President's Message

For those who came expecting fireworks, Microsoft's short and businesslike display of Windows 2000 on October 20 was a less-than-rousing experience. After all, much of DACS' membership is made up of casual users, and who but an IT nerd or a network administrator would revel in the intricacies of system resources, user rights, and firewalls. But even without subtitles, the complexity of the action on stage showed vividly how computers have come to script virtually every aspect of our business lives, and how Microsoft, through its innovation and competitive drive, has become such a leading player.

DACS and Microsoft have had a long and intimate relationship. We were one of about six user groups to participate in the North American telethon for the unveiling of DOS 6.0 in 1992, and one of about forty groups in the current Windows 2000 tour. We have played a significant role in the launching of Microsoft Office 4.0 and both Windows 95 and 98. In several of these efforts, Microsoft has gone out of its way to book hotel facilities and to publicize the events. This Microsoft connection has contributed immensely to the growing membership of DACS and to our preeminent status among user groups many times our size. Microsoft has truly helped us become the "mouse that roared."

We can also testify to Microsoft as a caring company that has gone out of its way to help worthwhile causes. Its support for user group community programs has channeled $30,000 through DACS to the Voice for Joanie, so that the paralyzed victims of Lou Gehrig's disease can have an artificial "computer" voice. The company has included Voice for Joanie on its short list of nonprofit organizations eligible for employer matching donations, and extended itself to provide VFJ and DACS with software needed for our work. A year ago contributions from Microsoft enabled Voice for Joanie to broaden its helping hand all the way to San Diego, California, so that a Lou Gehrig's patient could be given a PC, communications hardware, and a voice synthesizer to restore some quality to his last months of life.

Now, if you still want bells and whistles, come to our next monthly meeting on November 2, at the Danbury Hospital Auditorium. Microsoft will be back with some ideas on how you can stuff those stockings in December. Better get some stretch socks, because the choices will be irresistible: Encarta Encyclopedia 2000, Graphics Studio Home Publishing Suite 2000, Works 2000, and Flight Simulator 2000.

HRRA for DACS volunteers

A contingent of DACS volunteers showed up at the Danbury Green on Sunday, October 17, for the annual electronics recycling day sponsored by the Housatonic Resource Recovery Administration. The mission was to pick through tons of vintage PCs and peripherals for a few discarded gems. The expectation was that some would have a new life in an area school or as a deserving student's first PC. The rest would be trucked away to be stripped down and recycled.

As the line of vehicles stretched out onto Main Street and mountains of PCs began to form, the DACS booth came to look more like a field hospital, with volunteers desperately lugging, sorting, plugging and unplugging, and then moving pieces along. In the end, a small truck rolled away half-filled with reusable hardware and two huge trucks left with junk.

Thanks go to all the DACS volunteers who participated, but particularly to Marc Cohen and Larry Buoy, who stayed almost to the bitter end.

--Allan Ostergren
dacsprez@aol.com