AAUG Reviews

by Chuck Maas, AAUG Member

Let’s put the caveats up front. I’ve never been particularly enthused with “Dummies” books. Sure, they do their best to lay out complex subjects in simple terms with a humorous, engaging style, but the effort to entertain always seemed like a waste of time to me. Frankly, my personal learning style has been more serious. After all, I’ve mastered some of the heaviest-duty, most-complex machinery on the planet in my time, and always done so with dead-serious, focused intent; so why would I need to be entertained to learn something new…like a Mac computer?

So I cracked open “Macs for Dummies.” Sure, there was the typical “Dummies” layout, and quite a few early “humorous” comments and obsequious references to Mac as a lifestyle, joining the cool crowd, etc., etc., but I also began to see a pattern of pretty good information about how to run these elegant machines and on computing in general and the whole global constellation of electronic media and information. Seems I could learn something from this after all.

I’ve been around computing devices (particularly in aviation) since the late 1960s, and joined the personal computing era pretty early with an original IBM PC. But never a Mac. Furthermore, computers to me were always tools - a means to get a job done - as opposed to objects of desire or gadgets to entertain (though I admit to a few rounds of early games, and of a top Solitaire score somewhere north of 11,000). Several years ago I got very serious about digital photography, and of course the software tools multiplied to deal with those rapidly expanding requirements, but still on a PC. (more…)

by Chuck Maas, AAUG Member

Bags come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, styles, colors, purposes, weights, and construction qualities…all dependent on what you want to put in them and how you want them to look. Form and function, you know. Finding the perfect combination to house and protect your gear can be a real challenge.

Take laptop computers for example. If it were just a relatively slim piece of hardware not much larger than a thick legal pad, that would be pretty simple. But the laptop is kind of fragile, so it needs some protection. And to use it for any length of time you need the power brick and some cables. Then there are the other gadgets like your phone, iPod, etc. - you know how it goes. So the right bag to hold all that stuff and make it accessible too can be a tough choice.

The bag in this instance is a Ruckus Laptop Messenger Bag, by Pacific Design. It’s meant to hold up to a 15.4″ widescreen laptop (fits my 15″ MacBook Pro like a champ), and a modest set of gear and accessories. One of the nice touches is a number of little pouches and sleeves to separate and protect small or fragile items and make finding stuff both inside and outside the bag easier. There’s good padding without going overboard (nice to keep it light, right?), and a heavy dose of color and style. This one is olive, black and yellow - a combo I really like, but wouldn’t call “unobtrusive.” If your aim is to blend in, look for something a little less flashy.

I think this bag’s a winner. It’s not too often you get both form and function in one package, but in this case there’s adequate protection against bumps, well-designed storage compartments for small things, easy access to all the necessary items, and a stylish flair that will make you smile. I know I’m going to enjoy using it.

by Bob Thomas, AAUG Member

This is an external firewire sound card enclosed in a small white compact case, which provides Surround Sound, Dolby Digital processors supporting up to five channels and a subwoofer. It comes with software CD and a firewire cable, which draws its power from your computer. While I do not own a 5.1 surround sound set of speakers I did connect it to my JBL Creature II speakers into my G4 Power PC laptop and was able to enjoy my iTunes songs with a greater degree of pleasure. Watching DVD movies also sounds so much better using the FireWave.

The device did not initially work, however after contacting the Griffin help desk (no 1-800 number) I was able to obtain the help needed to get the device working. Support for the FirwWave is located on Griffin’s home page under Hardware (RocketFM).

Listening to surround sound while on my G4 Power Pc is a real treat. You just do not realize the quality of sound that the FireWire helps produce through your external speakers. I’m going to be acquiring a 5.1 set of speakers in the near future, as I know that the full capability of the FireWave will shine forth.

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by Gary Miller, AAUG Member

For those of you who miss your favorite radio programs, why not take the stress away with the new and improved RadioShark 2 by Griffin Technology that records for you, just like your Tivo or Video recorder, and it works for Macs or PC’s.

I find i have too many radio shows to listen to in real time, so I looked for a device to let me record while I was away, transfer them to iTunes, and then to my iPod automatically, and yes, it’s easy to use. With the package is a fin like antennae, thus the name RadioShark, that plugs into your USB input of your computer, a CD of software to install on your computer with instructions and a booklet too. Griffin is known to have staff that write manuals in simple and clear English, YEA. And if you have to call their Tech Support, and patient, straight talking in simple English, so you get your questions answered and product working.

So now you’ve got the software installed. I like to put an alias of the RadioShark software into my Doc, so i can quickly launch/record or see when it’s recording. The fin can go from blue in the interior space to become red when it’s recording too. So when i walk into the room, I know it’s recording. You can listen while it’s recording, and it asks if you want to mute it or not. helpful! So after launching RadioShark, you’ll see a radiolike dial, that has volume, stations to tune in, and allows you to have stations set, like your car, favorite ones. (more…)

by Gary Miller, AAUG Member

When one buys a new MacBook portable, it seemed right to get a new case for it. Knowing that we’re getting a bit older, like to carry more files and stuff with us, and airlines are pickier about carry ons, we decided to try out a wheeled computer case with telescopic handle.

Fellowes makes a great variety of computer products, and this new Wheeled Computer Case, # CRC 58442, is a good example of light weight, leather like look in black, with a hideaway telescopic handle. And it comes with a strap for those times when I didn’t want to use the handle, perfect.

When you go inside the case, you’ll find padded compartment for up to a 15″ computer that is held tight with a velcro strap coming from top to meet a similar one at the bottom, then a sideways one is there too, and there’s room left over to tuck in a newspaper, files, or your charger, headphones, etc. The telescopic handle pulls up effortlessly, and goes down the same way. I wish I had been able to make it go another 6″ since I’m 6′ tall, it got my back a bit tired when using it all day. And it would have been nice to have it lock in certain heights. The compartments were plentiful. Pockets with a mesh were included, but no sealing or locking mechanism, so things could and did fall out. Also getting down into the compartments meant unzipping all the way, since the case is narrow. I would have liked easier access, and the mesh pouches a bit roomier. (more…)

by Randy Brandon, AAUG Member

The new Mask Pro 4 from onOne software is basically a masking, and selection plug-in program destined for usage in Adobe Photoshop or similar programs.

What it does is to basically assist the user in creating and making selections on objects in images.

What it does not do is to serve as an editor for images. That is the function of Photoshop.
But it greatly enhances the capabilities in Photoshop to make much more accurate selections, and masks than Photoshop’s built in commands.

Upon first opening this latest version of Mask Pro 4, the user is presented with a nice splash screen with menu options of various functions that the user can go to directly. This menu gives the user options to : Getting started, What’s new, Masking Hair & transparent objects, View all tutorials, and finally ; Start using Mask Pro, which takes you directly to the program.

The original install disk also installs some great little training videos which the user can access from this opening menu.

There is also a Tutorial & Tool Tips palette that is available from the Window pulldown, that will provide the user with a running menu on tool tips, and usage. I found this menu handy to have on the desktop to constantly remind me of special time saving tips, and hints.

I initially found most of the controls very similar to previous versions of Mask Pro, and for that I must offer up thanks to the folks at onOne Software for not dumping an entire new learning curve into my schedule. (more…)

by Carlene Brown, AAUG Member

I first looked at Parliant’s PhoneValet Message Center a little over a year ago and have been using PhoneValet on my Mac and recommending it to others every since then. I have found the software to be reliable and an excellent performer. Install it on your Mac, set your preferences and you are ready to go. Phone Valet is a 24/7 answering service and works as a personal valet who is always on the job.

With all the new features PhoneValet version 5.02 is a great asset for both home and small business users.

Phone Valet will place outbound calls, even by voice command; route incoming calls; record messages; and, I love this, send you an email that includes the actual message left by the caller.

PhoneValet has added call trees which help guide callers to the right person or department. Selecting an option on a menu can take the caller to a new menu, making it easy to create a whole tree of options and choices.

One of my favorite new features is PhoneValet’s advanced Address Book integration. You no longer need to transfer phone numbers from your address book to the PhoneValet Phonebook. PhoneValet looks up callers in Apple’s Address Book for customized announcements, call logging, dialing, and voice dialing. The PhoneValet Phonebook still remains accessible and is recommended when there are multiple users of the computer. (more…)

by Robert King, AAUG Member

This is a nice, compact unit that works great. It is an upscale surge protector (rated up to 3300 Joules of protection, with a 15 amp Circuit Breaker) that not only protects your regular electrical plug-ins, but also your phone/DSL line, plus coax and Ethernet. It has child-resistant safety covers that turn at an angle to cover all 10 electric plug-ins when not in use. It also has two lights to tell you that your electronics are shielded from power surges and that each outlet is properly grounded for optimal surge protection. A lot went into designing this product for the customer, including having the unit’s plug-in off its 10-foot cord set at a right angle so that it fits into the electric outlet flush against the wall. That can be handy in tight places. The Fellowes Company is so confident that its unit won’t malfunction that it offers a warranty to repair or replace connected equipment damaged by a power surge, up to a maximum of $150,000, provided the terms and conditions of the warranty were met. In all, this is a great unit and well worth the money.

by Wayne Watson, AAUG Member

For quite some time I have wanted to purchase a hard drive cleaning tool for my iMac similar to my disk doctor I had on an older Mac. This performance suite of three software programs is what I was waiting for. The suite combines three great software programs that I can’t help but feel will prolong the hard drive in my iMac. These three programs loaded easily on my computer and provided easy to understand prompts that walked me through the diagnostics with ease similar to what I experience when running MacInTax. I am running Mac OS 10.4.8.

This performance suite is a bundle of the three most popular and powerful tools to clean up and enhance my Mac: Spring Cleaning 8, TechTool Platinum, and Retrospect Express. The Spring Cleaning program helps get rid of unnecessary and redundant files. The Tech Tool Platinum is a diagnostic and repair tool. The last program, Retrospect Express, provides a great backup system.

Spring Cleaning searches the hard drive looking for duplicate files, old cache files, and other extraneous files that accumulate over time. Spring Cleaning then offers a list of options for dealing with what it finds. The program has 25 different modules, from Access Monitor (searches for files by last-accessed date) to Widget Finder (locates lost widgets) to Music Finder (locate all your music files and import them into iTunes). After I used the program, I regained 360 megabytes of hard drive space. (more…)

by Steven Aufrecht, AAUG Member

My basic reaction with this product was frustration. I’m not a techie, but I’m not stupid either. I can and do read instructions and Help and figure out what to do. With Internet Cleanup nothing seemed intuitive. I’d look for the expected button – say the close button in a window – and it wasn’t there. The box says this product does things that are important for protecting my privacy, and I believe it, but I was constantly frustrated trying to figure out how to do it in a way that made me comfortable.

I’ve used Norton Utilities, for example, on a PC. The steps to take were pretty clear. Lists were generated, it was easy to review what it found and keep things you wanted to keep. Am I being unreasonable here? Did I give up too soon? Maybe. But I think that many of the things Internet Cleanup can do, can be done through the built in programs on a Mac – such as clearing out cookies and erasing histories. I know how to do those things. I suspect the other things can be done through other means already available too. So techies already know how to do these things without this program. That leaves the non-techies as the main potential market for this product. For us, the information on what the product does and why it’s important should be stated clearly. Not just that it does it. The steps to make it happen should be similar enough to other software that we don’t have to spend extra time figuring out a new way to make things happen. (more…)