Spreadsheets – The Original Killer App
What you can do with, and to, them
Spreadsheets appeared in the early days of the personal computer revolution and quickly became the Killer App that drew people in to computer stores to get “one of those VisiCalc machines”. The power of spreadsheets – combined with their ease of use compared to what had come before – made them an indispensable tool in business. And even while IT departments tried to keep microcomputers out of business, users kept sneaking them through the back door so they could use spreadsheets to get their work done.
Today, spreadsheets are a ubiquitous part of the computing landscape. They are in use everywhere for an almost unimaginable range of tasks – from creating databases for various projects to balancing the books at businesses large and small, from being the front end for large-scale data analysis projects to analyzing the costs and profit potential for business ventures, and even for doing rocket science.
Not on the rocket science/data analysis end of the spectrum? Never fear: we’ll also be seeing such things as cataloging your CD or DVD library, maintaining an insurance inventory of your personal belongings and home furnishings, keeping a time-log of your projects, tracking dinner reservations and payments, etc.
For tonight’s talk, Warren James and Ron Streicher will talk about the history of spreadsheets and their core functions. They’ll show some of the things they can be used for along with some tricks and hacks you can use to turn spreadsheets into your secret weapon for getting more done faster with you Mac or iOS device.
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Apps & Traps – Our essential monthly feature on interesting new products and services for iOS and OS X, brought to you by Dave Whitby.
appleSTEMs – Warren James presents interesting Apple science, technology, engineering, and math software. (On hiatus, while Warren’s free time is on hiatus…)
appleCore – Everyone says that iOS and macOS are intuitive and easy to use. If you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Although iOS and macOS are easy to use after you’ve learned how to use them, actually learning to use them can be a bit confusing. Often, basic things are not explained because it is assumed that you already know them. We all know that that’s not always the case. So now the SGVAUG presents an on-going series of short talks about the core elements of iOS and macOS so that soon, you’ll be able to tell everyone, “Of course iOS and macOS are intuitively obvious”.
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The meeting will be held in the Donald Wright Auditorium, at the Pasadena Public Library Main Branch at 7:00 p.m. Following the general meeting, we have our informal Meeting after the Meeting at Conrads, 861 E. Walnut St. (at the NW corner of Walnut and Lake).
