• Announcements
• General Meeting-January 8th Review
• SIG News
• Article1:New and Improved Technology Shown in Las Vegas
• Article2: A Laptop for the Holidays?
• From APCUG Members
• About KIPCUG
• KIPCUG Friends
• Thanks to Our Featured Presenters

While Wayne Perkey II and Robbie Gibson were busy learning about all the new technology and software at both the APCUG and CES conventions in Las Vegas, Judy Lococo and Robbie Gibson jumped into their shoes and put on a great meeting covering tax software and Skype... you both did a GREAT JOB!  Thanks for all your hard work and the running around you did that night, your efforts showed. 

KIPCUG would also like to introduce one of our directors, Stan Boyd, who has offered to be our staff photographer.  The pictures from the December and January meetings are just some of Stan's handiwork.  Soon you will be able to see of his photos on our website.  Thank you, Stan, for the great job you are doing in helping us to preserve moments in time.  We look forward to capturing many more candid shots of our members and guests...

Please consider bringing a friend or
co-worker to our next meeting ...
   just forward this email with a personal invitation from you!

Wayne and Brian will be back to present an overview of both the APCUG and CES convention highlights at the February General Meeting.  Doors open at 6:15 pm, with networking at 6:30 pm; announcements, Back-to-Basics, and User-to-User from 7:00 pm; and the main presentation to begin at 7:30 pm.  We look forward to having you join us!

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TAX SHOWDOWN
between
TurboTax by Intuit
and
TaxCut by H&R Block
 

KIPCUG was pleased to present two (2) major software tax packages to our members at the January meeting.   First up was Steve Pennington who presented how to prepare a complete tax return using TurboTax by Intuit.  Steve was followed by Chris Jackman, who demonstrated how to use H&R Block's TaxCut software to prepare a complete return.  Both gentleman allowed for specific questions regarding tax preparation after their presentations.  There was quite a bit of note taking and expressed interest in this showdown.  All in all, I think it was a draw!  Both packages are worth taking a look at, as they both have some interesting features.  TurboTax offers a free edition if you do not require much guidance for completing a simple Federal tax return, however State filings are available at additional cost.  TaxCut offers both download as well as online versions of its software, or you can request a CD by mail.  Chris suggested that if you are only preparing a simple tax return, then filing online is the way to go.  However, for everything else, he suggested that you should opt for the download version or the CD.  Please note that certain eligible individuals may be able to file free online by going to the IRS' website.

H&R BLOCK's TaxCut

INTUIT's TurboTax

Chris Jackman is the Product Manager for TaxCut software and Online.  He has a background in IT and product management and has been employed with H&R Block for two (2) years.  Before H&R Block, Chris worked as a project manager for a custom manufacturing company for three (3) years.

Steve Pennington is a native Kentuckian, a graduate of UK, and a Louisville resident since 1970.  He began his career with the public accounting firm of Ernst & Ernst, and passed his CPA exam in 1972.  Steve left Ernst & Ernst and worked in the private sector for a few years. Steve returned to to public accounting in 1978 with the firm of Richardson, Pennington & Skinner CPA's.  Steve retired in 2000, but continues to prepare a few tax returns while helping his wife manage a number of rental properties.

BACK TO BASICS

Prior to our tax presentation, Robbie Gibson demonstrated the technology behind placing a video call to Wayne and Brian out in Las Vegas.  Robbie used Skype software to initiate the call.  Skype was founded by two individuals from Luxembourg in 2003, involving software that makes communicating with people around the world easy, fun, and free if you both are using Skype.  It works with your internet connection so you can talk, chat or make video calls for no cost at all.  With Skype, you can also make calls to phones and cell phones at very good rates.  Presently, Skype does not offer the ability to teleconference with more than a single connection. Robbie demonstrated the ease in making a free video call to Las Vegas, and this year's video feed was excellent. 

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

Chris Jackman, of H&R Block brought numerous Tax-Cut software CD's as well as pen, flashlight and tire gauge combo gift sets to our January meeting. There were so many winners that night that our photographer, Stan Boyd was unable to catch them.  Watch out crowd...next month, Stan has a plan to make sure he captures all of our lucky winners!  Stan was able to catch KIPCUG's vice president, John Henderson, pictured on the left, assisting Chris as he picked the winners.   

Unfortunately, Christopher Nance was not present at the January meeting.  Just a reminder that, in order to win the drawing, you must be an active member and you need to be present at the meeting .  The Drawing Program shown on the left randomly determines the winner based upon a list of all currently paid-up memberships.  So... keep your membership current, and join us in February.  The drawing will now be $60.  GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

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Listed below is a glance at the upcoming SIG's for the remainder of January. Please check out our SIG calendar for directions and times. If you have any questions or would like to see us host a new or different SIG, please contact Charley May at sig@win.net

SIG NEWS :

Windows OS SIG:  will be suspended until further notice.  KIPCUG is looking for a new facilitator as Bob Rose is no longer able to lead this SIG.  If you are interested in leading this SIG, please contact Charley May.

Access Basic SIG - 1/12/2008  - [submitted by Sue Foulks, editor]
I personally attended the January SIG meeting, and am happy to say I will definitely be returning in the coming months. The SIG is held at Horrigan Hall,  Bellarmine University.  As I am still getting acquainted with the area (NJ native), I was given great directions after contacting Alan.  SIG leader, Alan Birch was present, however this month's lesson was presented by Finis Gentry.  It has been years since I have had any lessons in Access. I was given a CD with basic notes and a sample Access database upon entering the classroom.  The topic this month covered creating tables in Access, along with instruction on queries and forms.  The delivery was well planned, and there was a good deal of beneficial interaction among the participants.  The final 30+ minutes normally cover specific problems the participants may be experiencing with their individual projects.  As there were few problems this month, Alan instead finished off the meeting with some very interesting tips/tricks to use in Access.  What I found especially interesting is that Bellarmine has begun promoting this SIG amongst its faculty and student body, and there were actually two from Bellarmine present at this month's SIG (out of a total of 9 present).  I thank both Alan and Finis for a well planned meeting.  I went home thinking about two possible applications and spent Monday reviewing the CD and some additional information I had on Access 2003.  I look forward to next month's meeting and invite any who may have an interest in examining this powerful program. 

C'MON SIG LEADERS

Here's your opportunity to help us help you promote your SIG meetings.  Post announcements of upcoming topics.  Highlight and recap past meetings here.  Send your submissions to the editor.

Over the next year, we plan on attending and reporting on the various SIG meetings, but invite any member to submit their summaries of meetings they have attended.  SIG's are an integral part of KIPCUG, and we appreciate the support by members and guests.

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By Ira Wilsker
iwilsker@apcug.net

Obtained from author with the author's permission for publication by APCUG member groups.

I recently had the pleasure of attending the annual convention of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG www.apcug.net) in Las Vegas. I have attended almost all of the APCUG events since 1991, and in terms of full disclosure, I am on the Board of Directors of the APCUG. Some of the highlights of the convention were the several events sponsored by software and hardware companies where they displayed and demonstrated their newest software and hardware to the hundreds of attendees.. more

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By Vinny La Bash, a regular columnist and member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., Florida
vlabash(at)comcast.net
www.spcug.org

Obtained from APCUG with the author's permission for publication by APCUG member groups.

In June of 2005, monthly laptop sales exceeded desktop sales for the first time. Since then, the popularity of laptops has continued to gain. Improved battery life, manufacturing quality, larger disk drives, and enhanced video have all contributed to make laptops more attractive. Laptops are replacing desktops in homes and corporate offices.

Competitive pressures have lowered consumer prices. Unfortunately, these pressures have not always seen a corresponding increase in quality. Low prices are all too often directly related to cost cutting, and that means you stand a good chance of ending up with a dud if you buy a laptop off-the-shelf. Laptops should be manufactured for real world usage and applications. Here’s what to look for if and when you decide that a laptop is for you... more

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Special thanks to Brookdale Computer Users Group, Lincroft New Jersey (www.bcug.com).

What is amazing is that there is a tendency nowadays to scrutinize photographs, and visual art....

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     The Kentucky-Indiana Personal Computer User's Group, from its beginning in the spring of 1983, has grown into a dynamic non-profit corporation, focused on educating and encouraging newcomers to computing as well as sharing technical information.

     KIPCUG is viewed as one of the leading groups in the nation by industry giants such as  Microsoft, Novell, IBM, and others. KIPCUG is a charter member of APCUG, the Association of Personal Computer User Groups, linking us with similar groups all over the United States.

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Special thanks to our recent Presenters:

December Presenter - Randy and Jeremy from Computers Plus, Hurstborne Lane

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January Presenters - Steve Pennington, CPA, for Intuit's Turbo Tax and Chris Jackman for H&R Block's TaxCut software