On the heels of an outstanding Macworld 2010, IDG has announced that free exhibit hall registrations are available for a very limited time for Macworld 2011.

Macworld 2011 is scheduled for January 25 – 29, 2011 (Conferences) and January 27-29 (Expo) at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. You can get a free Expo pass now though March 8 by visiting the special registration page.

Do we need to say this? Free registration to the year’s biggest and best Mac event, no strings attached. If you’re even thinking of perhaps going maybe, sign up now. Still not sure if Macworld is for you? Check out all the interviews, panel discussions and more that were documented on MacVoicesTV, and you’ll be convinced.

Our friends at the Peachpit User Group Program are making a special offer for all Mac User Groups who are interested delivering both great information on video production and a great price on a Peachpit book to their members.

Peachpit would like to give your group a unique opportunity to provide your members with high-quality articles and video instruction from Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman’s critically acclaimed Peachpit book, Video Made on a Mac: Production and Postproduction using Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite absolutely free.

What’s the catch?

There isn’t one. All they ask is that you post one article and one video to your Web site every month for 6 months. That’s right, 6 months of FREE content! These excellent, high-caliber articles and videos will show your members how to create professional video on the Mac using real-world examples in Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite.

Just include the required permissions language for using the material, a thumbnail cover for the book, and provide a link to purchase on Peachpit.com and away you go. To make it even cooler, they’ll throw in a coupon code just for your members so they can get a great discount on the book should they choose to purchase.

Not only that, they will send you 2 free copies of the book — one for you to become familiar with the material, and the other for you to raffle for your members!

User group leaders interested in this offer should email Product Manager Damon Hampson (damon.hampson at peachpit.com) who will walk you through the very simple sign-up process.

Thanks to Peachpit for another terrific MUG offer.

The folks at the Hotel Mark Twain in San Francisco have once again extended a special offer for lodging for Mac User Group members visiting the city for Macworld 2010.

The Hotel Mark Twain is a three-star hotel, located near Union Square, and is offering MUG members:

• $67* and up for standard rooms
• $87* and up for deluxe queens or double doubles (includes continental breakfast for 2 people in deluxe room)
• $107* and up for deluxe king rooms (includes continental breakfast for 2 people in deluxe room)

and free wireless for all MUG members!

To get this special deal, contact the hotel directly at 415/673-2332 and push ZERO for an operator and ask for the MUG RATE.

(The “and up” means when they start selling more, the rates will go up. There will still be a deal for MUG but now is the best time to reserve your room to get this rate.)

Rates valid 2/5-14/2010.

* rates are net per room per night, single or double occupancy, subject to 15.5% hotel tax.

The good folks at Intuit have let us know that they’re offering Mac User Groups a 10% discount on QuickBooks 2010.

QuickBooks 2010 offers invoice, bill payment and expense management capabilities, helping you manage your business with ease.

This offer is available to Mac User Group members in the United States only, and is ongoing. To take advantage of the code, visit the special Intuit User Group Offer page through this link and place your order.

Want more? Visit The MUG Center’s Vendor Offers page for the most complete list of Mac User Group offers anywhere.

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SmartMotion is offering MUG members a special discount on their SwingChair. Read the rest of this entry »

Adam and Tonya Engst, the publishers of Take Control Books, are giving MUG members a special discount. Read the rest of this entry »

Celebrity and vendor appearances, films and a major trade show are all lined up for this week in Mac User Group news.

Ted Landau will be featured at a California group’s April meeting, Chuck Joiner will be the guest auctioneer at a Pennsylvania group’s annual fundraiser, and Thomas Penberthy of Ambrosia Software will show of their latest and greatest at another California group. In Las Vegas, the Final Cut Pro User Group Network will have a show floor presence all week in Booth #SL10129 at the NAB show, and will conduct the latest version of The Final Cut Pro SuperMeet on Tuesday.

Other items that Mac User Groups will focus on this week include the Hackintosh project, Adobe Lightroom, Google Earth, databases and more.

To see your group’s information listed here, all you have to do is email the details to The MUG Center and we’ll put it onThe MUG Event Calendar and in our weekly Briefing.
Read the rest of this entry »

Grubby Games provides Mac User Group discount on one of their games. Read the rest of this entry »