Creating a new homepage look can either be met with cheers or yawns depending on how personally invested you are in the site. We get pretty excited here about many products and often can’t help ourselves from “getting our geek on” and wanting to tell you about all the cool stuff we carry…whether it be our own OWC branded products, the products from NewerTech for which we are an exclusive distributor, or a great deal on one of the many other leading brand names in our over 2,500 item on-line catalog.

Realizing that might be a bit much and overwhelm you like a kid in a candy store, we redesigned macsales.com homepage to have a kinder, gentler look. Adding to this fresh approach is a caricature of OWC Larry himself calling your attention to products he gives a hearty thumbs up to.

So we hope this redesign (and our ongoing efforts to come) is met with cheers from you and improves your site experience with us. As always, keep your feedback coming and thank you for your trust in us as your source for your Mac, PC, iPod, and iPhone technology needs.

OWC got a little greener today. Our new Vestas V39 Wind Turbine went online today and is now generating the electricity needed to run the OWC corporate facility, including its datacenter, with plenty of energy to spare, which will be sold back to the local power company.

By going the extra mile and planning to generate more than 100% of its total power needs on-site, OWC demonstrates its commitment to the future, its community and the environment.

For more information on the OWC Wind Turbine, as well as the rest of our “green” corporate headquarters, please visit: www.macsales.com/green.

There’s quite a bit of wind blowing around the OWC facilities here in Woodstock, and not all of it is coming out of our Marketing Department. Fortunately, we can put that wind to good use.

As part of our ongoing commitment to making our facility as “green” as possible, OWC has constructed a wind turbine, which should supply 100% of the company’s electrical requirements.

The structure, which can easily be seen towering over the surrounding countryside, was completed late last week, and is slated to pass its final inspections and go online within the next couple of days.

Once online, the turbine will generate approximately 1,250,000 kWh per year (kilowatt hours per year) – more than double the amount that the Other World Computing facility needs, or slightly more than the requirements for your average time machine. The anticipated surplus power will be sold back to local power providers to sell to other customers.

OWC’s power usage will be about 500,000 kWh per year, out of the total anticipated 1,250,000 kWh per year available from wind power generation. However, that usage already demonstrates energy savings, as the geo-thermal heating and cooling system used in the OWC facility is vastly more efficient than traditional means.

By setting our goals high and starting out “Green”, the resulting benefits will be far greater than merely financial. The payback is all around us, and with each new Green undertaking, people will see that they too, can take part in making the world “Green,” one project at a time.

With the recent unveiling of our new site look, you may have noticed the site “wrapper” space theme. If you have been an OWC customer or follower for any amount of time, you likely will have heard or read about our affinity for Star Trek and all things space related as well as the impetus for our company name.

As such, it was only logical to create a background with that theme. Sorry, I couldn’t resist that and in no means am I as quick with the Trekkie nods as OWC Chris S. was in our movie recap.

So, if you would like to boldly give your Mac’s desktop a look that is from an Other World and join us in stargazing, you can use the very same OWC Blue Star Field background.

Today is the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Mankind’s first steps on a surface other than that of the Earth is a landmark event in both US and World history.

NASA has restored some of the tapes of that historic Moon walk and has made high-definition movies of those broadcasts available on their Web site.

Space exploration – both in fact and in fiction – is a popular subject around the OWC offices. You might not have known it, but that affinity for space exploration play a significant role in the name evolution of OWC.

In 1993, LRO Computer Sales founder and CEO Larry O’Connor wanted to rename the company for something that stood for more than just “sales.” Drawing on the idea that it should represent information and relationships first, and inspired by the introduction to Star Trek that lists exploring new worlds as part of its on-going mission, LRO Computer Sales emerged with a new name: Other World Computing.

Of course, tying this all together is the suggestion that parts of the classic Star Trek introduction was inspired by a White House document designed to rally support for the US space program after the launch of the Sputnik satellite.

In a strange bit of coincidence, a photo satellite was launched last month to explore the Moon’s surface, to prepare for future exploration, and photos have recently been received. The name of the satellite? The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter – also known as the LRO!

Every year, America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta holds it’s annual event at the Crystal Lake Main Beach in Crystal Lake, Illinois. This event was originally created by members of the Crystal Lake Yacht Club to provide people with a fun day and to enjoy Crystal Lake. Every year the Regatta hosts more than 180 cardboard boats and over 5,000 spectators. Over the years, this event has grown and is now considered by people worldwide as the championship of Cardboard boat racing. Participants have come from all over the Chicago region and as far away as Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.

Best of all, the proceeds from America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta benefit a wide variety of local charities.

This year for the event’s 25th Anniversary, the Other World Computing team of businesses OWC.net, Two Tails Market & Eatery and Java Planet entered a joint effort vessel for the third straight year. Additionally, the combined financial contributions of the businesses earned a Gold Level sponsorship of the event itself.

OWC participants in the event included:

Captain : Ryan O’Connor
Boat Coxswain: Amanda Tabor

Rowing Team:

• Brian Bielick
• Brian Bellman
• Josh Buhr
• Brittany Finn
• Horacio Villa
• Joseph Alemann
• Russell Wilson
• Ryan Kanak
• Bill Friel
• Colleen Cullerton
• Chelsea MacNamara

Shore Patrol:  Kayleen Ivers, Kevin Ivers, Eileen Milard, Laura Park

We strive to provide excellent products and customer service at OWC, but we’re not about all work and no play! We’re committed to supporting the environment, the community, and employee mental health in a variety of ways. Some companies choose team building outings with mock exercises to build an enjoyable and productive corporate culture. We build our teams and culture around fun and unusual activities that provide creative and competitive outlets.

Fun with Cardboard

OWC boat and crew 2006

2006 marked our first entry into America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta. This annual national championship Cardboard racing event floats along a 200 yard course in Crystal Lake, Illinois, although similar races are held in many states. This year’s race celebrates its 25th year on June 27th and expects to host almost 200 various themed floating (hopefully!) entrants. Any group may enter, and the totally reasonable entry fee ($20.00) make it a great family, neighborhood, and corporate activity.

A Little History

According to Internet sources, cardboard boats made their first appearance on the lakes on America in 1962. An enterprising physics student in a Senior Design Department Class at the Southern Illinois University designed and built a 20lb, eight-foot boat. Davis Partt’s boat easily discharged its goal of traveling 100 feet without sinking. You can peruse the original assignment problem and design notes from the Cardboard Boats Design Department Southern Illinois University 1962 online.

Today, simple one-man box-boats have morphed into a variety of flotilla-worthy fashion, including pirate ships, trains, and animals. Requirements for a cardboard boat include corrugated cardboard, the ever useful duct tape, glue, and drywall tape. Banned substances include epoxy, fiberglass, metal, and pre-waxed cardboard. The Discovery Channel has a mildly funny video showing a mishap with a variety of boats.

Captain Ryan’s Building Crew

OWC's 2008 Cardboard Cup entry

OWC staff volunteers started building a 10-person human-powered vessel in April under the competent direction of our Warehouse Operations Manager, Ryan O’Connor. The hardworking volunteer crew works weekends to meet the June deadline.  Last year’s OWC entry, pictured here, qualified for the finals, but a bad storm sacrificed the event.

Builders can choose from three classes of boats, including Paddle and Oar, Paddle and other people power, and Sail. OWC plans to use kayak paddles to move its sleek entry through the waters. We have a secret to our waterproofing that definitely meets the official rules. We always do things by the book, just like how we run the business.

Now, we don’t want to give away our boat building prowess secrets, but we’ll let you have a sneak peak at our floating gem today. More photos coming after the race, along with trophy silliness, and the event itself!

Grant, Brian, and Mike working on the hull

OWC's 2009 boat takes shape

OWC's American Flag at half-mast

On Monday, May 25th, OWC was closed in honor of Memorial Day. This solemn day, originally designated in 1868, is now observed as a federal holiday on the last Monday of May. Designed to commemorate the lives given in service to our fair nation; parades, speeches, and family observances occur nationwide to honor those thousands of fallen men and women. To learn more about the history and meaning of Memorial Day, www.USMemorialDay.org is an excellent resource.

OWC proudly flies an American Flag at our headquarters and in compliance with Memorial Day decorum, it was my personal honor to set our flag at half-mast at sunrise and then restore it to full mast at noon on Monday. The entire OWC team takes its responsibility to our members of the Armed Forces very seriously and we support their efforts far beyond honoring those who have lost their lives.

OWC's American Flag raised to full mast at 12:00PM

In 2008, as part of our support project for the soldiers of the McHenry County National Guard Unit (Delta Company 1st Battalion, 178 Infantry Regiment who had been recently deployed to Afghanistan, we shipped individual care packages, one for each of the 55 soldiers, plus letters from the local elementary school children. We truly find it an honor to know and support our local National Guard Unit.

Earlier this year, we learned those troops, currently deployed in Afghanistan, were trying to start up regular softball games but did not have any equipment.

So, we felt it was our duty to send them a shipment of softball equipment. We received this grateful acknowledgement:

“I just wanted to write and let you know we have received the equipment you sent, and thank you again for your support. The guys are excited to get a few games going. We are waiting for a down day when we can get a couple of games in. We will try to get some pictures and send them to you. I hope everything is going well back home. I’ll be in touch. Thanks again for your friendship and your support.” SFC Bill Hornbeck

Two months ago, we learned with great sadness that three of our local heroes lost their lives in Afghanistan. Our American Flag was lowered and each employee engaged in a moment of silence to honor these young men. In a small town, the loss of one life reverberates across the community, and three fallen heroes is more than one town should have to bear.

Our sincere thanks and gratitude goes out to all those serving today, as well as those who have served in our Armed Forces across time. We remember and honor those that have fallen in the line of duty. Our hearts go with all of you who have lost loved ones in time of war and strife.

While we at OWC always work to bring  our customers great products with great support, we’re not “all work and no play.” If you were at the movie theater in Crystal Lake, IL  (the next town over from our Woodstock facility) last night, you would have come across a large contingent of the OWC Family on an outing to see the new Star Trek movie.

The turnout was tremendous, with OWC employees representing over 90% of the crowd at the showing. We even had our own “Trek Girls” show up in costume, and a great time was had by all. You can check out some more pictures on the OWC Facebook page.

Of course, it would be just a bunch of pointless bragging if I didn’t somehow tie this into a plug for a product via horrible Star Trek puns, so without further ado…

Looking for an easy way to use all that storage “space” that’s going to waste on your older drives? Do you find yourself “shuttling” drives back and forth between a single connector? Well, maybe this will “Spock” your interest…

OWC is “beaming” with pride over the great bundle deals for the award-winning Newer Technology Voyager Q & S2 external drive docks (Get it?… Voyager…)

No “Bones” about it, these are some pretty great deals. Not only do you get a up to 2TB worth of storage, but since it’s Voyager, you can easily pop out out the drive, and use the dock to access any other SATA drives you decided to “Klingon” to – from a slower, smaller laptop drive, to the largest, fastest “Enterprise”-class drives.

Go ahead and “Chekhov” them out. Otherwise I may be forced to subject you to my “warped” sense of humor some more…

_\\//

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I got to thinking after Macworld Expo in January just how many people claimed to be our biggest fan for the opportunity to grab a t-shirt from us.  I heard a bunch of promises to advertise us all across the country and beyond by wearing our shirt proudly. One woman, bless her heart, went out and collected swag from other booths as a gift for me in appreciation of the shirt.

Its nice to work for a company that not only cares so much for their customers, but daily is barraged with compliments, comments, and praise from the people we work so hard to make a little bit of life easier for. I really wish we could have given one away to every one of our customers, but alas it would be near impossible to keep the doors open if we gave everything away.

That said, I wanted to announce to our readers that we have more of the shirts in stock, and we’ve made them available to you.

To pick yours up, please visit our website.  Wear it proudly. I certainly do, as mine is always on the top of my Mac-related t-shirt collection making it first to grab at every opportunity.