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SEMINARS: FEBRUARY 2008
Making
Mailing Labels with Microsoft Word Linux is an operating system that was initially created as a hobby by a young student at the University of Helsinki in Finland in 1991. The kernel that he developed, which is at the heart of all Linux systems, is freely available to everyone. It is this kernel that forms the base around which a Linux operating system is developed. There are now literally hundreds of companies and organizations and an equal number of individuals that have released their own versions of operating systems based on the Linux kernel. Linux's functionality, adaptability and robustness, has made it the main alternative for proprietary Unix and Microsoft operating systems. IBM, Hewlett-Packard and other giants of the computing world have embraced Linux and support its ongoing development. There are now a wide range of applications that run on Linux and it can be used by anyone regardless of his/her knowledge of computers. This seminar is intended to pique your interest in the Linux operating system and its many attributes.
Sending
Faxes from Your Computer This seminar will introduce you to a simple, easy-to-use, inexpensive program that will allow you to fax a completed document, signature and all, from your computer. No expensive equipment is needed.
Internet
Service Providers Available in Las Vegas
Introduction to Flight Simulation
This
seminar provides an introduction to flying airplanes. It
will introduce you to the basic principles of flying.
Whether you are a rookie or somebody with some flying
experience, no extensive knowledge of flying is
necessary: only a curiosity to learn to fly. We will use
an inexpensive computer program, the Microsoft Flight
Simulator as a teaching tool. In the end it will let you
experience the thrill of flying with a simulation
program which is said to be: "As real as it gets"
Creating a
panoramic photograph involves taking multiple pictures
of an object, stitching
them together, and then rendering them into a single
digital file. When shooting such a “pano,” you remain in
one position and pivot the camera several degrees for
each shot, until the entire scene has been covered. The
result is a series of photos that will then be
"stitched" together by a software tool. We will
demonstrate how you can stitch a series of photographs
together to make an interesting panorama [the front of
your home? your backyard? a view of Red Rock? (not the
casino)]. All this can be done with a free
program that you can download and install to your
computer. You will be taken step-by-step through this
entire process. The only tool you will need when you
create panoramas at home is a digital camera.
This seminar will address two
separate but related components: scanning photos, text,
and clipart; and scanning 35 mm. slides. The
presentation is designed for the first-time user
of scanner hardware and scanning software. You will
learn how to scan a file, how to create a folder of
scanned materials and how to insert your scanned
material into documents, including email messages. The
second part of the seminar will be to offer basic
information to get you started with the club’s 35 mm
film scanner. These scanning tips are basic and
appropriate for the person new to scanning. The content
is not advanced, but it is certainly not superficial
either. It describes the things we need to know to be
efficient and get the most from our scanning projects.
The material is intended for home and hobby scanner
users, and is not concerned with commercial matters.
There are no handouts, so participants are encouraged to
bring a writing pad for taking notes. (Note: This is a hands-on seminar that will be held in the Computer Lab. No pre-registration is required; however, participation is limited to 12 members on a first-come, first-seated basis.)
Although
there are literally hundreds of keyboard shortcuts that
will take the place of mouse clicks, this seminar will
present those that are among the most popular and, over
time, are easy to commit to memory. You may even find
that by using them, you will become more efficient in
your computing activities than by clicking the mouse and
dragging a pointer. It will be to your advantageous to
make several of these keyboard strategies a part of your
everyday computing repertoire.
We will
discuss useful tips on purchasing your first (or
replacement) computer, upgrading the one you already
have, or custom-building a computer that is right for
you. This seminar will also be of interest to those of
you who would like to learn about the various components
that make up a computer, so that you can gain a better
understanding of how a computer works from our
discussion and demonstration of these components.
This
seminar will combine presentations about Adobe’s
Photoshop Elements and Google’s free Picassa. Adobe
Photoshop Elements is a powerful photo editing
program that is a favorite among many of our
Computer Club members. This seminar will introduce
novice users to some of the basic functions of this
popular and highly-regarded product. As a bonus,
Google’s free Picasa program will be integrated into the
presentation. Picasa is software that helps you
instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your
PC. George’s two-pronged set of notes will provide
step-by-step instructions for using both Elements and
Picasa
Founded in
September 1995, eBay is the leading online marketplace
for the sale of goods and services by a diverse
community of individuals and businesses. Today, the eBay
community includes over 50 million registered users, and
is the most popular shopping site on the Internet when
measured by total user minutes. This seminar, presented
by an avid Ebay user will share his secrets for selling
with confidence at this Internet marketplace. Using Microsoft Works, a program that is frequently “bundled” with other software products on many new computers, this presentation will demonstrate how to set up a database and use it to make labels or address envelopes, or other functions.
There is no question that Microsoft’s Office Professional Version is a very powerful and popular program that includes such applications as Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheet), Access (database), PowerPoint (presentations), Outlook (email), Publisher (desktop publishing), FrontPage (Webpage construction), and more. However, the suggested retail price for the full package is anywhere from $170 to $500, depending on version. If you want to save yourself some big bucks, but still have powerful application software for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations, you should take a look at the open source package called Open Office. You can download and install it absolutely free with no strings attached. The Open Office suite has six integrated components, including word processing, a spreadsheet, a database, and a presentation program. In addition, it will run on the Windows, Macintosh, and Linux platforms. We will show you where to find this gem and how to download all (or just some) of the suite’s component parts. In addition, there will be a brief demonstration of the word processing component, which you will find to be amazingly similar to MS Word.
Windows Vista is about a year old and many of the frustrating early "How do I do that?" or "Where do I find that?" questions have been worked out. This 2 hour seminar is another in the Computer Club's Windows Vista seminar series. The "Side by Side" seminar compares a rich collection of functions and tools for managing your Windows PC in both XP and Vista. And we'll save time for your questions about Windows Vista in general.
Target Audience: SCSCC members currently using either XP or Vista or planning to upgrade to Vista in the near future. But, all club members are welcome!
Not all computer problems are caused by software glitches or viruses and malware. While most of us think of our computers as our little silicon-based lifeform pets, they are really just machines, and machines slow down and break down. Testing hardware failures usually involves either checking the cables or connections to make sure they are seated properly, or swapping out suspected parts with known good parts. This seminar will cover four hardware issues that may be in need of attention (either by you are by members of the Hardware SIG). In addition, this seminar will present 22 software issues that just might be contributing to your computer slowing to a crawl. |