Vista Refugee

Mac Parental Controls

2010-08-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

Kids are starting a new school year.

Towards the end of last year, their computer usage got a bit out of hand.

Yesterday, I spent a chunk of the day setting up individual accounts for them ... with VERY limited Internet access via the Mac's parental controls.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Cheers!

Using 2 XLR microphones with Garageband '09

2010-08-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

I just wasted a bunch of time trying to figure out how to get two XLR microphones recording in Garageband 09. If you're stuck on the same problem, here's how:

1. Set up two tracks.
2. Click the "record" button on each track (see the two red buttons?)

That's it!

That's all you need to do! :-D

Google Calendars on iPhone

2009-08-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

Hi, all! It's been awhile ... I've been super busy.

My verizon cellphone contract expired this month. I hate AT & T ... have had horrible service in the past ... but the iphone was just what I needed for an all-in-one device. So I took the plunge and got the iphone 3GS.

I had a bit of trouble figuring out how to sync my google calendars to my iphone. Like many people, I've got multiple calendars (home, work, business, etc.).

It took me a few hours of headaches, but here's what I finally figured out:

First do this:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=138740

Then do this:
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=139206

Pretty simple (once I figured it out!)

Hope this helps save someone some time.

Cheers,

Tim

iTouch ... Utouch ...

2009-06-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

My wife had a pretty crazy year teaching first graders, so my kids and I decided to get her an ipod iTouch as a "Hooray-you've-survived-another-year-teaching-first-graders!" gift.

I started setting up the iTouch several days ago ... and my kids fell in love with it. (It IS a pretty awesome machine!). I set up an iTunes account for her, and connected the iTouch to her email account and downloaded a few basic apps for her (she LOVES Tetris!)

We gave it to my wife today ... let's see how she likes it.

Laptops for Mothers ... (and AppleCare)

2009-06-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hi, all!

My mom's Windows computer recently gave up the ghost (it was pretty old), so my siblings and I pitched in for a new Macbook laptop. I bought the AppleCare Protection Plan extended warranty when I purchased the Macbook through Apple's website.

I couldn't tell whether or not the AppleCare was in place. After some searching on the web, I found that AppleCare is launched when you buy the computer.

To determine whether your AppleCare is still in place, simply go to

https://selfsolve.apple.com/GetWarranty.do

and enter in your computer's serial number. (If you don't know how to find your computer's serial number, go here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1349?viewlocale=en_US

Enjoy!

Building an Isolation Booth for Voice Overs

2009-03-26T19:38:00.001-07:00

Here's an interesting discussion on building isolation booths in your home for voice/overs:

http://www.mvnation.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=12863&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Scroll down to "Whisper Rooms??"

Or build something freestanding, like these:

http://www.integrityenterprisesus.com/acoustic/products.php

A cool DIY version is here:

http://www.soundproofing.org/infopages/portable_sound_control_room.htm

... or, going smaller, this is a brilliant portable design:

http://digitalprosound.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=89503

... which sells here:

http://www.harlanhogan.com/store.shtml

Cheers!

Blog Feature ...

2009-03-18T04:27:00.001-07:00

I've been featured on the "Query Queen" blog ....

http://askwendy.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/10-questions-fortimothy-warneka-black-beltleadership-author/

Film Effect in Final Cut Pro

2009-03-12T14:55:00.000-07:00

I found an interesting way to create a film-like effect with the Canon HG10 camcorder.

It's pretty easy, too. Essentially what you're doing is doubling the video track and then blending the two tracks together.

I took this video when I was playing with the depth-of-field in my camcorder:

Happy Valentines Day 2009, Vimeo! from Tim Warneka on Vimeo.

and followed this simple process:

... and you get this cool look in your video:

Overlay Process in FCP for Creating a 'Film Effect' from Tim Warneka on Vimeo.

Pretty sweet! With this simple process, I think the video looks fuller and has more depth. :-)

Also, I've found that doubling the audio track makes for a fuller sound. (I haven't figured out if there's a way to blend/mix the two audio tracks. Stay tuned.)

Screws on the bottom of a camcorder ...

2009-02-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

Hi all!

If you ever need to know the size of the bolt that attaches a camcorder like the Canon HG10 onto a tripod, the answer is:

usually 1/4"-20.

And sometimes 3/8"-16.

I just got a new tripod and needed a new quick release plate. It took me awhile to find this information, so I thought I'd pass it on to you!

Cheers,

Tim

We're Not Alone ...

2009-01-26T20:13:00.000-08:00

Apparently, Windows Vista is taking some heat for the financial failures of Microsoft.

From the article:

"In Microsoft's public speeches and press releases, CEO Steve Ballmer has portrayed Windows Vista as nothing short of a wild success, an operating system that has sold millions of copies to adoring fans worldwide.

Alas, reality has finally come into sobering focus: Microsoft's recent earnings report show not just a $900 million revenue shortfall vs. earlier projections, but a serious weakness in one critical part of its business: "Software client revenue" (aka Windows Vista and remnant sales of XP), where sales are down 8 percent vs. last year."

Vista ... I know I dislike it.

Using Markers in Final Cut Pro

2009-01-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

Great article by Kevin McAuliffe here on using markers in Final Cut Pro.

Thanks, Kevin! :-)

Editing Audio in Final Cut Pro

2009-01-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

I'm still on the (very) steep learning curve for Final Cut Pro. Just scratching the surface, really. It's a fascinating journey.

The past week I've been interested in audio. I've played a bit with Soundtrack Pro, but a lot of forum report some serious bugs. I haven't completely written off Soundtrack Pro, but for now, I'm seeing what I can learn about editing audio within Final Cut Pro.

Here are two excellent articles I've found by Jon Chappell on Ken Stone's very-helpful website.

Here's Part I.

Here's Part II.

Enjoy!

Here's how to White Balance & Brighten Clips in FCP

2009-01-14T15:01:00.000-08:00

I've been editing some video footage, and I just found this most helpful clip on how to white balance and brighten clips in Final Cut Pro:

If the video doesn't load for some reason, then click here.

The Power of Men ... 2009

2009-01-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

It’s 2009 … and men have it tough.

Throughout Lake County and Cuyahoga County, around Northeast Ohio and across the country, many men are faced with increased stress, strain and struggles.

What can be done about it?

I’m honored to announce that I will be conducting a men’s workshop entitled, “The Power of Men,” with Dr. Phil Belzunce, Ph.D., N.D. at the world-famous Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.

Here’s the description of the workshop:

The Power of Men: Masculinity, Contact and Gestalt

Join a group of men in exploring how Gestalt principles inform our work. You'll investigate the power of embodied presence; effective integral strategies to use when working with men; the value of being relational in a culture that defines men in isolation; and issues of shame & belonging. We will improve our skills in working with other men, as we become more powerful men in deep contact with the world around us. Incorporating Gestalt methodology with inner work, outer connection, body process, engaged dialogue and lecture, this workshop is perfect for therapists, coaches, managers, supervisors, organizational leaders, and any man interested in exploring the power of men.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify three (3) strategies for working more successfully with men in American culture;

• Describe how relational, Gestalt-based, methodological interventions can decrease conflict while enhancing men's performance and health;

• Articulate the importance of understanding patterns of shame and belonging when leading men in therapy, coaching and/or in the workplace.

The cost for this weekend workshop is $125, and CEU’s are available.

I invite you to join Phil and I as we explore “The Power of Men” with men from around Northeast Ohio and the country.

Here’s a workshop flyer you can download.

Here’s a link to the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.

More Sounds

2008-12-31T14:08:00.000-08:00

I just found another useful royalty free sounds website ... Partners in Rhyme. They've got some useful sound clips for free, as well.

Color Correction in Final Cut Pro

2008-12-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to play around with the power of color correction in Final Cut Pro. Even doing some white balancing in post-production seems to be helpful.

Here's an awesome video about color correction. The guy sounds like he's holding a pencil in his mouth at some points in the video. But he knows his stuff, so it's worth watching:

Even More Macs!

2008-12-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

I recently reported that my brother Patrick Warneka, a professional photographer based out of Chicago, IL, had recently switched over to apple computers with his purchase of an iMac.

Patrick must really like it, 'cause a few days ago he bought a Macbook Pro Laptop.

Patrick's experience is not unique. It happened to him. It happened to me. And it's happened to many others I've spoken to.

Creative people seem to prefer Macs.

Sound Loops from the BBC

2008-12-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

The BBC offers audio loops here.

Great place for Apple Loops

2008-12-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

Loops are basically snippets of musical sound (or sounds in general) that you can use in music any way you want.

For example, early in the song I created in GarageBand, I've got the sound of a loon. That was a nature loop that I had in GarageBand.

A great place for Apple loops is BeatHive.

Resources for GarageBand ...

2008-12-08T13:03:00.001-08:00

Just found GarageDoor, a very cool website with lots of links to all things GarageBand.

Check it out!

Apple's GarageBand

2008-12-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

My workload has slowed down a bit for the end of the year, so I finally got a chance to sit down and play with Apple's GarageBand a bit. (Yes, it's spelled "GarageBand," one word, two capitals.)

GarageBand is Apple's software program that allows the user to create and record music. GarageBand is best, I've found, when paired with some type of MIDI compatible keyboard. The keyboard makes playing the music easier.

I use the M-Audio AXIOM 25 Advanced 25-Key Semi-Weighted USB MIDI Controller 9900-51411-10 keyboard ....

GarageBand is also capable of accepting input from a musical instrument, such as an electric guitar. To the extent that I play music, guitar is my main instrument. I didn't hook up my guitar for this piece, but I will definitely be doing so soon.

(NOTE: If you want to play your electric guitar in GarageBand (or if you want to use a better microphone then the one included in your Apple computer), then you'll need some type of interface. I use (and recommend) the Apogee Duet FireWire Interface)

Here's a song I made:

I don't consider myself to be very musically talented, but GarageBand makes it easy to compose music. Many professional musicians use this program to record their musical ideas.

GarageBand is a very powerful piece of software for the non-professional musician. Best of all, GarageBand is part of Apple's iLife suite of software, which is included free of charge with every Apple computer. (How awesome is that?!?)

If you're interested in creating music on the Mac, I highly recommend GarageBand.

Fun stuff! :-)

Making Movies? Two Great Sites for Sound and Music

2008-12-05T10:57:00.001-08:00

If you're making video and you need some sound effects, here's a great site I found called Freesound:

http://www.freesound.org/index.php

Interested in music and re-mixing music?

ccMixter:

http://ccmixter.org/view/media/home

uses the Creative Commons licensing for non-commercial use.

Some very cool sounds here!

Another Vista Refugee! :-)

2008-10-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

My brother Patrick Warneka was down to visit me recently. (He's an awesome photographer, so be sure to check out his site!) We've been talking about my mac experience for some time now, and now he got to see it in person.

He just told me that he went out and bought an iMac.

I'll be curious to hear what he thinks.

Computer Display Arm

2008-10-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Ergotron LX Desk Mount Arm - mounting kit ( 45-179-195 )

I recently bought the Apple 23" monitor for my Mac Pro. I also bought this ergonomic arm to go with it. It's the

Ergotron LX Desk Mount Arm - mounting kit ( 45-179-195 )

This thing is COOL!

You can adjust the arm to view the screen at a variety of angles. I'm a body-oriented psychotherapist and leadership coach, so I'm really aware of my body. Most computer set-up can be pretty brutal on the human body.

With this thing, you can move the screen to exactly where you need it. It's also great for showing information to clients and others.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you buy this arm for an Apple Cinema Display, you'll also need to get the VESA Mount Adaptor Kit from Apple. It's basically just a piece of metal, but you'll need it for most mounting arms, including this one. (And yes, you do have to buy it, or the arm won't work! ;-)

I had a bit of trouble getting the Adaptor on, so I made a video to help others out:

Even with having to buy this extra piece, this unit is very much worth the money.

I'd highly recommend it.

GREAT Book on OS X (Leopard) for the Mac Newbie

2008-09-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it ... I'm a computer geek.

When I get a new computer or piece of software, I usually read as many books about it as I can get my hands on (... and believe me, Final Cut Pro is keeping me WAY busy reading! ;-).

I've been reading various books on Mac's Leopard operating system (a.k.a, OS X), which is the operating system (like Windows for PC folks reading this) that all apple computers run on. So whether you have a Mac Pro, iMac, Macbook or Macbook Pro laptop, you'll need to understand how to use Leopard.

(Don't worry ... Leopard is pretty easy to use. You'll want the book to help you figure out all the cool things your computer can do. After all, that's the reason you bought a mac, right?)

If you've recently made the switch to Mac, I would HIGHLY recommend Scott Kelby's "The Mac OS X Leopard Book: How to do the things you want to do on your Mac."

Easy to read and accessible, Mr. Kelby's book is by far the best book I've read for a Mac newcomer.

Highly recommended.

Catholic Servant Leadership Motivational Keynote Speech Video

2008-09-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

Here's a video I made about my motivational speaking on Catholic Servant Leadership:

Catholic Servant Leadership from Tim Warneka on Vimeo.

What WERE you thinking, guys?!?

2008-09-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

This video, a new ad promoting Windows, features Seinfeld and Gates, is rather embarassing:

Seinfeld reportedly got paid $10 million. No word whether Gates donated his earnings or not.

I found the ad embarassing and rather painful to watch.

Using Macs to Create Ads ... for Windows

2008-09-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

In a somewhat embarassing moment, it appears that the Windows folks who were hired to create new ads were actually using Macs to create these same ads.

Read more here.

Macs DO seem to work better.

Hmmmm.....

Staying with the Mac

2008-08-25T09:27:00.001-07:00

here's a video I took for my kids' first day of school ... edited on the mac pro.

First Day of School 2008 from Tim Warneka on Vimeo.

Final Cut Pro

2008-07-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

After playing with iMovies for a brief time, I quickly discovered that I was going to need a more powerful program for my puposes. I purchased Final Cut Pro, Apple's professional video production studio.

I've been using it for about 6 weeks now. While the learning curve has been (and will be for some time), quite steep ... this is a VERY powerful program, I'm finding that I very much enjoy working with Final Cut Pro. I have been using Adobe Premiere for a brief time before switching to Apple, and I find that Final Cut is more user friendly than Premiere.

I'm currently working on a demo keynote speaking video for Catholic Servant Leadership ... I'll post the video as soon as it is complete.

Stay tuned.

New iPhone stumbles

2008-07-12T04:49:00.001-07:00

I was carefully watching the launch of the new iPhone. Despite my concern with returning to AT&T (horrific customer service chased me away years ago), the new features on the iPhone looked very appealing.

Apple was clearly making a significant investment in marketing the new iPhone, and the media ... given the summer doldrums ... hooked onto the news hungrily.

Surely, I thought, Apple saw the huge demand coming and was fully prepared for it.

At the last moment, I decided to delay my purchase, concerned about a feeding frenzy at the store.

Apparently, that's exactly what happened. Customer demand was huge, and Apple got caught with it proverbial pants down.

Amazing. Either (1) Apple couldn't see this surge coming; or (2) Apple COULD see the surge coming, and decided not to upgrade/increase the amount of servers they had available.

Either way ... very concerning.

Basic Differences between Mac and PC

2008-07-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

Wall Street Journalist Walt Mossberg has written a helpful column about the basic differences between the Mac and PC OS (Operating Systems).

A good reference for people starting out. I especially appreciated his discussion of "right clicking." That's the biggest erroneous complaint I hear when people talk to me about owning a Mac.

"But it can't right click."

Rest assured, Macs are quite capable of right clicking. On my Mac Pro I have a standard two button mouse. On my Macbook, I like using the touch pad (and loathe thinking about carrying around one more piece of equipment when I travel, even something as diminutive as a mouse.) I use the ctrl button on the my laptop. Works fine.

Learning the Basics of iMovie

2008-06-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

I promised more, so ...

Here's a video that I created for my photographer brother Patrick Warneka. I used iMovie on my Macbook laptop. I did this entire project on the airplaine flying back to Cleveland from Los Angeles, which should give some sense of the ease of use.

Enjoy!

Patrick's Photo Shoot from Tim Warneka on Vimeo.

Update ...

2008-06-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Hi ... haven't had a chance to blog in awhile, but wanted to give folks a brief update.

I've been so impressed with my Macbook laptop that I decided to leap into the world of Macs even deeper by purchasing a Mac Pro in order to create audio and video products for my business.

I've been busy setting up a digital audio/video workstation around the Mac Pro.

In general, I'm finding Apple computers to be easier and faster to use that their Vista-laden PC counterparts. And as every entrepreneur like myself will tell you: "Time is money." I've recommended Macbooks to a number of colleagues who went and purchased them and are quite happy with them.

In the near future, I'll tell you what I'm using.

Cross Country Macbooks

2008-04-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

Reporting in from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This is my first cross-country trip with the Macbook, keynote speaking for the California County Information Services Directors Association (CCISDA) in Long Beach, California.

The macbook has been great ... easy to connect with a variety of internet wireless connections ... light ... compact.

I'm glad I went with the 13" screen for travel. I had debated about buying the 15" macbook pro, but the small size of the macbook makes for far easier travel.

Still Lovin' Macbooks

2008-04-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hi all ...

Haven't blogged for awhile as business has been very busy. I have a keynote speech scheduled in Long Beach California this Sunday night as well. I'll be taking along the macbook and giving it a coast-to-coast test drive ... we'll see how it handles.

:-)

Tim

iMovies & GarageBand

2008-04-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm finding iMovies slightly more flexible than I thought. I'm also very much enjoying the integral of all the applications across iLife ... being able to move files from iMovies to GarageBand and beyond is very cool!

This integration is definitely lacking in Windows.

Macbook and iMovies

2008-04-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm learning move about shooting with digital video. I'm also finding the Macbook a wonderful for editing and uploading. I've had no problems with my Macbook recognizing my Canon HG10.

Here's a brief video that I made in iMovies. I took about 5 short videos and cropped and edited them together ... very easy in iMovies:

HG10 + WD-H43 Initial Test from Tim Warneka on Vimeo.

I am starting to see the limitations of iMovies though. iMovies is fine for home movies, but I'm discovering that I'm going to have to upgrade to more powerful software for creating professional productions. Apparently, a previous version of iMovies (iMovies 06) has more powerful features than the current version (iMovies 08), causing some distress in the Apple community.

I'm still very happy with what my Macbook can do.

Digital Video is the New Plastics

2008-03-28T05:20:00.000-07:00

In the movie "The Graduate" an experienced businessman pulls young Dustin Hoffman aside and tells him that in a word, the future is: "plastic."

I'm here today to tell you that two important words for the future are: "digital video."

My publishing company, Asogomi Publishing International is about to expand into video creation. We've been ramping up on hardware (and moving into Mac hardware/software especially) ... and it is simply amazing!

Here's a test videos ... not the most exciting video in the world, but the resolution of the picture is what is AWESOME! :-)

HD Evergreens from Tim Warneka on Vimeo.

Amazing!

First Run Through of Garage Band

2008-03-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

Wow.

That's all I can say after spending a few hours last night playing with Garageband ... Apple's music creation/editing software.

I've been playing with various music creation software package for years (nothing serious like Cubase and the like, just basic off-the-shelf software packages). I've played the guitar for years, and love jazz music. I can't read music, though, and even with my musical lack, Garageband appears simple and straightforward to use.

I was very impressed with the flexibility and ease of use of Garageband. I'm looking forward to creating soundtracks for my movies and audio products.

...and best of all? Garageband comes installed free with every Macbook!

Web Experts Weigh in on the Macbook's Operating System

2008-03-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

Ubergeek Chris Pirillo (a.k.a., Lockergnome), who's exploits I've been following since the early days of the 'net, weighs in on Apple's new Operating System:

http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/14/50-reasons-to-switch-from-microsoft-windows-to-apples-mac-os-x/

When someone like Chris switches to Apple's OS, that's worth sitting up and listening.

Regards,

Tim Warneka

P.S. Don't sweat it. I didn't understand everything Chris was talking about in his article.

...and some glitches on the Macbook

2008-03-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

Computers always have problems.

I ran into my first glitch on the Macbook.

I took some video of my kids on my Flip Ultra Video camera, and wanted to test out iMovies.

The problem is ... the newest version of iMovies doesn't accept the Flip camera's video formatting (.AVI).

After searching the web a bit, I found others with this problem. Some people were able to solve this problem by upgrading the firmware on their Flip Camera.

I tried that. No luck.

I searched the web some more, and found that there are some programs that you can buy for around $30.00 to translate the Flip Video camera's .AVI file into something that iMovie '08 can read.

Sadly, other reviews on the web say that this software works well with previous versions of Apple's OS, but doesn't work well with Leopard (the Operating System that is most current).

So ...

My Flip Video camera will sit unused on my Macbook. (I still have my Windows XP machine I can use it on).

My first Macbook problem. Fairly minor, but still annoying.

Some good on the Macbook ....

2008-03-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

So far, I'm enjoying my on-going test of the Macbook. Two things that I like about it include the trackpad and the ability to increase the font size of any page that you are viewing

TRACKPAD
The trackpad on the Macbook is so nice to use that I have not even bought a mouse yet. You set up the trackpad a variety of ways in the systems folder. Here's two features I like:

RIGHT CLICKING
It took me awhile to figure out how to "right click" on the trackpad. It's simple ... just tap the trackpad with TWO fingers and you're right clicking. (You have to click the appropriate setting in the Systems folder)
Very cool!

SCROLLING
If you want to scroll down through a webpage, simply drag TWO fingers down your trackpad ... and you're scrolling!
Again, very cool!

I'm sure that I'll probably buy a mouse once I start doing more advanced graphic design work on the Macbook ... but for now, the trackpad is GREAT!

INCREASING FONT SIZE
I was a bit worried that the 13" monitor would be too small for my eyes (I have fairly poor eyesight). The Macbook has a very easy-to-use feature that increases the font size of any webpage I'm viewing ...

To increase the font size of any webpage, simply hit the COMMAND key and the "+" key.

To decrease the size, hit COMMAND and the "-" key.

I LOVE this feature. Some webpage formatting gets thrown off a bit, but if you've ever coded in HTML before, you'll know that's to be expected. I love the ability to make a webpage much more easy to read.

Yay, Macbook!

Apple Care Test Drive .... Okay!

2008-03-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

I had a small question about running my Macbook, so I called AppleCare line. AppleCare comes free for 90 days with a Macbook, and then buyers can decide if they want to extend it for 3 years (I did ... better safe than sorry.).

Frankly, I called more to check the wait time and customer service of AppleCare than I did to get my question answered (I've found all the other answers to my questions by simply googling the question.)

I was pleased. I called during the middle of the day on a weekday. My call was answered within 5 minutes, and my question was answered quickly. The AppleCare employee even offered a few other helpful suggestions about I found helpful.

So, in this admittedly non-empirical test, AppleCare checked out okay.

Let's talk about Mac Life .... as a brand

2008-03-20T16:04:00.001-07:00

Apple users seem to have a reputation for being insufferable when talking about the superiority of their products.

While I am appreciating my experience with the Macbook so far, I have no intention of turning into an Apple snob. I purchased this Macbook as a tool for my business, and as with all tools, I'm most interested in performance. I'm keeping this blog as a service to people who come after me in deciding they are sick of Vista OS and want to seriously look at the Mac (this is the blog I wish I could have read when I was deciding on buying a Macbook)

For example, for me a car is a tool to get me from location A to location B. I'm not interested in brand names or hype or empty promises or what my neighbors think about the car I drive ... I want a car that performs well and requires as little attention as possible. (I own two Honda, if you must ask. Very reliable. Drove Toyotas for years, but their quality control seemed to be slipping.)

From an organizational consultant's perspective, it is fascinating to witness the emotional engagement of Apple users. I wrote about the importance of emotional engagement in my book LEADING PEOPLE THE BLACK BELT WAY: CONQUERING THE FIVE CORE PROBLEMS FACING LEADERS TODAY. Essentially, emotional engagement recognizes that people make decisions (purchasing decisions in this case) based more on emotional connections that they feel then being the rational Spock-like characters that they would have you believe.

As a brand, Apple has done a superior job building emotional engagement with their customers. Emotionally engaged customers are far more likely to return again and again and again.

So, as an organizational consultant, I applaud Apple's ability to engage their customers emotionally. As a newcomer to Apple, I can see how easy it can be to be seduced.

There are far more important things in this world than computers and laptops and ipods and iphones, though.

First Road Test

2008-03-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Today I took my Macbook out with me for its first road test. I took it to the nearby Lakeland Community College where I teach part-time. My main interest was seeing how fast/easily it would connect to the school's wireless network.

I turned it on.

One prompt came up asking me if I wanted to connect to "Lakeland" wireless network.

... and I was up and surfing the 'net quickly.

Bottom Line:

The Macbook connected far easier and quicker than Windows laptops I've used.

woo hoo!

First Impressions on the Macbook

2008-03-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

Awesome.

After a far-too-typical-for-a-small-business-owner 14-hour day, I stayed up far too late unpacking my new Macbook laptop.

So far, I have nothing but praise. A few observations:

1. Fast setup.

When I set up my second Windows desktop computer last year, I was somewhat impressed with the speed of the setup. It only took me about 1-2 hours to get everything up and running. My biggest fight was getting the computer to recognize the wireless network in my office.

The setup on the Macbook simply blows that experience away. I've never seen a computer get set up faster. I took it out of the box, plugged it in and was off and running ... in minutes!

The Macbook recognized my wireless network immediately (it took me about 10 minutes to find the encryption key code for the network, but that has nothing to do with the Macbook).

Fast, fast, fast set-up. No fighting with computers.

I'm very impressed with the ease of setting up the Macbook.

2. Easily software installation

I purchased a copy of iWorks with the computer, and the disks came with the Macbook. The software installed very easily. Granted most Windows software installs fairly easily these days, too.

The difference for me on the Macbook was there were only two screens before I could get to the program: one that asked for the serial # and one that asked me to register (and imported my information so I only had to click, "yes."). I've installed some Windows programs that had several more screens popping up before I could get to the program.

I'll give the edge to Apple here, too.

3. Nice "feel"
As I previously mentioned, I preferred the feel of the Macbook Pro keyboard better than the Macbook, but couldn't justify the added expense for my business.

I was a bit concerned about how I would like the "chicklet" typing keys on the Macbook, but so far, I've been pleased with the feel of the Macbook keyboard.

The key spacing is a bit different than a typical IBM QWERTY keyboard, but my fingers seem to be adjusting quickly.

Bottom line, my initial impressions of the Macbook are very, very positive.

Comparing the Macbook and the Macbook Pro

2008-03-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Let's talk Macbook Pro for a moment, shall we?
As a way of comparison, here are the specs on the Macbook 13" white model (at today's prices off of Apple's website):

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
250GB hard drive
Double-layer SuperDrive
$1,299.00

... and here are the specs for the basic Macbook Pro (15" screen):

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
200GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB
$1999.00

So basically the only difference between the Macbook Pro and the Macbook are:
* The Macbook Pro has a metallic body, where the Macbook has a plastic body. (Whether that's good or bad depends on who you ask. Several websites report that the Macbook Pro's body scratches and dents more easily than the plain ol' Macbook.)

* The Macbook Pro has the upgraded video card. (a good thing, methinks ...)

* The Macbook Pro has a larger screen (15" and 17"). (not bad ...)

* The Macbook Pro costs $700.00 more! (an absolute deal-breaker ...)

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
I liked the feel of the keyboard on the Macbook Pro better, but as a small business owner, I couldn't justify the $700 extra cost. If I don't like the keyboard on the MacBook (and the jury is still out on that one), I can buy an external keyboard for far less than $700.00.

I'm not sure about the real difference in the videocard, so I went with the less expensive version (which is my company's policy when I'm not sure about the cost/benefit of a particular business tool).

I also liked the slightly larger screen on the Macbook Pro, but I was strongly committed to keeping size/weight down. I like to backpack as a hobby, and I've learned the hard way about buying bigger (and heavier) equipment! ;-)

With all of the inconveniences facing travelers these days, when I travel for a keynote speech or some other business purpose, I want to keep my weight down to a bare minimum.

BOTTOM LINE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
All other things being equal, had the Macbook and Macbook Pro been closer in price, I might have been swayed to decide in favor of the 15" screen on the Macbook Pro, but the huge price difference between the Macbook Pro and the Macbook just didn't justify a Macbook Pro purchase.

On the road, I'll mostly use my Mac for writing and internet connectivity, although I do like to work with graphic design programs when I'm in the hotel during the evening (designing book and workbook layouts, etc). I'll also do some straightforward video editing, but nothing that I think will tax the graphic card on the Macbook.

So, for a small business owner, the seemingly unnecessary higher cost of the Macbook Pro makes the cost/benefit analysis pretty simple:

For the entrepreneur and small business owner, the regular Macbook is the way to go.

Macbook Arrives ... But Has to Wait ...

2008-03-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

My Macbook arrived last Friday ... but I wasn't home to sign for it, so back it went to FedEx.

After a weekend of waiting, the FedEx person was on my doorstep bright and early this Monday morning (and Happy St. Patrick's Day to those who celebrate such things!)

Problem is ... my schedule is so full that I probably won't have time to open it until Tuesday afternoon.

Argh!

Ah well, the patience is good training. Plus, maybe the RAM that I ordered will be here and I can install it right away.

Stay tuned!

Comparing Apples to Apples ... Revisited

2008-03-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

"Apples are a lot more expensive."

When I started researching Apples, that's what I heard a lot of people say. That's even what I thought. But it turns out that's not always the truth.

I want to offer some data around the conclusion I arrived at that Apples aren't really that much more expensive.

Off the Apple website, the specs/prices (as of today) are:

13" WHITE MACBOOK
2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
120GB hard drive1
Combo drive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,099.00

13" White Macbook
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
160GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,299.00

13" Black Macbook
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB memory
250GB hard drive1
Double-layer SuperDrive
Ships: Within 24 hours
Free Shipping
$1,499.00

As you can see, the only difference between the last two units is the color. Even the salesperson at the Apple store referred to the difference as a "coolness tax" if you want a black laptop (which other computer makers offer as STANDARD ... so Apple loses points here.)

I wanted black, but I'm not willing to pay $100 for the priviledge, so I went with white.

BTW, if you're an educator or student (or, apparently, willing to pretend to be one, as Apple never asked to see a faculty ID or paycheck stub or any other typical form of proof), you can get a educational discount of about $100 from Apple's website. (So change the above prices accordingly)

ENOUGH! ONTO THE COMPARISON!

Sure, you can pop into one of the Big Box stores like Best Buy or Circuit City and get a Windows laptop for under a $1,000 ... but as you get what you pay for, you're going to get a slower computer. All of the computers I looked at these stores had processors with speeds of 1.0 GHZ to 1.6 Ghz, and usually 1 GB of RAM (a few had 512 MB ... didn't even know they used that anymore), and some had smaller hard drives.

If processing speed doesn't matter to you, then go for it! Buy one of these babies. If I was buying one for my kids for school, I would have probably bought one from Best Buy or Circuit City or some such store. (If you can find one with XP ... I wouldn't touch a laptop with Vista, as it seems to suck resources).

However, I'm a knowledge worker, so the computer is my main tool of trade. I love the internet because it can more at the speed of thought ... as long as your computer will support such speeds. Nothing is more frustration for me than waiting around for my computer to catch up to what I'm doing. I multi-task with a vengeance and I want a machine to keep up.

Also, as an entrepreneur like myself, time is money, so I'm willing to pay a bit extra for a machine with faster processing speed ... it saves me money in the long-run.

So ... jump on any of the Window computer makers' sites (HP, Dell, Gateway, etc). You'll see some really sweet prices ... until you begin to upgrade the systems to where it's tolerable.

Some of the other computers I looked at included (after configuring the systems to bring them in line with the Macbook):

A Dell D630, which had great reviews.
14.1" screen.
2 GB RAM
120 GB hardrive
2.2 Core 2 Duo processor
bluetooth
etc.
$1,576.00

A Dell XPS M1330
2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo Processor
3 GB RAM
120 GB Harddrive
etc.
$1,562.00

A Dell XPS M1530
good reviews.
2.0 Ghz Core 2 Duo
4 GB RAM
120 GB Hard drive
etc
$1,393.00

I really liked the look of the HP tablets, too ... smaller laptops that have a screen you can twist around (!) and fold down with the screen face-up and use it as a writing/drawing tablet. Every HP tablet that I looked at was out of the budget range, though. (Maybe in a few years). Oh, and they all ran Vista, too.

OKAY ALREADY! WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?!?

That's just a sample of the prices I found, but it's pretty representative. Basically, I consistently found that in order to get a laptop computer into the speed/disk space/etc. I needed, I was in the $1300 - $2,000 range (or more. One could easily spend $3,000 on a laptop). As you can see from the price I listed above, the Macbook is price-wise right in the ballpark.

Plus, all the Windows computers ran Vista. (Ugh.) So I would have had to pay extra to downgrade to Windows XP. Apple has a "cool tax" to upgrade to a black Macbook. Windows has a "frustration tax" (and it's more than $100!)to downgrade back to Vista. (Both manufacturers lose points here.)

So ...

Price-wise, the Macbook is actually in the general ballpark when one compares processing speed and hard disk drive space.

The Macbook Pro, however, is a different story.

But that's another blog.

Yes! I'm not alone in loathing Vista!

2008-03-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

Yes! I'm glad to hear that I'm not alone in disliking Vista. Journalist Randall Stross of the New York Times wrote an article today entitled, They Criticized Vista. And They Should Know.

According to Mr. Stross, some disgruntled Vista users have filed a class action lawsuit:

"We usually do not have the opportunity to overhear Microsoft’s most senior executives vent their personal frustrations with Windows. But a lawsuit filed against Microsoft in March 2007 in United States District Court in Seattle has pried loose a packet of internal company documents. The plaintiffs, Dianne Kelley and Kenneth Hansen, bought PCs in late 2006, before Vista’s release, and contend that Microsoft’s “Windows Vista Capable” stickers were misleading when affixed to machines that turned out to be incapable of running the versions of Vista that offered the features Microsoft was marketing as distinctive Vista benefits.

Last month, Judge Marsha A. Pechman granted class-action status to the suit, which is scheduled to go to trial in October. (Microsoft last week appealed the certification decision.)

Anyone who bought a PC that Microsoft labeled “Windows Vista Capable” without also declaring “Premium Capable” is now a party in the suit. The judge also unsealed a cache of 200 e-mail messages and internal reports, covering Microsoft’s discussions of how best to market Vista, beginning in 2005 and extending beyond its introduction in January 2007. The documents incidentally include those accounts of frustrated Vista users in Microsoft’s executive suites."

Well ... we'll definitely have to keep our eyes on this class action lawsuit.

Mr. Stross ends his article saying,

"Now that Microsoft faces a certified class action, a judge may be the one who oversees the fix. In the meantime, where does Microsoft go to buy back its lost credibility?"

I can answer that question:

Microsoft will have to buy back its lost credibility from Apple, because that's where thousands of disgruntled users like myself are going to go: to a place that maintains at least some respect for the customer's experience.

Macbook on the Way!

2008-03-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

I just got an email telling me that my Macbook is being shipped from Shanghai.

(All together now! "It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all ...")

Gotta love the power of drop shipping!

Let's see how long it takes to get here.

Comparing Apples to Apples ... (no pun intended :-)

2008-03-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

...it's more like comparing Apples to Windows.

"Apples are more expensive."

That was the first thing I thought when my friend suggested I consider buying a Macbook. In my research into laptops, I've heard several other people say that same thing.

Are Apples more expensive than Windows.

Yes ... and no.

You have to compare similar system ... or as close to "similar" as you can get with between Windows Vista and Apple Leopard Operating Systems (OS). Strictly financial comparison between the two are somewhat difficult.

Yes, you can go to your nearest Big Box store (Best Buy, Circuit City) and buy a laptop for under $1,000. It's gonna be slow, but it will be under $1,000. If your a worker drone working in a mind-numbingly huge corporation, then it won't matter if you work slowly. No one will probably even know.

But it's different for me.

An an entrepreneur/multipreneur, time is money when I'm working. The more I can get done in any given period of time, the better off I'll be.

It's the difference between chopping down a tree with an ax or a chainsaw. Both cut the tree down, one just does it far faster. Entrepreneurs need fast tools, and by the time I customized a Windows Vista laptop (from Dell or HP or Sony or wherever) to have approximately the same specs as a Macbook, I was going to have to speend anywhere from $1,300 USD on up ...

... which put me in the same price range as the Macbook.

When I visited the Apple store and saw the software included free on the Macbook (iMovie, garageband, etc) ... software that cost anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 for the equivalent Windows Vista-based software (on TOP of the price of the laptop),

... one could almost argue that the Macbook is actually a MORE financially sound business expense for the small business entrepreneur.

At least that's the conclusion I came to.

Let's see if it bears out.

Whick Macbook to Get?

2008-03-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

Here's the specs on the Macbook.

I ordered the 2.4 Ghz processor with 2 GB RAM (I'll upgrade to 4 GB RAM aftermarket ... Apple overcharges for upgrading the RAM in my opinion).

Nothing is more frustrating to me than a slow computer, so I'm willing to pay for speed.

I upgrade the hard drive to 250 GB so I don't run out of space.

I got the white macbook ... I'm not willing to pay Apple's "cool tax" for their black Macbook (which has the same insides as the white one I ordered).

More later ....

I've Had It!

2008-03-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

I love all things technology, and I'm an early adopter (as much as finances allow, anway). Recently I was in the market for a new laptop computer, and a friend of mine suggested that I check out the new Macbook and Macbook Pro.

I tend to research my business tech purposes carefully. As a multi-preneur and owner of several small businesses, I want to make sure I get the most bang for my business buck.

I recently bought a new desktop computer that has Microsoft Window's Vista operating system, and in a word, I HATE IT. (Okay, that's three words.). Ridiculously intrusive security systems, backward compatability problems (meaning it won't run some software that has been running quite fine on my Windows XP computer for years), and other problems made me seriously question Vista's value.

The incredibly poor design of Vista also made me question Microsoft's respect for and value of their customer. Even in an industry where beta releases often masquerade as Version 1.0 of any given software program, I couldn't imagine a company that valued it's customers releasing such a horrific program. I certainly wasn't willing to spend more money on a laptop that had Vista on it

In searching the web, I found that, apparently, I'm not alone. Many, many people are frustrated with Vista and are considering switching to Macs. I also recallsometime in the past year NPR doing a call-in talk show about the horrors of Vista.

Based on what I've read on-line and the conclusions I've personally drawn, I'm predicting that the defection rate from Microsoft Window's Vista to Apple is going to be enormous.

After several weeks of researching, yesterday I purchased a new Macbook from the Apple store in Legacy Village in Beachwood, Ohio (employees Mike and Jeremy get two thumbs up for their helpful service! :-).

So, in the interest of helping out people who are considering making the same switch away from Vista and into Apple's Leopard, I thought I would blog my journey.

I upgraded the hardrive on my Macbook, so I have to wait a few days to get it in the mail.

I'll try and be as honest as I can be in the process so that readers can get a sense about what switching to macbooks really entails.

Stay tuned...