• Year 2000 problem? Linux computers have a year-2038 problem. The Unix-derived operating system measures time in seconds, and the number of seconds it can address with a 32-bit microprocessor runs out in 2038. (By that time 64-bit processors will no doubt offer a greater range of seconds.) -- from Inter@ctive Week, 9-28-98.

• About Year 2000: We accept no liability for computer hardware or software that we have sold that are not rated by their respective manufacturers as being Year 2000-compliant. Since June 1998, when we started furnishing Window 98 or Windows NT with all new Landmark computers, our systems have been--to the best of our knowledge--fully Year 2000-compliant, except where we have had reason to believe otherwise, in which event we have disclosed that to you. Older computers, including those running Windows 95, may have minor issues adjusting to the date rollover. For Landmark computers sold since 1994-95, the problems are primarily software issues that are not serious. They can generally be mitigated or fully corrected by upgrading specific programs. We can run Y2K compliance testing for you and give you a report if you wish. We strongly urge you to make a full backup of your data before the Year 2000 rollover. Do it now! Fair warning. Posted 3-22-99.

• And while we're on the subject . . . Here's a brief but informative feature on Year 2000 issues for individuals from the Gartner Group, an international consulting firm specializing in information technology. The document is in Adobe Acrobat format. Garter also offers a more detailed document on Y2K risk assessment and planning for individuals.

• Christmas is coming . . . and with it a new virus.

  It's called Win32.Kriz.3862, but it's destined to be known as the Christmas virus because it will strike on that day, according to Central Command Inc., a maker of anti-virus software. The lethal software, transmitted as an executable via e-mail or downloaded software, can destroy files on your local hard disk or mapped drives on a network. It can also wipe out CMOS settings and-on newer systems-can change the BIOS code to garbage.

  More on Win32.Kriz.3862. More on viruses in general. (12-99)

• We've expanded printer and monitor repairs and hope to expand software training soon. Our newest loaner monitors, Blinky and Peaches, are standing by in case your monitor fails and you need help to stay up and running. (9-98)

• For those of you who have not yet gotten the word: Landmark is now located primarily in Springfield, Virginia: at 5548 Port Royal Road, near the Capital Beltway's Braddock Road interchange. The Alexandria facility was getting really crowded. Lacking adjacent space into which we could expand, we opted to move to Springfield, where we have four times the space with room to grow again. Though our headquarters and administrative offices are still at 101 S. Whiting Street in Alexandria, we are seeing clients at the Springfield location only. (9-98)

  As always, if you want to discuss personal computer sales, upgrades, or repairs, printers, monitors, the Internet, or whatever, please give us a call. The phone number remains the same: (703) 370-2242.

• Some new additions to our Micro Milestones page: Introducing the petabyte, CD drives that can erase and rewrite digital compact disks, and a look at piracy in Asia and the United States.

• Take a look at Little M, Metropolitan Washington Mensa's lively addition to the World Wide Web. It has links to all known Mensa pages, news of interest to members and others, and space for members to sound off. Bud Stolker (Landmark's Webmaster) and Mary Matthews are the Little M Webmasters. The local chapter of Mensa, an international social society, has close to two thousand members.

• Welcome to the Ameri-Tech Concepts, Inc. Internet page. Gus and Dmitri Tzoumas are our favorite remanufacturers of laser printer cartridges. They fix laser printers, too. *

• We're in the process of updating some of the older pages on this site. Free time is at a premium, and we have (alas) only limited capacity. The work comes first (as opposed to the Web site, which is fun.) We hope the information already on this site continues to be useful. One page we update regularly is Free Fun in Washington, DC. We invite you to take advantage of its listings. *

• We are now supporting our Microsoft Windows 95 users on an informal basis. We still don't have all the answers, and still advise against upgrading to this new operating system unless you are buying a new system or have a compelling reason to switch. (See our Windows 95 coverage). If you must install it right this moment, consider yourself a pioneer. Even though Microsoft has released the first bug fixes, there are a lot of problems, especially with upgrades of older hardware and with software that's not fully compatible.

• Shorter Web address: As of January 6, 1996, this page's permanent address is http://www.landmark.org. We hope it's easier for you to remember. Please adjust your bookmark file. Note: We've changed to SmartNet's new server. In doing so we restructured many of our files. If you find errors in links or content, please let us know. *

• We had to dump our Internet Service Provider--or more accurately, we were dumped. After months of spotty service by Databank, Inc. of Lawrence, Kansas, they finally just became unreachable and unusable. There's quite a storm raging over the Databank debacle at the moment. The Lawrence World-Journal's On-line News Services' article and update tell all. We have a few comments to add about terminally poor technical support.

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• America Online confirms Web browser problem. We've found a bug with AoL and with Chameleon Software's WebSurfer browser. Here's our work-around fix, along with AoL's response.

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• We've tabulated responses to Landmark's Internet Survey. Find out what form people believe a future Internet-like service will take.

Last update: 6-11-2000.