This week in Chuck Joiner’s User Group Update, which is available on the Macintosh User Group (MUG) Center Web site as an MP3 or in a Podcast or streaming QuickTime, he talks to KeynoteUser.com’s Brian Peat, Jeff Cadavona of Hawaii Macintosh and Apple Users Society and Evan Ziolkowski of the University of Wisconsin Madison MUG. Part of the focus is on an upcoming regional MUG event in Hawaii.
In other MUG news, East Bay Technologies is offering a 40 percent discount on its Internet TV viewing software iTube. Joiner also notes that he has kicked off a new feature, TMC Bargain Hunter, with some rebates on a new Mac from Amazon.com. You might want to pass them along at your next MUG meeting, along with Joiner’s latest Travel Tips column on sending e-mail while traveling and his latest MUG meeting topic idea: covering tax preparation software.
Finally, Joiner has released the results of last week’s MUG Center survey question, which asked what makes a successful in-store event, such as the recent one held at CompUSA stores around the country. The answers were widely varied, so stop by the MUG Center to look at the breakdown of the results. This week, Joiner wants to know: “How far ahead does your group schedule meeting topics?”
Speaking of meeting topics, here’s what’s happening at MUGs around the world this week: On March 15, Capitol Macintosh hosts a special event with Playlist magazine editor-in-chief Chris Breen; Diablo Valley MUG welcomes Prosoft Engineering’s Jennifer Dyer; Princeton MUG looks at Web site construction; MUG Serving the Inland Empire covers digital photography; the U.K.’s Oxford MUG presents “Finding Information: Researching and the Web;” Atlanta MUG previews a new online community; Japan’s Design Matters examines the company Scandinavian Design and its market strategy; Quad Cities MUG offers one member’s take on using DVD Studio Pro; and North Coast MUG brings in O’Reilly author Gordon Meyer for a chat.
On March 16, Tucson MUG invites members to learn more about Final Cut Pro; AppleSiders demos iLife ’05; and MacCore welcomes “Apple Store Guys.” On March 17, Black Butte MUG explains how to scan 35mm slides; Dallas MUG details a digital photography primer; Tex-MUG presents “The Interface Guy;” Tidewater MUG examines AppleScript; Syracuse MUG introduces its members to iLife ’05; and Hawaii Mac Nuts hosts a show and tell event.
South Jersey Apple Users Group, which promises to take the mystery out of “Distributed Computing & Protein Folding,” is the only MUG meeting on March 18. On March 19, Houston Area Apple Users Group welcomes 4D Software’s Debbie Brewer; Washington Apple Pi brings in Midnight Mage Software’s Steve Sheets and Civilized Software’s Dan Kerner for an off-site meeting; and Tuscarawas County MUG holds an AppleWorks lab.
March 20 and 21 close out the week with one meeting each: MacGroup Detroit demos iLife ’05 on the former and Silicon Valley MUG welcomes a Mark/Space representative on the latter.
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.