Winning E-Story Submitted by: Marla Walker

Over three years ago, I was hospitalized at Cox South in Springfield, Missouri because of pregnancy complications. One of my sisters loaned me her laptop computer to help keep me busy during the lengthy 9 1/2 weeks of strict bed rest. Through natcotech.com I was so thankful to be able to keep up with my friends via email and keep them updated on what was going on with my pregnancy. After my son was born prematurely weighing 2 lbs. 4 oz. we were transported to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas because of complications, where we stayed for another 9 weeks. The whole time we were able to communicate with our families and friends to keep them current on our son's medical circumstances, and also to receive much needed support during the time of our infant daughter's death shortly after birth. We have pondered how much more difficult this time could have been without the support of friends and family and email was definitely a major source of that support. Thank you!

Marla Walker just earned two free months of NATCO Internet service! Submit your E-Story today and you could be our next winner! Remember that you can enter more than once. So, if you didn't win this time, try again! Just go to www.natcotech.com/estories.htm and tell us how using NATCO's Internet or e-mail service has made your life easier, helped you promote or manage your business, or simply how much you enjoy using the Internet and e-mail. If your E-Story is chosen, you'll win two months of free NATCO dialup Internet service ($19.95 X 2 = $39.90) or an equivalent credit on your DSL or ISDN account.

Thanks to All Who Received CALEA Calls

To the NATCO Tech customers who had upgrades to their DSL connections this summer over the phone with our representatives, we say a big “thank you.” As an Internet provider, we at NATCO Technologies were working to meet requirements of a federal law known as CALEA – the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. So, we initiated a special calling effort, and the work is nearly completed. We appreciate your patience and understanding of the process.

If you have begun using your new higher-speed DSL, NATCO Technologies hopes you are enjoying the upgraded DSL speed for the same price as before. If you have any questions or problems, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-800-775-6682 or 453-8800 in Flippin.

Increase Your DSL Speeds – No Extra Charge

NATCO Technologies invites all present and new DSL customers to increase their download speed two-to-four times at no extra charge. Reminders of this offer will come to you soon, but there’s no need to wait.

Under the new DSL plans:

· $29.95 monthly plan now brings downloads up to 512Kb (double the previous speed)

· $49.95 monthly plan now brings downloads up to 1.5Mb (double the previous speed)

· $79.95 monthly plan now brings downloads of 6Mb (quadruple the previous speed)

· Larger commercial packages are available when you call NATCO for details

To obtain these higher speeds, just call us at 453-8800 in Flippin or 1-800-775-6682. Those in Mountain Home may also call the Brooks-Jeffrey Computer Store at 425-8064.

NATCO Wireless Now at Area Restaurants

NATCO Tech is pleased to be the provider of choice of wireless Internet at two more restaurants in Mountain Home that added wireless connections for their diners – El Chico Cafe and Hardee’s. NATCO welcomes commercial installations for hotels, banks, restaurants, and resorts. Just call our Customer Service Representatives at 1-800-775-6682 for information.

Deadline for Customer Survey is August 30

You may still complete the NATCO Tech Customer Survey and become eligible for $59.85 in free NATCO Tech service. The winner may apply the credit toward a NATCO DSL, dialup, or WildBlue service bill. By completing the survey, you will help us improve our service to all NATCO Tech customers. Just use this link to take the survey, www.natcotech.com/survey07. Note: You may complete the survey anonymously, or, if you wish, provide your name and contact information to be entered in the drawing for the free NATCO Tech services. If you have had technical problems, let us know by calling the tech support number, 1-888-276-8059. You don’t have to wait for the annual survey to report your problems.

Computer Makers Still Offering XP

Select models from Dell and other computer makers are offering a choice of operating systems on laptops and desktops. Although Vista is the newest Microsoft operating system, Windows XP remains a popular alternative for those owners who may buy a new computer, but wish to remain with XP as an operating system.

If you are in the market for a computer, ask your hardware provider to explain the benefits of XP and Vista and discuss issues regarding differences in system resource requirements and your older software working on both of those operating systems.

NATCO Tech continues to support Internet customers using Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP and Vista.

Tech Tips...Spam-Block Tip for Online Publishing

Perhaps you’ve written an email for an organization or business, but you don’t want a spam filter to stop it before your intended readers see it. Here are some tips:

Realize that different words may trigger different spam filters. For example, you could use the word "free," but not in capital letters, only once, and it may evade the filter.

Keep the subject line short. The recommended length is less than 55 characters.

If your company or organization name is in your subject line and if it has a solid reputation for sending information by e-mail that is wanted, then a higher "open" rate should result.

Cleaning Your Laptop Screen – Be Careful

To keep the screen on your laptop in good shape, stay away from it – do not poke it with your finger, a pencil or pen. Point at it from a distance, or point using your mouse (Make your cursor much larger or change its shape if you find it hard to see on the screen. Go to My Computer>Control Panel>Mouse).

If you do get fingerprints or dirt on your screen, you can clean it with care and the proper cleaning solution. Your screen is thin, flexible plastic, not glass. Do NOT use glass cleaners – the ammonia in glass cleaners will yellow the screen and make it brittle. Use a soft cloth (not paper) dampened with water. Poor results? Then, try using isopropyl alcohol diluted to one-half strength with water. You can buy commercial cleaning solutions and cleaning pads, but be sure they say “for laptop or LCD screens.” Always pour the cleaning solution on the rag, not onto the screen, where it may run off and damage electronic components.

The screen on a laptop is an LCD composed of individual transistors at every pixel (the tiny dots that make up the images on the screen). If any one is damaged, you will have a permanent black spot on your screen. (To be sure, the loss of a single pixel will not make your screen unusable.) The screen is the single most expensive part of your laptop, and most damage cannot be repaired, so the screen will need to be replaced. For best results, read and follow instructions from the manufacturer.

Filling Out PDF Forms

Have you ever needed to fill out a form online that was a PDF? It is not easy, sometimes, without a PDF editor, but most of us wouldn’t use one enough to justify its cost. Here is another solution. The next time you need to complete a PDF form, visit PDFfiller. This site won’t let you change the text in a PDF file. However, it will fill out PDF forms.

Leadership Day Was "Hands-On"

NATCO revamped its "Technology Day" presentation for the Marion County Youth Leadership Team in the spring, making it a "hands-on" experience for the ninth graders on the team from Flippin, Bruno-Pyatt, and Yellville-Summit. The 20 students and six advisors learned what NATCO employees do and how they use technology.

Students used SpatialEngineer to draw in new plant facilities like "engineering" does. Visitors saw fiber optic cable close-up and learned how it works. They created a trouble ticket in "dispatch" and studied how to make the most of retirement benefits from "accounting." They used SpatialNavigator to see aerial views of the NATCO territory and pinpointed their own homes.

Additional "fun" activities and prizes completed the event. The purpose of "Technology Day" is to build interest in careers in technology and make them think about their academic futures, said Plant Manager Steven Sanders Jr.

Win a South Shore Gift

When you visit the South Shore website at www.southshore.com, you'll have a chance to win a South Shore souvenir, like a T-shirt, a cap, chiller cups, and other necessities for the great South Shore outdoors. The South Shore website is an electronic community for the towns on and near the south shore of Bull Shoals Lake, and it's packed with information for you and for our tourist visitors.

Margie Barritt is this month's winner of a South Shore tote bag. Congratulations, Margie Barritt.

Weekly Maintenance on Wednesday

Each Wednesday morning from 12:01 A.M. until 5 A.M., NATCO Technologies performs regular maintenance on Internet equipment. Your Internet service should not be affected. But, if you do experience an interruption in service during this time, please try again a few moments later. We try to minimize any "down time" by doing our maintenance at a regular time each week.

All users agree to terms and guidelines published at www.natcotech.com/guideline.htm.

Feedback: NATCO invites readers' comments about the e-newsletter and suggestions for future articles. Let us know what information in the e-newsletter is most useful or what Internet issues are important to you. Readers may send suggestions for future e-newsletter articles, questions or comments to: custserv@natconet.com.

Want to view previous issues? Visit: e-newsletter archives.

NATCO Technologies does not endorse or recommend any software or program. The purpose of the articles included in this newsletter is to keep our customers informed. We do not provide free technical support for software or programs such as Norton, McAfee, AVG Anti-Virus, Instant Messenger Services, etc. Please see the NATCO Internet brochure for full details on what is and is not covered by our free Internet Technical Support.