Bring your questions and goals, get comfortable with your Mac.
If you wish to bring your machine to the shop, so much the better; we can discuss ways to customize and streamline operations on your Mac, bookmark references, download drivers and fix minor issues while we're at it. We have guest machines here as well, so you don't even have to own a Mac to try it out and learn your way around.
Whether you are new to computers, switching from the PC, interested in adding capabilities or wanting to learn and explore new functions and features, subject matter is entirely up to you and shop assets are at your disposal.
Why two hours? Because we've found that it goes quickly but seems to be a saturation point for most people. You'll get plenty of answers and more info than you can shake a mouse at. We provide email support for our clients, too. We'll do our best to keep interruptions to a minimum, and if we go a little over two hours, that's okay, too.







Designed for small groups, up to 16 people.
nCity is excited to offer prepared courses at the MacShack, utilizing Keynote presentations on our 10-foot screen, doodling on the shop whiteboard, and a collection of rare video and props designed to entertain as well as educate. Given enough lead time (and incentive!), we can create and tailor custom presentations for our corporate clients, clubs or special-interest groups in addition to the two rotating courses offered below.
Formal courses are offered to nCity clients who sign up for classes in advance on a first-come, first-serve basis. Other groups are also invited to attend with advance arrangements and approval, bearing in mind that the MacShack is a private concern and not open to the general public.






Group registration and info request:
If you think you might be interested in attending a class at the MacShack, use this form to register and receive notice of class schedules as classes form. (See course descriptions below.)



Your Name:

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Course Subjects:

Computer Cognition
Mastering eBay (Buy)
Mastering eBay (Sell)
Piracy and Privacy

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Please be sure to include any details you may be concerned about or interested in, along with any questions or suggestions you might have. If your email address was entered correctly, you should receive a reply within 24 hours. Thank you!








Ever wonder what goes on in there?
Machine language, data transfer and storage, device types and mechanisms all play significant roles in everyday operation of computers; understanding what the machine is doing can make computer use far more intuitive, as well as helping to avoid (and solve) problems along the way. That's the concept behind nCity's Computer Cognition Course, to make your computer experience as easy and intuitive as possible.

Focused on understanding basic functions, this course begins with a brief whiteboard discussion of machine language, followed by Keynote presentations involving a brief history of the personal computer and its evolution into the platforms we use today. We'll demonstrate and discuss fundamental data processes, show you how to evaluate hardware and software options, touch on firmware and formats, OS functions, housekeeping and maintenance routines, Finder navigation and customizing your Mac. And, along the way, we'll try to dispel a few myths.

All this will be accomplished with a minimum of acronyms and technobabble, we promise. You'll leave here with a better understanding of how to keep your Mac happy and well-tuned, equipped to deal with questions and situations you haven't even encountered yet. Guaranteed! Computer cognition is exactly what this course aims to provide.It's easy, honest.

How'd we get here, and why does it matter?
The Alto (left), was first operational in 1973, it was demonstrated to Apple staff (reluctantly) in 1975 at Xerox PARC. By '79 there were 1500 Alto workstations in operation, 1000 at PARC connected to ethernet and laser printers.

The Altair (right) came in kit form and was the genesis of the Windows PC.






Two-part, two-session course: buying and selling.
Course begins with a good deal of information on trading safely, awareness of spoofing and phishing scams, and avoiding fraud on the internet. An introduction to eBay follows (for those who may be unfamiliar with eBay), along with a brief history. Part 1 of this course is focused on getting started and getting registered with eBay, various search options, and successful bidding and buying, along with record keeping and protections available to buyers. It also explores the numerous features, functions, rules and regulations of eBay. We'll spend time online actively experimenting with audience-selected searches, exploring eBay assets, and eBay's personal database management (known as "My eBay"). We might even place a bid or two, if time allows.
Part 2 deals with the more complex process of composing and posting an auction, posting photos, and responsibilities during and after the auction. We'll help you avoid potential problems, discuss packing and shipping options, and cover other aspects of selling on eBay. We'll also guide you thru setting up a PayPal account (and explain why you want one).
Mastering eBay Part 1 (buying) is a prerequisite to Part 2 (selling).








Buying on eBay is _way_ too easy. You can find almost anything, too.
Starting with a blizzard of spoofs and scams from nCity's collection (some people need convincing that these are fake), we'll explode the myth of identity theft and make sure you remain secure in your online dealings (whether on eBay or some other site). We'll show you a little about parsing headers and tracking scams to their source, then discuss some simple common-sense countermeasures.
eBay's "proxy bidding" system may seem odd at first glance, but it makes perfect sense - you'll see. And you'll get well acquainted with terms and techniques like "Buy It Now," dutch auctions, best offer, shills, suspensions and everybody's favorite gripe, sniping.
We'll experiment with a dozen different ways of finding a specific item on eBay and how to refine, expand or narrow your search as needed. (Bring info for the most obscure thing you can think of, and we might try a search for it - we're always up to the challenge and we're constantly amazed at the things we find on eBay.) We'll show you how to research items and buyers and sellers, how to evaluate feedback, why it matters and what it means. Then we'll dig into a few case histories regarding strange offers, rule violations, bidding wars, and some of the things to look out for.






Selling on eBay requires a bit more computer savvy.
After a quick review of Part 1 (Buying), this course dives right into listing composition, photo file types and formats, legal aspects (listing as a contract), management of eBay and PayPal accounts, managing your "My eBay" page, answering buyers' questions, when, why and how to post feedback, packing, insurance and shipping. The whole 9-yards (as Jill would say).

 Let's leverage some eBay training assets, shall we?
Here are some links to get you started and informed, straight from the source: