From My Keyboard

From My Keyboard –
The Summer Edition

BY BILL CHACHKES

July | August 2004
Issue No.17

(Apple announced some new machines on June 7th, but they also announced they would not be reaching the 3Ghz. speed that was promised last year. So what! Everyone will Blast Jobs for making a promise he couldn’t keep, but no one understands the difficulty involved with getting that much speed onto a chip so small.)

Summer is here once again. Searing heat is not something I enjoy, nor do computers and I was asked, recently, how to protect hardware from it.

Although many computers have fans to help release the heat from the case, is it still a good idea to try and place it as close to an air conditioner as possible. If that is not an option, putting a small desk fan or box fan near it will help to remove the heat that is expelled from the case. Keeping dust out of your machine’s air vents also helps with heat dispersion.

The updated G5’s, introduced in early June, have both fans and a water-tube, cooling system to keep the processor temperature stable. Many external hard disk and optical drives also have internal fans.

Once again, with Summer's arrival, we have a MacWorld expo to discuss. I won’t get into IDG taking the Expo out of New York City again, but I cannot, personally, support a show in Boston. As of press time, Apple won’t attend either, but that could change so check back with us. For those of you who are taking the trip up I-95, have a great time, and take some pictures so we can post them on our photo page.

This leads to my next topic. You have all read Henry’s requests (and pleadings) for additional contributions from the membership. I will echo his requests here. We can’t create such a great newsletter six times a year if with only a few people contributing to it. We need YOU to step up. Please volunteer to do a product review, or write an article on a topic close to you that relates to the Mac. My thanks to Ben Russell for last year’s great piece on the gaming industry and how it relates to the Mac.

Summer is a great time to get out and do things outdoors. People always want to see pictures of what you did on that trip. This issue has my review of a great photo sharing website called DotPhoto.com. I have been taking more photos than ever now that I use this site. I would tell you more, but then you wouldn’t need to read my review.

Lastly, we will be having a special, general meeting on July 8th, pre- MacWorld (details to follow). I hope everyone enjoys the summer, and as a famous pop song from the 60’s suggests, “We’ll see you in September”.