Fred Showker, user group advocate since 1985, MUG member at large and safe netting advocate.
Continued from the previous page of This Old Mouse! Follow along and we'll try to learn some new tricks together. Drop us a line and ask your questions, share your tips, or introduce us to a new resources that everyone will like...
People often ask me if I know what they should do with old computers, software and computer memorabilia. So, here are words of wisdom for getting rid of all that old computer stuff...
For three weeks, I got to experience using a Mac in a 3rd world. Here are some reflections on email and why NOT to use Mac.com if you plan to travel...
Fred answers reader's questions: Need professional style photos of objects? Learn the tips and tricks for getting great photos as This Old Mouse shows you how to set up your own in-house digital photography studio
Upgrading software and hardware is not alway easy and can often present some challenges and surprises. This old mouse salutes the programmers who brought us software that makes the leap to Tiger...
With a daughter half-way around the world, this old mouse discovers the joys of SKYPE. If you have people in far away places that you'd like to stay in touch with, just keep reading...
You've heard the warnings: "back up your data." By now, everyone should know and understood that all computer data should be backed up. So, why don't they do it? Let's take a look at the ins and outs of backing up the new OS and your valuable data.
Fired up by the "Mac Annoyances" book from O'Reilly, Fred voices a few annoyances of his own -- and offers help for your annoyances
Lots of people will be getting all sorts of gadgets for their computers -- like the iPod -- but with those new gadgets comes a new learning curve. In this edition, Fred takes a look at free, online book chapters as a way of learning what you need, and sampling works from such authors as Brad Miser, Tim Robertson, Maria Langer, and Leo Laporte
My "PowerBook" article (next, below) brought a flurry of email from readers expressing concern over purchasing the new G4 Aluminum PowerBook, and Laptops vs. desktop computers. Herein, I give my slant on the subjects...
I love my new 15" Aluminum Powerbook G4! But while getting used to it I'm having to learn some new manners! I'm discovering lots of things I like about it; and at the same time things I really like about my Wall Street! Battery time, heat and damage control.
Fred looks at the new OQO, a PowerBook that is only 5-inches wide with a 1GHz processor, a 20GB hard drive!
Where there's smoke, there's fire -- and a recent thread in the AUGD discussion list prompted This Old Mouse to remember a once-upon-a-time smoking Mac IIcs -- and to share some sage advice about fire extinguishers and Computer Fire
Until next time, happy mousing.
Fred Showker, Editor/Publisher UG Net News
Fred Showker is co-editor of "MUG Info Manager" and the User Group Network News service, and a founding Apple User Group Advisory Board (UGAB) member. He was an original founder of the User Group Forum on AppleLink Personal Edition, and America Online where he was AFA for eight years. Many MUG (Mac User Group) members know him for his work with the Mug News Service (MNS), National Home & School Mac (NHSM), or his many speaking appearances at NAUG, NAUGSAW and Macworld Expo and others. Today, he's a familiar name in many user group newsletters around the world for his 60-Second Window, published each month since 1990... read more
This column was started in 2000 to provide short, interesting articles to Macintosh user group newsletter editors, and the Macintosh computer community at large. Each edition focuses on a single aspect of using the computer in a more productive, beneficial way. Some editions will look at ways to help older hardware continue to perform a useful service. Others will focus on software tips and tricks that the end user can put to work right away without expensive purchases or add-ons.
If you have tips, tricks or questions you'd like to add to "This Old Mouse" just send them along. We welcome your questions, problems, tips, tricks and input. Registered Macintosh User Groups are invited to use this column in their newsletters, but please register first, and then let us know, okay!
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