Magazine - July  2000

• Baton Bleu - by Cliff Millward, Editor
• A message from your President - by Dave Otterstrom
• Special Reprint - Any Interest in Starting an iMac SIG? - By Hilton Kaufman
• Review - EasiDock® USB 200:
• Special Reprint - WHY I DID IT - By Matthew Skala
• Save A Penny
• Meeting Memoranda
• Review - Keyspan 4-PORT USB Hub:
• Review - TotalFax: The Complete Faxing Solution
• Review Software
• Law++:  - by John Ogilvie

By Cliff Millward, Editor cliffm@xmission.com
 
 

Microsoft Solutions

I found the following on the Internet and feel it worthy of publishing.
 

Open letter to Judge Jackson:

1. Microsoft should publicly publish the file formats of their Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, IE version of html, and the Access database format). Even though Microsoft will effectively control the file formats, it will allow other software vendors to create products that are compatible with Microsoft Office applications. It also allows Microsoft to maintain their Office software code base as proprietary and allow further development and sales of Office products.

Word: There are plenty of good (but not Word compatible) word processors on the market. The playing field is not level because Microsoft changes their file formats every release. Using their enhance and extend practice they are simply keeping the competition scrambling to reverse engineer their format. If this format was open and publicly published, the public would have a choice of many word processors. All the documents would be compatible and read/writable. This would in effect create a standard word-processing format that could be applied universally. If another word processor software is not as good as Word then the public will choose Micro-soft Word. The public will not be forced to use the latest version in order to conduct business. The public will have a choice of word processors, as they become available.

Excel: Excel is used for a number of different purposes. The 2 main uses of Excel are bookkeeping and list making. Bookkeeping is keeping track of financial matters (typical spreadsheet type of work). List making (which is the majority of use) is keeping and sorting various lists of information. Schedules, recipes, inventory, charts and graphs are a few examples. Again, if the format were published, then other applications would be able to read and write Excel files. This would create a standard spreadsheet format. The same arguments apply for PowerPoint, Inter-net Explorer’s version of HTML, and Access.

2. Publish the Windows API (Application Programmer Interface). This will allow competition and open alternative markets like shell replacements, GUI Graphical User Interface, and Utility Suites. There are products like LiteStep, Stardock, and Norton Utilities that can supplement and in some cases even replace the standard Windows tools. This will not allow Microsoft to maintain their software code base as proprietary. This interaction between the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the operating system (enhanced DOS) is at the heart of the monopoly.

3. Make Widows (the operating system) modular. Each application can function independently of other applications. Instruct Microsoft to remove the code that forces Internet Explorer (IE) to be installed with Windows. Internet Explorer is an HTML browser designed to display HTML formatted files. Internet Explorer (originally from Mosaic) has been embraced, enhanced, and extended to the point of subverting the Windows operating system. In addition to removing Internet Ex-plorer, Microsoft Office (the Windows version) should operate independent of Windows. Office applications do not need to be intertwined into Windows in order to provide functionality.
 Example A: Why do you have to install IE in order to run VB 6? Using the Internet Explorer engine to power Explorer is fine, just don’t force me.
 Example B: When I install the PWS (Peer Web Services) to display web pages and asp pages, why do I have to install Transaction Server?
 Example C: Office can run on a Macintosh without the Windows API. Why can’t Office run independent of Windows? Microsoft has been convicted of being a monopoly. A break up of the company into little monopolies is not the answer. That solution will further damage the public. Microsoft should publish all file formats, Windows API, and remove Internet Explorer from the base operating system. Only by instituting these (or stronger) measures will the public experience relief from Microsoft. These measures are necessary sanctions to break up the monopolistic hold Microsoft has on the software public.

Authors background: Andy Wergedal is a contract programmer in the Sacramento, CA area. Reads 20 websites daily, post regularly on slashdot, and maintains 8 different domains. He usually carries 3 or 4 programming contracts at the same time. (You drive around with 5 tires don’t you?)
Finé

In keeping with the long held tradition of the Utah Computer Society, I always try to bring to you, the members of the Blue Chips, the latest, best and most accurate information possible.
Now that I’ve started my article in the proper manner, I can get on with the things I want to tell you.

 First, we at Blue Chips are starting a new tradition — an annual Digital Camera Conclave! Digital cameras are becoming so much a part of computing, we felt that we must devote at least one meeting a year to explore them. Don’t miss this month’s meeting!

Back to me; I’ve been looking into free Internet providers. That’s right, FREE. I’ve heard of them in the past. Matter of fact when I first used the Internet I got on with ATT’s free service.
Back then if you used ATT for your long distance, or had a cell phone from ATT, you could get five hours free on the Internet a month.

For the next few articles I’m going to try to tell you about one or more of these FREE Internet providers. I’m going to log on, set up, and use an account with a different Internet provider every month. I will answer the questions they ask about my interests, the amount of people in my family, how much I earn, and my age the same, every time. That way I should be treated the same way every time. This month I tried Blue Light.com.

At the time of this article, I still haven’t been able to get registered with Blue Light. It loads, I answer all the questions, it makes the call to the site, and when after it’s online, it tries to register me with the server. That’s when things go to pot. The window that says it’s going to register you has a second counter. After the counter got to 1705 seconds, I clicked on the cancel button. It went on counting to 2000 before I got frustrated and hit cntraltdel and canceled the operation. I went to Blue Light with my other connection and got to check out Kmart’s latest deals.

Aside from being given away for free, at Kmart, Blue Light is part of www.spinway.com free ISP service. A little research tells me Spinway is providing the software (and perhaps the advertising), for several different FREE ISP’s. Try www.collegeclub.com, www.nettaxi.com, and www.webland.org , I’m lead to believe www.alladvantage.com actually pays you to be on the net.

If any members know of any free ISP’s would you write the address down and give it to me at the next meeting. I’ve gone to some of the sites like netzero, and excite.com and have had some interesting experiences.

IE 5.x has an interesting feature next to the back button. There’s a little down arrow on the right side of the button. When you click on the button, it drops a window with the list of your last few sites you’ve visited. If you get stuck on a site like netzero, and every time you click the back button, it redirects back to netzero, you click that down arrow and click on the site you want to go to in the list. I’ve used this trick several times and It’s always worked. Sometimes I have to drop to the taskbar and see how many sites are open. Then I right click on the ones I don’t want and close them.

I want to take a paragraph and thank all the members who came to the swap meet. All the sellers didn’t show up, and we didn’t have a lot of attendance, but I think I had more members at this meet than ever before. This time Mike Crawford can’t look at me and say “Where are the people?” The swap meet wasn’t a total loss. According to Mike, he sold enough to make the day worthwhile. Thank You.

Here’s some web sites to check out.

www.imbd.com

www.freeshop.com

PS— look for fprot on the download sites. It’s good antivirus protection for free. That’s all for now. Gotta get the pool running.

Dave

 Special Reprint

Any Interest in Starting an iMac SIG?

Having bought an iMac for a home computer, I am learning what things are different from the PCs at work, which use a Windows-based operating system. The software and the keyboard are somewhat different. Other differences go deeper than that. Many Mac users seem to regard themselves as being out of the ordinary mainstream of computing and have their own user groups. Many are graphic artists. Unique products tend to relate to this grouping. Significant advertising about external high-capacity drives, which are needed for the graphic files that do not fit ordinary 3½ inch diskettes, appear in publications aimed at Mac users. Much of the standard business software that is used on Macs is either cross-platform or is written specially, but looks similar to Windows versions; although Microsoft often puts out the Mac version first. When written separately, each version will make use of the special features of the operating system. For example, right-clicking of a mouse works in Windows but not in Mac OS. Hold ing the Control (not CTRL) key down, while clicking, is done instead. As an iMac owner, I am not seeking to develop high-end graphics. I just want a convenient machine for email, Internet searches, and some fancy word processing. I might play with some clip art for a newsletter or some presentation software if I am doing a show or lecture for someone. Most iMacs are probably purchased as consumer, rather than professional, machines. The iMac and its owners could easily become the orphans of the computer community. Because of its inability to run many programs designed for Windows without special translation software, the iMac is not really in the mainstream of PC usage. Because many of its users are not graphic artists, they are not typical of other Mac users. Yet quite a few iMacs are being sold. In my humble opinion, probably the best place to discuss the problems and special concerns of iMac owners is a SIG in a general computer users group. This might not be the place for a graphic artist who has an iMac as one of the machines in a design studio. It would be suitable for the home user who is likely to be concerned with general computer issues, such as email and Internet browsing. An iMac user does have some special concerns. File compatibility with other computers is a big issue. The question of file storage is another problem, since the iMac does not have a built-in disk drive, although it does have a CD drive to load software. Since software for Macs is not so readily available as that for Windows, sources for software are also of interest to iMac owners. While the iMac is regarded as different, many have been sold. A market for programs which can run on a Mac is growing. A suburban store which specializes in software for computer games now has a good-sized Mac section. Yet if I want a copy of WordPerfect for my iMac, I will probably have to buy it by mail order. I have some special concerns as an iMac owner, but I guess I can deal with them. ~ Hilton Kaufman works with advanced features of WordPerfect to link documents on a State agency’s LAN for common availability. He has an iMac at home for recreational use. He will accept questions about his iMac experience by email at: hilton_kaufman@excite.com.

EasiDock® USB 200:

The Ferrari of USB Hubs - For Mobile Solutions, Go Universal

Reviewed by Don Nendell
Manufacturer:
Mobility Electronics, Inc.
7955 East Redfield Road
Scottsdale, Arizona, 85260
Telephone: (480) 596-0061
Facsimile: (480) 596-0349
E-mail: mobility@mobl.com
Technical Support
Telephone: (800) 474-7593
Customer Service
Telephone: (800) 588-4593
Email: Presales@mobl.com
Suggested retail: $149.95
System Requirements:
Windows 98, 98SE,
Millennium, or 2000
(Note: This product is designed especially
for Laptop/Notebook computers USB Port.)

 For openers, “There are USB hubs, and then there is a true family of Universal Docking Stations, ‘The USB Hubs.’” For the uninitiated, USB is another of those computer acronyms that stands for Universal Serial Bus, the newest, latest, greatest, “Just Gotta Have” computer “Stuff.” All the new notebooks and desktop computers are shipping with USB ports to support this new technology. Over the next few years, USB is expected to replace legacy ports such as 9 pin serial ports and 25 pin parallel ports. So get ready. That means you old timers will have to go down to CompUSA, like I did, and buy an internal PCI card that adds 2 USB Ports to your PC, that is, if you want to con nect easy to use USB peripherals and/or the EasiDock® USB 200.

INTRODUCTION TO EasiDock® USB 200
 From the leading manufacturer of docking solutions, Mobility Electronics, Inc., we have ourselves one beautifully designed USB masterpiece. The EasiDock® USB 200, which looks like a space age bobsled, is the first in a series (EasiDock® USB 1000, EasiDock® USB 2000, EasiDock® USB 3000 and EasiDock® USB 5000) of true Universal USB “Docks” which allow you to instantly connect USB devices and legacy peripherals. This ingenious capability enables you to configure a portable and desk top computer system that meets your individual requirements, specifications and preferences without having to reach over to the back of the computer, through that maze of wires each time   you get the ugly picture. Think of it, Flexibility, Universality, Speed and Ease of use all in one hub. This adds a whole new range of options without adding a single IRQ squabble to the mix. Dah! It just dawned on me that USB is an advanced technology very similar to, better than, as expensive as and as misunderstood as SCSI technology. I would describe the difference as basically USB is an unlimited “hub” technology whereas SCSI is a semi limited “daisy chain” technology. However, with both you have great technologies where you can have your cake and eat it too!

The Technology
 Mobility’s flagship universal dock ing stations are based on its proprietary, patented Serialized PCI Serial Bus Split Bridge™ technology (Split Bridge) which is 100 times faster than USB. Split Bridge allows Mobility to move the PCI bus of any computing device to a smaller (than standard Docking station) remote device (up to 15' away) without performance degradation or any unique software. As a result, the remote location (docking station, for example) performs (over a high speed cable) as if it is physically mated to the computer. This revolutionary technology, the heart of EasiDock® USB 200, won PC Week’s “Best of COMDEX” Award for “Best New Technology” at COM DEX/ Fall 99.

The Technology Benefits
 As with all their EasiDock’s (call now for their free Product catalog 2000), the integrated EasiDock®/ EASIPOWER USB 200 Hub (for Notebook Computers) complies with USB 1.1 specifications and is compat ible to USB peripherals such as: In put Devices, Digital Cameras, Audio Speakers, Graphs Tablets, CD ROM, CDRW Drive, Zip Drive, Joystick, Scanners, PS/2 Mouse (but not a se rial mouse), full size Keyboard, LAN (available in EasiDock® USB 200E only), a Laser Printer, and many more of the 127, or so, USB products now on the market. And, because it’s Plug n  Play, e.g., with NO complex installation or IRQ’s to fiddle with, you can connect some, all (up to five total), or just one peripheral to the EasiDock® USB 200, without the hassle of turning off your notebook. (Or, “shame on you,” your desktop PC Computer, if you should ever sacrilegiously decide to use the beauteous 200 with such. Even the box it comes in is too pretty for just any common desktop PC think first class with Laptops.)

In a Nutshell:
 What’s the difference between EasiDock® USB 200 and EasiDock® USB 200E?  EasiDock® USB 200 comes in two flavors: EasiDock® USB 200 and EasiDock® USB 200E. While both models are: All in One   USB Hub and Dock; Universal   will work with any computer with USB support running Windows 98 (or higher); Instant Access to Multiple Peripherals Easy Setup   Plug n Play; and, each has 5 USB Ports, 1 Serial Port, 1 Printer Port and 2 PS/2 Ports available to your (Notebook) PC; unfortunately only EasiDock® USB 200E has the capability to connect to a LAN.
 Suffice to say, I looked all over COMDEX/Fall 99 and NETWORLD + INTEROP 2000 for a USB hub that could replace my Ethernet Hub (which runs my small SOHO net worked system), and couldn’t find a single one   not even at either of the mighty BELKIN booths. I’m not al together sure, but the EasiDock® USB 200E just might be what I have been looking for. I’ll check it out fur ther and let you all know if it is. It certainly will be the “first” of its kind, if it even is such   but for that neat LAN capability you will have shell out 50 bucks more. That reminds me kind of like the older guy “draining” the Service Stations’ storage tanks into his humongous motor home gas tanks who shared with me the other day, “If you’re worried about the price of gas, you shouldn’t be driving one of these?” There’s a moral in there somewhere: Humongous motor homes, Ferraris and EasiDock® USB’s? Said, maybe, “1st Class?”

Installation:
 The directions are simple, straight forward and accurate (had to be, I still haven’t changed yet!). The 32 page manual that comes with the EasiDock® USB 200 consists of with a grand total of nine pages in English, three blank pages, with the rest divided into equal parts of (alphabetically) French, German, Italian and Spanish instructions. I didn’t get the Printer to work initially because I didn’t have the right IEEE 1284 com pliant (bi directional printer interface) cable like the manual said I should have had. I haven’t checked recently but, do they have USB Printers yet? The rest of the component installations worked like a Champ “purring” around the Monte Carlo 24 hour Rally.

Product Highlights
 Here’s what you get: Compatible with Windows® 98/98SE and 2000 … Supports current and future operating systems with USB; Hot Dock ing & Hot Undocking … No need to turn your computer on or off when adding or removing up to five USB peripherals; Easy Installation … Hassle free installation, plug in the unit and follow the instructions on the screen; Compact Space Saving Design … Professional Industrial Design to fit in any environment; Compatible with Notebook & Desktop PCs … Designed for use with a notebook or desktop computers; For Office & Home Use … Perfect for Home or Office use; Eliminates Cable Hassles … No need to spend 10 minutes connecting individual cables; Per Port Switch ing … Protection against failure, should one USB port malfunction all others will operate as usual; Use as Hub and/or Dock … Product can be used as a simple USB hub or as a full featured Port Replicator; Agency Certifications ... CE, CSA, C Tick, FCC Class B, UL & cUL, and VCCI & T Mark; and, 1 Year Limited Warranty … Designed and Engineered in the USA.
 This baby is class with a capital “K.” Even though the EasiDock® USB 200 is slightly larger than other USB hubs I’ve seen, this “beauty” found a home right beside Donna’s Laptop (you know, the one I use for demonstrations on my out of town trips?) I’ll have to share it with her for her Paint Shop Pro (graphics) SIG classes and digital photography naturally, but I can live with that. Remember. I’m headed for the EasiDock® USB 200E? Varooom! Varooom!
 
 

SPECIAL REPRINT

    Many of my friends were surprised when Mattel, Inc., and their subsidiary Microsystems Software, sued me and a Swedish colleague for alleged copyright infringement. I have a reputation for helping computer beginners and setting a high ethical standard. Why would I help “break” a piece of software designed to protect children from dangerous ideas? In this article I’ll try to answer that question.
    My local user group, BB&C, actually deserves a good measure of credit or blame for my activities. I joined when was 10 years old, and immediately started using the club’s bulletin board system (BBS). On the BBS, nobody had to know that “Matthew Skala” was 10 years old unless I chose to tell them. Prejudiced people who would never dream of conducting a serious discussion face to face with someone my age were perfectly willing to give me all the respect my ideas could command, in the electronic realm.
    There aren’t many other places where our society treats children as fully human. About the only other public place I could count on a little respect was the public library. Naturally, I grew up with a lot of respect for the written word. Over 13 years of writing messages on a daily basis on the BB&C BBS, and Usenet when it became available, I’ve had a lot of practice in expressing my ideas in words. My experience on the BBS may have something to do with the high grades I’ve always gotten in English, and the recognition I’ve received for my writing in various places.
    I think I’m a better person for having been able to use computer networks as a child without any restrictions. Anyone who tried to tell me I couldn’t have full access because of my age would have been doing me a grave disservice. If I’d been limited to a “suitable for children” subset of the online universe, it would have been worthless to me.
    So whenever someone suggests that we ought to limit what children can see on the Net, my fingers itch, and I reach for my keyboard. Many of my peers in the computing community had similar childhood experiences to mine. There are a lot of people who believe that it’s a good thing for children to have unrestricted access to the Net.
    But one of the bad things about allowing the general public onto the Net is that the general public includes some people you really wouldn’t want to meet. I’m especially unhappy about the fact that we ever allowed advertisers onto the Internet, but other people have been making noises about pornography and hate literature. Everyone agrees that there are things on the Net that they don’t like.
    That’s where “parental control” or “censorware” packages like Cyber Patrol come in. These packages are based on lists of forbidden Web sites; if you try to visit a Web site that’s on the list, you’re prevented from doing so. These systems promise to technologically solve the human problem of undesirable material on the Net.
    This kind of claim seems to be based on the idea that ideas are things with a life of their own that can harm people’s mental health in the same way that a biological virus could harm people’s physical health. That seems to be the basis for “protecting” children from the Internet. It’s obvious that the computer isn’t about to explode and kill your kid  but could something more insidious happen?
    I’d take the biological analogy one step further. If you want to protect someone from infection, do you do it by keeping them in a sterile plastic bubble? People raised in such environments fail to develop normal immune systems. Someone in quarantine like that often dies from an infection that a normal person would have resisted. Children grow up eventually. Do you want them to grow up with functioning immune systems?
    In just the same way, I believe that “protecting” children from “harmful” ideas hurts them. Much better to let them develop the critical thinking skills, the mental immune system, that can only derive from exposure to the complete range of human thought.
    For people who disagree with my view, it may seem attractive to buy a computer program that will relieve parents from the irksome necessity of paying attention to their children. 1 suppose people have a right to disagree with me, and parents even have a right to use this software. But I believe I have the natural right to look critically at any idea that comes my way. I have the right to take things apart and see how they work.
    It’s especially interesting to take apart censorware packages. Censorware packages are a good challenge; they’re usually designed to resist analysis because the manufacturers consider their lists of “harmful” Web sites to be valuable secrets.There are documented cases of censorware companies copying each others’ blocking lists without permission, or hiding political agendas in their software. Anyone who wants to have an informed debate on the topic of censorware will benefit from knowing exactly what the software blocks. There is also a consumer protection angle: parents who might buy censorware have a right to know what they’re getting.
    Maybe it’s okay for private individuals to buy censorware without knowing what they’re getting. But these packages are marketed aggressively to schools and libraries. With censorware in a school or library, the software publisher is setting policy for a public institution. Because the blocking list is secret, the teacher or librarian can’t even find out what policy is being enforced.
    The first censorware break I remember was brought to public attention by Bennett Haselton, of Peacefire. He published a way to break the embarrassingly weak encryption used by CYBERsitter. Its list of forbidden” pornographic” sites included wwwnow.org, the National Organization of Women. CYBERsitter retaliated for Haselton’s criticism by adding his organization to its block list. In fact, a later version of CYBERsitter would actually scan the user’s browser history, and refuse to install (with a mysterious error message) if the user had recently visited the Peacefire Web site.
    Last year I encountered an article called The Reversal of NetNanny, written by a programmer in Sweden named Eddy Jansson. The NetNanny essay took a tutorial approach, giving details of the steps involved in analyzing the software. Eddy’s NetNanny essay drew a lot of favorable comment from people who teach computer programming; reverse engineering is an important skill for computer programmers. There’s even a reverse engineering research group at the University I attend.
    In late January of 2000, Eddy Jansson invited me to help with his project of reverse engineering Cyber Patrol. We worked together on Cyber Patrol for about six weeks, eventually finding holes in virtually all of its security features. We also found some questionable entries on the block list. We posted an essay on the Web called The Breaking of Cyber Patrol(R) 4, and the rest is history. For the complete story, please check out http:// www.islandnet.com/—~mskala/ cpbfaq.html

Matthew Skala is a graduate student in Computer Science at the University of Victoria, Victoria BC Canada. He is the winner of a prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada scholarship. He is also the Systems Director of Big Blue and Cousins and the Secretary of the Victoria Linux Users Group.
 
 

Mobility Electronics are offering all their EASIDOCK and EASIPOWER* products at a reduced rate to Blue Chip Members. Simply go to: mobilityelectronics.com and enter “utahug” in the preferred customer code section of the order screen and receive an immediate 20% discount on all Mobility Products. (Offer good through December 31, 2000)

Gene, Gene, built a machine . . .

 NO, NO! That’s an old doggerel poem that no one wants to hear again, but our own Gene Barlow always dishes out a superb program! Gene was here to inform us about the intricacies of Linux, and this he did with great dexterity.

 Dave Otterstrom called the meeting to order, then George Lewis reported on the SIGs. Blue Chips is exploring the possibility or starting an OS SIG. Please contact George if you are interested.

 Don Nendell portificated about the Double your Pleasure items and received many new takers.

 Gene Barlow was then introduced and started the presentation of Caldera’s Linux Desktop 2.4.

 He gave a short history of Linux and how in 1990 Linus Torvalds (the inventor) started writing the code. Linus solicited help from many friends, each writing a part, and Linus was born. Linux has open source code and architecture, but he kernel is tightly controlled by Linus thus making the core of each flavor of Linux the same.

 Some of the great features or Linux are good security, a customizable operating system, excellent performance, great stability and low cost. From 1997 to 1999 growth was from 2% to 13%. Today the market share is 17%. It is rapidly becoming an excellent alternative to Windows.

 There are 8 major “flavors” of Linux: Caldera, Corel, Mandrake, Red Hat (largest), Debian SuSe, Turbo and Slackware. They all have the same kernel but differ in the programs and support they offer. The May 2000 edition of Laptop Magazine has a good article on the different versions of Linux.

 Caldera has two packages of Linux. One for servers/business and one for desktops. Caldera has focused on ease of use. They always: 1. Select best Linux modules, 2. Write “missing” pieces, 3. Include 3 rd party packages, 4. Thoroughly test the product, 5. Provide professional packaging.

 Some of the additional programs that come with Caldera Linux are: Star Office, a light version of Partition Magic, KDE (a GUI interface) and Gnome (another GUI interface).

 The meeting concluded with the drawings and many smiling faces as they tucked their winnings under their arms and rushed home to install them.
 
 

Keyspan 4-PORT USB Hub:

Connect More USB Devices to Your PC

Manufacturer:
Keyspan, A Division of InnoSys, Inc.
3095 Richmond Parkway, #207
Richmond, CA USA 94806
Web Site: www.keyspan.com
Phone: (info/sales)*: 510.222.0131
Email (Info)*: info@keyspan.com
Email (sales)*: sales@keyspan.com
Phone: (support)*: 510.222.8802
Email (support)*: support@keyspan.com
Fax: 510.222.0323
Suggested Retail: $39.00
System Requirements:
PC Computer (or Mac) with USB Port
Windows 98 (or Mac OS 8.1

When you first get started with this new USB tidal wave phenomenon, it is very easy to be thankful for those strange little square holes (they really are ports) in the back of the computer that you thought you’d never use? Wrong! Turns out, you run out of those little, outoftheway, spaces really quickly as you upgrade to today’s latest, and greatest, computer devices someone is forever tempting you to buy. For the fortunate few, the newer computers have a couple of those USB ports on their front panel, as well. And, that’s really good  two USB ports on the front and two on the back. But, what about all, and I mean all, those older computers dating back to early Pentium, and even prePentium days? Some computers don’t even have those ports, and then too, what about falling prey to those weekly sales and buying even more of those great gadgets with those funny little, square plugs? Like, I needed the push? That’s how I was reintroduced into this latest phase of my monetary death spiral of, “Going broke, saving money?”

The questions therefore, all to quickly I might add, become, “Once you get them, how are you going to get to use all those fabulous new USB playthings, like the Jones’?” And, “What do you do when you have in deed quickly run out of places to plug them into amongst that crazy maze of cables and wires behind the computer?” Drats! Not to despair, a company like Keyspan is here with the solution!

Since this review is not a head to head comparison, I really did need to solve the messy cable(s) problem alluded to above, and I do have other computers with the identical problem to solve. It seems, I ran out of money, and USB outlets on the Ferrari at the same time real fast, and had to add another hub just to take care of all those other  let’s see, five from 127 USB devices available at last count (including the new 25 GB Portable USB Hard Drive) leaves . . . yes, 122 more to check out. The versatility, multiproduct adaptability and $39 cost of the Keyspan 4PORT HUB made it really easy, to coin a phrase, a nobrainer really, to decide which USB 4port hub to buy next. Turns out Keyspan makes a whole bunch of connecting/adapting devices I ultimately will need during my USB checkout/expansion extravaganza to go along with their 4PORT HUB. One of them is a USB PDA Adapter (for $39) for my Palm III organizer (It also works with Windows CE PDA’s, Sharp Wizards, et al. which I don’t have yet) that’s taking up my only serial port, and then that USB Parallel Printer Adapter (for $39), you may recall I was asking about in the other review? They also make a High Speed USB Serial Adapter (for $59), a Digital Media Remote (for PowerPoint, DVD, CD and MP3 Software Players) (for $79), but, I’m getting ahead of myself.

My office floor, walls and desk look like the mess that’s left after a food fight with spaghetti at a Summer Camp for wayward, disadvantaged youth after being left on their own in the mess hall for the first time. Then again, it just might also be those two, no three male granddaddy long legs spiders scrapping down there over who’s gonna get that female granddaddy longlegs spider, or is that two of them? Confidentially, my office is so cluttered up with wires, cables, countless power adaptors, three series connected surge strips, extension cords galore, switching boxes, computers, computer monitors, computer spare parts, backups to the backup and Lord knows what else, that I just may have to move outside. I mistakenly thought I would have lots more room for my stuff after taking my twenty five years of accumulated softball research materials outsi i i i i . . . . Oops, the power just dimmed as I plugged in the Keyspan power adapter. Since it’s only six volts and 2100 milliamps, I guess I better disconnect something to take the strain off that circuit breaker on my power inline. Idea! This just might also explain all those power surges that Utah Power and Light swears up and down is not their fault, not coincidently, I might add, at the same time they are replacing the transformer hit by lightning down on the corner power pole. Like a Sgt. Schultz, “I know nothhhh...ing!”

Here’s what I found out about them. Keyspan (whose main office is located in Richmond, CA  about 30 minutes east from San Francisco): 1) Is a division of InnoSys Inc., a manufacturer of data communications hardware and software which celebrated its 25year anniversary in 1998. InnoSys is a leading provider of data communications products to the airline industry. Keyspan was established in late 1995 to market connectivity solutions outside of InnoSys’ traditional vertical market; 2) Advertises their products provide “Connections for Your Computer.” [Their first products provided serial ports for connecting to traditional computer peripherals like modems, printers and tablets. Over time Keyspan expanded its horizons, connecting the Macintosh and PC to other items found in the home, school and office]; and, 3) Introduced the first PCI serial cards for Mac OS, the first PCI T1 card for Mac OS, the first USB Card for Mac OS, the first PCI IR card for Windows 98 and Mac OS, the first USB serial adapter for Mac OS, and the first USB PDA Adapter for Windows 98 and Mac OS. All of these products are market leaders with everybody else playing catch up to them.

Makes good sense to me. Their low prices, extensive experience and large selection of specialized quality product lines spoke eloquently to me. Of course, I got the Graphite model, tada!
 

Need more USB ports for your Windows 98 PC?

Vidi, Vidi, Vici with ever faithful Keyspan by my right side. Such a Country! What a fun time to be alive. Truthfully, I didn’t even know all these fun things to play within and/ or on our computers nowadays existed as little as eight months ago. Now, I realize that USB is the wave of the future replacing SCSI to a large degree. I’ve just got to pay greater attention to those wonderful USB Pavilions when I again visit places like COMDEX/Fall, et al. Thanks Keyspan, you’ve shown me the way with your great product line. Keep up the great work!
 

Conclusion

TotalFax: The Complete Faxing Solution

Manufacturer:
Intelliquis International Inc.
352 West 12300 South
Draper, UT 84020
Phone: 801-990-2600
Contact: Waylon Prince
Web Site: www.intelliquis.com
OTC BB: INTQ.OB
Retail Pricer $79

System requirements:
Windows 95/98/NT
CD-ROM Drive
8 MB RAM (16 Recommended)
25 MB Hard Disk Space
Fax Modem (28.8 or higher)

 What is TotalFax? It’s a simple and easy-to-use fax broadcast program that enables users to send, receive and manage faxes from their PC’s. It’s most notable features are: 1. The ability to send and receive unlimited faxes to an unlimited number of recipients, 2. Drag-and-drop faxing, 3. Custom cover-page design, and 4. Priority scheduling for fax recipients, among others. Just as advertised, it’s so easy to use, I should have had my wife set this up. The only difficulty she might have had, would have been installing the Fax driver, and even that was spelled out in the user’s manual.

Two questions though: I don’t understand the part about requiring the CDROM? Two 3.5 inch floppies are what came in the shrink wrapped box  maybe they intend on changing to CDROM in the future? Also, the highest speed you can set your fax for is 14.4  see requirements above?

I’ve been using a computer for only five years and had never been able to set up the fax applet that comes with Windows 95/98. The instructions in TotalFax, however keep it really simple, and don’t require you to do any extra configurations with your operating system.

Whether you are a casual home user, or a demanding business person, you’ll find TotalFax has all the features you need, and then some. If you have a business and use your Fax machine to send out faxes on a schedule, for example, you’ll really love the “features” of TotalFax  which by the way, is in front of you on your PC, not at that Fax machine, somewhere, “way out there” in the office. I particularly liked:

Scheduled Faxing and Broadcasting. You can manage all your important contacts with the contact management features built into the program. For example: You can set up a list of as many contacts as you want and schedule your faxes to be sent after hours (saving on long distance charges  See also 3. Advanced Faxing Features below) and the fax will be waiting for them in the morning.

Import your database. You can import contact information from existing databases such as: dBase, Clipper, and FoxPro (or, an exported comma-delimited text file, i.e.,  Outlook 98/2000) into your phone book.

32bit Software. You’ll be able to continue working on your other projects as TotalFax works in the background.

Professional Looking Fax. As the fax is sent directly from the application that created it, your faxes will be clean, crisp and sharp looking.

Full Modem Control. Full modem control gives you the ability to share modem resources between applications, freeing your modem to accomplish more tasks. This means, no more trying to dial out while your modem is already in use. TotalFax keeps track of your modem and gives you a graphical display of your modem status. You can even receive and send faxes at any time with TotalFax’s automatic and manual reception features.

Contact and fax log management. I saved my favorite feature for last. Complete fax log that lets you track ALL incoming and outgoing faxes, as well as errors on incoming and outgoing faxes, and all fax recipients (Tracks all your fax activity, including date, time and recipient information as well as logging all outgoing and incoming faxes for easy organization and retrieval). No more hoping the fax got sent! No more wondering if you’ll get a confirmation sheet! Everything is listed under its own separate tab. Received faxes can be viewed and printed (or discarded). The faxes on your error log can be resent or requested again if the error occurs during receiving them. And, you can manage all your important contacts within TotalFax with its searchable contact feature.

But, there’s more, lot’s more:

1. Powerful Fax Software
• Easily send faxes from any Windows application up to 90% faster.
• True multitasking capabilities (Send and receive faxes in the background while working in another application, or while working on different projects).
• Send an unlimited number of faxes to unlimited numbers of recipients (Distribute faxes to an entire group as easily as to one person).
• Receive and send faxes at any time with TotalFax’s automatic and manual reception features.
• Professional templates help you produce great looking, high quality faxes every time.

2. Easy to Learn and Use
• Tabbed interface walks you through step-by-step to help you get the results you want quickly and easily.
• Professional templates help you produce professional looking faxes every time.
• Tabbed interface walks you through step-by-step to help you get the results you want quickly and easily.
• Customizable templates allow you to adapt your faxes to meet specific personal or business needs.
• Online help guide gives you the information you need to begin faxing immediately.

3. Advanced Faxing Features
• Drag-and-Drop Fax Queue drag and drop faxes to high-priority recipients ahead of normal delivery recipients.
• Automatic and manual fax reception  configure your computer to receive faxes at any time, or keep complete control over fax reception.
• Mobile-faxing capabilities for laptop users.

Relegated to the FAQ department in the current iteration of the product is emphasis on the feature, “TotalFax Free” Internet Faxing brought on primarily because of a Windows 98 deficiency. A capability which was present and emphasized in previous versions of, and predecessors to TotalFax (included as recently as the previous version of TotalFax for Windows 95 and NT). Talk about an eCommerce capability? This unique idea of being able to use the PC instead of a standalone, stand-in-the corner Fax machine, and to do it in such a manner that significantly cut long distance phone costs, is entirely consistent with “Internet Speed” theory, technology and terminology, as well as, it being a much needed, “before-its-time” eCommerce innovation.

Why this capability/feature/benefit has not caught on like an outofcontrol summer wildfire, is mind blowing and unfathomable? No matter how important or sensitive the data may be, with ordinary Fax Machines the Fax just lays there in the tray for all to see, or maybe, is Big Brother watching? When was the last time a person sent a secure, encrypted Fax? Sadly overlooked and/or entirely missed by everyone, every where, it seems, is the capability of sending encrypted Faxes with “TotalFax Free” installed on their PC, even if by email only? A feat never before, and still not possible with standard Fax Machines (and their associated very expensive long distance charges) is to send a secure, encrypted Fax, except that is, only with aid of the expensive, proprietary, and especially designed for the PC, “3D Fax” Program (Ed Note: Favorably reviewed by Blue Chips Magazine).

With TotalFax, “Free Internet Faxing” was formerly featured as a fullblown benefit, in addition to a whole host of other great, still existing benefits  and at a far better, more competitive price than 3D Fax. Highlighted here then is that explanation of TotalFax “Free Internet Faxing” extracted from the Intelliquis’ TotalFax FAQ page:

Q: How does TotalFax Free work?

A: Fax Free allows you to either fax to EMail or to a Fax Machine across the Internet. There are no service charges for it, but it does require that you have a server set up where you would like to send the fax to a fax machine with no long distance charges. For example: You want to send a free fax to Japan. To not incur long distance charges, you must have a computer here AND one in Japan set up as a Fax Free Server. Now you can send the fax through email to the computer in Japan. When it receives it, it will dial the appropriate number and send (it on) to a fax machine or a computer with a fax modem.

Note: If you don’t have a (Total) Fax Free server set up, then you can send faxes through email only.

Q: Why won’t TotalFax Free work under Windows 98?

A: As of Windows 98, Microsoft has stopped installing the Windows Messaging subsystem. FaxFree relies on this system to function. If you’re running Windows 98 and would like to use FaxFree, you must manually install Windows Messaging. It can be found on the Windows 98 installation CDROM in the \tools\oldwin95 \message\us\ directory. Once you’ve found it, run the SETUP.EXE program to install it, then follow the instructions in the TotalFax manual on how to setup your MAPI settings.

Acknowledged, there’s still work to be done on TotalFax Free, but sadly, if it is not done, then just as our WWII GI’s used to lament, “Ours in not to reason why, ours is but to do and die?”

For testing purposes, I walked my wife through using TotalFax over the phone while I stood at the Fax Machine at work. She was able to send and automatically receive faxes without going to the Help files. Bottom line. “Well worth the money.” I think TotalFax is a fantastic program for anyone interested in setting their computer up to send and receive faxes.

Review Software for Members in Good Standing

801-565-9594

Review Program Director &

Don Nendell, Review Editor

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Street Luge Racing from HeadGames - www.headgames.net -HeadGames and Jugular bring the ultimate thrill of speed and danger to your pc. Insane racing action head to head against some of the world’s fastest athletes. Defy gravity at over 80 mph through treacherous mountain curves, rain slickened courses and oncoming traffic. Features 8 incredible courses. Multiple racing formats including practice, season, 4 and 6 man modes. 9 different camera angles, ungradable parts for increased performance. True 3D courses with numerous obstacles - police cars, road blocks + pedestrians.
 
 

Protecting Algorithms With Patents

by John Ogilvie

The Patent Act lists four categories of patentable subject matter: processes, machines, manufactures, and compositions of matter. The United States Supreme Court has identified three categories of subject matter which are not patentable: laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas. For instance, a process for using gravity to create electric power would be statutory subject matter (and hence patentable if it is also new, useful, not obvious, and properly described) but the law of gravity itself is not patentable. Nor can one patent an abstract mathematical description of the law of gravity.

The prohibition on patents for abstract ideas has been applied to software inventions in the form of a prohibition against patenting “mathematical algorithms.” Unfortunately, the law initially gave little guidance to inventors and patent attorneys who needed a practical definition of the term “mathematical algorithm.” Some ignored the “mathematical” limitation altogether, or viewed any numeric computation as mathematical, thereby treating “mathematical algorithm” as equivalent to “algorithm.” This was not proper. Algorithms are processes, and processes are clearly patentable. As the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit noted, “every stepbystep process, be it electronic or chemical or mechanical, involves an algorithm in the broad sense of the term.”

Other courts treated “mathematical” as the opposite of “physical” and refused patent protection for inventions involving software unless the software used hardware to produce physical results. This provided protection for industrial control algorithms and the like, but denied protection to innovative algorithms that transformed data in useful ways. Protection was denied in spite of the fact that a piece of special-purpose hardware designed to do the same processing could have been patented. Happily, the Federal Circuit has moved away from the view that anything which is not “physical” is necessarily “mathematical” and hence an unpatentable abstract idea. In a case involving software for allocating pooled mutual fund assets to set share prices, the Court recognizes that an algorithm may be patentable subject matter if it produces “a useful, concrete and tangible result.” As examples of such results, the Court cites a smooth waveform produced by mathematical calculations, an analysis of electrocardiograph signals, and, in the case at hand, a final mutual fund share price that is momentarily fixed for recording and reporting purposes. The claims in the mutual fund share price case involved a computer configured with software to perform the algorithm, but the same analysis should apply to process claims for the algorithm itself.

In short, the patentability of an algorithm now depends on its practical utility, not on questions such as whether it controls industrial machinery or performs numeric calculations. Of course, the requirements of novelty, non-obviousness, and proper description must also be satisfied. But the time when algorithms were unpatentable in the U.S. simply because they were implemented in software appears, at last, to be behind us.
 

John W.L. Ogilvie is a Registered Patent Attorney and founder of the Computer Law++ law firm. He can be reached at (801) 3550828 or jwlo@LAWPP.com. More information is available at http://www.lawplusplus.com. COMPUTER LAW++, LAWPP, and LAW++ are federally registered trademarks of John Ogilvie. Copyright 19982000 John Ogilvie; All Rights Reserved.

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