Dave Marra

MEETING DATE: March 15, 2013

Last April, I took the plunge and purchased my first Apple computer at the Freehold store. I carried it home, thinking that I would be able to forego applications and rely solely on the largess of the Apple Store to continue my activities online.

I was a bit surprised to find that there weren't many opportunities to work for free, although there were enough open source applications to replace my old Microsoft programs, and here I am. I'm using a MacBook Pro along with LibreOffice to write this, lounging about in my living room while my Windows 7 Dell PC acts as my network server. But I have to admit, my MacBook did have some pleasant surprises as well as very powerful features which were a boon to my efficiency.

So it's with great excitement that we have been able to book Dave Marra of Apple to present his ideas to us at our March general meeting. Dave comes with what many of us still need and can use. A fine-tuning of our knowledge of the Apple product and how the operating system can help us to get our work done. Whether we use a Mac for work or for personal use, as I do, there are always new tips and tricks to be learned. And there is no better person than Dave to explain things to us. His presentation will be interesting because it focuses on what our MacWaves Workshop knew the whole time. Mac's are strong computers, and have many hidden charms for those of us who, like me, are new to the platform and have adjusted their workflow accordingly.

Dave says, “The world's most advanced desktop operating system gets even better. Packed with over 200 innovative new features, OS X Mountain Lion includes iCloud integration, for keeping everything up to date across all your devices and for easy set up of your Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Messages, Reminders and Notes; the all new Messages app, which brings iMessage to the Mac; Notification Center, which streamlines the presentation of notifications and provides easy access to alerts; system-wide Sharing, to easily share links, photos, videos and other files quickly; Dictation, to dictate text anywhere you can type; AirPlay Mirroring, an easy way to wirelessly send what's on your Mac to an HDTV using Apple TV; and much, much more! Discover OS X Mountain Lion today!”

We'll also learn more about iOS 6, bringing 200+ new features to iPad, and the brand new iPhone 5, iPod touch and iPod nano.

One of the things I like about the OS X Mountain Lion is the fact that whenever a date appears in an email message, I can hover on it and it will automatically be inserted into my built-in calendar. I like the way my MacBook grabs information from my existing Google account and the feeling that my contacts and calendar are synchronized without me having to monitor them. I carry my laptop everywhere with me, and use it for various activities, including the times I’ve taken notes at meetings and been able to send them out before we even left the room.

We should all be looking forward to Dave's talk. I am sure he will present to us material that will enable us to use our Macs better, leave us with resources that we can use to continue to learn and improve our skills. I know many of us could benefit from this overview. As for me, I’ve generally been unconcerned with “differences” between my two computers, as the encroachment of yet another operating system, the Android OS, gets its share on the learning curve. You might say I can not only multitask, but multi-OS. I'm hoping that Dave will encourage us to explore what Apple can offer us, or even encourage us to consider a Mac the next time we need a new computer.

Don't get me wrong – I’m still loyal to Windows and Microsoft programs like Word and Photoshop Elements which I haven’t installed on my Mac just yet, but I do appreciate the differences between the two operating systems.

About Dave Marra

As a Senior Systems Engineer for Apple, Dave has conducted thousands 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.  For more information about Dave, please visit his web site at www.marrathon.com.

Here is a quote from Dave's website:    

            “Known for his dynamic delivery style and exciting demos, Dave Marra has conducted thousands 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.”

We really appreciate Dave’s willingness to visit our General Meeting, and discussing the great features of Apple products. Come out and learn about the Mac. Whether you are a green apple or a ripened user, Dave will slice and dice the information and serve it up in a way we all will enjoy.