Hewie's Views and Reviews
By Hewie Poplock

Welcome to this issue of Hewie's Views & Reviews. Be sure to visit Hewie's Favorites at http://www.hewie.net/ .

++++ Free Wi-Fi Going Away
++++ Acronyms
++++ BBS Memories
++++ Finding a Place to Eat
++++ New additions to Hewie's Favorites

++++ Free Wi-Fi Going Away

Last week the Mayor of Orlando, Florida announced that the free wi-fi Internet access experiment for downtown Orlando, especially around Lake Eola, would be coming to an end. Scheduled for six months, the city kept it going for 17 months.

City officials said that the 200 person capable system was averaging 27 people per day and did not justify the $1,800 per month expense. I am not sure it is realistic that business people will sit on park benches in hot and humid downtown Orlando and use their laptops to access the Internet. Perhaps it is not a true assessment of the need or desire for free wi-fi access to the Internet.

On the other hand, many of the restaurants that offer free wi-fi are discontinuing the service for the opposite reason. They claim too many people are filling tables for the Internet access and not buying food or drinks.

I am afraid that the $10 a day paid wi-fi access is working and will probably prevail. Some communities are trying to set up free wi-fi service for entire cities or areas, but business are crying that it is unfair competition for a municipality to give away what they sell.

++++ Acronyms

I am always being asked what does a particular acronym means. Many times those pesky 3 or 4 letters escape our memories or we just don't know. I found a site that searches over 450,000 acronyms to give you the correct response. Try it at http://www.acronyma.com/ by letters or word. You will be surprised how many you can find.

++++ BBS Memories

If I mention that I was a BBS SYSOP for over 10 years with one of the largest systems, and you know what I mean, you have been around computers too long. A BBS or Bulletin Board Service was how we early computer users communicated with other computer users, e-mailed, and exchanged freeware and shareware.

I remember connecting to Ward Christensen's BBS in Chicago at 300 baud using Long Distance on my Osborne Computer in 1982 and being amazed that I could see data coming from another computer so far away. It was text and so slow that even I type faster than it printed on the screen.

We have come a long way since then. For those of us who remember and those who wish to learn about the old days, Jason Scott has put together a website and a DVD documentary about the BBS era. The website is dedicated to selling the $50 set, but there is a lot of information and memories on the site of "BBS: The Documentary" at http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/ and well worth taking a look. I ordered my DVD and am looking forward to spending hours reminiscing.

++++ Finding a Place to Eat

As I mentioned in an earlier newsletter, my home was severely damaged by fire and I am in a rented condo about 45 miles away from my neighborhood. Last night I wanted a Subway sandwich, but didn't know where I could find a shop in Titusville, Florida. I went to Chowbaby.com http://www.chowbaby.com/ which searches for restaurants in any area and found a Subway Sandwich Shop just a few blocks away.

This dining and restaurant search engine uses specific metro area, city and state, or zipcode and area code for search criteria and gives a very long list. Once you find a listing, you can click for a map or email the listing to a friend. Bon Appetit.

++++ New additions to Hewie's Favorites

Software Reviews
http://www.toptenreviews.com/
TopTenREVIEWS - Reviews of Top Software Products, Compare Software Side-by-side

AllExperts.com
http://www.allexperts.com/
Over 3,100 volunteers waiting to answer your question in over 36 main categories, with many subdivisions

Template Monster
http://www.templatemonster.com/
Professional web templates, flash templates and others. Some are free

Multiple Choice
http://softwaresecure.typepad.com/
For educators who are building secure online learning and testing environments at schools and universities

BuyForLess
http://www.buyforless.com/
Bargins, deals, coupons, rebates, sales, discounts and price comparisons includes non-computer stuff too

Home Claims Help
http://www.homeclaimshelp.com/
Get the most return on a claim from your homeowners insurance company with the tips and advice

ThinkGeek
http://www.thinkgeek.com/
Neat suff for sale for the geeks

BBS: The Documentary
http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/
History of "Bulletin Board Systems", or BBSes. And their collections of messages, rants, thoughts and dreams became the way that an entire generation learned about being online

worldometers
http://www.worldometers.info/
Constantly changing global statistics. categories include population figures for births, deaths, the current population and more. Interesting

FotoSearch
http://www.fotosearch.com/
Fotosearch Stock Photography helps you find the perfect photo, fast! Quality stock graphics vendors at one site and rather expensive mostly for the higher-end professional.

Privacy.net
http://www.privacy.net/
See what information that a website can know about you. Includes cookie info but lots other info is known

MyWinterSprings
http://www.mywintersprings.com/
Winter Springs FL online newsletter

acronyma
http://www.acronyma.com/
Search engine with an index of over 450,000 acronyms and abbreviations. Search in several different languages, and you may search by word or by acronym

Restaurants and Dining
http://www.chowbaby.com/
Search for restaurants in any area

WinXPcentral
http://www.winxpcentral.com/
Up-to-date information, articles, reviews, and views about Windows. Lots of good tips and info