INews Newsletter - Dec 03, 1999
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* * * I N e w s * * *
A publication of Internet Nebraska, composed and distributed by
* * * manager@inebraska.com * * *
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Volume 2, Number 24 December 3, 1999
Welcome to another issue of INews, Internet Nebraska's customer newsletter.
This biweekly newsletter communicates service bulletins, announcements and
other useful information to our customers. Please let us know what you think
of it. Archives of INews are located at http://www.inebraska.com/inews
In this issue: PC-less MP3's
Downtime
Where the POPs Stand
Mr. Internet
Gift Certificates
*** MP3 to Go! ***
Many of the Internet-savvy listen to mp3 music files these days-- it's a
great way to find otherwise undiscovered music from bands that don't
release CD's. (See http://www.mp3.com for numerous examples.)
I, for one, have often wished for the ability to play mp3's away from my
computer, however it seems rather impractical to cram an entire PC into
the trunk of a car. For this reason, and for the demands of people who
want something besides skip-prone CD players while doing various
activities, several companies have developed portable mp3 players.
The first portable mp3 player that I looked at was the I-Jam,
(http://www.ijamworld.com) a portable mp3 player that includes FM stereo
radio as well. Not only does this one come in 5 spiffy colors, it was
boasts to have "the highest audio output of all Portable MP3 players." The
I-Jam comes standard with 32MB of storage and software to make mp3s on
your Windows-based PC and costs around $200.
Second on the list was the Creative Labs Nomad, offered in 32MB and 64MB
models. Creative has put together an extensive site at
http://www.nomadworld.com. An interesting feature of the Nomad is the
that it has the ability for digital data storage; you can use it to move
around files as well as music. The Nomad's price was not available on the
website.
Also available is the Rio from Diamond Multimedia.
(http://www.diamondmm.com) The Rio comes in two models, the Rio 300 and
the Rio 500. The main advantage of the Rio 500 is that is was the only
portable mp3 player that supports Macintosh computers. Also, the Rio 500
has twice the onboard capacity of the Rio 300 (64MB versus 32MB) and the
500 includes USB connection support. The Rio 300 sells for $169.95; the
Rio 500 is an additional $100. The Rio, like most other players, includes
software to create and transfer your mp3s to and from the player.
Sure, it's nice to have the ability to play mp3's on the go, but 32
megabytes is roughly an hour of music. "I can fit that much on a tape,"
you say. Fear not! Enter the i2Go portable mp3 player from i2Go
(http://www.i2go.com) This thing looks to be a powerhouse. In dimensions
of 2 1/2in x 1 1/4in x 4 1/2in, the i2Go packs 3 processors, an internal
speaker, and up to 680MB or storage. This storage is achieved by a pair
of 340MB microdrives. The retail price is higher than the others at $649
suggested for the 340MB model, and the cost for the additional disk drive
was not found. The i2Go also boasts a flash upgradable operating system
and a quick USB connection to your PC.
To recap this review, if cost is no object when you're looking for a
portable mp3 player, go with the i2Go. Otherwise, the I-Jam seems to be a
solid value and should keep your mp3 need in check.
*** Annie's Jellies & Jams - Advertisement ***
Annies Jellies & Jams, a cottage industry, is
operated by Annie and Dave Kime, life-long residents
of the Sandhills of Nebraska. The Kime family has
enjoyed wild fruit jellies for years and it only
seemed natural to provide their wonderful flavors
to others. In 1994, Annies Jellies & Jams began
with 3 flavors and has expanded to over 12 varieties.
The wild fruit jellies are made from native berries
of the Sandhills. Using traditional home recipes,
Annie makes her quality gourmet products the old-
fashioned way, in kettle-stirred batches.
-- http://www.anniesjellies.com/
*** Downtime ***
We'll be upgrading the hard disk array on our web server starting around
1:00 AM, Wednesday, December 8th. During the upgrade, Internet
Nebraska-hosted web sites will be unavailable for both viewing and
modification.
The upgrade will last for several hours as we copy data from old drives to
new ones.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
*** POP Statuseseses ***
Several Internet Nebraska locations have been experiencing busy signals at
peak times, so we thought we'd send along this update on the status of new
line and modem installation in our various locations (Our POP-status, as
we call it internally.)
In Lincoln, the 56k modem pool is busy at peak times. This modem pool is
scheduled to increase dramatically in size on or around December 14th.
Equipment is in place, waiting for lines to be delivered from Alltel.
In Hastings, additional lines are scheduled to be installed on or before
December 22nd. This should alleviate any minor busy signal problem
currently existing during peak times in Hastings.
Our Beatrice location has new lines scheduled for installation on December
14th. Although busy signals haven't been much of a problem in Beatrice,
we're installing new lines to keep pace with demand.
New lines have already been installed in our Grand Island location,
however due to equipment unavailability, they cannot be hooked up until
Monday, December 6th. Adequate lines are being installed to meet present
and immediate future capacity in the Grand Island area.
New lines are scheduled for installation in both York and Geneva today,
December 3rd. The line installation is contingent upon Alltel meeting its
scheduled due date, and although we have not yet received confirmation
that these lines have been installed, we have no reason to believe these
lines will be delayed.
Finally, all of our O'Neill customers know the long story of our attempt
to get more lines installed in that area. Working with the Nebraska
Public Service commission, we have made great progress in getting US West
to install the service they promised long ago, and expect new lines to be
installed shortly -- perhaps in the coming week.
Remember that Internet Nebraska is committed to providing its customers
with the best service possible. If you're having problems connecting,
experiencing busy signals, or just have a suggestion that would make your
Internet experience better, let us know. E-mail us at
manager@inebraska.com, and we'll do what we can to take care of you.
*** Schaefer's TV & Appliance Center - Advertisement ***
Schaefer's is an independently owned and
operated television, appliance, and home
theater retailer in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Born out of a small corner drugstore four
decades ago, Schaefer's TV & Appliance is a
22,000 square-foot "superstore" today,
specializing in commercial/professional-grade
appliances, whole house sound systems, home
theater and central vacuum systems. The
success of Schaefer's is key to repeat
business. If a customer happens to have a
problem with a product, Schaefer's will bend
over backwards to get it solved. Our service
center is the largest in the city, and has been
voted Lincoln's #1 servicer for 10 years in a
row! A knowledgeable sales staff, express
delivery, easy financing, and our customer
service representatives are just a few of the
ways in which we at Schaefer's distinguish
ourselves from the rest. Stop by our showroom
at 48th and R in Lincoln, or call us at
402-464-8888, and see for yourself.
-- http://www.schaeferstv.com/index2.htm
*** Mr. Internet ***
Q: Why does my modem appear to connect at 115,200 kbps when I know darned
well it's more like something around 33.6K or 54K?
A: The .inf file that controls your modem is at fault this time. Not all
manufacturers' drivers actually query the port speed rather than the
connect speed. Common port speeds will be 115,200kbps, 57,600kbps, or
38,400kbps. Check out the site http://808hi.com/56k/x2-inf1.htm for more
information and fixes.
Mr. Internet is a regular feature of the INews, and he welcomes questions
of any kind. Just mail them to mrinternet@inebraska.com, and he'll answer
one or two each issue. Those he doesn't use will not necessarily be
answered, and you should still use 'manager' and 'accounts' for regular
business.
*** The Capital Soccer Association - Advertisement ***
Capital Soccer Association specializes in
teaching soccer. However we recognize that
soccer, or any other youth sport is merely
one tool in the development of a young
child. Teamwork and sportsmanship through
knowledge and proficiency of the game are
our main goals.
-- http://www.capitalsoccer.com/
*** Gift Certificates ***
Those who have put off that gift shopping too long have a very easy out,
you know. Internet Nebraska gift certificates are available year 'round,
and grow increasingly handy as December gets older and older. We'll even
be here on the 24th, so get (or keep) that loved one on-line with a
certificate for whatever amount you choose, and avoid that parking mess at
the mall.
*** Advertise on Our Home Pages ***
What better way to advertise your business than on a Web page that is seen
tens of thousands of time every month? None, if you're paying as little
as we charge for it!
We are now offering banner advertising that rotates on all our pages, and
which is priced based on the number of impressions (viewings) per month.
Your banner can reach thousands of Nebraska residents, and this is a
unique way to advertise your Nebraska business to residents in the area.
Prices for banner advertisement can be found at:
http://www.inebraska.com/ad.html
We will also be selling links from our main page. Please contact
erikw@inebraska.com, or give us a give us a call at our office,
402-434-8680, and ask how you can reserve banner spots on some of the
hottest URL's in the state. The advertisers in this issue did, and we
recommend them highly.