APCUG Reports
July-September 2011

On-Line Courses
Michael Ligon, Capital Community College Professor
Business & Professional Micro User Group
http://www.bpmug.org

Universities and colleges have been offering on-line courses for a long time now. This is an easy way to earn credits if you are too busy or unable to physically go the school. Also larger schools offer a wide variety of courses. Additionally, if you are out of work or in a dead-end job and want to train for a new career, this might be your answer. Long distance learning has come a long way over the years and it’s available to all us.

At our May 16th meeting Michael Ligon, from Capital Community College, presented how online courses work and what is available to us. Michael demonstrated an actual on-line course that the college offers and what we can expect in a virtual class. He also addressed what computer equipment we need to participate in an on-line course. Being a local community college, the college prices are very reasonable but Michael also talked about other on-line courses that you might find interesting. We were able to get the scoop on this wonderful use of technology

A Little Computer Quiz
Stuart Rabinowitz
Hartford User Group Exchange
East Hartford, CT
http://www.huge.org

1. As you all know April is tax month and many of you filed electronically, but do you know when E-filing of taxes began?
   Answer: Just 25 years ago in 1986.

2. When Unisys was formed in 1986 it became the 2nd largest computer company in the world. What companies merged to form it?
   Answer: Burroughs merged (acquired) Sperry.

3. What were the original names for those companies? Answer: In 1886 Burroughs began as ‘American Arithmometer Company’ and Sperry- began as Sperry Gyroscope Company in 1910. Unysis also included Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corp. which invented the ENIAC.

4. The IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) created many of the underlying standards that make the Internet work, including fundamental routing, e-mail, directory services and telephony protocols. When did it get started? Answer: The first was Jan. 16, 1986.

5. In 1994 IETF approved as a standard IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) which enables e-mail clients to access remote mail servers without having to download the message (think Google Mail). When and by whom was the standard developed?
   Answer: It was developed by Mark Crispin at Stanford University in 1986.

6. What computer shipped in 1986 with 1 MB of RAM (expandable to 4 MB), 800kb floppy and a SCSI port? Also, how much did it cost?
   Answer: The Mac Plus at $2600.

Evelyn Watts – Corel
Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 Webinar
Rockland PC User Group
http://www.rpcug.org

Evelyn Watts from Corel presented a webinar on VideoStudio Pro X4 (newly released) to the May meeting of the Rockland PC User Group.

Corel® VideoStudio® Pro X4 is the powerful, creative and easy way to take your video footage from shoot to show—fast. Quickly load, organize and trim SD or HD video clips. Cut together your production from templates and get creative with effects, music, titles, transitions and more. Explore new Stop Motion Animation and Time-Lapse tools, then export to 3D! It’s everything you need for professional-quality video editing.