Chicago Computer Guide This Week
For November 1 - 8, 2001

CONTENTS:
I.    This Week's Calendar of Events
II.   Leveraging Power
III.  Frontline Expo Comes to Chicago
IV.   Chicago Computer Company News
V.    Chicago Computer Dealers


==============Special Events===============================

The world's largest trade show featuring automatic identification 
and data capture/communication technologies:

Frontline Solutions Expo - is coming to Chicago, 
November 13-15, 2001 at McCormick Place!

Frontline Solutions Expo showcases the technologies that streamline 
supply chain communications, optimize resources, cut costs from the 
bottom line and manage 100% accurate information about raw materials, 
work in progress, inventory, shipments, assets and personnel.

See how the new generation of technology tools is delivering new and 
exciting business benefits!

To register go to http://www.frontlinexpo.com/index1.html.

=========================================================

See and be seen at the hottest IT Awards Gala in the Midwest!
The Chicago Software Association Invites you to
CityLIGHTS 2001
(Leadership, Innovation, and Growth in High Technology)
Annual Awards Gala
The place to see and be seen! 
Register now - http://www.csa.org/citylights
November 15th, 2001
Westin River North, Chicago
5:00pm - 8:00pm 
The Chicago Software Association (CSA) is proud to present the premier 
IT
Awards Gala in the region and you are invited to attend!  Prepare 
yourself
for an evening featuring a distinguished panel of visionary Chicago
technology leaders, phenomenal networking and delectable dining! 
The panel, features Michael J. Connolly, President, Global Diamond
Marketplace Solutions, DiamondCluster International; Jean K. Holley, VP
Information Systems and CIO, USG Corporation; Alex Zoghlin, CTO, 
Orbitz, 
who will discuss hard-hitting questions facing the IT industry, new 
strategies,
and facing 2002.  The panel moderator is Phil Lebeau, CNBC's Midwest
Business Correspondent. You will not want to miss this opportunity!

==============================================================

I. This Week's Chicago Computer Events

Event: Women's Development Business Center Access to 
Equity Bootcamp 
Date: Thursday, November 1st
Time: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Place: Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago 
Cost: $75 Before October 19, $100 thereafter (includes breakfast,
lunch and reception) The first 30 people to register will receive a 
free copy of Business Plan Pro. ($100 value)
Register at http://www.wbdc.org/events/events.asp or contact:
312-853-3477, x10
The Access to Equity Bootcamp will provide entrepreneurs with:
Hands-on access to experts from the investor and service provider
community that can assist in the development of your high-growth
business.
Expert advice on developing your business model and then
translating that into a business plan investors will find compelling.
Effective strategies for mastering the process of raising capital,
from the first e-mail you send out to your first investor meeting.
Success stories from women who have successfully raised 
angel and venture capital investment.


Event: Giant Computer Show and Sale
Date: November 4, 2001
Place: Orland Park Civic Center, 147th St. & LaGrange Rd., 
Orland Park, IL
Time: 9:30am - 3:00pm
Information: You can call the hotline at 708-974-3123 or go to 
http://www.giantcomputershow.com.
Dealers from throughout the Midwest converge to offer bargains 
on most computers and peripherals.

Event: Geneer presents, "ASP.XSP.MSP.HSP.BPO...Who Cares? 
Just Show Me The Money!"
Date:  Friday, November 9, 2001
Time: 8 to 9:30 AM
Place: 1400 E. Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines, 60018
Price: Free with complimentary breakfast and Krispy Kremes
RSVP: Register at: http://www.geneer.com/seminars
Contact: Jess Chipkin at jchipkin@geneer.com or by phone at 
847-294-0300
By now, we've all heard the confusing stream of acronyms used to 
describe the latest Internet-based delivery models.  But the key 
question remains: how do established businesses use these new 
delivery platforms to build new revenue streams?  Hear Geneer's 
CEO, Doug Grimsted, talk about everyone's favorite topic: making 
money with the newest technologies!

Event: Frontline Solutions Expo
Date: November 13-15, 2001
Place: McCormick Place, Chicago, IL 
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm, Nov. 13-14; 
10:00 - 3:00pm, Nov 15
Information: Go to http://www.frontline.com/index.html and learn 
how you can receive free passes for your corporate team!
Frontline Solutions Expo showcases the tools, technologies and 
resources you need to streamline supply chain communications 
and manage 100% accurate information about raw materials, work 
in progress, inventory, shipments, assets and personnel.
Frontline Solutions Expo is THE place to explore options to help you 
eliminate errors for increased efficiency, productivity and 
traceability - 
which will improve your company's bottom line!

Event: Developments in Immigration Law free seminar 
Date:  November 14, 2001 
Topic:  Visa Options for Allied Healthcare Workers.
Place: Immigration Law Assoc., 8930 Gross Point Rd., Suite 500, 
Skokie, IL 60077. 
Information: Materials and refreshments will be provided. To register 
by phone, please call (847) 581-0400 or e-mail 
ewalder@immig-chicago.com.
The seminar will address the available visa options for nurses, 
physical therapists, and medical technologists.


Event: CACHE Meeting
Date: November 18, 2001
Place: The Levy Senior Center, 2019 W Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL
Time: 9:00am
Information: Call 800-797-5465 or go to http://www.chicagocache.org.
Chicago's first computer user group, founded in 1975. Our member 
systems are predominantly IBM compatibles and are used at home 
and business settings. We range from novice to expert and from 
amateur to professional.

Event: Giant Computer Show and Sale
Date: November 18, 2001
Place: Tinley Park Convention Center, I-80 & Harlem Ave., 
Tinley Park, IL
Time: 9:30am - 3:00pm
Information: You can call the hotline at 708-974-3123 or go to  
http://www.giantcomputershow.com.
Dealers from throughout the Midwest converge to offer bargains 
on most computers and peripherals.

=================================================                               

II. Leveraging Power
Edited By Scott Brown, Editor

Chances are, you've tried to talk down prices with your phone 
company or changed your calling patterns to take advantage
of less expensive plans. Wouldn't it be ideal if you could negotiate 
your electricity and gas prices the same way? Click on 
http://www.chicago-computer.com/novedna.htm, to find out how.


III. Frontline Expo Comes to Chicago
By John Burnell, Editor-In-Chief, Frontline Solutions Magazine and 
Jane Yallum, Director, Market Development, Frontline Solutions Expo

Companies have invested unprecedented billions in information 
technology 
in the past and will continue to do so. Why would anyone commit 
millions 
of dollars and resources for networks, servers, e-mail and enterprise 
applications? Click here, http://www.chicago-computer.com/novshow.htm, 
for more.

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IV. Chicago Computer Company News


Northwestern University Launches IT Development Laboratory

EVANSTON, Ill.,/PRNewswire/ -- Northwestern University is 
announcing the launch of the school's new Information Technology 
Development Laboratory (DevLab).  Motorola, Inc., a founding member 
of the DevLab, will provide funding to entrepreneurial businesses 
sponsored by the DevLab.  
The DevLab's mission is to turn promising University research 
prototypes 
into complete and robust products, utilizing Motorola expertise to 
support 
the development and deployment of software technologies for commercial 
use.  Motorola Ventures, the strategic venture capital investment arm 
of 
Motorola will provide investment funding.
The first application coming out of the DevLab is a proactive software 
search assistant called "Watson" that reads along with a user and 
immediately searches for relevant information while he or she is 
online.
Because Watson is literally reading the same documents as the user, 
it is able to find and present surprisingly precise results.  Designed 
for 
flexibility, Watson is able to retrieve documents from nearly any 
on-line 
resource and analyze most electronic documents.
According to Lydia Villa-Komaroff, vice president for research at 
Northwestern, 
"We have created a new way to eliminate some of the barriers inherent 
in technology transfer.  The DevLab model, designed in conjunction with 
Motorola Ventures is not only good for Northwestern, but also for the 
Chicago technology scene as a whole because it shows that a partnership 
between academia and industry can work."

********************************************************************************

In the Face of Mail Scare, Fans Flock to Electronic Mail to 
Contact Celebrities

CHICAGO, IL /PRNewswire/ -- While the anthrax scare has some 
celebrities and studios holding back or even trashing fan letters, it 
has eCRUSH.com scrambling to fill a new niche -- electronic fan mail.
Three months ago, eCRUSH, a leading dating site, launched "FANtasm" -
an application that lets fans send love to their favorite stars 
electronically.
In the last two weeks, traffic has quadrupled.  Site President Amy 
Gibby 
attributes the surge in popularity to fans that are looking for a safe 
way 
to get in touch with the stars.
eCRUSH has been bombarded with requests for additional addresses 
ranging from regulars:  Drew Barrymore (Riding In Cars with Boys) to 
quirky:  Jamie Kern (Big Brother), to down right bizarre: Bob Pearl 
(the 
Kenny G look alike from FoxÕs Love Cruise).
But the most popular mail recipient is far from a Hollywood insider.
According to Gibby:  "George Bush is currently topping the charts."
Apparently today's modern fan is tech savvy as well as patriotic. 
eCRUSH's 
FANtasm can be found at http://www.ecrush.com/fantasm/ index.phtml.. 
For more information, contact Karen DeMars, karen@ecrush.com or at 
(773) 384-5131.

*************************************************************************************

Travel Safely and Easily With the Latest Mobile Technology This 
Holiday Season 
SKOKIE, Ill./PRNewswire/ -- This season's new travel electronics pack 
a lot of power in a small space to help travelers reach their 
destination 
safely, quickly and with less hassle.  Millions of travelers will take 
to the 
highways this holiday season and the editors of Rand McNally have 
identified some of the season's best products, available at Rand 
McNally 
Map & Travel Stores and at http://www.randmcnally.com , to create a 
more enjoyable experience on the road
The Digital Vehicle Compass v6000 will keep drivers on the right path 
and make sure they arrive in time for turkey dinner.  The compass 
provides precise direction and weather conditions, and illuminates for 
nighttime driving.
Another option is Garmin's StreetPilot III GPS, which offers 
turn-by-turn 
routing in North America's major cities and uses both global 
positioning 
technology and automated voice prompts to map your route on a color 
display.
A new navigation device takes the worry out of long road trips and 
provides convenience in a handheld format.  Based on the company's 
flagship Road Atlas, the Rand McNally Road Atlas PalmPak(R) Travel 
Card fits right into the expansion card slot of the Palm m500 series 
and 
m125 handhelds and provides city-to-city driving directions, highway 
exit amenities and points of interest.
Before setting out for the company holiday party, be sure to bring 
along 
the Digital Alcohol Detector from Precision Navigation, Inc. to help 
ensure responsible driving and sound judgment before putting the keys 
into the ignition.  This handy tool accurately measures your blood 
alcohol 
level, so  you'll know when to avoid getting behind the wheel.

*************************************************************************************

Clyde-Brummel Trailer Equipped with Broadband and New Computers;
Students Discover the Internet
 
Evanston, IL -Evanston's Southeast Evanston Recreation Education 
Center (SEREC), a busy after school drop in center run by the city's 
park department was connected to high speed Internet service late 
last month thanks to an AT&T Broadband donation facilitated by 
eTropolis Evanston. Present at the unveiling of the new service were 
Douglas Gaynor, Director, Parks/Forestry and Recreation Department, 
Bob Dorneker, Recreation Superintendent and Mamie Smith, Director, 
Fleetwood-Jourdain Center and Theatre. Also present were Charles 
Smith of eTropolis Evanston, SEREC staff and about 15 young people 
eager to try to the new service.
Soon after the new broadband connection was made, students gathered 
around the new 800 MB Intel Celeron computer also donated by AT&T 
with its cutting edge sound and graphics, to explore possibilities. 
After 
visiting a music site and America's Most Wanted, they gravitated to 
world 
news, watching a video about Afghanistan and coaching each other in 
the fine points of surfing.
"SEREC is unique in that it combines education and recreation," said
Mamie Smith, Fleetwood-Jourdain director. "These new Internet 
resources will continue to help children refocus the learning process 
by 
making learning fun."
"We will continue to attack the digital divide with donations like 
this," 
said Charles Smith executive director of eTropolis. "We want everyone 
in Evanston to be an Internet user."     

*************************************************************************************

Network Catalyst Opens New Office in Chicago
 
Irvine, Ca -- Network Catalyst has announced the opening of a new 
regional office in Chicago, to be headed by Bob Kane, newly
appointed regional sales manager. The office will cover the Great 
Lakes region, with a focus on the greater Metropolitan Chicago area.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Network Catalyst has provided 
comprehensive network integration and managed services to 
customers since 1991. The opening of the Chicago office allows the 
company to continue its growth and to meet the growing networking 
needs in the nation’s third largest market.
Already this month, Network Catalyst-Chicago completed on behalf of 
Chicago Title Insurance Company installation of the largest Cisco 
Virtual Private Network solution in North America.
Newly hired Regional Manager Bob Kane is responsible for providing 
sales management and strategic planning for Network Catalyst in the 
Chicago market. Most recently, Kane served as regional manager at 
Logical Network Services, where he managed regional activities 
including business development, forecasting, sales, operations, vendor 
relations and P&L. 

About Network Catalyst
Network Catalyst provides comprehensive network integration and 
managed services to Fortune 1,000 companies, government agencies 
and leading healthcare, educational and financial services 
organizations 
nationwide. Through its suite of technical, professional and integrated 
services - from network implementation to consulting on the latest 
wireless, 
optical and security technologies - Network Catalyst helps companies 
maximize their network’s role across the enterprise. Its new Network 
Operations Center monitors, manages and troubleshoots clients’ networks 
on an ongoing basis. The company is headquartered in Irvine, CA, with 
other offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Ventura Counties, 
Phoenix, Boston and Chicago. For more information, visit 
www.netcat.com.

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VI. Chicago Computer Dealers

Click here at http://www.chicago-computer.com/deals.htm for our list 
of computer dealers and some of the lowest prices in town!

Readers: We welcome your feedback on our newsletter. Please direct your
comments to the editor at mailto:ccg@interaccess.com. We want to make
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