MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MEETING ON 2nd March

Firstly, thank you for braving the rain to come out on a rotten day, and welcome to our new students.

I must apologise for typing the wrong hyperlink for the "Matters Arising" for 16th February.  Hopefully, I've corrected that now.  I'm only human, and if you spot one of my all-too-common mistakes, or can't get at something you should be able to, please let me know - send an e-mail to billnot@billnot.com

 

We looked, once again, at how to configure an Internet connection, and how to use it to connect using Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.  It seemed that the stumbling block was a lack of understanding about the differing roles of the socket (you dial-up connection or, if you're lucky, your ADSL connection) and the client (Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, CuteFTP). The socket (usually dial-up-networking) has the job of connecting your computer to the Internet.  The clients use this socket to send and receive data.  For example, if you are using Outlook Express for e-mail, you firstly need to start your connection (from My Computer - Dial-up Networking or a shortcut on the desktop pointing at it).  Once the connection is established, when you'll see two connected monitors as an icon in your system tray, you can load up Outlook Express and get it to Receive New Mail.  Once it's done this, you can disconnect the socket (by right-clicking the system tray icon and selecting disconnect).  You can read your e-mail and compose any replies at your leisure, leaving them in the Outbox.  When you're ready, you can reconnect to the Internet, select Send All in OE, and then disconnect.

 

After tea, we started our look at the Control Panel, and I said there were some items that were fun to investigate as a beginner, and which couldn't cause any real problems to your computer.  On the other hand, there are other items that are best either left alone or, at least, looked at but not tinkered with.

In the category of fun (as well as useful) is the date and time applet, which sets your system clock and time zone.  Easy to alter, but not exactly exciting.  Then we looked at the Display applet, which can be great fun - changing your backgrounds, colour schemes and screen savers.  I'll leave you to explore those.  Remember the difference between OK and Apply.  Apply makes the changes, but keeps the window or dialog box loaded.  OK makes the changes and then closes the window.  Apply is very often the option to use.

 

In a fortnight's time we'll be looking at the Settings tab, so you may wish to look, but not touch, that tab.

 

THE PROJECT

 

At the surgery on 9th February, we decided to try and build a computer of our own to use at The Oasis from donated parts.  On 23rd February we started building it.  On 9th March we hope to finish building, but there will still be a lot to do.  We are still looking for donated parts, specifically a sound card and a printer, so if you can help, let me know!!

Finally, a reminder of my e-mail addresses:

billnot@billnot.com for general mail

questions@billnot.com for questions to be answered in the Grapevine or at a session.

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