Techno-tip Potters Going High Tech With the Internet becoming such a popular thing, here are some tips to help you navigate some of the obstacles, dangers and frus- trations with going high tech. Equipment: It amazes me how much computers have come down in price. For about $700.00, you can get a brand new system (2.4GHz, 256K ram, CD/DVD writer, LAN, soundcard, video- card) with monitor, XP (software) and Internet for a year. A wire- less mouse and keyboard are really nice additions. Got money? too, just don't go there. The search engines are great starting points and you can find absolutely anything. Take a weekend course or have some 10 year old relative come over and teach you the ropes. Perhaps you can trade some pottery lessons. :) Soon, you'll be doing all your banking & shopping online, whipping together a web site and. putting digital photos of your work on the net for anyone to see. Once you're online, you can check out the BCPotters website (www.bcpotters. com) and all the other Go for a flat panel screen, more memory and. a second harddrive. The computer I use is not even half as fast and it cost me more only a few years ago. If you don't go Using Linux Microsoft Windows) or an pottery sites out there. Any pottery ques- . ion may h n pr 1 foun (instead of tion you may have can p obably be ou d on the net somewhere in a discussion forum or someone's web site. brand. new, cut that cost by 1/3 to 1/2 by looking in the Buy and Sell. ISPs: Internet Service Providers... the big guys are Telus and Shaw (cable) for high speed. If you go with telephone dialup, there are oodles... good for starters, but the faster speeds are really nice. They'll usually even come and help you set up and. con- nect. Wanna go cheap... there's even free dialup providers, but you have to put up with some advertising when you browse the Internet. In my experience, the cable providers have been fairly good while Telus has had problems in some areas. Apple, Mac computer are also options. Linux is practically free, but you have to have some computer savvy to put it togeth- er. A Mac costs a bit more, but it makes up for it with good looks and ease of use. Viruses are usually targeted at Microsoft products (to get the most impact), so that makes Linux or a Mac a little less hassle, but make no mistake, without a good virus program, you're a sit- Applications: Computers can do much more than email and surf the net. Write documents, manage accounting taxes or finances, calculate glaze formulas, view/edit digital images, play music/video, etc... but by the time you're looking at this, you'll probably have a good idea of what you want from a computer. Don't let it take over your life as it has mine. (That's what I do to make a living, so I have an excuse.) Playing games can be cool too, but try not to get into it as it ; _ ting duck. Security: This is probably the scary part of wastes a lot of time. It can get addictive and even cause tendonitis and weird aches from high tech. A good virus scan program, and a firewall are a must. Norton ($30/yr) and Zone Alarm (free) are a couple of products that are well known. I would also recommend a router for added protection, which is a good investment for about $50 (look for sales and rebates). You should have Microsoft Windows Update turned on to keep your operating system patched up automatically. These things have served me well and will provide you with the protection needed to feel comfortable communicating and dealing with the Internet. Email: The next thing is scams and spam, both of which are get- ting worse. No antivirus or firewall will protect you from being gullible. Be skeptical. If it's too good to be true, it probably is, especially on the Internet. Some viruses and malicious code can still get through as attachments. Unless you're expecting it and it's from people you trust and they clearly identify themselves, don't open it. Spam filters are now on most mail servers and will adda line to the subject identifying it as potential SPAM. I send them to a spam folder or straight to the trash. This can be auto- mated. in most email programs like Outlook. Typing skills help, but the one finger peck will do the job. If Keith can do it, so can you! WWW: The Internet or World Wide Web (WWW) is huge now and. an incredible resource, but be careful, anyone can set up a web site and say or sell anything. There's a lot of unsavory stuff 14 Potters Guild of British Columbia Newsletter overuse, sO use COMmMOon sense. A special note for those who already have an email address with the Potters Guild: We've been sending at least one PGBC email broadcast/notification each month for the last while now. If you haven't received. one, it's very likely that we do not have your email correct. To get that fixed, just send an email to webmas- ter@bcpotters.com and I'll have it corrected. Any questions, I'm happy to try and help. Write(via the guild/gallery), call or email me. Thanks, Don Jung (your friendly neighborhood webmaster) webmaster@bcpotters.com 604-873-1836 For Sale ‘Two WALTER DEXTER pots, undated - circa 1970s. 11”X 6" blue flowers /scraffito / cream ivory base. 5°X 9" brown/ metallic black ridge. Inside glaze, spiral red and black. WAYNE NGAN, undated - circa 1978. Flat 9” X 9" scraffito with beige bird. Collector in Vancouver September: PH. 206 361 5708 September 2004