Helpful PC news

[nijimeijer]

In lieu of their upcoming release of Windows XP SP2, Microsoft has released a CD containing every single critical update for every version of Windows from 98-XP up to (and including) October of 2003. That's pretty current; recent enough that updating after that should be a lot easier, especially for folks on a 56k connect (like me--until next Thursday, when my DSL gets installed*).

The best part is, the CD is absolutely free. You don't even have to pay shipping. You can request it on MS' site (I don't have a link; sorry). While I'll just do a big whomping update next Thursday, when I'm cruising along on DSL* (can you tell I'm happy to finally be moving to broadband?), it's still useful. I've got tons of friends who are pretty PC-illiterate, and are also on dialup, with a variety of computers, using 98 up to XP. I'm just going to use the copy I requested to update all of their PCs.

Think of the children! Order the CD!

*I'm getting DSL! I'm getting DSL! So happy! I'd have gotten Cable, but it's a little out my price range, and the cable here is . . . glitchy. Yay! Can't wait to get Xbox Live! Weeooo!

[jimbow8]

I got DSL five months ago for the first time. I have had a few issues with it going out a few times (I finally called and a tech told me that I had originally set it up incorrectly-according to the instructions) and I do like cable-modem better, it is definitely better than dial-up. Just make sure to get a good firewall and virus/spyware software.

How do these new online console things work? I have a PS2. Can I use that through my existing DSL service?

[Scott Hajek]

In lieu of their upcoming release of Windows XP SP2, Microsoft has released a CD containing every single critical update for every version of Windows from 98-XP up to (and including) October of 2003. That's pretty current; recent enough that updating after that should be a lot easier, especially for folks on a 56k connect (like me--until next Thursday, when my DSL gets installed*).

The best part is, the CD is absolutely free. You don't even have to pay shipping. You can request it on MS' site (I don't have a link; sorry). While I'll just do a big whomping update next Thursday, when I'm cruising along on DSL* (can you tell I'm happy to finally be moving to broadband?), it's still useful. I've got tons of friends who are pretty PC-illiterate, and are also on dialup, with a variety of computers, using 98 up to XP. I'm just going to use the copy I requested to update all of their PCs.

Think of the children! Order the CD!

*I'm getting DSL! I'm getting DSL! So happy! I'd have gotten Cable, but it's a little out my price range, and the cable here is . . . glitchy. Yay! Can't wait to get Xbox Live! Weeooo!
Here's the link http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp

Good luck.

[SDSwami]

How do these new online console things work? I have a PS2. Can I use that through my existing DSL service?

I have my PS2 hooked up online. You can hook it up to your DSL, just make sure you have a router for it (I wouldn't really recommend the wireless one since your probably going to experience some to a lot of lag, which can be rather annoying in games).