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Did you Know??
He was a successful playwright who liked to dabble in other forms. In addition to his plays, he wrote essays, short stories, poems, and novels. Inspired by his son, Christopher, he even tried his hand at a few works for children.
Today, you'd be hard pressed to find a person who knows much about any of the 25 plays created by Alan Alexander Milne. You'd have an equally hard time finding a living person who is not familiar with Winnie the Pooh and his friends.
A.A. Milne's most famous creations reside in the hearts of children of all ages. Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, Roo, Piglet, Christopher Robin, and that "silly old bear" roam the Hundred Acre Woods of our imaginations. |
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Dell Home and Dell Small Business have specials that last from one day to a week or more. We have created a special page at the Master Software website that we will try to keep updated with the Dell specials. Remember, you don't have to be a business to buy from Dell Small Business!
Also, you need to buy from Dell Small Business if you want Windows XP!
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 Reminders A couple of reminders from previous articles:
- We can still build computers and laptops with Windows XP
- XP will go end of life around May of 2008.
- Office 2003 is already end of life. We may still be able to get you copies.
- Be sure to use adware and spyware protection such as AdAware and Spybot
- Make sure your computer is set up for Daylight Saving Time changes
- A 17" standard LCD monitor screen is taller than a 19" widescreen LCD!
- Make sure all your computers have battery backups to avoid data loss and damage from sudden loss of electricity.
- Rent a laptop for short term use, instantly. See ad below.
- Be sure to have backups of all your valuable data.
- Fax us your business telephone bill to see if we can save you money. We usually can!
Click for previous Newsletters |
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Click on these links for some products and services we have found very useful. No obligation, of course.
High Speed Internet is a must. Available from Comcast and Verizon.
Don't let your visiting brother-in-law mess up your computer. Use Promo Code MSMD06 at checkout and save 10%
Connect to your home or office PC from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. Get $10 off!
iPrint is offering 30% off of business cards through 4/30/08, and free rubber stamps (you just pay shipping).
Kodak Gallery:
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Quick Links...
Call us at 410-922-2962
Fax us at 410-609-4677 |
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Dear
Reader,
 I'm going to take this opportunity to brag a little for a change. On March 2, my son Jon and his wife Caren gave birth to our first grandchild, Ayden Michael Leven. Of course, he's the cutest baby ever (as you can see)!! Mother and son (and almost-forgotten father), as well as all the grandparents and great grandparents, are doing fine.
So now that I'm a grandfather, I guess it's time to feel old! Let me look for my suspenders as I tell you about this month's newsletter.
Actually, we've been very busy at Master Software, so busy that we never got around to publishing newsletters in February and March. So we're loading this one up with more tips than usual. In addition, we've added a few tips on our Windows Tips page of our website (go to www.WeMakeMouseCalls.com, then click on Windows Tips on the menu on the left side of the screen).
This month we have the next final warning about the end of availability of Windows XP. We still recommend AGAINST Windows Vista, so if you want an XP computer, you have to act now. On the subject of taxes, we have information on completing your income tax calculations, avoiding tax scams, and the upcoming sales tax on computer service labor (and what you can do to help get it repealed).
We also have a warning on software that auto-renews (and auto-charges your credit card) whether you want it or not, and on the release of AVG AntiVirus version 8.
As usual, we have some specials from our sponsors to talk about that can save you some money if you want to take advantage of them. Plus, you can always get to our complete list of Recommended Products and Services on our web page. And we are continuing the "Did you Know?" feature that we started last time.
So, read on, and I hope you enjoy this issue. |
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The End of Windows XP - - Again!
Even more than a year after Vista first came out, we are still recommending XP for new computers. This is especially true for specialized applications and hardware that many businesses use, but is also a good idea for home systems.
We have discussed before that Microsoft will stop making Windows XP available very soon. They were to have stopped at the end of 2007, but changed their minds and kept it available.
However, the new drop dead, or almost dead, date is June 30, 2008. After that time, OEMs (the computer manufacturers whose names you recognize like Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, HP, Compaq, Acer, to name a few), will no longer be able to sell you computers with Windows XP. If you buy from them, you will need to buy a computer with Windows Vista on it.
A class of computer builders called System Builders will still be able to obtain Windows XP through the end of this year. The local distributor we use at Master Software is a Windows System Builder, so we will still be able to get computers with Windows XP through the end of the year. These will be "white box" computers, or computers without the familiar brand names, but they work just as well, have just as many features, and have an infinite variety of options available. Since they are hand assembled and not mass produced, they may be a little more expensive than the name brand computers, but you will find them as reliable, if not more so.
If you want a Windows XP computer, please order it before the end of June so we can get you the computer you want. After June, don't give up. Just call us and we will be able to build you the computer that meets your needs. |
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Tax Time
If you have been paying big bucks for a tax preparer to do your taxes, you might be able to save some money this year by doing them yourself with the help of some income tax software.
Master Software got started in 1982 by writing income tax software, called Tax Master, for Commodore computers. That's why we have "Software" in our name. We marketed this software nationally for about 15 years until the Commodore market, and our customer base, essentially disappeared.
For the last several years, we have been using Tax Cut by H&R Block to do our taxes, and we really like this program. Tax Cut can load your last year's tax information from Tax Cut, Turbo Tax, or from some other financial programs. It uses an "interview" method to find out about your income and expenses, and also will do your state taxes.
The easiest way to obtain Tax Cut is by clicking this link and downloading the program, or ordering a CD. We recommend buying Tax Cut Premium + State, which will give you the software and forms for Federal Income Tax and for one state of your choosing (when you install it):
Please let us know if you use Tax Cut and what you think of it.
And watch for the IRS Scams that crop up around this time of year. Phishing e-mails are one type of scam, and usually tell the recipient that there's an issue with their refund, that they are being audited or that there is a problem preventing their taxes from being processed. In most cases, the fraudulent e-mail will provide a hyperlink directing potential victims to a Web site set up by the scammers, where victims are asked for Social Security numbers, bank account information or credit card numbers. And in some cases these illicit sites are designed to automatically install viruses and malware on the victim's computer or to steal personal information without the victim even knowing what has happened.
Check out the Better Business Bureau of Maryland's article on Tax Scams from their Consumer Club Newsletter by clicking here.
Computer Services Sales Tax Update
 A lot of people have been complaining about the computer services tax which is supposed to go into effect on July 1, 2008. As you know, we already charge sales tax (which increased from 5% to 6% on January 3) on hardware and software (products), but not on labor.
If the new tax goes into effect, we will have to start charging 6% sales tax on labor beginning July 1.
There is an effort underway in Annapolis to repeal the computer services tax. It is up to YOU to contact your state legislators (Don't know who they are? Click this link) and let them know that you want them to repeal this tax, since labor for any other service (home repair, auto repair, etc) is not taxed.
Make your voice heard. | |
 In his Gripelog of January 21 and March 21, Ed Foster discusses how some companies use automatic renewal to dip into your wallet.
AutoRenewal is a technique that allows you to automatically have renewals to your software subscriptions charged to your credit card, so that you have the "convenience" of not having to take care of the renewals yourself and so you never miss an update. The advantage for the software companies is that they never lose a customer!
In the January article, Ed discusses how McAfee automatically renews your antivirus subscription even though your card may have expired! McAfee also makes it difficult, if not impossible, to not sign up for automatic renewal in the first place, as well as not being able to extract yourself from it if you decide you don't want to renew the product any more. According to the article, Symantec, maker of the Norton antivirus and security products, is also beginning to use the autorenewal "feature".
The March article describes readers' problems with Sypware Doctor, which also has implemented an autorenewal program.
It is hard to be careful about not signing up for autorenewal, since some of these companies apparently do not disclose that they operate in this manner, and some do not have any place to opt out of the autorenewal.
The best way to avoid autorenewal is to use the feature that many credit card companies are offering: One-Time use credit card numbers. When you sign up for this (should be free), your bank provides you with a credit card number you can use for one transaction only. It is linked to your account so that you get the charge on your credit card statement, but it cannot be used ever again, so there is no chance for autorenewal.
Another approach, particularly with spyware and antivirus programs, is to steer clear of the "big names" and the programs that pop up claiming they can solve all your problems. We have been using AVG AntiVirus for several years. It removes viruses and spyware, and is not so cumbersome as to slow down your computer like the big names do. In addition, purchasing AVG from Master Software will NEVER subject you to autorenewals. Never. |
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AVG Has Released Version 8 
AVG AntiVirus version 8 has been released. Our regular readers know that AVG is the antivirus - antispyware solution that we recommend and that we have been using for several years. AVG conquers viruses and spyware, and does not slow down your computer like the more familiar programs such as Norton and McAfee (which try to take over your computer and do too much).
Up until recently, AVG was at version 7.5. The free AVG Antivirus is still at version 7.5, and works well on viruses. It will nag you to buy the newer version, but this free program works fine as is. Just make sure you have it set to automatically update the virus definitions regularly.
A number of our customers are using AVG AntiMalware version 7.5. This version combats viruses AND spyware, making it the ideal product for most systems. Some time later this year I will be contacting my AVG 7.5 customers about the free upgrade to AVG 8, and making arrangements to upgrade their systems if they wish.
The new AVG AntiVirus version 8, unlike AntiVirus version 7.5, combats both viruses and spyware, just like AntiMalware 7.5. For full virus and spyware protection, this is the program to get. You can buy AVG for 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 computers, with a lower cost per computer as you increase the number of computers you protect. It also is available in 1-year and 2-year subscriptions, with all updates available for the full length of your subscription.
If you are interested in AVG AntiVirus version 8 for your computer or computers, please contact us at Master Software. We can help you select the best product for your needs, and can either send you the program file to download and the license key, or come in and install and configure it for you. Just call us or drop us an email and we'll take care of all your antivirus and antispyware needs. | |
I hope that's enough for this month. I hope the information we provided is interesting and helpful. Let us know what you think. Keep those cards and letters, and emails, coming!
Don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend who might be interested. A convenient link is located at the bottom of the page. And if you're not a subscriber (yet), just click the "Join Our Mailing List" button on the left near the top or bottom of the page and enter your email address for your free subscription.
Now let me get my cane, find my specs, get to my rocker, and finish my taxes. Where did I put my copy of Tax Cut??? |
Steve Leven
Master Software
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