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MARCH 20, 2024
WEDNESDAY WORKSHOP
9 am PT, 10 am MT, 11 am CT, 12 pm ET
BACKING UP IN THE LINUX WORLD
With
Alan German, Les Larkin, Stew Bottorf, Joel Ewing, and Frances Chao
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Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 11:00 am CT
Register for this workshop here: https://forms.gle/NFNdiiRqrdyeuMvK9
Registration closes on March 19 at 8:00 pm CT
Use SenCom’s official name: Senior Computer Users Group of Greater Kansas City
After you click Submit, you will receive a pop-up acknowledgment of your registration. In addition, you will receive the workshop encrypted Zoom link on Tuesday, 3/19, after registration closes at 8:00 pm Central Time.
3/20/24 – Backing up in the Linux world. Join us on March 20 as we prepare for World Backup Day on the 31st. We’ll look at several backup plans, from the simple to a more complete method. We hope you come away with some suggested tools for Linux backups and select what you think will work for you. AND start backing up your Linux machines! As Judy pointed out last week, it’s not “IF,” it’s “WHEN.”
Today’s panel of presenters will include none of the usual Learning Linux team members. Alan German, Les Larkin, Stew Bottorf, Joel Ewing, and Frances Chao will give presentations on what they use to back up. There will be a short time after each presentation for specific questions (not comments) for the presenter. And, in our usual Open Mic Q&A, you can share any other backup plans attendees might want to consider, along with any additional comments you have about backups.
We look forward to seeing you this Wednesday.
Pegah’s Family Restaurant
12122 West 87th Street
Lenexa, KS 66215
Second block W of Quivira Rd, N side
Friday, March 22, 2024, 11:30 am ~ 1:30 pm
Computer Device Trouble?
Bring your Questions
Visitors Always Welcome
Mary Ann Baltuska is the Hospitality Director
SenCom Lunch & Learn usually meets on the 4th Friday of the month. This is a social gathering, with casual computer talk and good times. You can join in the conversation or just come listen. Everyone learns something!
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Android SIG
Oak Park Library
9500 Bluejacket Street
Overland Park, KS 66214
Large Meeting Room
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 2:30 ~ 4:00 pm
If you have any questions please send them to me before the meeting. As usual, we’ll all have a good time and learn things about our Android devices.
Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday,
Bob Bowser
Bob Bowser convenes the Android SIG
(913) 735-0623, bobbowser.rdb@gmail.com
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SenCom is on Facebook. See the access instructions below to find our Facebook Group page (SenComKC). Check it out! Share your favorite SenCom moment or interaction.
To access the group page:
- Log into your Facebook account.
- On your computer, click “Search Facebook,” left-hand corner (to the left of the home icon, on your mobile device, in the middle of the screen on top, then type SenComKC (not case sensitive).
- Search results should give you “Groups” and under that, you will see SenComKC. To the right of your search results, you should see a “Join” button. Click the button to request to be a member of this Facebook group.
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* Volunteer Needed *
SOS! NEEDED NOW! – A volunteer to help our Board of Directors by filling the vacant board position of Vice President. If interested, please email me or another Board Member. Our email addresses are on the “Board of Directors” page under the “About Us” menu. Remember, this is your organization; please help us keep it healthy and growing!!
LITTLE OR NO COMPUTER SKILLS REQUIRED.
Lou Risley, 913-298-0575 or sencomprez@gmail.com
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CDC information on the Coronavirus Outbreak →
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GEEK FREE
By Joe Callison
13 February, 2024
Alternatives to 3rd-Party PC Utilities
I (and Microsoft) have never recommended using any of the many utility programs offered in advertisements and popups to boost, clean up, optimize, update, or fix drivers, etc. for your PC. I found them unnecessary for the most part and potentially dangerous to use. They are also the favorite types of programs produced by malware creators. The operating system already provides the ability to do any of the useful functions needed if you take the time to learn how to find and use them. Granted, that is not as convenient as a program that simplifies the tasks or even does them automatically for you. If you want this convenience, it is now available from a more trustworthy source. Microsoft has added a couple of new apps to the Microsoft Store that were originally developed for non-USA markets:
Microsoft PC Manager
This app gathers several of the built-in tools and apps available in Windows in one app to simplify the user experience. It was originally developed to be an alternative to products like CCleaner. An article detailing information on the app is:
Microsoft’s PC Manager app is now widely available to free up your system resources
Microsoft PC Cleaner
This app is also an alternative to CCleaner but more targeted to perform the file and app cleaning tasks to speed up your PC. I did not find it available on the Microsoft Store yet as of today. Information on what it includes can be found at:
If you want the convenience of these types of apps, then they are the safer ones to choose.
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FOR~GO
(For Geeks Only)
By Joe Callison
22 January 2024
Wubuntu
Wubuntu is an Ubuntu-based Linux operating system with a user interface designed to mimic Windows 10 using the Cinnamon Desktop or Windows 11 using the KDE Plasma Technology. It provides a very Windows-like experience without the Microsoft requirements for TPM, secure boot, processor, or memory. It even has Windows Edge and the Copilot Assistant. It will run Windows EXE or MSI-installed programs using WINE for translation.
I have installed Wubuntu with the Windows 11 Plasma GUI on an old Dell Inspiron with a 3rd generation Intel i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, and an SSD drive and it performs extremely well. The desktop screen and many of the settings screens very closely resemble Windows 11. The Edge browser runs very well. A trial version of Power Toys is included. You can install Linux applications, Windows applications, and supposedly Android applications though I have not tried any yet. This is the easiest way to be introduced to Linux that I have seen to date.
For more information on Wubuntu, see the video and download link on Wubuntu.
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Thank you for all that you do
Hi Joe,
We hope you and your team are achieving all your year-end appeal goals (and more!) Remember, as you use our tools during this busy time, our team and our partners are here to answer your questions and help you find the best resources to meet the moment.
Our team is in awe of how Senior Computer Users Group of Greater Kansas City Association, Inc. is making its mark on the world. We see how you are continually asked to do more with less, yet still create meaningful change in your community. It is such a joy to engage with you and the over 325,000 nonprofits around the globe who are leveraging Microsoft resources to drive this positive impact.
Your stories inspire us every day and we are grateful for your tireless work.
Thank you again for all that you do, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration in the year ahead.
Regards,
The Microsoft Tech for Social Impact Team
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