(For those new to the column, Forward Migration is our term for companies moving from Wintel machines to Macs — or at least adding or increasing the number of Macs they use. A Forward Migration Kit is an overview of Mac OS products for a particular occupation, such as photography, optometry, etc.)
We have lots of short Forward Migration stories for your edification this week.
Freeskier Magazine a print monthly based out of Boulder, CO, covers, as might be expected, skiing and the lifestyle that can be attained in living from resort to resort. And they’re big on Macs.
MacCentral reader and Boulder resident Matthew Linton was recently at a Freeskier photo shoot and noticed the extensive use of Macs for capturing digital photos and brining them immediately into Photoshop where the magazine staff makes quick edits and prepares each photo for print right on the fly.
“It was quite impressive, and I inquired further into their use of Macs within the company,” Linton said. “Apparently, they rely on Apple products heavily for much of their work in producing the magazine and mentioned to me how much easier and more cost effective it is to use Macs.”
In another local sighting, Wayne Rugenstein recently had the oil changed in his Honda by a Mac using shop. Smithville Lube of Smithville, MO, had two iMacs connected to Epson 740i printers in their shop, he said.
“The technicians would enter information in the shop iMac, and it would get relayed to the counter desk and print my receipt,” Rugenstein said. “Smithville is a small town about 15 miles north of Kansas City. About 15,000 people live here. It was very cool to see even a small place successfully use Macs in their business.”
The next two stories are from the Aug. 23 Apple eNews, a periodic news communication from Apple. You can subscribe online.
Sean Cook, lead singer for the band Lupine Howl, is happy to stay out of recording studios. Thanks to his Power Mac computer, he and his bandmates were able to work at his house and record their debut album, “The Carnivorous Lunar Activities of Lupine Howl,” straight to its hard drive.
“It’s quite a liberating thing, being able to record on the computer at home,” Cook told Apple. “It cuts out a lot of the so-called experts at studios and it allows you to learn a lot more about the recording process yourself, which is a very empowering thing.”
Having a home studio also allowed the band to capture an unusual background recording for one of their tracks. You can read all about it online.
Despite his inability to use his arms and legs, Michael Phillips graduated with honors from high school. He’s also an accomplished digital artist and an AppleMaster. His work has been published in magazines and has been displayed at Macworld and other technology conferences.
“People underestimate themselves,” Phillips told Apple. “One’s only true limit is the imagination.”
He credits his achievements to his own tenacity and his PowerBook, which is equipped with assistive hardware and software. His mother concurs. She says that access to a Mac changed her son’s entire outlook.
“His artwork and everything he can do to his photography is all because of Apple.” she said. ” His Mac has given him the most independence he has ever had.”
You can read more about Phillips at the AppleMaster Web site. Through the AppleMasters program, Apple annually recognizes 100 people worldwide who make a difference (“think different”) in their worlds. Participation is by invitation only, and it is a non-endorsement program. No one is paid.
Do you have a Forward Migration story? Send it our way.