For those that might be interested, here's the latest newsletter from Karen's Power Tools. I am forwarding this to the list because her tools have been mentioned several times over the past couple of months.
There's a link at the bottom to easily subscribe to the letter if you'd like. Bobby KAREN'S POWER TOOLS NEWSLETTER ~~~~~~~~~~ This Week's Power Tools Sponsor ~~~~~~~~~~ Karen's Power Tools are now available on CD! To learn all about it, and securely order online, visit: http://www.karenware.com/cd.asp ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 29, 2005 By Karen Kenworthy Read the Web version of Power Tools online! http://www.karenware.com/newsletters/2005/2005-11-29.asp IN THIS ISSUE * Microsoft's New Babies * Ride the Express! * Free Vee Bee? * All of Karen's "Power Tools" * Subscription Center Brrrr! It's finally cold, here at the secluded Power Tools workshop. No more turtles, sunning themselves on rocks near the creek. They've all burrowed safely underground until spring. No more young rabbits, creeping out from the tree line, just before sunset, nibbling a late day snack of green grass. They've snuggled together, warming each other inside their cozy warrens. Only a few dazed squirrels and humans are braving the cold. The squirrels are retrieving nuts they hid a few short months ago. I have no idea why the humans are out and about. But they're both keeping their outdoor adventures as short as possible. Once again, I'm reminded to be thankful I work indoors. It's another good season to be a computer programmer. :) Microsoft's New Babies ---------------------- Winter's not normally thought of as the season of new life. But if you're a programmer, you've probably heard about Microsoft's newest software babies. They include a new version of their program development suite, and an update of Microsoft's big-time database program. Earlier members of the database family had names such as "SQL Server 7" and "SQL Server 2000". Naturally, when it came time to name the new arrival, Microsoft chose the irresistibly cute name "SQL Server 2005". Meanwhile, older members of Microsoft's software development clan had names such as "Visual Studio .Net 2002" and "Visual Studio .Net 2003". Keeping with family tradition, the newest member has been given the memorable moniker "Visual Studio .Net 2005". OK, Microsoft's marking folks may not have worked overtime coming up with these names. :) But they have worked hard, making sure every programmer knows about these new releases. "Launch Events" were scheduled in dozens of cities and towns around the world. At these affairs Microsoft employees demonstrated the new software, answered questions, and even gave away a few cool door prizes. Microsoft also created special sections of their developer web site, chock full of useful information, sales pitches, links, and downloads. You can explore this specialized region of cyberspace by clicking this link to the "Microsoft Application Platform: Launch 2005 Home" page: http://tinyurl.com/95ezr [Techie Note] The link shown above should redirect you to the proper page on Microsoft's web site. I've provided this shortened version (thanks to the TinyURL service) because the full link to the page is long -- so long it's "broken" by many e-mail readers. In case you're interested, here's the long version: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/applicationplatform/launch200 5/default.mspx Ride the Express! ----------------- The new Visual Studio is great tool for professional programmers. It allows us to write programs in several computer languages, including Visual Basic .Net, C#, C++, and J#. It even lets us design and create powerful web sites. But for new programmers, and folks who'd like to learn how to write computer programs, the new tools have some drawbacks. First, the documentation that accompanies Visual Studio is a bit dense. It assumes the reader knows quite a bit about computers, and modern computer programming languages. Newbies, and less experienced programmers, may find reading Visual Studio's "help" raises more questions than it answers. And then there's cost. Visual Studio comes in several "editions". Each includes the same advanced documentation. But they vary in other ways. For example, two editions include a copy of the SQL Server database program, and special tools making it easier to write programs that store and retrieve data. Another only supports two languages (Visual Basic .Net and C#), but has extra tools for developing applications that control Microsoft Office programs. Naturally, the editions also vary in price. The cheapest, the "Standard Edition", sells for $299 (U.S. dollars). Other editions cost at least $799 -- even more for special versions that support teams of programmers. If you write programs for a living, those prices may be pretty reasonable. But even the lowest of them is a steep price to pay, just to write programs for a hobby, or to learn about programming. And Microsoft wants people learn how to program, and write software. Each new programmer, and program, makes computers, and Windows, more useful and more valuable. That's why Microsoft sends its employees to speak at local computer programming support groups around the world. And why they provide lots of free documentation and tutorials on their programmer's web site: http://msdn.microsoft.com But how can Microsoft provide advanced tools for experienced programmers, and still leave open a path for the curious, experimenters, hobbyists, and the next generation of programming gurus? Microsoft's solution is a new collection of programming tools, designed just for beginning programmers! Each of these "Express Editions" supports just one programming language (you can choose any of the languages supported by the bigger editions of Visual Studio, or an Express Edition just for developing web sites). But that shouldn't be a problem. After all, learning one language at a time is probably the best way to go. :) What's more important, Express Editions come with simplified, easier-to-understand documentation. They even include tutorials designed to teach non-programmers how to get started, and some sample programs you can study, modify, and use! Free Vee Bee? ------------- What would you be willing to pay for one of these Express Editions? Originally, Microsoft thought selling each for about $99 would be fair. Later, when they announced official prices for their new development tools, lowered the price to just $49 each -- a real bargain. But wait ... Last month, when the Express Editions were ready to ship, Microsoft announced another price cut. Now, and for the next year, all of the Express Editions are free! As a bonus, they're offering a free version of their SQL Server 2005 database program too. I know what you're thinking. Yes, there is a catch. Two, in fact ... First, like the bigger Visual Studio editions, Express Editions only run on Windows XP, Windows 2000, or later versions of Windows. Programs created using Visual Studio, including the Express Editions, *will* run under Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Me (but not Windows 95). But you'll need a newer version of Windows to create those programs. Second, the free Express Editions don't come on CDs. Instead, you have to download the software from Microsoft's web site. On average, this means downloading 35 to 70 MB per edition. Fortunately, Microsoft makes the downloads pretty painless. For details, check out these links: Visual Studio Express Editions home page http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/ Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition home page, download http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/download/ Visual C# 2005 Express Edition home page, download http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/download/ Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition home page, download http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/download/ Visual J# 2005 Express Edition home page, download http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualj/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualj/download/ Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition home page, download http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vwd/ http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vwd/download/ SQL Server 2005 Express Edition home page, download http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/default.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/sql/download/ That's it! Even though the price reduction -- to zero -- is only guaranteed for a year, the software you download is yours to keep forever. It doesn't have an expiration date or other time limit. Microsoft is simply reserving the right charge for new purchases made after this 12-month experiment ends. If you register Microsoft will even provide some bonus content, including an expanded graphics and icon library, and e-books designed to help folks write their first program, or create their first web site. Best of all, you may discover a new love. Programming isn't for everyone. But for those suited to it, it can become one of the most challenging and fulfilling pastimes you're likely to find. And if you're fortunate, it can even become the way you spend your days, safe and warm, away from the cold and damp. :) While you're considering a new career or hobby, don't forget my collection of Power Tools. You'll find links to them all on the Power Tools home page: http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ As always, each program is free for personal/home use. And you can download its complete Visual Basic source code too! You can also get the latest version of every Power Tool on a shiny CD. These include three bonus Power Tools, not available anywhere else. The source code of every Power Tool, every issue of my newsletter, and some articles I wrote for Windows Magazine, are also on the CD. And owning the CD grants you a license to use all my Power Tools at work. Best of all, buying a CD is the easiest way to support the KarenWare.com web site, Karen's Power Tools, and this newsletter. To find out more, visit: http://www.karenware.com/cd.asp Until we meet again, stay warm (or cool, if you live down under!). And if you see me on the 'net, be sure to wave and say "Hi!" Karen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit Karen's Power Tools Store and check out her collection of Power Tools T-shirts, mouse pads, hats, tote bags, mugs, and more! A portion of each purchase helps keep Karen's Power Tools newsletter and programs free! http://www.karenware.com/store.asp ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ All of Karen's Power Tools -------------------------- Note: For the most up-to-date list, visit: http://www.karenware.com/powertools.asp * Replicator - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp * WhoIs - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwhois.asp Calculator - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcalc.asp Cookie Viewer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcookie.asp Hasher - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/pthasher.asp Once-A-Day II - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptoad.asp Disk Slack Checker - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptslack.asp Drive Info - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdinfo.asp URL Discombobulator - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptlookup.asp Directory Printer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdirprn.asp Time Sync - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptsync.asp Zone Manager - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptzone.asp Print Logger - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptprnlog.asp LAN Monitor - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptlanmon.asp Window Watcher - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwinwatch.asp 'Net Monitor - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptnetmon.asp E-Mailer II - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptmailer2.asp Countdown Timer II - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcount2.asp Computer Profiler - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptprofiler.asp Recycler - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptrecycler.asp Show Stopper - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptstopper.asp Alarm Clock - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptalarm.asp Font Explorer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptfonts.asp Power Toy - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/pttoy.asp Time Cop - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/pttimecop.asp Mailer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptmailer.asp Version Browser - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptbrowse.asp Autorun.inf Editor - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptautorun.asp Registry Pruner - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptpruner.asp Registry Ripper - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptregrip.asp Snooper - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptsnoop.asp Clipboard Viewer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptclpvue.asp * Indicates program was updated recently. NOTE: You should use Control Panel's "Add/Remove Programs" applet to remove the old version, before installing a new version of a Power Tool. Note: Be sure to install the Visual Basic Runtime v6.0 before installing your first Power Tool. It's required by all the Power Tools, and must be installed first. You can download a copy of the Visual Basic Runtime v6.0 installer, vbrun60-setup.exe, from any of the pages where you download the Power Tools themselves, or from my special Runtimes page at: http://www.karenware.com/runtimes.asp -- K-A-R-E-N-'-S--P-O-W-E-R-T-O-O-L-S -------------------- Copyright 2005 Karen Kenworthy http://www.karenware.com/ Subscription Center ------------------- To subscribe to this newsletter, visit http://www.karenware.com/subscribe/ or send a message from the email account where you'd like to receive the newsletter to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
