Please note that the Nov. 10 meeting is on the second Thursday of the month. For time and location (map), see: TokyoPC (TPC) Usual Meeting Time and Location (Map)

SuSE LINUX 10 user interface looks like Windows XP, but SuSE 10 seems to be more snappy than XP. It is easy to install and dual-boot on a Windows machine. It’s much more secure than Windows (no need to frequently download huge security fixes and anti-virus software), which makes it ideal for people who have only dial-up connections.

With CrossOver Office ($40) you can run Windows apps. like MS Office on top of LINUX. Or you can use the Open Office (MS Office clone) that’s bundled with SuSE 10. We will walk through dual-boot installation on a Windows PC, and supply copies of the English SuSE 10 “Live" Demo DVD, or installable Evaluation DVD or CDs. The supported version of SuSE 10 sells for about $60 (about 8,400 yen in Japan).

You do not need to reserve in advance to attend the meeting—but we will sell the disks at cost during the meeting, and would like to know how many to bring. Email “president ( at ) tokyopc.org” to reserve a copy, and please specify: 
* SuSE 10 “live” demo DVD, and/or
* SuSE 10 installable evaluation version, (1) DVD or (5) CDs.

Keith Wilkinson agreed to run and was elected TPC President, effective Nov 1.  Ken Cotton agreed to run as Vice President and was also elected to that post at tonight’s TPC meeting held at the Tokyo Union Church. Tony Whitman continues in his role as Treasurer.  Congratulations to Keith, Ken and Tony. Please give your support to these three fine gentlemen for their willingness to work for the good of the TPC. 

The Tokyo PC Users Group holds annual elections at the October meeting.  If the TPC is to continue holding monthly meetings and improving the new website, we will need to know who is interested in running for the offices of president and vice president.

This year, it’s particularly important to get people involved as I will not be running for re-election and Sako Eaton has had to resign as vice president.  If we can not find people who are interested in running the club—finding speakers for the monthly meetings; and adding content to the new website then it will be my last and sad duty to disband the group.

It may well be that the TPC has outlived its usefullness.  It was started out of a need for English language information on building and repairing personal computers; and now a lot of that information is available online.

I won’t keep you, but I did want you to know that if we have no volunteers to run for the offices of president and vice president by the October 6 meeting, the Tokyo PC Users Group will be no more. If you’re interested, just show up at the meeting.

As usual the meeting will be held at the Tokyo Union Church in Omotesando.  Doors open at 6:30, meetining starts at 7:00.  In light of the fact that this may be the last TPC meeting, I have not scheduled a speaker.  If we find the volunteers to continue the TPC by that evening, then the time will be spent in discussion on how to manage and maintain the Tokyo PC Users Group. If you need a map to the meeting please email me at

Thanks,
Barbara Manning, TPC president
Tony Whitman, TPC treasurer

Many opportunities await the technically minded entrepreneurs in the Education Market. 

Henry Moreland Seals, Executive Director of Merchant Global Technologies & Investments will discuss the challenges of providing practical, useable English education. Mr. Seals started his latest endeavor, Pasocon de English, because he saw that his own children were not learning English in their classes. 

What started from simple English exercises for his kids has grown into a cottage industry fueled by Mr. Seals kid’s friends and their parents enthusiastic response to the program. Now, he offers on and off line classes, monthly events and promotional gifts for adults and children

Henry Moreland Seals has worked for the last decade in IT developing solutions for Japanese Corporations and start-ups; and is Harvard educated.

Bring your hardware, software, books, magazines, cables and bits and pieces to the TPC Swap Meet—buy, sell and swap amongst yourselves.  Just remember that you must take what you don’t sell back home with you—we can’t leave it for TUC to dispose of.