Atlantic.Net Offices Closed for the Holidays
Atlantic.Net's offices and Member Services call center will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 1 so our employees can ring in the new year. The call center will reopen at 12 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2.

Atlantic.Net's Network Operations Center engineers will continue to monitor and maintain your service during this time. The Atlantic.Net team wishes all members a safe and happy New Year!




Happy New Tax Year: Tips to Filing
You've taken down the tree, eaten all the leftovers, and resolved to enjoy a better 2004. And what better way to start than to get those nasty taxes out of the way. But just where do you begin? Try using the Web!

• For starters, gather all the documentation you will need to file your return. H&R Block has created a very useful checklist that will help with this part of your taxes, regardless of which tax professional you choose.
• Find your total income. Don't forget to include income from W2s, 1099s, K1s, alimony, social security, interest, dividends, self-employment, and unemployment. Visit the IRS online to learn more about types of income.
• Identify any itemized deductions, such as student loan interest, donations to charity, alimony expense, real estate taxes, state and local income taxes, personal property, and child care expenses. If you're wondering whether or not to itemize, visit the IRS site for advice.
• Check out this helpful breakdown of the 2003 tax bill to find out how it affects your taxes.
• If you've got numerous investments, own your own business, or work more than one job, your taxes may seem complicated. But often, accounting programs can take you step-by-step through what may seem an impossible task. Here are some of the most popular:
• TurboTax Deluxe 2003
• IRS E-File
• Tax Cut by H&R Block
• TaxAct
• Complete Tax

Written by Laurie Mascia



Surfin' Safari: Resolution Solutions
Even if you haven't kept one resolution in the last 10 years, check out some of these Web sites made especially to help you maintain your resolve.

• Try this guide to keeping your health-related resolutions.
• Click Z Today's Bryan Eisenberg shares a few simple tips for keeping your resolve at home and in your business.
• The folks at Wellness Junction say you'll need a dose of realism to avoid setting yourself up for failure.
• Find out how your astrological sign may affect your success.
• Psych Central's Mark Goulston, M.D. offers seven steps to help you keep those resolutions.
• Not only does Celebrate Love give you tips to keeping your resolutions, it gives you resolutions worth keeping.
• If you suffer from panic or anxiety disorders, About.com gives you ten goals for the new year.
• When all else fails, a sense of humor can help. Here's a humorous list of resolutions you can keep.
• And let's face it: here's a list of several that none of us will.

Written by Laurie Mascia

Surfer Dude Answers Your Questions
He's the PC professor, the gigabyte guru, the ruler of ROM. He's Surfer Dude!

Q: I have a V90 modem in my desk top. My laptop has a V92 modem. Should there be a speed difference between the two? Is Atlantic.Net set up to handle V92 modems? — Tom

A: Dude, there's always a better model right? And the modem's no different. Modems have advanced through many different stages since their conception, the most well-known being V34, V90, and V92. But just what do these numbers mean?

Well, V34 modems are only capable of speeds around 33.6 Kbps. V90 modems are technically capable of 56 Kbps, but due to FCC regulations, you can only get 54 Kbps. V92 modems will not make your connection any faster, but they do offer significant improvements.

So now you saying, dude, like what? Well, V92s take advantage of a new compression technology that is designed to make your Web surfing easier. See, when you visit a Web page online, the computer that hosts the page starts sending you compressed bits of information which your computer decompresses and arranges into a nice, tidy Web page. V92s speed up this compression/ decompression, and you'll see the difference when your Web pages load faster. Also, if your V92 comes with the right software, you can put your Internet connection "on hold" while you use your telephone — yup, the same phone line your computer is using — to make a call. When you're done with your call, the modem can continue with your connection. No more bogus redialing!

Atlantic.Net supports V92 technology in many of our service areas, and we're always looking to expand. Want to know if your area is compatible? Check out this handy link dude! — SD

Q: How do you clean a flat-screen monitor? It looks like someone tried to wipe it with a cloth. Is there a special way to clean the new monitors? Help! — Emily

A: Dudette, ain't it just the truth? There's nothing worse than having to look at a smeared screen! But you don't want to just toss water on that baby. Wires and electricity don't mix well with liquids. So instead, here's what you do:

Unplug your monitor. Use a soft, dry cloth for routine cleaning (anti-static cloths are best). Try reusable Scotch-Brite Electronics Cleaning Cloths, which lift dust and oil from monitor screens without the use of chemicals. Remember, never use solvents or harsh cleaning materials! For maintenance, it's always best to try not to touch the screen at all, as LCDs (flat-screen monitors) are especially sensitive. Or pick up a Vinyl Dust Cover to protect your monitor when not in use. For more information, consult the manual that came with your monitor.

Happy New Year! Got a gnarly wave to catch! — SD

Got a Question?
If you're stumped by a technical conundrum, just Ask the Surfer Dude, and we'll share the answers in future issues.


Tax Talk
When the taxman comes, you'll be ready with TurboTax Deluxe 2003 from Amazon.com. This software guides you through your return step-by-step with money-saving advice, help, and tips. Searchable onscreen IRS publications provide tax information straight from the source. The software does all the math. Plus, your return is double-checked for accuracy, audit flags, and overlooked deductions. Find other great bargains at The Surf Shop.

Tech Tip: Picking Up Speed
Does it seem like lately you could read half of War and Peace before your computer finishes calculating two times two? Computer slowdown happens to the best of us, but you can give your machine a boost with these simple tips:

• Stop the spying! Some Web sites automatically install tracking programs on your machine that periodically talk back to the Web sites about your surfing habits. Remove these by running spyware programs such as Ad-Aware and Spybot.
• De-skin the windows. Yes, those cute graphics you can get to spiffy up your windows environment can and will slow it down.
• Defrag. Defragmenting your hard drive allows the hard drive to move the files around to a more efficient configuration, and makes it easier to access, thus making it faster.
• Empty the temp files. They're temporary for a reason, right? From the Start menu, click on My Computer, choose your hard disk drive, then click on Search for files or folder, and look for your temporary folders.
• Turn off the animated icons. They may be cute, but they're stealing your system resources.
• Find those hidden programs. Yes, when you boot up your computer, you can have programs running in the background that you don't know about. Either use Task Manager or the MSCONFIG commands to find these little programs and stop them from loading. (It's best to read up on this before attempting it, so you don't turn off something important!)
• Reinstall Windows. It can be a pain, but reinstalling your operating system is often a good way to start everything over from square one. Just make sure you back up all your data files first!!!

Written by Denise Cole

Got a question for Atlantic.Net's Technical Support team? E-mail us at support@atlantic.net.





Five Reasons Your Small Business Needs a Web Site
Nowadays, regardless of its size, every business needs a Web site. The Internet is the most convenient and useful way to attract clients and keep them coming back for more. But why should you jump on the Internet bandwagon? Well, for these five reasons of course:

1. With the new year approaching, it's essential to get a handle on new clients and reassure current clients of your dedication. What better way to do that than through the Internet. You can reach a multitude of people with a tiny little Web site. And that means more potential customers!

2. The Internet makes it easy for consumers to purchase items or pay bills online. Why not get your business involved? Rather than offering your wares strictly through your "brick-and-mortar" office, why not allow customers to access your expertise from a Web site? You can even set up your own shopping site with Atlantic.Net and Miva Merchant.

3. With a simple search on any Internet engine like Google or Yahoo, potential customers can be directed straight to your Web site, making it easier to get your name out there. Without a Web site, these potential clients will be directed to your competition instead.

4. Getting hosting for your Web site isn't as expensive as you may think. You can even leave the dirty work of developing your pages to the professionals.

5. When your Web site is created, you can get e-mail accounts assigned to your domain name and send the name of your company everywhere your e-mail goes. More free advertising!!

For more information, check out Atlantic.Net online, e-mail sales@atlantic.net, or call (877) GO-ATLANTIC
(that's 1-877-462-8526).

Written by Laurie Mascia





Mail
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Phone
For sales, service, or support, please call:
• Toll-Free: (877) GO-ATLANTIC
(That's 1-877-462-8526)
• In Gainesville, FL: (352) 375-2912

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