The Skype Web site at www.skype.com is very thorough, with instructions to help get a Skype user started.
System requirements: For PC - Windows 2000/XP, 400 MHz processor; for Mac - G3, G4, G5, or Intel processor; OS X v10.3 Panther or later; for Linux - 400 MHz processor. Additional requirements for all platforms include 128MB RAM, 10-20 MB free hard disk space, Internet access, speakers and microphone, a headset or USB phone.
Net buzzz
Vonage, an online phone service, debuted Tuesday in the public stock market. The company offered 31,250,000 shares of common stock priced at $17 a share and will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VG." Read more.
Linux updates
SLAX version 5.1.6 includes the ability to write to NTFS (Windows NT/XP) formatted partitions. This Linux distro is a small Live CD of only 192MB in file size. Learn more about SLAX.
Puppy Linux version 1.09CE (Community Edition) is the first community-developed Puppy release. This release features the Firefox browser, a new graphical background setter and many other cool additions, all in a small download of only 62.1MB. Learn more. Version 2 of Puppy is being prepared for release in the near future. Visit the official Puppy Linux sites at www.puppylinux.com and www.puppylinux.org.
Free online courses
CNET's How-to: Online courses will offer a "Home Theater Style" class beginning Monday through June 16. This free course will teach you in six lessons how to design a home theater with style. The course will provide you with installation and hardware options and layout and design details to consider. It also will offer suggestions for audio setup and fine tuning as well as display and lighting tweaks. Learn more or sign up.
CNET's How-to: Online courses will offer a "Digital Music Made Easy" class beginning Monday through June 16. This free course will teach you various techniques for downloading, ripping and recording your favorite songs. You will learn about the various digital file types, hardware and software requirements and how to legally download songs. You also will learn about MP3 players, how to create CDs from your own collection, how to mix and record audio files and how convert your vinyls to digital files and more. Learn more or sign up.
E-mail me at sheila@amnews.com; fax me at (859) 236-9566; or write me snail-mail at The Advocate-Messenger, P.O. Box 149, Danville, KY 40423-0149.
