by Dave Greenbaum

The Mac OS X Lion Project Book, despite its title, isn’t as much a book about Lion as it is a book about how to use a Mac with Lion to do certain neat projects. Most Mac users can figure out email and surfing the web, but what about taking your DVD collection and putting it on your Mac?

Before purchasing this book, read through the projects. Even if one of them interests you, the book will be a great value. If you aren’t interested in any of this, then it’s probably worth taking a pass. Projects are as follows:

1. Organizing your files
2. Mastering Spotlight searches
3. Printing to save paper
4. Installing applications purchased at the Mac App store
5. Providing Remote Technical Support
6. Remote controlling a Mac in your home
7. Accessing your files remotely from another Mac
8. Using DropBox
9. Copying DVD content to your Mac
10. Basic photo editing and touch ups
11. Creating a slideshow
12. Using Rapid Weaver for a family website
13. RSS Feeds
14. Configuring TextExpander
15. Full screen mode to avoid distractions
16. Audio Podcasting
17. Setting up Time Machine alongside a cloning solution
18. Using your signature in a PDF

Each of these projects are short—just four or five pages. The book is easy to understand and the projects are fun and relevant. They assume a basic to intermediate knowledge of Lion. No explanations of files or how to click a mouse is included.

Since I knew how to do all of this or the things I didn’t know didn’t interest me, I didn’t find the book that valuable. I learned this stuff the hard way through trial and error. However if someone asked me how to do any of these small projects, you bet I’ll suggest this book.

New Mac users who simply want to feel more comfortable with their Mac and need some ideas of projects will find this book ideal. If I did Macintosh tutoring this would be a great companion manual.

Overall, a fun book for intermediate Mac users with relevant and interesting projects.

Pros: Excellent digest of fun projects to get to know Lion and your Mac better
Cons: Limited scope if you already know how to do these things or if they don’t interest you.

Five out of Five Dogcows

Originally published and written for the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group 2.0 http://www.laugks.org/news and published by Dave Greenbaum at  http://www.clickheretech.com

HMAUS sponsored three diverse and interesting Hawaii Geek Week offerings about new ways of doing things. The presentations took place at ING Direct Cafe on three evenings.  They focused on capitalizing on the reach and power of today’s Internet and computers . . . without programming expertise.  That means they’ll work for a lot of us!

October 20, 2009  ”TechHui” by Daniel Leuck was about a science, technology and media arts social network that has taken on a life of its own.
October 21, 2009 “Do you really need a webmaster?” by Mark Johnson answered the question, “no you don’t!”
October 22, 2009 “Mac OS vs Windows 7″ was a fun side-by-side look at the two big operating systems presented by Rolf Nordahl and Jeff Litvinoff.

October 21, 2009
Daniel Leuck,  CEO of Ikazyo, the creator and principal sponsor of TechHui demonstrated how such a diverse community can work as a source of information, job leads, marketing and social and intellectual interchange.  He showed the underlying Ning structure and the multiple options for interactivity and information management Ning and various plugins can offer.  At this point, group formation and content at TechHui are user driven, an essential characteristic of a dynamic social community.  Join the new HMAUS group at TechHui that Rico Moreno created for us.  Mahalo to Rico, Daniel and Mika for helping us create our group and spreading the word about Hawaii Geek Week and Mactoberfest!  http://www.techhui.com/group/hmaus

October 21, 2009
Mark Johnson, CEO of logicspin.com and menumill.com presented “Do you REALLY need a webmaster?” He demonstrated a variety of online services that allow you to build a website using templates that  you then customize your content, without knowledge of coding.  Mark reports his product, Menumill.com offers clean code, user friendliness, customization and affordability. Regardless of the provider you choose, he stressed the importance of putting effort into first thinking through your site’s purpose, the nature of its content, and the type of user experience you want to present.   Then it’s much easier to create a site that’s coherent, easily navigable and focused.

October 22, 2009
Rolf Nordahl of Macmouse Club and Jeff Litvinoff of Personal Touch Computers put Snow Leopard and Windows 7 on two side-by-side monitors for a features comparison. Both offer simple navigation, speed and  claim stability. The Live Task Bar in Windows 7 is nice.  You can list favorite files for each open application and view them as jump menu popups from the task bar. A touch screen feature is possible with the right hardware and application. Some of the advanced Premium features will only work on new computers but there are several options to choose from. Rolf says “the war is over” the systems are becoming closer in functionality and usability.  Is it time to load Windows 7 on your Intel Mac?  A resounding “maybe!”

We thank our presenters for sharing with us and broadening our perspectives about what’s possible.  Mahalo to the members and new friends who joined us and the staff of the Waikiki ING Direct Cafe for again hosting us so graciously!