Meeting with Dr. Mac

I'm liveblogging from the Apple Corps of Dallas meeting. Today, our guest is Bob "Dr. Mac" Levitus. Bob is a real Mac genius (not the retail variety) and author of about 50 books about the Mac. Here's some bullet points from Bob's presentation:

* Plug for Time Machine in Leopard to keep us backed up so we don't lose data.
* Consulting business is 100% Skype. He doesn't even use a landline.
* Wishing us happy birthday - Apple Corps Dallas is 30 years old this year. We're the oldest MUG in the world.
* If you have less than 2GB RAM, upgrade!!!!
* Loves his iPhone, that he paid his own money for.
* What's the story on viruses, malware, and worms for Mac? No story as far as he's concerned...
* Just installed iWork '08...showed new slide builds in Keynote
* Cheap or free software demos
** Amnesty Singles - allows you to run widgets on desktop without invoking Dashboard. Not free but cheap.
** Whoopee Cushion widget - real easy way to make kids go away.
** istat pro - widget with Mac performance data.
** Mouse locator -- helps you find the cursor on big monitors. Free.
** Go to versiontracker.com or macupdate.com to find free software.
** Keyboard cleaner - launch before you clean keyboard so you don't type anything while you are cleaning. Free.
** SRS iWow. 30-day free trial on SRS Labs website. Makes iTunes sound better. $20
** Launch Bar - first $20 he spends on every Mac. Really smart file finder and launcher.
**** Remembers what shortcuts you type to search to launch an app without setup.
**** Finds contacts in Address book and shows phone number really big on screen.
**** it calculates.
**** It will even launch apps without hitting return if you hold down last letter for even faster launching.
** Marine Acquarium - $12.95 for those moments when you need relaxation and the fish never float to the top.
**** Fish will swim across two monitors.
** Likes a 5-button mouse - he's not exactly on same page as El Jobso on the mouse button. MX Revolution is fave.
** New Power Video Plus - $50 extends iPod or iPhone battery life significantly. Newer Technology.
** Omni Cleanz - use to clean monitors. Comes with microfiber cloth. Likes better than iClear. Radtech.us
** Back Office back-pack by Shawn Jackson Designs.

Dr. Bob is coming to Dallas!

Bob Levitus, author of a boat-load of books about the Mac and an all-around fun guy, is coming to Dallas on August 11 to make a presentation at the Apple Corps of Dallas. Come join us for the main meeting at 10:00AM at the Richardson Civic Center. Check the Apple Corps of Dallas website for directions and all the deets. Come at 9:00 AM for the music SIG where yours truly will be gushing about the iPhone and talking about making your own Podcast.