1USA Newsletter May 1, 2001

1USA Customer Newsletter
Tuesday, May 1, 2001

Screen Resolution
Hasn't everyone moved up to at least 800X600?

640x480: 7%
800x600: 54%
1024x768 and above: 35%
Unknown: 1%

Error factor: 3%
Easily check your video resolution here.

Mailing Lists
If you need to send out emails to a group, you should know that most ISPs are now trashing emails that have more than 25 or 50 recipients -- especially if there are BCC's (blind copy to) on the email.
1USA has set up Mailing List capability where you would send out one email to the group name, and the system then sends out individual emails - ensuring that your emails are delivered.
Current Mailing Lists are at http://home.1usa.com/mailinglists.htm
If there are any that you'd like to sign up for, go for it.
If you'd like to manage your own list, contact the Webmaster.

New Access Locations
We are pleased to announce the release of a new POP location serving new areas in the Orlando, FL area. This new location will bring coverage to many communities not covered out of our existing Orlando location.

Cocoa 321-978-5599
Cocoa Beach 321-985-5599
Debray 407-845-5599
East Orange 321-413-5599
Eau Gallie 321-988-5599
Geneva 321-414-5599
Melbourne 321-989-5599
Oviedo 321-415-5599
Sanford 321-233-5599
Titusville 321-577-5599

NEW SEATTLE WA LOCATIONS
360-282-0155 Snohomish
425-648-0155 Halls Lake

NEW CHICAGO LOCATIONS
847-620-2377 Barrington
815-377-7827 Crescent City
847-655-7827 Park Ridge
Reno, NV
775-997-0155 Reno
Eastern Mass.
978-529-5599 Beverly
508-262-5599 Seekonk

Western Mass.
413-692-5599 Pittsfield

New Hampshire
603-441-5599 Winchester

A complete list of access locations is at http://www.1usa.com/dialups/index.html

Windows95 is nearing the end of its Product Cycle.
For stand-alone computers, you can continue to run Win95 "as long as you wish" - as stated by Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycleconsumer.asp
However, Microsoft encourages customers to update for the new features in the newer operating systems, because Service Paks and other Updates will cease on the Non-Supported Dates (below). The Non-supported date for Windows95 is 12/31/01, not 6/30/01 as was mentioned in various news media.

Desktop operating systems entering Extended phase & its effective date:
Windows 95 (12.31.00)
Windows 98 / 98 SE (06.30.02)
Windows NT 4.xx (06.30.02)
Extended Phase: Between three and four years after general availability.
Licenses may no longer be available to consumers.
In addition to online support information, paid incident support will be available.

Desktop operating systems entering Non-Supported phase & its effective date:
MS DOS x.xx (12.31.01)
Windows 3.xx (12.31.01)
Windows 95 (12.31.01)
Non-Supported Phase: After four years of general availability.
Licenses may no longer be available to consumers.
Only online support information will be available.
Five years after general availability, Microsoft may terminate this phase after providing 12 months advanced notice.

These guidelines only impact new license availability in certain channels and product support policies, not an end-user’s ability to use a Windows desktop operating system once they’ve legally licensed it. Once you legally license a Microsoft Windows operating system, it is yours to use for as long as you wish. However, the longer you use an operating system, the less likely you will be able to take advantage of software and hardware advances that over time become mainstream in personal computers, devices, and software applications.

Features worth getting in Windows ME and the new Windows XP:
- easier to add to a Network.
- easier sharing of Modems and other devices
- View thumbnail images in Windows Explorer on ME and Windows2000
If you don't need these features, then don't update!

Most other features are functions of the individual programs.
For instance: Windows Media Player is FREE. However people still purchase RealMediaPlayer in spite of its cost. ( the old saying: a sucker is born every day....? )
MediaPlayer 7 is pretty good. MediaPlayer8 continues the stability and improvement of handling all known formats.

Don't purchase based on hype.
The Windows XP Firewall can be replaced with ZoneAlarm. www.zonealarm.com
Windows XP "My Pictures" Folder - just make a new folder.
Windows XP Photo Printing Wizard - available now via Canon and other scanner manufacturers.
DVD Playback - currently provided with DVD-compatible video cards.
CD-ROM burning - currently provided with CD-R drives.
I would think that individual manufacturers would do a better job at keeping their software up to date, however experience has shown that once people install a DVD driver, they're not likely to update it.

Personal recommendation: If updating from Win95, skip over Windows98. I'd go for either ME or XP at this point.
BarryZ, 1USA

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	1USA Customer Newsletter Tuesday, May 1, 2001

	Screen Resolution Hasn't everyone moved up to at least 800X600? 640x480: 7% 800x600: 54% 1024x768 and above: 35% Unknown: 1% Error factor: 3% Easily check your video resolution here.
	Mailing Lists If you need to send out emails to a group, you should know that most ISPs are now trashing emails that have more than 25 or 50 recipients -- especially if there are BCC's (blind copy to) on the email. 1USA has set up Mailing List capability where you would send out one email to the group name, and the system then sends out individual emails - ensuring that your emails are delivered. Current Mailing Lists are at http://home.1usa.com/mailinglists.htm If there are any that you'd like to sign up for, go for it. If you'd like to manage your own list, contact the Webmaster.
	New Access Locations We are pleased to announce the release of a new POP location serving new areas in the Orlando, FL area. This new location will bring coverage to many communities not covered out of our existing Orlando location. Cocoa 321-978-5599 Cocoa Beach 321-985-5599 Debray 407-845-5599 East Orange 321-413-5599 Eau Gallie 321-988-5599 Geneva 321-414-5599 Melbourne 321-989-5599 Oviedo 321-415-5599 Sanford 321-233-5599 Titusville 321-577-5599 NEW SEATTLE WA LOCATIONS 360-282-0155 Snohomish 425-648-0155 Halls Lake NEW CHICAGO LOCATIONS 847-620-2377 Barrington 815-377-7827 Crescent City 847-655-7827 Park Ridge Reno, NV 775-997-0155 Reno Eastern Mass. 978-529-5599 Beverly 508-262-5599 Seekonk Western Mass. 413-692-5599 Pittsfield New Hampshire 603-441-5599 Winchester A complete list of access locations is at http://www.1usa.com/dialups/index.html

	Windows95 is nearing the end of its Product Cycle. For stand-alone computers, you can continue to run Win95 "as long as you wish" - as stated by Microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycleconsumer.asp However, Microsoft encourages customers to update for the new features in the newer operating systems, because Service Paks and other Updates will cease on the Non-Supported Dates (below). The Non-supported date for Windows95 is 12/31/01, not 6/30/01 as was mentioned in various news media. Desktop operating systems entering Extended phase & its effective date: Windows 95 (12.31.00) Windows 98 / 98 SE (06.30.02) Windows NT 4.xx (06.30.02) Extended Phase: Between three and four years after general availability. Licenses may no longer be available to consumers. In addition to online support information, paid incident support will be available. Desktop operating systems entering Non-Supported phase & its effective date: MS DOS x.xx (12.31.01) Windows 3.xx (12.31.01) Windows 95 (12.31.01) Non-Supported Phase: After four years of general availability. Licenses may no longer be available to consumers. Only online support information will be available. Five years after general availability, Microsoft may terminate this phase after providing 12 months advanced notice. These guidelines only impact new license availability in certain channels and product support policies, not an end-user’s ability to use a Windows desktop operating system once they’ve legally licensed it. Once you legally license a Microsoft Windows operating system, it is yours to use for as long as you wish. However, the longer you use an operating system, the less likely you will be able to take advantage of software and hardware advances that over time become mainstream in personal computers, devices, and software applications. Features worth getting in Windows ME and the new Windows XP: - easier to add to a Network. - easier sharing of Modems and other devices - View thumbnail images in Windows Explorer on ME and Windows2000 If you don't need these features, then don't update! Most other features are functions of the individual programs. For instance: Windows Media Player is FREE. However people still purchase RealMediaPlayer in spite of its cost. ( the old saying: a sucker is born every day....? ) MediaPlayer 7 is pretty good. MediaPlayer8 continues the stability and improvement of handling all known formats. Don't purchase based on hype. The Windows XP Firewall can be replaced with ZoneAlarm. www.zonealarm.com Windows XP "My Pictures" Folder - just make a new folder. Windows XP Photo Printing Wizard - available now via Canon and other scanner manufacturers. DVD Playback - currently provided with DVD-compatible video cards. CD-ROM burning - currently provided with CD-R drives. I would think that individual manufacturers would do a better job at keeping their software up to date, however experience has shown that once people install a DVD driver, they're not likely to update it. Personal recommendation: If updating from Win95, skip over Windows98. I'd go for either ME or XP at this point. BarryZ, 1USA