 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group PC (President's Comments) George Skarbek gskarbek@melbpc.org.au |
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PC Update Online
Do you ever have to search through back issues of PC Update to find a certain article? I am sure many
do as I get the occasional request "George, I have been looking for an article that you wrote on xxx but I
can't find it. Can you e-mail it to me please?"
Well thanks to many hours work by Stan Johnstone, back issues are available online from http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/. There you can search these articles. All issues from
1997 up to the current issue should be available by the time you read this, and the work is continuing.
Bulletin Board (BBS) and Melb PC Newsgroups
The Melb PC Internet newsgroups that have been available only to Internet members can now be read by all via
the BBS. Currently this is read only and you cannot post articles from the BBS to the newsgroup, but it
provides a way for members without Melb PC Internet access to read the local discussions. Thanks to the BBS
team for making this possible.
For Melb PC members who have never used the BBS, this is a free service, provided as a part of your
membership. You cannot access the BBS by entering the BBS phone number (9699 6611) into your Windows dialler
- that will not work. The BBS is not a part of the Internet and uses a totally different protocol to
communicate. You access the BBS by using a DOS communications program such as Telix, or from Windows use
HyperTerminal. Be aware that your mouse will not work with the BBS as this is a character-based system.
If this is your first time on the BBS you will have to give your name and membership number and within a few
days you will be given full access rights - then you will be able to read the newsgroups. From the Main Menu
select M for Message areas and then A for Area change. Type in LOCN, press Enter - you will see a list of
available message areas and you will have a short menu to help you. Just type the first letter of the menu
item that you wish to pick. In most cases Ctrl+C will stop the current activity.
The BBS can also be used to find and download files such as the MPCISM kit (the Setup disk) that will
re-install all your Internet settings should you ever need to format your hard disk and re-install Windows.
It is also a good way to test your modem.
Windows 3.x and the Internet
Due to the much greater workload in setting up Internet for users who are still running Windows 3.1 and the
limited resources that we have, the Internet team has reluctantly decided that they cannot support Windows
3.x in the future. Consequently from next month we will be unable to assist new users with Windows 3.x who
wish to use the members' Internet service.
What Do You Want?
In this issue you will find a member survey. We ask for your comments and ideas on many issues and seek to
gather more statistical data about the Group. It is your chance to tell us what you really want, especially
with PC Update. This is your magazine and we will always strive to find authors to provide the types
of articles you would like to read.
If you are interested in a particular topic, then there is a high probability that many other members will
also be interested.
Membership Brochure
In order to be able to offer improved services to members, Melb PC must continue to grow. This month Ray
Beatty explains why you each have a copy of the new membership brochure.
Next Monthly Meeting
On 6 September at Parkville there will be presentations on alternate operating systems and uninterruptible
power supplies. As well Microsoft will be presenting Web design with FrontPage 2000. You will see our new
$12,000, 2000 ANSI Lumens data projector in action.
Again there is also Random Access (your chance to ask the experts), the usual giveaways and raffle with
several thousand dollars of prizes being raffled, shareware library sales and more.
Don't forget, if you sent in an entry for the USB Camera Competition (August PC Update), be at the
meeting on 6 September when it is drawn for the chance to win the bonus prize.
Reprinted from the September 2000 issue of PC Update, the
magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
