INews Newsletter - Feb 05, 2002
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* * * I N e w s * * *
A publication of Internet Nebraska, composed and distributed by
* * * manager@inebraska.com * * *
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Volume 5, Number 1 February 5, 2002
Welcome to another issue of INews, Internet Nebraska's customer
newsletter. This monthly newsletter communicates service bulletins,
announcements and other useful information to our customers. Please let
us know what you think of it. Archives of INews are located at
http://www.inebraska.com/inews/
In this issue: Using the Postini Spam and Virus Filter
The Opera Web Browser
Hooking Up Microsoft Windows XP to the Internet
Free Online Messaging Services
Mr. Internet
*** Spam and Virus Filtering for Fun and Profit ***
Those of you who have signed up for the Postini e-mail filtering service
already know how easy it is to use, but there are a couple of things you
might want to do to get the most from this great new service. If you're
new to Postini, a brief overview is in order. Postini
( http://www.postini.com ) is a commercial service that uses a series of
special filters to block unwanted spam and scan for virus infected e-mail.
Internet Nebraska is now offering this service to its customers for just
$1 per month. If you want to take advantage of this service, please sign
up at http://www.inebraska.com/postini/ or by calling our helpdesk at
434-8680 in Lincoln, or 1-800-GET-INET elsewhere.
Once you have requested service, you will get a confirmation letter from
the Internet Nebraska accounting department letting you know your order has
been processed, and then you will get an activation letter from Postini.
This letter will contain some brief instructions for accessing your Message
Center, as well as your login information.
Upon entering the message center you will see any mail that has been
stopped by the Postini mail filters. You can either choose to delete this
mail or have it delivered to your normal inbox. If you choose to have the
message delivered, Postini will ask if you want to add the sender's address
to your approved sender list. Simply checking any addresses you wish to
never have filtered again will make sure you receive all e-mail from that
recipient in the future. Any mail you have deleted from your message
center it will move to the trash area. The trash empties automatically
after 14 days.
You can also configure the settings for your Message Center to match your
own tastes. There are three main categories that allow you to customize
your Postini Message Center. They are Filter Categories, Filter
Sensitivity, and Blocked and Approved Senders.
Filter Categories allow you to decide what specific types of e-mail
should be filtered. There are several types, including "Get Rich Quick"
and "Sexually Explicit," among others. You can turn filtering on and off
on a per-category basis.
Filter Sensitivity has three levels of effectiveness. While Postini is
pre-set to Lenient, you may also choose Moderate, or Aggressive. It is
probably best to see how much legitimate mail is blocked and then make
changes accordingly. Be sure to add those senders who might get caught in
the more aggressive settings to your approved senders list.
The "Blocked and Approved Senders" lists allow you to specify people whose
mail you will always want to get, even if it looks like spam (coworkers,
friends, relatives), and people from whom you never want to receive mail
(like your brother-in-law who only forwards you dumb jokes). You can add
either individual e-mail addresses (like manager@inebraska.com) or you
can add entire domains (like inebraska.com).
Another potentially important Postini feature is that it also scans mail
for viruses, trojans, and worms in attachments and quarantines
any suspicious mail in your message center for you to examine before
it can wreak havoc on your computer. Although this will help protect
you from email-borne threats, you should still keep a good anti-virus
program installed and frequently updated on your computer to catch viruses
from other sources.
We hope you enjoy the new service, and as always, we look forward to
adding to your Internet experience. Please let us know if you have any
problems or questions.
*** Integrated Computer Systems - Advertisement ***
ICS, an A+ Authorized Service Center serving western
Nebraska for over 14 years, is ready with over 40 years
of combined experience to professionally and expertly meet
your computer needs. From large networks to stand alone
PC's, ICS proudly offers their knowledge and expertise to
work for you. Whether it be Windows (95, 98, 2000, NT, ME),
Novell or Unix, new installations, trouble shooting,
networking, print sharing or repair, ICS will be there to
assist you or your personnel on arriving at the best
possible solution to fulfill your needs.
Located in North Platte, Integrated Computer Systems serves
over a 100-mile radius reaching communities such as Kearney,
Valentine, Thedford, Mullen, Sidney, Ogallala, McCook, Grant,
Imperial, Gothenburg, Lexington, Chappell, Sutherland, and
Hershey, to just name a few. So give us a call at 534-1500,
toll free 800-400-1527, or stop in and see us at 101 South
Chestnut.
*** Browsing the Web with Opera ***
As far as most people are concerned, the Web browser wars are long over
and most anyone will tell you that Internet Explorer is the undisputed
winner. There are surely many Net newcomers that have never even heard of
Netscape Navigator, which persists today, despite its lack of updates and
features, because it's available for many platforms that IE is not.
However, a new browser has risen from the ranks to challenge mighty
Microsoft in the Web browser arena. Opera ( http://www.opera.com ) is
available free for download, and you can either use it for free and view
the built-in banner advertisements, or you can pay for the software and
get an advertisement-free version.
Opera's main strength is its speed and size. Having been recently written
from scratch, Opera is free from the huge quantities of legacy code that
plague most web browsers. This translates into a small download and
lightning fast performance.
In recent testing done by Search Engine World
( http://www.searchengineworld.com ) downloading 20 simultaneous web pages
shows the time taken by the "Big 2" browsers and Opera. Obviously, the
less time, the better the performance.
Opera 6 - 31 seconds
Internet Explorer 6 - 46 seconds
Netscape 4.7 - 91 seconds
During their testing, IE used twice as much memory as Opera and Netscape
crashed several times. Complete test details are available at:
http://www.searchengineworld.com/opera/v6/speed.htm .
In addition to the speed, Opera has many cool features that set it apart
from the competition. Opera's layout is the most customizable yet seen in
a browser. Opera has a kind of clunky default look to it, but everything
is customizable and you'll end up with something you like in just a few
minutes of work. The browser has a built-in search bar (you choose which
search engine it uses) that is so convenient, you'll never know how you
got along without it. Opera has the ability to turn off pop-up windows
which many of us find irritating and time wasting.
In their latest version, Opera introduced a very innovative new feature
called Mouse Gestures. (I get the feeling you'll see this feature in
more software as time goes on.) A Mouse Gesture is when you hold down the
right mouse button and move the mouse in a specific direction or in a
specified pattern. The browser will then respond with a specific task.
For example, holding down the right mouse button and moving the mouse
slightly to the left is the equivalent to the "Back" button in the browser.
Opera is currently available for 9 different platforms including OS/2,
Linux, MacOS, and all versions of Windows. If you have a platform
currently unsupported by Internet Explorer, there is no reason not to give
it a shot, and you may want to try it even if you normally use IE.
Although Internet Nebraska does not provide technical support for the
Opera browser, the software is mostly self-explanatory. Speed things up,
try Opera today!
*** Schaefer's TV & Appliance Center - Advertisement ***
Schaefer's is an independently owned and
operated television, appliance, and home
theater retailer in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Born out of a small corner drugstore four
decades ago, Schaefer's TV & Appliance is a
22,000 square-foot "superstore" today,
specializing in commercial/professional-grade
appliances, whole house sound systems, home
theater and central vacuum systems. The
success of Schaefer's is key to repeat
business. If a customer happens to have a
problem with a product, Schaefer's will bend
over backwards to get it solved. Our service
center is the largest in the city, and has been
voted Lincoln's #1 servicer for 10 years in a
row! A knowledgeable sales staff, express
delivery, easy financing, and our customer
service representatives are just a few of the
ways in which we at Schaefer's distinguish
ourselves from the rest. Stop by our showroom
at 48th and R in Lincoln, or call us at
and see for yourself.
-- http://www.schaeferstv.com/index2.htm
*** Setting up the new Microsoft Windows XP ***
On October 25, 2001, Microsoft released a new version of Windows: Windows
XP. If you have a computer with this new operating system, there are a
few added changes to the configuration for dial-up, ADSL, and Outlook
Express.
Windows XP dial-up configuration:
1) First, you need to get to the Control Panel. Start -> Control Panel.
2) Next, click on the "Setup or change your Internet connection". A new
box entitled Internet Properties will appear.
3) Click on the "Setup" button at the top of this box.
4) The New Connection Wizard will now start; click Next.
5) Select the "Connect to the Internet" option; click Next.
6) Select the "Setup my connection manually" option and then click Next.
7) Select the "Connect using a dial-up modem" option; click Next.
8) Now type 'Internet Nebraska' in the "ISP Name" box; click Next.
9) Enter the local access number in the "Phone Number" box; click Next.
10) Enter your username and password twice (to make sure it was entered
correctly); click Next.
11) Click Finish.
WindowsXP should now be configured to dial-up. When you are ready to
connect, simply start Internet Explorer and a Dial-up box will appear with
your
username and password already entered, all you need to do is click the
"Connect" button to begin dialing and connect.
Windows XP ADSL configuration:
For those customers who have ADSL, simply follow the steps below. Please
be sure that you have your network adapter installed, the router is turned
on, and that you have the ethernet cable plugged into the network adapter.
1) Open the Control Panel. Start -> Control Panel.
2) Click on "Setup or change your Internet connection", the Internet
Properties box will appear.
3) Click the "Setup" button at the top of the box.
4) Click the Next button to continue.
5) Select the "Connect to the Internet" option; click Next.
6) Select the "Setup my connection manually" option; click Next.
7) Select the "Connect using a broadband connection that is always
on" option; click Next.
8) Click Finish.
9) You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
If your computer has a static IP, you will have to enter it.
1) Click on the Start menu and highlight "Connect to" and select "Show
all connections."
Start -> Connect to -> Show all connections
2) Left-click on "Local Area Connection" (it will be under LAN or
High-Speed Internet) and select Properties.
3) A new box will appear entitled Local Area Connection Properties.
4) Highlight "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click the Properties
button.
5) A box entitled Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties will then appear.
6) Select "Use the following IP address" and this will allow you to enter
in your IP address, Subnet mask, Gateway, and DNS information.
Outlook Express 6 configuration:
1) Open Outlook Express. Start -> Outlook Express.
2) If a setup wizard starts, skip to step 5, otherwise continue.
3) Click on Tools -> E-mail Accounts
4) A new box will appear, select "Add a new e-mail account."
5) Select "POP3" and then click the Next button.
6) Enter in your first and last name, your e-mail address, Incoming and
Outgoing mail servers, your username and password. The Incoming and
Outgoing mail servers are: mail.inebraska.com
7) Once you have the information entered, click Next.
8) Now click the Finish button.
Outlook Express should now be setup to send and receive your email.
If you find yourself having difficulties setting up your dial-up or ADSL
connections, Outlook Express, or have any other questions, feel free to
give the help desk a call.
*** The Capital Soccer Association - Advertisement ***
Capital Soccer Association specializes in teaching soccer. However we
recognize that soccer, or any other youth sport is merely one tool in the
development of a young child. Teamwork and sportsmanship through
knowledge and proficiency of the game are our main goals.
-- http://www.capitalsoccer.com/
*** Free Online Messaging Services ***
I'm sure many of you are looking for a way to save money after the holiday
season. Many of you probably rely on e-mail as a way to keep in
touch with relatives and friends who live some distance away rather than
racking up a long distance bill. Even then, one has to sit and wait for
a response, checking for new mail over and over again. It sure would be
nice if there was a way to send a message instantly to someone, and know
immediately when they've responded.
Actually, there is! And to top that off, most of them are absolutely free
to download and use!
Online messaging services are available through many companies, and most
of them offer services that are free for anyone to use. You can send
messages, transfer files, and sometimes even speak with someone using a
microphone and speakers on your computer! Why pay long distance when you
can use your Internet connection?
Most of these services require you to set up a free account with a
username and password so you can log onto their system. After that, a
download is often required so that you can install the software on your
computer. The hard part in all of this is the decision as to which of
these many services to use. Some are more user friendly while others
provide enough bells and whistles too keep even the most experienced
Internet user happy. Here's a few examples to get you started.
Yahoo Instant Messenger
http://www.yahoo.com/
Yahoo provides a very user-friendly messaging client. It includes the
ability to send files to others, send messages instantly, or even start a
conference with several people so you can talk to everyone in that
conference at once. If you have a microphone and sound on your computer,
you can even use their Voice Chat to actually speak with someone, no
matter how far away they are.
AIM (AOL Instant Messaging)
http://aim.aol.com/
AIM also provides a user friendly messaging client. It provides most of
the same features as Yahoo Instant Message, and because it was one of the
first available instant messaging programs, it's one of the most popular.
AIM is also especially nice for communicating with AOL customers, since AIM
is built into the AOL software.
ICQ
http://www.icq.com
This program is fairly simple to use, with quite a few bells and whistles.
If you're one of those people who is picky about what your screen looks
like, making sure everything matches, ICQ is one of the more customizable
of these messaging clients available.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that to use these services to
speak with someone else, they must have the same program installed on
their computer. If you're looking to talk with someone specific, you should
see what service they use and get the same one. Otherwise, you'll find
that one or the other has to switch (or use more than one service.)
*** Mr. Internet ***
Q: How can I check my email when I am not at home?
A: Internet Nebraska provides multiple ways for our customers
to check their email. Many of our customers use either Netscape
Messenger or Outlook Express, but this limits them to one
location for checking their email. With Internet Nebraska's web based
email you can check your email on any computer that has Internet
access! Just go to http://mail.inebraska.com , type in your username
and password, and click on Log In. Thats all there is to it!
Checking your email via our web based email will allow you to work
with your email directly on our mail server. So, when you go home and
check it with Outlook Express or Netscape Messenger, you will still be
able to download those messages left on the server. If you delete a
message via Web based email then you won't be able to download it when
you get home.
Mr. Internet is a regular feature of the INews, and he welcomes questions
of any kind. Just mail them to mrinternet@inebraska.com, and he'll answer
one or two each issue. Those he doesn't use will not necessarily be
answered, and you should still use 'manager' and 'accounts' for regular
business.
*** Advertise on Our Home Pages ***
What better way to advertise your business than on a Web page that is seen
tens of thousands of time every month? None, if you're paying as little
as we charge for it!
We are now offering banner advertising that rotates on all our pages
which is priced based on the number of impressions (viewings) per month.
Your banner can reach thousands of Nebraska residents, and this is a
unique way to advertise your Nebraska business to residents in the area.
Prices for banner advertisement can be found at:
http://www.inebraska.com/ad.html
We will also be selling links from our main page. Please contact
manager@inebraska.com, or give us a give us a call at our office,
402-434-8680, and ask how you can reserve banner spots on some of the
hottest URL's in the state. The advertisers in this issue did, and we
recommend them highly.