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 hundred's of 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 or your internet account to exchange messages with BMUG members around the world, send mail via the Internet, and download software from BMUG's vast software library. Now available via TCP/IP connection. BMUG Boston TCP/IP address: 198.69.254.236 port 3004. BMUG Berkeley TCP/IP address: 206.80.36.91 port 3004.
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) 549-2684 x8
Main Line (510) 549-2684
Fax (510) 849-9026
Planet BMUG (BBS) (510) 849-2684
BMUG Boston (BBS) (617) 275-3062
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.
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:
Full Membership - $65
* Two issues of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for one person
* An account on a BMUG BBS (60 min/day)
Contributing Membership - $45 (As a nonprofit organization we are committed to providing access to our services to as many people as possible. We encourage those who are not able to join at the Full Membership level to join as a Contributing Member with the same benefits).
* 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 - $75
* Two issues of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for up to 4 people
* An account on a BMUG BBS (90 min/day)
Hero Membership - $100
* First Class mailing of two issues of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for up to 4 people
* An account on a BMUG BBS (90 min/day)
* Acknowledgement in The BMUG Newsletter
Family Membership - $85
* Two issues of The BMUG Newsletter
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for up to 4 people
* Up to two accounts on a BMUG BBS (60 min/day)
Business Membership - $150
* Four BMUG Newsletters (two copies each)
* Access to The BMUG Helpline for up to 8 people
* Up to four accounts on a BMUG BBS (60 min/day)
The BMUG Newsletter
BMUG Newsletters are published twice a year. Each is approximately 300 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 5 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. Much of the most current Shareware and Freeware is available. The BMUG BBSes are both accessible via TCP/IP connection which means that you can call up your Internet Service Provider (ISP), launch FirstClass with the settings file set to connect via TCP/IP protocol, and log on without a long distance charge to you. You must already have a PPP/SLIP internet account to do this.
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
eWorld: BMUG1
AppleLink: UG0001
The WELL: bmug
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 Cupertino, California. Every third Monday at the Apple R&D Campus in the Apple Town Hall, 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. Call the BMUG Announcement line for dates and times.
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. If all lines are busy, leave a message, and we’ll attempt to return your call within two business days. If you haven’t heard from us within that time, please place your call once again. The best time to call the Helpline is on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:00pm to 5:00 pm. We also return calls on Mondays from 5pm to 9pm and Saturdays from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, so please leave a weekend/evening telephone number where you can be reached. BMUG also accepts your technical questions via fax and on Planet BMUG or BMUG Boston!
Emergency Data Recovery
Broken hard drive, crashed floppy?? If you’re a member we’ll do our best to recover your data, for free. All appointments are usually made for Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00pm to 5:00pm and Mondays from 6pm to 9pm. Call the office to request an appointment.
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, Second Edidtion
This book, new as of August 1994, 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, StuffIt Lite, and scripting utilities written specifically for the book!
Zen and The Art of Resource Editing-Fourth Edition
Brand new as of December 1995 this bok covers ResEdit 2.1.3 and Sustem 7.5.1. It also includes a CD-ROM with tons of cool resources and ResEdit! If you've ever wondered how to create your own icons, desktop patterns or animated cursors then this is the book for you. This edition includes a revised version of BMUG's ResEdit Collection CD-ROM with twice as many resources with which to build a new look for your computer and tons of utilities that enhance its interface.
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™ Too with Update ROM
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! It comes with BMUG's TV-ROM Too Update ROM described below.
BMUG's TV-ROM Too Update ROM
In August 1994, BMUG released the TV-ROM Too Update, an update-ROM for owners of BMUG's TV-ROM Too and/or those curious about the new features of QuickTime 2.0. The $20 disc contains the brand new version of QuickTime and a sampling of movies—favorites re-digitized from BMUG's TV-ROM Too, and enhanced additions and new renditions that take advantage of QuickTime's newest tricks.
A BMUG-developed HyperCard stack serves as a guide to viewing, learning, and experimenting with the movies on the ROM. Simple and familiar navigational tools allow the user to be a mouse potato or truly have an interactive learning experience. Each movie's card contains vital information such as frame rates, file size and duration, as well as the ability to play the movie in a variety of ways. This hands-on experience will give any user a better understanding of some of the new capabilities of QuickTime.
The BMUG PD-ROM™ Fall 1995
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 7.5 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, & Desktop Publishing Toolkit
This ROM includes over 1,700 distinct TrueType and Postscript fonts—all organized within a Hypercard-based font viewer for easy viewing and sorting. Also includes ATM 3.8.2; Adobe's collection of Bitmap fonts; HyperCard Player and other Apple softwar; demo programs to help with buying decisions; and tons of Shareware utilities.
The BMUG Game ROM,version 3, Volumes I & II
Mastered new as of November of 1995, The BMUG Games ROMs together contains over 1,000 Megabytes of Publicly Distributable Freeware and Shareware games. These discs are a superset of the games found on the popular BMUG PD-ROM. It also includes lots of new stuff. Both System 6 and 7 compatible. Also tested with a PowerMac for compatibility. Buy them together or separately.
All files come with online documentation to explain their use, and any applicable Shareware fees. You can read them in Saint Edit format, TeachText, or any application capable of reading text files. The BMUG Game ROM is completely Finder accesible and organized by type, such as card games, Star Trek games, etc.
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.
The Official BMUG Mug
Finally, a B-MUG! We’ve been talking about it for years, but somehow never got to it. Well, it’s finally here! With our infamous tie-dye design, this ceramic beauty is just the thing to make a BMUG statement everyday!
