Why Not Mac?

Greg Hunt, Columnist for 7Days, talks to Shuffle about Apple, Mac, and his choice of personal computer.
by Magnus Nystedt

Q: Thanks for talking to Shuffle. Can you tell us something about yourself? Your background and what you do?
A: My name is Greg Hunt, and I’m a journalist and author. I write a column for “7 Days”, comes out on Fridays. It is a somewhat iconoclastic look at business and all that encompasses. My first book, They Saddle Dogs was published by Jerboa in April 2007. I was lucky enough to make the bestseller list and it continues to sell well. I have now launched it in Asia and I have an agent looking at the USA and my publisher’s are hoping to launch it in Europe. Anyone interested in travel, the Middle East, Father/son relationships, euthanasia or the occasional bad cheese sandwich might be interested in the book. I am working on my second book and its my first attempt at fiction. Also based in the Middle East it is, hopefully, a thriller. It took me a long time to find what I want to do with the rest of my life but I have found it in writing books.

Q: What kind of computer equipment do you regularly use and what do you do with it?
A: I cut my teeth on the Spectrum ZX and have always used a PC. Because of being in the media I have been exposed to Macs and sadly I have never taken to them. I think when you can write MS DOS from version 1.0 and you’re not exposed to Macs at an early age, it’s tough to feel comfortable. I have two young children, so don’t have the time to devote to learning a whole new way of life and I mean that. I spend anywhere between six to sixteen hours a day on my PC depending on how the words are flowing. I manage my life from cyberspace too.

Q: What was the last Mac you spent some quality time with? What model and what version of the OS did it run?
A: Now you’re asking. I guess it was the Power G3 back in ‘98, when I launched my first magazine called MONEYworks. I hired my first Mac operator at that time - Zac, who is still with the company and an outstanding geek when it comes to Macs. He knows shortcuts that need eleven fingers - and he can pull them off. He recognizes fonts, in fact, I think he reads about them at night, if you know what I mean.

Q: Some of us read recently one of your columns in which you said you were switching to Linux from Windows. In it you said that, ”I have never been able to get comfortable with Apple”. Could you explain that a bit further?
A: I think that comes from what I said earlier about growing up on PCs and not being exposed to Macs in England very much. My niece was, until recently, in charge of a division of Apple’s events and I could have got a family discount. But it was not to be.

Q: In the same column you said that Linux is the “only real alternative” to Windows. What did you mean by that, and why is Mac not an alternative?
A: Linux, for all its robustness, is more like Windows and an easier transition. Some of the builds coming out now are really very impressive. With all the dis-service I’ve had from Microsoft this is heartwarming. Bill Gates has forgotten where he came from and what made him one of the richest people in the world. He can cure the world of Malaria with donations, but he has betrayed generations of people who supported him - that’s a shame and I’m sure he doesn’t see it that way.

Q: You mention in the column that you now run a lot of open source software, like Firefox, Thunderbird, and Abiword. These applications are available for Mac OS X. Does knowing that these, and many other, open source applications, are available on Mac OS X change your mind in any way about perhaps looking at a Mac?
A: Nice try but I’ve explained that already. It’s a big change for me to migrate to open source, but I feel very strongly about it. I’ve since dropped Abiword for the Opensource Suite but I love Thunderbird, and for the way I work I believe it’s superior to anything Microsoft has. The browsers are a different story, and I’ve experimented with Safari and Firefox. I’d like something between the two, ideally. It burns me that Microsoft will only let me download updates and fixes on Explorer which, in my humble opinion, is the worst piece of software ever to come out of Microsoft. They should start that one again from scratch. I would say 90 per cent of the issues I have software-wise is because of this one bug-ridden, hashed together bunch of ones and zeros.

Q: Is there something you could think of that Apple could do that would change your mind and make a Mac more of an option for you?
A: Redesign its OS, keyboard and mouse to suit me - and make Bill Gates sell his Apple shares.

Q: If you had one piece of advice for Apple Inc., what would it be?
A: Don’t ever let Steve Jobs go again - what were you thinking?

Q: Finally, is there anything you would like to add to our readers in the Middle East?
As far as Apple and Macs are concerned I’m very happy at the company’s resurgence and wish I’d bought shares when Jobs came back - as I thought of doing at the time; but we all have twenty-twenty vision in hindsight. It’s good that there’s an option for those who don’t want Microsoft but can’t handle say, Linux just yet. However, like I said, the trickle of people like me migrating is slowly becoming a flood. Soon, it won’t matter what Microsoft do, the world will go Open Source in the same way that telephony will all go through he likes of Skype. We already have WiFi mobile phones operating in Hong Kong; Imagine that, calls to anywhere in the world, except the UAE and a few others, for virtually nothing. Surfing the web on an existing account and not having to pay through the nose for it.
My advice to your readers is this: find something you love to do and make it pay. It doesn’t have to pay a lot, just enough to live on. But, people who do what they love and do it well, through some very strange quirk of fate, seem to make good money and sleep well at the same time. That’s priceless. My favorite saying is this: “Life should be defined by its possibilities, not its limitations” - Good luck, we all need a little bit of that.

Profile of a Mac Seller

Name: Jerico Yacat
Title: Sales Executive
Store: iStyle, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai

Q: When did you start working for iStyle?
A: January, 2008.

Q: What did you do before working at iStyle?
A: I worked for Powermac Center in the Philippines as a Supervisor.

Q: When was the first time you used a Mac and what was your first impression?
A: That’s way back 2004. My first impression was that I was amazed at how fast and easy to use it was. The Mac impressed me with the unique but simple style.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?
A: Helping people and giving assistance as to what computer they need.

Q: What is your favorite Apple product and why?
A: For me it’s the PowerBook G4 12-inch because I like the small size and when Mac shifted to Intel processors because of how fast the processor and Apple is also more competitive now.

Q: Do you have a funny story about something that has happened in your job?
A: One customer phoned me regarding his iMac 24-inch which he bought that day and he said it doesn’t work. I asked if he had checked if the power cord was plugged in and he laughed and said he hadn’t noticed that cord.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?
A: Multi tasking because there are a lot of customers in the store and we do replenish the stock, technical support, sales and more, all at the same time.

Q: Is there any particular product you wish Apple would release?
A: Notebook with multi-touch screen, a small pocket-size notebook.

Close Encounters With the Founders

With this April publication of Shuffle, the EmiratesMac User Group (EMUG) in the UAE is celebrating our 1st Anniversary. EMUG’s first meeting was held in August 2006 and interest is already high with over 10-15 members attending regular meetings. The EMUG site, with its online forum, has grown to over 2200 registered members at the time of this writing. The EMUG meetings are held monthly and are informal gatherings. There is usually time for members to chat and discuss about anything and everything related to Macs, and about any other Apple gear. Presentations are also given on topics suggested by members. There’s also time for user tips and raffles during these meetings. EMUG has become what it is today mainly due to the lovely couple Magnus & Crystal, the co-founders of the User Group, and to their second-to-none passion, commitment and dedication in running & managing the User Group. In this anniversary issue, we are delighted to have been able to talk to Magnus and Crystal to give us a few insights.

by Sumudu Gunaratne

Sumudu: Give us a brief background of yourselves, and of how you came to be in the UAE ?
Crystal: Magnus is from Sweden and I’m from the United States. On the personal side, we met when Magnus was living in Scotland and after living there for a few years we returned to the U.S., where we worked for a couple of years before finally moving to the Emirates in 2005. It was Magnus’ work that brought us here, and we wanted to try something different - and it sure has been different.

Sumudu: When did you first get into using Macs and what has been your experience thus far?
Magnus: My first experience was around 1986-1987 with a Mac Plus, sitting in a corner of the office where I worked in summer. I started playing with it and was instantly hooked. Especially clear in my mind is the first time I played with MacPaint, MacWrite, and the ImageWriter printer they had there. It was amazingly easy to create nice graphics and things like that, something that was unheard of on the PC side at the time. Later I started programming Macs and doing support and reviews of software for MacWorld in Sweden. The first Mac I bought was an IIcx. Since then, I’ve owned or used pretty much every Mac model made.
Crystal: For me the first time I used a Mac was in high school. It was one of the small compact ones, but I’m not sure which model. We used to do the student newspaper, banners and posters for events - that sort of thing. Then, like so many others, I drifted away from Mac and it wasn’t until I met Magnus that I started using Macs again.

Sumudu: What inspired you both to set up Emiratesmac.com and the User Group in the UAE?
Magnus: EmiratesMac.com started as my personal blog about Mac stuff in the UAE. It was started following our frustration with buying a Mac mini after moving here in 2005. It was hard to find out where to buy one, and doing a price comparison between stores was hard because pricing information was hardly available. So I started it at http://emiratesmac.wordpress.com, and it was a few months before Crystal even knew that site was there. In March 2006 we registered the EmiratesMac.com domain and started what has grown into the site you see today. The User Group idea we had in early 2006, and in May 2006 we submitted the application to Apple. After many inquiries to Apple we were suddenly accepted in August of 2006, and we had our first real meeting in Abu Dhabi with four participants (the two of us included!).
Crystal: It’s important to remember that we’re still the only registered Apple User Group in the Emirates, and one of very few in the Middle East. There are other Apple User Groups but they don’t seem to have gone through the trouble of registering with Apple, but we felt that was important to gain some legitimacy for our activities.

Sumudu: Tell us something about how you manage and run the Emiratesmac.com website and the User Group, in spite of your busy work schedules?
Crystal: It’s tough sometimes. Magnus gets up really early every morning and does some work before he leaves for his job. During the night he goes through messages posted, and through his RSS feeds to find out general developments within the Apple world. I do the same, but in the morning - and both of us try to check the site throughout the day as often as we can. It’s always fun to check the site and see new messages.
Magnus: Something that takes up a lot of time for us is meeting with people and companies to discuss various things like Shuffle, sponsorships, etc. It’s probably not something that most users and members think about - but things that may appear simple to accomplish, can actually require a lot of time spent meeting and negotiating before they’re official. So that takes up a lot of time. Another thing is that we check all new users on the site and all posts made. Some spam posts we manage to capture through filters, but some always slips through. Overall, it’s a matter of finding time when you can; and making the most of it. For example, I continuously make little notes about ideas for articles or blog posts and when I need to write an article, for example, I come back to this list.
Crystal: Then of course there’s Shuffle. Writing articles and doing the layout every month is like a full-time job in itself, and I’m amazed that we’ve been able to sustain it for one year now. But we love it, so all the effort that goes into producing each issue is not something we think about too much. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not complaining. Shuffle is a ‘labor of love’, so it’s okay.

Sumudu: What tools and software and stuff do you use to run the EMUG site?
Magnus: Most of my work is done with a Mac Pro, but I also have a MacBook Pro on which I write a lot of Shuffle articles because it’s mobile. In terms of software I use the same as most other users; Microsoft Office for Mac, iWork, iLife, Safari and Apple Mail. For administration and development of the site, I use BBEdit and Coda for coding, Transmit for FTP, Photoshop for graphics and Flash for some ads and other things. For some administration things I’ve developed our own systems and applications in PHP and MySQL; like the membership register, training scheduling, and more.
Crystal: I do most of the administrative work for the group and the site, and I also use most of the same software as Magnus, except on my MacBook Air. I manage the user group membership register with a web application that Magnus developed, and I also use some specialized applications for things like invoicing.
Magnus: Let me add that what has made a big difference for us in running the site and the group is our Blackberry devices. We’d love to use iPhones but with the volume of emails and browsing we do ‘on the go’ the unlimited Blackberry plans are unbeatable right now. With my Blackberry I can check the status of the site and even do some simple administration of it, if needed.

Sumudu: What challenges do you face in managing a community website like Emiratesmac.com and the User Group, particularly in the UAE where users come from wide range of cultural backgrounds?
Crystal: The main challenge is to try to get people to understand the idea of a user group. In Europe and North America it’s an established concept; a group of people gathered around a common interest, who help each other out in various ways. But here it doesn’t seem very popular or common as a way of organizing people, so that’s a challenge. We often say EMUG is a non-profit, voluntary-based organization, or a sort of club. Following on that challenge is the difficulties with trying to get people to pitch in to help run the site, Shuffle, etc. And we don’t mean money necessarily. I think a lot of that stems from the misunderstandings around what EMUG is. And this concept of ‘pitching in’ refers to individual users who might consider becoming members - as well as to companies that could contribute in other ways, such as advertising in Shuffle. We often have to explain what we’re doing, and the first question we usually get is “So, how do you make money on this?” Then we have to explain that we’re not doing this to make money, we’re doing this for the community. But we believe that the approach of supporting the community and doing things to help our members is what’s going to prevail in the long run.

Sumudu: What does the future hold for EmiratesMac User Group and Shuffle?
Magnus: We hope we can continue to provide a friendly and helpful platform, offline as well as online, for anyone who is interested in Apple stuff to come together to get help, to share their experience and help others, and to have a good time. We think we’ve managed to do that so far, and we hope we can continue. This is definitely a ‘labor of love’ and, as Crystal already said, few people ever understand what this is all about. It’s true that we require more income to be able to grow and even continue doing what we do, but we’ll keep doing this as long as we’re able to - because it’s an important service and we think it serves an important need.
Crystal: We want to make more interesting and useful things at meetings so that we can get more members to come to them. This may mean more extensive presentations or demos at meetings, or something completely different. We also want to keep producing a high-quality Shuffle and the next major change for Shuffle, I think, is to increase the number of pages in Arabic. But that will require more people to write in Arabic for Shuffle.

Sumudu: What is your message to the Mac community and the User Group in this anniversary issue of Shuffle?
Magnus: This is just the beginning. We often have to remind ourselves that it has been only one year that Shuffle has been printed and only about two years since the EmiratesMac.com site was first set up. In that time we’ve reached over 2200 registered users and a circulation of Shuffle of 9000 copies to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE. That’s amazing, and credit goes out to all those that have helped out in various ways. But we can do so much more and we have many ideas. With more users on the site, more members, more writers for Shuffle, more advertisers, etc. we can become so much more than what we already are. There is no limit to what this can become and we can accomplish much more if we work together. Thank you all from both of us for making this into such an amazing journey, and let’s hope that together we can make it even more amazing in the future.

Profile of a Mac Seller

Name: Saleh
Title: Sales Executive
Store: iStyle Khobar, KSA

Q: When did you start working for iStyle?
A: December 2007.

Q: What did you do before working at iStyle?
A: I was working for HP (Hewlett-Packard) Middle East as a Sales and Merchandise Excutive.

Q: When was the first time you used a Mac and what was your first impression?
A: That was in 2004 and it was a iBook G4. I thought it was a very good computer, especially the graphics were amazing.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?
A: Technical support. When I can help someone solve a problem, especially new users and first time buyers, and explain something to them.

Q: What is your favorite Apple product and why?
A: Everything that is produced by by Apple has nice design, but I prefer the MacBook becuse it helps me in everything I need. It has a compact design with powerful performance.

Q: Do you have a funny story about something that has happened in your job?
A: I don’t have a particular story, but when customers bring in their iPods, they say it’s not working. What I normally do is I hold down a few buttons and reset it, and they ask how did you do that? Which usually happens with all employees in any Apple store.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?
A: Helping our clients and finding the best solutions for them and theirneeds, and making the Mac a good environment for all requirements.

Q: Is there any particular product you wish Apple would release?
A: Sure, I wish many things beginning with iMac with touch screen like iPod touch, a tablet like many said before. And not last the iPhone for the Middle East.

Profile of a Mac Seller

Name: Ana Margarita Baltazar
Title: Sales Promotor
Store: iStyle Festival City, Dubai

Q: When did you start working for iStyle?
A: July 2007.

Q: What did you do before working at iStyle?
A: I was working at Grand Cinema.

Q: When was the first time you used a Mac and what was your first impression?
A: That was in 2007. I thought it was much easier to use than Windows.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?
A: Talking to customers, because I can share my knowledge about the products with them, and at the same time it helps me get better at my job.

Q: What is your favorite Apple product and why?
A: It has to be iPod Touch, because it’s an iPod and I can browse the internet with it, check email, and much more.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?
A: Because I don’t have a technical background, it’s sometimes hard to answer customers’ questions. In those situations I try to get help from my colleagues and listen so I can learn for the future.

Q: Do you have a funny story about something that has happened in your job?
A: It’s not a particular story, but it’s always funny when people think the name of the company is “iPod”. They don’t realize the company is Apple and the product is iPod.

Q: Is there any particular product you wish Apple would release?
A: Before last week I would have said something like the MacBook Air, but now I would want to see a touch-screen notebook.

by Magnus Nystedt

Profile of a Mac Seller

Name: Raymund Quintana
Title: Senior Sales Executive
Store: iStyle, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai

Q: When did you start working for iStyle?
A: July 2007.

Q: What did you do before working at iStyle?
A: Worked in PowerMac Center in the Philipines.

Q: When was the first time you used a Mac and what was your first impression?
A: That was in 2006 and it was a MacBook Pro 1.83. I thought it was a very good computer, especially the graphics.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?
A: Technical support. When I can help someone solve a problem, especially new users and first time buyers. You know, explain something to them.

Q: What is your favorite Apple product and why?
A: Has to be MacBook Pro because it was the first one I used. It is very professional.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?
A: Training for Final Cut Studio. I just finished the end user part, now I’m doing the trainer part.

Q: Do you have a funny story about something that has happened in your job?
A: I don’t have a particular story, but when customers bring in their iPods, they say it’s not working. What I normally do is I hold down a few buttons and reset it, and they ask “how did you do that?”

Q: Is there any particular product you wish Apple would release?
A: A tablet. So many customers are looking for that, technology is already there in iPod Touch so they have that, and many want it.

An Eye for Detail

Sixteen-year-old Adam Odeh is a student who has en eye for detail; he takes mostly macro photographs with his Canon EOS 400D and a 70mm f/2.8 Sigma macro lens. His interest in photography started when he found one of his mother’s old cameras in her baggage. That was before digital photography took off and at a time when it was too expensive for him to develop film. But when digital came of age, Adam also flourished in the field of photography. He says his love for macro photography comes from the fact that, in his own words, it “enlarges the tiniest of objects (e.g. a grain of rice) to huge proportions”. He advises others to put the camera on a steady tripod and to seek out a calm environment, as even the faintest puff of wind can disrupt the kinds of small subjects he shoots. Finally, he advises that you should just “shoot what you like”.

by Magnus Nystedt

Behind the Lens: Patrick Ciatto

Q: Thanks for talking to us Patrick. We met you at GITEX in Dubai. Was that your first visit to the UAE? What was your first impression?
A: GITEX was our first visit to the UAE. We researched Dubai online, read some articles and contacted tourist sites so we could familiarize ourselves with the country, the people, the customs, and the business atmosphere prior to our arrival. The UAE is more than we ever expected - a stunning city with great energy, friendly people and good business opportunities. We very much look forward to another trip to the UAE.

Q: How did you get started with photography?
A: I started photography as a hobby when I was in college and it became my business when I took a position at the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, MD. I worked at the Eye Institute for 30 years as an ophthalmic photographer, documenting and writing protocols for progressive eye diseases. I helped develop the first digital cameras specific to capturing medical eye detail for retina, cornea, scelera (white part of the eye) and helped develop the digital photography department for the NEI. My images of eye detail are still being published internationally in the medical field. My portrait photography of healthy and happy children and families began as a counter balance to my profession, and I have developed my technique and image style for over 25 years. My great gift is that I love to socialize with people and to take pictures of them. I believe I can be considered a true photographer - passionate about learning, enjoying my images and wanting to create beautiful memories for families to look back upon as life changes.

Q: So you got started in photography before the digital revolution. How has going digital changed the way you work as a photographer?
A: Well, computers are a must-have piece of “photographic” equipment now aren’t they? We now capture as many images as we want to because it’s free. Nevertheless it’s important to focus on positive workflow so we don’t spend all of our time in front of a computer. We have to decide what things we’re going to do in house and what things are more cost effective to send out. It’s important to remember that a photographer only makes money when he is photographing or selling. Computer time is not always profitable although it can save you money … you have to find the right balance. In addition, we have unlimited creative options now; we can do anything we imagine and our product lines have changed to reflect this. Once again, we have to find the right balance, the right products and the right retail prices in order to keep our business profitable.

Q: What kind of equipment (e.g. bodies, lenses, accessories) do you usually shoot with?
A: We use Canon cameras (currently the MarkIII), Canon lenses, Canon printers, and the Expo Disc for white balancing the camera. We rely on a nice zoom, a good wide angle and a nice close up. We keep our equipment simple and focus on using it well. We use Westcott Spyderlites for inside window style lighting and Larson strip lights and the Flying Starfish for flash. Outside we use an off camera flash, some reflectors and a gobo (to block light) so we can achieve good directional lighting. It’s important to remember that photographers need cameras, light, reflectors and gobos - but the kind of product you use is secondary to how well you use what you have.

Q: What’s your favorite type of photography?
A: I like photographing people (family portraits, business portraits, children) - I like it all. I enjoy the reaction of people when they see their portraits and say to me how wonderful their portrait is and what a nice experience they had during the photography session. My style is casual and professional. Jane (my wife) likes to photograph fine art portraiture, landscapes and still life creations. She’s more digitally creative in her imaging and I’m more real life. She’s an artist who uses photography as part of what she does and I’m a passionate photographer.

Q: If someone wants to get into photography as a hobby today what advice would you give regarding how they should get started?
A: Start at the beginning. Get a nice affordable camera (we use a little Canon point and shoot) and a decent photo printer. Use Photoshop Elements and check out your educational opportunities either online or through DVD training. Join a camera club or find a friend who also wants to take pictures as well and then go out and photograph. Give yourself project challenges: For example, create a project like “Look Up UAE” where you photograph the city looking up, or visit a local market to photograph “A Day In The Life Of Dubai”. Share your work with others to get their feedback and, most of all, HAVE FUN!

Q: And what if they wanted to be a professional photographer?
A: Learn what it takes to profitably run a small business; Marathon Press is a good company that helps the photographer set up a business plan. It has to be assumed you know the basics - composition, lighting, posing, Photoshop CS3, printing and image presentation. Continue this education by seeking out working professionals and artists and study with them. A very good source of education is the DVDs by Software Cinema - http://www.software-cinema.com. You just have to keep getting better and better. Most photographers fail because they don’t know how to run a profitable business – techniques for developing product lines, pricing, selling, marketing, keeping good financial records, doing taxes, creating an aesthetic studio image, advertising, and creating efficient work flow. You can sell average images and eat well, but you can’t buy food with fine art if you can’t sell it.

Q: Do you do your editing and archiving with a Mac? If so, describe your workflow. What software do you work with?
A: We use Macs. Lightroom, CS3, Corel Painter, Nik Color Effects Pro, Graphic Authority … these are our favorites for producing our work. We use Delkin memory cards and acquisition devices and archive to Delkin archival CD’s and DVD’s plus external hard drives. One important note about writing on your DVD or CD – make sure you use an acid free marker, because a marker that is not solvent free will destroy your CD/DVD. We use the solvent-free CD/DVD pen by Delkin.

Q: If Apple could release one product that would make your life easier, what would it be?
A: Operating systems or software that recognizes old image and document file formats, Mac or PC.

Q: A lot of people are going to buy digital cameras this holiday season. Do you have any particular things they should think about when picking a camera?
A: Buy the best you can for the money based upon what size prints you see yourself making most of the time. People make mistakes when they don’t define what they want to do realistically. For instance, saying “I want to print 4×6’s but I also want to make wall murals”. If 90% of what you do is printing 4×6 images, you don’t need a camera capable of making wall murals - and the price difference is staggering! Set your camera for the highest quality resolution, you may get fewer images on a memory card but they will be of higher quality – learn to carry extra batteries and memory cards. Also learn what the symbols mean on your digital camera; auto is not the only setting you should use.

Q: Since it is the holiday season, we know there are going to be many photos taken with all those cameras. Would you like to share some quick tips for how we can take some better photos?
A: Crop the images in the camera so you can make the most of your camera’s capabilities. If you crop after you shoot, you lose pixels and you won’t be able to make enlargements that look crisp and saturated. Set custom white balances so you get accurate color. Choose the backgrounds first and then move the people into them so you can avoid things like trees coming out of people’s heads or bright back window lighting. Put people in meaningful surroundings that will bring back pleasant memories. Photograph the world not like it is, but how you would like it to be.

Q: Thanks Patrick. Do you have any final thoughts for our readers?
A: Technology can be overwhelming. Get what you need but don’t feel like you have to have it all. Learn the basics and learn them to the point where you implement them unconsciously - lighting, posing, color harmony, composition, exposure, camera settings. When you photograph people the best pictures result from a conversation you share with a camera being present. Enjoy your images with family and friends.

by Magnus Nystedt

Patrick Ciatto is a photographer based out of Ormond Beach, Florida, USA. He has over 25 years of experience as a professional photographer. You can see his work on his web site http://www.janesdigitalart.com/pcp/index.php. We recently met Patrick at GITEX in Dubai, where he impressed us with his passion for and knowledge of photography. All photos in this article are copyright Patrick Ciatto.

Profile of a Mac Seller

Name: Samer Bsawmaii
Title: Sales Executive
Store: iStyle, Abu Dhabi Mall, Abu Dhabi

Q: When did you start working for iStyle?
A: January 2007.

Q: What did you do before working at iStyle?
A: I studied information systems at Freddy Attalah College, Lebanon.

Q: When was the first time you used a Mac and what was your first impression?
A: About three years ago, it was amazing, the resolution and the colors. Little things like Dock animations really blew me away. and it was so easy to use.

Q: What’s the best part of your job?
A: I like interacting with customers, to help them with their problems. To make them happy.

Q: What is your favorite Apple product and why?
A: It has to be Leopard because of all the new features. I’ve not seen them before in any operating system.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?
A: Sometimes when I have to tell customers they have to wait for a spare part or something. I don’t like to make them wait. It doesn’t happen often but I don’t like it.

Q: Do you have a funny story about something that has happened in your job?
A: Once there was a customer coming to my store. He was from a small village in the mountains of Lebanon. He asked me “Do you have the iPhot?” Of course he meant the iPhone and he was joking but it was funny.

Q: Is there any particular product you wish Apple would release?
A: Everything they have is so great, I can’t think of anything right now. They keep producing amazing products so I’m not sure what they could add.

In the Spotlight: Ummah Films

We have been following Ummah Films short clips on YouTube for quite some time (www.ummahfilms.com). When we asked the guy behind the films, Ali, about how he put them together and how he got started, we found out that he’s a Mac user. Since we also know that many of you watch his films and enjoy them, we wanted to be able to bring you closer to Ali and what he does.

Q: Tell us about Ummah Films. Who’s involved? How did it get started? Where are you based?
A: The CEO of Bridges TV invited me to do a 1/2 show on cable about my game, Mecca to Medina. During my stay there I notice they were using simple Macs to make television content for their shows. I figured if they could do it, then anyone could do it. So when it came down to doing the Reminder, I figured to keep it simple and focus on content and, Alhamdulillah (all praise belongs to God), the rest is history.

Q: Is this your full time job? If not, what do you do to pay the bills, so to speak?
A: I’m actually in IT. Pretty much chained to a desk doing mostly uncreative work, so that is one reason I enjoy making these videos. It’s an outlet to be creative.

Q: Many of us have seen your videos on YouTube and laughed hard as well as learned a lot. How did that series of videos get started, and what do you want to accomplish with them?
A: My goal with the Reminder series is to remind others and of course myself about things that many of us already know. There are many situations where we want to say something, but because we don’t want to be an outcast or to be politically incorrect, we don’t say anything (i.e. show-off weddings). In other situations we can’t really say anything (e.g. telling people to stop talking about Jummah) so I decided to make a video series where some random guy on the internet says what’s on everyone else’s mind and no one can take it personally because I’m talking to everybody, starting with myself. Of course, I try to use my sense of humor so the medicine doesn’t taste bad, but for those who get past the comedy flavor, there is a message behind it and that is what is most important.

Q: As I said, many of us both laugh and really think hard about your videos. You seem to accomplish a rare balance between being funny and serious at the same time. Is this intentional, or something that just happened?
A: What you see in the videos is not a character but rather it’s me. It’s my mind and how I think. Given the fact that I’m sitting in the room by myself and I edit my own videos, I have control to make sure things come out right. Many of friends are immune to me but once in a while they still laugh when I give them my two cents on a specific issue.

Q: What has the response to the videos been around the world?
A: Alhamdulillah, it has been really positive thus far. I’m actually surprised by the large number of non-Muslims who watch the videos and by messages I get from them. I get emails from a wide range of people from all around the world who enjoy the videos. Alhamdulillah.

Q: Has there been any controversy over any of your videos?
A: Some of the videos have issues that are sensitive to people. For example, the Hijab video is an issue that is rarely addressed by men since it deals with the improper versus the proper way of wearing Hijab, but I didn’t let that stop me from doing the video because I think its the way you present the ideas that makes the difference. Alhamdulillah, I think about 90% of the response from the sisters has been positive so it looks like that approach worked.

Q: How do you produce the videos? What equipment do you shoot, edit with, etc?
A: I film the videos using an Canon XL2 camera in a small room with a few softbox lights. I edit the videos using Final Cut Pro on a Mac. I’m a big Apple person and since I moved over to the Mac side, I have no ambition to ever move back to PC.

Q: How do you select what to cover in your videos?
A: Since I’m not an actor or writer, I can only base it on what is going on with my reality. I can’t just take submissions and write about something and make it good unless I have experienced it or know someone close to me that has been through it. Often times, its based on what I have gone through and that is why I think people can relate. Many of us share similar experiences.

Q: Do you write any script before shooting your videos?
A: The first two videos were more outlined and that caused a little confusion from the viewers. I realized that what I say can be misunderstood so it’s best not to freestyle. So starting by the third video, I starting putting down my words so I can make sure things don’t get misunderstood.

Q: In April 2007, you had “An Evening With Ali” at the Imperial College in London. What was that like? Is it something you’d like to do again, perhaps in the UAE?
A: It was my first time doing a full show by myself so I was nervous. I’m not a comedian by any means so I wasn’t sure what people were expecting. I’m just Ali and that’s it. So I gave them Ali. I stood up and spoke my mind and showed some videos and, Alhamdulillah, the event went really well. I don’t deserve any credit though because that credit goes to the brothers and sisters who organized the event.

Q: You publish your videos to the web. What special steps, if any, do you take to make your videos suitable for the web?
A: I use Compressor for Final Cut Studio pro to export it in the high quality H.264 format for Quicktime 7.

Q: If one of our members want to get into making movies, perhaps for the web, what advice do you have for them?
A: I would recommend they would take advantage of the web. Web sites like www.izzyvideo.com will teach you how to film and other sites like www.vtc.com will teach you how to use almost all software applications involved in making films, including both Adobe Premiere and Apple’s Final Cut Pro. The internet can be a great tool if its used properly. We recently launched a forum section where Muslim film makers can collaborate, share ideas and network, and it’s free (www.ummahfilms.com/forums).

Q: Can you tell us something about your future plans?
A: I hope to do one final Season of the Reminder series and then move on to my next project, Muslim Poetry. Words are very powerful and can cause people to think, so my goal is to make people think because that is the first step towards changing our situation for the better, InshAllah.

Q: You write on your site that you provide provide “a Halaal (Islamically permissible) alternative form of entertainment with a positive message.” Could you tell us more what that means to you?
A: I don’t believe that you should compromise your “deen” (principles of Islamic faith) for the sake of entertainment or making films. I think just like everything else in life, Muslims have rules and as long as we abide by those rules, then we can be creative and still get some very good work done. I didn’t want to work on a project for the sake of making a cool video but rather I was attracted to the ideas of film making because I think we can put out a positive message while still keeping our Islamic values. The goal is to raise the bar and to show other Muslim filmmakers that we can make a difference with our creativity and our cameras - but we must keep our intentions pure, InshAllah, because once our intentions go astray… so do we. Thus, the success of all things are only in the hands of our Creator, and without Him, there is no success. So if you want to be successful, then He has to will it.

Q: Have you ever been a part of an Apple User Group?
A: No I haven’t.

Q: Do you have any advice for the EmiratesMac Apple User Group in terms of what we do for the Apple community in the Middle East?
A: Apple products are top notch and very powerful. Take advantage of them and use them to benefit this Ummah InshAllah.

Q: You have a lot of fans in the Middle East and around the world. What would you like to say to them?
A: JazakAllah khair (May Allah reward you) for all your support and kind words. No matter how successful this project becomes, the success is in Allah (swt) hands and I deserve no credit. Many people may laugh at the idea of one person making a difference so I hope the evidence of the Reminder series (written, filmed and edited by one person with no film background) is proof that YOU can make a difference. Make du’ah and put in the effort InshAllah.

Q: Finally, if anyone reading this is a big fan of yours, what can they do to support you?
A: Make du’ah for us InshAllah. I would like to continue with going beyond the Reminder to my next project but unfortunately all these projects require funds so please support Ummah Films by buying our shirts and DVDs. JazakAllah khair.

by Magnus Nystedt

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