The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Gary Taig editor@melbpc.org.au |
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PC Update Survey
This month I set out to include a PC Update Survey in this magazine because last month, when 1 ran out of material and decided to cut back on a 16-page section, I was encouraged by the idea that there was room to include a survey, with a reply paid envelope etc. There was, but when push came to shove, there was insufficient time available. The main delay was that Australia Post had to do the artwork for a reply paid envelope, before it could be printed. Anyway, I decided to do it this month, but, as the next fortnight went by, I started reading my own writing, began thinking of nice covers and it became apparent that the lowest cost option was to give April PC Update a better cover and put the survey on the Internet.
The outcome is that you can complete the survey online, and please everyone, please do it. Even if you are only half interested in the future of Melb PC and/or PC Update, please jump online and complete the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=145453524235.
If you are not yet comfortable on the Internet and you want a printed copy, e-mail (or phone me) and I'll send you a hard copy (with prepaid env.) to complete and return.
Information in the Survey
Completing the survey you remain anonymous. I don't need to know, don't want to know and frankly don't care who answered what, but I desperately need your valuable responses. Last month I promised to make PC Update a magazine designed by the members and that's where we're going. I used to think I knew exactly what was needed, and clearly I did at the time, but over the years while I've been busy things
have been changing. The membership now has snow in the hair, according to Graham Dean; we have lots of new members who know very little about the basics and overall reading requirements have shifted left by one or two places. Of course if you understood the meaning of that shift you'll be okay, but many don't and are not okay.
So, while the people at SurveyMonkey make life easier, all I have to do now is redesign the survey. The value of your feedback will be extremely high. It will help decide PC Update content and guide us through the remainder of this year. I urge you to spend a few minutes to add your threepence worth. Please?
Take the Grandkids Out
What do grandchildren and this coming Saturday (31 March) have in common?
If you're free on Saturday afternoon and you like good family entertainment and music, wander down to the Albert Park Yacht Club, Aquatic Drive, Albert Park Lake Reserve. Mike Jackson & Winston Wuttunee are providing a Family Special Afternoon.
See http://www.mikejackson.com.au/home.php. The show is $20 a head and it starts at 2:30 pm.
Some will remember me writing about Mike Jackson in this Editorial column exactly three years ago, April 2004. See PC Update Online at http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2404/2404article2.htm or search for the name Mike Jackson from the Google Icon on the PC Update Web page. Thanks to Derek Guille at 774 ABC Melbourne, we all have a chance now to see Mike in action, and he is just wonderful with kids of all ages.
Green Computing
Here's a major challenge for Melb PC members.
Recently on 774 ABC Melbourne I heard a Saturday morning discussion about the state of the earth, the amount of energy we consume, and the precarious balance between the many competing forces. Suddenly it occurred that we are big enough to contribute. Not only that, we are also big enough to lead a movement which, if it caught on could help to save the planet, and particularly from those who grizzle, bellow and roar about climate change, those who would have you believe that every match you strike kills something. Frankly I don't know whether to believe some of those people or not; more often than not I conclude they are themselves misled by over-exuberant pseudo Scientists with ulterior motives. But, we can all see and we cannot disregard the fact that trees have been cut down for many years and through his ignorance mankind really has made a mess of things.
I reckon between us we would own and/or operate about 25,000 computers... let's plant the equivalent number of trees to even the balance. Does anyone know how many trees must be growing to balance the energy used to run a personal computer for 12 hours? If one person with the correct knowledge can do the calculation, and another has the energy and enthusiasm to stir up a sleeping membership of thousands, then Melb PC membership numbers could be boosted by people who genuinely wish to help stop the wonton destruction.
It's time the world enjoyed a shift in mentality. Let's lead the way and start a movement to plant a tree for every personal computer we run — or was that one tree for every computer year we notch up? I don't know but it needs someone to ascertain the amount of green house gas currently attributed to each PC and then to plan and coordinate the entire movement. It must all be documented and put out there for the world to follow. Give me photos of the new trees, of Lyn Goodall planting the first tree at the opening ceremony, stories of individuals who are participating, any information that's relevant and I'll make sure it gets the exposure it deserves.
If I wasn't doing PC Update and someone else was here making this offer of support, I'd be out there now holding the flag. Having grown up in the country, knowing what trees and flowers look and smell like I'm disturbed by the amount of concrete that surrounds us, the level of ignorance and carelessness and commercial greed that abounds. This is not an invitation to some enthusiastic greenie, I was planning not to mention the word, but this is not intended to give some greenie a free platform. If you are a sincere individual please step up, you will be supported by many.
Let's start a movement that does good, and grows (pun not intended) simply because its motives are genuine. I reckon I know about 50 journalists and between them if a half dozen can't tell our story to the world, there would exist a different problem.
Virus Attacks
There hasn't been a major virus attack in over a year, can you guess why?
You can rest assured the virus writers are working on something. Last week I spent a couple of hours listening and talking to several security industry leaders and they all agree on one thing — the major threats this year are already here but they've crept in quietly. The biggest problems include phishing and software that attacks specific targets. Identity theft is becoming huge but it will get a lot bigger. Beware, stay alert and survive your Internet experience. Otherwise disconnect it now and play cards or golf instead, and keep hold of your money that way.
One of the experts reminded us of the seriousness of the current situation. he said, "Virus attacks led by kids trying to prove a point or show off to their peers are a thing of the past. The latest threats are driven by experts asking the question, How much money can 1 make from this?" and they're definitely out to rip you off. It has been said there is more money to be made from phishing and identity theft than from the illegal drug trade. Think about that one!
The warning cannot be any clearer, stay alert and stay intact. You wouldn't go out and cross a busy highway where there is no formal crossing point without looking carefully in every direction. Nor should you use the Internet without protection, without taking the time to familiarise yourself and carefully examine every possible danger point. If you are a new computer user, get yourself along to a Special Interest Group meeting, meet some other members, ask questions and don't relax and above all, don't enter the world of the Internet until you find out how to protect your system. And it doesn't end there... just now while writing this I downloaded some e-mail and experienced a situation where something coming in attempted to stop and unload my security system. I have two layers of hardware firewall, nothing can just wander in from outside, but something I had permitted to pass by Mail Washer and enter my system was very cleverly written malware. This sort of thing is happening all the time and can you guess who gets caught? Yes, those who don't know, or don't care, or are so careless or sceptical that they think this type of warning can be ignored. Don't join them. Let them walk across the highway on their own.
Believe it or not, we have members who answered the Trend-Micro competition question incorrectly. The correct answer was item 4 but some people answered item 1 and 2. Unpacking the box I found 60 copies of the security suite, not 50, so if you are one of the lucky 60 who received a copy, congratulations. Need help? Go to a SIG meeting and ask someone. Don't forget that the package you received will protect up to three computers, so make sure your whole family takes advantage. The winning member numbers are listed down the side of this page.
Please remember the PC Update survey — it won't take long to complete and it's extremely important to the future of our magazine.
Your Current Contact Details
Sometimes we need to contact members and we need to know that our records are up
to date.
• Have you changed your details lately?
• Do you have more than one e-mail address?
• Have you let the Office know your current preferred e-mail address?
• Are you sure that we can contact you, so you don't miss out on Melb PC
information?
To update your contact information e-mail
office@melbpc.org.au or telephone (03)9567 8000.
Reprinted from the April 2007 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
