Info Manager for April 22, 2002

[*]  TechNotes;   [*]  Interview 2.0;   [*]  Chicago Tribune Apple article;   [*]  iPhoto Book;   [*]  Google;   [*]  Product Placement;   [*]  Harder Beat;   [*]  Music CDs;   [*]  CompUSA;   [*]  MS Bluetooth;   [*]  MUG Sites of the Week: GACmug.org;   [*]  dBug;   [*]  Web sites of the Week: Fun With Words;   [*]  Web sites of the Week: Looney Tunes;   [*]  UG Tips: Newsletter;   [*]  Quote of the Week: Louis Armstrong;   [*]  Quote of the Week: Elinor Smith;  
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TechNotes

I have mentioned techNotes a few times in this column. It currently is running a subscription drive. At http://www.dlsi.biz/pages/os9.html you will find an edited compendium of the previous 40 issues. They should be of use to anyone still using a classic OS machine. The subscription is $20 per year. An interesting side light is that after the first subscription a separate subscription for each member of an organization can be added for $1. (See the web site below for more details.) TechNotes issue 44 is available as a sample issue. You can get it and/or subscribe at: http://www.dlsi.biz/pages/technotes.html

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Interview 2.0

XLR8, according to Ron Carlson of Insanely Great Mac is upgrading its product Interview to version 2.0. This program allows video capture over a USB port and now works under OSX. Full story is at: http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=289

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Chicago Tribune Apple article

Peter Cohen at MacCentral reported on an article in the Chicago Tribune entitled: "Apple pictures growth - Company tempts Windows users with yearlong parade of products". In the article, Alex L. Goldfayn states that Apple is ready for the next computer boom. (That story is currently at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0204150009apr15.story.You may have to search the archives after 4/22) The MacCentral story is at: http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0204/15.growth.php

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iPhoto Book

In the latest TidBITS, Adam Engst talks about his new QuickStart Guide to iPhoto book from Peachpit Press. The main thing is that he has decided that Apple will be doing an update to iPhoto too soon for his book to be profitable. So even though he has completed it, it will NOT be available in print. But, in the era of doing things different, Peachpit and Adam and Amazon.com is placing the book on the Amazon web site for sale as a PDF. And each purchaser will be given the first hard copy edition once it is ready. So you can now get the iPhoto book for $14 and an immediate download. This offer is good until May 28th. See info at these links: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321121651/ref=ase_thedesignpublish/

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Google

Ok, just how is Google able to get all those great search results? (Thanks to my nephew Brian for pointing this one out). See how at this link: http://www.google.com/technology/pigeonrank.html

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Product Placement

As we know, product placement in movies got a real kick off with the Reese's Pieces segment in "E.T." Apple of course has been one of the best to get product placement without paying for it. (Although they often supply the computers.)

An article in the Christian Science monitor looks at this practice. What is kind of strange in this presentation however is that they appear to be reprinting an article from the "Village Voice". That never would have happened 30 years ago. See the story at: http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0416/p22s02-hfks.html

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Harder Beat

This is a shameless plug for a friend's publication. "The Harder Beat" is a monthly publication distributed in hard rock clubs in six states. Lots of information on what is going on in local clubs and with local bands. You can read more about it at: http://www.harderbeat.com

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Music CDs

Did you know that the record companies started enforcing a minimum purchase price for CDs in 1996, thus stopping a price war that had raged between Best Buy and Target? Or at least that is what the FTC and attorney generals from 28 states are claiming. They are using the term "price fixing". This pricing policy may have hurt sales more than Napster. What do you think? Full story at: http://scriban.com/movabletype/2002_04_12.html#002506

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CompUSA

Dennis Miller at MacCentral is pointing out that 150 of the 200 CompUSAs now have an Apple employee in the building. Apple has also added 75 VARs and is expanding the instore progam to Europe. Full story at: http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0204/18.compusa.php

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MS Bluetooth

Meanwhile, the Register is reporting that Microsoft is planning a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, transceiver and other devices for later in the year. That along with Apple's recent announcement should really get Bluetooth into gear. Although I wonder about that interference with Airport (Wi-Fi) that I mentioned last week. Full story at: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/24922.html

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MUG Sites of the Week: GACmug.org

This web site came from Shawn King's YourMacLife radio program link page. They do a great job of giving their site the Aqua look. See it at: http://www.gacmug.org/

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dBug

Another group that does a great job of supporting their members is dBUG of Seattle. DBUG is a Macintosh user group for the downtown business community. Thus the acronym. See their web site at: http://www.dbug.org/

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Web sites of the Week: Fun With Words

Ok, do you know what a Spoonerism is? I mentioned it today and then had to go look up the exact definition. You can have fun by going to: http://fun-with-words.com/spoonerisms.html

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Web sites of the Week: Looney Tunes

Of course, there are other word games there as well. The New Looney Tunes: Funny stuff. Thanks to Sly the IRC babe at YourMacLife for including it in their link list. http://looneytunes.warnerbros.com/web/all_new_toons/home.jsp?ID=lt_2002_01

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UG Tips: Newsletter

A number of groups have decided to go to non-print newsletters. I personally feel that is not always the best thing to do. First of all, not all members or potential members are on the Internet and able to receive e-mail or even PDF files of the newsletter. Secondly, it is important to remind people of events occurring in the group and many members will not check their e-mail as often as we might like. And third, it is possible not only to cover the cost of the newsletter, but also profit from it. (Although I wouldn't suggest that you try to make a profit on it.)
__ Figure our how much it costs to produce a newsletter. It is possible to do an 8 pager and mail it for less than $1 per copy per member. Even sending it First Class as opposed to bulk. Then decide how many pages you want to devote to advertising. If you want to limit the advertising to 25%, then you need to make 50 cents per page per member. Thus if you have 100 members, you need to get $50 for a page of advertising. Of course, that should be broke down to quarter and half page and bumped a little bit to cover costs when you don't get all the advertising. I know of a group who used to pay a person 10% of advertising to go sell the ads. And he made a good living. Of course, it was a 56+ page newsletter with a few thousand subscribers. But the process is the same in calculating your price. Of course, if you are doing a PDF version, then you could still sell advertising at the same price since it is also reaching the membership. You still have costs involved in production.
__ BTW - UGN is a great place to go for article and they would love to have you submit some for other groups as well. http://www.user-groups.net/resources/terms.html

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Quote of the Week: Louis Armstrong

"I don't let my mouth say nothin' my head can't stand." - Louis Armstrong.

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Quote of the Week: Elinor Smith

"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishments rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things." - Elinor Smith

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News and Info you can use...

The Info Manager invites user groups to use his column in full or in pieces in their newsletter. He would appreciate word that you are doing so however and if you can, please send a pdf version of the newsletter for his perusal. Or just provide him with the link. Use this address: Infomanager@user-groups.net or... our online Information form

The Info Manager is a veteran of the UGN (AOL User Groups Forum) and User Group Network. He's been a supporter and volunteer on many, many UGNet and User Group Academy projects. As a long time user group member, he's served as volunteer from Honolulu to Boston and many points in between. Currently working with the Apple Corp of Dallas, the Dallas Mac Pack, Cowtown MUG of Ft. Worth and TUMS (the Tulsa Users of Macintosh Society) doing newsletter articles and the monthly CD-ROM Update. Post a lead Info Manager should follow up on.

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