SPCUG founder Bob Mix is on hand to recall the events of the past.

Past and present volunteers are brought up on stage to be recognized.

Dave Loftis announces the formation of a Programming SIG.

Fred Gibbons, President and CEO of Software Publishing Corporation, talks about technology before turning the presentation over to Bill Dunn. Bill demonstrates Harvard Draw for Windows, Superbase 4 for Windows, and ProWrite Plus.

The night ends with a special birthday drawing that left 10 members going home with a crisp $50 bill.

Nora Haley takes over the advertising and SIG coordination positions from Paul Gerard.

Advanced Micro Devices begins work on a fifth-generation x86 processor (in the class of Intel's Pentium chip).

Patty Van Hooser gives a quick summary of the upcoming Capitol Business Conference and Exposition.

Matthew Dalton of WordScience Corporation discusses a special offer for his company's product Instant Definitions, an upgrade to Definitions Plus.

Mark Spitzer of CompUSA (formally called Soft-Warehouse) comes by to announce the opening of a new store on Howe Avenue.

Pamela Goldschmidt of Microsoft talks about Microsoft's view of multimedia.

Richard Landry, formally of PC World and now publisher of NewMedia, gives an interesting talk on multimedia.

David Smith of Cellular One givse a brief talk about affordable cell phones and gives one away.

Mark Spitzer announces the opening of a new store and gives out 5% gift certificates.

Matthew Dalton of WordScience returns to clarify the offer made the previous month.

Paul Grayson, CEO of Micrografx Corporation provides a first look at his company's PhotoMagic.

Val Cole of Caere demonstrates FaxMaster.

IBM creates the IBM Personal Computer Company.

Tamarie Cuneo from Broderbund unveils the deluxe edition of "Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?". She also shows Kid Pix.

Kris Bond joins her to show Print Shop Deluxe.

Tom Johnson of Microsoft demonstrates Windows NT.

IBM introduces its ThinkPad laptop computer.

Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1, which integrates networking and workgroup functionality.

David Smith of Cellular One announces a wireless data transfer seminar.

Sysop Frank Leonard announces that the SPCUG BBS is finally online.

Bill Gross of Knowledge Adventure offers a preview of Dinosaur Adventure.

Elena Fernandez of Lotus Development Corporation warms up the crowd before turning the microphone over to Mike Wells, who gave a demonstration of Lotus Improv.

Special Meeting Location: Holiday Inn Holidome.

Microsoft ships Microsoft Access 1.0, a database for Windows.

Novell purchases Digital Research Inc. for $80 million.

Creative Labs introduces the Sound Blaster 16 with Advanced Signal Processor, a 16-bit stereo PC sound card.

Hewlett-Packard introduces the HP LaserJet 4 laser printer.

Matthew Dalton from WordScience announces yet another holiday gift offer of their product Instant Definitions.

Gene Wang of Symantec gives a demonstration of Symantec's Q&A database software and a sneak peak at an unannounced project management program. He has a crew consisting of Mary Jelinek, Sue Selesky, and Mike Savage along for support.

Frank Leonard, with Mike Lamun at the keyboard, gives a demonstration of our own Bulletin Board System (BBS).

Novell buys AT&T's UNIX Systems Laboratories, gaining all rights to the UNIX source code, for $150 million.

The first version of the web browser Mosaic is written at NCSA by Marc Andreessen over Christmas break.

Tony Barcellos gives a talk on the use of computers for distributing child pornography as well as other crimes.

Bill Spernow of the Justice Department continues the discussion by telling everyone what to look for to help prevent these activities.

David Smith, Tom Willig, and Tim Carter of Cellular One explain the wonders of wireless communications, complete with a demonstration of a wireless connection to CompuServe.

Paul Andrews and Steven Manes discuss their biographical book on Bill Gates.

Milt Hull is elected to the board of advisors of the Association of PC Users Groups.

IBM reports a year-end loss of $4.96 billion on revenues of $64.5 billion. This is the highest single-year loss for any US company in history.

Stac Electronics files a lawsuit against Microsoft over inclusion in MS-DOS 6.0 of file compression, which it claims infringes on Stac's patents.

Windows version of AOL launched.

Barbara Fulton of Computer Warehouse stops by with a bevy of prizes and announcements of training classes.

Margo Armstrong stops by to give away four of her books, including utility disks. Margo has published books on using WordPerfect for DOS, Microsoft DOS, Windows, and Word for Windows.

Deborah Furlow of the Government Technology Conference announces that SPCUG members can register in advance to avoid waiting in line.

Borland goes all out in a presentation that features balloons, popcorn, and stacks of prizes. Borland's own cheerleading squad bounds to the front of the auditorium, chanting "Paradox!" and waving the colorful balloons.

Borland's Kimberly Davis says, "Paradox for Windows is no longer in beta. It's shipping, and we have a full demonstration for you tonight. We have bags of wrist rests, videos, and chocolate kisses to reward you for cheering when you like something in our demonstration."

Rob Dickerson, vice president of product development for Borland, gives the demonstration of Paradox for Windows. The presentation is punctuated with cheers, probably setting a new noise level record for the group.

The Borland team includes Adrienne Earl, Janet Westlund, Kimberly Davis, Allison Niday, Ann Marcus, Nancy Hoban, and Tami Casey.

Steven Pollock and John Falen of Claris demonstrate FileMaker Pro. The product is marketed primarily for the single user who may not be a programmer, needs to build databases fast, does not want to rely on someone else to develop the database, and requires a short learning curve.

The staff of the Scottish Rite Memorial Temple remark that they are very disappointed at the condition in which we left the hall after the meeting. Perhaps we all had too good of a time.

We adopt two logos, a graphics logo and a text logo, for the SPCUG. Kevin Thompson created a text logo for use when text is sufficient. Tomisa Starr created a very attractive graphics logo involving the state of California, the Capitol dome, and some background banding. Both will get a five-year extension on their membership. Steven Friedman was awarded an honorable mention because his graphic has some of the same features as Tomisa's; he gets a one-year extension.

The US Federal Trade Commission decides to take no action against Microsoft, after two years of investigating complaints of anticompetitive behavior. The US Department of Justice begins its own antitrust investigation of Microsoft.

Matthew H. Gray, president of Hilgraeve, Inc., demonstrates HyperACCESS/5, a communications program.

Microsoft holds a special DOS 6 rollout meeting at the Community Center Theater, featuring a satellite broadcast from Moscone Center in San Francisco. Bill Gates and Brad Chase do the demonstrations. Microsoft offers to pay $10 toward the dues for any new SPCUG member, and 281 people took them up on the offer. Microsoft also matches funds donated to United Way. This brought in $1014.05 from attendees and the same amount from Microsoft.

Election results: President- Tony Barcellos, Exec VP- Larry Clark, VP- Milt Hull, Secretary- Gordon Nelder-Adams, Treasurer- Shorter Rankin.

In Sacra Blue, a battle between Kert Dees and the SPCUG board can be seen in lots of places. The argument surrounds a unique communication style Mr. Dees has adopted.

Intel introduces its 60-MHz Pentium processor.

Microsoft introduces the MS-DOS 6.0 Upgrade, including DoubleSpace disk compression.

Microsoft ships Microsoft Encarta, the first multimedia encyclopedia for a computer.

The SPCUG BBS is given a name, Sacra Bytes.

Barbara Fulton of Computer Warehouse announces the opening a large store on Howe Avenue. There will an all-day bash the day before the official opening that all SPCUG members are invited to join in on.

Karl Clegg of WordPerfect warms up the crowd with baseball caps and the traditional M&Ms. Steve Kall makes the opening remarks. Russ Dastrup demonstrates InForms, a form management program. Scott Florence wraps thing up with a demonstration of WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS.

Microsoft reports that there are 25 million licensed users of Microsoft Windows.

Gateway 2000 ships its one millionth PC.

John Soyring, Director of Software Development for the OS/2 platform at IBM, gives a presentation on OS/2 2.1. The product is announced as being available the day before the meeting, and we were the first location worldwide to receive it.

In the audience, but not involved in the presentation, is Leland Reiswig, Jr, president of IBM's Personal Software Products Division.

David Barnes, also of IBM, starts by describing his job.

"IBM gives me hardware and software. I play with it. They pay me!" he said. "It gets better. I ask other companies to send me software and they do!"

Dave continues his captivating presentation until he is stopped at almost 10 p.m. He could have continued for much longer and no one would have left.

SPCUG has a booth at the GTC show.

The Sacra Blue cover changes from gray to light blue.

IBM releases OS/2 v2.1.

Microsoft formally launches Windows NT 3.1.

Dave Smith of Cellular One has t-shirts to give away.

John Orcutt of Nomatic System announces that they are demonstrating SmartSync in the lobby.

MediaVision's Paul Nahi and Rick Allen demonstrate their sixth generation of multimedia products.

Don Edmund of Microsoft demonstrates the Windows Sound System, ProofReader, Voice Pilot, and QuickRecorder.

Nils von Veh, also of Microsoft, demonstrates Microsoft Bookshelf and CineMania.

Larry Clark publishes his 30^th and final Sacra Blue issue.

Larry Clark takes the Executive Scapegoat position.

District Court judge throws out Apple Computer's remaining claim against Microsoft in their patent infringement lawsuit.

Compaq Computer, Intel, Microsoft, and Phoenix Technologies define the Plug and Play specification for PCs.

Larry Clark takes on the position of co-director in program coordination, working with Milt Hull in getting speakers to come to meetings. Jay Waterbury is praised for all the work he did in that position in the past.

Larry Clark is awarded a plaque for his services as editor.

Margo Schulter is recognized for her award from the Intergalactic User Group Officers Conference.

John Hubert from Computer Warehouse speaks for a few minutes and gives away some merchandise. John begins by apologizing for not being Barbara Fulton.

Micrografx's Lea Ellemeier demonstrates Micrografx Designer 4.

Blake Schneider of Compton's New Media presents Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, Robin Leach's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Cookbook, and Jazz and Multimedia History.

Dan Kehew and Dan Jeffery start as Sacra Blue editor team.

Sacra Blue cover features a Mount Rushmore-like drawing of the past four editors.

PageMaker 5 is used for production of Sacra Blue.

The SPCUG logo contest is announced.

The US Federal Trade Commission decides to take no action against Intel, after three years of investigating complaints of forcing exclusive dealing practices.

IBM introduces its clock-tripled 25/75MHz Blue Lightning 486-based processor.

Digital Equipment creates the Digital Personal Computer Business unit, to focus on PC sales.

Dr. Ed Berry talks about the software he developed to help in the trial of Joe Hunt of the "Billionaire Boys Club."

Doug Leonard steps down from his position as Secretary for the SPCUG. The Steering Committee selects Gordon Nelder-Adams as his replacement.

Dan Shirra and Oguo Atuanya of Iomega explain removable storage technology.

Mary Lee of Computer Associates demonstrates Complete! (a multidimensional modeling tool), dbFast (a dBaseIII compiler), and SuperProject (a project management tool).

IBM creates the Ambra Computer Corporation, a subsidiary of the IBM PC Company, to sell a new low-cost line of PCs.

Microsoft begins shipping Windows NT.

Microsoft reports first $1 billion sales quarter.

Lotus Development wins its copyright infringement lawsuit over Borland International, but the decision is overturned in 1995.

Compton's New Media Incorporated receives a patent on multimedia search and retrieval technology from the U.S. Patent and Trade Office. The Office reverses the decision a year later, annulling the patent.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates some of the Windows shareware software from the Amazing Software Library collection. It includes programs to play sound effects and music and an assortment of games. The 50 three-disk sets that were prepared for the meeting sell out before the end of the night.

Barbara Fulton of Computer Warehouse announces new classes including one called "Managing PC Memory" to be taught by Milt Hull.

Shirley Tom of Creative Labs talks about the history and technology of multimedia.

John Rezendes from Passport demonstrates Master Trax Pro, version 4.9, MusicTime, and Encore 3.0.

Symantec acquires Fifth Generation Systems, maker of backup and security utilities for various operating systems.

Gateway 2000 introduces the industry's first VESA system.

Barbara Fulton of Computer Warehouse is in search of possible instructors for new classes.

Joe Williams of ShapeWare Corporation demonstrates Visio, the drawing tool.

Mark Eppley of Travelling Software gives a lively demonstration of CommWorks, a bundled package that includes TS FAX, Remote Office Access, TS OnLine, LapLink V, and LapLink Alert.

In a finale, Mark offers to demonstrate the new voice recognition software. Mark explains that he was about to verbally issue a command to the remote system via voice communications and cellular transmission. He requested total silence from the audience. A hush fell. From the back Rick Hellewell shouted "FORMAT C COLON!"

Undaunted by our local genius, Mark speaks into the microphone, "File Transfer AUTOEXEC dot bat; Delete Windows directory; Make Coffee." The computer responds, "Too many commands to process. I'm overloaded. Warning! Warning!" Further sounds of machine-gun fire, explosions, and smoke emanate from the computer.

Unknown to Mark, Milt Hull has prepared a bucket filled with confetti. When the smoke appears, Milt runs out with the bucket to put out the fire. Mark thought it was water and recoiled in shock until he realized it was only confetti.

As a side note, Mark tried this demo at another user group and the smoke set off the smoke detector, bringing the fire department.

Bill Gates, Microsoft founder and CEO, returns for the third time in a special meeting at the Hyatt-Regency center.

The presentation features a half-hour talk by Bill Gates, a live Q&A with Bill Gates (and assistance by Mike Risse), then a demonstration of Office 4.0 by Mike Risse.

Microsoft pays $10 each towards new memberships as they had at the DOS 6.0 rollout.

NEC Technologies unveils the first triple-speed (450 Kbps) CD-ROM drive.

Gordon Nelder-Adams makes an admittedly "shameless plug" for his new book, Crystal Clear WordPerfect.

Tamarie Cuneo of Broderbund presents Print Shop Deluxe Companion, Home Survival Toolkit, Prince of Persia II, and two living books, the Tortoise and the Hare and a book of poetry by Jack Prelutsky called New Kid on the Block.

Sacra Blue reaches 96 pages.

We pass the 3000 mark.

Microsoft ships Windows for Workgroups 3.11.

Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.2.

Benny S. Lee, of Everex Systems, Inc. is sentenced to one year in prison for manufacturing and selling counterfeit MS-DOS software. This is the first time a prison sentence is handed down for software counterfeiting in the U.S.

Larry Clark begins taking orders for SPCUG polo shirts, light blue with a dark blue logo.

Barbara J. Fulton of Computer offers her company's best wishes for the Holiday season in the form of gifts for a few lucky members.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates some screen savers from the new volume of the shareware library.

Benie Scoville announces that he has video tapes that he made of his visit to Comdex.

John Boyle of 3Com Corporation instructs us about networking.

John Bevilacqua of 7^th Level demonstrates Tuneland, 7^th Level's inaugural release.

The Sacra Blue cover changes from light blue to glossy white. It features a maze, created by Larry Graf. The solved maze creates a picture.

IBM posts a year-end loss of $8.1 billion on total sales of $62.7 billion.

AOL service exceeds 500,000 members.

Roger Swart from Swart Business Services, which offers remanufactured toner cartridges, gives away five cartridges for use with LaserJet II or III. These cartridges retail for about $49.95.

Barbara Fulton of Computer Warehouse announces an upcoming Quicken and taxes workshop.

Bernie Scoville announces his Comdex tapes were available in the lobby.

Rick Hellewell warmly welcomes Richard Katz of Intuit with a roll of yellow caution tape stretched across the stage. Rick explains that based upon Richard's last visit (when Richard fell off the stage), he wanted to make sure it was obvious where the drop-off point was. "So, Richard, please be cautions of the yellow caution line. We have spotters here if you get too close to the edge." Tony Barcellos observed, "It's going to be really funny if the tape causes him to trip." Richard took this all in stride saying, "It's not nice to make fun of the functionally challenged!"

To ensure a sugar high for the audience, Richard distributes gold chocolate coins.

This trip, Richard demonstrates Quickbooks.

Microsoft's Laura Brodwieck and Brad Hinkle present products from Microsoft's "Home" line. Laura's focus is on Creative Writer and Fine Artist. Brad demonstrates Arcade, Golf, and Flight Simulator.

NEC Technologies ships its quad-speed CD-ROM, priced at $1,000.

Thanks to donations from members and matching funds from SPCUG, the SPCUG scholarship has grown from $250 to $450. More donations are being sought.

Barbara Fulton of Computer Warehouse takes stage for the last time to pass the baton to Paul Kostic.

Bernie Scoville announces a money-back guarantee on his Comdex tapes.

Sheila Cardno of Intel explains plug-and-play technology.

Larry Clark has the audience stand to stretch while he makes the introduction of the second speaker.

"Larry Magid is virtually a one-man multimedia presentation in and of himself," said Larry. "You can hear him on Bay Area radio stations frequently. You can type at him on Prodigy. You can read his column, which is syndicated by the Los Angeles Times and papers all over the country. You can even read in the current issue of the Bay Area Computer Currents his interview with Al Gore about the Information Superhighway. And best of all, you can read his Little PC Book, which is at the top of the bestseller lists. Tonight you have the opportunity to see and hear him live on our stage right here."

Larry Magid comes out on stage and surveys the applauding audience, which was still on its feet. "This is great," he says, "getting a standing ovation before I speak. I should just leave now while I'm ahead."

The rest of his appearance is an entertaining view of the computer industry—past, present, and future.

A US District Court rules that Microsoft violated patents held by Stac Electronics in data compression used in Microsoft's DoubleSpace in DOS 6. Microsoft is ordered to remove or replace the technology.

Electronic Arts and Broderbund Software announce a proposed merger, in a stock swap valued at about $408 million.

Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.21, removing DoubleSpace disk compression.

Paul Costic, of Computer Warehouse announces that every computer that goes out their doors has an SPCUG application in the box.

Steve Friedman gives a demo of the shareware program FontSpec Pro.

Dennis Jones of Arabesque Software presents ECCO, their Personal Information Manager. ECCO is an Italian name that means "Here, there, and everywhere".

Election results: President- Tony Barcellos, Exec VP- Larry Clark, VP- Milt Hull, Secretary- Gordon Nelder-Adams, Treasurer- Shorter Rankin.

Membership peaked (all downhill from here).

Cyrix begins new shipments of the Cx486DX microprocessor, after fixing a flaw in the 32-bit floating-point code.

Hewlett-Packard ships the HP DeskWriter 560C color inkjet printer. It features 600x300dpi, at a list price of $720.

Hewlett-Packard ships the HP DeskWriter 520 inkjet printer. List price is $365.

Intel ships its clock-tripled IntelDX4 processors, at 25/75-MHz and 33/100-MHz.

Intel ships its 25/50-MHz IntelSX2 486 processor.

Intel ships the 90- and 100-MHz Pentium processor. The chips consume 3.3 volts, and includes two internal caches.

Novell buys WordPerfect Corporation for $850 million.

Aldus and Adobe Systems announce plans to merge the two companies.

Barbara Fulton becomes our business outreach coordinator.

Chris Vogt promotes his radio show, Computer Connections.

Microsoft sends a big crew to give us a sneak peak at Daytona and Chicago. The Microsoft team includes Rick Barton, Terry McDonald, Amanda Grover, Diedre, and Brad. Microsoft has an impressive array of equipment including dual, rear-projected screens.

The first demonstration is of a shipping product, Windows for Workgroups 3.11. This is followed by a demo of Windows NT Daytona, followed by a pre-beta version of the next desktop version of Windows codenamed Chicago. [It was eventually named Windows 95]. The meeting ends with a technical Q&A session.

Sacrilege, the satiric April Fools version of Sacra Blue, made another appearance.

Larry Graf, who has been working on the covers, quits because he is moving out of town.

Attendance: 1100+

Symantec and Central Point Software Incorporated agree to merge companies in a stock swap valued at about $60 million.

Broderbund Software calls off the proposed merger with Electronic Arts, due to a significant drop in the stock value of Electronic Arts.

IBM releases PC-DOS 6.3.

Mosaic Communications releases Netscape Navigator 1.0, a Web browser.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decides to reject all 41 of the application's claims after re-examining the patent application it granted to Compton's New Media in 1993,

Nikki Malnati and Braian Carman of Aldus demonstrate PageMaker 5.

Gary Saxer of Quarterdeck gives a high-energy presentation of QEMM, the Quarterdeck Expanded Memory Manager, and a new program called SideBar.

Microsoft sends out the first official beta-test version of Chicago (Windows 95).

Don Coffey and Rhonda Blier of Software Marketing Corporation demonstrates AutoWorks, PharmAssist, and BodyWorks.

Borland returns with balloons and edible goodies. Paul Dodds presents dBase for Windows. A copy of Borland's new Sidekick is offered to the first 30 new members to join SPCUG that evening.

Dan Jeffery gives up his editor position due to increasing work in his real life.

Sacra Blue is printed with black ink after years of being printed with blue ink.

Microsoft and Stac Electronics settle their legal differences over data compression patents. Microsoft agrees to buy $40 million of Stac stock, and to pay Stac a further $43 million in royalties.

Microsoft releases MS-DOS 6.22, bringing back disk compression under the name DriveSpace.

Microsoft is granted a trademark to the name "Windows" for software products.

Borland International sells its Quattro Pro spreadsheet to Novell for about $140 million.

Dr. Thomas R. Nicely of Lynchburg College notes that the Pentium processor sometimes produces flawed floating-point results, yielding only 4-8 decimals of precision.

WordStar International, Spinnaker Software, and SoftKey Software Products merge companies, forming SoftKey International.

Amy Prentice of Center High School is the winner of the second annual scholarship award. Don Mongeau awarded the $450 check.

Editor-in-chief Dan Kehew loses another editor when Steve Friedman, product review editor, moves to Scotland.

Chris Vogt comes by to promote his radio show, Computer Connections.

Folio Corporation's Gary Laney presents Folio.

Mike Jones of Corel Corporation demonstrates CorelDRAW 5.

Dan Kehew & Kevin Stalling start as Sacra Blue editor team.

Microsoft reaches a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding alleged monopolistic licensing practices.

U.S. Robotics ships the Courier v.34 28.8 Kbps modems. List price: $329 internal, $349 external.

Charlie McClain of Intech Soultions talks about Digiboard and gives some background information on ISDN.

Steven Tyndall and Roman Sochan from Lotus Corporation presents Lotus Notes.

IBM shut down its Ambra PC division.

AOL service reaches 1 million members.

AOL acquires Redgate Communications, multimedia publishing company.

Richard Pickings announces his intention to form an Engineering SIG.

The audience readies their 3-D glasses with fluorescent orange frames as Larry Clark introduces Lynda Orban from Knowledge Adventure. Lynda quickly averts any possible confusion by announcing, "I am not Bill Gross." [Lynda bears no resemblance to Bill Gross, at least not to those of us already wearing our 3-D glasses – Ed.]

Lynda starts with the 3-D programs, 3-D Dinosaur Adventure, 3-D Body Adventure, and Bug Adventure.

Referring to Bug Adventure, Lynda proclaims, "It's not often you can go to a user group and say this. We're the first company that is proud to announce that we have buggy software."

She follows with the 2-D programs America Adventure, The Discoverers, Speed, Science Adventure, and Magic Theater.

It is a good thing the second presenter for the night cancelled. Lynda could not have shown everything in a normal time slot.

The International Telecommunications Union ratifies the 28.8Kbps V.34 modem standard.

Advanced Micro Devices ships its Am486DX2-80 40/80-MHz processor.

Microsoft ships its first keyboard, the Microsoft Natural Keyboard.

U.S. Robotics ships the Sportster v.34 28.8 Kbps modems. List price: $329 internal, $349 external.

NexGen introduces its Nx586 microprocessor.

Alaris introduces the first PC with a NexGen Nx586 processor.

Microsoft announces the name of its upcoming Windows upgrade: Windows 95.

IBM introduces the Aptiva line, to replace the PS/1 line, aimed at the home PC market.

John Kraemer announces the formation of the networking SIG.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates his Ken's Kompendium of Komputer Knowledge disk.

Kevin Bromber and Doug Richards, CEO of Visual Software, demonstrate Visual Reality and Simply 3-D.

Fred Sharples and Karla Boisvert from Macromedia Corporation show Director, a multimedia authoring program.

Sacra Blue introduces a new format, designed in part by Eric Butow.

Advanced Micro Designs unveils the chip architecture of the K5 processor.

Microsoft announces and ships Windows NT Workstation 3.5 and Windows NT Server 3.5.

Dr. Nicely reports his discovery of the Pentium floating-point bug to Intel, and his report is made public on CompuServe.

Microsoft makes a bid to buy Intuit (maker of Quicken) for $1.5 billion stock swap.

Seagate Technologies announces the first disk drive and interface achieving a transfer rate of 100 MB per second.

IBM formally launches OS/2 Warp version 3.

IBM drops the PS/2, PS/1, Ambra, and ValuePoint lines, and XGA graphics, in favor of industry standards for its new PC line, the Series 300 and Series 700.

Intel introduces the 75-MHz Pentium processor.

Gateway 2000 Incorporated sells the first PC powered by Intel's 75-MHz Pentium.

Karen Watson of Borland stops by to let us know that she is the new area representative (and to give out goodies.)

Howard Myers and Dick Cravens of Datastorm Technologies demonstrate Procomm 2.1 for Windows.

Steve Hansen from Novell talk about Novell Netware.

Scott Nelson, with Novell Applications Group, demonstrates PerfectOffice 3.0, an office suite that includes WordPerfect. Now that Novell has swallowed WordPerfect, there are no M&Ms present.

Engineering SIG holds first meeting.

Digital Equipment launches the Starion line of home-targeted personal computer systems.

Hayes Microcomputer Products files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Cyrix announces the M1 next-generation x86 processor.

Apple Computer delivers QuickTime 2.0 for Windows.

Intel confirms that about 2 million Pentium chips have been shipped with a defective floating-point unit.

AOL acquires NaviSoft, developer of Internet publishing tools.

It is reported that the ship date for Windows 95 has slipped again, to August.

Chris Vogt, host of the Computer Connection radio show, stops by to tell us about his upcoming new radio shows: Business Connection and Legal Connection.

John Soderberg from Computer City introduces himself and gives away some goodies.

Dave Calhoun of Mather Credit Union reminds members that one of the benefits of being a SPCUG member is that you can also join the credit union.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates the shareware program WinZip 5.5. The demo is done on a computer running the Windows 95 beta.

Roger Matthews from Intel is present to talk about Overdrive processors and upgrade chips. Before presenting the new information, he assures everyone that they can get their existing Pentium chips replaced for free.

Intel's Raza Raidi presents Indeo technology for video.

The California Supreme Court upholds a 1992 decision that awarded Advanced Micro Devices technology rights in its suit against Intel.

Intel ships the 63-MHz P24T Pentium Overdrive chip.

Intel President Andy Groves admits the company mishandled the Pentium processor division problem, and appologizes for the resulting situation.

NexGen announces sample availability of its 133-MHz Nx586 microprocessor.

Novell ships PerfectOffice 3.0 for Windows.

Unisys claims to have a patent for the GIF graphics file format and the Lempel-Ziv-Welch compression technology and starts demanding royalties for programs that create GIF files.

AOL acquires BookLink Technologies, developer of Internet applications.

Kathleen Ping of Exide Electronics stops by to say that she will be the presenter in June and gives away a jacket.

Karen Ann Watson from Borland brings software to give away.

Greg Mathews from Shapeware Corporation demonstrates Visio 3.0.

IBM's David Barnes launches into one of his trademark high-energy presentation of OS/2 Warp.

Tony Barcellos announces that Gene Barlow of IBM is in the audience for the evening.

Microsoft unveils Microsoft Bob, a "super-application" for Windows consumer users, with a "social interface". The code name for the project was "Utopia."

Borland International founder Philippe Kahn resigns as president and CEO.

Advanced Micro Devices and Intel settle all outstanding processor-related legal issues. Advanced Micro Devices pays Intel $58 million in damages, and Intel pays $18 million for breach-of-contract damages. Advanced Micro Devices retains full rights to microcode in Intel 386 and Intel 486 chips.

Compaq Computer reaches worldwide number one PC market-share position.

IBM announces that one million copies of OS/2 Warp have been shipped.

"Like the PC, the Internet is a tidal wave. It will wash over the computer industry and many others, drowning those who don't learn to swim in its waves." -Bill Gates, August 1995

John Bianchi of Pacific Bell gives a brief talk about the ISDN line that was installed for the meeting.

Milt Hull and Greg Johnson provide a guided tour of the Internet. Milt takes the role of tour guide and Greg plays straight man.

[This meeting reflects a turning point for the group. The Internet is probably the reason for the general decline in user group membership. With the Internet, people had another source for the information that they previously would have gotten from a user group.]

Harry Lewis retires from being our advertising manger after years of trying to quit.

[Two turning points in one night. Although we had other advertising manager in the following months, we never again had a strong advertising manager. The result was that we lost advertisers one by one and failed to get new ones to replace them. Ultimately, this led to financial problems and the elimination of a printed magazine, since the advertising revenue is what really paid for the printing and mailing of Sacra Blue.]

IBM announces PC DOS 7, with integrated data compression from Stac Electronics (Stacker).

Judge Sporkin rejects the settlement worked out between Microsoft and the Department of Justice.

U.S. Robotics acquires Megahertz Holding Corporation.

AOL acquires ANS, commercial Internet access provider.

AOL service passes 2 million members.

Richard Katz of Intuit returns to Sacramento. In an attempt to get the audience as hyper as he is, Richard passes out chocolate coins. This trip he focuses on Quicken and Quicken Deluxe.

Election results: President- Tony Barcellos, Exec VP- Rick Hellewell, VP- Julia McCullough, Secretary- Gordon Adams, Treasurer- Shorter Rankin.

An appeals court overturns the Lotus/Borland decision, allowing emulation of Lotus 1-2-3 commands in Quattro Pro. The reversal of the prior court ruling saves Borland International $100 million that it might have been required to pay.

Iomega begins shipping its Zip drive.

IBM releases the ThinkPad 701C. It features an automatically-expanding, full-sized keyboard, dubbed the Butterfly. The laptop features a 10.4-inch thin-film transistor display, 50-MHz Intel 486DX2, 14.4K fax/modem, and weighs just 4.3 pounds.

Intel introduces the 120-MHz Pentium processor.

Jim Cannavino resigns from IBM.

Microsoft ships "Bob" for Windows.

Brian Smither takes over as Software Librarian from Tom Anderson.

Gordon Eubanks, CEO of Symantec, gives a talk on his views of Windows 95 and other 32-bit operating systems.

Richard Yim of Symantec presents Norton Utilities for Windows 95. [Windows 95 has not been released at the time of the presentation.]

Mark Kaufmann of Ray Dream demonstrates an exciting 3-D graphic package called Designer 3.

Sacra Blue features Sacrilege again. This time it makes the cover.

IBM releases PC DOS 7.

The US Department of Justice files a lawsuit to block the merger of Intuit and Microsoft.

Lotus Development renames Ami Pro to Word Pro.

Apple Computer ships the QuickTake 150 digital camera for the Macintosh, Power Macintosh, and Windows environments.

Michelle La Scala with Caere Corporation demonstrates OmniPage, PageKeeper, and OmniForm.

Philippe Kahn and Charlie Calvert of Borland demonstrate Borland Delphi.

Philippe Kahn changes hats to demonstrate SideKick for Windows, now being carried by the spin-off company, Starfish Software.

Ken Hopkins replaces Larry Clark in the meeting coordinator position. Ken will work with Milt Hull to get speakers for the meetings.

Dan Kehew and Julia McCullough start as Sacra Blue editor team.

Microsoft and Intuit announce the termination of their planned merger.

Intel releases the mobile version of the 90-MHz Pentium processor.

IBM unveils its new IBM PC 300 desktop systems, with 75-MHz and 90-MHz Pentium CPUs. Complete systems start at $2000.

Intel introduces the P6 processor.

AOL service exceeds 2.5 million members.

AOL acquires WAIS, Internet publisher, and Medior, developer of interactive media.

Chris Vogt of Computer Connections talks about his future radio shows.

Channing Boucher of Liikkuva Systems gives a presentation on GPS (Global Positioning System) technology.

AutoDesk's Ed Thornton and David Anthony from Online Design demonstrate AutoCAD Release 13 and AutoCAD LT.

Dan Kehew publishes his 24^th and final issue.

IBM buys Lotus Development for $3.5 billion in cash.

Intel announces the immediate availability of the 133-MHz Pentium processor.

Intel ceases shipments of the 60- and 66-MHz Pentium processors.

The 1994 settlement between Microsoft and the US Department of Justice, thrown out in February, is reinstated.

Iomega introduces an internal version of its 100 MB removable cartridge Zip drive.

Iomega introduces the Jaz line of high-capacity removable cartridge drives. The cartridges hold one gigabyte, costing about $100 each. Transfer rate of the drive is up to 5MBps.

IBM adds the 133-MHz Pentium to its IBM PC 700 line.

Boca Research signs a letter of intent to buy Hayes Microcomputer Products for $72 million, choosing to use the Hayes name for the merged company.

Compaq Computer introduces the 120-MHz Pentium-based Compaq Deskpro XL, starting at $3950.

Microsoft releases Windows NT v3.5.1.

AOL acquires Global Network Navigator (GNN) as platform for direct Internet service; acquires WebCrawler search tool.

Alan Griver of Creative Management, Inc., gives a presentation of Microsoft's Visual FoxPro.

Hartley Macklin from Delrina gives a demonstration of Echo Lake. Hart indicates that the merger of Symantec and Delrina will not affect user group relations.

Julia McCullough and Dan Kehew switch roles, with Julia taking the lead Sacra Blue editor position.

Symantec buys Delrina, publisher of WinFax.

IBM completes its $3.5 billion acquisition of Lotus Development Corporation, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary.

U.S. Robotics begins shipping enhanced Courier V.Everything modems capable of transmitting data at up to 33.6Kbps.

Seagate Technologies ships the one millionth Barracuda 5.25-inch hard drive (introduced in 1993) and the one millionth Elite 3.5-inch hard drive (introduced in November 1989).

Hewlett-Packard unveils the DeskJet 1600C and 1600CM, color inkjet printers.

AOL service passes 3,000,000 members.

Drew Sipos and Tim Poggi of Moon Valley Software demonstrate "I'll Get It," a PC answering machine, and "Internetables," a utility to help you on the Internet.

The Software Publishers Association announces packaging guidelines for retail software in an attempt to reduce packaging and use less environmentally-harmful materials.

Pinnacle Micro introduces the Apex 4.6, a 5.25-inch optical drive, storing 4.6 GB on a single removable disc. Transfer rate is up to 6 Mbps, with a seek time of 17 ms. Costs are $200 for cartridges and $1700 for the drive. Software supports Windows, Macintosh, and various Unix platforms.

Microsoft and the US Department of Justice sign a "consent decree," which will govern Microsoft's licensing practices of Windows for the next 6.5 years. The ruling comes after 4 years of investigation of monopolistic licensing practices.

Lotus Development ships SmartSuite 4.0 for Windows 3.1, for $400.

Intel demonstrates a system using a 150-MHz P6 CPU, running Windows 95.

Boca Research abandons its plans to merge with Hayes Microcomputer Products.

Microsoft releases Windows 95. More than 20,000 retail stores offer copies for sale. Microsoft prepares for support calls, with 1600 people staffing tech support lines. One million copies of the new and upgrade versions are sold through retail channels within the first four days.

Compaq Computer introduces nine new desktop models based on the 133-MHz Pentium processor.

Compaq Computer and Fisher-Price team up to develop, manufacture, and market a new line of educational and entertainment-oriented products.

Microsoft introduces Microsoft Office 95.

Hewlett-Packard introduces the DeskJet 850C and 855C, color inkjet printers.

David Barsocchini and Brent Haley of Adobe Systems Inc. present Pagemaker version 6.0 and Photoshop version 3.0.

Joe Benson and Richard Carlton from Apple demonstrate the QuickTake camera and QuickTime software.

Matt Keogh and Mike Landers of Insignia Solutions demonstrate SoftWindows.

The interior format of Sacra Blue is changed to try to reduce the page count and save on paper costs.

Diamond Multimedia Systems acquires modem maker Supra for cash and stock worth $54 million.

AT&T shuts down NCR at a cost of $1.2 billion.

IBM introduces the Aptiva PC.

Intel announces the official name for the P6 chip: Pentium Pro.

Two groups of companies agree on a proposed high-density compact disc format. The new format will allow up to 18.8 gigabytes total on a double-sided disc.

Intel introduces the 83-MHz Pentium OverDrive processor, for replacement in 33-MHz 486DX and 486DX2/66 systems.

Novell sells UnixWare and the rights to the UNIX operating system to Santa Cruz Operations for $145 million.

Intel announces the 80486SXSF and GXSF 486 microprocessors, designed for handheld computer products. The GX has a 16-bit bus, the SX a 32-bit bus. Both are 33-MHz, operating on 2.0-3.3 volts.

AT&T spins off its computer subsidiary (formerly NCR) as AT&T Global Information Solutions.

AOL acquires Ubique, Ltd., creator of Virtual Places.

Ken Hopkins launches a membership drive with the names of new members and their sponsor going into a special prize drawing pool.

Gary Brasfield of Iomega Corporation demonstrates Zip drives, Jaz drives, and Ditto tape drives.

David Harkness from Novell Applications Group demonstrates Internet Publisher, an add-on to WordPerfect 6.1.

Intel introduces a 120-MHz Pentium designed for mobile computers.

NexGen announces the Nx686 processor. It integrates new multimedia instructions and a multimedia execution unit into the x86 architecture.

Seagate Technologies and Conner Peripherals agree to a $1.1 billion merger.

Intel releases the mobile version of the 120-MHz Pentium processor.

Advanced Micro Devices and NexGen announce a planned merger, in which NexGen would become a subsidiary of Advanced Micro Devices. The cost to Advanced Micro Devices is $861 million in stock.

IBM celebrates the first anniversary of launching OS/2 Warp, with nearly 4 million copies sold.

IBM releases the ThinkPad 760CD, with the industry's first 12.1-inch thin-film transistor display on a laptop. The laptop uses a 120-MHz Pentium processor.

Jim Manzi announces his resignation as CEO of Lotus Development.

Novell announces its decision to exit from the personal productivity applications business to focus on networking software.

Cyrix releases the 100-MHz 6x86 microprocessor (formerly code-named M1). The chip is manufactured by IBM.

Cyrix announces sample availability of the 120-MHz 5x86.

Microsoft reports selling seven million copies of Windows 95 in under two months of its release.

Six months after its release, 30,000 units of Microsoft Bob have been sold.

Launch of GNN, AOL's direct Internet service.

Bruce Friedricks from Broderbund and Al Giannini from the San Francisco District Attorney's office demonstrate "In The First Degree," a murder mystery game.

Denise Rocco of Broderbund demonstrate "Passage to Vietnam".

Brian Donnelly and Meiji "Max" Hori demonstrate "Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time," "Arcade America," and "Battle Beast".

Special Meeting Location: Holiday Inn Holidome.

U.S. Robotics begins shipping enhanced Sportster v.34 modems, capable of transmitting data at up to 33.6 Kbps.

Intel releases the Pentium Pro microprocessor with speeds of 150-200 MHz.

NexGen announces the sampling of the 120-MHz Nx586 processor.

NexGen announces the sampling of the 133-MHz Nx586 processor.

Advanced Micro Devices begins shipping samples of its 133-MHz Am5x86 Pentium-class processor.

Mitsumi announces a 128-MB 3.5-inch flexible disk drive system, compatible with 720KB and 1.44MB diskettes.

Katherine Baugh from Microsoft demonstrates products from the Microsoft Home product line. These products are 3D Movie Maker, Encarta 95, Cinemania 96, Microsoft Fury³ (pronounced "Fury-cubed"), and a specially-designed joystick called SideWinder 3D Pro.

Bill Wells, also of Microsoft, demonstrates Office 95.

IBM ships a record one million copies of OS/2 Warp in the month, bringing the installed base to 12.7 million.

Intel destroys 1.5 million flawed Pentium chips, at a rough cost of $475 million.

AOL service exceeds 4.5 million members.

Brian Smither demonstrates two programs from the shareware library for the chef: Meal Master and Master Chef.

Peter Allen from NSNet gives a presentation that answers the following questions: what is the Internet, why is it the rave, what can it do for you and me, and where is it going?

Gary Saxer, short on time, delivers a very fast-paced review of the new Quarterdeck products, but does it in a clear, articulate fashion that all could understand. Then again, Gary tends toward the fast-paced even if he is not on deadline.

Quarterdeck products shown include Web Author, QEMM version 8, Manifest, Cleansweep, Mosaic, and Web Talk.

Ken Hopkins gives out 24 prizes to the winners of the membership drive drawing.

81 copies of Spry Corporation's Internet in a Box for Windows 95 are given out. They are donated by Egghead Software.

Advanced Micro Devices and NexGen complete their merger, with AMD paying $623 million for NexGen.

Intel announced the immediate availability of the 60/150- and 66/166-MHz Pentium P55C processor.

Philippe Kahn resigns as chairman of Borland International.

Compaq announcea the Scanner Keyboard, for $350. It incorporates a color page scanner into an otherwise normal keyboard.

Silicon Graphics introduces new workstations based on the MIPS Technologies R10000 microprocessor.

Corel purchases WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, and the PerfectOffice application suite from Novell for $180 million in cash, stock, and future licensing royalties.

Digital Equipment announces it is exiting from the consumer desktop PC market and discontinuing the Starion line of multimedia PCs.

The US Supreme Court upholds a ruling that Borland International's Quattro Pro did not violate Lotus Development's Lotus 1-2-3 copyrights. The original suit was filed in July 1990.

Intel renames the P7 processor Merced.

Advanced Micro Devices and Intel sign a five-year patent cross-license agreement.

Mitch Baryslwski, president of View by View, Inc. demonstrates three programs that highlight the power of the Pentium Pro. The programs are: Amapi, a 3-D modeling tool; Atlantis, for 3-D rendering; and Lightscape, which does photo-realistic lighting simulation.

Magazine columnist and computer pundit John C. Dvorak finally speaks to SPCUG after years of close calls.

True to form, John initially picks upon Intel since he had to sit through the demo. He moves onto digital video disks (DVDs) and Compact Disks (CDs). Then he opens things up to a Q&A and covers a variety of topics.

Micron Electronics closes subsidiary company Zeos.

Microsoft releases the Windows 95 Service Pack 1 operating system update.

Seagate Technologies and Conner Peripherals complete their merger.

Cyrix announces volume availability of the 110-MHz P133+, 60/120-MHz P150+, and 66/130-MHz P166+ 6x86 microprocessors.

IBM ships OS/2 Warp Server.

AOL acquires Johnson-Grace, leading developers of data compression technology.

AOL service passes 5 million members.

During campaign speeches, Ken Hopkins notes he is the only person running for President and need not make a long speech. Ken concluded with these words: "Please give me your vote. Thank you."

Someone announces an official time for Ken's speech of nine seconds—an SPCUG record for a candidate actually present, but still not as short as the absent Gordon Adams.

As the actual voting took place, Tony Barcellos announced, "exit polls show that Ken is winning. Zero percent of the vote has been counted, but that's enough for projections in these modern times."

Election results: President- Ken Hopkins, Exec VP- Tim Cardozo, VP- Milt Hull, Secretary- Gordon Adams, Treasurer- Shorter Rankin.

Mukunda Penugonde and Heidi McCunn of Jump! Music, Inc., for what they claimed was their first user group presentation, gives an excellent showing. Mukunda presents three of the company's products, Piano Discovery (their flagship product), Concert Ware, and Song Factory.

Julia McCullough publishes her 9^th and final issue as editor.

Microsoft ships the 30-millionth copy of Windows 95.

Packard Bell Electronics receives Zenith Data Systems as part of a $650 million deal with NEC and Groupe Bull.

Computer maker CompuAdd shuts down operations.

Silicon Graphics and Cray Research agree to merge, at a cost of about $764 million to Silicon Graphics.

Compaq Computer introduces the 180-MHz Pentium Pro-based Prolinea.

Intel releases the 120-MHz OverDrive (Pentium) processor for 60-MHz systems, with the 133-MHz version for 66-MHz systems, and the 125-MHz version for 75-MHz systems.

Advanced Micro Devices begins shipping the AMD5K86 microprocessor.

Digital Equipment introduces the HiNote Ultra II, subnotebook. It features a 100/120/133-MHz Pentium, weighs 4 pounds, 10.4-inch color SVGA active matrix screen, removable memory/hard drive pack, removable CD-ROM/speaker pack, and removable external ports pack. Prices range from $3000-6000.

Iomega sells its one-millionth Zip drive.

AOL announces marketing distribution alliances with Apple and AT&T. Browser partnerships announced with Microsoft and Netscape Communications. Licensing and developing agreement announced with Sun Microsystems.

The indomitable Richard Katz takes the stage and seizes the hour, immediately testing the group's level of "sophistication": What rhymes with chicken – QUICKEN!

Quicken, Intuit's financial management and computerized check-writing program, has nine million users, and has been around since 1983: "Users tell other users." Having artfully deployed his rubber chicken, Katz swung into digital action.

Sacrilege appears as an insert to Sacra Blue.

Margo Schulter, long-running contributor to Sacra Blue, takes over as editor. Her first issue is 88 pages long.

The membership promotion is suspended because of a lack of participation.

An April Fool's joke appears on Sacra Bytes that concerned Frank Leonard stepping down from his Sysop position. The joke affects many members who were unaware that April Fool's Day is Larry Clark's favorite holiday.

Hewlett-Packard begins shipping the HP LaserJet 5 line of laser printers.

Corel releases Corel WordPerfect Suite 7, and Corel Office Professional Suite.

Steve Kimmelman of OnTrack Media Corporation presents Career Path, a program that helps you find the job that suits you.

Pete Rowe of Winway Corporation presents WinWay Resume, a resume-builder program.

Tom Simpson of Dynamic Pathways demonstrates Success, Inc., a program that helps you start your own business.

SPCUG has a booth at GTC.

AOL service exceeds 6 million members.

Jennifer S. Goss and Amy Van Vranken of Merriam Webster demonstrate Collegiate Dictionary, Deluxe Electronic Edition on CD.

Dave Davis of KD&C gives out 25 keyboard trays as door prizes.

Michael Moser, President and CEO of EXAQ Micro Services, demonstrates DragonDictate for Windows.

Sony Information Technologies of America introduces Sony's new line of consumer-based PC systems, priced at $2000-3000.

Intel begin shipping small quantities of the 200-MHz Pentium processor.

IBM begins shipping small quantities of its version of Cyrix' 150-MHz 6x86 processor.

Cyrix introduces the 6x86-P200+ processor.

Advanced Micro Devices begin shipping the K5-PR100 microprocessor. It is a 100-MHz Pentium-compatible plug-in replacement.

Joe Cosentino of American Power Corporation gives an informative presentation on power protection.

Dave Davis of KD&C brings another 21 keyboard trays to be given out in celebration of our 14^th birthday.

Stephanie Meket of Communications Intelligence Corporation gives a demonstration of handwriting recognition technology using Handwriter for Windows.

Tevor Rubel of Wall Data demonstrates the SALSA database for Windows.

Over 100 birthday prizes are given away, from T-shirts and mousepads to software. The birthday prizes are topped off with an Epson Stylus Color II inkjet printer, donated by Epson.

SPCUG hosts Microsoft and their "Activate the Internet User Group Tour" in a special meeting (six days after the normal meeting) at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center.

Caldera buys DR DOS from Novell.

Compaq Computer discontinues the ProLinea desktop computer line.

Intel begins shipping the 200-MHz Pentium Pro with a 512-KB cache.

AOL launches version 3.0 for Windows.

Barb Englund of Net at Two Rivers gives a moving presentation on their project.

Brian Smither gives an excellent demonstration of the shareware programs Form Power Pro, Nightbirds for DOS, and Persistance of Vision Raytracer.

William Lee Little of AMD (formerly Advanced Micro Devices) gives an informative presentation on his company's quest to catch up with and overtake Intel, the leader in the CPU (Central Processing Unit) market for IBM-compatibles.

Mark Davison of Viso Solutions Services gives a very visual presentation of his company's "drag and drop" Windows program for charts and diagrams.

Special Meeting Location: Holiday Inn Holidome.

Intel releases the 150-MHz mobile Pentium processor, designed for use in portable computers.

AOL acquires ImagiNation Network (INN) to expand multiplayer games offering.

Barb Englund of Net at Two Rivers thanks the group for its volunteer efforts and reports that 1000 hours have been donated.

Both originally-scheduled speakers (McAfee and Berkeley Systems) cancel, but we manage to get two great presentations to replace them.

Artisoft LANtastic's Chris Platzer demonstrates peer-to-peer networking technology.

David G. Glickman from U.S. Robotics demonstrates the Palm Pilot.

SPCUG has booths at the technology@home show at Cal Expo and the job fair a few days later.

AOL moves from Nasdaq to New York Stock Exchange listed under symbol "AOL".

Lori Sacowitz of IBM presents OS/2, Warp version 4.

USRobotics shatters the modem speed barrier by delivering 56 Kbps over standard telephone lines.

Microsoft and Intel launch NetPC with industry leaders.

The Windows SIG and the Beginners SIG, run by Ken Hopkins and meeting at the State Capitol, are disbanded.

The Stockton (Valley) Chapter announces they are disbanding.

Barb Englund and Cynthia Mulit of Net at Two Rivers and Bill Davis, President of MacNexus, come by to explain the accomplishments of N2R.

Prizes that arrived too late from the previous month's OS/2 presentation are given out to the first 10 OS/2 users.

Mitch Pendleton from Corel Corporation demonstrates WordPerfect 7 Suite for Windows. He bingst back the tradition of passing out M&Ms to all attendees.

A committee is formed to come up with methods to correct our financial problems without raising dues.

Samsung, the world's largest memory chip supplier, says it has developed a fully-working prototype of a one-gigabit DRAM chip.

Gateway 2000's Destination Big Screen PC and NetTV's WorldVision 2900 are the first to start selling PCTV, but they're by no means alone. Zenith, Sony, Compaq, and Curtis Mathes all have plans to release PC TVs within the year.

Compaq Computer ships the PC Companion, a handheld computer running Windows CE. Weight is under 1 pound. The unit measures 7 inches wide by 3.5 inches deep. It runs on AA batteries lasting up to 20 hours. Prices range from $499 (2 MB RAM) to $699 (6 MB RAM).

NEC Computer Systems ships the MobilePro HPC, a handheld computer running Windows CE.

Hitachi Home Electronics ships the Hitachi Handheld PC running Windows CE.

Casio Computer ships the Cassiopeia, a handheld computer running Windows CE.

IBM shows a prototype Professional Workstation at Fall Comdex with a 16.1-inch color active-matrix flat-panel LCD screen.

Microsoft unveils Microsoft Office 97.

AOL service reaches 7 million members.

Excite becomes AOL's exclusive Internet search and directory service.

MS sends Ann Marcus and she turns out to be an excellent presenter. Ann demonstrates Flight Simulator, Deadly Tide, Monster Truck Madness, and The Neighborhood. We leave wondering how she would have squeezed her fast-paced demonstration into the original 45 minutes.

AOL introduces unlimited-use pricing plan of $19.95 per month.

Martin Lee and Tiffany Devitt of JFAX Communications demonstrate the JFAX Personal Telecom service.

Tom Epplinger of Microsoft demonstrates Office 97.

Margo Schulter publishes 10^th and final issue.

AOL service passes 8 million members.

Joel Connors of General Magic demonstrates Magic Cap for Windows.

Eric Butow takes over as Sacra Blue editor.

Sacra Blue undergoes a major revamping in style.

"Software mogul Bill Gates says computers like Hal in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey– able to talk, see and listen– could be developed by the year 2011. Faster, more powerful microchips, combined with breakthroughs in software, will allow personal computers to recognize and converse with people, Gates said today (Monday) at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Seattle. 'When people look back on the computers of today, they'll say: 'What did they do?' says Gates, who is head of the giant Microsoft Corp. 'They couldn't see, they couldn't listen, they couldn't speak.'" -Source: "Gates: Nearing Hal, talking computers," United Press International release, February 17, 1997

Nicole Ronayne from the Government Technology Conference gives a pitch for the upcoming show.

Mark Braddy of Lotus demonstrates SmartSuite 97.

SPCUG participates in the Technical Job Fair.

Election results: President- Larry Clark, Exec VP- Frank Leonard, VP- Tim Cardozo, Treasurer- Tom Anderson, Secretary- Mark Naber.

AOL acquires Lightspeed Media to create original content for Greenhouse Entertainment Network .

Karen Watson is forming a Web development SIG.

The Steering Committee votes to start charging for on-seat advertising to improve advertising revenue and ease the after-meeting cleanup.

Terri McDonald and Dave Long of Novell talk about the upcoming special meeting at GTC.

Nicole Ronayne of GTC recommends that everyone attend GTC in addition to the special meeting.

Active volunteers Frank Leonard and Marsha Aitken get married [no - not at the meeting.]

Frank Leonard talks briefly about the AOL4FREE Trojan horse.

Chris Vogt, the leader of Net Nite (a Sacramento Internet users group), encourages everyone to listen to his radio show and come to Net Nite.

Milt Hull is given an award in recognition of his service as an officer over the previous 15 years.

Richard Capone from Adobe System demonstrates Illustrator 7.0 and PageMill 2.0.

Gene Barlow of PowerQuest demonstrates DriveCopy and Partition Magic. SPCUG has known Gene for years, since he previously managed IBM's user group program.

AMD announces 166-, 200-, and 233-MHz versions of its long-awaited K6.

Microsoft buys WebTV for $425 million.

Don Mongeau awards Erica Hansen, a student from Casa Robles High School, a $500 scholarship check.

Pete Peterson, president of Fitnesoft demonstrates LifeForm, a personal health tracker, and YeahWrite, a Windows word processor. Pete was formally a top executive with WordPerfect.

Borland is scheduled to present Delhi 3.0 but they never showed up.

We discover that Shorter Rankin, long-time treasurer, embezzled $11,549.50 from the treasury funds.

Upon analysis of the records, we discover that we are eating into our reserves at a rate of $10,000 a year. The group determines to find ways to reduce expenses or increase revenues.

Intel launches its new Pentium II processor.

Digital Equipment files a lawsuit against Intel, claiming infringement of 10 Digital Equipment patents in Intel's Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors.

John Crow becomes leader of the Beginners SIG.

A phone line is dropped from Sacra Bytes due to declining usage.

Ken Hopkins presents information about upgrading a computer. He starts by explaining the various components of a computer, including showing different types of motherboards. Jim Hemsworth has a video camera to capture the action and put it on the big screen.

Then he calls on Nathan Davis for assistance in assembling the new components while Ken dismantles the old.

While Nathan and Ken do their stuff, Milt Hull gives a quick demo of Street Atlas USA from DeLorme.

Once the old system is dismantled, the new items are added to the system, with an explanation of each item. Once everything is plugged in, and with Milt standing by with a fire extinguisher, the system is turned on. When the Windows 95 logo pops up, the computer is turned off since the processor fan was not yet installed but the system worked.

SPCUG membership drops under the 2000 mark.

Netscape releases Internet Communicator 4.0.

Microsoft invests $1 billion in Comcast, a venture to provide speedy Web access via cable lines.

Compaq Computer buys Tandem Computers for $3 billion.

AOL service passes 750,000 members internationally.

AOL Studios launches WorldPlay Entertainment.

"We are on the verge of a global area network with billions of users. Our cars, appliances, pagers, and homes will transmit information from their own Internet addresses. Your car is going to send you an e-mail message telling you it is time for an oil change." -John Patrick, Vice President of Internet technology at IBM, 1997

The main projector breaks again and we have to resort to the backup projector. The backup projector does not work because both the bulb and the backup bulb are burnt out. This is fixed after a trip to the office supply store.

Brian Roat of Quality Communications Technologies in Folsom shows us how to make presentations with Astound.

Mike Moser of EXAQ Micro Services shows us Dragon Dictate's NaturallySpeaking.

Eric Butow forms the Roseville Chapter.

Larry Resnick announces plans to start a C language SIG.

Gary Duncan of Integrated Systems Specialists presents their new Internet Sharing Hub.

Amy Iverson of Micrografx demonstrates Windows Draw 6.

SPCUG participates in a KVIE membership drive by manning the phones.

Tom Anderson steps down as Treasurer for health reasons. Chuck Benward is appointed as a replacement.

Sacra Blue features a retro cover to celebrate 15 years of newsletters.

Special Meeting Location: Holiday Inn Holidome.

Microsoft invests $150,000,000.00 in Apple Computer.

Motorola announces the StarMax 6000 Macintosh-compatible system.

"In the end, the answer to 'Could computers think?' is that it doesn't matter whether they think. What matters is whether we think they think. In the decades ahead, as we learn ever more about how we ourselves work, and as our computers become ever more complex and competent, the words computer and think will continue to warp, until they're so different from their 1940's meanings that the question will lose relevance— and, then, meaning. In time, the boundaries between the born and the made, the grown and the built, the living and the dead, the evolved and the programmed, the biological and the artificial will evaporate. They're already melting like candles in a firestorm." -Paul Valery, Slaves of the Machine, 1997

Michael Neff of New Horizons offers free classes.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates Microsoft's Agent technology showing the Merlin and Genie characters.

Robert Stocks of Symantec demonstrates Norton Utilities for Windows 95 and NT.

William H. Roetzheim, CEO of Marotz, Inc., and Ken Merson of Borland demonstrate Borland Delhi 3.0.

Legal proceedings start against Shorter Rankin.

SPCUG participates in the Technical Job Fair.

Microsoft Corp. release Internet Explorer 4.0 software.

AOL service passes 9 million members.

AOL announces intention to acquire CompuServe Online Services.

"The only influence Netscape has is with the Webheads who are coding at two o'clock in the morning with 10 Cokes in front of them." -Aberdeen Group Inc.'s research analyst Mark Peabody

SPCUG participates in a market survey, which brings in $250 to our treasury.

Tom Vair of Corel demonstrates WordPerfect Suite 8 and DRAW 7.

Intel and Digital Equipment settle their lawsuits with a ten-year patent license agreement, among other things.

The U.S. Department of Justice asks a federal court to hold Microsoft in contempt because it may be forcing PC makers to distribute Internet Explorer as a condition of selling Windows 95.

AOL and Bertelsmann, AG announce plans to launch online service in Australia.

AOL Studios launches Entertainment Asylum.

Dr. Robert Anderson of RAND Corporation comes to Sacramento to discuss the consequences of a world in which computers and communications are intentionally and severely disrupted.

Clifford Stoll, author of The Cuckoo's Egg and Silicon Snake Oil, puts on a terrific show.

SPCUG hosts the Microsoft eXtreme Event, a national satellite broadcast shown in selected movie theaters.

Sacra Blue wins third place for Best Content, second place for Best Design/Layout, and second place for Best Overall at COMDEX.

Seagate Technology ships its 100 millionth disc drive, a Seagate Medalist 2.5 GB 3.5-inch hard drive. The drive is presented to the Tech Museum of Innovation in California.

Sun Microsystems takes legal action against Microsoft for shipping Internet Explorer 4.0 with a non-standard implementation of Java.

AOL service passes 10 million members.

A copy of Microsoft Visual Studio 97 Enterprise Edition was raffled off. The raffle earns $540 to be split half-and-half with the SPCUG scholarship fund and the Sacramento Bee's Book of Dreams.

Joseph Harris of Zapa Digital Arts demonstrates MicroSites, a tool for developing Web ads.

Ed Gerek of Novaware demonstrates WebBoy, a DOS-based Web browser that runs on older computers.

Frank Leonard shows Windows 95 running with Internet Explorer 4 removed.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson stuns the industry by ruling that software giant Microsoft must license its Windows 95 operating system to PC makers without requiring them to also take the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.

AOL service passes 1 million member mark outside U.S..

Patrick Parks, president of Network Professional Associations' Sacramento chapter, announces that his group has become our second Affliated Computer Organization (ACO.)

Edmung Leung, vice president and co-founder of Softlink, demonstrates BravoMail, a multimedia e-mail product.

Lois Countryman from Thomas Brothers Maps demonstrates the Thomas Guide CD-ROM and GeoFinder.

Intel Corporation introduces the 333-MHz Pentium II processor.

Compaq Computer announces its intent to buy Digital Equipment for $9.6 billion.

AOL service passes 11 million members.

Kiki Stockhammer and Mark Randall of Play Incorporated return to show us Snappy 3.0 and the long awaited Trinity. We give them the whole night because we know it will be great. We are right.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) resolves the battle between X2 from 3COM and K56flex from Rockwell Semiconductor by approving the V.90 standard for 56-Kbps modems.

AOL completes acquisition of CompuServe.

"They have computers, and they may have other weapons of mass destruction."

Steve Case from Transcender presents training software that gets you ready to take the Microsoft certification tests.

The Sacramento Commodore Club donates its remaining funds to our scholarship fund before they disband. This brings the fund to $850, to be split between two recipients.

Election results: President- Larry Clark, Exec VP- Frank Leonard, VP- Tim Cardozo, Treasurer- Chuck Benward, Secretary- Gordon Adams.

Erin Kelly of Design Intelligence demonstrates I Publish.

Richard Katz bounces back to Sacramento to demonstrate Intuit's Quicken and Quicken Home and Business.

SPCUG Changes Meeting Location to the Sacramento Association of Realtors.

Intel introduces the Pentium II 350 MHz and 400 MHz, and also the Celeron, the first to support a 100-megahertz internal PC bus.

Byte Magazine is purchased by CMP Media Inc. CMP Media owns over 13 computer magazines, including Windows Magazine.

Attorneys General from 20 states and the District of Columbia file an antitrust lawsuit in Washington, D.C., alleging that the Microsoft Corporation illegally stifled competition, harmed consumers, and undercut innovation in the computer software industry. The States asks the Court to conduct a hearing and then issue a preliminary injunction ordering Microsoft to provide its Windows 98 operating system either with no browser, or with alternative browsers—so that computer manufacturers and consumers could freely select the browser of their choice.

AOL service passes 12 million members.

A donation by Transcender brings the scholarship fund to $1000. $500 will be given to one recipient and $250 each to two recipients.

David Kale forms the MSCE SIG for people preparing for certification tests.

The Microsoft-DoJ lawsuit is discussed briefly.

Chad Small of Lotus Development Corporation demonstrates SmartSuite Millennium and ViaVoice Gold.

Milt Hull gives a Windows tips and techniques presentation.

AOL announces intention to acquire NetChannel, Inc.

The first place winner of the scholarship award is David Alson, a Loomis resident, Eagle Scout, sports player, band member, and jobholder. Don Mongeau presents David with a $500 check and a one-year SPCUG membership.

Second prizes go to David Berlin from Woodcreek High School in Roseville and Samamtha Danenberg from Elk Grove High School. They each receive a $250 check and a one-year SPCUG membership.

Mae Westlake and Brian Mavrogeorge of Palladium Interactive demonstrate the Ultimate Family Tree Premier.

Integrated Device Technology's Mike Bruzzone present the WinChip processor.

Sacra Blue includes lots of commentary on the Microsoft-DoJ lawsuit.

The Federal Trade Commission files a complaint before an FTC Administrative Law Judge against Intel Corp.

Intel Corporation introduces the Intel Celeron processor 300 MHz.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturns an injunction that had prohibited Microsoft from requiring computer makers that license its Windows 95 operating system to also use its Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.

Microsoft releases Windows 98.

AOL announces intention to acquire Mirabilis LTD and its ICQ Technology.

Matt McCann shows how to get our computer to listen using FreeSpeech.

Milt Hull shows how to create CDs using Adaptec's Easy CD Creator.

Microsoft files a counter-lawsuit against the 20 states charging that the states were acting illegally by suing the company, and should be forced to pay Microsoft's legal fees.

AOL announces full deployment of V.90 standard.

Roger Creighton from PC Primer presents Jasc Software's Paint Shop Pro.

Richard Capone of Adobe briefly discusses Photoshop 5.0 before moving on to PhotoDeluxe, PageMill, and Acrobat 3.0.

Sacra Blue features a review of the ITC WinChip system by Frank Leonard.

Intel Corporation introduces the Pentium II processor at 450 MHz and the Celeron processors at 333 MHz and 300A MHz speeds (both with 128 KB of integrated L2 cache on the processor core), and the 300 MHz and 266 MHz speeds (without integrated L2 cache).

AOL service surpasses 13 million members.

Sorin Gramma from National Instruments demonstrates LabView.

Gene Barlow of PowerQuest is back for a demonstration of PartitionMagic 4.0.

IBM unveils the world's smallest and lightest hard disk drive with a disk platter about the size of a large coin.

Intel Corporation announces 450 MHz Pentium II Xeon processor designed for use in dual-processor (two-way) workstations and servers.

Microsoft ships Windows CE 2.11 software for handhelds.

Windows NT 5.0 gets a new name: Windows 2000.

AOL and Bertelsmann launch AOL Australia.

Gary Davenport of Lernout & Hauspie demonstrates VoiceXpress.

Member Ken Hale demonstrates YourTraySpell Words Suite, a program he developed and markets himself.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates Lego MindStorms.

Red Hat Linux 5.2 is released.

IBM announces a 25GB hard drive.

America Online, Inc. announces that it will acquire Netscape Communications Corporation common stock, valued at $4.2 billion.

AOL announces acquisition of PersonaLogic, Inc.

AOL service exceeds 14 million members.

AOL announces acquisition of Netscape, strategic partnership with Sun Microsystems.

The meeting is held in a special location to connect with the Microsoft Update 98 event at the convention center.

Planned speaker Steve Schiro, vice president of Microsoft, is grounded in Spokane, Washington, and does not make it to Sacramento in time for his presentation. Jan Roycraft gives the presentation instead.

Jan demonstrates Money 99, Encarta, PhotoDraw 2000, Graphics Home Publishing Suite 99, Flight Simulator, Age of Empires, Motorcycle Madness, and the SideWinder Pro game controller.

Ron Gode of Microsoft gives a brief demonstration of Office 2000.

Special Meeting Location: Sacramento Convention Center.

Standard and Poor's announces America Online will be added to S&P 500 Index.

AOL service surpasses 15 million members.

Mark Randall and Kiki Stockhammer demonstrates Gizmos 98 and Amorphium.

Intel announces the 300-MHz and 266-MHz Mobile Celeron processors for notebook computers.

Intel announces the 366-MHz Mobile Pentium II processor. It includes 256 KB L2 cache. Code name during development was Dixon.

AOL and Bell Atlantic announce partnership to deliver high-speed DSL access.

Corel Reijerse of Corel demonstrates CorelDRAW 8 and the painting power of Corel PHOTO-PAINT 8.

Intel announces the Pentium III processor at 500 and 450 MHz.

AOL announces intention to acquire MovieFone, Inc., nation's No. 1 movie listing and ticketing service.

AOL and First USA announce agreement that represents Internet's largest advertising and marketing partnership to date, valued at up to $500 million.

AOL surpasses 16 million members.

AOL announces Marc Andreessen of Netscape Communications Corporation will become Chief Technology Officer.

Ken Hopkins showa the trailer for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and some software he found on the web.

Election results: President- Frank Leonard, Exec VP- Tim Cardozo, VP- Diana DeMuth, Treasurer- Don Frieze, Secretary- Mary Clark.

IBM announces it will begin distribution and technical support for the Linux operating system on its systems.

Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 5.0.

IBM and Dell Computer announce a seven-year technology pact, worth $16 billion, in which IBM would supply Dell Computer with various components and technology.

America Online completes its acquisition of Netscape Communications.

IBM introduces its tiny 340-MB microdrive, with a one-inch form factor and weighing about 17 grams.

AOL and SBC Communication announce partnership to deliver high-speed DSL access.

AOL completes acquisition of Netscape Communications Corporation.

AOL announces new organization to integrate Netscape operations and build on strengths of Netscape brand.

Dave Whittle of Webworking Services presents MGI Software's PhotoSuite II and VideoWave II.

In an effort to stave off mounting losses, the printed version of Sacra Blue is restricted to 32 pages. Any article over one page in length is completed in the new Web version of Sacra Blue, called eBlue.

AOL acquires When Inc.

AOL surpasses 17 million members.

Ron Kurtis of Sacramento's Diversified Database Technologies talks about Linux in general and Red Hat Linux in particular.

AOL completes acquisition of MovieFone, Inc.

Ken Hopkins and Milt Hull participate in the Microsoft 2000 eXtreme event (earlier in the day) and bring leftover goodies from the event to give away.

Keith Noah of Entrega explains USB technology and demonstrates their hubs and port expanders.

Moises Alonso of ViewSonic talks about display technology.

AOL acquires leading Internet music brands Spinner.com, Winamp, and SHOUTcast.

AOL acquires Digital Marketing Services, Inc., leader in online incentive marketing programs and online custom market research.

Intel Corporation introduces the 550 MHz and 600 MHz Pentium III processors.

Unisys starts to enforce their GIF patent against web page owners using unlicensed GIF generating programs.

Chris Graillat takes over as editor of Sacra Blue.

ICQ exceeds 40 million registered users 14 months after its acquisition by AOL, more than tripling number of registered users.

AOL service surpasses 18 million members.

Oliver Taupin of BeadleNet, LLC demonstrates an inexpensive personal firewall for cable and DSL connections.

Netscape Search ranked #1 by Search Engine Watch publication.

Jim Louderback of ZDTV's "Fresh Gear" shows us some cool new computer stuff, as well as some duds in a fast-paced live version of his show.

AMD introduces the 700MHz AMD Athlon™ processor.

IBM announces the 73-GB Ultrastar 72ZX drive.

Netscape hits milestone of 20 million registrants.

AOL surpasses 19 million members.

Randy Pfeiffer of El Dorado Sowftware shows us 3rdPlanIt, a model railroad layout program.

Dr. David Anderson, director of SETI@home, shows us how to help in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

A federal judge declares that Microsoft Corporation possesses monopoly power in the market for PC operating systems, and harmed consumers through its anti-competitive behavior, giving the government a pivotal victory in the long-running antitrust trial. The findings represent a major setback to Microsoft, largely because U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson rejected Microsoft's defense that its actions have not harmed consumers.

Gary Sloan gives a presentation about the E*TRADE free computer deal.

Intel Corporation conducts the first public technology demonstration of its future hardware and software products based on Bluetooth™ wireless technology.

Intel Corporation introduces Pentium III processors at 800 MHz and 750 MHz.

AOL acquires Tegic Communications.

ICQ surpasses 50 million registered users.

AOL surpasses 20 million members.

Ron Forster of Hewlett-Packard discusses printers.

Milt Hull demonstrates his handheld HP scanner.

SPCUG conducts another PC Jamboree. SPCUG nets $400 from the event.

Companies spend hundreds of billions of dollars eliminating the potential problems of the Y2K bug. But dire predictions, ranging from airplane crashes to power failures, fail to materialize.

Microsoft Corp. announces that its co-founder, Bill Gates, has created a new role for himself— Chairman and Chief Software Architect— so that he can dedicate all of his time to helping drive the next generation Windows Internet platform and services. Microsoft announces that Steve Ballmer becomes president and CEO, and will take over management of the company.

Transmeta Corporation ends four and a half years of secrecy with the introduction of the Crusoe microprocessors.

America Online & Time Warner announce plans to merge.

Corel announces it will purchase of the Inprise/Borland Company for $1.1 billion in stock.

Microsoft unveils the Windows 2000 operating system.

AOL surpasses 21 million members.

Netscape Netcenter reaches 25 million registrants.

Gene Barlow, representing Caldera System, demonstrates Linux.

Gene switches hats and, representing PowerQuest, demonstrates partition Magic, Data Keeper, Second Chance, and Amazing Mail.

Election results: President- Milt Hull, Exec VP- Tom Anderson, VP- Gary Sloan, Treasurer- Don Frieze, Secretary- Brian Smither.

AMD ships the 1-GHz Athlon processor.

AOL surpasses 22 million members.

A "Microsoft Foundation Class" virtual SIG, focusing on a specialty area of programming such as C++ object classes, will be headed by Ken Hopkins and conducted strictly via mailing lists.

Frank Leonard announces a $1,000 gift to the group from Robert DuGaue, founder of CalWeb, the largest local ISP.

Lesley Anderson, Product Specialist for Corel, shows us Corel Linux.

President Milt Hull and former President Ken Hopkins set out to demonstrate connecting two computers simultaneously to the Internet using one connection. Unfortunately, the demonstration is not successful within the time period allotted, but Milt and Ken impart a great deal of useful information.

Ken Hopkins and Tom Anderson take over as editors of Sacra Blue.

Printed Sacra Blue issues are discontinued. Sacra Blue is published as a PDF magazine using a format that resembles the printed Sacra Blue. Members must download the issue from the Web site and print it to have a hardcopy issue. This PDF version is still called Sacra Blue. The web version, eBlue, continues to be posted as well.

Members are sent postcards as meeting reminders.

Membership drops under the 1000 mark.

In a 45-page verdict issued on April 3, 2000, U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson portrays Microsoft as a corporate predator that waged a relentless and costly crusade to eliminate rivals in the emerging market for Internet browser software and cement its monopoly over computer operating systems.

Worries about Microsoft drive the Nasdaq composite index down 349 points.

Bill Gates vows to overturn the antitrust verdict against Microsoft.

Larry and Mary Clark, who have served the group in many capacities, have decided to move to San Diego. Milt and Ken present them with certificates signed by members attending the meeting.

Larry comments, "It's been about ten years that we've been hanging around here and there have been a number of crises in my computing career. I've had at least three past presidents show up at my house to bail me out of problems. We've had a lot of fun. I don't know what I'm going to do with the third Wednesday of the month. We've been through some difficult times recently, and I'm gratified by the things I see happening. I love the new PDF format of Sacra Blue; it looks great. I think we're back on a good track and I congratulate the officers for turning things around. We will be actively watching what's going on electronically and looking forward to messaging with many of the people that we've made friends with over the years. Thank you very much."

Ken presents Larry and Mary with specially-made t-shirts.

Mary Clark said the shirts "are adorable. It says, The Sacramento PC Users Group Ex-Officer Relocation Program."

She added, "I just want to say thanks to everyone. I haven't been a real techie in this world; I've been on the helper side of things, doing what I felt necessary on the administrative side. But I've learned a lot from this group. So if you get nothing else out of the group, use it for the educational opportunities that are here. A couple of months ago I didn't know what a DSL was. Over dinner, Larry told me we're getting one. Now I get to learn about DSL."

Product Manager Derek Brown and Kerri Grubb present Microsoft's new operating system for pocket-sized PCs. Kerri and Derek entertain with the amazing capabilities of the new system, and give a thorough run-through.

As usual, Microsoft makes the software, the latest incarnation of its Windows CE (compact edition) operating system. The hardware comes from Casio, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and Symbol Technologies. The Pocket PC still fits in a pocket, even though it is about twice the size of the Palm, which has its own operating system (which controls most of the market), and against which Microsoft and the other companies intend to make inroads.

Kerri and Derek close by drawing for three Pocket PCs and some software from Microsoft for those who have the winning tickets. A t-shirt advertising the Pocket PC was awarded to everyone willing to fill out a form evaluating the presentation.

Corel announces that the proposed merger with Inprise/Borland has been cancelled.

ICQ tops 65 million registered users.

Cost reductions result in a positive cash flow for the first time in months.

Don Mongeau, scholarship chairman, presents three scholarship awards (possible due to a contribution of $250 from SPCUG and $500 from an anonymous donor).

Winners are Yaseen Nazir from Grant High School, Aron Kwong from Kennedy High School, and Violette Hong from Florin High School.

Milt Hull, our energetic president, takes the microphone at the June meeting to talk about telescopes and some software that controls them. Planned speaker Chris Cowen from Star Safari did not show up, but Milt, ever at the ready, takes over since he has "always been kind of involved in looking at the stars," he explained. He particularly likes to go camping, lie under the night sky for hours, and watch for shooting stars, try to spot satellites as they pass, and note the occasional airplane as it passes. Out away from the lights of the cities, he can work on identifying the constellations "and all that stuff, and it is pretty interesting, " he says.

AOL service surpasses 23 million members.

Winamp surpasses 25 million registrants.

AT&T Global Wireless Sales Executive Dena Robertson, Data Sales Manager Kristin Futran, and System Engineer Craig Nelson discuss the various ways to connect: AT&T's PocketNet service, laptops, Internet phones, and Palm organizers.

United States District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson orders the breakup of Microsoft into two companies, one producing operating systems, the other producing applications programs.

Intel Corporation announces the Intel Pentium 4 processor brand name for its new generation of desktop microprocessors (formerly code-named Willamette).

AMD's Jeff Anixter and Alex Viray present an array of information on AMD's latest and fastest processors for the desktop: the Duron and the Athlon.

In Sacra Blue, a contest called "Who Wants Free Software?" is announced. Winners are to be selected from e-mails with the correct answers to a trivia quiz.

It is reported that Deep Blue, long-running virtual columnist, had passed away.

Intel officials have announced that the company is recalling the 1.13GHz Pentium III chip it shipped on July 31 because of a problem that could cause certain applications to freeze. According to Intel, only some of the 1.13GHz chips showed the problem. However, the company will recall all the 1.13GHz Pentium III processors that it has shipped to date and will repair the problem in a version of the chip to be released in the future.

AOL acquires Quack.com.

In Sacra Blue, the "Who Wants Free Software" contest is canceled due to lack of interest. Only one person responded to the first contest.

Jim Lockhart announces the desire to start a Digital Image SIG meeting in Roseville.

Microsoft releases Windows Me, short for Millennium Edition, which is aimed at the home user.

AOL aquires iAmaze.

AOL service surpasses 24 million members.

An experiment of e-mailing the Sacra Blue PDF file to all members draws lots of complains. It is decided to send only a link to allow members to download when convenient.

Ken Hopkins and Milt Hull give a presentation on MP3 technology and software.

Microsoft President and Chief Executive Steve Ballmer report that the hackers who broke into the software giant's computer systems gained access to some of its key programs, but had not changed them.

AOL service surpasses 25 million members.

Frank Leonard and Tom Anderson give a presentation of the software that various members of the group consider to be essential shareware.

Intel Corporation introduces the Intel Pentium 4 processor at 1.5 and 1.4 GHz speeds.

Milt discovers the flaw because one of our members did just that. It takes a while to correct but it has been corrected.

Dues are reduced from $35 to $30 a year since our costs have been reduced significantly. Existing members will receive 13 months if their renewal date extends to June 30, 2001, or later.

Andrew Lindsay from Parallax, Inc., demonstrates the Parallax's BASIC Stamp modules and an assortment of things built using the modules.

Russell Jacobsen of Gemteq Software demonstrates how to use eGems, an information collector. "The basic application is used for anything electronic, meaning text, images, links—anything like that," Jacobsen said.

AOL service surpasses 26 million members.

In a departure from the usual technical material related to the PCs we all love and use, SPCUG member Jim Rader presents an extended look at genealogy in the information age.

Since we finally reached the year 2001, we have a special visit from the HAL 9000 computer. Ken Hopkins asks HAL about HAL's recent experience in working for the state of Florida, counting votes.

A special Member's Guide is created containing the static portions of Sacra Blue, in an effort to reduce the download size of the PDF files.

AOL breaks record for single-day membership growth adding 70,000-plus subscribers worldwide on Christmas Day.

America Online & Time Warner complete merger.

AOL service surpasses 27 million members.

Back then we had a BBS instead of the Internet, and it was our main lifeblood in between meetings. Frank developed the system, and with parts we patched together, the system was installed in his home. Frank monitored it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It took a lot of maintenance and checks on the computer. He put in late hours, and many users found him there to help at 11:30 at night.

Belkin sends Sergio Vera, its Corporate Education Specialist, to talk about various power protection devices, surge protectors, KVM devices (keyboard, video, mouse switches), USBs, and, of course, the usual cables and wires.

Sunny Bishop, President of the Sacramento Chapter of the Society for Technical Communications comes by to announce a conference.

Doug Hohn requests permission to start up an Online SIG to provide assistance to members in getting online. The existing group of online volunteers, intended to help members on an individual basis, will be rolled into the SIG.

The death of Windows 95 is reported in Sacra Blue as Microsoft terminates support for the product.

Windows XP is introduced at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, Washington.

Intel Corporation announces the low voltage mobile Pentium III processor 700 MHz.

Intuit's Matt McCann presents Quicken 2001.

Election results: President- Milt Hull, Exec VP- Tim Cardozo, VP- Tom Anderson, Treasurer- Don Frieze, Secretary- Brian Smither.

AOL service surpasses 28 million members.

Bob Murray of Gyration demonstrates a mouse with an internal gyroscope that lets you mouse around without a tabletop surface.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates TechSmith's SnagIt, a program that captures screens, and Camtasia, a program that makes movies from your screen images.

Intel Corporation releases a 1.7-GHz Pentium 4 processor.

AOL service surpasses 29 million members.

Franklin E-Book is scheduled, but the person who was to make the presentation has left the company, and the company declines to send anyone else, but doesn't let Ken know until the day before the meeting.

Steve Messerre comes along to the SPCUG's May meeting, in CEO Mark Eppley's stead, to give us a lively demonstration of LapLink's new PCsync and MusicMover.

ICQ surpasses 100 million users.

SPCUG mans phones for the KVIE pledge drive on the same night as the eXtreme event.

Don Mongeau, chairman of SPCUG's scholarship program, presents a scholarship check to Randi Hines, a student at Laguna Creek High School.

Dave Whittle of MGI presents VideoWave, PhotoVista Virtual Tour, and PhotoSuite 4 Platinum Edition.

Microsoft's Eric Johnston returns to Sacramento to show us the new Office XP.

AOL service surpasses 30 million members.

Scholarship chairman Don Mongeau introduces another scholarship winner, Charlie Conroy from Oakridge High School. Charlie wants to be an astrophysicist, and was voted "Most Intelligent Student" by his peers.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates the GearGrip – CRT and the GearGrip Pro from CaseAce, which are carriers for computers and CRTs.

Gene Barlow, representing PowerQuest Corporation, and a favorite presenter at the Sacramento PC Users Group, talks about hard drives and does not demonstrate his products.

AOL aquires InfoInterActive Inc.

AIM 4.7 launches for Windows.

The August general meeting features Ken Hopkins, aided by Milt Hull, talking about e-mail and the different clients (as the various e-mail programs are called: Outlook Express, Eudora, Calypso) that we all use and their many options.

Intel Corporation introduces the Intel Pentium 4 processor at 2 GHz.

Ken Hopkins warns about the Nimda virus, which appeared in the world the day before the meeting. He says it is the first of the viruses he had warned about the previous month, that launches itself from the preview window of Outlook or Outlook Express, and does not need to be opened or run first.

Corel cancels their planned user group tour shortly after the September. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

A new membership class is created for full-time students, with annual dues of $15, in recognition of students' lack of discretionary funds.

$150 in group funds will be used to purchase door prizes for the general meetings, to expand both the number and the range of prizes for a six-month trial period.

Sandra Harris of Sacramento's Harris Studio explains what we need to know about digital photography, with the purpose of helping us choose the camera that would suit us, not necessarily by brand, but by features.

Jerry Yeh, vice president of marketing for CyberLink.com, presents his company's video editing products: PowerVCR II, version 3; PowerDVD; and PowerDirector

Microsoft introduces Pocket PC 2002 at the DEMOmobile Conference in San Diego.

AOL service surpasses 31 million members.

Kevin McElligot, founder and owner of ITEQ.TV, discusses methods of obtaining higher rankings on search engines.

Ken Hopkins discusses the merits of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), a high-powered encryption program.

Microsoft releases Windows XP.

AOL launches Radio@AOL.

AOL launches AOL 7.0.

Apple's Brian Croll talks about Apple's current philosophy of computing.

He then turns the microphone over to Chris Bourdon, product line manager of OS X, to do a demo of the system.

Finally, Brook Stein demonstrates how OS X interacts with the Windows environment.

Mike Milley of Storactive, Inc. gets immediate cheers from the audience when Ken points out that Storactive provided the soft drinks and Storybook Lifesavers presented to those in attendance. Mike begins his presentation of Storactive LiveBackup by telling the audience that the product is really aimed at data protection in an enterprise or corporate environment.

AOL service surpasses 32 million members.

We drop under the 500 mark (first time since April 1985).

AOL service surpasses 33 million members.

David Calkins, President of the San Francisco Robotics Society of America, introduces the audience to the world of small-scale robotics. The SFRSA was formed about 20 years ago to promote home-based robotics. They currently have several chapters and are aggressively pursuing establishing other chapters across the country. Mr. Calkins gives his presentation using a slide show and a couple of short clips showing competitive robots in action.

Robert Craft makes a stop in Sacramento while on the grand tour of user groups for Corel to demonstrate WordPerfect Office 2002.

Robin Smith, representing IRIS USA, demonstrates the IRISPen, a pen-shaped scanner. Robin was a regular visitor when she worked for Computer Factory and Millennial Technologies. She was also the co-SIG leader for the Beginners SIG and host to the Windows SIG.

SPCUG President Milt Hull compares and contrasts three mapping products: DeLorme's AAA Map 'n Go, DeLorme's Street Atlas USA, and Microsoft's Streets and Trips 2002.

Election results: President- Milt Hull, Exec VP- Tom Anderson, VP- Tim Cardozo, Treasurer- Don Frieze, Secretary- Brian Smither.

AOL service surpasses 34 million members.

Don Mongeau awards a $500 scholarship to Quinn Martin, from Galt High School.

The first planned speaker, flying in from Germany just for us, has last-minute problems obtaining a visa permit. Milt Hull, therefore, demonstrates the product, OLWorkgroupFolders, a client/server product permitting simultaneous, multiple-user access to Outlook resources.

Serious Magic, based in Rancho Cordova and created by former programmers from Play, Inc., demonstrates their brand new product, Video Communicator, at April's general meeting. Play developed several products, their flagship being Trinity, a TV production studio in a box (roughly the size of a large picnic cooler). Serious Magic did away with the hardware and put the entire studio in software. Originally rolled out at Fall COMDEX, that night's demonstration was the first showing of the gold-code retail release and we were the first to be able to buy it. The rest of the world had to wait two days until Friday. Visual Communicator brings TV effects to PCs by providing backdrops, animation, and even a teleprompter. Stephen does the driving while Mark gives the explanations of this exciting technology.

Ken Hopkins demonstrates a couple of shareware programs: Mail Washer and Internet Organizer Pro.

Intel introduces the Pentium 4 processor at 2.4 GHz

Mia Roop of ScanSoft and Bob Zwolinski of Dragon Systems demonstrate the latest version of a popular application that analyzes speech and converts it to editable text—Dragon Naturally Speaking 6.

Voice recognition systems have had ownership shifts over the recent past: ScanSoft bought DNS from Lernout and Hauspie, who had earlier bought Dragon Systems. At the time, L&H also had Voice Express, RealSpeak, and DictaPhone. L&H went bankrupt a few months later

Ray Difazzio representing Alpha Software comes up from San Francisco to show the product he uses to develop database applications for his clientele. He is an advocate for Alpha 5, from Alpha Software, a product he believes is the best performing personal productivity and small business application.

Microsoft loses an appeal to shut down Lindows.com for trademark infringement.

The total number of personal computers passes the one billion mark. Gartner Dataquest suggests that two billion will be reached by 2008, with the biggest potential for growth coming in the Asia/Pacific region, especially in markets with large populations, such as China. We will also see large growth in Eastern Europe and Latin America. Thus far, North America has accounted for 39 percent of the billion PCs sold.

Dana Berkoski of Microsoft provides us with an interesting Digital Photography presentation. It covers several different topics surrounding taking digital photos, manipulating them, and sharing them with friends and family. Some of the programs, hardware, and services he covers include: Front Page 2002, Picture It 2002, Windows XP and photos, New TV photo viewer (plugs into TV and shows digital photos from a floppy disk), and MSN Photos Web Storage.

IBM scientists announce a data-storage technology that can store the equivalent of 200 CD-ROMs on a surface the size of a postage stamp.

LindowsOS announces the first place in the world where you can buy a computer running LindowsOS is Walmart.com

Don Mongeau, SPCUG's scholarship chairman, introduces Susan Mao, the second of two recipients of the group's annual awards. She graduated eighth in her class at Sacramento High, plans to attend Berkeley to study Environmental Science, has been active in teaching and mentoring other classmates, and is active in jazz and dance.

Birthday cake is served in celebration of the 20th birthday of the Sacramento PC Users Group. Stories about the past are related by past and present officers, including Milt Hull, Ken Hopkins, Tony Barcellos, Eric Butow, Frank Leonard, Marsha Leonard, Tom Anderson, Diana DeMuth, and Roy Korb. Many pointed to the membership chart that was on the screen to indicate some event that occurred.

Bob Mix, first editor of Sacra Blue, talks about the very early days.

John Kendrick, product manager for WinFirst, discusses the company, where the company was, where it is headed, and the technology and services offered.

Kendrick brought literature about the company (now known as Sure-West Broadband), including answers to frequently asked questions regarding the SureWest acquisition, current service areas, and current service options. WinFirst is the only company in Northern California offering fiber-optic connectivity to residential customers.

Windows XP sells more than 46 million copies in the nine months since its release, making it the fastest-selling version of Windows ever. Microsoft says that XP has sold 230 percent more copies than Windows 95 and 160 percent more than Windows 98 for the same time period after their debut.

Worldcom, owner of UUNet and MCI, files for bankruptcy protection, biggest Chapter 11 in U.S. history. It plans to hire a restructuring expert to help its management team and expects to emerge from Chapter 11 within a year's time.

Forgent Networks (formally Video Telecom, or VTel) claims JPEG patent and starts demanding royalties for programs that create JPEG files.

Sacra Blue breaks its own record by hitting 136 pages. It includes an extensive timeline showing the history of the personal computer and the Sacramento PC Users Group.