:: TCMUG Newsletter Archive ::

Happy Holidays from all of us at the TCMUG!

Vol 3 Iss 10 December 2004
*December Meeting
*Web Site Links of Interest
*Shareware Features - Synchronize! Pro X
*The MUG Center Store - Aggressive New Prices
*Tip of the Month - FireWire Target Disk Mode
*OS X Tip of the Month - Keychain's Hidden Powers
*Mac Software Spotlight - Nisus Writer Express
*Holiday Treats
*TCMUG Membership Structure for 2005

========== DECEMBER MEETING ==========
There is no meeting scheduled for December so we can enjoy the holiday season and avoid any scheduling conflicts. We hope that you have a safe and happy holiday season. See you in January.
*** Holiday Links For Your Enjoyment
Christmas.com - http://www.christmas.com/
Holidays on the Net - http://www.holidays.net/christmas/
How Christmas Works - http://www.howstuffworks.com/christmas.htm
Merry - Christmas.com - http://www.merry-christmas.com/
Santa Claus and Christmas at the North Pole - http://www.northpole.com/
*** Get ready for the holidays with a new desktop from MacDesktops
Santa
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=1954&res=TRUE
Ho Ho Ho
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=2598&res=TRUE
Happy Holidays
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=1958&res=TRUE
Snowman
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=1959&res=TRUE
Merry X MacOS
http://www.macdesktops.com/index.phtml?Picture=1163&res=TRUE

The holidays are a time for great joy for some, and a time of stress and frustration for others. None of us should be denied the joys of the holiday season and so we have the following seven suggestions to help you "bust" the holiday stresses and enjoy this time more. Visit Dr. Wetmore's web site for more details at:
http://www.balancetime.com/freearticles.htm#busters

========== WEB SITE LINKS OF INTEREST ==========
Macworld ’s 20th Anniversary Mac Quiz - Test Your Knowledge with 20 Tough Questions By Macworld Staff. A lot can happen in two decades. To celebrate the end of 2004—the 20th-anniversary year of the Mac—we tapped Owen W. Linzmayer, the author of Apple Confidential 2.0: The Definitive History of the World’s Most Colorful Company (No Starch Press, 2004), to stump you with 20 tricky trivia questions. So get your pencils ready and keep your eyes on your own work. Our 20th anniversary quiz starts now.
http://www.macworld.com/2004/11/news/20yearquiz/index.php
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Backing up your music files in iTunes 4 - Learn how to back up songs that are in your iTunes library. Be sure to make regular backups of your music files (in your iTunes Music folder) by copying them to an external hard disk or other media. Otherwise, if your hard disk becomes damaged or you lose any of the music you've purchased, you'll have to buy any purchased music again to rebuild your library. http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93033
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Do you use Apple's Keynote software for your presentations? Better check out Keynote User at http://www.keynoteuser.com for Keynote themes (both free and pro paid versions), news, resources, downloads, tips & tutorials, links and a blog.
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A PC user's month with a Mac. Anand Lal Shimpi over at Anandtech has probably the longest and most detailed look I've seen of a PC user's time with Mac OS X and Apple hardware. Shimpi sums it up like this: "OS X is quite possibly one of the best operating systems of its time and in many ways, is the best for what it does, and Apple's hardware leaves very little to be desired." But don't just accept my word for it. The review is 17 pages long, but well worth the time. http://www.anandtech.com/mac/showdoc.aspx?i=2232&p=1
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Panic has announced, after much deliberation, to "retire" their once-popular Mac MP3 player/encoder; Audion. The good news is that, instead of pulling Audion from the market entirely, they've decided to make Audion 100% free of charge -- it can still be downloaded freely and can be registered freely. You really should read their " History of Audion " at http://www.panic.com/extras/audionstory/ and it's unique tie-ins with both SoundJam and Apple's iTunes ... Download it for free at http://www.panic.com/audion/download.html and then go to http://www.panic.com/audion/buy.html to get the free Serial Number.

========== SHAREWARE FEATURES ==========
MacFixIt Toolbox Awards: 2002 "Creating bootable backups of Mac OS X can be accomplished with a number of utilities, but none do it as succinctly, or simply as Synchronize! Pro X."
Synchronize! Pro X is a professional-strength file synchronization and backup utility for Mac OS X. As a way of introducing you to Synchronize! Pro X, use it free for 7 days . Just click the link to get an eval serial number, download Synchronize! Pro X and try it out.
http://www.qdea.com/demo/demo-sprox.html
Unlimited use of all features after the evaluation period requires the purchase of the program, which is $99.95, plus shipping if applicable.
Bootable OS X backups - Synchronize! Pro X backs up your OS X startup disk to another hard disk, so that the backup disk is bootable. Make a copy of your system so that you can start up any Macintosh from the backup, or move your current OS X system from one computer to another - even to a different model Macintosh.
Archive old files - Keep old files in an archive, so that you can go back to them if you need to. Archived files can be grouped for convenient burning to CD. As the archive fills up, the oldest files in the archive are automatically removed to make space for newer files.
Quickly update your backup - Subsequent backups copy only the files that have changed, instead of copying all your files over again, so that updating the backup is much faster.
Schedule your backup - Run your backup automatically at a convenient time, when you're not using your computer.
Synchronize! Pro X has many other uses, too. As an example, you can sync your home folder with a file server, or your PowerBook, or a FireWire disk, so that the files on both are up-to-date.
Synchronize! Pro X actions can be scheduled to be performed at night or at any preset time, once or periodically, without anyone present. Passwords can be supplied automatically for file server connections. Visit the web site at http://www.qdea.com/pages/pages-sprox/sprox1bb.html

========== MUG CENTER STORE ==========
Be sure to encourage your members to re-visit the Mug Store.
We offer aggressive new prices on all the latest Macs, and that's in addition to free freight and an exclusive $100 rebate on any installed RAM in selected new Macs. Add in the 1 percent credit back to your group and you have a deal that can't be beat.
Don't forget our huge blowout and specials section, including great deals on Bose speakers, Apple software and more.
December 1 - March 30, 2005 - User ID: / Password: - See the TCMUG members web site
Place your orders at http://www.applemugstore.com

========== TIP OF THE MONTH: FIREWIRE TARGET DISK MODE ==========
How to use FireWire target disk mode - Learn what FireWire target disk mode (TDM) is and how to use it. FireWire target disk mode allows a Macintosh computer with a FireWire port (the target computer) to be used as an external hard disk connected to another computer (the host). Once a target computer is started up as a FireWire hard disk and is available to the host computer, you can copy files to or from that volume.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583

========== OS X TIP OF THE MONTH - KEYCHAIN ==========
Working Mac: The Keychain's Hidden Powers
Passwords, serial numbers, ATM codes -- we're all swimming in a sea of information that's secret (or should be). Make it easy to remember, and someone may swipe it. Make it hard to guess, and you may forget it yourself. Mac OS X has the answer: the Keychain
http://www.macworld.com/2004/10/secrets/workingmac/index.php/?lsrc=mcrss-1104

========== MAC SOFTWARE SPOTLIGHT ==========
Introducing Nisus Writer Express: The all new writing and editing tool that is engineered lean, focused and fast at a price anyone can afford.
The all new, easy to use writing and editing tool that is engineered lean, focused and fast. Written in Cocoa so it blends and grows seamlessly with the Macintosh OS X environment.
Features such as read/write documents in Unicode, RTF, RTFD, plain text format and Microsoft® Word (.doc); a customizable interface; AppleScript and Perl macros; noncontiguous selection; keyboard shortcuts; an exclusive Document Manager; powerful, three-level Find and Replace including Regular Expressions (GREP); multiple editable Clipboards; and slick document window zoom, make Nisus Writer Express the compelling choice for your word processing needs.
http://www.nisus.com/Express/
No bloat, no gimmicks, no animated computers - instead, Nisus Writer Express gives you the tools you want in a clean, open, easy-to-use interface. If you are an existing user of Nisus Writer Express version 1.x then version 2.0 is offered as a free upgrade . If you are new to Nisus Writer Express, download the 30 day trial version and find out why Nisus Writer Express is the compelling choice in OS X word processing!
Regularly $59.95, Nisus Writer Express is available to User Group members for only $49.95. Visit the TCMUG Member web site for the details.

========== HOLIDAY TREATS ===========
With the holidays fast approaching, you probably have at least one person on your list who is either a computer user or a gadget freak. Here's a small collection of ideas and products that, hopefully, can be of some use.
FLOTSAM
The first place you should stop at is ThinkGeek ("stuff for smart masses") http://www.thinkgeek.com/. There's everything from T-shirts to "cube gadgets." Stuff for both Mac and PC users.
Visit cafépress.com at http://www.cafepress.com/geekcultstore/294081 as they have an area called "Mac Stuff!" full of posters and all sorts of Mac merchandise.
Another great area to start at is Amazon.com. What don't they have??
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/theworlofkapn
BOOKS
Don't forget to include books on you list of gift suggestions. O'Reilly books, known for the animals on their covers, occupy a treasured place on the shelves of the developers building the next generation of software. They have a page set up with gift suggestions at http://press.oreilly.com/pub/pr/1248.
Don't forget to use your TCMUG member discount at O'Reilly.
Another great cache can be found at Peachpit Press http://www.peachpit.com. The site has an amazing selection from "Creating Resumes, Letters, Business Cards, and Flyers in Word: Visual QuickProject Guide" to "Making a Movie with Windows XP: Visual QuickProject Guide" to "The Macintosh iLife 04 in the Classroom." There's also a lot of promotions on their site, so if you take the time to poke around, you can quite possibly save some money to boot.
Don't forget to use your TCMUG member discount at Peachpit.
SOFTWARE
The Apple Store is a good place to begin. If you or a spouse or sibling are in school, you may qualify for an Education Discount. For example, iLife 04 costs $49.95. But factor in the discount and it costs $29.95. That's a savings of 40%! Visit the Apple store at http://tinyurl.com/6gewz
Check specific software sites to look for any special rebates they may be offering. CompUSA usually is pretty good for occasional discounts if you catch them at the right time. Also, check the back of Macworld for stores that specialize in software discounts and OEMs.
HARDWARE
No gift keeps on giving like the gift of RAM. Crucial http://www.crucial.comhas a fool-proof method of choosing the correct RAM so long as you know the computer's manufacturer and model name. One of the most reputable companies in its field, they also sell video cards.
Another great site is ZipZoomFly http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp. An endless selection of hardware parts for both Mac and PC to fulfill any geek's holiday wishes.
ACCESSORIES
Most likely, you know someone with an iPod. And there is no end to the accessories available. Belkin http://www.belkin.com/index.asp and Griffin http://www.griffintechnology.com/pretty much will cover your iPod add-on choices. Plus many other hardware needs that you might need to fill.
MISCELLANEOUS
Want an easy way out? iTunes gift certificates. They can be used with a free, downloaded copy of iTunes on either a PC or Mac. http://www.apple.com/itunesor go right to the iTunes Music Store now at http://tinyurl.com/5mnw4

========== TCMUG MEMBERSHIP FOR 2005 ==========
We are starting to plan for 2005!! We are working very hard to make it another exciting year for all local Mac users. We have a small dues structure for 2004. Membership in the TCMUG will cost $20.00 annually for a regular membership and will include a monthly newsletter, a special "members only" section of the web site, online forums access, monthly meetings, discounts on software, hardware and books and much, much more! You can visit our web site to get all of the features and benefits at http://www.tcmug.org/aboutus.html
We are offering three membership levels for 2005. There will be a regular membership at $20 per year and we will have student membership (K-12 & College) at $15 per year and a senior citizen (60+ years old) at $15 per year. All levels of membership will enjoy the benefits of belonging to the TCMUG.
Please contact any of the officers if you would have any questions regarding membership and the associated dues. http://www.tcmug.org/contactus.html
We have an online membership form that you are able to download. You can download the form at: http://www.tcmug.org/tcmug_memberapp.pdf

========== SUBMITTING INFORMATION ==========
Have a software tidbit to share, a Mac related web site to suggest or a news piece to submit? Email me with all the information at kwarrene@mac.com
To unsubscribe from this newsletter: Reply to this email with the subject line of REMOVE.
Forward this message to all of your family, friends and associates so that they can join the TCMUG and receive the monthly newsletter. Get all of the details at http://www.tcmug.org/aboutus.html
If you have any comments or suggestions please feel free to contact any of the officers at http://www.tcmug.org/contactus.html