Section NotesQ : What is the purpose of this section?
A : It is to promote active participation and direct communication of the alumni members.
Q : Where and to whom can I send my questions, and how do I get my answers?
A : Please see the section note. You can send your question by e-mail to kimswu@yahoo.com. Your question will then be posted on this page to invite every members of the alumni to answer. Whoever volunteer to answer will send the answer to the same e-mail address and then it will be posted on this page. A copy will be e-mailed back to you. Everyone is encouraged to answer all the questions on this page irrespective whether there is an answer there or not.
Q : Can anyone recommend a Chinese restaurant in the mid-peninsula other than Flower Lounge and Fook Yuen?
A : 香滿樓當然最為著名，在它附近，亦有很多很好，且略平的酒家．香滿樓對面有威威酒家 Kwong's Seafood Restaurant，食得過．北上二 city block，有海霸漁港酒家 Seafood Harbor Restaurant，亦很好．我本人鄭重介紹香港珍寶酒家 Jumbo Seafood Restaurant, 420 Broadway, Millbrae. Tel : 650-692-3222.
北上一點，在福臨閣酒家（舊香滿樓）附近有一小小的珠江海鮮酒家Chu Kong Seafood Restaurant, 1661 El Camino Real, Millbrae. Tel :650-615-9648．地方雖小而食物甚佳．
Q : Can anyone recommend an auto body shop in the mid-peninsula?
A : A-1 Auto Body Shop. 1720 El Camino Real, San Bruno. TeL : 650-589-6000. I have sent my car there several times (unfortunately) and I am very happy with the service and work.
Q: I want to buy a zip disk. Which one do you recommend?
A: I recommend none. In my opinion, very few people need a zip disk.
There are 2 functions for the zip disks: for storage and for transportation.
The zip disks tout that they offer unlimited storage space. But they failed to mention at what cost. A 100 MB disk drive costs $45 minimum and a 100 MB disk $5. For 1 GB storage space it cost about $100 total ($45 for the drive and $50 for 10 disks). For $100, you can buy a 20 GB hard disk which is equal to 200 (100 MB) zip disks at a cost of $1000. So I think it is not cost effective to use zip disk for storage.
For transportation, zip disks use to be the only means to share large files and to move files between different places, but no more. Now this function can be replaced with rewritable CD-RW. The rewritable CD-RW used to be slow and unreliable, but they improve quite a lot recently. They are much cheaper. The write-once CDROM disk (650 MB) costs about 50c or less each in a stack. The rewritable ones are more expensive but still cheaper than the zip disks. The good thing about CDROM is that everyone has it and not everyone has a zip drive. Major CDROM makers include Plextor, Yamaha, TDK, etc . You can check out the reviews by PC Magazine in the web site :pcmag.com., and by PC World :pcworld.com
If you need to transport a large number of files frequently, you can still consider a zip drive because it may be easier to use. At least the zip disks are smaller and can be put in your shirt pocket. In that case you should consider the zip drive with a capacity larger than the combined size of all the files that you need to transport at the same time. Usually a 100 MB drive is what most people need. The Iomega drive cost more. The same drive by Panasonic etc, costs $45. You can find them in those independent small computer vendors. The 100 MB disks cost $4 to $5 each in a package of 4 to 6 when on sale by Office Depo or OfficeMax (regular price $9 each).
Q: There are so many different computers and accessories. How do I choose which one?
A: The 2 major PC magazines, PcWorld and PcMagazine both have web sites:
pcworld.com and pcmag.com.
In their sites, there are good review articles on almost everything. Click on the review tap and choose the product.
I also recommend another site : Tomshardware.com
This site review and evaluate hardwares only. It can be a bit technical, but I think it offers in depth review of the important items that you cannot find in the magazines.
The radio : am 560 has a talk show on computers Saturday 10am to noon. The host : O'Donnell has a web site : everythingcomputers.com. The useful section is the "this week's link". It evaluates mainly web sites and suggests good, useful, free downloads.
Q: How to buy a computer? How do I evalutate the computer ? (posted June 03)
A: Please click here for answer. It is quite long.
Q: How to type Chinese ?
A: Please click here for answer.
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