Authored by: bkitty on Wednesday, March 9 2005 @ 02:08 PM CST

As a newbie, I have found the mug experience to be very helpful in my understanding of things Mac. I feel comfortable asking questions in the Q&A portion of the meetings, and have found the people I have met there, to be very kind and patient with questions I sometimes feel dumb asking. The presentations have always been interesting, with something to learn on my part. I am very lucky here in San Diego to be sandwiched between two Apple Stores whose reps often come to give presentations. The boards are much more lively at YML, but the sdmug site is a nice resource to have, too.

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...and then I press what...?

Authored by: mark.deniken on Thursday, March 10 2005 @ 11:18 AM CST

Even though I live a stones throw from Philadelphia, we have no
Philadelphia-based MUGs -- they are all out in the burbs, not too far but
just far enough that it makes me not go. Also, I have checked out pictures
from past meetings of the closest MUG to me and quite frankly it looked
like an AARP meeting. I'm looking for for folks closer to the thirty-
something range, not my parents age.

If anyone knows of (or wants to start) a Philly MUG, hit me off-list.

Authored by: Jeff on Friday, March 11 2005 @ 09:49 PM CST

Speaking as both a MUG club officer and a card-carrying AARP member, I can tell you MUGs would love to have younger members. But most come for a meeting or two and have the same reaction.

Perhaps if you can round up a group of your peers and come to the meeting together, you wouldn't feel so awkward.

Authored by: mark.deniken on Friday, March 18 2005 @ 02:57 PM CST

Yeah, I guess you're right... I'll try attending a MUG meeting with a few
friends and see if that works.

Authored by: WC104 on Monday, March 14 2005 @ 02:37 PM CST

No I do not attend MUG meetings , simply because there are none close
enough to allow for that. Age would not be a factor of it's members,
diversity is OK. I would welcome the chance to meet on a regular basis
with Mac users. Guess I will have to get brave and start my own MUG.. I
can always talk to myself, I have become good at that.. :-)

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Whenever I Get The Urge To Exercise, I Lay Down Until It Goes Away.. - Wil Rogers

Authored by: Biker4Mac on Thursday, March 17 2005 @ 08:07 AM CST

As a past officer of a local MUG, I agree that the age range is probably an issue for many MUGs. Unless it is a campus MUG, there is going to be a higher percentage of older people.

I think that a certain amount of this is that the younger crowd is more comfortable surfing the web for information, news, and other technical support. The older crowd would prefer to deal with someone face to face. Often younger people will come to the MUG meeting with a specific question or two and then disappear again. The older people are the core that are there every month.

I see two main advantages to being a MUG member. First, I enjoy the chance to help people out. Through the years, I've learned a lot from people willing to take the time with me. So I feel that it is only right to return the favor. Second, it is interesting to see what other people are doing with their computers. People are writing books, digitizing and cleaning up family photos for scrapbooks, putting together websites and movies, and all sorts of things that I'd never be able explore all on my own.

I think that a lot of younger people would be surprised at what the local MUG has to offer if they gave it a chance of a few months instead of attending one meeting and assuming that it is not for them.

Authored by: intrepid on Friday, March 18 2005 @ 01:17 AM CST

I have belonged to three different MUGs here in Winnipeg. Two have withered and died. My current group is actually called Manitoba New Media. It supports professionals and folks interested in producing digital media. So we look at web development and film special effects and commerce models and blogging and producing music and all kinds of good stuff.

We are virtually 100% Apple Mac users and do qualify as an official MUG. But I think it is our breadth of interests that attracts many youger users and keeps things fresh. Our last meeting featured a DVD report from one of our founders and a local photo pro who attended Macworld.

The usual hassles still apply though: it's hard to find presenters every month both willing to yak and with stuff worth hearing. But I applaud our organizers for the job they do.

Our city has become one of the usual stops on Apple's road shows across Canada. Two weeks ago they came through with the full Macworld review and played to over 200 folks in one session. In the evening they had a full press on producing music. I think that by supporting our local MUGs Apple does take notice.

Authored by: BradMacPro on Sunday, March 20 2005 @ 09:38 AM CST

As a founding father (since 1984) of a local MUG on Long Island, New
York and the technical advisor and webmaster, I get great satisfaction
helping other Mac users. There are so many varied things you can do with
a Mac, attending a user group meeting is a great way to be exposed to
new software and hardware. You can be inspired to do much more and be
more confidant with your use of the Mac. A demonstration by a
manufacturer's representative or another user group member can go a
long way. Yes, many of our members are above the 30-something age
group, but we are a bunch of die-hard hobbyists from the early days. You
can gain a lot of knowedge from experienced users not found at the
Genius Bar of the Apple Store. Their training is limited to iMac and newer
computers and the selection the store sells. That's fine, but a broader
product knowledge is important. Our members are home users and small
business users, who tend to need more help on the basics. The benefits of
user group membership far outweigh the very modest yearly dues. The
group leaders are all unpaid, so the dues go entirely for the group's
benefits, like projection equipment, reasonably modern PowerBooks and
PA equipment, insurance and the printed monthly newsletter. Come see
www.limac.org