[Nicholas Pyers]

How many people here actually attend Mac User Group Meetings?

If you do attend one (or more), what is it that they offer that interests you?

If you don't attend, why not? What would they need to offer for you to consider attending?

[TLCAUS]

I cant vote there is no option for I run a small business, and I would love to go but I usually work 7 days a week apart from the odd time I am working and peek at my ipod touch for the latest posts in AMW.

But I do usually have a peek at most of their web sites, and find the goings on very interesting.


TL

[Nicholas Pyers]

I cant vote there is no option for I run a small business, and I would love to go but I usually work 7 days a week apart from the odd time I am working and peek at my ipod touch for the latest posts in AMW.

But I do usually have a peek at most of their web sites, and find the goings on very interesting.

TL

hmmm... I thought I'd covered most bases by adding the two Never options (I originally had one, but decided to add the extra reasons)

I've also now modified the poll to include a "Would love to but don't have time" option

Still, you've given me an idea for a later poll - When is a convenient to hold meetings

[TLCAUS]

Thanks Nicholas, i have now Voted

TL


PS just a quick edit, the other one that you mentioned the the Bellarine Mac User, i did notice it stared very early in the day 4.30 if i am correct, is that a normal start time for most of them, i would have guessed that would have started after dinner time, sort of 7 ~ 7.30 Pm ?

[Nicholas Pyers]

Thanks Nicholas, i have now Voted

TL

PS just a quick edit, the other one that you mentioned the the Bellarine Mac User, i did notice it stared very early in the day 4.30 if i am correct, is that a normal start time for most of them, i would have guessed that would have started after dinner time, sort of 7 ~ 7.30 Pm ?

Cool... I notice a few others have a well... but I can work out which was yours... as it is currently the only one with that answer so far


As to times... yes Bellarine start at 4:30pm, which suits their members.

In Melbourne, where I notice you live, the times for various MUG meetings include;
9:30am - 5:00pm: AUSOM - 1st Saturday of the month
10:00am - Noon: Retiree and Others - 2nd Wednesday
4:00pm - 9:00pm: FileMaker Developers Group - Every Second Month
6:30pm - 9:00pm: iMug - 4th Tuesday
7:30pm - 10:00pm: Macintosh Multimedia Group (a joint venture between AUSOM & iMug) - 2nd Tuesday

You can check out the Australian Macworld Events Calendar for times and dates in other states, but you can see that there is a vast variety of days (weekdays and weekends) and times.

[TLCAUS]

Real mixed bag of hours, but i can see the ones after dinner being more of a hit than the early ones, but maybe i am wrong... i have been many times before.

TL

[mickdevlin]

How many people here actually attend Mac User Group Meetings?

If you do attend one (or more), what is it that they offer that interests you?

Well I voted and attend MUG meetings, but then again, I the president of NQMUG, so I don't really get a choice. I started attending meetings so that I could pass on some of the lessons I have learnt to others. That means they don't have to suffer the same kinds of drama when a problem occurs as they already know the solution.

[TLCAUS]

well that only confirms how handy it is to have your input in here Mick, you cant beats hands on experience

Tl

[Nicholas Pyers]

Real mixed bag of hours, but i can see the ones after dinner being more of a hit than the early ones, but maybe i am wrong... i have been many times before.
TL

Everyone is different... eg I am NOT a morning person... so the Retirees & Others time does not work for me.... but the 3MG (Multimedia Group) works just fine for me... and when I present to 3MG I volunteer for the last session (9pm-10pm) because that suits me (often the other presenter asks for the 7:30-8:30pm slot so they can get home earlier.

Some of the groups that are held "through" meal times often have a light snack/supper - The Filemaker group have a dinner break. The AUSOM Main Meeting has a BBQ lunch. iMug have a light Supper... 3MG and R&O have light refreshments (cake, biscuits, tea & coffee)

[Nicholas Pyers]

Nicholas,
Once a month does not cover it for some of our members, who also belong to and attend monthly meetings with another Mac user group in Sydney. So maybe you need another option for 'twice a month or more'. We like our meetings up here!
Ken D

True... I myself attend two MUG meetings a month... and occasionally even 3 or 4... depending on if I travel or not

There are now a few responses, so I don't really want to alter the poll again (when I added the extra category, only two people had voted) But hey this poll is far from scientific

[Aaron Bellette]

I'd love to go to a MUG but I have the time commitments of a medical career, family with two young children, and a significant outside interest that takes a night a week plus the occasional extra time. This forum (and this site) is my de facto MUG!

Aaron.

[Tangerine-Alert]

I had a look on the iMug site, and I'm not sure what I'd get out of the meetings, or whether I'd use any of the features provided for the $30.

I mean email discussion lists seems a little...old school. With forums, discussion boards and what not, receiving discussion emails seems a step backwards.

There's the meetings and looking back at the past meetings there's some that would have been interesting to go to, but nothing there that really makes me want to go to one.

[TLCAUS]

Damn Tangerine, you just put my board meetings into perspective, slow mundane backward and boring.



TL

[Xenophos]

I'd love to, but I'm already out 3 to 4 nights a week, and the only MUG in Perth is on a night I have other commitments (and if I didn't, I'm not sure my wife would appreciate me going to a computer meeting!)

[JamieZ]

I would love to, but don't know of one in my area, anyone know a user group close to Penrith NSW?

[mickdevlin]

I would love to, but don't know of one in my area, anyone know a user group close to Penrith NSW?

Why not start one yourself? There are bound to be other Mac users in your area who'd be interested.

[SteveC]

How many people here actually attend Mac User Group Meetings?

I've been attending AUSOM in Melbourne since shortly after buying my first Mac in 1988. As a MUG, AUSOM has a number of advantages that derive from its large and diverse membership. The magazine ("newsletter" is definitely not the word) is great value and many folks join for no other benefit than that. There would be few other MUGs that can offer as many Special Interest Groups nor such a breadth of experience among its 'helpers'.
Yes, I have in the past been a Committee member and still contribute to the magazine, but there's a reason for that -- AUSOM's members are a great crowd and a great source of advice and inspiration.

[sjens]

How many people here actually attend Mac User Group Meetings?

If you do attend one (or more), what is it that they offer that interests you?

If you don't attend, why not? What would they need to offer for you to consider attending?

http://www.macworld.com.au/forums/style_em...fault/blink.gif
Many is the time when I have been at a loss to know what to do or how to do something on my Mac. AUSOM has some very capable and experienced members who will willingly guide me through a process to achieve greater computing power. I am not a business person, I have my computers as my hobby and attending AUSOM's many diverse meetings is one way to make friends as well as gain knowledge. Mid week meetings run in a different way but all are worth the effort in attending.
I should say that the move to Swinburne Uni in Prahran was a positive move for a better environment. if anyone new does come along they need to tell someone at the desk so we can impart some information to make their day more enjoyable.