Capital PC User Group, Inc.

Windows 7 Release Candidate
by Barbara Conn

Want to try the release candidate of Windows 7 for yourself? Then download the code by August 15, 2009:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx

It's free, but it's going to disappear. Once the code is downloaded, it may be installed later. You may also get additional product keys after August 15.

Here are two ways to learn more about Windows 7:

(1) Read the May 2009 installment of former CPCUG President Rich Schinnell's "Ramblings":

http://schinnell.org/ramb/ramb0905.pdf

(2) Go to the CPCUG Entrepreneurs and Consultants SIG meeting on July 18, 2009, when CPCUGer and IT Network Pro Mark Mabee will demo the Windows 7 release candidate. For more information about this event:—

http://entrepreneur.cpcug.org/709meet.html

Guest Speakers at June Seniors SIG Meeting

Digital Survival for Everyone:
Educate Yourself With the Web
by Henry Whitney, SIG Chair, CPCUG Seniors SIG

The CPCUG Seniors SIG meeting on June 6, 2009, featured a presentation by Jo Golden and Tracey Holinka of Chaos To Clarity, LLC, entitled "Digital Survival for Everyone: Educate Yourself With the Web." The presentation led to a very interesting discussion on how best to use the Web to find accurate information when working on a project and how to organize and protect the information gathered.

The topic generated so much interest that we hope Jo and Tracey will return for more of the same. If you would like to learn more about Chaos to Clarity and the work it does, visit its Web site at http://www.ChaosToClarity.com.

Project Reboot in the News

From the January 14, 2009, Montgomery Gazette

Bringing Technology to the People
Project Reboot Builds Computers for Those in Need
by Melissa J. Brachfeld, Staff Writer

"When Gerry Rosenkrantz set out to refurbish computers in 1995 as a way to keep from being bored in retirement, he had no idea his work would eventually spawn a nonprofit organization that now turns out 250 computers a month for low-income families and organizations across the county."The 76-year-old North Bethesda resident shared his story of how Project Reboot came to be with a crowd of residents, elected officials, county agency representatives and others who gathered Friday morning to celebrate a new home for the organization.

more . . .

CPCUG Recommends 10 Freeware Utilities

CPCUG president Dennis Courtney made a presentation Saturday, August 16, 2008, to the CPCUG Entrepreneurs and Consultants SIG:

CPCUG Recommended Freeware Programs:
Free Tools To Protect and Maintain Your Windows Vista (and XP) PCs

Descriptions and download links are included for each of 10 free utilities.

Support CPCUG With Your Online Purchases
by Gabe Goldberg

[Sun., Mar. 9, 2008] Thanks to Nan Blissett, CPCUG has an online "store" associated with the Amazon.com mega-shopping Web site. If you haven't visited Amazon lately, or haven't ventured beyond its huge book selection, you may be surprised that it's become an entire shopping mall offering electronics, apparel, baby items, beauty products, gourmet food, sports and outdoors items, and a wealth of other categories. As an approved Amazon Associate, CPCUG earns from 4 to 10 percent on Amazon purchases referred from the CPCUG.ORG Web site. The higher our referrals, the greater our earnings will be. So when purchasing from Amazon—think CPCUG.ORG! This helps fund CPCUG's revitalization and supports our community service activities (free meetings, science fair judging and prizes, computer recycling, etc.)

Shopping with CPCUG is easy and costs no extra time or money. Instead of going straight to the Amazon.com Web site, simply go to http://shop.cpcug.org/ and select the category in which you're interested. Once you're on the Amazon Web site, purchases you make in all categories during that visit will be credited to CPCUG.

CNET Tip: Capturing YouTube Videos

If you're a regular YouTube viewer, you may have experienced the frustration of trying to save your favorite videos. The movies are presented in the Flash Video (FLV) format and can't be downloaded with a simple right-click. more . . .