Press Release: Publication Manager

LEI Publication Manager Helps Publishers Get Content Online Quickly and Affordably

SANDPOINT, Idaho — The LEI Publication Manager (LPM) from Logical Expressions, Inc. is new browser-based software that lets publishers put articles online easily. Using the LPM, busy editors no longer need to open an HTML tool or run to a Web consultant every time they want to change or add to their publication’s Web site. Anyone who has a Web browser can create or update a powerful database-driven Web site. Sites can operate as a stand-alone site or be linked into an existing Web site with no additional software.

The LEI Publication Manager:

• Features a browser-based interface that is intuitive to use. No knowledge of HTML or programming is required.
• Includes color schemes, which give users control over the site’s appearance. Templates can be modified to further customize a site by changing the layout or including additional features such as news feeds and ad rotators.
• Has a powerful content engine, which eliminates broken links and serves up pages quickly.
• Is leased monthly, saving publishers thousands of dollars compared to other content management software.
• Is ideal for putting any type of issue-based content online, such as magazines, newsletters, e-zines, newspapers, or weeklies. Writers can showcase series of columns, articles or other works online without the need for an HTML tool.

The LPM features “themes” users can select and modify to change colors and fonts. More advanced users can modify the site templates to create any look they want. Publishers can include logos and branding graphics by simply uploading files using the LPM. A configurable menu system lets users add informational pages to the site or links to other sites. Topics group articles together, so visitors can easily find related articles on a given subject. Publishers can add links related to articles as well, so they can easily participate in affiliate and other link-based promotions.

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About Logical Expressions, Inc.

Logical Expressions, Inc. is a publishing and software development company that specializes in creating business applications for the Web, including database-driven Web sites. Originally formed in California 1994 as Logical Expressions by Susan Daffron and James Byrd, the couple moved themselves, the company and their cats to Idaho in 1996 to escape the smog and freeways of Southern California city life. From their main office in a log home in the middle of a forest in the Idaho Panhandle, the company develops high-end business applications for clients throughout the United States and publishes a free computer magazine called Computor Companion.

Additional Contact Info:

Logical Expressions, Inc.
311 Fox Glen Road,
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
phone: 208-265-6147
LEI Web site: https://www.logicalexpressions.com/

(For background information, journalists are encouraged to visit the LEI Press Room at: https://www.logicalexpressions.com/logical-expressions-press-room/)
Computor Companion Web site: http://www.computorcompanion.com

Press Release: Computor Companion Online

July 2001 – July/August Computor Companion Magazine Online

Print version of Computor Companion magazine no longer distributed locally.

SANDPOINT, Idaho — Logical Expressions Inc., is no longer printing Computor Companion magazine. Citing the expense of printing and distribution costs, the company has decided to switch to a syndication model. However, the magazine still exists and will continue to exist for anyone to read on-line at http://www.computorcompanion.com.

Logical Expressions plans to focus on its core business of custom programming, web development, and publication services, but will continue to publish the magazine in electronic form on its regular bimonthly schedule. The July/August issue was posted to the Web site in early July. The web site has links to PDF (portable document format) versions of the magazine, so loyal readers can print out an issue for their own use. The PDF version looks virtually identical to the print magazine readers are accustomed to seeing.

Editor Susan Daffron points out that although the magazine is available for syndication by other publishers, it will no longer be available on local “free racks” or stores as it was in the past. Logical Expressions, Inc. is also no longer selling advertising for it. Publishers or readers who are interested in finding out more about syndication or the magazine itself, can find more details the Computor Companion web site. Readers also will find a link to sign up for a free weekly e-zine called Computor Companion Tips, which has tips and advice to help people their computers more effectively.

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About Logical Expressions, Inc.

Logical Expressions, Inc. is a publishing and software development company that specializes in creating business applications for the Web, including database-driven Web sites. Originally formed in California 1994 as Logical Expressions by Susan Daffron and James Byrd, the couple moved themselves, the company and their cats to Idaho in 1996 to escape the smog and freeways of Southern California city life. From their main office in a log home in the middle of a forest in the Idaho Panhandle, the company develops high-end business applications for clients throughout the United States and publishes a free computer magazine called Computor Companion.

Additional Contact Info:

Logical Expressions, Inc.
311 Fox Glen Road
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
phone: 208-265-6147
LEI Web site: https://www.logicalexpressions.com/

(For background information, journalists are encouraged to visit the LEI Press Room at: https://www.logicalexpressions.com/logical-expressions-press-room/)

Computor Companion Web site: http://www.computorcompanion.com

Press Release: Magazine Cover Art Funds Scholarships

May 2001 – Computor Companion Magazine Cover Artwork by Noted Sandpoint Artist to Help Fund Scholarships

SANDPOINT, Idaho — The cover of the May/June 2001 issue of Computor Companion magazine features artwork by noted Sandpoint artist Diana Schuppel. The artwork was scanned from an original acrylic painting which features a bumblebee happily basking amidst colorful Spring flowers. The artwork was commissioned to accompany an article in the magazine about gardening and computers.

Editor Susan Daffron said, “everyone who saw the original artwork had the same response…it’s wonderful!” Readers in Sandpoint may recognize Diana’s whimsical style from her mural that graces the children’s section of the Bonner Country Library or from her widely praised 1999 Festival of Sandpoint poster artwork. Diana also has created numerous indoor and outdoor murals, set designs for theater and advertising, storybook illustrations, and privately commissioned works.

Recently Logical Expressions, Inc., the publisher of Computor Companion magazine, was asked to donate a prize for the Spokane Public Relations Council SPARC awards auction on May 17. The SPRC uses the proceeds from the SPARC Awards contest and gala to fund scholarships for two to three area college students interested in careers in public relations. Daffron asked Diana if her artwork could be auctioned off during the event. Because the artwork would benefit a good cause Diana agreed and Ward Tollbom at the Hen’s Tooth Studio in Sandpoint also agreed to donate the framing.

Daffron noted that “It’s really wonderful to see how willing people in Sandpoint like Diana and Ward Tollbom are to donate to a good cause and I thank them for their generosity.”

Computor Companion is a free computer magazine that is distributed throughout the Inland Northwest at grocery stores, computer stores, book stores, and other locations in Spokane, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties in Washington and Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone counties in Idaho. The May/June 2001 issue is being distributed now.

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About Logical Expressions, Inc.

Logical Expressions, Inc. is a publishing and software development company that specializes in creating business applications for the Web, including database-driven Web sites. Originally formed in California 1994 as Logical Expressions by Susan Daffron and James Byrd, the couple moved themselves, the company and their cats to Idaho in 1996 to escape the smog and freeways of Southern California city life. From their main office in a log home in the middle of a forest in the Idaho Panhandle, the company develops high-end business applications for clients throughout the US and publishes a free local computer magazine called Computor Companion that is distributed in the Inland Northwest.

Additional Contact Info:

Logical Expressions, Inc.
311 Fox Glen Road,
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
phone: 208-265-6147
LEI Web site: https://www.logicalexpressions.com/

(For background information, journalists are encouraged to visit the LEI Press Room at: https://www.logicalexpressions.com/logical-expressions-press-room/)

Computor Companion Web site: http://www.computorcompanion.com

Press Release: Computer Terms Demystified

December 2000 – Computer Terms Demystified for Holiday Shoppers

Holiday shoppers stand quietly in front of the row of computers
on display at the local store. One of them asks the Customer Service
person a techy question — and all heads slightly tilt
to hear the conversation better.

“That’s me. I’m one of the head-tilters,” said a mid-aged man in
Pullman, Wash., who asked to remain anonymous. “I really don’t
want anybody to know that I don’t have a clue when it comes to
buying a computer. Oh I understand a few words — like monitor and
keyboard — but most of the acronyms mean little to me.

“I’ve seen others who eavesdrop on computer conversations in stores.
We all do it, I think. We’re learning, while keeping our egos intact.”
SDRAM. GB. MHz. DVD-ROM or is it CD-ROM? And why is a 15-inch
screen not 15-inches of viewable area? What actually is refreshing about screen
refresh rates? And why should anyone care about the pitch of dots?

“It’s easy to become intimidated, but it all comes down to
this: The computer you should buy depends on how much money you
have to spend and how you plan to use the computer,” said Susan
Daffron, editor-in-chief of Computor Companion, a magazine that
helps people in the Idaho Panhandle and northeastern Washington
use their computers more effectively.

“After you set your budget, it may be difficult to
make apple-to-apple comparisons among advertised computers in
your price range. While I cannot teach you in a few minutes all
there is to know about computer terminology, understanding a
few acronyms can help you compare machines,” said Daffron.

• SDRAM: Computer memory. The amount and speed of computer memory affects the processing speed of your computer. SDRAM runs faster than DRAM memory, which is faster than conventional RAM memory. SDRAM is capable of running three times faster than RAM. It’s the newest kid on the block.
• GB: The acronym for gigabytes, which is a measurement term. One measures the amount of information that can be stored on a hard drive, for example, in bytes — gigabytes, megabytes, terabytes. How to know what is what? Imagine one byte, one little speck of storage space. Multiply that by 1000. The result is roughly 1 kilobyte. Multiple 1 kb by 1000 and the result is roughly 1 megabyte. Now multiply 1000 times 1 megabyte and you have about 1 gigabyte. How many gigabytes in a terabyte? About 1000. Lots of GB’s for a hard drive is a good thing. Get as much as you can afford.
• MHz: Another measurement term. You’ll see this in reference to computer microprocessors, the engine that goes into motion when you turn on your computer. The greater the MHz — or Megahertz — the faster the microprocessor. One thousand MHz equals one GigaHertz. Many retail outlets feature computers running at 700 plus MHz, while top-of-the-line power users will seek out 1 to 1.4 GHz machines.
• DVD-ROM: Digital Versatile Disks (DVD)and disk players are expected to replace CD disks and players during the next few years. DVDs can hold more than 28 times the amount of information found on a CD. DVD players can also play CD’s, while the reverse is not true.
• Screen Size: Surprise, surprise. The viewing area of one 17-inch screen can be larger than another similarly sized screen. And, sometimes a 15-inch flat panel display can have as much viewable area as a 17-inch monitor. What to do? Look at the viewable area measurement usually found on spec sheets accompanying monitors. Or measure the display area yourself. Measure the distance between the lower left-hand corner of the glass display and the upper right-hand corner, ending at the glass edge. Don’t include the case enclosing the glass display screen.
• Dot Pitch and Refresh Rate: The dot pitch tells you how sharp the displayed image can be. Common dot pitches are .28, .27, .26, .21 A smaller number means a sharper image. The refresh rate is the amount of times a display’s image is repainted or refreshed per second. A refresh rate of 75 means the image is refreshed 75 times in a second. Screen flickering occurs when the refresh rate is low. Look for refresh rates over 75 to avoid flicker.

Susan Daffron said a general rule when buying a computer is that
higher numbers for the various measurements are better and more
expensive. Frequently the best value for most computer buyers — those
that are not power users — are models that are one or two levels
below the top of the line. Daffron added, “Don’t overlook the value of software bundled
into a machine. Software is expensive, so include it in your
price comparisons.”

“The monitor,” she said, “is often an underappreciated part of the system. A good monitor can outlast the computer. “I’ve been using the same, very good 21-inch monitor since
1995 with four different computers. Get at least a 17-inch monitor. “If you plan to do any desktop publishing or graphics work, you may want to move up to a 21-inch monitor. Your eyes
will thank you,” she said. To run the new monitor, Daffron said get a SuperVGA video
card. A fast video card, she said, makes a big difference in how fast the computer seems to run because everything in today’s operating systems involves graphics.

“If you need to cut costs, don’t do it on the video components,” Daffron said. “Video cards come with memory on the card measured in megabytes (MB). The more memory, the faster your monitor can refresh the screen. Also remember that the higher the resolution you want to run, the more video memory you need. “Often even a slow computer will seem sprightly with a good video system.” Daffron said computer prices vary dramatically, so
decide what you want and get quotes from a number of vendors. “Make the salespeople explain anything you don’t understand,” said Daffron. “And if you don’t feel comfortable with the computer, store, or
mail order company, don’t buy anything from them. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. “Armed with a little knowledge, you’ll end up with a computer you’ll enjoy using.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Daffron said her publication, Computor Companion, is a
good source of information on computers. She would also be happy to
answer journalist or consumer questions by phone or by email.
Computor Companion is free. About 15,000, 24-page issues are
delivered bimonthly in Stevens, Pend Oreille and Spokane
counties, Washington, and Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai counties,
Idaho. Contact numbers: phone 208-265-6147

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Press Release: Fire Safety for Your Computer

September 2000 – Fire Safety for Your Computer

SANDPOINT, Idaho – A computer magazine publisher and author here says the northwest fire storms of the past two months have had people thinking and talking about roofs, fire extinguishers, fire fighters, homes, forests, underbrush, wheat fields, evacuations, pets and wildlife — but not computers.

So what?

“With the majority of homes and businesses now relying more on computers then ever before in history, a computer is no longer a luxury item we are talking about. This is a piece of equipment, a tool, people have grown dependent upon, said Susan Daffron, editor-in-chief, Computor Companion, Sandpoint, Idaho.

Daffron explained that as early as 1994, Roper Starch Worldwide reported in its surveys that the number of Americans who believed home computers are a necessity of life was growing faster than computer ownership itself. “Now that the weather has cooled, fire restrictions have been lifted in many places and rain has dampened the area, it’s a good time to take a look at that computer and be thankful it’s intact.”

It is also, she said, a good time to take the steps needed to be sure that all computers and their data are protected during any fires in the future, whether they be range, wild, forest, field or kitchen fires.

“It’s not just the fire itself that you should be concerned about,” said Daffron. “Problems occur from ash in the air, heavy dust, extreme heat, water, electrical outages and orders to evacuate.

“Losing data is the big concern. As we move away from paper to computer hard drives, important phone numbers, records, addresses and more are stored on our computers. Those important pieces of information could be destroyed or left behind in the hurry of an evacuation.”

Daffron is no stranger to the problems of the Northwest’s fires. Situated 17 miles northeast of Sandpoint in a large log house in the woods, she and her husband were near four fires: Nosebag, Sheep Lightning, Lightning Mountain and East Thunder, which is still burning. “As the crow flies, we were closest to Nosebag, which was burning about 9 miles from us. But remember,” she smiled, “there’s a lake in that geography, a lake between us and the fire.”

Daffron and her husband, James Byrd, a programmer, own Logical Expressions Inc., which publishes the free magazine, Computor Companion. She is also the author of How to Use PowerPoint 2000, published by Macmillan Computer Publishing, and articles for Bedford Communications, publishers of Computer Buyer’s Guide and Laptop Buyer’s Guide.

Daffron said heavy dust, smoke and ash particles in the air can bring a computer to a screeching halt. Airborne particulates can clog cooling fans inside computers, explained Daffron. “When the fans get clogged, they stop
working. “If the system overheats, you’ve got trouble.”

The solution? Open the computer’s case and use compressed air to clean the fans. Don’t, she said, grab the household blow dryer. Heat and the introduction of static electricity are problems that can come about from the use of that hair blow dryer. Air purifiers, fans to circulate air and air conditioners are also recommended. “It’s not folklore that computers like clean air,” she said. Another thing computers “like” is moderate room temperatures. “Most computer manuals tell you that your computer performs best in temperatures up to 95 degrees F, ” said Daffron. “That obviously eliminates optimum performance during a fire!”

But will the heat of a fire ruin a computer?

“Probably. Plastic melts and electronics can be charred. I looked at the Data Recovery Group’s web site at
http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/services/disaster.htm and learned from them that ‘data can be recovered from many drives even if all plastic components are melted, and otherwise the hard drive looks like a blackened mess’,” she said. This type of recovery won’t be inexpensive. And it won’t work at all if the hard drive is melted, of course.

Water used by fire fighters can get into the hard drive, but data recovery is possible — although not guaranteed — if the recovery work is begun before the water dries. When the water does dry, what’s left on the hard drive is dirt, minerals and other matter. That debris can make recovery next to impossible. “The threat of losing your computer drives home the reason for adequate insurance. We have a special rider on our policy to cover the cost of replacing our computers. I recommend that others check their policies and talk with their agents to assure that the computer and its contents are insured properly,” said Daffron. She said that where she and husband live, electrical outages are not uncommon. “Get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Even if you don’t have to evacuate, power could be affected. Get the type of UPS that also filters the power coming in. They are more expensive than the type that just has a battery back up but worth it. This type prevents problems from brown outs and surges as well as complete loss of power,” she said. The UPS is important because power fluctuations can corrupt data and damage hard drives and other components.

Given the critical data people now store routinely on their computers, the need to back-up a hard drive can never be over-emphasized. ” If you hard disk is damaged beyond recovery from a fire, there’s no substitute for a complete system backup, “said Daffron. “And even if you don’t lose important data, just reinstalling the operating system and all your software could take hours and hours. With the current crop of Windows backup software, backing up your drive has never been easier, and there are a number of options you can choose from, depending on your needs.” What’s equally important is to make two backups — not one — and to store at least one of those copies off-site. “We store one set of tapes and backups in a safety deposit box,” said Daffron.

Daffron stressed that there are things one should not do.Do NOT, she said,

• Back up to just one tape. Rotate backups, using a number of different tapes.
• Back up to just one type of media. Tapes fail. Disks fail. Back up irreplaceable data to CD-R or another computer if necessary. Redundant data storage is always a good idea.
• Put magnetic media in a fireproof safe. These safes are rated by how long it takes for paper to burn. Tapes and disks are very sensitive to heat. The box may not burn, but the data could be toast anyway.

Daffron said that her publication, Computor Companion, is a good source of information on protecting one’s computer. She said she would also be happy to answer caller’s questions by phone or by e-mail.

Computor Companion is free. About 15,000, 24-page issues are delivered bimonthly in Stevens, Pend Oreille and Spokane counties, Washington, and Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai counties, Idaho. For more information, phone 208-265-6147 or e-mail: sdaffron AT logicalexpressions.com. The firm’s website is at: https://www.logicalexpressions.com/

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