HALNet ADSL

Nationwide Dial-Up

Welcome to HAL-PC

HAL-PC is the world's largest PC user group - home to an award winning internet service, exciting technology presentations, Special Interest Groups, hands-on computer classes, award winning Magazine, Senior Learning Center Courses and more! We invite you to join the group and become one of thousands of computer users helping other computer users since 1982.

Digital Photo SIG virtual meeting

On Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00pm Eastern Time, the Central Florida Computer Society Digital Photo SIG will hold its monthly virtual meeting. This meeting is also an APCUG benefit and is open to its members groups and their members. The general public is also invited to attend to see what Computer User Group Special Interest Groups (SIG) are all about.

To register for the free on-line event, go to https://apcug.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/event.pl  and check the box next to "CFCS Digital Photo SIG" and click the Register button. You will receive your personal log-in via e-mail. Your confirmation e-mail also contains a link to prepare your system prior to the session. A small download will be required.

This month's meeting consists of two parts and this meeting will be aimed at beginners and intermediate users. Part 1 will be "RTFM: A Guide to reading your Point & Shoot Camera User Guide". Part 2 will be "How to Buy a Digital Camera," a short explanation of the 4 types of cameras and how to purchase the best type for you. This topic is based on a recent PC Mag article.

We look forward to you attending. If you have any issues joining the conference, contact hpoplock@apcug.org

Users helping Users

Norman Penick recommends...

FILEZILLA FTP CLIENT FOR HALNET HOMEPAGE USERS

Please add FileZilla FTP Client to you on-site recommendations.

It works like a dream, it’s free, and even a clunk like me can stumble his way thru connecting to hal-pc.org and using the defaults to create site profile so I can login again. In a word, it’s GOOD.

It’s been a long time since I’ve updated my web page and now I can update and share my new love (kayaks)!

Computer Security Series

UPDATED: The best way to avoid having to deal with a malware (AKA virus/ trojan/ rootkit/ spyware/ adware/ etc.) infected machine is to not get infected in the first place. While that is far easier said than done, Robert Spotswood details some things you can do to put the odds in your favor. Read more...

Free Flash Games

Robert Spotswood takes you on a journey back to an earlier time, a time so far back, even the graphics are pixelated. You are a small, but really tough, dinosaur...

Battle Bugs with Robert Spotswood in the next installment of free flash games...

Clear Lake Senior Center

HOLIDAY CLOSING

The Senior Learning Center will be closed on Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day.

UPCOMING CLASSES

WORD PROCESSING
May 15 – June 5 (Tuesday and Thursday)
10:00 – 12:00 (7 Sessions, 2 hours each)
Instructor:  George Roy

FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTO EDITING
May 15 – May 24 (Tuesday and Thursday)
1:00 – 3:00 (4 Sessions, 2 hours each)
Instructor:  Elizabeth Lunden

FILES AND FOLDERS
June 18 – June 27
1:00 – 5:00 (4 Sessions, 4 hours each)
Instructor:  Chris Read

ALBUMS AND SCRAPBOOKS
June 19 – June 28 (Tuesday and Thursday)
10:00 – 12:00 (4 Sessions, 2 hours each)
Instructor:  Margaret Maes

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY INTEREST GROUP
Due to suite remodeling in the Medical Office Building, meetings will be suspended until further notice.

CAMCORDER AND VIDEO INTEREST GROUP
Friday, May 25 at 10:00
Senior Learning Center
400 Medical Center Boulevard, Suite 210

Updates to HALNET: OpenDNS

As part of HALNET's continuing effort to improve our service to our subscribers, we are implementing a new anti-phishing and anti-malware service. This new service will help protect you from the criminals on the Internet. This new service works using your DNS, so there is nothing to install, nothing to configure. The service is automatic. Read more...

Can you spot a phishing site?

Take the following quiz to find out just how good you are before you have to find out for real. There are 14 questions/sites, and at the end you can see not only how good you did, but what you missed and why. http://www.opendns.com/phishing-quiz/

In the Magazine

E-Mail Attachments Incompatible with Your Computer? Mel Babb has some answers.

A. M. Schaer reviews add-ons to PaintShop Pro: Corel Creator and Corel KPT Collection. Harold G. Spangler has a solution if you accidentally delete a file.

A. M. Schaer reviews PaintShop Pro X3 and Corel Essentials. Robert Schwartz discusses AC POWER 101, What Happens When Power Fails and What You Can Do About It.

The Review Team uses SiSoftware's test suite to compare the Samsung 256GB Solid State Drive (Alice Hamilton), Hitachi 3TB Deskstar 7K3000 Hard Drive (James S. Morrison), Corsair SSD F180GB Force Series, (Alice Hamilton) and the Samsung Spinpoint HD204UI 2TB Hard Drive (James S. Morrison). Also reviewed is the AZIO USB 3.0 External Enclosure + PCI-e Card. (James S. Morrison)

Edward Hanson explains what "portable" programs are and how to setup a portable maintenance flash drive.

For the novice or intermediate creative person who wants a fail safe “kit” to edit and create, these two are it. The top-notch combo of Wacom’s BAMBOO tablet that uses a battery free pen and/or your fingers coupled with versatile graphic/photo editor, Adobe Elements 9.

Microsoft Office 2010 is quite a change from Microsoft Office 2003 and earlier versions and has many changes from Microsoft Office 2007. Mel Babb helps you adjust.

Request to Members Using the Auto Renew Option

A number of you have told us in the office that you no longer use your HAL-PC e-mail address. We are attempting to update account records with current e-mail addresses. Statements generated by our office system for auto renew charges, renewal notices, notifications of problems with the credit card we have on file, can be forwarded to the e-mail address you currently use. We can also send messages that will inform the membership of important changes which are about to occur at HAL-PC. If you would like to have your e-mail forwarded to an e-mail address other than the HAL-PC address on record, please send your current e-mail address to: registr@hal-pc.org

Volunteers Needed

HAL-PC volunteers must be current members. Please email webmaster@hal-pc.org or fill out the volunteer form. Thank you.

HALNet Users May Surf Faster

HAL-PC is currently testing a compressing proxy server which all HALNET members are now invited to try. It may result in substantially increased Web browsing speeds. Please read here for full details and to learn how to configure your system.

HAL-PC is an Amazon Affiliate

1. Use this search box
2. Buy from Amazon.com
3. HAL-PC gets cash!

Support HAL-PC with a
Tax Deductible Donation

HAL-PC would appreciate your consideration as you make charitable gifts throughout the year. Because your club is a nonprofit corporation under Sec.
501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, your contributions should be fully tax deductible if you itemize; check with your tax adviser. To make
your gift, please send a check to the business office or, to donate by credit card, call the office at 713.993.3300. Thanks!