Cruzio Newsletter - Number 102, March 15, 2007
1. Free: Computer Drop-in Clinic This Saturday
2. This Month's Focus: Building Web Sites
3. Apologies for the Outage
4. Save Internet Radio
5. DSL Bandwidth Increase
6. Westi's Besties: Favorite Hot Spots
7. Gizmo of the Month
8. Class Schedule for the Next Three Months
9. Moving?
10. We Appreciate Referrals
11. Feed the Hungry, Get Late Fees Waived
12. About This Newsletter
13. How to Reach Cruzio (Dialup or Tech Support)
1. Free: Computer Drop-in Clinic This Saturday
March 17, 10-2:00 PM
903 Pacific Avenue, Downtown Santa Cruz
Cruzio is holding a free computer clinic this Saturday.
If your computer is running sluggishly, or you suspect it
is infected with a virus or could use an upgrade, bring
it to Cruzio on Saturday for a check-up. You don't even have
to be a Cruzio customer to take advantage of this service.
Our top technicians -- experts on both PCs and Macs -- will be
on hand to examine all computers on a first-come first-served
basis. These folks keep our computers at Cruzio running securely
and at top speed. They are the best.
Free of charge, we'll give you an analysis of what could get
your computer running faster. Is it memory? Is it virus cleanup?
We'll optimize the startup time of Windows machines to get your
computer running its fastest.
We've reserved the parking spots on Pacific Avenue in front of
our store for easy drop-off and pickup.
2. This Month's Focus: Building Web Sites
Let's say you had infinite time and knowledge. Along with
winning the trifecta each day you could be doing lots of cool
things on the computer. There's always some aspect of the
Internet that's new and exciting, low cost, and might be great
for your business or family -- but just being busy and lacking
experience keeps it out of your grasp. Maddening.
You might be too busy with your actual family to learn how to
make a family Web site, for example. Or you're so occupied
running your small business that you haven't time to set up a
company Web site to help your business thrive.
That's why Cruzio offers more than just the inexpensive tools
you need to build a great Web site -- we can also shorten
your learning/building curve.
This month we're focusing on building Web sites and we'll
have specials and extra classes on the subject. Try a Brown
Bag Workshop for an overview, then come in to our "One Night
Web Site" when you are ready to sit down and actually build a
site with the help of an experienced instructor (and only 8
students in a two-teacher class).
Add a WordPress blog -- we've got a "One Night Blog" scheduled
for April 24th. If you take that class, you can follow up with
an advanced class the next month -- see the schedule in
item 8 below.
With the Website Plus and Premium packages, and some help
picking up the technology, you'll have a new, up-to-date site
quickly and you'll know how to improve and maintain it.
For a full schedule of upcoming classes, see
http://events.cruzio.com
3. Apologies for the Outage
Cruzio is excited to be leasing major new bandwidth for our
customers' DSL data (see item 5 below). But the transfer to new
circuits was more troublesome than we anticipated, and we apologize
for the lack of connectivity many of you experienced earlier this
week. To say it wasn't up to our usual high standards is an
understatement.
This is not the first time we've transferred traffic to different
circuits, and in the past it's been almost completely transparent
to our customers. This move was to a facility in San Francisco
that's one of the largest in the country, and we were not only
working with our own excellent staff but with top professionals
from the area.
Because of our success in the past, we were probably overconfident
about the results this time.
We won't be overconfident from now on. There were several
unanticipated failures, including an outside technician who bumped
or pulled our main cable out of its housing altogether on Wednesday
at noon. That one brought a collective cry of frustration from
all of us. It was quickly fixed, but affected a large number of
customers.
Our engineers and technical support staff were busy around the
clock running down every issue for every customer who called in,
and the rest of the staff, including all managers and owners,
pitched in wherever they could. We ran at full mental, physical
and technical capacity for days and we are very proud of our staff.
They are champs. They tracked down every major problem and are
still working hard on the few that remain.
Our phone system was overwhelmed for a time on Tuesday but it
it recovered by Wednesday morning. Because we were in
troubleshooting mode, we had customers on the line for long
periods of time: we knew that if we could find an answer for
one customer, we could apply the fix to others in the same
situation.
We appreciate your patience and, even more, how courteous you've
been to our staff. That helped us concentrate on the issues and
get them solved. Cruzio members who called in and gave us
details have been a big part of the solution and we thank you.
Please continue to let us know if you're experiencing any
problems with your connection.
By the way, we are not planning to move our circuits again for a
long, long time.
4. Save Internet Radio
In our office, we often listen to Internet Radio. There are
some great little stations out there: sometimes we listen to a
station that specializes in rock music from the Netherlands.
Other times it is German hip-hop, or indie rock, or Baroque
classical. One station just plays the Beatles all day, every day
(which is surprisingly good). You can find all of these on iTunes,
and on many sites around the Internet. In fact, it's easy
to find just about any sort of music you like.
This thriving community of little radio stations is about to get
bulldozed.
As of March 1, 2007, the US Copyright Office announced new rates
for Internet radio -- not broadcast radio, just Internet --
so high that most Internet radio stations will have to
close down.
Because we're in the business, we often hear of issues affecting
the quality of our customers' experience and the future of the
Internet, two things we care a lot about. When we become
aware of an issue like this one, we put it on our Web site:
http://www.cruzio.com/members/state_of_internet.html
More information on Internet radio rulings can be found there,
along with a link to a petition. We encourage you to sign.
By the way, here are the URLs of the radio stations mentioned above.
Give them a try soon, they may not be around long:
http://www.zeilsteen.com
http://www.radioparadise.com
http://www.1.fm/Stations/Baroque/TuneIn.aspx
http://www.rautemusik.fm/
http://www.beatlesarama.com
5. DSL Bandwidth Increase
We all do it: many of us do it every day. Use bandwidth, that is.
On the Internet, graphics, sound and text travel in the form
of pulses on high-speed fiberoptic lines. When we read more Web
pages or watch more You Tube movies, we use more of the capacity
of these lines: more pulses of light per second. More bandwidth.
To keep our customers happy (indeed, blissfully unaware), Cruzio
has steadily purchased larger and larger amounts of bandwidth each
year. Recently, we signed a deal nearly doubling capacity for
DSL subscribers and placing us closer to the center of the Internet
backbone. Although DSL speeds won't increase in speed tests, this
should often result in better performance in some areas: quicker
downloads and better streaming audio, among other things.
In all, including DSL customers, Web sites hosted on Cruzio, dialup
and wireless customers (in that order), Cruzio leases more than half
a terabyte of data transit. Enjoy the moveable feast!
6. Westi's Besties
Favorite Internet hot spots from Cruzio's Marketing Manager
Westi Haughey. At any of these locations you can sit down
with a laptop and a slug of java and enjoy free Internet
from Cruzio:
Best Hot Spot to Write a Paper
The Attic
Best Hot Spot to Hang with Friends
Caffe Pergolesi
Best Hot Spot for a Rainy Day
Coffeetopia
Best Hot Spot for a Staff Meeting
99 Bottles of Beer
Best Hot Spot to Do Your Laundry
tie! Wired Wash Cafe/University Wash N Dry
Best Hot Spot for Breakfast
The Bagelry
Best Hot Spot to Watch the Ocean
The Kind Grind
Best Hot Spot for Coffee Art
Peoples Coffee
Best Hot Spot for a Muffin
Heather's Patisserie
Best Hot Spot for a Veggie Sandwich
Java Lounge
Check out our full ever-growing list of hot spots at
http://www.cruzio.com/local_info/wireless.html
If you have a business and would like to set up a hot spot, see
http://www.cruzio.com/services/wireless/cyberhub_faq.html
7. Gizmo of the Month
One of our favorite columns in cooking magazines is the "what is it?"
column. Every month, readers find a gadget in an antique shop or
cooking store and the editors explain what it is: a potato de-eyer?
A tureen built specially for eels?
In that spirit, Cruzio offers a new "gizmo of the month" entry
in every newsletter. There are many items out there which might help
your computer run better or faster (or run at all). When you come to
Cruzio's store you might pick up the package and turn it around,
wondering: "what the heck is this thing?" Many computer-related
devices elicit this response.
It would be unutterably dull to list every such item, and we can't
even fit a long explanation for each one on the package. Instead,
we'll pick one each month and tell you how to use it and why.
This month's item: the USB four-port hub.
Many computer accessories, like digital cameras, printers, music
players or backup hard drives (You do back up your computer regularly,
don't you? Good then), have USB connectors. You plug them into a
slot (a USB port) on the back of your computer or keyboard.
For some of us, the two or three USB ports that come with our
computers are no longer enough to satisfy us. The ports on
the keyboards don't always work reliably. And we've got so many
devices to plug in! We want to download from the camera while
listening to music, and do we really have to unplug the printer
every time we do backups?
The answer: a four port USB hub. Like an extension cord for an
electrical outlet, you plug one end into the port and you've now
got an extra three ports.
If you need a USB hub, come on in to Cruzio's Santa Cruz office.
We sell them for just $10 each plus tax.
8. Class Schedule for the Next Three Months
We've been developing a new program of classes and we've
planned a schedule for the next three months. Each
month we'll highlight the upcoming classes, but since
you may want to plan ahead, here's what we've got in the
works (subject to change):
March:
17th - Computer Care Drop In Day
22nd - Brown Bag - "Web Hosting: New and Improved"
26th & 28th - Intro to Computer and the Internet, in English
29th - One Day Web Site
April:
10th & 12th - Intro to Computer and the Internet, in Spanish
12th - Brown Bag (Overview: Building a Web Site)
24th - One Day Blog
24th & 28th - Intro to Computer and the Internet, in English
26th - One Night Web Site
May:
10th - Advanced Blogging
17th - Security Brown Bag
24th - One Day (or night) Web Site
For upcoming classes, you'll find more information and a registration
form at:
http://events.cruzio.com
9. Moving?
If you are moving your home or office, please contact Cruzio.
We're here to help the Internet portion of your move go smoothly.
It's best to let us know several weeks ahead of time, especially
if you have DSL or if you're canceling a phone line. We can often
save you from an interruption in Internet service and prevent
costly fees -- but you've got to let us know. For more information,
please see
http://www.cruzio.com/services/highspeed_access/move_dsl.html
10. We Appreciate Referrals
Recommend us to friends, family, colleagues: if a new customer
gives us your email address, registration number, or full name when
they sign up you'll get $10 credit to your account. If two friends
sign up, $20. Three friends, $30. It just goes on and on.
11. Feed the Hungry, Get Late Fees Waived
If you're late on a payment to Cruzio, turn it into a donation
to hungry folks in our community. We will waive your late
fee if you bring 3 cans into our office for our Second Harvest
Food Bank barrel. Learn more about this charity at
http://www.thefoodbank.org
12. About This Newsletter
Cruzio doesn't like to waste bandwidth with extra email, but we sometimes
have events and announcements that users need to know about. This seems
like the most efficient way to let people know what's happening. Hope
it's helpful. Please email support@cruzio.com with any comments or questions.
By the way, we would love to have a regular, predictable schedule
for this newsletter...but we simply do not send it unless there is real
news enclosed. Thus the haphazard datelines.
13. How to Reach Cruzio (dial-in or tech support)
To reach the Cruzio Information Center, for online technical and
sales information:
http://www.cruzio.com/support
To dial in to Cruzio, set your software to dial one of the numbers
below (note: we've expanded and joined modem pools, so you may be
using another number. If so, don't worry, it still works just fine).
Dialup (in Santa Cruz County): 459-9408
Nationwide Dialup: Look up local number on our Web page:
http://www.cruzio.com/support/dialup_isdn/nationwide_numbers.html
or call Cruzio toll free, 1.800.303.3302
To call Cruzio:
459-6301............Use this number to check Cruzio's system status,
pay your Cruzio bill, find out more about our hours and location,
or to reach someone in customer service and technical support.
722-6200 .......... Cruzio's number in Watsonville.
To send email to Cruzio, use one of these addresses:
support@cruzio.com ......for technical support
office@cruzio.com .......for billing and ordering information
Cruzio's locations:
Santa Cruz: 903 Pacific Avenue, Suite 101, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Watsonville: Plaza Vigil, 23 E. Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
Cruzio's hours:
Sales hours: 10am-6pm, Monday through Friday; 10 am - 2 pm Saturday
Technical support: 8am to 6pm, Mon to Fri, 10am - 2pm Saturday
System monitoring, including customer-alerted emergencies, 24 hours
per day, 365 days per year (leap years, 366 days)
Thanks very much from Cruzio:
Chris, Peggy, Julianne, Mark, Stephen, Paul, Gershom,
Jessi, Michael, James, Juana, Nikkie, Mike, Don, Bruce,
Edgar, Brian, Westi, Andrew, Jaime, another Chris, yet
another Chris, Reema, Diana, and Maria (welcome back!);
our awesome interns, Christi, Kristi, and Edi;
Jake, Annika, and Carly (the kids)
4th Grade Science Experiment Results:
Carly: "I have done an experiment to see which would get done
faster, jello with hot water or jello with cold water
and ice underneath."
Mom: "Which was faster?"
Carly: "I couldn't tell. One of them was eaten."
Mom: "Eaten by whom?"
Carly: "By me."
