The Philadelphia Area Computer Society meets monthly at the Giant Food Store in Willow Grove, PA. PACS is a computer user group where members fix problems, share knowledge, and learn from each other. All platforms and levels of experience are supported. Guests are welcome to attend.

NEXT MEETING:
September 25, 2010
NOTE: 4th Saturday!
Linux SIG with
"Zero to Linux in 45 Minutes"

In honor of Software Freedom Day, members of the PACS Linux SIG will show a Wubi install LIVE. "Wubi is an officially supported Ubuntu installer for Windows users that can bring you to the Linux world with a single click. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other Windows application, in a simple and safe way." Then a brief guide to the basics of the Ubuntu Desktop Environment will be shown.

Following the main meeting the Linux SIG will continue in the Willow Grove Room until 3PM with an Installfest where you will be able to install Linux to your: Computer (Desktop and/or Laptop), Netbook, Hard Drive (any), USB Flash Drive (1GB min.), or CD. These installs can be: Full blown installs, Live installs with persistent storage (flash drives), or VMware / Virtualbox VMDK images (ready for your VM). Do you have older hardware, that you can't or aren't currently using? Bring it in and give it a new life. Bring your computer, flash drive, or hard drive and go home with a new operating system to play with.

More info about Wubi

Print and post an announcement for the September meeting.

Far McKon speaking in January, 2010
Far McKon speaking in January, 2010

David Soll being introduced in October, 2009
David Soll being introduced in October, 2009

Bill Degnan of VintageComputer.net speaking in May, 2009
Bill Degnan of VintageComputer.net speaking in May, 2009

Brady Bunner of LANtek speaking in March, 2009
Brady Bunner of LANtek speaking in March, 2009

Dava Marra of Apple speaking in February, 2009
Dava Marra of Apple speaking in February, 2009

Jody Gibney of Symantec speaking in January, 2008
Jody Gibney of Symantec speaking in January, 2008

Steve Deming of Microsoft speaking in December, 2007
Steve Deming of Microsoft speaking in December, 2007

Fundraisers for PACS:

Newly added as a PACS fundraiser is an ebay link that will provide a referral fee to PACS for anyone who wins a bid or opens an ebay account. All PACS fundraisers have been consolidated in a new web page.

Show that you belong to PACS:

PACS caps, shirts, mugs, and other items are now available for sale thru Cafe Press.

cap
APCUG Logo
PACS is a member of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups. APCUG promotes and assists computer user groups worldwide. More information is at the APCUG website.
Link: O'Reilly Press
Link: Peachpit Press

PACS members get a 35% discount off the list price of any Peachpit book. At checkout, before entering your credit card number, enter the user group coupon code UE-23AA-PEUF (case-sensitive). This coupon code is an exclusive offer that may not be used in conjunction with any other coupon code.

Link: Webucator

Webucator offers onsite, instructor-led, and self-paced online training courses in a wide variety of computer topics. Classes include Adobe, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Java, Crystal Reports, .NET, XML, SQL Server, Microsoft Excel, Access, and others.

Link: AGI

AGI Training offers training classes for design and creative software. AGI classes include Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, InDesign, CSS, Silverlight, and Expression. They also publish the Digital Classroom book series.

WHAT'S NEW AT PACS:

Do you have what it takes to create a computer game?

The new Game Creation SIG is concerned with creating computer games. People are needed with a variety of talents. The group will start with an easy game using one of the free game creation programs. More information is at the PACS Groups page

Do you want to know what's behind all the buzz about Facebook, Twitter, etc.?

Social media is on the rise through Facebook and others that include MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Social Media is a great way to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues around the world. This monthly course with Susan Dykas as leader will cover the highlights of how to use social media, with an emphasis on Facebook. More information is at the PACS Groups page

Have you been missing the Security SIG?

With so many concerns we computer users have about programs we run and web sites we visit, an active Security SIG is just what we need. The Security SIG has been reactivated again with Ken Fox as leader. Check out the writeup on the PACS Groups page for the types of session topics that are being considered. Bring your specific areas of interest to the meeting to help steer the SIG's direction. This is not being geared to a particular platform so Mac, Linux, and Windows users are all welcome.

Ken Fox is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP). He works as a Senior Applications, Security, and Forensics Analyst at The FCS Group, Inc.

Do you offer computer services as a business?

PACS would like to make it easier to connect members offering such services with members who would like to hire them to add hardware, install software, form a home network, troubleshoot, etc. PACS will be adding a web page to its site listing members who are available for these types of projects. If you offer such computer related services, please send a message to the webmaster with your proposed listing. The rules will be: a) Listings will be restricted to current PACS members. A listing will be removed if the membership lapses. b) Listers with websites will be expected to provide a reciprocal link to PACS. c) There will be a statement that PACS does not endorse the capabilities of any lister and does not assume liability for any services performed by any lister. d) Listings will be limited to 1000 characters. e) There will be no charge to be listed. f) All charges for services will be negotiated between the parties involved. There will be no fee due PACS for any service arrangements.

Is a month too long between PACS meetings?

A bulletin board is being added to the PACS web site to let members discuss problems, etc. in the intervals between regular meetings. It's located at pacsnet.org/forum/ or use the link to "Forum" on the main navigation bar to check it out. Guests can read all posts but only registered users can add new posts. You can easily register when you need to - it involves chosing a screen name and providing your name and email address. You can optionally add much more to your profile including a photo, your location, interests, etc. One thing you might want to adjust in your profile is your time zone so that posting times agree with your local time. The software in use is phpBB and has many more options than we know how to use. Please consider this a work-in-progress.

Download info from a main meeting

We try to get copies of a presenter's slides, notes, and handouts although it's not always possible because of a company's legal restrictions. Use the Downloads link from the Resources web page or go directly to the Downloads page.

Promote PACS!

Check out John Davey and Reed Gustow doing a promotional spot for PACS. Feel free to embed this clip from viddler.com on any web site that you maintain.

Photo: John Davey and Reed Gustow