T
B
C
S

 

Tampa Bay Computer
Society Bulletin

11/4/2007
 

This document is available online.
Note:  Most hyperlinks will only
appear on the web page.

T
B
C
S
 

 

Contents

1) General Interest
      Audio/Video Studio Survey
       June Hollister will repeat her Microsoft Office Live Basics seminar

2) TBCS Classes
      Microsoft Movie Maker by Jan McNulty - THIS Monday

3) SIG Stuff

4) Links

Maps to our Resource Center & General Meeting:
 http://tampa-bay.org/maps.htm

1) General Interest

Audio/Video Studio Survey

I want to thank the 46 people who answered our online survey.  I thought I'd take a moment to share some of the results with you.  The survey shows that, of the services we currently plan on providing (digitizing records and cassette tapes, copying VHS tapes to DVDs, and digitizing 35 mm slides), we have interest across the board.  There is some demand for us to convert 8mm and 16mm movies also, but it's unknown as of now if we will be able to provide that service - we want to concentrate on the other conversions first.

I'm getting too many emails to answer individually about the studio.  Let me address a few key issues here:

Before you can use the equipment, you will have to demonstrate basic competency with the equipment.  This means that we will have to make some trainings available.  Some of these will probably be free; some will probably have our standard $5 per classroom hour charge.  Instructors and schedules will be announced in the Weekly Bulletin as they become available.

We don't plan on TBCS selling DVDs and/or CDs.  You will be expected to bring your own materials.

I think we are close to rolling out the first service - which will likely be the conversion of records and cassette tapes.  We are using "Spin It Again" to remove the pops, crackles, & hiss after we digitize 'em.  I'll let you know as soon as we're ready.

One out of five people want to print out their 35mm slides instead of just viewing them on their computer.  Now, as much as I would LOVE to sell TBCS memberships to give them all access to our new slide scanner, here's a great solution for those who are not concerned about printing them.  There's a device known as a "slide copier" that you can purchase for $50-$60 from eBay.  It attaches to your digital camera, and permits you to snap photos of your slides instead of scanning them.  While the resolutions isn't as good, you will find that it is EXCELLENT for online viewing - and probably 5 to 10 times faster than scanning.  The following link should find several dozen for you:
http://search.ebay.com/slide-copier_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40

Finally, we need a couple of 13" color TV sets to be used as monitors for the VHS conversions.  If you have a working one that you would like to donate to the cause, please bring it by the Resource Center.

-----

June Hollister will repeat her Microsoft Office Live Basics seminar
Friday night November 16th, 7 to 9 pm - FREE

Recently, Microsoft began offering their Microsoft Office Live Basics websites for FREE. Not only will Microsoft give you a website, website design tools, and so much more, they will even give you a free domain name.  Wow! There's just no excuse not to have your own website if you want one.

June Hollister put together a 2-hour seminar on everything you need to know to take advantage of this spectacular offer.  Several people have asked us to repeat this seminar and June has agreed.  She shows how you sign up, how you go about selecting your domain name, how you use their website design tools, and more.

Here's more info on Microsoft's offer:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officelive/FX101534261033.aspx

bulletEasy-to-use Web site design tools
bulletFree domain name and Web hosting
bullet500 MB of Web site storage space
bullet25 company-branded e-mail accounts
bulletWeb site reports
bulletOffice Accounting Express 2007 (free download)
bulletMicrosoft Office Live adManager beta (search engine advertising tool)

We are not requiring registration for this one, however we filled the room with over 60 people the last time so I suggest that you come early.

Doc

Top of Page

2) TBCS Classes

Microsoft Movie Maker by Jan McNulty - THIS Monday
 Monday, November 5th, 10am - 1pm  $15  (3 hours  with 2 breaks)
This is NOT a hands on class.
You MUST register for this class.

Windows Movie Maker is a free download (for WinXP users) from Microsoft.  It's an excellent tool for editing your home movie clips together and adding in narration and music.  Jan will show how to create a movie from the very beginning.  We have Microsoft Movie Maker on one of our A/V Lab computers so you can start learning how to use that software here.

-----

Photo Story 3 (Hands-On) by Jan McNulty
Monday, November 12th, 10am-1pm  $15
This is a hands-on class.  You MUST register in advance.
 Photo Story 3 is the FREE software that comes from Microsoft that helps you to build movies from your photos.  Jan will show you how to put YOUR photos together with narration and/or music to amaze and amuse your friends.  Not only can you get very professional looking results, but the software is really very easy to use.

-----

Scrapbooking by Jan McNulty
Thursday, November 15th,  10-noon  $10
This is not a hands-on class.  Please register in advance.

I will show you in detail how you can make your photos tell a story plus look great... how you can create a great intro to your story using Windows Movie Maker or Windows Photo Story.  Lots of fun... plus those that attended the first Scrapbook SIG will learn more details of what you can do with your photos.  Jan

Please do not confuse Jan's Scrapbooking CLASS which costs $10 with her Scrapbooking SIG which is FREE.

-----

Phil Sullivan's New Hands-On Beginners Classes
Four 2-hour classes on Tuesdays 10am-noon   $40 (NO make-up)
Since these are hands-on classes, they will be limited to only 12 people.
You MUST register for these (see below).

Phil's next classes will take place on: Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, & 18

-----

Classroom Registration
All of our classes meet at our Resource Center in Clearwater.  The full class fee is due at the first session (cash or check please).  All classes come with a money-back guarantee if you're not happy with the instruction for any reason.

In order to register for any of the classes (or if you have questions), please send an email to the Club Secretary.

Top of Page

3) SIG Stuff

Our SIGs (Special Interest Groups) all meet at our Resource Center
(map: http://www.tampa-bay.org/maps.htm).
All of our SIGs are free to our members.

SIGs are a great place to get more personalized attention, and get your questions answered. The following SIGs will meet this week:

Monday, November 5, 6:30-8pm
Computer Q&A SIG. Led by Cathy Benedict
Bring your computer questions, and we'll help you out.  This SIG is suitable for novices through intermediates.  Don't be intimidated.  Come and bring your questions.

Tuesday, November 6, 1-3pm
 Novice SIG. Led by Bill De Lucia
Bring Bill your computer questions.

Tuesday, November 6, 7-9pm
Visual Basic SIG. Led by Tom Kiehl
Tom will be continuing with C# lessons.

Wednesday, November 7, 10am-noon
Digital Video SIG. Led by Tom Lembke
Tom Lembke is back in town!  Welcome back, Tom.  I'm betting that some amount of information will be discussed about the A/V Studio... how soon, what services, etc.

Wednesday, November 7, 2-4pm
Genealogy SIG. Led by Howard T. Smith

Wednesday, November 7, 7-9pm
Investment SIG. Led by Motaz Ben Saoud

Thursday, November 8, 1-3pm
Spreadsheet SIG. Led by Bob East
This SIG will continue on the 2nd Thursday from now on.

Thursday, November 8, 7-9pm
Web Design SIG. Led by Jim Cook

Friday, November 9, 1-3pm
Intermediate Computer SIG.  Led by Carol King
Bring Carol your questions.

Top of Page

4) Links

The Official U.S. Time Map:
http://www.time.gov/
By now you should have set your clocks back.  This site has everything you could want to know about time.

Awesome 15 lateral football play (even non-fans should be impressed):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbblLniZbdk 

Fascinating facts and interesting stories:
http://www.didyouknow.cd/facts.htm
If you're a trivia fan, you will find interesting facts galore at this site.

Top of Page

 

T
B
C
S


See you at the Resource Center!

Doc (Dave Dockery)
President, Tampa Bay Computer Society
www.tampa-bay.org

T
B
C
S

Club Business Page        TBCS Main Page