Meet the Geeks (MTG) second Community Showcase will be hosted by CityMac, Asheville’s newest Apple computer store, on February 25, 2010 at 5:30 pm.

Meet the Geeks Community Showcase programs help promote local IT assets to the broader community. MTG endeavors to collaborate with leading local Information Technology organizations to host quarterly events that provide the sponsoring organization the opportunity to showcase programs, facilities, products and services of significant value to the local IT industry and to the community at large.

Please RSVP to rsvp@meetthegeeks.net!

CityMac Apple Specialist is now a provider for Apple Financial Services, Commercial Credit.

Our program allows businesses to finance from $1,000 to multi-millions of dollars of equipment from Apple and other technology companies. We can help your customers acquire the equipment and services necessary to become more profitable.

Some of the lease options available currently are:

• Fair Market Value Lease
  At the end-of-term, the customer can:
  – Purchase the equipment at fair market value.
  – Extend the lease with Apple Financial Services.
  – Return the equipment to Apple Financial Services, with no further obligation.
  – Lowest monthly payments.
  
• $1 Purchase Option Lease
  At the end-of-term, the customer pays
  – $1 and owns the equipment.
  – Similar to a loan, this option may provide the customer with depreciation tax benefits.
  
• 10% Purchase Option Lease
  At the end-of-term, the customer pays
  – A fixed price to own the equipment, without further obligation. They can also return the equipment to Apple Financial Services.
  – Offers lower monthly payments.

Find out more about getting the technology you need for your business, interest free, by clicking here!

CityMac is proud to present our CORE Program. CORE makes it simple to purchase a group of services bundled for you at a reasonable price. We can help you install your computer equipment, train you how to use it, and offer ongoing support and services as you grow with your Apple products.

Purchase one of our CORE Program levels when you are purchasing your new computer, and receive a discount on your Apple computer right away. Buy more computers during the year, and receive that same discount on each additional Mac.

Click here to find out more!

Apple fans gathered yesterday at CityMac to await the big announcement from the “Co.”.

Most got what they hoped for with the announcement of the new iPad device that will be available beginning sometime in March.

Lot’s of folks from the media stopped in and we appreciate the opportunity to share the live blog feeds and Apple fellowship experience with our staff, customers, and onlookers alike.

Most people attending the event agreed that this new product will once again revolutionize how users interact with Apple devices and computers in general.

We don’t have a working demonstration unit of the iPad as of yet probably because the FCC has not authorized the device yet.

This from an email sent yesterday late from Apple Corporation:

“This device has not yet been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.”

(More great photos from the event can be found at the Citizen-Times.com from photograper Erin Brethauer!)

What it is!

Display: 9.7 inch IPS – Supports Multi-Touch

Size and Weight: 0.5 inches thick and 1.5 pounds

Processor: 1GHz Apple A4 Chip

Storage: 16, 32, or 64GB flash

Battery life: 10 hours battery life, over 1 month standby

Connectivity: 802.11n Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Apple said there will be models with 3G through AT&T. Data plans in the US will cost $14.99 for 250MB and $29.99 for unlimited data. There is no contract commitment. The plan will come with free access to AT&T hotspots, just as AT&T does with other laptop 3G data customers. If you don’t like AT&T, good news: all iPad models are unlocked, and use the new GSM micro SIMs, so you could theoretically go with another carrier.

Other Features: Accelerometer, compass, speaker, mic, 30-pin connector

Price: “Starts at $499″

That’s a fairly low price, but that only gets you the 16GB model with no 3G. Adding 3G to any model costs $130 more, and each tier of storage is $100 more. So that’s $599 for the 32GB model without 3G, and $829 gets you 64GB and 3G.