Why is Peter Oakley called "The Mac Guy"?
My experience with Macintosh computers goes way back, to when my wife and I bought our first Apple computer -- a Mac Plus with a 9-inch diagonal black & white screen -- in 1986. Hard to believe that little computer with no hard drive was able to boot up the early Mac operating system from a single 400K disk! I began using the Mac almost immediately to do page layout for work, and produced the user manual and all the illustrations for a new graphic arts program called "GraphicWorks" being published by my employer at the time (Mindscape, Inc. in Northbrook Illinois). I did all the drawings using a mouse. The book page layout was done using an early version of "PageMaker", the application that was destined to make the Macintosh computer essential to every in-house graphic design department, ad agency and publisher. Macintosh computers gave birth to "electronic publishing", remaking an entire industry in the process.

I have used Mac computers professionally for nearly all of my working life. And Macs have come a long way since 1986. Today Macintosh computers have extended their strength in the graphic arts and advertising industry to become the first choice in digital non-linear video editing, from independent films to documentary to feature-length motion pictures. Some of the best pro audio editing software is found on the Mac too. And Photoshop, the workhorse of professional digital photography, was for many years a Mac-only application. Apple's "secret sauce" has always been superbly crafted software tightly integrated with robust beautifully-designed computer hardware.

A highly professional level of creative production capabilities were the Mac's forte. It's what has always given Macintosh computers a firm footing in businesses of all kinds, even when cost limited their use to in-house "creative" departments only. Macs have never compromised excellence in order to compete on price with the more general-purpose Windows PCs that became synonymous with business -- for chores like word processing, accounting, spreadsheets, and email communications. But what's really exciting is how the Mac's high-end professional level of creative productivity is being delivered into the hands of mere mortals like you and me.

iLife and iWork
Not only can everyone now edit video of a very high quality or assmble the best looking photo album on the block, but this fantastic software that's trickled down through time from the pro studios comes free on every new Macintosh computer! Two groups of applications run the gamut from creativity to productivity...
iLife: a creativity suite consisting of "iMovie" for video editing, "iPhoto" for everything you can do with your digital photos, "iWeb" for developing and publishing a personal web site, and "GarageBand" for making your own music and podcasts.
iWork: a productivity suite consiting of "Pages" for entry-level page layout and word processing, "Numbers" for advanced spreadsheets and number crunching, and "Keynote" for producing snappy presentations that will make your audience cheer.

Beginning Mac classes, coming this Fall
Wow, all this great software on my Mac, but how does anyone possibly learn how to use it all? The answer: A little at a time. I'm developing a series of evening classes to focus on specific applications especially tailored for new Macintosh users. These will be hands-on if you bring your own laptop; otherwise bring a notepad and be prepared to learn. I want to put you on the fast track to power user! Watch this space for schedules and class registration.

To be sure you don't miss class start-up in the Fall, sign up now for our "Mac Tips" newsletter and you'll get first word when classes begin appearing. Got friends with Macs? Let them know too, and you can take a class together.

Boost your skills on Macintosh with coaching from a master. Peter Oakley is developing a few hands-on classes for the Fall. Sign up for our "Mac Tips" newsletter to get early notification, or call for more details.

Phone:    5 7 4 - 7 0 7 - 0 1 9 4