Multiple times a week at The Macintosh User Group (MUG) Center Web site, editor Chuck Joiner informs MUG members from around the world about the latest Apple- and Mac-related news. Since our last visit there, he’s let his readers know that Macworld Conference & Expo San Francisco is once again extending discounts to user group members for the upcoming show, which will happen in January 2005; Adobe is planning a series of Mac-oriented InDesign CS seminars next month; user groups will get together during the O’Reilly Mac OS X Conference happening Oct. 27 in Santa Clara, Calif.; and photos are now online from the MUG Serving the Inland Empire’s (MUGSIE) 20th anniversary celebration and the opening of the new Apple Mini Store in Rockaway, NJ.
In addition, Joiner has posted the results of his last survey, which asked how MUGs publicize their meetings. An “overwhelming majority” utilize their Web sites and private e-mail lists, but he noted that newsletters were a distant third, followed by The MUG Center’s own event calendar. This week’s question is “How large is your group?” Visit the site to answer on behalf of your MUG.
This week’s upcoming MUG meetings kick off with Tuesday, Oct. 19, and Ben Kerosky’s visit to Alaskan MUG on behalf of Apple; New Jersey MUG’s 20th anniversary celebration with tech columnist Andy Ihnatko; a presentation on home networking at Atlanta MUG; an overview of Apple’s Motion software at East Tennessee MUG; an explanation of the LP-to-CD conversion process at MUGSIE, which is in Riverside, Calif.; another 20th anniversary celebration at Sacramento, Calif.’s MacNexus; “Tools in AppleWorks” at Village MUG, which doesn’t specify its location on its Web site; and The Center for Digital Storytelling’s Emily Paulos at Walnut Creek, Calif.’s Diablo Valley MUG.
On Oct. 20, Apple systems engineer Al Teran will visit Oak Creek Apples (location unknown); another 20th anniversary celebration will happen at Seattle’s dBug; MacCORE of Kansas City will hold its “annual auction and schmooze fest;” Tulsa, Okla. MUG will also mark 20 years of existence; Tucson MUG will cover Photoshop Elements 2, GraphicConverter and an overview of graphic file formats; and Apple Dayton (Ohio) will welcome Fairborn Camera and discuss digital photography.
On Oct. 21, the next online MUG Center Chat will happen on the World Without Borders Web site, when the topic will be “What’s on your group’s mind?”; Redwood City, Calif.’s Peninsula Apple Users Group will present an overview of disk utilities and fixing hard drive problems; Syracuse MUG will offer “Shareware, Freeware and Open Source;” Arizona MUG will go over Real Basic and AppleScript; Peninsula Apple Users Group will welcome local Macintosh dealers; and Lansing, Mich. Area Macintosh and Lisa Users Group will explain how to use your computer for home security.
Heading into the weekend, Tokyo’s Ringo MUG will serve up “TimBits,” which their site says is an opportunity to “catch up on all the latest Apple and Macintosh news,” and South Jersey MUG will welcome representatives from the software company Rogue Amoeba on Oct. 22.
On Oct. 25, Wellington MUG (New Zealand) and Ohio’s North Coast MUG will both discuss FileMaker Pro 7, with the former comparing the software with AppleWorks’ database capabilities.
Looking ahead, Macintosh Business Users Society of Greater Philadelphia (MacBUS) will take a look at 4D’s database software on Oct. 26 and Jonathan Stars, author of “Learn FileMaker Pro 7,” will stop by Grand Rapids, Mich. MUG on Oct. 28. On Oct. 31, MacBUS will have a presence at the NBC 10 Technology & Lifestyle Expo in Fort Washington, Pa., where they will pass out information about the Mac to attendees.
Finally, Singapore MUG is currently taking entries in their “Design the new MUG Web site” contest. The winner, who will be announced at the end of October, takes home a new iPod mini.
Macintosh User Groups interested in seeing their events listed on MacCentral are welcome to send us their news. We post roundups of MUG events and gatherings each week.
If you’re wondering what user group events are happening in your area, visit the MUG Center’s online calendar. Apple also hosts a user group site where you can look for a MUG near you or find out how to start your own group.