Page 12      Diablo Blue      March, 2000

Do you find that sometimes when you click on a link on a web page, the new page opens, then when you click the Back button it seems to take f..o..r..e..v..e..r to reopen the page you started from? Here's a solution for IE5 users -- especially if you are going to visit several links on a page, returning to the starting page each time, like when visiting a series of search engine results.
Instead of clicking on the link, right-click on it and select Open in a New Window from the popup menu. A new browser window will open with the selected page. When you're done, you can either keep the new window open to refer to that page, or close the new window. In either case your starting page will still be in the original browser window. This technique is much faster and will make for happier browsing!
BTW, I don't have Netscape so I don't know if this tip works (or is needed) for that browser -- try it and tell us!

Can you see what isn't there? Well, when it comes to IE5: yes. By default, however, it isn't easy to do. Unless you're on a mega-fast connection, it'll take a while for graphically-intense web pages to fully load. But, should you have to stare at a blank page while they're downloading? No! In Control Panel open Internet Options, select the Advanced tab. In the Multimedia section be sure there's a checkmark in the Show Image Download Placeholders box. From now on, before images completely load, you'll be able to see their correctly sized placeholders in advance. (Adapted from Lockergnome, www.lockergnome.com.)

Thousands of volunteer opportunities online… Time is a luxury, and not all of us can afford to spend it on helpful projects. But if you're a bundle of energy just looking for a conduit, consider searching for the right match. I've helped bathe and care for abandoned animals, read stories to young children, and taught a few community computer classes in the past. Give of yourself and you'll take home something more valuable than a paycheck. You're human. Visit Volunteer Match USA at www.volunteermatch.org.

We've had a large number of knowledgeable members sign up to be Mentors to allow DVPC members to take advantage of this storehouse of knowledge. We'll be adding a Mentor page to our web site "Real Soon Now" (apologies to Jerry Pournelle). This page will limit access to DVPC members by requiring the same monthly login ID and password sent to members for access to the current on-line edition of Diablo Blue. You'll be able to look up the mentors for a particular software package or hardware product, and contact them by email to pose your question. Check the DVPC web site in April -- the Mentor page should be up and running by the end of the month!

On Sunday January 30th I went to the CompUSA in the Willows Shopping Center in Concord to make a purchase. They said that discounts are not currently being offered. As of January 24th CompUSA had been purchased and business and PC User Group discounts are not currently being offered.
However, it was reported at the Board of Directors meeting that there are still some CompUSA stores (Dublin) that are continuing to offer discounts to DVPC members.
So, when you're shopping at CompUSA, ask for your PC User Group discount, and let us know if it's honored.