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Looking for a good Antivirus Program? How about one that is free? Go to
http://www.grisoft.com, and download the FREE version of AVG. After the program is downloaded and installed, the opening screen will look like the following:

Note that you can set the program to scan all of your incoming email. You can also set the program to scan any or all of your storage devices at regular intervals. Also, it is very important with this, or any other virus protection program, to load an updated Virus Database at regular intervals. Otherwise, the program will not be able to detect "new" virus. The updating task can be set for regular intervals (at a time when you computer is connected to the internet), or it can be performed at your instigation. It will normally update at two-week intervals, unless you set it for a shorter period.

Scanning your storage devices will take some time, but it will depend upon the size of the storage device and the speed of your processor. However, these tasks can be done in background while you are performing other work. The scan will slow down your computer while it is being performed; however, scanning your incoming email will not produce any apparent loss in receiving incoming email.

In the Business Section of The Knoxville News-Sentinel there is a column by Dave Farrell. In the Sunday, January 4, 1998, issue, he recommends the "Newbie Net Pages" for beginners on the Internet.

For additional learning, Dave Farrell recommends Web 101
Try the HTML Tutorial

Dave's article on Sunday, May 17, tells you how you can find a Virtual Friend via the Web. He refers to Haptek Inc.'s Virtual Friend page. You can find it at: http://www.haptek.com/. He states: "This site offers 3-D virtual "friends" that you can use to chat with real friends on the Net. These virtual creations are extremely lifelike and realistic looking. You can move them around on the screen and even twirl them completely around while they interact with you."

"All you have to do is type out a message and they will say it. Getting the software is relatively easy, but if you're a novice on the Web, you might want to get a Net-savvy friend to help you retrieve and install it. The free download version is a demo version, which means that an annoying 'please buy me' box pops up on your screen every few minutes. The box closes automatically, too, but the interruption it causes is a real bother, and it is well worth the $9.95 to get the fully licensed version."

"What will you use your virtual friend for? I (Dave) uses mine to add a little spice to personal messages I send to friends. I've also used it to "read" my e-mail to me while I'm busy doing other things. I've even used it to send a birthday greeting to a buddy (there are several songs that are preprogrammed into the Virtual Friend software package and 'Happy Birthday' is one of the tunes).'

As of February 16, Microsoft has provided a letter about some of their new products and upcoming events. This letter provides links that you can follow. You might notice the increasing use of Windows NT and prepare to ask some questions at the Program presented by RAM in April. A copy of the letter is provided (Click Here).

Calvin Lamb, a member of ORPCUG, provided by E-Mail the following:

"...a suggestion for the newsletter (or the Group's Web Site)..why not begin a monthly box in the newsletter that features a recommended "WEBSITE OF THE MONTH"...for example, next month:

http://www.dogpile.com

is a fantastic collection of search engines. The ORPCUG members could recommend their favorite URLs for consideration."

To check on the latest prices on any hardware, tabulated by type or by vendor, go to the PriceWatch Site.

For information on any Microsoft Software, go to their Web Site.

For information about Intel products, and some useful software go to the Intel Site.

For Entertainment, 3-D Interactive Comics, and other neat stuff, click on Dilbert, or go to http://www.dilbert.com/

For news, reviews, downloads, and other information, go to C/NET.

For up-to-the-minute Weather Information, go to the Weather Channel