Volume Number: 24 (2008)
Issue Number: 01
Column Tag: Editorial

From the Editor

January brings us the "big show:" Macworld. While there are other Mac-related shows, nothing quite compares to this annual event. Even Apple - as a company - typically waits to make product announcements during this particular week. (If that surprises you, realize that Apple doesn't own this show like they do Apple Expo).

Of course, it's really about the Mac community and ecology. Don't think that you can't get involved! While it's too late to do anything formal now, take note of what goes on at the show and be prepared for next year. Aside from the vendor booths, there are many educational sessions (at which I'll be speaking), gatherings during the week and the simple chance to meet and interact with your peers.

This issue of MacTech should reach you before the show, and, as a reminder, there will be a MacTech booth on the floor. If you brought your copy of MacTech along for your travels, don't give it away when someone else wants it - send them to the MacTech booth to pick up a copy for themselves!

At MacTech, we've been talking about what may be revealed at the show, making plans to see friends and getting the booth ready to greet visitors. This is the first year in San Francisco that the show will be split between two completely separate buildings. I, for one, am intensely curious to see how that works out. A similar scheme became unmanageable back in the days of a mid-year show in Boston - although you had to take a bus between the locations (any current readers remember that?).

Continuing with the show theme, we call this the "show issue" - for obvious reasons - and we're really happy with what has come together. The big story here is clearly Time Machine. Clearly it works. But how does it work? What are the caveats of using it? How can you best use it with a mobile system? Returning author Rich Warren delves into the magic behind Time Machine, and gives some tips beyond hooking up a FireWire drive for backup time.

Something for everyone this month: Doug Hanley brings us part 2 of his detailed look at Apple Certifications. With the release of Leopard, there have also been changes to the certification process. If you've been waiting to obtain an Apple Certification, there's never been a better time. Check out Doug's article to show you the way!

Once your new Macs get set up and into end-users hands, how do you manage them? Do you walk around to each desktop and load the new version of iWork? Of course not, you're smarter than that! But which of the many tools and methods is right for you? Brian Best has written the definitive guide on the topic. On page 62, you'll find our, "Manage Your Loadset, Post Deploy" article, covering tools such as ARD, LANRev, Radmind and more.

Speaking of remote management, if you're a command-line-type like me, you may be looking for a command-line tool that lets you spray out commands to list of machines. ARD without ARD, in a way. My Mac In The Shell column walks you through dshell, a tool to do just that.

Back in the something-for-everyone category, Dave Dribin has been leading us down The Road to Code, and is now starting to touch on some advanced topics. This month, we hit the Inheritance and Polymorphism milestone - a core concept in object oriented programming.

Last, but certainly not least, we're happy to be featuring Peter N. Lewis in this month's MacTech Spotlight. If you've been around the Macintosh any length of time, that should be a familiar name. If it isn't, turn to page 88 right now and find out why! It's OK to start from the back. Really.

If you're at this year's Macworld, please visit us at the MacTech booth in the West hall. If you love MacTech and want to turn someone new on to the magazine, send them by for a complimentary copy! If you're not attending, there's always enough news coverage to keep you in rapt attention. So, no matter where you are in January, Enjoy!

Edward Marczak,

Executive Editor