BMUG is a membership-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping users of graphical interface computers. It represents the interests of over 12,000 Macintosh users in more than fifty countries.
BMUG offers something for everyone. Here are a few of the reasons that more than 12,000 people belong to BMUG:
The BMUG Newsletter -- Published twice a year, each Newsletter contains 400 pages of reviews, reference material, and commentary (and no advertising!).
Planet BMUG and BMUG Boston, the BMUG BBSes -- our FirstClass graphical interface electronic Bulletin Board Services. Use your modem to exchange messages with BMUG members around the world, send mail via the Internet, and download software from BMUG's vast software library.
The Helpline -- Access to our technical Helpline is available to members during business hours by phone, fax, or in person.
The Software Library -- One of the largest and most up-to-date collections of Publicly Distributable software anywhere. It is sold on disks and CD-ROM or can be downloaded from the BBSes.
Publications and CD-ROMs -- BMUG publishes CD-ROMs of Shareware, and books on scripting, resource editing, software programs, and more.
The Meetings -- BMUG holds weekly Main Meetings in Berkeley, monthly general meetings in San Francisco and San Jose, and Special Interest Group meetings virtually every night of the week. See interesting product demos, meet other computer users, and hear the latest industry rumors.
Contacting BMUG
By Phone
Announcement Line (510) 849-9114
Business Office (510) 549-2684
Fax (510) 849-9026
Planet BMUG (BBS) (510) 849-2684
BMUG Boston (BBS) (617) 721-5840
BMUG--product orders only (800) 776-BMUG
By Mail
BMUG Inc.
1442A Walnut Street, #62
Berkeley, CA USA 94709-1496
Our office location
BMUG Inc.
2055 Center Street, cross street Shattuck Ave.
in downtown Berkeley
The BMUG Philosophy
BMUG started as a small user group in 1984, shortly after the introduction of the Macintosh. As a non-profit corporation BMUG strives to give the plain, unbiased truths about product performance and the industry in general. We don't sell advertising in our newsletters and make it quite clear that we will not exchange good reviews for product donations. BMUG is neither affiliated with, nor receives monetary support from, Apple Computer or any other for-profit entity.
Our goal is clearly stated in our motto:
"We're in the business of giving away information."
BMUG Memberships
BMUG is member-supported. Membership privileges include semi-annual issues of the famous BMUG Newsletter, technical assistance, and access to Planet BMUG or BMUG Boston.
Join BMUG today and find out why MicroTimes lists BMUG among the 100 most important influences on the computer industry and said, "BMUG is what every user group dreams of becoming."
California Business magazine rates BMUG in the top 100 of California's Hottest Digital Information providers.
Select one of the following membership packages for individuals:
Six Month Membership - $28
* One issue of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for one person for six months
* A six month account on a BMUG BBS (60 min/day)
Contributing Membership - $45
* Two issues of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for one person
* An account on a BMUG BBS (60 min/day)
Sustaining Membership - $70
* Two issues of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for one person
* An account on a BMUG BBS (90 min/day)
* Access to online magazines when available (such as BoardWatch, NewsBytes, USA Today)
Hero Membership - $100
* First Class mailing of two issues of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for one person
* An account on a BMUG BBS (90 min/day)
* Access to online magazines when available (such as BoardWatch, NewsBytes, USA Today)
* Acknowledgement in The BMUG Newsletter
Satellite Club Membership - $250
* First Class mailing of two issues of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for one person
* An account on a BMUG BBS (120 min/day)
* Access to online magazines when available (such as BoardWatch, NewsBytes, USA Today)
* Two of each BMUG product released during the year of your membership (except PD library floppy disks)
* Acknowledgement in The BMUG Newsletter
The BMUG Newsletter
BMUG Newsletters are published twice a year. Each is approximately 400 pages long, contains no advertising, and is written and edited by BMUG members, volunteers, and staff. We encourage you to contribute your efforts as well. Remember, the only way to receive the current Newsletter is to be a BMUG member!
The Newsletter includes software and hardware reviews, "how-to" guides, commentaries on the computer industry, and Choice Products -- BMUG's respected product recommendations.
Each Newsletter comes with a disk of the latest and greatest Shareware and Freeware, as well as a program to help you access our electronic Bulletin Board Service.
BMUG Online
Planet BMUG and BMUG Boston BBSes
Got a modem? That's about all you'll need to get online with BMUG on our electronic Bulletin Board Systems (BBS). Members can request a free account on either of our FirstClass, graphical user interface BBSes. We support baud rates from 300 to 14,440, on all 17 lines in Berkeley and all 11 lines in Boston. Nearly 6,000 members log on and discuss every subject under the sun and many of the conferences are directly gatewayed between the two BMUG BBSes. We exchange mail with Internet via UUCP mail. Much of the most current Shareware and Freeware is available.
BMUG is also on many of the commercial forums across the nation. You can reach BMUG at the following electronic addresses:
Internet: bmuginfo@bmug.org
America Online: BMUG or BMUG1
AppleLink: UG0001
CompuServe: 73237,501
Prodigy: HCHT96B
The WELL: bmug
Technical Assistance
The Helpline
BMUG's Helpline for members is the only place where you can get technical help on virtually any subject pertaining to the Macintosh. BMUG volunteers and staff answer our phones weekdays from 9:30am to 5:30pm Pacific Time. We attempt to return your call within two business days. BMUG accepts technical questions via fax as well.
Emergency Data Recovery
Broken hard drive, crashed floppy?? If you're a member we'll do our best to recover your data, for free. There are no guarantees, but we have many tools at our disposal and years of experience using them. An appointment is required so call our Helpline first. If you can't make it to us, we'll arrange for you to mail it in to us. You can save hundreds of dollars, and we'll even let you join after your hard drive crashes. BMUG does RAM upgrades for members as well.
BMUG Software Library
BMUG has one of the largest collections of Freeware and Shareware software in the world. The library contains over four hundred 800K disks organized into categories such as Utilities, Fonts, Games, Education, etc. Disks are available to both members and non-members at $4 each, to cover our costs. Specially priced disk packs are available. BMUG carefully and painstakingly checks everything we sell for viruses.
BMUG strongly encourages users to support Shareware authors and their efforts by sending in Shareware fees.
BMUG Publications
The Tao of AppleScript, BMUG's Guide to Macintosh Scripting
From novice to scriptmaster, this book on AppleScript takes you on a journey of discovering Apple's revolutionary, new scripting language AppleScript. With The Tao of AppleScript and the included software you can control your Mac like never before. The disk includes AppleScript, QuickTime 1.6.1, StuffIt Lite, and scripting utilities written specifically for the book!
The 1993 BMUG Shareware Disk Catalog
A 700+ page compendium of the disks which make up the BMUG Shareware Library, the largest and most complete Macintosh Shareware library in the world. You can get it cheapest from us, but look for it in stores, published by Addison-Wesley.
BMUG's Quicker QuickTime
Learning about digital video from scratch can be harder than learning about your first computer. The authors of this book don't assume you are an expert in either, but by the time you read the last page, you will understand how computers and video can combine to make something very exciting happen.The book includes a disk including Apple's QuickTime, MoviePlayer, and QuickTime movies.
Zen and The Art of Resource Editing-Third Edition
A series of articles to help you navigate through the cryptic world of ResEdit. The newest edition is 240 pages long and includes System 7 tips. The book comes with a disk containing the current version of ResEdit and templates.
ToonWare - A Humor Interface
This collection of the humorous and the absurd is a sure bet for any computer enthusiast. 96 pages of comic art, the perfect gift for anyone with a sense of humor and a Mac.
BMUG CD-ROMs
BMUG's TV-ROM(TM) Too
The sucessor of the original TV-ROM, this disc was created with the very latest QuickTime technology.With over 500 megs of QuickTime movies, 100 musical clips, and over 200 photographic color images, this CD-ROM has captured the imagination of Mac users around the globe. Copyright light, these clips can be used in any presentation without payment or paperwork!
The BMUG PD-ROM(TM) version B
In addition to our entire library of Shareware and Freeware, the PD-ROM contains stuff available only from BMUG (such as Newsletters back issues). With over 600 megs of fonts, games, and other programs, it's the best source of Publicly Distributable software and all System 7.1 compatible and 32-bit clean.
The BMUG ResEdit Collection, CD-ROM
From the authors of Zen and the Art of Resource Editing, comes a collection of cool and exciting things! Includes the latest version of ResEdit, new editors, thousands of icons, patterns, resources, utilities, QuickTime, and Frontier Runtime.
The BMUG Font ROM
With oiver 1000 fonts, this disc is the place to get any Shareware or Freeware font you would ever want. Over 120 megs of TrueType fonts, Type 1 PostScript fonts, and Adobe screen fonts up to number 289 are available. The contents are entirely Finder accessible.
Other BMUG Products
The BMUG Tie-Dyed T-Shirt
This t-shirt has become legendary. The fashion statement of BMUG. The front has BMUG in large letters, the back "The BMUG T-shirt. Tie-Dyed in Berkeley by Deadheads."
Tote Bag
Our 100% cotton all purpose tote bag. Tested across the globe by BMUG staff and volunteers with great results.
Meetings
All of BMUG meetings are open to the public. You do not have to be a member to attend. We welcome new and old Macintosh users alike. Call BMUG at (510) 549-2684 and press 8 for current meeting information and location.
Main Meetings
BMUG holds weekly Macintosh meetings on the UC Berkeley campus. Approximately 100 members and non-members gather to discuss the latest industry gossip, ask technical questions, and watch vendors demonstrate new and soon to be released software and hardware. The meetings are free of charge, open to the public, and there is a raffle at the end of every one.
BMUG*West
Each month BMUG holds a Macintosh meeting at the Exploratorium's McBean Theater in San Francisco from 6:00pm to 9:00pm on the last Monday of the month. Though they have the same format as our main meetings, including the raffle, they are smaller and more intimate.
BMUG*South
A monthly meeting in San Jose. Every third Monday at the Santa Clara County United Way office at 1922 The Alameda, unless otherwise noted. The meeting starts at 6:30pm.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
BMUG has meetings almost week night, and some on weekends as well, on specific fields of interest. All SIGs meet in our offices in Berkeley unless otherwise noted and are free of charge and open to the public.
