Given that the latest news on our fast Internet connection is that US West might have it in by mid-May (year unspecified), Adam and I decided to forgo the monstrously large download of the System 7.5 Update 2.0, and instead purchase a CD. It turns out the CD (or the disks) can only be purchased through Apple, or through a Macintosh User Group. To buy the update from a User Group, you must belong to the group. Last week, I investigated three possibilities: Apple, AMUG, and BMUG.

Apple -- In Geoff's extensive look at the update in TidBITS-318, he suggested calling Apple/Claris at 800/293-6617, extension 984. It took some patience to get through, but I did verify that the CD is available for $13 plus tax (but no shipping charge). I learned that there is no non-800 number to call, and Apple will not ship outside the U.S., except to APO and FPO addresses. The Apple representative quoted me a shipping time of 14 working days to six weeks.

AMUG -- The Arizona Macintosh User Group is offering the AMUG Tech 1.0 CD in DealBITS this week, and the CD does seem like a good deal. For $11 plus $5 shipping ($10 international) you get not only System 7.5 Update 2.0, but also - as you might expect - a one month AMUG membership, plus 800 games, 500 Internet tools, the contents of the Apple FTP site, the AMUG Internet Installer, and several movies of commercials, including Apple's classic 1984 ad. You can also upgrade your one-month membership to a year, or join for a year and get the CD free. AMUG will take orders via email at <sales@amug.org>, via a Web-based form, or by phone at 602/553-0066. I don't know if AMUG is ramped up for enormous volume, but the woman who took my order said it would go out the next day, and that I should have it in about three days.

<http://www.tidbits.com/dealbits/>

BMUG -- After buying the AMUG CD, I learned that BMUG is also selling a CD with the System 7.5 Update 2.0 for $12 plus tax (shipping and handling is free to U.S. addresses; $5 to international addresses). The CD also includes 29 MB of goodies from the BMUG essentials folder and includes First Class BBS software for connecting to Planet BMUG and BMUG Boston, as well as QuickTime movies, software demos, and so on. To buy the CD from BMUG, you must first join the group, and prices for joining start at $45 per year. BMUG will take orders by phone at 510/549-2684 or 800/776-2684 or by fax at 510/849-9026.

<http://www.bmug.org/>

Remember, whether you order from Apple, AMUG, BMUG, or another source, the CD is an updater; you must use it in conjunction with an installed version of System 7.5.