It's been a week of virus scares, e-mail clogs and system crashes, but my mailbox remains bulging. Let's wade in:Question -- What is an "MP3" file and how do I play it? -- Lina A.
Answer -- An MP3 file is an audio file, usually music. It gets its name from the abbreviation "MPEG," the acronym for the Moving Picture Experts Group. This group develops compression systems used for data. That helps more information fit in smaller files. MPEG compression includes a system to compress sound, called "MPEG audio Layer 3." That's been abbreviated MP3.
The files have gained popularity among the young as a way to share CD-quality sound files (and, in many cases, rip-off record companies and artists.) Once you download an MP3, the newest version of Windows Media Player will play it for you or there are hundreds of players you can download; check out www.mp3.comfor more.
Question -- I got creamed by the LoveLetter virus and I was running anti-virus software. What did I do wrong? --Jeff A.
Answer -- "Wrong," is kind of a harsh term. The old rule of "you should never open an attachment to e-mail that comes from someone you don't know" has gone out the window now that hackers are using our own e-mail accounts to send virus files to others. You probably did nothing wrong, but there are defenses you can use.
The best defense against these new viruses is vigilance. Run a solid anti-virus product and download and install its updates religiously. I use Norton AntiVirus and now have my computer set to check for new updates daily (they are downloaded and installed automatically using Norton's LiveUpdate feature). I examine files closely that I may want to open. If I get a file in e-mail from someone with a strange extension (like .vbs) I delete it unread. If I get Love Letters from business associates, I delete those unread, too. (grin)
Question -- Where would you go to obtain help on choosing a good value for a laptop for a college freshman? I don't need the latest or greatest; just a value-oriented product that will last her four years. -- Christopher A.
Answer -- Since when do college kids get out in four years? (wink) Seriously, assuming you have solved the laptop vs. desktop debate (laptops are mobile, desktops are more powerful and cheaper) your real question is what to buy. Many laptops from leading vendors are actually made overseas by no-name "OEM" companies. Often if you look very closely at the designs of the leaders, some are virtually identical except for labels.
I can't point you to specific brands because I have not used enough of them personally, but I rely on the folks at PC World magazine for comparison testing. Each month it prints a rundown of the best deals in desktops and laptops (it's available online too at www.pcworld.com), factoring in price, service and reliability. (Of course, if you want a Mac, you really have one choice.) If this was to be her only machine, I'd consider an "active" screen (brighter and clearer) and at least 64 megs of RAM. Get a network card installed, too.
Most dorms now need them for access.
Question -- I want to read the "newsgroups" you talked about in your column but I use America Online. What is the name of their news server? -- Katie A.
Answer -- If you want to use AOL's news server, you launch the AOL software and click on the Internet icon on the top row. From that menu you will see the "newsgroups" selection. There you can search for the groups that interest you and read the postings there.
WEEKLY WEB WONDER: What are your top 100 most influential people in cinema of all time? Check out the rankings at Film 100 www.film100.com and state your case.
James Derk is new media editor for The Evansville Courier & Press. His e-mail address is jderk@evansville.net