The Philadelphia Area Computer Society meets monthly at the Giant Food Store in Willow Grove, PA. PACS is a computer user group where members fix problems, share knowledge, and learn from each other. All platforms and levels of experience are supported. Guests are welcome to attend.
NEXT MEETING:
February 18, 2012
Dave Marra on
"Apple's OS X Lion"
As a Senior Systems Engineer for Apple, Dave Marra has conducted hundreds of technology presentations, keynote addresses and workshops for schools, Mac and PC user groups, businesses and other professional organizations across the United States and Canada. Certified as both an Apple Certified Technical Coordinator and an Apple Certified Systems Administrator, his specialty areas include digital multimedia, internet technologies, accessibility and Mac/PC integration. Dave's web site is www.marrathon.com. More information about Apple can be found at: www.apple.com
Hear how Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and health systems use technology to accomplish their mission. This will include discussion of SharePoint, Excel, Adobe Acrobat Pro, PowerPoint, mobile data computers provided by the County, tablet computers, and difficulties with the integration of all of this hardware and software. (more info)
Print and post an announcement for the February meeting.
Fundraisers for PACS:
Newly added as a PACS fundraiser is an ebay link that will provide a referral fee to PACS for anyone who wins a bid or opens an ebay account. All PACS fundraisers have been consolidated in a new web page.
Show that you belong to PACS:
PACS caps, shirts, mugs, and other items are now available for sale thru Cafe Press.
PACS is a member of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups. APCUG promotes and assists computer user groups worldwide. More information is at the APCUG website
.
PACS members get a 35% discount off the list price of any Peachpit book. At checkout, before entering your credit card number, enter the user group coupon code UE-23AA-PEUF (case-sensitive). This coupon code is an exclusive offer that may not be used in conjunction with any other coupon code.
Webucator offers onsite, instructor-led, and self-paced online training courses in a wide variety of computer topics. Classes include Adobe, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Java, Crystal Reports, .NET, XML, SQL Server, Microsoft Excel, Access, and others.
AGI Training offers training classes for
design and creative software. AGI classes include Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, InDesign, CSS, Silverlight, and Expression. They also publish the
Digital Classroom book series.
SkillForge offers instructor-led onsite and online courses in a variety of topics. Classes include Photoshop, HTML, JavaScript, Java, Microsoft Project, .NET, SQL Server, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, as well as many Business Skills courses
Ledet Adobe Training - Ledet training centers have provided hands-on, instructor-led, classroom based, authorized Apple, Quark, Google and Adobe training courses across the United States since 1996. Ledet Adobe Training specializes in professional training for print, web, and video. Ledet Training also delivers custom on-site training at client locations around the world.
WHAT'S NEW:
TRENTON COMPUTER FESTIVAL
The 37th annual Trenton Computer Festival (TCF), the oldest computer festival in the world, is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2012 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, New Jersey. NOTE: THIS WILL BE A ONE-DAY FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY ONLY.
The TCF is an excellent opportunity to see, learn about, and discuss the latest in computers and digital and electronics technology while interacting with leaders in the profession. A full schedule of informative panel sessions, tutorials, demonstrations, and other computer-related educational events is scheduled from 10 am - 5 pm. The opportunity to study for and take amateur radio license exams will also be offered. All events will be held in the Social Sciences Building.
TCF is proud to continue the tradition of associating with other premier conferences. The Information Technology Professional Conference (IT-PC) and the Integrated STEM (science, math, engineering, and technology) Education Conference (ISEC) will be held Friday, March 9, also in the Social Sciences Building. IT-PC and ISEC attendees also have free admission to TCF.
This year's keynote speaker is Jeff Gomez, the President and CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, the world's leading producer of transmedia entertainment properties. Starlight Runner has been an integral player in the production and marketing of blockbusters such as Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean and Tron Legacy, James Cameron's Avatar, and Hasbro's Transformers. Jeff is a consultant to governments and organizations across the globe, and spoke about his company's work at the TEDx conference in Geneva in September, 2010. His story is sure to inspire.
Admission to TCF is $10 in advance and at the gate. Advance tickets may be purchased from www.tcf-nj.org. Attendees who purchase tickets in advance are eligible for special door prizes and conference access. Parking is free.
If you are interested in being a speaker, application forms are due by February 1.
TCF is not just another computer show. TCF was originated and is still run by computer hobbyist volunteers as a non-profit educational event. What really sets TCF apart are its multiple activities such as the many talks and workshops, the ever-popular flea market, the commercial exhibits, the indoor sales area, the opportunities to meet and socialize, the special exhibits, the contests, and more recently, the TCF IT Professional Conference held on the previous Friday. Get more information at tcf-nj.org.
PACS will probably have a table at TCF. If you would like to volunteer some time to man it, please email a Director from the PACS Contact Us page. We ordinarily pick up a few new members each year due to being represented at TCF.
Do you offer computer services as a business?
PACS would like to make it easier to connect members offering such services with members who would like to hire them to add hardware, install software, form a home network, troubleshoot, etc. PACS will be adding a web page to its site listing members who are available for these types of projects. If you offer such computer related services, please send a message to the webmaster with your proposed listing. The rules will be: a) Listings will be restricted to current PACS members. A listing will be removed if the membership lapses. b) Listers with websites will be expected to provide a reciprocal link to PACS. c) There will be a statement that PACS does not endorse the capabilities of any lister and does not assume liability for any services performed by any lister. d) Listings will be limited to 1000 characters. e) There will be no charge to be listed. f) All charges for services will be negotiated between the parties involved. There will be no fee due PACS for any service arrangements.
Is a month too long between PACS meetings?
A bulletin board is being added to the PACS web site to let members discuss problems, etc. in the intervals between regular meetings. It's located at pacsnet.org/forum/ or use the link to "Forum" on the main navigation bar to check it out. Guests can read all posts but only registered users can add new posts. You can easily register when you need to - it involves chosing a screen name and providing your name and email address. You can optionally add much more to your profile including a photo, your location, interests, etc. One thing you might want to adjust in your profile is your time zone so that posting times agree with your local time. The software in use is phpBB and has many more options than we know how to use. Please consider this a work-in-progress.
Download info from a main meeting
We try to get copies of a presenter's slides, notes, and handouts although it's not always possible because of a company's legal restrictions. Use the Downloads link from the Resources web page or go directly to the Downloads page.
Promote PACS!
Check out John Davey and Reed Gustow doing a promotional spot for PACS. Feel free to embed this clip from viddler.com on any web site that you maintain.
