Intel Opts Out of Vista

Intel reported last week that they are not planning on deploying Microsoft Vista company wide. Intel, with 80,000 workers has decided to stick with Windows XP until Microsoft releases Windows 7 in 2010 because it found "no compelling reason to change", according to anonymous source.
Intel will use Vista in certain departments for test purposes.

Many businesses, as well as government agencies, have cited Vista's cost, resource requirements, and lack of compatibility with older applications as reasons not to upgrade to the OS.

In many ways, Microsoft has itself acknowledged that Vista is a dud.

Windows 7 will use the same core architecture as Vista so that customers that have purchased Vista-compatible applications and hardware won't have problems upgrading to Windows 7.

In an unusual move, Microsoft recently decided to extend support for Windows XP, which debuted in 2001, until 2014 -- another sign that Microsoft realizes that many of its customers won't be moving to Vista anytime soon, if ever.

Windows XP-Professional is still available on new systems as well as copies of the software by itself from NW Computer. No additional charge!

Cable Me!

Off-Lease Computing

Here is this months best value on off-lease computers. Remember that these systems all come standard with 3 year warranties. Stretch your IT budget with hardware from companies you know.

HP D530C SFF

1 GB DDR RAM

Intel 2.8 GHz P4 processor
40 GB hard drive

CD-ROM

Microsoft Windows XP-Professional

Keyboard/mouse

3 year warranty

17"LCD monitor (new)

$450 each (minimum 10 units)

How to Use Your Projector

Successful Q & A

• 
  Getting the Session Started
  Walk toward the audience. The question and answer period of a presentation can often be the most informal. Show that you are open to truly answering questions by walking toward the audience.
  Raise your hand. When you ask "who has a question" — raise your own hand. This creates a mirror response in the audience.
  Expect a response. Show your audience that you expect them to ask questions. If possible, choose an individual or a group to question. For example, move to the appropriate side of the room and say "I know that someone in Engineering wants to discuss . . ."
  Steer clear of "yes" and "no" questions. Begin your appeal to the audience with "why" or "how". Try something like "How did the sales forecast look to you?" This type of question begs for an explanation while a simple "Did the sales forecast make sense to you?" begs for a simple yes or no.
  Wait for a reply. Give your audience enough time to respond. A good pause will not hurt anything.


• 
  Answering Questions . . .
  Look directly at the person posing the question. This demonstrates respect and forces you to focus on the question.
  Don't glance at notes or fumble for facts. Acknowledge that you are listening to the question.
  Take your time. Take a breath, pause.
  Compliment the question, if possible. A simple "good question" is often enough.
  Repeat the question. Rephrase the question and at the same time — consider your response.
  Answer the whole group. While one person asks the question, the whole group waits for the response.

courtesy of Epson

Grant Opportunity

Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program



Eligibility:

Elementary through four-year college teachers and school administrators are eligible to apply for positions abroad. However, not all categories of applicants are eligible for all countries. Please see the Teacher Exchanges & Summer Seminars and/or Administrator Exchanges section of our website for country specific eligibility requirements. To meet the basic eligibility requirements of the program, an applicant must meet all of the following seven requirements. Failure to meet any one of the requirements makes a candidate ineligible. At the time of application, a candidate must:



be a U.S. citizen;

hold a valid U.S. passport (or be in the process of obtaining one);

be fluent in English;

hold at least a Bachelor's degree;

have a current full-time teaching or administrative assignment in the U.S. or one of its territories;

be in at least the third year of full-time teaching or administration (teachers applying to the seminar only need to be in their second full year); and

have not participated in a Fulbright grant longer than eight weeks in the past five years. Have not participated in a Fulbright grant of eight weeks or less in the past two years. Have not received more than the lifetime limit of two Fulbright grants. (Eight weeks or more = 1 grant; Eight weeks or less = 1/2 grant and a lifetime limit of two grants of eight weeks or less)For the purpose of determining eligibility, "full-time" refers to applicants who are currently employed full-time by a single institution (school, school district, or college). Teachers or administrators who hold a combination of part-time jobs which may add up to a full-time equivalent are not eligible.



Purpose:

For U.S. teachers, this opportunity involves a year, semester or six-week direct exchange of teaching positions with a counterpart in another country teaching the same subject(s) at the same level. Fulbright program staff in the U.S. and abroad match U.S. and overseas candidates in the spring of each year. Fulbright staff then propose matched-exchanges that each candidate and each school involved in the application process must approve before final selection to the program takes place. For more information about the grant process, see the Selection and Grant Details section of our website. For a country listing of teacher exchanges and more information about country choices, see the Teacher Exchanges & Summer Seminars section of our website.In addition, U.S. teachers of Latin, Greek, the Classics, Social Studies and other related subjects may be eligible to participate in one of two summer seminars in Italy or Greece. For more specific requirements and information about these two programs, please see the Teacher Exchanges & Summer Seminars section of our website.For U.S. administrators, the Fulbright program offers non-simultaneous work-shadowing assignments with an overseas counterpart. These exchanges may be from three to six weeks in length, but each partner must exchange to the other's school during the same academic year. For a country listing and more information about these opportunities, see the Administrator Exchanges section of our website.



More information:

If you have questions about the program or need any assistance, please feel free to contact us directly at:

Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program 600 Maryland Ave. SW, Suite 320 Washington, DC 20024 Email: fulbright@grad.usda.gov

Fax: (202) 479-6806

Phone: (202) 314-3537 (for general questions and further information about the program) Phone: (202) 314-3520 (for current applicants/grantees of the program)

Phone: (202)314-3527 (for issues related to the online application process)


Deadline:
October 15, 2008
Maximum Award:
Expenses
http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/

Grant Opportunity

Youth Service America and Disney

Disney Minnie Grants

Eligibility:
This is an international grant opportunity, so applicants from all countries are welcome to apply, provided they are·
Youth (ages 5-14);
or· Older youth (ages 15-25) who design a project that engages children (ages 5-14) as volunteers;
or· Recognized groups/organizations who work with younger youth* (ages 5-14).
*The term "youth" is equivalent to young people. For this grant, youth (ages 5-14) should have a significant part in planning, implementing, and evaluating the proposed service project.

Purpose:
Youth Service America (YSA) and Disney know that youth of all ages can be involved in volunteer service projects. Children can solve community problems by working with their families, schools, friends, and neighbors. Join in the global youth service movement, and make a difference in your area. Grants of up to $500 are available to support youth-led service projects taking place from October 15-November 15, 2008.

More Information:
Questions? Email MinnieGrant@ysa.org

Deadline:
August 30, 2008
Maximum Award:
Up to $500
Number Of Awards:
Multiple
Period:
October 15-November 15, 2008
URL:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/grants/grant_info.html?grant_id=18321

Book Review

I am sitting at my desk and see a stack of books that I have read over the last few weeks. I realized I haven't taken the time to mention any of these here. One of these books is The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood. Written in 1985, this book has been required reading in high schools and colleges since it was released. It is an eerie tale of women around the turn of the 21st century. A revolution has taken place. A backlash to the free spirit and sexual revolution of the previous decades has led to extreme sexual repression. Religion and a strict biblical interpretation of how to live prevails. Women have a duty to have children. That is their primary function. It is inferred that a nuclear disaster has taken place and that a large percentage of the population is sterile. Women who can bear children have an elevated place in society. They are assigned to "Commanders" or the ruling elite and known as "Handmaids". Sex is not for enjoyment and it is not a social activity. The book was written as a wake up call against groups like the Moral Majority. 20 years later, it doesn't appear that we had much to fear. I liked the resigned writing of the book. Humans can adapt to their situation. The protest is there in the writing. A somewhat dated and fear mongering book. Do read this one.

Enjoy!

Dennis

Computer Kits for June

Computer Kits for June

Upgrades:
Upgrade to 2 GB DDR2 RAM add $25
Upgrade to dual layer DVD burner add $5
Microsoft Windows XP-Professional or Vista Business add $145

How to Use Your Projector

Size Does Matter!
A presentation is a presentation right? It doesn't matter whether you are speaking to 5 or 500 people . . . As long as you have a good presentation it will work accordingly. Not quite!
One of the worst commonly overlooked details of giving a presentation is the size of the audience. It is true that the content of the presentation doesn't have to change because of the size of the audience, but the way it's communicated should be quite different!
Check out the table below. Listed are the basics of audience size and presentation needs/dynamics.

Audience Size and Needs

Small Group (Client Presentation, Work Groups)

When delivering to a group of this size, all of your efforts should be focused on the individuals in your audience. Presentation style, pace, visuals, and group interaction are dictated by your audience. Given the size of this intimate group, it is imperative the audience feels important.

Interactive Group (Training Class, Department Meetings)

An interactive group demands different things than a small group does. For one, the level of involvement with the audience diminishes. While audience interaction is important, a high level of audience interaction is not possible. Instead, the content of the presentation is most important. Visuals should be clear, concise, and help move your audience to better understand the content objectives.

Structured Group (Sales Presentation, Shareholder Meetings)

The key to a presentation of this group size is effectively communicating your message as a speaker with your delivery and visuals. Because this type of presentation is very targeted and the audience knows this, visuals should be specific to the main messages in the presentation.

Big Room Groups (Keynote Speakers, Luncheon Meetings)

If you are speaking to a large audience, you must realize that people are there to see you speak. While the content of your presentation is important, you are part of the reason why they are there. Consequently, it is extremely important that your delivery by dynamic, simple-to-follow, and credible. Your visuals should also be simple so that any audience member is able to see and understand anything that is projected.




Now it's time to order!
$699
2400 Lumens!
Native XGA (1024x768)
2000:1 contrast
DVI, RGB, S-video, composite video, component video
PC & Mac compatible
6.6 pounds

How to Get and Keep Windows XP After June 30

XP-Professional is the darling of business operating systems. It is still in huge demand. Consumers have had less choice in avoiding Vista. Come June 30th, Microsoft is taking the next step in making it more difficult for the rest of us to avoid taking the plunge into Vista.
What does the June 30th cutoff date mean? It’s not the end of the world. The big guys like Dell and HP will no longer offer XP as a standalone option to purchase. Customers who order business class machines with either Vista Business or Vista Ultimate can order systems with XP-Professional preloaded. These machines will have Vista activation keys. They will ship with both Vista and XP discs and drivers. The big players will only be offering these machines with downgrade rights until January 31, 2009. Not all machines will have this option.

Northwest Computer will be offering XP as an option on our machines for the foreseeable future.

Copies of XP-Professional are still available for sale and will be available until at least January 31, 2009. There are rumors about a new version of Windows XP for business that are floating around. Don’t count on this. Microsoft is fast forwarding the deployment of their next version of Windows. They are hoping to have a release before the end of 2009. Vista is now being described openly as another Millenium edition. Microsoft is going to want to put this behind them as quickly as possible.
The one area that Microsoft has left open is surrounding ultra-low cost notebooks with low hardware requirements. The Asus EEE mini-notebook is an example of this. The notebook now comes with an option of using Linux or buying a model with XP preloaded on it. This is XP-Home. The cutoff date for these is now listed as June 30, 2010.

Support

According to PCWorld, “Obtaining support for XP after June 30 will be easier than trying to buy XP after that date. For starters, you have access to what Microsoft calls "mainstream support" for XP until April 14, 2009. Mainstream support includes the release of bug fixes and security patches, so you'll still be receiving updates for the operating system. You can pay Microsoft for help, as well, and the company will also honor all warranty claims until then.
After that date, and until April 8, 2014, Microsoft will offer what it calls "extended support" for XP. During that time, Microsoft will continue to issue security patches but won't release public bug fixes. Businesses that signed support contracts with Microsoft will be able to get bug fixes, but no one else will. Paid support will still be available, but warranty claims won't be honored. Microsoft says Windows XP customers will have to take up such claims--even if they relate to software--with the PC manufacturer at that point.”

Please don’t tell me you will be running machines that you buy this year in 2014.

Grant Opportunity

2008 Technology Grants for Rural Schools

Technology Grants for Rural Schools program was created to help meet the growing need for innovative technology in the classroom. The grants are funded by a donation from Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) and strive to help public schools in rural areas served by OPASTCO members bring modern computers to every classroom, connect schools to the information superhighway and make sure that effective and engaging software and online resources are an integral part of the school curriculum.

Download an application here!
Applications are due into the FRED office on or before September 13, 2008
Eligibility Requirements
1. Must be a public k-12 school
2. Must be in the service area of an OPASTCO telephone company

OPASTCO is an association for small independent telephone companies throughout the United States and Canada.
To find out if you are in the service area of an OPASTCO member contact your local telephone company.
Schools that are served by large telephone carriers such as Verizon, BellSouth, Frontier, AT&T, Sprint, Qwest, etc. are not eligible to apply.

2007 Technology Grant Recipients
Thanks to the generosity of RTFC, rural schools located in OPASTCO members' service areas are able to make huge strides in the effort to close the digital divide. In 2007, $50,000 in technology grants was awarded to public schools.
With close to half a million dollars in funding requested, it is clear that RTFC's program fills a great need in our rural communities for technology that enhances the learning experience. Of the more than 60 applications that were reviewed, the following 7 schools.

Sesame Street

A couple of months ago I heard that the original episodes of Sesame Street were being released on DVD. In and of itself, that wasn't very interesting. What was of interest was that these early episodes came with a warning saying they weren't appropriate for young children. Of course, I had to see these. The first episode introduces many of the characters who have been mainstays ever since. Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Gordon, Bob and Mr. Hooper show up here. There was counting and letters that are introduced. There is also a long tedious segment on milking cows. No kid would sit through that. I don't really know why the show is considered not fit for children other than what we consider politically incorrect was common place back in 1968. Also included on the first disc is a selection of the best bits from the first season. A very young James Earl Jones counts to 10, Jackie Robinson reads the alphabet and Kermit the Frog sings about being green. I watched 1 episode and that was enough for me. Brings back memories of raising kids.

Gallery Walk

Last night my lovely wife Sheri and I went downtown for a gallery walk.  We haven't been to one of these for a couple of years.  The weather was almost okay for June.  Overcast and chilly is better than rain and downright cold which it has been here most of the month.  We stopped going to these walks because most of the art wasn't very good.  The exception last night was going to the Whatcom Museum.  They had 2 exhibits that were both very good.  John Franklin Koenig was a northwest artist that I had not heard of.  He had a long history of producing abstract art in many forms.  I was impressed with his paintings that represented many decades of work.  The styles were similar but always fresh and evolving.  This was a large show and I was able to get a real feel for this artist.  Another exhibit going on down the street at the Arco annex was the World of the Shipwright.  This show had many locally built boats from the last 100 years.  Being next to the water, we have had numerous boat builders set up shop and provide the country with great boats.  Part of the exhibit was focused on Uniflite.  These boat builders were quite successful over the years with both pleasure boats and government contracted boats.  I worked at Uniflite for a short time in the 80's.  It was fun to see how some of these boats have held up.

After the gallery walk, we went to the Honeymoon.  This is a mead bar in Bellingham.  They are a winery that makes mead, cider and wine.  We go here on Wednesday nights for trivia.  On Friday's they have live music.  It was fun to go and see this small local place packed with locals.  All in all, it was a fun Friday night.

Is Summer Ever Going to Get Here?

The weather here is miserable.  It is the coldest June I can recall.  On top of that it has been raining pretty steady all month.  We had huge amounts of rain with thunder and lightning yesterday.  Not much fun.  I get home from work and it's too cold to spend any time outside.  My JetSki is getting lonely.  One nice thing is watching the hummingbirds.  I have a feeder outside my living room window.  We have 5 or 6 birds at a time eating.  They sure have a lot of energy.  

The Mariners are living up to their reputation this season for being awful.  They haven't won more than 3 games in a row all season.  It has been a struggle to be a fan.  This reminds of the old Kingdome days.  There were games we would go to back then when I swear there weren't 5000 people at the games.  You would spend the entire game wandering around looking for something interesting to eat.  It was better than watching the game.  Today you go to the game and I sit tight in my seat.  I know I can't afford to buy food at the games.  I think that the Mariners raised the prices on almost all of the food items by $1.  The other day I was at a game and they were advertising that it was 2 for Tuesday.  You could buy 2 baseball caps for the price of one.  I went to the concession stand.  Lo and behold, I couldn't get a decent looking cap.  The only ones available were pink or white non standard hats.  A classic case of bait and switch.  I'm getting real tired of going to see a poor team that doesn't seem to give anything back to the fans.  The least they could do is win a game of two.

My son Tom is back working at the supermarket this summer.  He tells me that it is a very difficult year for students to get jobs.  Most of his friends haven't been able to get summer jobs.  Tom may not like working where he is, but it is better than many kids his age this year.  

Cable Time

As summer approaches, you are going to have many projects that are going to require updating your wiring and infrastructure. Here are a few items to consider. Cat6 cabling available.











D-Link DES-1026G 24-Port Switch


Gigabit $179.95 10/100 $99.00

Summary

Maximize your network potential with this feature-rich, high-performance switch. Efficiently migrate your network to Gigabit speed with the DES-1026G unmanaged 24-Port 10/100 plus 2-Port 10/100/1000 Switch. This switch delivers a combination of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit solutions, all in one compact solution. Remove server bottlenecks, extend the network's size, and speed up access time for all your users in just one move. The non-blocking architecture of the DES-1026G enables optimal wire-speed network processing, while data flow control filters out faulty packets, minimizing their propagation. In addition, easy-to-read, front LED's show ongoing switch status and simplify troubleshooting. A reliable, easy-to-use solution with hassle-free setup and no configuration required.

Features

• Data Link Protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet


• Port Quantity: 24

• Switching Protocol: Store and Forward


• MAC Address Table: 8k entries

Cisco Aironet 1131AG Wireless Access Point $499.00

Features

• Type: Wireless Access Point


• Enclosure: External


• RAM Installed: 32 MB


• Data Link Protocol: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g

• Remote Management Protocol: SNMP, Telnet, HTTP, HTTPS


• Features: Uplink, Auto Sensing Per Device, Power over Ethernet (PoE), BOOTP Support


• Warranty: 1 Year Warranty

Grant Opportunities

Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant Program

Minigrant Award = $500 Minigrant Application Instructions

Minigrant Application Instructions Click here to download the Minigrant Application Form

1. We accept applications from public schools and libraries anywhere in the United States and its protectorates. 2. Funds will not be granted for: - general operating costs - administrative costs - transportation of the audience - purchase of books, tapes, software or equipment unrelated to a specific program described. 3. Creative programs funded in the past have included: - Ongoing pen-pal projects bringing disparate communities together, - Multi-cultural portrait projects, - Art projects culminating in art shows, murals, or quilts, - Bookmaking, - Creation and performance of puppet shows, - Inter-generational journals.* * These are examples...we welcome new ideas. 4. Applications will only be accepted if they are submitted on the form and in the space provided without reformating or attachments. 5. Only one application will be considered from each library or school. 6. Applications cannot be accepted for consideration if: - they are for programs being held in any type of private or parochial school or library, - they are for duplicated programs, - they are emailed, - they are sent by registered mail, - they require a signature upon delivery, - they are postmarked after the September 15 deadline of each year. 7. If an award check is not to be made out to the library or school: - please indicate clearly the name of the entity cashing the check, - how it is connected to the institution using the award, - who at that institution is serving as contact for the program and - how we can reach them. 8. We cannot send you a replacement if you lose the award check. 9. Make sure you have: - answered all the questions - signed the application - stapled the pages together - checked the accuracy of your return address and email (or we will not be able to inform you of your status.) - kept a copy of the application for your files. 10. Mail the completed application form to: Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant Program 450 14th Street Brooklyn, New York 11215 11. Decisions will be announced by December of each year. You will receive notification by mail whether or not you have been awarded a grant.

Click here to download the Minigrant Application Form

Computer Closeouts

I have a few miscellanious systems here that I want to clear out. Limited quantites at these prices!

Lenovo 3000 desktop

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ 2.1GHz

1GB DDR2 667 PC2-5300

320GB hard drive

DVD-RW

ATI Radeon X1250 graphic set

Gigabit ethernet

Windows Vista Home Premium

1 year warranty

Was $799 now $699

Blue Mountain Spectrum 301

Intel Core 2 Duo E6500 2.33 GHz

2 GB DDR2-667 DIMM

320 SATA hard drive

20x DVD-RW

19-IN-1 Card reader

Logitech USB Keyboard/mouse

Windows Vista Home Premium

3 year warranty

Was $899 now $849

HP DC5700 Desktop

Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 2 GHz

1 GB DDR2 RAM

80 GB hard drive

CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive

Gigabit ethernet

3 year on site warranty

Was $899 now $799

Blue Mountain Eon 14.1"

14.1 Wide Glossy Screeen WXGA 1280X800

Intel 950 Integrated graphics

Core 2 Duo T5500 (1.6GHz)

1GB DDR533 (1 STICK)

100GB SATA hard drive

DVD-RW

Intel 802.11ABG wireless

Windows XP-Professional

1 year warranty

Was $1399 now $1299

Blue Mountain Eon 15.4"

15.4" Wide Glossy Screeen WXGA 1280X800

Intel X3100 Integrated graphics

Core 2 Duo T7100 (1.8GHz)

1GB DDR2-667 RAM

DVD-RW

Intel 802.11ABGN wireless

100GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive

Intel turbo memory

Windows Vista Home Premium

1 year warranty

Was $1399 now $1299

HP Notebook

Mobile Sempron 3500+ 1.8GHz

80 GB hard drive

512MB DDR2

CD-RW/DVD

Radeon X1250

Gigabit ethernet

Wireless 802.11 B/G

Fingerprint reader

Vista Home Basic

1 year warranty

Was $699 now $649 with free RAM upgrade to 1 GB!

Offers good only through this offering. Cannot be combined with other coupons or specials.