If you use Internet Explorer to browse the Internet, perhaps you are aware that there is an updated version available - Internet Explorer 8 (IE 8).  As with all brand new versions of an application, it is often good to wait for some time to allow all the "bugs" to be "worked out" before installing.  The same may be true with IE 8.  We have done some investigation and want to inform you of a few issues.

Compatibility.  It has been noted in multiple research sites that IE 8 has inherent compatibility problems with Web standards such as CSS, HTML4 and XHTML.  This compatibility issue especially can be a huge stumbling block for developers as they rely on these standards to make sure their work can run across many different browsers and on different operating systems.  Additionally, merely browsing with IE 8 can inhibit a user from viewing sites built on code that isn’t compatible with IE 8.  GroundWork group experienced some difficulty while accessing various websites and problems accessing some web-based applications.

Speed.  According to test findings (which appeared in Computerworld), Google Inc.'s Chrome led all browsers in speed tests, making it more than four times faster than IE 8. Second was Mozilla Corp.'s Firefox, followed by Apple Inc.'s Safari for Windows and Opera Software's Opera.

Walt  Mossberg, the personal-technology columnist for The Wall Street Journal, criticized IE 8's performance in an All Things Digital post, "Microsoft claims IE 8 is very fast, but in my tests, speed and performance were its worst attributes.  Using two computers, one running Windows XP and one running Windows Vista, I timed the loading of a half-dozen popular Web sites, plus two folders containing numerous news and sports sites.  I repeated the test in IE 8, and in Firefox, Safari 4 and Chrome. In every case, IE 8 loaded the pages and folders more slowly than most of the other browsers, and in most cases, it came in dead last."   Incidentally, Microsoft purportedly said that its own speed tests prove IE 8 to be faster than both Firefox and Chrome.

Hacking.  IE8 supposedly beefs up protection against malware and known phishing scam sites.  However, it allegedly suffered its first hack just days after its official launch.

Analysis.  As with all updates, it is important to understand the potential impact that any application version upgrade may have on usability and compatibility with your current computer and/or network operating system and applications.  We advise you to research each of your local and web-based applications for suitability with IE 8 prior to upgrading.  In our experience, uninstalling IE 8 went smoothly, but we have read reports of issues such as automatic reinstallation by Windows Update!  If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Neighbarger at sneighbarger@groundworkgroup.org or 614-884-7780, ext. 108.

During the month of February of 2009, GroundWork group decided to begin offering "hands-on" training classes for the Microsoft Office Tools.  Platform Lab, a resource of TechColumbus, partnered with GroundWork group to provide a "hands-on" environment through their computer lab.  The computer lab allows every person who participates in the GroundWork group Office Productivity Class a computer station of their own to use at each of the courses offered.  The ability to follow along with the instructor and to see each step in the learning process provides the best type of learning environment as well as one-on-one assistance from the instructor.

The Platform Lab mission: Robust testing and training leads to better processes, better people and fewer mistakes aligns well with our mission at GroundWork group: To strengthen the impact of nonprofit organizations by enhancing their ability to achieve their missions through sustainable and affordable information management, education and technology solutions. 

GroundWork group and Platform Lab will continue to work together to provide this education opportunity that benefits the nonprofit community of Central Ohio.

The class schedule for the GroundWork group Office Productivity Classes can be found in this eNewsletter and on our website: www.groundworkgroup.org.  For more information surrounding the Office Productivity Classes, contact Brenda Grosse at bgrosse@groundworkgroup.org or 614-884-7780, ext. 101.  To learn more about Platform Lab visit their website: www.platformlab.org.

Longtime GroundWork group Member ARC Industries Inc. has a new service to offer - Document Scanning Solutions.  ARC Industries can help give you immediate access to/retrieval of your archived documents, dramatically reduce storage expenses, preserve the integrity and readability of your documents and improve service to your clients.

Established in 1963, ARC Industries provides employment and training opportunities for more than 2,000 adults with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities in Franklin County, Ohio.  ARC Industries matches labor requirements of local businesses with the abilities of workers in a mutually beneficial manner.  ARC Industries employees work and/or train at four different production facilities or on job-sites throughout the county.

Recognizing that companies can spend $120 to find a misfiled document to $2,000 annually to maintain a full file cabinet, ARC Industries developed its Document Scanning Solutions to help companies reduce costs and manage documents more effectively while creating another job opportunity for ARC employees.  With a scanning capability of over 125,000 documents per day, ARC Industries can help transform your filing cabinets into space-saving discs.

As a member organization, ARC Industries has taken advantage of GroundWork group’s project management and website management services.  "We greatly appreciate GroundWork group’s assistance in strengthening our information management, thereby increasing the efficiency of service delivery to our clients," said John Mitchem, CEO, ARC Industries Inc.  GroundWork group is proud to deliver solid technology services to ARC Industries to help them deliver their services and raise awareness of their programs and the unique needs they are meeting for the residents and businesses of Franklin County.  For more information on ARC Industries, please visit their website: www.arcind.com.

Business Productivity Classes - Microsoft Office
Platform Lab, 1275 Kinnear Rd., Columbus, 43212

Monday, July 20
Microsoft Outlook 2003 Intermediate Level, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 Intermediate Level, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Microsoft Outlook 2003 Intermediate Level, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  This is the second in a series of Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 courses.  It builds on the email and calendaring skills already obtained and provides instruction on the skills needed to communicate in real time with other users, personalize mail, organize items, share and link contacts and quick tips on tricks to speed up projects.  Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 is the premier email and collaboration client not only for Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server, but also for POP3 and IMAP4 mail servers.  Increasingly, organizations need to configure Outlook in more than one environment - not just to office desktops, but also to mobile and disconnected users.  Main objectives: theoretical and practical knowledge of tasks like setting up public folders, planning meetings, designing custom forms, designing views, using offline folders and carrying out a mail merge.  Instructor: Cyndee McCaskey, GroundWork group Education Member, Microsoft Office Specialist Certified.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 Intermediate Level, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  This class focuses on customization of your PowerPoint 2003 projects.  We will look at ways to change the color, size and appearance of clip art.  We will cover changing the color scheme and background of the template you are using and the steps to create and save your own design template.  You will learn techniques to apply animation effects to your clip art and text, many options for slide transition effects, how to add interactivity via links and about multimedia content in the form of sound and video clips.  Together with the topics learned in the Introduction to PowerPoint XP, you will be well on your way to creating custom, professional slide presentations that will grab and hold the attention of your audience.  Instructor: Cyndee McCaskey, GroundWork group Education Member, Microsoft Office Specialist Certified.

Cost for each session: $30 for Full Members; $40 for Associate Members; $50 for Non-Members.
Please RSVP by Friday, July 17 to Brenda Grosse: bgrosse@groundworkgroup.org or 614-884-7780, ext. 101.

Monday, August 31
Microsoft Excel 2003 Intermediate Level, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Microsoft Word 2003 Intermediate Level, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Nonprofit IT Forum - Topic: Data Management
Tuesday, July 14 - Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Jewish Family Services, 1070 College Ave., Columbus, 43209

The discussion will be led by Matthew Chretien, President of Intellinetics.  The task of managing data can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.  There are five steps to managing your data, keeping it from being "lost," so that it can always be "found."  Join the conversation around the tools you can use to ensure that you have access to the right information in the right place at the right time.

Lunch will be provided courtesy of the Tony R. Wells Foundation.  Please RSVP by Monday, July 13 to Brenda Grosse: bgrosse@groundworkgroup.org or 614-884-7780, ext. 101.

Nonprofit IT Forum - Topic TBD
Tuesday, August 11 - Noon to 1:30 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE! GroundWork group fourth Annual Conference, Friday, October 2, 2009 at the Fawcett Center on The Ohio State University campus.  More details to follow.