If you're hungry to find our more information about how
your computer works, how to solve problems you're having, or what's hot in hardware or
software, or if you're looking for kindred spirits who share your interest in computing,
you'll want to check out your local users groups.
Users groups are communities of people who meet regularly
to share their experiences with and knowledge of computers, as well as find out the latest
developments from hardware and software vendors. They are a great resource for computer
users of all levels and interests You can find both Mac- and PC-focused groups in towns
all over the Northern California area. If you can't find a group in your area, click here.
If you'd like to have your users group listed here, just
send me the name of the group, the URL for its website, the general meeting time and
location (preferably street address and city) and a short description of the group. Mail
it to bob@everythingcomputers.com and
I'll post it up here as quickly as I can.
Group Name: FUN PC Users Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 3 p.m
every first Saturday of the month at CompExpress, 38495 Fremont Blvd., Fremont
(across from Washington High School).
Description: FUN, which stands for
Fremont, Union City, Newark, is a PC-based group for novice to advanced
computerists (individuals or families).
Group Name: PC Users Group of the Redwoods
Regular Meeting Time and Location: Second
Thursday of every month at the Santa Rosa Veterans' Memorial Building (East Entrance).
Description: PCUGR members enjoy
informative programs, monthly newsletter, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), novice help,
free hotline support, extensive software library, vendor presentations and discounts.
Group Name: Napa Valley PC User Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 7:30
p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at Zapata Bar and Grill in Napa.
Description: Our meetings usually
include random access segment, in which members can get answers to computer questions they
have, a Computer Tutor segment, where a member goes over some aspect of computers, and
then we host a presentation from a vendor of about 1 hour.
Group Name: San Francisco NT Users Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 6:30
p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at #1 Embarcadero, on the 30th floor in downtown
SF.
Description: The San Francisco NT
Users Group is made up of computer professionals helping professionals, everyone is
welcome. There are no membership dues or other fees.
Group Name: San Francisco Macromedia User Forum
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 6:00
p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month except December and October at 600 Townsend
Street, SF.
Description: The San Francisco
Macromedia User Forum (The World's First) is a nonprofit, member run, organization
dedicated to the free exchange of ideas; and promotion of the latest in the world of
multimedia by those who know to those who want to learn.
Group Name: PC
Clubhouse
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 7:30
p.m. on the first Friday of the month at Cal State Hayward, Meiklejohn Hall, Room 2002.
Description: PC Clubhouse is a
valuable resource for users of IBM PC and MS-DOS compatible computers in the San Francisco
East Bay area. The purpose of the user group is to allow computer users to share knowledge
of computer and software use. This is accomplished through general meetings of the full
membership at the CSUH location, and through smaller SIGs (special interest groups) of
members.
Group Name: Golden
Gate Computer Society
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 7
p.m every fourth Monday of the month (no meeting in December) at the San Rafael Community
Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael.
Description: Our Mission is to
provide a congenial forum for people interested in computers to gather and share
information. We're a PC-oriented group that strives to be a resource that serves the needs
and interests of people at all skill levels. We seek to make a positive contribution to
the society around us by making the benefits of computer technology accessible to
everyone.
Group Name: Modesto PC User Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 7:30
p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month at St Paul's Church Gym, 1528 Oakdale Rd,
Modesto. It's just South of Briggsmore.
Description: The Modesto PC User's
Group is located in the heart of the Central Valley. Our group focuses on aiding users of
IBM PCs and our motto is "User Helping User". The PC POST, the group's
newsletter, is published 12 times a year and is sent to all group members as a membership
benefit.
Group Name: Berkeley PC Users Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 7:00
p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Winners Circle, 2618 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley.
Description: The group offers
SIGs, a newsletter, and regular speakers. There's no membership fee but we charge $12 per
year for the newsletter.
Group Name: Sacramento PC Users Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 7:00
p.m. on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the Sacramento Association of Realtors, 2003
Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA (between Alta Arden and Cottage, across from CompUSA).
Description: SPCUG members enjoy
informative programs, monthly newsletter, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), novice help,
free mentor support, extensive software library, vendor presentations and discounts.
Group Name: Diablo Valley Macintosh Users Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: Third
Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Bancroft Elementary School, 2200 Parish Dr., Walnut Creek
Description: The Diablo Valley
Macintosh User’s Group (DVMUG) was formed for the purpose of helping Macintosh and
Apple users get the most out of their machines. Members help members and share their
knowledge of both software and hardware with each other and with the general public.
Group Name: San Francisco PC
Users Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 7 P.M. every third Tuesday of
the month at 33 Gough Street, just south of Market Street, in San
Francisco. There is ample free parking and we are within walking distance
of the Civic Center BART Station. Check our web site for the special date
and location of our December meeting.
Description: Attend our meetings to keep up-to-date about the
latest and coolest computer hardware, software, and Internet products and
services. Read our newsletter, network, help others, get answers to your
questions, and win door prizes at our meetings.
Group Name: The
MicroStation Community - Bay User's Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 4th Wednesday of every month
from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Parsons Transportation Group 120 Howard Street,
Suite 850, San Francisco, CA.
Description: TMC_BUG members share ideals and solutions,
promoting the enhancement of user skills, continuing dialog among members
and vendors and influencing the future direction of MicroStation and
related products.
Group Name: Tri-Valley
NT User's Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: The 3rd Tuesday of the
month, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the offices of Optimum Design
Associates, which is located at 7300B Amador Plaza in Dublin, CA.
Description: TVNTUG, which is a subsidiary of BANTUG, the San
Francisco Bay Area NT Users Group, is a voluntary, not for profit
association of NT professionals in the 680/580 Corridor. We meet to share,
promote and study Microsoft NT Operating Systems and related products.
Group Name: The Diablo Valley PC
Users Group
Regular Meeting Time and Location: 7PM to 9PM general meeting
every first Thursday of the month at Building B, first floor auditorium,
Bank of America Technology Center, 2001 Clayton Rd. at Galindo, Concord
(next to Concord BART).
Description: At our free general meetings, PC user's enjoy
knowledgeable speakers, product demos, discounts, raffles and Random
Access computer question & answers from the pros. We have many SIGS,
novice and specialty mentoring, a software library, an extensive website,
and a monthly newsletter.
