If you're thinking about a motherboard upgrade only, consider this: many of the new motherboards now offer only PCI slots. That might mean that if your old motherboard has any ISA boards in it, they would be unusable in the new motherboard unless it has ISA slots as well as PCI. What a great excuse for upgrading other peripherals. Like I always say, do your homework. Wish I always took my own advice.
How about this for a vicious circle ... I bought a Matsonic motherboard for a good price at Comdex a couple years ago that gave me problems and eventually died. Since it was guaranteed for two years, I sent it back to the company via US Postal Service insured. After no response from Matsonic, I inquired at the post office. I was told to obtain a letter from the company saying they never received the package. Then I could apply for the insurance.
I called the company, and after persisting, I was asked who signed for it, but was told, point blank, that without a return authorization, I was probably out of luck. Since I hadn't asked for a return receipt, I didn't know who had signed and received no cooperation.
Back at the Post Office, I was told that an insured package had to have been signed for. To find out who it was, I must apply for that information at a cost of $7.00 to research it. All that runaround because I didn't spend the extra money for a return receipt. I seem to learn everything the hard way. No doubt it was signed for so, forget the insurance. I think I can forget any action from Matsonic as well. I won't forget that name very soon.
Perhaps next month I'll talk about Best Buy with whom I am in a dispute right now, and it looks like I may take them to court over the warranty on my laptop. Now, let's get on with the column.
StuffIt Deluxe 5.5: $49.95
Spring Cleaning 3.0: $29.95
Aladdin FlashBack 1.1: $19.95
DragStrip 3.7.1: $14.95
MacTicker 1.6: $19.95
NEW! IntelliNews 2.0: $14.95
MacTicker & IntelliNews bundle: $29.95 - A SUPER DEAL!
StuffIt Deluxe 5.5 & DragStrip bundle: $59.95 - A SUPER DEAL!
Visit [http://www.emacsoftware.com/emac/cd.asp?cd=AHGY2MBTA] to take advantage of these special offers!!"
Their Web address is [http://www.aladdinsys.com/] for more info.
SurfSaver 2.0 includes several powerful new features for organizing Web pages. In addition, the new version is available as a free download at [http://www.surfsaver.com] thanks to advertising included in the software. Download multiple levels of a Web site and browse (or search) the site off-line. Organize information using a Filing Cabinet and Folder metaphor. Create your own filing cabinets, and place folders in these cabinets, then search across multiple folders in multiple filing cabinets.
A professional version, SurfSaver Pro, adds the ability to share SurfSaver folders in a network. SurfSaver Pro does not contain advertising and costs $29.95 per user. I'll.check on the possibility of a special for the Pro version next month. Visit askSam at [http://www.askSam.com/] or call 1-800-800-1997 for more info. My thanks to Bea McKinney of askSam for notifying me of this.
Call O'Reilly & Associates at 1-800-998-9938 and mention your user group, or e-mail them at [order@oreilly.com]
The regular service is free and offers free "online" tech support and 12 megs (more than my Mindspring) for your Web site. The Premium version costs $9.95 per month and offers free phone tech support. Both offer file attachments and fax and voicemail capability in the mailbox. Look for it at [http://www.juno.com]. Current subscribers need not fill out any forms.
There is not much information on the Web site but it costs nothing to try it out. You can even download it to floppies instead of your hard drive. With the help of Yahoo, you should find plenty of resources. You can download the software, or order it at Bluelight CD Request, P.O. Box 468, Lake Orion, MI. 48361. Kmart is so well known that they wouldn't actually need much advertising. When you see the familiar red Kmart logo flash by, it is a sort of "subliminal" reminder. The same as when your car seems to pull it on its own when you pass your favorite store (or tavern).
This site is very interesting, so I suggest you visit it and draw your own conclusions. It actually lists dozens of free ISPs that you can check out, as well as many other free services. Some are just for a certain area. One service listing surprised me, but I guess it shouldn't have these days. You'll see it, I'm sure. There is plenty of information, too much to categorize here.
This month's column was sure done hastily but I hope you get something out of it. Next month I'll continue with some free ISPs and perhaps even talk about an upcoming FREE DSL service. My thanks to Central Florida Computer Society President "Bud" Stonaker for searching out a few of these and passing them on to me.
This column is written to make user group members aware of special pricing I have found or arranged, and my comments should not be interpreted to encourage, or discourage, the purchase of products, no matter how enthused I sound. Bob (The Cheapskate) Click [dealsguy@mindspring.com]. Visit my Web site at [http://www.dealsguy.com] for past columns.
For more information on the Tulsa Computer Society click here