TIDBYTES SAGA:

NEW MACINTOSH

I got a new iMac. WOW! It is superb.

Ted's hard drive on his iMac went kapooey. He decided to get a new iMac instead of fix the old one. I helped him pick it out. I got so excited about the specs of the new Macintosh that I ordered one for myself!

It's Screen is 22 1/2", 2 inches larger than my old one. This allows for a perfect 1920 X 1080 pixel, 6 by 9 ratio, HD Screen. It has the new Intel Quad-Core Processor, the i5. Boy, is it fast! Additionally, we each added to the Ram Memory to make them speedy 12GB Systems. It has a 500GB Hard Drive and Radeon's accelerated HD Graphics Card.

It sports a Trackpad instead of a Mouse, allowing many hand gestures. I'm learning quickly the various movements. Together with the small Keyboard, it offers a small footprint, but with a large Screen.

With Lion, the new operating system, OS X10, installed, it's a whizz, and a most enjoyable experience.

I sold my old, fairly new iMac to Lee and Steve, who have gotten my last three Macs! They were so pleased.

APPLE SAGA 6:

iPHONE

The launch of the iPhone took the industry by storm. Up to then no phone had been so beautiful, so comprehensive and so dramatically useful. 

Steve Jobs is quoted as saying, "We like results that make our hearts sing." And the iPhone does just that.

The iPhone brought us the invention of the "app". Now, there are over 700,000 apps available, phenomenally surpassing everyone in the industry. "THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT," is a common phrase. People love their iPhones. 

It's become an international sensation.

The fourth iteration of the phone is called the iPhone 4—a leap in technology, sophistication and delight.

I've enjoyed teaching the iPhone thoroughly to five people and casually to many more. 

Me enjoying teaching the iPhone!

Its usefulness and lore are traveling.

APPLE SAGA 5:

iPad 2 PHOTO BOOTH Tomfoolery

The new iPad has an application called Photo Booth. It's more fun! It has nine panes of different photographic FX one can use for stunning variation. It's a real crowd pleaser.

Steve G.

Don Voth at his most professorial!

Drew N.

Bed Monster

APPLE SAGA 4:

iPad 2

I got it! It's great. So pretty! I immediately downloaded my information onto it. And then played with it.

It's faster, clearer and sleeker than the original iPad.

I took it to our Friday Night Dining Group's outing. Everyone was impressed.

Ron sent this to me captioned, "Happy Don."

BOY, AM I!

Best thing since sliced bread.

Apple's done it again.

Two people confessed that they wanted one, too. Steve also talked in detail about his interest in it, inquiring about 3G vs. wireless, etc.

APPLE SAGA 3:

iPad 2


It just was announced by Steve Jobs. I love my iPad. Wasn't going to get the new one, BUT have gotten excited about it. I found a site that will buy my iPad for half the money I paid! Therefore, it's a done deal!!!

Can't decide whether to get the Wi-Fi only one or the one with Wi-Fi and 3G. The iPhone's going to be able to act as a Hotspot. This would allow the Wi-Fi only iPad to be connected to the phone's 3G if there's no Wi-Fi available. Either way there's an extra charge for the access.


It comes out March 11. And as always, I get my Apple products on the first day! 


What would you think about white with a red cover?

APPLE SAGA 2:

MACINTOSH


I know I said I was going to talk about the iPhone, however I want you to know about the specialness of the Macintosh first.

We all owe homage to the Mac for two special aspects. All computers today would be difficult, unmanageable machines if it were not for two ingenious inventions.

Apple was started by two guys in a garage, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.

Jobs, a brilliant entrepreneur and marketer and Wozniak, a brilliant computer innovator, together began a company that was to change the computer world. The "Apple I" and "Apple II" evolved.

But in 1979, something brilliant was stirring under a skull and cross bones flag. A renegade band of Apple guys began working on an ingenious machine that was to change the living habits of the entire world. And in 1984, the "Macintosh" was born.

The little animated box had many innovations. But two things stand out, the GUI or "gooey" and the handheld input device or mouse. Both leading up to "wysiwyg" or "wissywig". Let me explain.

GUI stands for graphical user interface. Instead of words describing a circle for instance, an actual circle is drawn on the screen. And what is on the screen is what is actually printed out on paper! This seems curiously logical. But in the 80s, it was a revelation—no, a revolution.

And the mouse as an input device, first used on the Mac, has become a natural extension of our own arm.

Together these two innovations allow "wysiwyg"—what you see is what you get. Now the industry standard.

HOMAGE DESERVED INDEED!

APPLE SAGA:

MACINTOSHES

Ever since I got the first 128K Macintosh, I've been in love with Apple products. They are beautifully designed, intuitive and "they just work". 

I shall always remember when my first Macintosh arrived in March of 1984. I had seen the famous Macintosh ad during the Super Bowl and was fascinated. 

click to see: 1984 Macintosh Super Bowl Ad

I eagerly set it up on the dining room table, plugged it in, turned it on and magically the word "h e l l o." wrote itself across the black and white screen. I was hooked. 

The original sits on the shelf above my current 21" iMac desktop.

I've had seven Macintoshes since. Each one an increase in speed, efficiency, design and delightfulness. I want to emphasize this last aspect. Steve Jobs is quoted as saying, "We want our products to delight". And they certainly do. They stand apart from all others in the computer world.

I've become an aficionado and a teacher. I currently have ten people I'm involved with, teaching four intensively. Plus, helping another three casually. I'm a MacAddict, MacTeacher and a MacProselytizer. I've been directly responsible for four conversions over to the Macintosh and I don't know how many indirectly.

I've also had/have four iPods, an iPad and three iPhones. I'm currently intensely enjoying the iPhone 4—utilizing 147 apps!

Next, iPhone!