INews Newsletter - Apr 26, 2005
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A publication of Internet Nebraska, composed and distributed by
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Volume 8, Number 1 April 26, 2005
Welcome to another issue of INews. This 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: Video Games and the Internet
Internet Nebraska Services
Home Networking Basics
Rediscover the Web with Firefox
Computer Sewing
Sharing Photos
Mr. Internet
*** Video Gaming and the Internet ***
Online video gaming has come a long way since the text-based games on the
first bulletin board systems. Over the past several years, advances in
computer and console systems, combined with the increasing use of
broadband Internet, have changed the way people play video games. More
and more video games have at least some on-line content, and many are
almost entirely played on-line.
The two biggest examples of this in the console world are Xbox Live,
an on-line gaming service from Microsoft, and PlayStation 2 Online from
Sony. These gaming services let you play on-line either with or against
gamers around the world, even allowing real-time voice chat. To use
these services, all you need is a broadband connection such as DSL,
cable, or wireless; all available from Internet Nebraska. In some cases,
a dialup Internet connection will even work, but not for all games.
The Industry has now taken an even bigger leap with the introduction of
the Sony PlayStation Personal, a hand-held video game, music, and video
system that allows play on the Internet through Wi-Fi (wireless) access.
People looking to play others in games ranging from sports and driving
games to strategy, adventure, and role-playing games (RPGs) can hook up
from anywhere with a wireless signal, such as Internet Nebraska's
Hotspots or your home wireless network. With over 1 million launch units
in the United States alone, you can be sure that this is just the
beginning of Internet-enabled hand-held video game systems.
With video game revenues approaching $10 billion per year, largely driven
by on-line game play, it's no surprise that more and more games will have
Internet play built in. How can you take advantage of this on-line fun?
For step by step help in setting up your Playstation 2 or Xbox for
Internet access, you can view help documents at
http://www.inebraska.com/helpdocs.html
*** Internet Nebraska Services ***
We at IN are occasionally asked about all the services we provide. While
they are listed many places on our main Web page at http://www.inebraska.com
we realize not everyone uses this as their home page. It's a GOOD IDEA,
because we often post news articles about new IN development, but the
Internet world is a free one.
So, we're going to take this opportunity to list a few of the things we
offer. If you don't see it here, we may well do it -- these just
represent our core business. If one of these appeals to you, call our
helpdesk to ask about availability of it in your area, or drop us a line
at info@inebraska.com . Our helpdesk can be reached at 434-8680 in
Lincoln, and 1-800-GET-INET (800-438-4638) elsewhere.
Dial-up (accelerated or not)
DSL broadband
Wireless broadband
Cable broadband
Website and domain hosting
Server colocation
In-home dial-up/DSL/wireless installation
Broadband solutions for business, including point-to-point as well as
frame-relay T1 and DS3
Group discounts for organizations on dial-up and multiple mailbox service
Spam and virus protection
Network design
Off-site back-up service
Hotspot design and implementation
If you don't see what you need in the way of Internet service here, let us
know. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality, one-stop solutions at
a great price.
*** Home Networking Basics ***
Many people ask what equipment they need to connect more than one
computer to their high speed DSL, cable or wireless Internet connection.
There are several different types of equipment, and choosing which to
use depends on your needs.
There are two steps to getting multiple computers hooked to the
Internet. First, you'll need to connect all of your computers together
into a Local Area Network (LAN). Then you'll need to connect your
LAN to the Internet.
There are several ways to make a LAN. If all the computers are close
together or your home or office is already wired for ethernet, you can
connect the computers together with a hub or switch. If the computers
are in different rooms and you don't want to run ethernet cable through
your walls, a Wireless Access Point (WAP) and wireless ethernet cards in
each computer can be used to connect all your computers.
The first networking device we'll talk about is a hub. A hub
is a multi-port repeater; any information coming into the hub is
repeated to every device connected. Hubs are the least expensive way to
connect computers together to form a LAN, and generally work well for
small home networks. With a hub, the bandwidth of the network is shared
by all machines, but in a small network used mostly for Internet access,
the speed of the shared network is generally so much greater than the
speed of the Internet connection there's little chance of the network
being a bottleneck.
The second networking device we'll discuss is a switch. Unlike a hub
where the bandwidth is split between all connected devices, a switch
provides the full speed of the LAN to each computer. Instead of taking
up bandwidth sending all data to every machine on the network, the data is
sent only to the intended destination machine. This means you can
transfer files at full speed from one computer to another without
affecting the speed of other computers on the network, making it an ideal
solution for offices with a central server or who otherwise move a lot of
data around locally.
A Wireless Access Point (WAP) allows you to connect your computers to a
network without running ethernet cables to every computer. This provides
quite a convenience, and thus makes wireless connectivity very popular.
Before deciding to go wireless, however, there are a couple of important
things to consider. First, wireless networks aren't as secure as
traditional wired networks. You can improve the security of wireless
networks greatly by turning on WEP encryption and by limiting which
computers can connect to your AP by entering the unique MAC address of
each computer you want to be able to connect. Second, wireless is a
shared bandwidth medium much like hubs. Since wireless has considerably
lower bandwidth than wired ethernet, it's even more likely to cause
slowdowns than a wired hub, but again, there should be plenty of
bandwidth for home use. The lowered shared bandwidth is mitigated in
business networks by using multiple APs to spread out the load.
Now that you have the equipment to build your LAN, you'll need a router to
attach your LAN to the Internet. Routers are available with many different
features, but in general, most routers currently available will fit the
needs of even the most sophisticated home user. Business users will want
to consult with an IT professional to make sure they get a router that fits
their needs.
Some of the most welcome additions to network equipment in recent years
are combination devices. These devices will typically include a router
combined with a hub or switch, an AP, or an AP and a hub or switch. With
the right combination router, you'll only need to purchase one
inexpensive device to get your entire network of computers on-line.
Before setting up a network, you should evaluate your needs. Ask
yourself the following questions and make a decision based on your
answers:
Do I have computers in different rooms/floors of this building?
Is my Internet connection in a different room from my computers?
Do I have a laptop that I use in multiple locations?
Can I run ethernet cables safely and properly to each computer?
How much can I spend?
What kind of equipment do I already have?
Will my computers work with the equipment I get?
This should help narrow down your choices so you can get what you really
need. If you're still unsure, the folks at your friendly local computer
shop should be able to discuss your requirements and get you the right
equipment.
*** 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
*** Rediscover the web with Firefox ***
Most people don't give much thought to the web browser they use. In
fact, many are unaware that the software used to visit web sites is a
web browser at all; instead they simply go to "The Internet". It might
be time to rethink this. A new, totally free web browser called
Firefox has arrived which may cause you to reconsider what you want
from a web browser.
What is Firefox? Firefox is a new, free web browser, designed from
scratch by volunteers around the world who decided they needed a
better web browsing experience. Compared to Internet Explorer, it is
faster, safer, has more features, and is more expandable.
Possibly the most important feature of Firefox is its security. Much of
the spyware out there enters a computer by exploiting bugs in Internet
Explorer, or through a component of Internet Explorer called ActiveX.
Firefox does not have these security holes, nor does it load ActiveX
controls, which are unnecessary for the vast majority of web sites. This
allows you to browse the Internet much more securely. Simply using
Firefox instead of Internet Explorer will reduce the amount of spyware
that infects your computer. You won't have to wait as long when web
browsing either, as Firefox also displays pages faster than Internet
Explorer.
Firefox also adds many highly desirable features for web browsing.
First, Firefox comes with a built-in pop-up blocker, which will stop
annoying pop-up ads from jumping onto your screen. Next, with tabbed
browsing, Firefox allows you to view multiple web pages in a single
browser window. Simply middle-click a link, and instead of opening in
the same window, a new tab appears and you can easily switch between
different pages. A Google search bar lives in the upper right corner of
Firefox for easy searching.
Is this not enough for you? Well, Firefox allows you to expand its
feature set by allowing you to install Extensions. They allow you to
customize Firefox to suit your personal needs and browsing habits,
while keeping Firefox lean and small for those who require fewer
features.
There are many different extensions available, ranging from useful
browsing and security enhancements, to the odd and humorous. Among the
most interesting is an extension called Adblock, which can block
unwanted content such as banner ads and other images. Another is
Googlebar, which adds the functionality of the Google toolbar to
Firefox. There are extensions to tweak how tabbed browsing works, show
the weather in the Firefox status bar, manage downloads, enhance
navigation, and more. There's even an extension to show how Abe Vigoda
is doing these days. (He's fine, by the way.)
Still not enough? Don't like the way Firefox looks? Firefox also has
a feature called Themes, which allows you to change the look and feel
of Firefox. A theme can simply change the colors of Firefox, or it can
change nearly every piece of the browser's appearance.
If you are concerned about losing your bookmarks, home page, and other
settings you've spent months customizing in Internet Explorer, then
have no fear. Firefox quickly and easily imports your Internet
Explorer settings for you. Its layout is very similar to Internet
Explorer, and will be instantly familiar to anyone who has browsed the
web before.
Are you ready to give Firefox a try? Remember, Firefox is completely
free for anyone to use. To download Firefox, simply visit
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ and click on the green "Free
Download" link in the upper right hand corner of the page. Extensions
and Themes can be found at https://addons.update.mozilla.org/
Give Firefox a try, and rediscover the web.
*** 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.
*** Computer Sewing ***
Computerized sewing machines are very high tech, doing many things your
grandmother never dreamed of. They do a lot of the trivial work such as
threading needles automatically, they can tell you when they are out of
thread, have many stitches to choose from, can be set to different punch
strengths for different types of materials, etc. If you have a computer
embroidery machine, material is placed in a hoop that will move under
control of the sewing machine, automating the entire process of sewing.
Even the more basic computerized sewing machines signal when to start
running the cloth through, change a particular stitch and when to switch
threads.
Many computerized sewing machines come with software for your computer.
This software allows you to change digital pictures to stitches for
embroidery, stretch and change existing patterns, change colors and size
of patterns, and change the type of stitch used. Basically the software
can do anything that a clip art program can do but in stitches of
thread. Patterns can be found at many sewing sites, and the major
manufacturer sites such as http://www.brother-usa.com/homesewing/ and
http://www.singer-co.com for use in embroidering. A good list of sewing
sites to search for patterns or other sewing-related information can be
found at http://www.100sewinglinks.com/
Transferring the pattern from the computer to the sewing machine is
accomplished though either a USB port or a flash card, depending on the
manufacturer and model of the sewing machine. A flash card is capable of
holding thousands of stitches or patterns. Once the pattern is in the
machine it is just a matter of loading the threads and starting to sew.
One again, the power of computers and the Internet have combined with
an everyday task to make something truly extraordinary.
*** Advertise on Our Home Pages ***
What better way to advertise your business than on a Web page that is
seen tens of thousands of times 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
*** Sharing Photos ***
Digital photography is extremely popular these days, and there are many
free services that allow you to share your photos on-line. This allows
you to easily share your photos with friends and family (without
clogging up their email) and most also allow you to order
prints on-line. A word of caution; most of these services do have
problems with dial-up connections. In our experience testing them,
Picasa was the best with Snapfish being the worst and Flickr in
between. However, all of them worked perfectly fine with DSL, cable
Internet, and wireless. Overall, it is much easier to share your
photos on-line with these three services than it is with email, and
their ability to easily fix common problems with your photos (e.g.
eliminating red-eye, cropping, and resizing photos) make all three
services attractive.
Flickr
Flickr is an on-line photo sharing service that you can visit by
going to http://www.flickr.com . Flickr uses an innovative interface to
display your pictures, making it very easy for you (or friends and
family) to browse through hundreds of photographs very quickly,
even on dial-up.
To sign up and use the service all that is required is for you to have a
valid email address. The site will work with nearly any browser and on
just about any operating system (we tested with Windows, Macintosh, and
Linux). Once you sign up for a free account, you can upload 10 megabytes
of pictures each month, and paid accounts can upload more. Uploading,
resizing, and 'polishing' your photos is very easy with the built-in
tools on the website, requiring only a few clicks for most tasks.
Once your photos are on-line, you can share them with your friends and
family, who can leave you notes or comments on the pictures. A tour
of the various features of Flickr is available on their website:
http://www.flickr.com/learn_more_2.gne
Overall, Flickr is a very nice service, though its low upload cap (10
megabytes per month) does limit you to only uploading roughly 50
pictures. However, its easy to use interface, very good on-line help
system, and nice features do make up for this. Flickr does offer a paid
version for $41.77 a year that allows you to upload 1 gigabyte of photos
each month (roughly 5000 photos).
Snapfish
Snapfish is another way to share your photos on-line with your friends
and family. You can access their website by visiting
http://www.snapfish.com . Snapfish, unlike flickr, allows you to
upload an unlimited amount of photos. Overall, its web interface is
comparable to Flickr's and allows you the same photo editing
capabilities (e.g. resizing, rotating, cropping), though it isn't quite
as user-friendly. Snapfish also allows you to create prints of your
photos and have them shipped to you for a pretty reasonable price.
Unfortunately, Snapfish does have a few drawbacks. For one, for your
family or friends to view your photos they will have to register with
Snapfish. Snapfish also works poorly with dial-up connections, and to
upload or resize your photos you are limited to using using Internet
Explorer on Windows. Other than these minor limitations, Snapfish is a
fine tool, and recommended if you plan on printing many of your photos or
do not wish to pay for storage space.
Picasa
Google's Picasa, available at http://www.picasa.com/ , is a program
that you download to your windows computer, unlike the other two
services which are entirely on-line. Picasa 2 is a very nice program
that allows you to not only resize, crop, and rotate your photos but
also do things like create Photo CDs to share with your friends and
family, create on-line websites with your photos, and get prints of your
photos shipped to you.
In practice, Picasa makes jobs like organizing, renaming, and
resizing large groups of photos very easy. Its image-correction
features (e.g. eliminating red-eye, turning gray skies blue, and
fixing colors) are the best out of the 3 services we reviewed. You can
also easily upload your pictures to a website (such as your Internet
Nebraska homepage) using Picasa, which automatically creates a
website with your pictures requiring very little input from you.
Picasa has an on-line overview of its features available here:
http://www.picasa.com/features/index.php
Picasa is a versatile, feature-rich program designed to make the
process of editing and uploading pictures as easy on its users as
possible. Its interface is the simplest to use among the three
services reviewed, and of those, was the most functional over dial-up
connections. Unfortunately, Picasa will only run on Windows computers
running Windows 98 or higher.
*** Mr. Internet ***
Q: Dear Mr. Internet, some very generous relatives recently gave me a
computer hoping to keep in touch with me via the Internet. I've used a
computer at work, but I'm very green when it comes to the "the Web". Do
you know where I can learn more about the Internet?
A: Excellent question. There are many beginner guides aimed at
answering the questions we have as we stumble onto the web for the first
time. These can be found on websites, in books, and more increasingly in
low-cost classes at local colleges. The trick is knowing where, and how,
to look.
Let's focus on the web. To find a particular site on the web, your best
friend is a search engine. A search engine is a tool that allows you to
search the web for specific content, usually words or phrases you want to
know more about. The most widely used search engine right now is Google.
To use Google, simply go to http://www.google.com and type in the subject
you're looking for, and you'll be given a list of every website found
pertaining to that subject. The more words you type, the more exact the
matches will be. With a little practice you should be able to find
information on just about anything within minutes.
To get you started, open your web browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape,
Mozilla, etc) and go to http://www.google.com
In the form on the page (the rectangular space in the middle), type in
"internet basics" (without the quotes), and click on the Google Search
button. Voila! 92,800,000 websites containing those two words.
Luckily for us, Google tries to display the pertinent websites first.
Just click on the blue link for the name of the site that sounds close to
what you want, and you'll be taken there. If the website doesn't turn out
to be what you expect, just hit your Back button and try a different
result.
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.