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This page last updated on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 21:33:28

Creighton Network Information

It won't be long before wintry weather threatens the Omaha area.  If poor weather conditions force the University to close for all or part of a day, your most reliable source for accurate information is the Creighton University weather hotline at 280-5800.

After the Final Exam

(Updated 5/3/06 at 21:30)
The table above shows your Secret ID Number, the score for Assignment Seven, the Final Exam, and your attendance record for the last half of the semester (since spring break).  I will be curving the final exam by adding 28 points to your score, which is not reflected in the table above.

Tuesday: May 2, 2006

See you at the final exam, in BA 109, starting at 4:45pm.  Assignment Seven is due at the beginning of the final exam.

I have placed old quizzes, etc. that you didn't pick up outside my office door.

Thursday: April 27, 2006

Last day of class!

Internet population hits new high in the US

Next-generation DVD format talks end in failure

Most web users are unable to spot spyware - how good    (or bad) are you?

Flaws in DNS software - something to exploit?

If you were a kid in the 1950's, this was your iPod

The FINAL EXAM is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2 in BA 109.  The exam will start at 4:45pm and you will have until 6:00pm.

Tuesday: April 25, 2006

Check it out - Seagate leaks 750GB Barracuda 7200rpm drive

It's here - the new 17" MacBook Pro

How about this RAID array? and a great "Get to Know RAID" site

Assignment Seven is assigned today

Judge: Web-surfing worker can't be fired
Rules it's equivalent of reading newspaper, talking on phone

NEW YORK - Saying surfing the web is equivalent to reading a newspaper or talking on the phone, an administrative law judge has suggested that only a reprimand is appropriate as punishment for a city worker accused of failing to heed warnings to stay off the Internet.
  Administrative Law Judge John Spooner reached his decision in the case of Toquir Choudhri, a 14-year veteran of the Department of Education who had been accused of ignoring supervisors who told him to stop browsing the Internet at work.
  The ruling came after Mayor Michael Bloomberg fired a worker in the city's legislative office in Albany earlier this year after he saw the man playing a game of solitaire on his computer.
  In his decision, Spooner wrote: "It should be observed that the Internet has become the modern equivalent of a telephone or a daily newspaper, providing a combination of communication and information that most employees use as frequently in their personal lives as for their work."
  He added: "For this reason, city agencies permit workers to use a telephone for personal calls, so long as this does not interfere with their overall work performance. Many agencies apply the same standard to the use of the Internet for personal purposes."
  Spooner dispensed the lightest possible punishment on Choudhri, a reprimand, after a search of Choudhri's computer files revealed he had visited several news and travel sites.
  Martin Druyan, Choudhri's lawyer, called the ruling "very reasonable."

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12462332/

Thursday: April 20, 2006

How about this new invention? The TV-advertiser enforcer

Changes coming to IE due to patent dispute (see an email I sent you as well)

Kids outsmart web filters

New cold can technology - I know this would be of interest to you!

Mac users are waiting for Intel systems and not buying - hmmm, is this an example of the Osborne effect?

A tour of Microsoft's Mac Lab and you can work like Bill Gates!

There was an error in my spreadsheet for class attendance prior to the midterm.  There were 15 class sessions at 5 points each, and the spreadsheet was recording 17 class sessions.  I have fixed that problem.

Tuesday: April 18, 2006

Countdown to finals!  Only three classes left after today.

Final Exam Information:

1. If you are a graduating senior, and you have at least a "B" average in the class, you are eligible to opt out of the final exam.  Contact me for more information.

2. I am working on the Final Exam review notes. 

3. The final exam is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2nd, at 4:45pm.  It will be in BA 109 (same as the midterm exam).

4.  PDF of grades as of 4/17/06

Lenovo quickly erasing the "IBM" brand name

Also in China, you have to license your email server

Vista won't show it's fancy side to pirates (and to those without "state of the art" hardware)

Delay Vista and sell more computers?

Interesting: Apple has ordered 1.2 million LCDs for new 13.3" notebooks

Interesting Supreme Court decision on domain names

Stupid user tricks - recognize anyone (or yourself?)

Actors get "iPod Download" royalties

DRAM makers see prices rising in Q2 - buy your RAM now!

Tuesday: April 11, 2006

REMINDER: Due to Holy Thursday, we will not have class on Thursday, April 13th.  See you on Tuesday, April 18th.

Do you want a domain ending in .eu?  You can get one now.  But, read about the .EU landrush fiasco

New MacBook to land in May.  Also, A review of Boot Camp vs Parallels Workstation beta and CIO jury says "no thanks" to emulation or dual-booting.

Wait until June before you buy that new dual-core PC!

Worst tech of 2006 - what a list!

Thursday: April 6, 2006

Apple introduces "Boot Camp" software beta that will allow Intel-based Macs to install and dual-boot WinXP - Now all I need is an Intel-based mac to try this on!  Official Apple Boot Camp site and First Look review and

Some information on web browser market share

FYI: The library survey ends on Friday, so if you want to get the extra credit you had better do it soon!

Tuesday: April 4, 2006

Sony trounces Microsoft and Nintendo in brand trust survey

Paul Allen and Microsoft

Funny: Don't buy a "flat screen TV" from a guy off the back of a truck!

How to use Google as a proxy

Microsoft makes some important changes to their virtual server

Hollywood to sell movie downloads

Security fears prod many firms to limit staff use of web services - Read the article find out what some businesses and schools/universities are doing to limit things like Skype

Microsoft says recovery from malware may be impossible

On Wednesday of next week at two minutes and three seconds after one in the morning the time and date will be: 01:02:03:04/05/06 (hence, 1 2 3 4 5 6 ) This will not happen again in our lifetimes.

Thursday: March 30, 2006

Microsoft delays the next version of their virtual server

They were on time for this version of Windows

Don't lose this USB flash drive!

Apple joins BAPco - interesting!

Apple introduces volume control in iPods, lawyers complain

Thirty years of Apple

Interesting facts about domain names

Our new PC supplier, Lenovo, is under US probe for spying.  Or is this a ploy?

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY - The Reinert Library needs users to fill out a survey that they are doing in conjunction with other Jesuit libraries.  I will give you ten points if you fill out the survey and email that you completed it.  Be honest, as I can get a list of respondents!  Here is the link to the survey, and please fill it out honestly.  Survey link

Interesting: WWII German Enigma machine available on eBay

So, isn't this funny now?

Tuesday: March 28, 2006

Running Windows on a Mac

60% of Windows Vista code to be rewritten as MS "scrambles" to fix internal problems - and Windows is so slow, but why? and MS employees call for Ballmer to go and Delay was explained in a 1975 book.  Plus, is it no surprise that Office 2007 is delayed yet again

Paul Flaherty, founder of AltaVista, dead at 42

Five years of Mac OS X

New iPods on the way?

New flaw in Internet Explorer (again...)

 Inventor of the WWW says he wished he would have changed a few things...

China and Internet Censorship - let's go through this slideshow and see how "the great firewall of China" operates.  Aren't you glad we live in the USA?

Funny: How did you spend your spring break?

TODAY'S CLASS - TODAY'S CLASS - TODAY'S CLASS - TODAY'S CLASS

Wikipedia defines Internet

Hobbes' Internet Timeline

RFC homepage and 30 Years of RFCs

Domain name registration

Alphabetical list of registrars and Network Solutions, the original registrar

Google list of hosting companies

An Apple store coming to Omaha?
"Along with those 18 locations, most of the following 27 locations are expected to open before the end of the fiscal year. Apple has previously said it expects about 40 stores to open this year." - and at the very bottom of the list: Village Point Mall - Omaha, Nebraska
 

Thursday: March 23, 2006

Windows Vista delayed into January 2007 and what the delay will mean for PC makers and more on the delay and the public reacts to the Vista delay and how this will affect holiday sales and should you even care about the delay? and is this good news for Apple? but the server version of Longhorn is still on track for a 2007 release and heads have rolled in the Windows Business Unit.

AT&T Chief and FF Chair clarify net neutrality

Check out this bug report (tip: don't surf dating sites on your fiancée's computer!)

Law school professor bans laptops and students are upset

The fastest Windows XP laptop?  Why, a MacBook Pro!

How about this Dell PC?  It's only $10,000!  Maybe it's because Dell just bought Alienware

(Some) Attention Must be Paid!

Assignment Five - Due no later than 4:30pm on Friday, March 31 (NOTE NEW DUE DATE).  Please do not start this survey until we have talked about it in class.  Also, the survey will automatically cut off at 4:30pm, so be sure to have completed the assignment BEFORE 4:30pm.

Tuesday: March 21, 2006

Yes, we will have class today!  No, we will not have a quiz.  See you at 4:45.

Stay tuned for a special surprise in BA 110 today!

High resolution images of Windows Vista

DNS used to DDOS?

How about a 32GB flash drive?  This could replace hard drives in laptops, and best of all it uses 95% less power than a hard drive.  That would extend battery life dramatically on your laptop. 

Thursday: March 16, 2006

Be sure to read chapters three and eight!

Movie theaters want to jam phones

They've done it!  Boot Windows XP on your Intel-based Mac

Adding RAM, a cautionary tale

Will your PC run Vista?

Tuesday: March 14, 2006

Hope you had a good spring break!  Let's get back to work, talking about Computer Networking!

Instant Windows Vista upgrades - You will get all the code on your DVD/computer, but if you want all the features you have to go into Control Panel and run a program to enable them, and pay Microsoft.  Hmmm, I wonder how long it will be until someone hacks this!  And are you willing to stand in line at midnight to buy Windows Vista, like some people did for Windows 95?  Bill Gates wants you to!

How much do you pay for PC repairs?

Japan's fastest supercomputer - story here and pictures here

College student uses brute force PASSWD on school computer to change grade

Google is switching to AMD processors for their nearly 200,000 servers...

Did you know that the new Intel-based Mac Mini has a socketed CPU chip?  Hmmm.. how about upgrades?

Mardi Gras is back; what about IT?  Interesting article about redundancy, backups, etc.

Hey Neighbor!  Quit piggybacking on my wireless signal

Complexity causes 50% of product returns?

Interesting: Student Deceptions

Can Apple make a campus comeback?

The Mac OS security test results

Microsoft's first web page

How about a RAID array using 13 floppy drives?

Peeking into Google

A news report on this new thing called "the Internet"

Third NE area code still years away

Midterm exam results:
High score: 122
Low score: 68
Average:99.5
Median: 101
CURVE: Add 30 points to your score
PDF file of what your Midterm grade points are

Unions Battle Producers Over iPod Residuals
It appeared Monday that the Internet was likely to become the new battleground between producers and film and TV unions. Unions representing writers, actors and directors each issued statements vowing to fight a decision by ABC to pay residuals for programs sold on the Internet at the same rate as they do for home video rather than at the far higher pay-TV rate. Writers Guild of America West President [69]Patric Verrone vowed that the union would "aggressively pursue all legal options at our disposal." WGA East President [70]Chris Albers called the home-video residual rate "paltry," dating back to "the age of Betamax." Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg called the ABC decision a "violation of our collective bargaining agreements." Both Verrone and Rosenberg campaigned for office on a platform calling for an increase in residual payments for home video. They were joined Monday by Directors Guild of America President [71]Michael Apted, who warned that the DGA "will be filing claims against ABC and any other company" that pays residuals at the home-video rate. ABC responded that it was willing to allow a neutral arbitrator to decide how the existing agreements on residuals should be interpreted. Despite the fact that they were negotiated relatively recently, none of them specifically refers to online downloads.
 

Thursday: March 2, 2006

Midterm Exam today!  See you in BA 109.

Image too large on your page?  Check this out!

Tuesday: February 28, 2006

Current class standings - When you look at your grades, remember that we have one more day of TechTips, the midterm exam grade, Assignment Four and if you choose, a revision of Assignment Two.  Also, there is a good chance of a quiz on Tuesday.  So, factor all of that into your midterm grade calculation.

Six versions of Vista are coming your way soon.... and here they are

New Apple products announcements happening today, live coverage here

Thursday: February 23, 2006

AOL is increasing their dial-up service price, which is already one of the highest.  They want users to move to broadband, and use their own transport.

iTunes celebrates it's one billionth song sale!  The winner gets a bunch of Apple prizes and a phone call from Steve Jobs.

Windows bumps Unix as top server OS for 2005.  Linux is in their place, replacing IBM mainframes.

Inside Windows Vista (includes screenshots)

COLOR BLINDNESS
5% to 8% (depending on the study) of the men and 0.5% of the women of the world are born colorblind.  That's as high as one out of twelve men and one out of two hundred women. 
The commonest forms of congenital defective color vision, the red-green deficiencies, are due to "sex-linked X chromosomes" and "simple recessive hereditary traits". Men are mainly affected because women have two X chromosomes and men have only one X and a Y chromosome. If a man's one X chromosome is color defective, he will be color deficient, where as , a woman must inherit two color defective X chromosomes to be color deficient. For a woman to be color deficient, her father must be colorblind and her mother colorblind or be a carrier.

Online color blindness test - let's take this one in class today.  The Ishihara Test for Color Blindness - take this one as well.  Here is an interesting site by Vischeck that will take a URL and show you what a colorblind person will see. 

FTP INSTRUCTIONS
This is what we will cover today, and here it is as a page of notes in case you want to refer back to it.

Assignment Two Re-Do: One of your fellow students made a persuasive argument about the computer specifications detail in the assignment.  So, those of you that want to re-do your PC Pricing Assignment can do so, providing you do the following: Turn in the original graded assignment, and the revised printout listing the detailed specifications.  I will not correct other points taken off (for being late, for misspellings, etc.) only the specifications.  I will need these by class time on Thursday, March 2.  No late Re-Do's will be accepted!

This is even funnier if you understand bus networking - which you will after Spring Break!

Tuesday: February 21, 2006

Here's a fun way to manipulate the shipping system to get your order faster...

Multifunction printers - here's a good article on these "all in one" printers.  Are they a good buy for you?

What's on that mouse you are using?

Microsoft: a new motherboard = a new Windows license

RIAA bans the reselling of iPods with preloaded music

Can your company "chip" you?

Information on Office 2007 pricing and versions

According to the RIAA, ripping CD's to your iPod is not fair use.  What?  You bought it!  More info here.

Ten reasons to buy Windows Vista - and five reasons not to.

Inside a botnet network

What screen name can't you use on Yahoo? and more info

The world's largest Windows error message

Thursday: February 16, 2006

Today we are going to do an in-class assignment (worth 25 points) and then you will get Assignment Four.  I'll let you know that we are not going to have a quiz. 

Upcoming Class Dates:
Tuesday, February 21: Last of the hardware! 
Tuesday, February 28: Midterm Review
Thursday, March 2: Midterm Exam in BA 109

Tuesday: February 14, 2006

Happy 60th birthday, ENIAC!

A great primer on RAM and swapping.  It's from the Mac viewpoint, but all the principles apply to any operating system.

Intel shows off it's first quad core processor - very cool, the technology looks very promising.  Can you see why Apple went Intel?

Plextor releases 18X DVD burner

Will Vista display ads at the splash screen/login screen?

What are you doing on February 16th?  How about watching Microsoft officially announce Office 2007?

Happy Valentines Day from Apple: they are shipping the new MacBook Pro laptops, with faster-than-announced processors. 

Oxford University is starting a new distributed computing project

Which is cheaper - a Dell or MacBook?  Watch how you configure them!

Here is a PDF file of your current standing in the class.  The first column is your MIS 253N number, and the other columns reflect your scores for the quizzes, assignments, TechTips and attendance.  Note that some of you have not done your TechTips yet, so you won't have a score for them until you do them.

For Thursday: We are going to start working on HTML.  There will be an in-class assignment that day worth 25 points, and then an HTML assignment will be handed out, due later.  Your homework for Thursday is to go through lessons One through Five at the HTMLPRIMER.COM website.  We will cover these tags in class on Thursday.  This is another day you don't want to miss.  There will not be an HTML make-up class.  If the weather is as bad as predicted and classes are cancelled, we will move the HTML session to Tuesday.

Regarding TechTips: Just a reminder that you need to turn in a summary of your TechTip to me as well.  Just doing it is 1/2 the points.  Also, all the slots are booked for the rest of the first half of the semester.  If you did not sign up for one, it is too late to sign up.  However, I will open it up to volunteers if the person who is scheduled to do theirs that day is not there.  This is highly unlikely, but gives you a chance.  Sign-ups for the second part of the semester will happen around Spring Break.

Thursday: February 9, 2006

So, is Windows Vista due to ship on 12/1/06?

A few of you have asked where we are in the textbook.  The hardware lecture we have been doing is incorporating parts of Chapters Four and Five, so be sure to read those.  Chapter Three deals with the Internet, which we will cover as part of the networking section.

Tuesday: February 7, 2006

At the end of this week we are approximately 25% of the way through the class.  I will be posting a spreadsheet with your standings in the class this weekend, so watch this space. 

Assignment Two is going to be handed out - Links to documents on creating Word Tables Link #1 and Link #2

Basics of printers and total cost of ownership and a laser printer buyers guide and inkjet -vs- laser printers and an excellent Printer Buying Guide and a University of Nevada, Reno price guide

Just a reminder about punctuality in arriving to class.  On Thursday there were a few of you who arrived late, after I took attendance.  Once I start the class and you arrive late you won't be marked as present, so be on time!

If you have not signed up for your TechTip, you need to do that very soon!.  The last open spaces for TechTips is Thursday, 2/9.  If you missed your date, you cannot make it up.  There will be a chance for a second TechTip after Spring Break.

Thursday: February 2, 2006

Western Union to discontinue telegraph service - More information here

New beta of IE 7 has been released, with features such as tabbed browsing and enhanced printing features.  BUT you have to be on XP SP2 to run it.  Install at your own risk!

Hardware in PPT format from the lecture for this week.  I passed out the "printed in six pages" view handouts in class on Tuesday.  If you were not in class, see me for a copy.  You should take notes, as these are only an outline.

Man sues Apple over potential hearing loss with using his iPod.  To that I say "What?"!

Starting Friday, 2/3/06, I will be in a Discovery Workshop session every Friday from 1:30 - 3:30pm.  I will not be in my office during this time, and for ten minutes or so before and after that time.

Tuesday: January 31, 2006

Recycling information from our Facilities department.  What are the current regulations about recycling electronic equipment, batteries, and related material?

Since there were so many of you that were not in class (despite my pleas) I am going to hold a make-up session on Tuesday, January 31st in BA 110, starting at 3:30.  I have sent an email to those that did not show up for class on Thursday, so plan to attend.  If you would like to show up and use the class as a review, you are more than welcome to.

Yes, we will have a quiz on Tuesday.

Information on Windows Vista's security changes

MS revamps Vista testing schedule

For Class Today:
A history of the punched card and a punch card gallery and a virtual punch card generator!

 In a CIO Sessions interview, United Parcel Service CIO Dave Barnes tells ZDNet editor in chief Dan Farber that his company will save $600 million per year through package flow technologies that include preloading vehicles in the morning, routing drivers according to volume and favoring right-hand turns.

Thursday: January 26, 2006

For Thursday: Here is the download location for PUTTY, an SSH client for Windows.  Just download and save, and then double-click to run.  This is a free program (there is no built-in SSH client in Windows).  There is no installation for the program.  You will need this to connect to Grackle, as we don't allow telnet to that server.  When you run it, be sure to enter the hostname as grackle.creighton.edu, and make sure that SSH is checked.

It is very important that you attend class today, and be on time.  If you are going to be late, don't bother coming at all as you will be too far behind to make up.  We are going to work hands-on with our Grackle accounts, and everyone needs to be doing the same things at the same time.  On Tuesday a few of you were late, so don't let that keep happening.  The handout for today's class is here as a PDF file, entitled Commands You Have to Know.

Tuesday: January 24, 2006

XP Service Pack Three not due out until the latter half of 2007

Here's the Windows Services Road Map, showing the lifecycle of Windows operating systems

Today (1/19/06) is the 20th anniversary of the first computer virus

History: The first computer bug?

Some excellent Google tips

I've posted the TechTip schedule.  If you have not signed up, see me ASAP as the slots are going fast.  If you do not do one, you will not get the 50 points.

Windows Vista hardware requirements.  Is your computer ready?

Happy birthday Apple Macintosh!  22 years ago today it was introduced.  Where were you?

For Thursday: Here is the download location for PUTTY, an SSH client for Windows.  Just download and save, and then double-click to run.  This is a free program (there is no built-in SSH client in Windows).  There is no installation for the program.  You will need this to connect to Grackle, as we don't allow telnet to that server.  When you run it, be sure to enter the hostname as grackle.creighton.edu, and make sure that SSH is checked.

Thursday: January 19, 2006

Don't forget to turn in Quiz One at the beginning of class today!  [Remember, if you are not in class you may not take this quiz.  See the syllabus for make-up information.]

Hackers blackmail the milliondollarhomepage.com site

Want to outsource your homework?

Feds request Google search results for use in an attempt to revive the COPA law

Mobile phone use does NOT cause brain cancer, according to a new British medical study

How clean is that keyboard in front of you?  You might be surprised!

Just when is something obsolete?

What is one of the biggest threats to your network connection?  I bet you would not guess this one.

Make every effort possible to come to class on Thursday, January 26th for our hands-on session with Grackle.  Most (all?) of you are unfamiliar with the Unix/Linux operating system, and we are going to spend the class logging in, navigating, etc.  If you are not in class you will be behind, and it will be difficult to make up.

Tuesday: January 17, 2006

The original Google servers

Intel is dropping the brand name Pentium

How much RAM do you really need?

  In a bit of unintended humor, Wall Street closed Apple's stock Tuesday, the day the company unveiled its first Intel processor-based computers at Macworld, at $80.86.
  That may mean nothing to the average person, but techies will no doubt catch the accidental reference to Intel's 8086, the 1978 processor that spawned the x86 architecture that PC users are so familiar with.
  Now, it's pretty unlikely that Wall Street was able to manipulate Apple's share price, given the thousands upon thousands of people who no doubt bought and sold the stock Tuesday. But it's little coincidences like this that make technies and geeks sit up and take notice. Or at least I and the friend who pointed this out to me did.

Thursday: January 12, 2006
Welcome to the first day of class!  Please check back here at least every day as I update this page with class items, interesting things, hobbies, and whatever else or else or else  or else or else comes to mind.  You can check out my interests at my main page at http://eden.creighton.edu or http://www.terrybegley.com

I have subscribed everyone's CU email account to our class mailing list, mis253n@creighton.edu.  I have switched from Majordomo to Mailman for listserve service.  If you want to join with another email address, use this link.  Please use your Creighton email account as CU can guarantee delivery to this account, and not to Hotmail or other services.  If you must use a free email service, I have found that Yahoo and Gmail are not bad.

Intro questions for today.  Don't write your name on the paper!

Useful link: Random password generator and a random number generator that I used to create your class number.

COBA now has NetOp School installed in BA 110 and BA 111!  This software allows the instructor to remotely monitor and control the classroom computers.  Be advised that the instructor can view your computer screen and take control of your computer at any time, without your permission.

Is there a shortage of numbers in Area Code 402?  What happens?  Let's talk about POTS!

Here's Tim Berners-Lee's and the first webpage online

Movie on networking called Warriors of the Net.  You can download it locally here, or in various sizes and languages from their download site, but be careful as it is 122 megabytes in size.

You can't go home again, unless you set $HOME

Update: Author of the textbook, student site

Google News - Top Searches in 2005
1. Janet Jackson
2. Hurricane Katrina
3. tsunami
4. Xbox 360
5. Brad Pitt
6. Michael Jackson
7. American Idol
8. Britney Spears
9. Angelina Jolie
10. Harry Potter
http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist2005.html

Your assignment for Tuesday 1/17/06 - read Chapter One in the text.