December 14, 2000
Genealogy: Getting Started
Our Events Committe worked hard to provide us with an entertaining evening
on Genealogy. Several members spoke about their experiences using various genealogical computer programs. There was also a discussion of genealogical resources available on the Internet. We will post those resources here soon.
November 9, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM
Hasbro Interactive
Joining us again for the holiday season
was Gale Steiner, Vice President of Marketing Services for Hasbro Interactive. She presented "Hot Games for Holiday Gift Giving", and provided a sneek preview of Hasbro's new online games portal, www.Games.com.
Unfortunately, Brad Koltz from the Salem Evening News was unable to join us for his regular winter season visit. We will see if we can get Brad to visit us soon, to provide
his insight on the world of electronics and computers.
October 12, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM
NewDeal Software - A Microsoft Office Alternative!
For the second meeting of our Fall season, the North Shore Computer Society (NSCS) invited Frank Kovacs, User Group Relations for NewDeal Software of Somerville, MA., to demonstrate their affordable and highly effective alternative for Microsoft's Office Suite.
NewDeal has developed comprehensive Internet and Productivity application suites for small business, home and school use. Their software suites include word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphics, browser, e-mail and chat.
NewDeal software suites run on ANY PC, from a Pentium III to a 286. They provide an industry standard GUI interface with enhanced point-and-click features such as pinnable menus, drag-and-drop between all applications, and four user-selectable skill levels from beginner to expert in each application.
For more information you can check out the company's
Web site at www.newdealinc.com.
September 21, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM
Online Auction Help - Bidder's Edge!
To kick off our Fall season, Kimbo Munday, Co-Founder and VP of
Engineering of Bidders' Edge, discussed online auctions. Bidder's Edge, billed as
the world's #1 auction portal, is the first to provide tools
and services to bidders, giving them a competitive advantage in the online auction process.
Bidder's Edge has developed a proprietary technology
that enables users to access millions of items listed at leading person-to-person
and merchant online auction sites, while searching for the best deal. The site covers
over 150 of the leading online auction sites including, Yahoo and Amazon Auctions.
For more information you can check out the company's
Web site at www.biddersedge.com or their
e-zine at www.biddersedge.com/ezine/
which provides auction news, trends, and analysis.
August 10, 2000 - Thursday, 6:00PM
Sixth Annual Non-Meeting Meeting
The tradition continues at our new outdoor location! Come to our Sixth Annual,
Non-Meeting Meeting. No topic, no agenda, just a good time sitting around and
socializing with each other.
Bring a lawn chair, a friend or just yourself. Enjoy a summer evening with old and new
friends alike! Swap stories, ask questions, or just relax and unwind. But leave the
computers at home. You deserve a break. We all do!
Great refreshments are planned: cold cuts, pizza, hors d'oeuvres, giant subs,
ice cold soft drinks, light munchies and perhaps some very tasty home cooked goodies
(contributions are welcome - please call and tell us what you are bringing).
Let's hope for our usual warm, breezy and bug-free weather. But if it rains, we'll just
move indoors.
Our New Outdoor Location: at the Peabody Historical Society barn on Brooksby Farm at
the end of Felton Street in Peabody. For more details, call our toll free number -
888.955.NSCS (888.955.6727).
June 8, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM
Microsoft & The Brick Computer Company
With all the conversations about Microsoft in the air these past few months, we thought
a visit from the software giant was in order. John Stroiney, Channel Marketing Manager of Microsoft, started off the
meeting. This year, Microsoft has been making the rounds of user groups around the
country to talk about their Internet products.
We received some detailed explanations of services now
available through MSN (an ISP service), WebTV (which combines hardware
for couch-surfing and a special ISP account), and FrontPage 2000, the
Microsoft HTML tool sold to businesses and individuals alike.
He also pointed us to the company's
PR page,
which lists the software giant's main thrust for 2000 into the consumer
sector.
Also joining us was The Brick Computer Company,
manufacturer's of portable computers featuring magnesium alloy construction. CEO David Dion and
Sales Manager Michael Provoda discussed the capabilities, advantages and limitations of portable computers.
May 11, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM *
Software for Scholars by Nota Bene
Our presenter this month was a representative from Nota Bene
(www.notabene.com), developers of software
for scholars.
Its basic components
are a high-end word processor ("Nota Bene"), a state-of-the-art bibliographic
management system ("Ibidem"), a customizable structured database ("Ibid.Plus"),
and a freeform text retrieval system ("Orbis"). The deluxe version includes
"Lingua", a multilingual writing system for Hebrew, Greek, Cyrillic, and other
character sets. Integration of these components is totally seamless.
Nota Bene has enjoyed a fine reputation in the specialized academic community
since 1983, and receives occasional awards from general computing magazines as
well. The next major release of Nota Bene is immanent, so don't be surprised if
the North Shore Computer Society's May meeting becomes the unofficial unveiling.
* Editors Note - The presentation by Jim Vipperman of
BizTravel was cancelled at the last minute.
April 13, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM
10 Rules for Getting Big on the Internet
The Lycos Network
Ronald Sege of Lycos was the featured speaker . Lycos was one of
the first major search engines on the 'Net (www.lycos.com) and
has followed rivals such as Yahoo! with additional services such as free
email and personalized virtual newspapers. You may remember the name
from their well-done commercials with the catch-phrase "Go get it,
Lycos!".
Mr. Sege covered
"The 10 rules for getting big on the Internet, including a history
and overview of the Lycos Network, currently the largest Network on the
Internet." *
Ronald Sege joined Lycos as executive vice president in January 1999.
Sege is responsible for steering the development of the rapidly growing Lycos
Network to the next phase in its evolution as a leading Internet
destination. His specific responsibilities as executive vice president
cover the development, marketing, product management and operations of
all the properties in the Lycos Network.
* Editors note: Every portal company that has been in business
more than two years claims to be the largest, and each uses different criteria to
make this claim. Remember to always judge the merits of services by your
own experience.
March 9, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM
Technology and Your Community
Mass Community Network & North of Boston Library Exchange
Eliminating the Great Digital Divide
The Massachusetts Community Network (MCN) is the statewide data communications
service designed for public schools, public libraries, municipalities, and
state government. Established by the Massachusetts legislature in the Fall
of 1999, MCN provides high-speed (1.5Mbps) Internet access at low costs by
aggregating demand and negotiating lower prices for the public sector.
MCN will eliminate the Commonwealth's Digital Divide as all 351 communities are
offered high-speed service at the same rate. Additionally, MCN can be used
as an economic development tool to help attract high-tech business, as
once-thriving manufacturing areas will be transformed into burgeoning
cyber-communities.
MCN Project Director, Dave Wienecke, Arthur Giftakis, Senior Sales
Engineer for Digital Broadband and MCN consultant Don Orifice (does that name sound familiar?)
gave a lively presentation and discussion. You can find more details at
www.masscommunity.net/.
Your Library in 2000
Ron Gagnon, Executive Director of the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) shared with
us how today's technology impacts your local library. NOBLE began 20 years ago with
only 5 libraries. Now more than 30 libraries are linked to the system, which
facilitates the exchange of over 3,000,000 items between member libraries, including
videos, books, CDs, tapes, and other media.
NOBLE allows one to search library indexes from home as well as at
the member libraries. The site offers other resources such as a
children's section which includes homework help, and access to the
EBSCO database of magazines and periodicals for library card holders.
If you missed the meeting, be sure to check them out at
www.noblenet.org/.
February 10, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM
Financial Management on the Web
Keeping a Mouse on Your Finances in the 00's
Vincent N. Zaccardi and Mike Hays of Merrill Lynch and James F. Christopher of
American Express were the featured speakers at February's main meeting. Our
guests enlightened us about the rapidly evolving financial management services
that are available through the Web.
January 13, 2000 - Thursday, 7:00PM
Medical Resources on the Net
One of the fast-growing arenas on the web is medical information. It is
also one of the most controversial areas to those seeking answers to
important questions. Opinions abound online about illnesses and medical
conditions, both common and rare.
To help guide us safely through the virtual mine field of who knows what
regarding health issues, Dr. Robert Langston,
physician and computer enthusiast, outlined for us a
roadmap
as to where to go and how to
check credentials of your health care provider. He also helped point the way towards
finding details on medical reports and research and conducted sample searches to locate
focused advice on our medical concerns.
,
or back to our
Home Page, or check out the
Educational Workshop Schedule.