Snippets from Previous Meetings
Sheryl has a variety of older Macs, including laptops, for sale, and she also displayed a selection of newer software titles.
Some older computers (even those of the 10-year-old Color Classic vintage) are perfectly adequate for word processing, and for applications which don't require much memory.
Contact Sheryl if interested:
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Various questions were posed, and most had solutions suggested for them. Topics included problems downloading Quicktime, formatting floppy disks in MacOS X using Disk Utilities, burning CDs, and using Internet Radio.
APPLEWORKS PAINTING
The MacBasics session for this month was taken by Tony, who gave an introduction to the Painting component of AppleWorks. Some aspects explained were the setting up of a document size, the use of various basic tools (including line, shape, eraser, lasso, spray can, pencil and eye-dropper), and a brief look at the texture (wallpaper) and gradient palettes, and how these could be edited.
MACINTOSH MANUAL
Robin shared one of the manuals he has written to assist new MacUsers with working their computers. Robin has recorded detailed explanations and instructions on how to become familiar with the operating system, and how to use the major components of AppleÕs built-in software.. The manuals are still developing his manuals, and have yet to be indexed them. RobinÕs manuals are applicable to MacOS 8 and ClarisWorks/AppleWorks 5.
ITUNES
Roger explained how he makes use of iTunes to store and play a large selection on music on his iMac. He described the workings of iTunes, and how he is able to add to his Library of songs by importing from CDs (or cassettes if necessary, but not quite as easily) and arrange them into Playlists in the order of his choice, and then burn to CD if desired.
Other features of iTunes which Roger demonstrated were ways of organising playlists, various controls including the equaliser, and also abstract screen patterns (ÔvisualsÕ) which are created in time with the music being played. For MacOS X, iTunes V.3 is now available.
iPOD MP3 MUSIC PLAYER
Sheryl showed us her latest 'gadget': a pocket-sized 20Gb iPod MP3 player which can store several thousand audio tracks ready for portable listening. She described its capabilities and gave us a demonstration of its operation, including its compatibility with iTunes Ð when connected to a computer with a firewire cable, it can download large numbers of music files directly iTunes, and even be set to synchronise its own library with that of iTunes. Its capability is certainly impressive.
REMINDER
Next meeting is on November 29 at 7:30 pm - ALL WELCOME - BRING A FRIEND
Next AMUG Daytime Meeting is on Monday November 25 at 10:30 am, at the home of Neil & Olga Trower, 30 Elloughton Crescent, Timaru. Please phone Barry (03) 688 3612, prior to the meeting.
[Committee Meeting on Mactropolis: Tuesday November 19 at 9:00pm.] Please mark your calendar
Happy MacComputing..... Regards to all....
Tony Climo
Secretary, Aoraki MacIntosh Users Group