Mac training in a box

The Mac-packed training room at Renaissance. Photo / Supplied

Macs are easy to use, so everyone says, and indeed, that's how I found them when a mate introduced me to them back at the beginning of 1988.

I had seen computers in use - indeed, I was running a computerised Eskofot camera at the time, shooting pre-press plates in my job. Computers were unapproachably difficult if you had no training in programming languages, and I didn't, but I read the manual on this process camera to learn it.

As I have mentioned before, though, it's amazing how many people have Macs, use them effectively to achieve what they need to achieve, yet still don't know some of the most basic things about them.

And Apple has been great at putting resources online, but many people don't know how to access those, even. That's changing - open GarageBand for the first time and the tutorials are right there for you to click on, as they are in other applications, or investigate the Learn More links here.

But people learn in different ways. For me, learning from video tutorials (as above) or by reading manuals is fine, but many people prefer to be shown while they follow through on a Mac (or whatever).

But until now, there's been no systematic resource here to learn Mac stuff. There are a few individuals around (like me) who can train to a greater or lesser extent, but overseas where there are Apple Stores, people have access to resources including Apple's Genius Bars.

Renaissance, the long-time and only licensed Apple distributor for New Zealand, has been working in the training space for years, but this was mostly related to education. However, that has all changed recently, with the company refining its direction under the helm of new CEO Rick Webb.

Kirsten Beggs, with experience going back to the Renaissance Education Division (RED), is now managing a newly reforged and well resourced training division within the company, with training packages available for sale through MagnumMac stores in Auckland and Wellington (which is currently being installed in the Renaissance office in Boulcott St).

These packages are destined to become available at other NZ Mac resellers - this includes the chains and the independents.

What's available? A lot - you can buy a pack for a half-day, full-day or three-day course, costing respectively $150, $275 or higher for the more technical, several-day sessions which go right up to Final Cut for movie and TV production. Some end up with exams which, once passed, lead to a certificate and qualification.

Topics include getting started with the Mac and getting started with the iPhone/iPod touch, iWeb, iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages and Numbers and Keynote (the last three being the parts of the iWork suite), creating podcasts, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, and Filemaker.

The Apple courses are Apple certified, as is the SonicWall training that the new training division has taken over from Renaissance Brands.


With recently-acquired Adobe accreditation, Adobe's software is available to learn, too, and ends in certification.

I checked out the Training Centre rooms on Quay St in Auckland, right down on the waterfront, all kitted out with brand new iMacs and Mac laptops. The rooms (there are three) have high-power projectors and glass 'whiteboards' for instruction. The rooms are close to the centre of town and parking buildings - as will be the case in Wellington.

Kirsten has just ordered an iPad/iPod touch/iPhone camera that plugs into the projector so those devices can be taught, too. (And no, she didn't know when iPad was going on sale here either.)

Beggs has also boosted the training team from two, with Lee Herbet, up to seven, employing experienced trainers like Ann Fortune, who can train Adobe as well as Microsoft Office for Mac (and PC), and Mary McQuoid taking care of in-school training and the ICE program. Kirsten palpably appreciates the new faces and new ideas they bring.

So if you're one of those people who has contacted me in the last few months begging for Entourage training, which I don't do (I use Apple Mail for my four email accounts and scheduling), now there is an avenue for you.

Kirsten was upbeat about the new Renaissance "commitment to the consumer rather than the product". The sales groups now have to focus on service, training and education. The company's divisions have been regrouped around products, and information routes have been simplified.

"I think it's a really good direction for the company."

Shameless plug: both Kirsten and Lee Herbet are presenting various sessions at CreativeTech, so if you want an introduction to what the fully revamped Renaissance Training offers, check out the two-day conference taking place at AUT on September 10th and 11th.

Also, Kirsten furnished CreativeTech with two half-day training packs to give away - one will be available to a sign-up as a prize, since we draw a prize from the week's registrants every Monday from now until the conference.

And a word to the wise - Aucklanders are renowned for registering at the last minute. So the earlier you register, the more likely it is you will draw a prize.

- Mark Webster mac-nz.com