 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Prez Said Lloyd Borrett |
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First up, a big welcome to our Sydney and Perth readers. I hope you like what you see. Some very exciting events to report this month so let's get on with it.
How observant are you? Did you notice that the new name for the newsletter is "PC Update"; that it's now a publication of the "Australian PC User Association" (AUST-PC); and that it's a registered publication with Australia Post.
What does this all mean? Well instead of duplicating the effort that Melb PC puts into producing "PC Update", the recently formed Sydney and Perth PC User Groups plan to work together with us. We have set up AUST-PC as a national body responsible for producing the newsletter and coordinating the public domain software library. Each affiliated group will contribute to the newsletter and will be responsible for distributing the newsletter and software diskettes to its members. We are talking to other groups about coming in with us also. What does all this mean to you? Well for a start the newsletter is bound to improve. The workload will be more evenly distributed, thus allowing more effort to be put into individual sections of the newsletter. We should also be able to ensure that our collection of public domain software is up-to-date with what is available in the U.S.. And most importantly we will now have the resources to start work on new activities such as getting Special Interest Groups established and preparing educational workshops and seminars.
I was fortunate to be able to attend the opening of the IBM Wangaratta Plant on Thursday 30th August. That IBM thought to invite a representative of Melb PC to attend the opening I think shows we are now starting to be regarded as an important part of the PC industry. Certainly the press representatives and IBM staff I met during the course of the days activities were keen to learn more about Melb PC. We must be doing something right because the reports they had heard were favourable. Many were surprised at the size and make-up of our group, and the quality of our newsletter.
Most people associate microcomputer user groups with hobbyists and "hackers". Now while we welcome these people, let's face it, most PCs are not sold to that market. Thus most of us are in small or large business, and Melb PC's activities have always tried to reflect this. As more people come to realise this our membership will grow, and so will the level of support from the PC industry. Hopefully the photos I took during the plant tour will be ready in time and there will be a photo coverage later in this issue. If not, look forward to it in October.
Next months issue!
How many times have you heard that before? For one reason or another we have only been able to get the newsletter out every second month in the past. Well this time it will be different. (Yes, really!) At the July meeting Rod Thompson joined the crew "At The Helm" as Editor of the magazine. Rod has already allocated some of our U.S. sourced material a number of issues ahead, but we still need local contributions and assistance with selecting the material. Felix Hofmann is now producing "The PC Workbench", and I'm sure others will come forward soon. I would like to thank Terry Adair who was editor for the first three issues. It's not easy to start from scratch. I know Terry will continue to help out when he can as evidenced by his contribution in this issue, the SANYO MBC 550 review. Remember that this work is done on a voluntary basis. The more of you that help out, the less of a load any one individual has to bear.
Now for an important request. Please think twice before calling me during business hours. The number of calls has become excessive, and at times disruptive. When I can help out I will, but if I can't please understand if you get short shift. Some dealers have referred their customers to me for support and/or advice, often about rather basic matters. This I really resent. The dealers charge full recommended retail prices on the basis that they also provide support. The user group is not intended to replace those services, merely to supplement them. As a member of the user group I would like to help, but there is only so much one person can do.
I can be contacted outside of normal business hours at work or home, but please, reasonable hours only. The best way for you to contact me is via the "PC Connection" bulletin board system, (03) 528-3750. I can then leave a reply on the system, or if you leave your phone number, call you when convenient.
The committee is currently looking into getting a telephone number and answering machine. Details of coming events and how to join the group, the most requested information, can then be given out via a recorded message. (These details are already given out by the bulletin board system.)
Chris Leptos has some exciting agendas planned for future meetings, and Roy Watson will soon be launching a comprehensive publicity campaign to attract the support of all elements of the PC industry. It's starting to look as though we may almost have a mini show along with each meeting. Plans are underway to allow distributors and dealers to set up in an area so as to allow members to see demonstrations of new products in a more intimate manner before or after the main meeting. Most products are done an injustice when demonstrated in front of a large audience. Stephen Wagen and Martin Nicholson will soon begin to convert our books over to the IAL accounting system kindly donated to Melb PC by Interactive Applications. David Jitts is back from holidays, and ready to provide the public domain software. He is also keen to attract assistance in preparing the database of available software. We had our first visitor at the last committee meeting. I think the committee and visitor gained from that. Any member who would like to attend a committee meeting should contact Stephen Wagen. Meetings are usually held at 5.30pm on the Wednesday a week after the General Meeting, 21st floor, B.H.P. House.
Reprinted from the September 1984 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
