenter or Adobe Acrobat 9 Extended give me a holler. Imagine how much time can be saved by doing training in the privacy of your home or office using tools like Glance. Glance is very easy and powerful tool that simply delivers! So if you have the opportunity download the application and give it a try, you will be glad you did.

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Posted in: Glance,online training,screen sharing,screensharing,webinar

IT Marketing Proven Client Attraction Tips

If you are like a lot of other computer consultants, you might not understand how important having a solid IT marketing plan is to the future of your business. You might think that your friends, family, colleagues and others in your circle will be a never-ending source of clients that will bring needed revenue to your business.

However, eventually your well of friends and family members will run dry, and if you haven’t established a set IT marketing plan with clear steps and diverse strategies, you will find yourself in a pretty big jam. The truth is, marketing is an on-going process that should never end, no matter how many prospects or clients you have. You can never stop thinking about forging new relationships if you want to run a successful IT company.

In this article, we’re going to look at 5 IT marketing plan tips proven to attract clients to your computer consulting business, so you can be assured of setting the stage for keeping enough prospects, customers and clients in your sales funnel.

1. Pick a Launch Date for Your IT Marketing Campaigns. Even before you make any definitive marketing plans, you should pick a launch date for your campaigns and write it down. Put it up in a place where you will have to look at it every day. While you may have to adjust as the process moves forward if you hit any legal snags or other unforeseeable delays, having a set date in mind can help you prioritize what needs to get done and when. When you know you have 5, 10, 12 or any other number of weeks instead of an indeterminate amount of time (I’m partial to planning IT marketing 13 weeks out, or a quarter-year at a time), you will find yourself more motivated to do things efficiently and in a logical order.

2. Update/Print Your Business Cards. Your business cards are one of the most basic – but also most important parts of your IT marketing materials. You never know when you’re going to meet someone that might be a good candidate for your services, even in unexpected, casual networking situations. You might meet people at your church or synagogue, at your children’s school functions, in line at the movies, at the gym … anywhere and everywhere could be an opportunity for you to talk to someone about what you do. Having a business card to hand out – the most basic of marketing materials – helps you show you are serious and professional. Don’t worry if your contact information or company name changes as you grow or refine your direction. You can always get more printed, but you need a business card to show that you are in fact “in business”!

3. Tell Everyone You Know about Your Business. You need to let all friends and family members know, “Hey! I’m starting (or re-launching) a computer services business!” as part of your IT marketing plan. You also need to get the word out into the community so people get to know you and associate you with what you do. Create a “buzz” about yourself by talking to those you meet in the community, again at church or synagogue, at the gym, at your children’s activities, in line at the movies, etc. Chances are you will find interesting networking opportunities everywhere you go. You never know where you might meet a great potential client!

4. Get Some Reference Accounts. A common question computer consultants have is, “How do I get a reputation when I don’t have any clients, and how do I get clients when I don’t have a reputation?” You need to get some reference accounts in the beginning to get the ball rolling and grow your business and your IT marketing plan. There are many ways to do this. Of course, you can do some work for friends or family members and have them write you a testimonial, or be interviewed for a case study, to add to your Web site and other marketing materials. But often an even better way is to volunteer for a respected non-profit organization in your area. Doing a set project with a well-defined beginning and end (because you don’t want to give too much away for free!) with a non-profit organization in your community about which you feel passionate will go a long way to building your credibility and making you visible. At the end of the project, make sure you ask for a testimonial, or for an interview for a case study, to show others the good work you do in someone else’s words besides your own.

5. Get Referrals. Referrals are a really important part of a good IT marketing plan because they are based on relationship marketing … and strong relationships are at the heart of any great computer consulting business. A reference from someone you know, like and trust is trustworthy and often pre-qualified, which can help you find better prospects and leads and save valuable time. Train your friends and family and any clients or trusted business advisors what to listen for when they are talking to their clients, friends or co-workers. Perhaps your accountant has been getting complaints from his/her clients about computers not working, systems crashing or a variety of other technology issues. This is a perfect time for your accountant to say, “Hey, I think I know someone who can help you” and then pass along your business card and information. Those in your network of trusted business advisers, friends, family and clients can become your extended sales force and take some of the work of IT marketing off your plate.

In this article, we talked about 5 critical IT marketing steps you need to take to develop a strong plan that will attract great clients for your business and make sure you have enough prospects, customers and clients in your sales funnel.

To learn more about how to create a solid IT marketing plan, sign up for free IT marketing proven client attraction tips now at http://www.ITMarketingKit.com

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