Macworld New York 2001

Aladdin CEO Hosts User Group Members
on Eve of User Group University

User Group members from across North America gathered Monday night to celebrate the start of the first Apple User Group University, part of a week of events surrounding the Macworld Expo New York, which begins Wednesday.

University attendees and presenters were the guests of Aladdin, makers of the indispensible Stuffit program, and MacTuner, MacTicker, and Spring Cleaning. CEO Jon Khan staged an ice cream social for the user group members, who represent 69 different groups from the US and Canada, including 6 representatives from Gold Coast Mac.

Khan praised user groups as one of the best ways to spread the word about his company's programs, and explained his ongoing support for the groups goes back to former Apple software evangelist and Mac Guru Guy Kawasaki, who promoted user groups as a key to Apple's success.

After User Group University members had their fill of an elaborate ice cream spread, Khan took the floor and questioned the guests about their view of his company's products, the reaction from their groups, and how new products were received.

Khan then took questions about his company and its products, referring some to product managers stationed around the room, and at one point, ducked behind non-disclosure agreements when asked if Aladdin's products would be "Carbon Compliant," the common term for working with the basic feature set of OS 10, which is expected to be released in Beta form at the Expo.

Aladdin continued its commitment to user groups by proposing a revenue sharing program for user groups that send customers to Aladdin from their websites or newsletters.

The program, similar to one offered by online bookseller Amazon, is still just an idea, but Khan says Aladdin believes user groups are one of the keys to Aladdin's success.

Aladdin also supported groups by distributing hundreds of copies of Stuffit Deluxe and Spring Cleaning to group representatives, who were also given additional copies to share with their groups.

The meeting was the first official event of the User Group University, which starts Tuesday. Volunteers and members learned Monday that they will be the guests of Apple Computer at Wednesday's Keynote speech by Apple CEO Steve Jobs.