Nemo’s first personal demonstration following Tuesday’s keynote address was by Serge Kamen of Intego. Their suite of security and backup applications is impressive and very affordable. Serge was calm in spite of chaos surging all around us. He walked me through major features and attractive interface in each component program. Intego appears to be attacking Symantec with full frontal assault. It will be a pleasure to audition such innovative new products.
Nemo rating: VERY FAVORABLE
Prosoft Engineering held an official press conference in quiet room 270, which felt a thousand miles from the Expo floor. Greg Brewer explained (and Nemo agrees wholeheartedly) that YOUR DATA IS CRUCIAL, much more so than computer hardware or software. Prosoft introduces Data Rescue, Data Recycler, and Data Backup, giving competition to Dantz, Symantec, and other utility developers.
Nemo rating: VERY INTERESTING
Annette Smith from Exabyte explained the company’s approach to highspeed FireWire tape backups for small offices and high capacity individuals. Hardware is expensive, but very reliable. Tapes are cheap and durable. MyMac.com will obtain a review unit later this year.
Nemo rating: POSITIVE
I then strolled across the South Hall, and was greeted enthusiastically by Kim and Gary-Paul, our perennial pals from Peachpit Press. Stopped by Harman-Kardon pavilion to arrange review of Creature multimedia speakers, followed by their new Invader units. Great sound, terrific design. Andy at Macally will help MyMac.com obtain their wireless peripherals for review, once dust settles from January’s Expo. Ditto for GLOO’s HomePod audio MP3 distribution device, marketed by Macsense.
Aladdin gave next press conference (why are they all so poorly attended; big mistakes, fellow media reps) on latest versions of mighty StuffIt Deluxe and nifty Ten for X bundle of software.
Nemo rating: ALADDIN IS TOPS
Mendy Hill from E-Book Systems gave quick demo of their Flip Album software, to be released after Macworld.
Nemo rating: HAS DEFINITE POTENTIAL
Olympus ushered us into private cubicle for first look at latest trio of their digital still cameras. With 5 megapixel capacity, tiny new media cards, and zoom range up to 10x, we were enthused. Idea: let’s use demo cameras next Macworld to test in real world documentary conditions. Some readers think MyMac.com’s Macworld photos are great, and other people think our pictures are awful. Will better cameras make any difference?
Nemo rating: OUTSTANDING
Leaving Moscone for nearby Sony Metreon complex, where we attended low-key cocktail-hour presentation of three new high-end displays by Sony. Nice stuff!
Nemo rating: IMPRESSIVE
Tuesday ended. Feeling excited and exhausted. Can’t wait for Wednesday.
Next day:
Adam Fingerman, Toast product manager, introduced Roxio’s new $30 Photo Suite, slightly better than Apple’s new iPhoto, but works also within OS 9. An integrated link to Toast allows users to burn several formats of CD, including the underrated Video CD. Editing capabilities include tools found in most basic image apps: filters, lenses, warps. And it works with all versions of iPhoto!
Nemo rating: CAN’T WAIT!
Stopped by booth of John Wiley, one of our favorite book publishers, for quick conversation with Michael Roney, acquisitions editor. He proudly showed me “Mac OS X Illustrated,” part of a new series by Design Graphics from Australia. Book Bytes here we come! Met James and Kathy Wiebe of WiebeTech, staunch supporters of MyMac.com. We love their products, and they value our reviews.
Another poorly-attended press conference by the highly-regarded eMedia company, demonstrating a prototype of new Piano Method learning CD series. Nemo is part time piano teacher in real life, so he is particularly interested in using the $60 software with students.
Nemo rating: IT’S ABOUT TIME
During lunch in the Media Room, five of us bantered on what was not said or offered in keynote; compared Steve Jobs presentation to holy roller revival meeting for hardcore loyalists; met soft-spoken John Rizzo, the MacWindows expert, who works as freelance writer much of the time. He didn’t remember us, but everyone at table knew plenty about him.
Sybex Press had arranged personal howdy with Nemo. Dan and Yaniv did brainstorming for best way to involve Macintosh reviews with Sybex’s much-improved presence on the OS X and digital imaging bookshelves. Nemo truly appreciates personal relationships with so many fine technology publishers. Thanks to them from all our loyal readers.
Hewlett-Packard printer presentation by Sandy Gramely convinced Nemo that H-P is committed to Macintosh marketplace, particularly in high-end pro-level graphics and art and prepress fields. Newest printers are stunning, affordable, and produce eye-popping results.
Nemo rating: SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT US
Robert Altman from Formac welcomed Nemo to second floor Industry Room over at W Hotel. Presentation was focused and self-assured, with highlight being Formac’s new mid-priced DVD recorder with custom software. Thanks, Robert, for the notebook with all your company’s products itemized and documented extensively.
Nemo rating: WANT TO TRY FORMAC PRODUCTS
Maxtor is proud of their high capacity FireWire storage drives, complete with easy backup capabilities in X and 9. Paul Streit gave Weeks and Nemo thorough presentation, promising to make review units available soon.
Nemo rating: PLEASE BACKUP AND ARCHIVE YOUR PRECIOUS DATA TODAY AND EVERY DAY.
Final meeting was with Macromedia, describing software too new to be mentioned in public, but which will be a big splash in certain circles when announced.
Nemo rating: HOLD YOUR BREATH
Time was vanishing at Wednesday’s Macworld. Weeks and Nemo were first in and John was last out of Media Center. David left town for important family event; Nemo was struggling with really awful cold and would not return to Expo again this week. Thursday and Friday were spent recovering from illness, submitting articles and photos, and tutoring generous host where Nemo was privileged to sleep and eat all week.
Nemo advised eight different companies he would probably not be able to attend PR meetings due to sickness; another dozen will hear from him once he arrives safely back in Tucson, Arizona.
Here are some parting thoughts and parting shots. Nemo reserves space for additional follow-up, as does Weeks. At the top of today’s list:
OH, ONE MORE THING: Nemo’s face appears for two seconds during rebroadcast QuickTime version of Steve Jobs’ keynote address, starting at 1:22:29. Finding Nemo? We knew where he was all the time, Big Steve.
John Nemerovski
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