Subject: Re: Art, CompUSA, and Arnold Palmer

From: "Rev. Ivan Stang" <stang@subgenius.com>
Newsgroups: alt.slack
Date: Wed, Oct 23, 2002 10:47 AM

SubSpecies23 wrote:

> Does anyone have any suggestions for a good graphics/art program for MAC,
> something with 3D capabilites would be nice too. I went to CompUSA yesterday,
> which is about the only store in the state of Oklahoma that sells Macs and Mac
> software. But they only had a couple of graphics programs and one was almost
> $600 and the other was some suite that cost $1100.
>
> I was standing there looking at the software when suddenly over the radio/
> P.A. system in the ceiling said "Hi, I'm Arnold Palmer..." They kept playing
> commercials for the Arnold Palmer Hospital or something like that. I laughed
> out loud the first time it came on...

First I will suggest programs and then I will suggest other ways to get
them.

Photoshop is the granddaddy art program, originally created on Macs,
but it costs a mint and you really have to read a manual to get the
hang of it.

Graphic Converter is a much simpler prog, cheap, like $50 I think, but
also available in free forms which I will suggest later. One great
thing about it is that it can use the PLUG-INS that Photoshop can use.
Plug-ins are extra mini-progs made by other companies that do special
tricky effects of all kinds.

For 3D a very VERY simple one is called Bryce. It's so unbelievably
easy to use, it changed my life.

As a Mac user originally from Dallas, I know exactly where you're
coming from. I used to have to drive across town to get to CompUSA. But
you should plan to buy stuff mail order -- Mac Mall (1-800-MAC MALL)
being typical of many. http://www.macmall.com/. Also MacConnection,
MacWarehouse... these companies are cheaper and to boot you won't pay
sales tax. The shipping is cheap and they usually get stuff to me the
next day. This is especially true for hardware. Their software catalogs
are not totally extensive but they're fine for beginners, children, the
government or huge corporations.

The single best thing a beginning Mac user can do is subscribe to a
magazine called MacAddict, which is easy on newbies but COMES WITH A
CD-R JAMMED WITH FREE PROGRAMS. Or with DEMOS for programs....
try-outs. MacAddict almost always has a free copy of graphic Convertor,
for instance. I got started in computer graphics from a Bryce demo in
the first issue of MacAddict. Oddly enough, some of the tryouts can be
magically transformed into full working versions simply by giving
suitable registration or serial numbers, which you either buy from the
company or... acquire... otherwise.

Then there is file sharing. I am on a limited budget, yet I have
gigantic needs in software coolness, so I have occasionally gone
fishing in the MacElligot's Pond they call FILE SHARING ON THE
INTERNET.

It is very very much like fishing. I am not going to cook you a Trout
Almondine, but I am about to give you and every other new computer user
a fishing pole and a worm and I'm showing you how to use it.

What you do is:

http://www.tracker-tracker.com/hotline/index.php

and after reading the page, and doing what it suggests (which is to
download the free Hotline program and familiarize yourself with it a
bit), go back near the top and click on the small typed link called
Hotline Files Search Engine.

Click on the button so that it says to Only Search Servers that Allow
"Guest Download". In the pull-down select the category "MAC FILES". In
the blank, type in the name of the program you're looking for.

From there it may or may not be easy. You might have to try numerous
people's Hotline sites before you find one that's not to busy or that
doesn't have a "catch". Many require you to click on some porno banner
or other ad banner to get them a "hit", which helps pay for their site,
and then they give you a password.

That's what you do if you have half a brain -- Hotline or something
like it.

You've heard of Napster, right? Well Hotline is sort of like that -- a
file sharing network of individuals who use the Hotline program and
protocols to FTP (download and upload) things like music files or even
whole programs.

Needless to say, if you download a copyrighted program from one of
these services you should use it for evaluation purposes only.

I have explained Hotline to some of my Mac using peers, handing them a
free fishing pole and worm, like I'm doing now, and a month later they
were back saying "WOULD YOU BAKE ME ANOTHER TROUT ALMONDINE?"

So if you pick up on all this, you will be proving yourself NOT one of
those Mac using DUMBASSES.

P.S. -- when getting programs make sure you know the difference between
the current OS X system and the older System 9... programs don't always
work on both. Usually they do, nowadays, but it's something to check
out before spending hours downloading or dollars buying.

I hear those Arnold Palmer "I Quit Smoking" ads in Walmart.

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Original file name: Re- Art, CompUSA, and Arnold PE - converted on Monday, 21 July 2003, 13:44