Today I was working with Kenny, one-on-one, it’s our weekly procare lesson focused on creating a website. I am making great headway with the basics and our conversation makes me feel even better as I share my latest digital piece and consider how I can move what I’ve already completed onto the new site.

I am ready to review keyframes on my Macbook Pro. I open it and there’s no picture. Kenny continues to patiently hold down the power button, but no luck for him either. Eventually he picks up the computer and moves it to the Genius Bar.

Danny immediately takes up the problem and starts to trouble shoot. Yes, there’s a problem with the battery and the DS line (whatever). He asks for my name and email address. He’s new, he doesn’t know me but he’s very polite and helpful. In minutes he has checked to see that yes, they have the right parts to fix my computer and it will be ready for me in 3 days and it’s TOTALLY covered by my extended warranty and it will cost me NOTHING! Just like that.

I will get an email when it’s ready and I have a 5 minute ride from my house to pick it up.

How about that? What do non-Apple people have that mirrors Apple’s customer service?

Shared with Flock - The Social Web Browser
http://flock.com

I used to spend my money on clothes and art and books. Now it’s all about the computer. Yesterday I joined  the early adventurers of Apple’s Leopard. their latest operating system upgrade  I couldn’t be at the big kickoff event on Friday, so no free Apple t-shirt, but in less than a week I was back at the Genius Bar working with Gene first one-on-one and then with Keith preparing for essential backup before the Leopard download. I invested in a fresh, large new backup: a Terra Bite. I was calling it Tetras. It might be big on the inside(1000 gigs) but looks slim and cool on the outside.

I began fine on my own, but missed an important click on a screen that allowed for a customized installation. I tried going back, couldn’t and so I just escaped.  What did I do????I thought about running back to the store, but wait, there’s the old fashioned communication tool around the house, the TELEPHONE, I remembered!

After a bit of a wait (for Apple) I was on with Mike, calm and cool, comfortable and patiently directing me through the step-by-step format to get me up and running without any loss of files. I did back up everything before I began. So I had it downloaded on my MacBook. I can wait with this process for my Mac Pro..

Okay…I did need some help setting up my new WD Terra Bite external hard drive. This time the mac phone geek was not as calm as Mike, but he was okay.

I am playing, playing with the new tools with Leopard. A geek? I don’t know. I do have lots of Apple product bags in my closet. I love to shop, now I’m collecting cords instead of shoes and belts.

I’m off to pay some bills.

f

I don’t know about you, but Leopard’s arrival tonight at 6pm, will make a difference to me!  Now I won’t be there to get my free t-shirt when Leopard officially goes on sale at all Apple stores, but next week, when I arrive for my weekly scheduled mac one on one pro care session, I will have it in my hands ready to download.  I can’t be there tonight and when I mentioned that to my Palisades Apple buddies on Tuesday they were shocked. “No free t-shirt?”  Tuvia offered to buy me a t-shirt of my choice.  I want the black Mac shirt with one tiny word in white lettering: genius.  I don’t think he can get me that one.  Oh well.

But I can just imagine how much more I will love my mac with new features to play with.   I remember when I moved from Panther to Tiger.  Not a big change, but it did mess up my backup until Apple finally provided a new backup for Tiger.  One of the new great features is supposed to be an easy backup, Time Machine.  I wonder how it will impact on my older backups on my external hard drives.  Based on my experience, I am not ready to jump until I have the answers I need.  I have my tech support already scheduled so I can get the answers I need from Keith, Abe, Gene…I know many Apple geniuses I can trust.

Another very cool feature is a new look for email.  It will look like stationary with places for photos.  Can’t wait for that.  Can’t wait!

I am a mac geek, for sure and proud of it.

Leopard? Bring it on!