SeniorNet Eastern Bays Inc., Auckland is a voluntary organisation for people over 55 with active minds and who want to keep up with the computer age. Complete novices through to more advanced users are welcome while new topics are constantly being added. We always like to hear from members as to what they would like to have taught. Experienced users are welcome as tutors and every one is encouraged to help with the running of the club.
Our new premises, including the main teaching and seminar room, are located at 75 Felton Mathew Avenue, midway between Glen Innes and St Johns. Our postal address is P.O. Box 18348, Glen Innes, 1743.
For more details on who we are and what we do, start by clicking here
You can always leave a phone or email message but joining SNEB and/or Enrolling in courses directly through this website is now possible. For you or an already computer-savvy friend to help you, here’s how it works:
Click on the link to “Enrol Me” button from the menu on the left or here. The relevant page appears. On the left hand side, click inside the boxes of the course(s) in which you wish to enrol or go on the waiting list for. Now, on the right hand side, fill in the fields, as directed. Add any info or comments or your own and, finally, click the “Send” button, shown in green.
A confirming message will then appear and you can return to the home page by clicking on Rangitoto.
When you next open your emails, a copy of your enquiry will be received as further confirmation that the enrolment is being processed. If you do not receive this confirmation email, please repeat the routine, Email Us or leave a message on the SNEB voicemail at (09)578 0994.
Within a day or two, you should receive a further email, either notifying you of your place in a specific course or advising that you are on the waiting list for it and you'll be notified again when it is scheduled.
Falling in love again… I haven’t been able to get those lyrics out of my head since I did indeed come close to falling in love again with a piece of gadgetry. Not that I’m an early adopter, mind, but over the years there’ve been so many “got to have” electronic bits and pieces to dent the bank balance what’s one more?
This time it’s the Lenova Thinkpad tablet powered by the Android operating system.
During the first hour of our monthly meeting on May 16 John Bennett from PC Tech demonstrated the features of the Thinkpad tablet, comparing it with a conventional laptop or iPad.
When it was my turn to receive the machine that was being passed around I didn’t want to let go – but did have to agree with our webmaster,Wayne Power, who was sitting alongside that, yes, it was a bit heavier than say an iPad. But so what? You could detach the tablet from the keyboard folio case and lighten the load. What’s more, that keyboard could make like so much easier, especially if you prefer not to use the onboard (on screen) keypad.
One aspect of the flyer describing the features built into the Lenova had me fooled. So used am I to reading that such and such a computer comes with such and such software already loaded as part of the deal that I missed the obvious. I just needed to switch into a new way of saying the same thing. More than 25 free apps – applications (read programs, read software) come with the tablet including those with close affinity to the Microsoft applications with which most of us are familiar.
So what especially tipped me into falling in love again? Isn’t it chemistry? Chemistry aside, one feature was the digitizer pen and the app which let me jot notes on the screen then see them converted to “typewritten” words (I’ve been using an earlier version of that capability but this beats it hands down). Then, there are two cameras – front and back of the tablet, good storage, USB ports, an SD card reader and is set up for wireless use. There’s the pinching function to enlarge or reduce an image, it serves as an e-reader and the price seems pretty attractive. Should I go on?
Remember years ago IBM came out with the ThinkPad laptop computer. Well, IBM sold its personal computer business to Lenova in 2005 so you can see that’s another reason to like (or love) the Thinkpad tablet – blue-blooded ancestory.
After the break for a hot cuppa, Gerrard De Silva took over from John and took us through features of Kaspersky internet security (3000 engineers in Moscow with an eagle eye on spam, viruses, malware, etc etc). Gerard made some great points about protecting your system from hackers, keystroke loggers and other varieties of the human race. But I was so much in love I barely heard a word he said.
Just enough to convince me that a visit to PC Tech’s base in Newmarket would certainly pay before any more decisions are made, whether it be for maintenance to an existing computer, a new product or upgrading internet security.
Members clearly felt the company representatives, John, Gerrard and his wife, Anne, had much to offer as the turnout for the May meeting filled the room.
PCTechnical Services nearest stores for SNEB customers is - 27 Davis Crescent, Newmarket. Click here for more
On Monday morning, Janet Shaw continues her File Management course.
On Tuesday morning, Ken Norton starts a new Internet Extended course (2 vacancies at time of writing - but be quick!). That afternoon, Graham Wright concludes his current File Management course.
On Thursday morning, Ken continues his Internet extended course.
On Friday morning, Noel Thompson continues his current Computer Basics course.
There are many courses starting soon, some still with vacancies, so:
The Calendar and Courses pages are always the most up-to-date source of everything happening at SNEB. They are kept constantly up to date by Sue La Roche, our Course Manager.
If you look at the Calendar now, you'll see exactly what courses, seminars, workshops and meetings are scheduled AND how many vacancies they each have. Once once you see the ones you'd like to enrol in, click on the Enrol Me page and proceed from there.
* Happy learning - and don't forget that you can also be an assistant or a tutor in subjects you are experienced in. So, if you feel you can contribute to SNEB in this or any other way, please Email Us.
The June Monthly Meeting will comprise our AGM followed by a presentation from James Smith from TelstraClear.
James' topics will include updates, new initiatives, "Warp Speed" and exciting offers to customers.
The committee has decided to cut the number of meetings in order to reduce the workload on the few hard workers we have. So the Monthly (invited speaker) Meetings and Demonstration and Discussion sessions (collectively "Open Meetings") will now alternate on the third Wednesday of the month as outlined below:
All meetings run from 10am - noon and there is typically a tea/coffee break at around 11am
New Members should click on the Overview page for a more detailed descriptions of these meeting types.
Just a friendly reminder to those few who have not yet renewed their subs ($20, due April 30th): If you have mis-placed your (emailed) invoice, just include a note with your name and membership number and post it, together with your cheque, to:
Margaret Bates,
SeniorNet Eastern Bays,
Box 18348,
Glen Innes 1743.
You could also pay Margaret directly at the upcoming Monthly Meeting (see above).
We really value your Membership and look forward to receiving your Subscription to help support "SNEB".
