 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Editorial Ash Nallawalla editor@melbpc.org.au |
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In this issue you will see an article by Jean D'Andrea, our Volunteer Co-ordinator. Jean has been active in Melb PC for some years, notably with the bulletin board system (BBS) and has now come forth to help the Group grow into its next phase.
Volunteering in Melb PC can be very rewarding or frustrating, depending on the individual and area of interest. I have been fortunate to have been on several committees and subcommittees for the past 12 years and have led a special interest group (SIG). I am still active in the international user group body, the Association of Personal Computer User Groups.
Surveys
I'd like to thank the 900 or so members who have completed the online PC Update survey and about 200 who completed the shorter Membership and ISP surveys. That leaves about 10,000 others who should visit those surveys and click away. It is in your own interest, fair dinkum.
The ongoing survey feedback is very interesting and valuable, even the anonymous barbs left by some. Here's one from a chap who isn't planning to renew after ten years of membership, reproduced here unedited: "With some exceptions the committee are rude, self-serving (trips overseas) and seem to have lost sight of the aim of the group dispite verbal utterances to the contrary. [An unkind allegation against unspecified trainers is omitted here.] Whatever the group really want. You will not find out from such a badly designed survey as this. And anyway the group needs inspired leadership. The useby date seems to have passed. Any marketeer will tell you that you are on the declining curve of the product life cycle and yet there are more users than ever before!!" If this chappy thinks he knows the "aim" of the Group, it isn't what it was ten years ago. Wait for the published results.
Some people are annoyed or bored by the bickering in the newsgroups.
Others find these editorials condescending, tedious and verbose. Although such individuals are in the
minority, their uninformed remarks are detrimental to volunteerism. The unkindest cuts come from fellow
volunteers who succumb to the rumour mill and our past Presidents seem to be their favourite targets. There
are many members out there who can do a better job, but if they do not come forth to help, their skills are
lost to the Group. They should contact Jean.
Our 1996 survey cost us about $7000, as it involved using an external bureau. It raised 630 replies. I'm happy to report that the current surveys cost the Group nothing but my time, some space in the magazine and some postage.
Office 2000 released
Office 2000 (see June issue) was released on 10 June. The top-of-the-line Premium version retails for $699 (upgrade price) and there is a $50 cash-back offer until 30 September.
July meeting--Microsoft
Please mark 7 July in your diaries for the monthly meeting (see page 63) starting at 6.00 pm. One of our presenters is Microsoft, who will showcase the new Office 2000 package. The speakers will be Penelope Lewin and Des Jacobsen.
This presentation will cover the features and benefits of Office 2000. You will hear about technologies such as the Windows installer and self-repairing applications. Microsoft will highlight how Office 2000 turns the Intranet into a workgroup platform, where users can publish documents directly and collaborate online.
Every PC is different
In my day job I get to visit many offices where my employer is undertaking field trials. It never fails to surprise me that every PC is different, even within the same office. People install software as a trial and sometimes wonder why their PCs seem to get slower. Some of that software may well be running in the background and taking up valuable memory and resources.
Reprinted from the July 1999 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
