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The December AUSOM meeting saw a surprise visitor to the Main Presentation – Luke Oliver, System Engineer from Apple Computer Australia and he bought along an iPod.

Originally Luke was scheduled to be at a conference in Sydney last weekend, but he was able to re-arrange things so he didn’t have to be there all weekend and thus decided to drop in to the AUSOM meeting.

He took the opportunity to thank AUSOM members for their support and enthusiasm through out the year and for advancing pro-Macintosh initiatives like conducting the e-tax survey.

Then Luke produced an iPod from his pocket and proceeded to pass it around the audience in the Main Auditorium, relying on “the considerable bulk of Nicholas Pyers at the entrance to ensure it was returned”. Someone then called out “Who’ll watch Nick?” Well, you’ll be pleased to know that the iPod was safely returned to Luke.

Luke covered the basic features and advantages of the iPod which includes;

• Extremely compact size (about the size of a cigarette box)
• Incredibly fast (download a CD in under 10 seconds)
• Long battery life (up to ten hours)

After spending a bit of time explaining the iPod, Luke opened the floor to general questions and I was fortunate to ask a few.

The first was when the iPod was going to be available in Australia and the response was that the iPod will not be available in Australia or New Zealand until later this quarter, at a recommended retail price of $895 inc GST. Ordering information will be announced closer to the time of availability.

Knowing Luke is a keen skydiver, I asked him how well the iPod performed while skydiving, and his quite, by grinning, response was “Tomorrow”. Since then, Luke has informed me the answer is “Just… Fine!”

My final question to Luke was “What is his personal favourite thing about Mac OS X?”. After a little bit of explanation on how the various Macintosh Operating Systems had progressed and evolved, his response basically boiled down to “The speed and stability”

Later, while playing with the iPod in the main foyer, I got to see the iPod’s “Easter Egg” – the classic game Breakout.

Luke to return in February

AUSOM will see Luke return to give a presentation on the all the latest news from Macworld Expo San Francisco in February. Just what that news will be remains to be seen, but no doubt there will be plenty of exciting announcements.

I’m still fantasizing that Apple will release either an “Orac” or “Zen” style computer system… but alas, I think we might need to wait another couple of decades yet.

Even if “Orac” nor “Zen” can’t make their debut, the word is anyone who is “Anyone” in the Macintosh community will want to be at AUSOM’s February meeting to see Luke’s presentation!

[See the article Who are “Orac” & “Zen”? for an explanation]

Luke Oliver from Apple Computer Australia will return to AUSOM in February with all the latest news from Macworld Expo San Francisco!

Credits

Artwork proved courtesy Apple Computer, Inc.

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