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SMUG - June Upgrade : News From the SMUG Bureaucracy



Author: Joe Duroux
Date: June, 1994
Keywords: meeting minutes Internet
Text: The auction that started the May meeting included LetterPerfect (a simplified word processor from WordPerfect) donated by Paul Rogers, manager of Software, etc. in Eureka. After the auction and the usual lottery for review software, the main part of the program dealt with the use of the Internet. Kevin Savetz, who uses Internet almost every day, described its interface, many of its features, and some of his experiences in using it. He was assisted in some areas by Mitch Patenaude, who is also a heavy Internet user. Right up front, we were warned that the interface is not Mac-like but character-based like the old operating systems. Addresses and instructions must be typed in. There is one graphic interface called MOSAIC, but it requires special software and a type of direct connection to Internet called SLIP, which can be expensive. Internet is a network of networks. One neat feature is that there are permanently open lines between many Internet nodes, and some of those permanent lines cross oceans. We had a phone line connected at the meeting, and Kevin was in connected to Finland using a local phone call. Anyone with access to Internet, through any source network, can exchange E-mail with anyone else with access to Internet. Sources include commercial on-line services, academic networks, government agencies, libraries, and a variety of other public and private organizations. In addition to E-mail, some sources can be accessed for additional services, like catalogs of available documents and, in some cases, the actual text of documents. But there is no general directory of Internet users or services. The number of Internet users is tremendous, and it changes every day. Lists of organizational addresses are available, but an individual's address has to be determined outside of Internet, or by having it posted in a known place on Internet. There are various search resources for finding publicly available documents of specified types, but the search resources themselves must be found on Internet, and that is not a trivial task. For further information about the Internet, Kevin recommends the following books: Internet Starter Kit, Internet Unleashed, and of course his own book, Your Internet Consultant - The FAQs of Life Online. Special Interest Group Activities The DTP SIG is planning activities, but nothing is scheduled at this time. - Contact David Reynolds or use the DTP Conference in the Local Conferences area on SMUGgler's BBS. The Multimedia SIG normally meets on the first Wednesday of every month. It is working on projects that will be useful to SMUG. - Contact Larry Kuhn or use the DTP Conference in the Local Conferences area on the BBS. The first Programmers SIG meeting will be held on Saturday, June 18th at 2PM at Michelanjelo's Pizza Parlor in Arcata. This SIG has already been active on the bulletin board. - Contact Kevin Savetz or use the Code Talkers Conference in the Local Conferences area on the BBS. Products Available for Review in May: * Heaven & Earth - From Buena Vista Software. Four dazzling games that go beyond any card game, puzzle, or toy. * SimCity 2000... plus SimCity Scenarios Vol. 1: Great Disasters - From Maxis Software. The ultimate city simulator plus 10 additional scenarios. * MacTut with ProGlyphs - From Dubl-Click Software. Egyptian clipart & hiero-glyphic fonts for both hobbyists and professionals. * Glider 4.0 - From Casady & Greene, Inc. Fly your paper airplane through an eerie mansion... a unique & entertaining game : ) * ZOA The Zone of Avoidance - From Casady & Greene, Inc. 3-D space-flight simulation game. * Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia CD-ROM - From Compton's New Media. Videos, animations, narrated slide presentations, and over 33,000 articles. * The Amazon Rain Forest CD-ROM - From Take 2 Interactive Software. A Sierra Club Interactive Guide. * The Great Barrier Reef CD-ROM - From Take 2 Interactive Software. A Serria Club Interactive Guide. Products Available for Review in July: * Claire : The Personal Music Coach - From Opcode Systems, Inc. Learn fundamental music skills: Ear Training, Sight Reading, & Music Theory. * Bailey's Book House - From Edmark. Five captivating activities that teach 2-6 year olds letters, words, rhyming, & stories. Winner of National Parenting & Parent's Choice awards. * Kid Desk - From Edmark. Award winning software that allows 3 - 10 year old children to launch their own programs...without accessing yours! - Denise Jesus, Product Review Coordinator

Copyright © june, 1994 by Joe Duroux


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