Posted on: Tuesday, December 17, 2002

Q&A
Disconnect modems automatically

By Kim Komando

Q. I often forget to disconnect from the Internet, so my phone line remains busy. Will Windows XP disconnect my dial-up modem automatically?

A. Windows XP will hang up your modem if you specify how long it should wait while your Internet connection is idle. This magic happens in the Control Panel. Open it and double-click Network Connections. Select your modem and right-click. From the menu, select Properties and Options. Here, you will see "Idle time before hanging up." Click the arrows to set the appropriate time.

Q. Is the video created by digital cameras any good?

A. A digital camera's video is typically very short, no more than a minute or two. In addition, the resolution is about 320 by 240 pixels and the frames per second are half of a camcorder. And if your camera doesn't include a microphone, movies will be silent. This adds up to a grainy, short and not-very-satisfying experience. Don't give this feature too much weight when buying.

Q. What is "ego surfing"?

A. It refers to searching the Internet for references about yourself. Go to Google (www.google.com) and search using your name. You might be surprised at what you find.

Clarification

A. Kim Komando story on reunion Web sites should have stated that members of Classmates.com, whether they purchase a Gold membership or not, will not receive an individual's personal e-mail address.

Classmates.com does deliver e-mail from one member to another, without disclosing either party's e-mail address. The Classmates.com site only shares information that is submitted by individuals in member profiles.