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Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

D r .   G i z m o
E-mail when you're on the road; genealogy converter; third-party ink cartridges


Oct. 29, 2003


By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2003, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2003, The Post-Standard

   I am wondering how I can get and send my e-mail when I am traveling. I use a local company for my current Internet service provider. I am also planning on setting up a computer in my home in Florida, and will have a local server and another address, of course. Is there a way I can access my Syracuse-area provider's e-mail from my new home or while traveling? I am sure you seldom receive such low tech questions, but this has never come up for me. I thank you for your kind help. &mdash V.H., via a-znet.com
   The doctor knows a simple way of checking and reading mail from a local Internet provider no matter where you are. Use the free service at www.mail2web.com to get your mail through any Web browser. It's also a terrific way of checking to see if any large attachments are blocking your mail; you can delete the mail holding the attachments through Mail2Web, for example.
   
   What's your opinion regarding inexpensive inkjet printer cartridges in lieu of those of the printer manufacturer (in my case, Epson)? Used to be a no-no, if I recall correctly. But does that still hold true? &mdash D.F., via Road Runner
   The doctor prefers the real thing. This is especially important for recent Epson printers that use fade-proof ink. Replacement cartridges are not likely to have the same kind of ink. Documents and photos printed using such third-party inks can't be trusted to look good after a few months of exposure to light and air.
   
   I have some genealogy pals that have put their genealogy data into an Excel spreadsheet.ÊDo you know of any way to convert an Excel ÒXLSÓ file into Gedcom (standard genealogy data) format? &mdash S.W., via Road Runner
   The doc was not able to find a direct Excel-to-Gedcom converter. Ask the friends who send you genealogical data to reconsider how they are storing and sending it. Gedcom is supported by nearly all genealogy programs, whether for Windows or Macs.
   For possible help on tracing down a converter that the doc might have missed, go to www.my-ged.com/faqs.html. When the doc passed this along to S.W., his correspondent wrote back with another Web location that seemed to help. It is www.tedpack.org/text2ged.html.
   
   Dr. Gizmo's family tree is not an oak, as some have suggested. You can send an acorn or just a letter to the doctor or his pal to Technology, Box 4915, Syracuse, NY 13221. Or send e-mail to afasoldt@twcny.rr.com.