Digi-Tales
Secrets from the Edge of the web
TIME SAVING WEBSITES:
"evite.com"
While online conversation is timely and
ever available, there is still no
real substitute for getting together
in person.
http://www.evite.com
EVite, is short for electronic invitation
or 'Vite for short. If the people that are
to attend all have email addresses or
fax machines, you can simplify the
process of authoring and sending out
the invitations. Even better, it will also
send out reminders on your behalf
prior to the event.
Becoming an EVite member is pretty
straightforward. Sign up by giving
them some information about you;
your name, email etc. Once you
have completed registration you are
ready to schedule your first event.
First, you choose the name and type
of the event, and then the system guides
you clearly through each step allowing you
to create and send out your invitations.
Give it a try for your holiday gatherings.
It really makes the planning easy.
NEW FAQs:
"What is involved in creating a website?"
I get asked this all the time. Like many things,
"It depends...," is the answer.
Most people that are asking, would either like
a small personal website or a small marketing
website. These are very similar things and
not too hard to set up on many free or nearly
free web servers.
The real issue in both cases is, "What do you
plan to say?"
Start with your favorite word processor
such as Microsoft Word or Works.
Your goal is to create an outline of
your information and then a more detailed
set of information called, "Content".
These small websites exemplify the early
Internet adage, "Content is king." What
your website says is more important than
how you say it. The only thing worse than
a crazy graphic-rich website that says nothing,
is to have no website at all.
There a website memorializing such bad websites.
It is called Worst of the Web". Its URL is:
http://www.worstoftheweb.com/new/
If you have something useful to say, and
spend an adequate amount of time writing
an outline and the paragraphs to support
it, you will have a fine website.
The next amount of work is to develop
the page organization or information
architecture, followed by the page
design and layout. We will consider these
at greater detail in a future tips article.
If you need more immediate help with your
website or just have questions, please feel
free to call or email us.
NEW GADGETS: "Robot Floor Vac"
We're a long way from "Rosie" of the Jetsons
version of the future, but home robots are
becoming a reality.
The "Roomba Floor Vac Robot" is at approximately
$200, a strangely affordable new item. Its
available through the Sharper Image catalog
and according to it, "vacuums and sweeps
automatically -- even when you're asleep
or out of the house."
Info from Sharper Image
It sounds really interesting. Next we will be
looking for even more rare items; something to
pick up Legos or scrub a kitchen floor.
Please share your neatest gadgets, and we'll
be sure to pass them on.
HOME NETWORKING
Make DSL Setup Easy
There are two main hurdles to starting DSL service.
The first is the wiring/connection outside your
location and the second is the wiring/connection
within your location.
Handling the outside your walls challenge is all
about one word - relationship. Choose an ISP
that you trust and whose customer service is
excellent. When you establish service you get
the DSL equivalent of a dialtone, but when things
go wrong, it's all about customer service.
I most strongly recommend Bellsouth here in
Atlanta, because their customer service is
excellent, 24/7 service hours, and they also
are the folks that operate the central office
(or CO) that the DSL runs to.
http://www.bellsouth.net
If you are a Mindspring/Earthlink customer take
heart. They are pretty good too, but slightly
less accessible.
The key phrase in ordering the service is,
"External Ethernet DSL Modem". This will afford
you maximum flexibilty when setting it all up
within your wall.
Your internal configuration is straight forward
to the modem they will send you. You place
filters on all the phone lines in the house
EXCEPT for the one that will take the DSL signal
into the house. Then attach the DSL modem to
that line. The modem's signal light will
blink until the DSL circuit is verified, then
it will shine solid.
From the modem to the rest of your network
will vary greatly according to your needs.
If we can help make the transition easier,
please call or email us.
ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT:
"bigideafun.com"
http://www.bigideafun.com
What to do, when you have a few minutes and
don't want to install a game? Play one online.
At our home, we are fond of the Veggie Tales
characters so we were happy to discover their
website full of games and multimedia pages.
Veggie Pile-up is similar to Tetris and
pretty entertaining.
If you haven't tried it yet, I hope you
will, and let us know if you liked it.
--dedicated to the glory of God--
Philemon 1:6
6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that
you will have a full understanding of every good
thing we have in Christ.
