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APCUG Reports
July-September 2006

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Region 1
(CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI VT)
by Sam Wexler, Advisor
swexler@apcug.net

PowerPoint, Networking and Consumer Fraud
Mid-Hudson Computer User Group
Poughkeepsie, NY
http://www.mhcug.org

Our very own Board member and newsletter editor, Les Muldorf was our featured presentation speaker for our July general meeting at Best Western Inn. Les did a PowerPoint Presentation that showed attendees how to put together their own PowerPoint presentation. PowerPoint is an excellent way to get your message across to audiences of various dimensions whether it be for a business group, club meeting or just a family gathering.

The August general meeting featured a networking presentation by Richard Nayman. Richard gave us a live demonstration on how to set up a network of computers, whether it be for business or home use. Richard is vice president of the Westchester PC User Group and is an avid SIG (Special Interest Group) leader. He has recently attended and participated in a couple of our SIG groups.

Mark Hoops, Senior Consumer Fraud’s Representative of the NYS Office of the Attorney General, Poughkeepsie (Hudson Valley) Regional Office, spoke concerning several consumer issue updates at our September meeting which was open to non-members. Mark updated us with information on the new state “credit freeze” Law. He provided updates on the dangers to adolescents posed by social networking sites. Information will be provided on the Attorney General’s lawsuit against Dell. The usual handouts including updated magnets and pens were handed out.

Seeing What’s Beneath Your Photos
ICON PC User Group, Brentwood, NY
http://www.iconpcug.org/

Did you know that whenever you take a photo, an extensive list of data is also preserved with each photo? Embedded in each of your picture files are all sorts of information including the date, the type of camera, and what settings your camera used when taking the photo. When you take your photo and edit it with another program, that program also records information within the file thus leaving a trail of information. This takes place not only in photos but also in Word documents and many other types of files. This is often referred to as Meta-Data.

There are two ways you can access this data. One of them is already embedded into Microsoft’s Windows XP. Right click on any photo and go to Properties. You will see at least two tabs under Properties: General and Summary. Click on Summary. Most likely if you have never done this before, Summary will be in “simple” mode. You will see “Title”, “Subject” and “Author”. There will be a button to go to advanced mode. This is where you can see all of the data. If you are already in advanced mode, the button will then say “simple mode” to allow you to switch back and forth.

Staples Technical Support
Goes Where You Are
Chris Novell
Danbury Area Computer Society
http://www.dacs.org

Are you in control of your computer– or is your computer in control of you? Chances are – most of us have spent at least some time in the latter category. Hey, where did that pop-up come from? And that widget, it’s more of a nuisance than a help. Hmm, looks like this PC could use more memory. A cinch to install, supposedly. But, what if, like so many do-it-yourself projects, it grows into a career? This computer needs to be working NOW.

If any of this sounds familiar, you will be interested to hear that the August presentation about Staples Technical Support Services – EasyTech. Andy McVey, along with a Staples “mobile technician,” explained all about the range of the company’s services. General span of service includes both in-store servicing as well as visits to home or office. Ready to take your PC to the next level? Time to go wireless or add a peripheral? Finally address system backup in a way that really gets the job done? Attendees found out about the resources EasyTech has to get these tasks done. Andy brought some items for the post presentation raffle. This meeting was free, open to the public and it was an informative evening.