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The LangaList 2001-09-27 Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 1) SDI BluesNo, not the "strategic defense initiative," but rather the "single document interface" used in Word 2000:
The dropping of MDI--- the "multiple document interface" that allows one instance of Word to open many documents--- does create a hassle for experienced users, but it was a design choice, not a "bug" in the usual sense of the word. My guess is that Microsoft found novice users confused ("Where did my document go?") and so they reverted to the one-document-per-instance model. But you're right: people should know about these limitations before they plunk down their credit cards. Thanks, Daryl. Click to
email this item to a friend 2) Router Means "No FireWall Needed?"
Thanks, Dan. Most hardware manufacturers urge the simplest possible software setup because it reduces their support costs: simpler setups have fewer variables, and so are easier to troubleshoot. There's something to this argument--- up to a point--- because needless complexity can cause all kinds of trouble. We debated the strengths and weaknesses of both the "keep it simple" and "use every possible defense" strategies in "How Much Protection Is Enough?" ( http://www.informationweek.com/840/langa.htm ). Personally, I believe that multiple defenses, up to a point, give the best results by increasing security, as long as you don't go overboard making things needlessly complex. But in the specific case where a hardware vendor explicitly recommends against using a software firewall, my suggestion is to first set up the hardware and get it working their way. Then, if you have trouble, the support techs can't blow you off by telling you it's a software conflict with some other vendor's products. Once things are stable and working well their way, *then* add on additional defenses as you wish, one at a time. Going stepwise, and working carefully, you can isolate any conflicts as they occur and help ensure you'll have a solid setup when you're done. Click to
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 3) Son Of "EndItAll"EndItAll is a little freebie utility that lets you selectively shut down running apps and components--- including those that normally run "invisibly" or that otherwise may be hard to get at and control. Reader and frequent contributor Bronson Elliott was the first to sound the "heads up" about a new version:
Thanks, Bronson! Click to
email this item to a friend 4) "No Spare Stack Pages?"Reader Kim ran afoul of one of the old, old limitations that lurk in Windows' darker corners. Most times, these vestigial problems stay out of sight. But other times....
This is a problem that can affect Win95/8/ME, and it's due to the way that Windows internally allocates space needed by various device drivers. The full explanation--- and a fix--- can be found at: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q149/0/83.asp Click to
email this item to a friend 5) Microsoft Personal Security AdvisorUsing WinNT or Win2K? Reader Rob Yost reminded me of a site I hadn't mentioned in a long time:
Thanks, Rob! In fact, the site "will scan your system and build a customized report on items such as: missing security patches, weak passwords, Internet Explorer and Outlook Express security settings, and Office macro protection settings." Very nice! Click to
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 6) Free "MailWasher"Holly Scott writes:
Thanks, Holly. I'm just beginning to explore Mailwasher, but so far, I like what I see, too. Click to
email this item to a friend 7) Last Days To Enter September's FREE DrawingOn Sept 30, I'll choose another monthly winner of a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys... To have a shot at winning, just use the following link to recommend the LangaList to a friend. Your friend just may find a new source of useful information; I just may gain a new subscriber; and you just may win a $30 shopping spree! (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm The more times you make a recommendation, the greater your chances are of winning! Or, if you'd like to try to win $10,000(!), try this link (full details also
available here): Either way, thank you, and good luck! Click to
email this item to a friend 8) They Loaded The CodeDo you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join the hundreds and hundreds of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (If you've already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will appear here or on the Langa.Com web site, please see http://www.langa.com/link.txt ) Speaking of which: Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal: View A Randomly-Chosen
Reader Site Manually Browse All
Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At Exstream Media (streaming
3d avatar player) "DamnPuters" Health Products Free Surf USA Learn Spanish--- In Spain
or Peru Chicago Resources MorganaWeb John Hobbs US & Canada Shopping Links Tons and Tons of Excellent
Modem Info Click to
email this item to a friend 9) ZoneAlarm Problems
Thanks, Don. As ZoneAlarm has gotten more complicated, it's had more problems. Oddly, the people at ZoneLabs don't seem to be aware of many of these issues. I don't think it's a smoke screen: The people there I deal with seem genuine and concerned. But their tech-support problem-reporting tool is both hard to find on their site and hard to use, and so I think many people who run into trouble never tell ZoneLabs, leaving them in the dark. I asked the ZoneLabs people for a special "LangaLIst-only" mailbox so that readers who have had trouble with ZoneAlarm could more easily communicate with the company, but ZA declined, stating that, "I'm afraid we can't set up another support route as it wouldn't enter the support queue as quickly and that is ultimately, where the questions need to go. However, we are very interested to see the reports for more detail." I still think ZoneAlarm is an excellent tool overall; I run both the free and the Pro versions here in my office, and I still recommend it: For most people and most setups, it works fine. But it clearly can be made better: If you have trouble with ZA, I suggest you use the web-based problem reporting tool so ZA will know about the problem. To save you the hassle of trying to find the reporting tool on their site, here's the direct link: http://www4.zonelabs.com/cgi-bin/support/support_req.pl Click to
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 10) Just For GrinsDavid Burrows sends along this link to the "ultimate legal disclaimer;" an all-purpose document that can serve for any product or offering, anywhere. <g> In fact, it appears that the author simply collected every disclaimer he or she could find, and put them into one giant document. A small sample: For external use only. For off-road use only. For office use only. For recreational use only. Do not disturb. Freshest if eaten before date on carton. Hand wash only, tumble dry on low heat. If a rash, redness, irritation, or swelling develops, discontinue use. If condition persists, consult your physician. If defects are discovered, do not attempt to fix them yourself, but return to an authorized service center. If ingested, do not induce vomiting, if symptoms persist, consult a doctor. Keep away from open flames and avoid inhaling fumes. Keep away from sunlight, pets, and small children. Keep cool; process promptly. Limit one-per-family please. No alcohol, dogs or horses. No anchovies unless otherwise specified. No animals were harmed in the production of these documents. No money down...." To see the whole thing in all its silly glory, click: http://winn.com/bs/disclaimer.html Click to
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--------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 11) Extra Content Available In The Plus! Edition:
Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten Standard Edition items above, plus about 30% more content including: A reader's carefully-selected collection of outstanding, tightly-coded tools, utilities, and applications--- many so small they'll fit on a single floppy; a fast and easy fix for a whole class of "Unable to browse the network" LAN problems; a reader's hand-crafted meta-page packed with virus info; and a way to solve a nasty problem with "PPPoE" (Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet). Plus! Edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm Click to
email this item to a friend See you next issue!
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