[imitchellg5]

What a day. So today I was giving a presentation about the iMac and MacBook in speech class today. I had a spanking new BlackBook and WhiteBook (courtesy a friend at the Apple Store) ready to go. I was going over how the MacBook has a magnetic latch. So I closed the WhiteBook (which I was using for my Keynote presentation) and it goes to sleep like it should. All good so far. So I go to open it up and I hear the HD spin up and the fans. The thing gets very hot very fast. I decide that I'll go to a short video, which I wanted to be later on in the presentation, which I had on Apple TV hooked up to a very nice TV. I turn on the TV and it won't recognize Apple TV. I select the HDMI port (the only one on the TV) and nothing. My Apple TV has a faulty HDMI port. I tried it later on a friend's TV and it didn't work. It works with component fine, but I didn't have any component cables with me. Meanwhile, the MacBook finally wakes up from sleep. It's burning hot, but it works. The battery almost died, but I got her done. Very frustrating how I have two brand new Apple products and neither of them works right.

[slpdLoad]

Oh they would have worked just fine if you hadn't been presenting anything.

[IceEnclosure]

you need quadruple redundant backup systems like stevenote does.

[mduell]

You didn't test it before you presented?

[imitchellg5]

I didn't have an opportunity to test HDMI since my TV only has component. And the MacBook had been working fine all day.

[Brass]

I hope your speech didn't include the word 'embassesment', or it would have been even more embassessing.

[EricTheRed]

Years ago I was enrolled in a speech class and I planned to give my presentation on the Mecintosh with my trusty Mac SE FDHD. Crossing the school's parking lot in thw winter, I slipped on some ice and fell. My cat-like reflexes saved my mac from banging on the ground and though a little sore, I was well prepared to give my presentation. Later on in clas when my turn came to make my presentation I went to set up and turn on my Mac but my Mac was dead. I was bummed. I gave my presentation as best as I could without a working Mac and being the broken college student I was, I picked up a how to repair Macs book at my local book store.

With the book's help I got my Mac fixed and with time I began fixing other people's Macs as well. Eventually I ended up selling Macs and then to businesses too. And the nineties came and went. I eventually got out of the business in '98 before the dot.com crash.

Slipping on some ice and breaking my Mac was the beginning of big things for me.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by EricTheRed 

Years ago I was enrolled in a speech class and I planned to give my presentation on the Mecintosh with my trusty Mac SE FDHD. Crossing the school's parking lot in thw winter, I slipped on some ice and fell. My cat-like reflexes saved my mac from banging on the ground and though a little sore, I was well prepared to give my presentation. Later on in clas when my turn came to make my presentation I went to set up and turn on my Mac but my Mac was dead. I was bummed. I gave my presentation as best as I could without a working Mac and being the broken college student I was, I picked up a how to repair Macs book at my local book store.

That's not a supreme embarrassment, though. That's only kind of a triple-cheese embarrassment with pepperoni and onions.

[Tiresias]

Originally Posted by Brass 

I hope your speech didn't include the word 'embassesment', or it would have been even more embassessing.

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

That's not a supreme embarassment, though. That's only kind of a triple-cheese embarassment with pepperoni and onions.

Come on. It embarrassment.

EMBARRASSMENT!

E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S-S-M-E-N-T!!!!!!!!

[Cipher13]

Apple quality hasn't been the same since around the time they introduced the iBook 700/800 models. They started skimping.

[Doofy]

I thought that "supreme emmbbarrrassssmment" during a presentation could only come having the string holding your pants up snap whilst giving a speech on German national foodstuffs to a bunch of Brazilian supermodels in a particularly cold room.

[ghporter]

Doofy's example would indeed be pretty embarrassing.

I used to teach for a living. Before every class, I'd dutifully check all the hardware: computer, projector, clicker, etc. I'd also run through the slides to make sure I hadn't changed anything I'd forgotten about. And 9 out of 10 times all would be well. The trick in handling that 10th time is to be flexible. Having a fall-back plan is always a good thing, but being able to talk about what you can't show is the ultimate fall-back.

All my teaching was "extemporaneous." This technique requires the teacher to know the material very well, and to use an outline-style lesson plan. In other words, unless there was some critical detail that MUST be presented exactly, I taught from memory, following the outline to ensure flow and coverage. Because of that, I could handle a lot of issues that the hardware might throw at me. It also means that I get sort of annoyed at people whose presentations consist of reading their notes (what kind of eye contact do you get from a speaker who reads his notes? None.) and/or reading their slides out loud. Student presentations are one thing, but when a professor does it, it's really, REALLY annoying.

[♥]

You forgot to wear a black turtleneck. Then it would have all gone fine.



BTW, that is not supreme embarrassment. When in college ages ago some chick was giving her first speech and I don't know if she had Crohn's or not, but she crapped her pants, literally. She ran off the stage crying. Never saw her again. Felt really bad for her. THAT is surpreme embarrassment.

[wolfen]

Originally Posted by ♥ 

You forgot to wear a black turtleneck. Then it would have all gone fine.



BTW, that is not supreme embarrassment. When in college ages ago some chick was giving her first speech and I don't know if she had Crohn's or not, but she crapped her pants, literally. She ran off the stage crying. Never saw her again. Felt really bad for her. THAT is surpreme embarrassment.

I was taking a foreign language exam in 9th grade and the guy next to me began to form a yellow puddle under his desk. He was frozen in place, though. The teacher had to wake him out of it and escort him out. I was extremely sad for him because he was a nice guy. But about 5 minutes later we heard the janitor's mop bucket breaking the awkward silence, squealing down the hallway. The whole class couldn't stop giggling.

That kid got beat up and pushed around more than any 5 people I know. I hope this incarnation was worth it.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by toothpick_charlie 

Come on. It embarrassment.

EMBARRASSMENT!

E-M-B-A-R-R-A-S-S-M-E-N-T!!!!!!!!

It embarrassment ???

Dude

-t

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

Doofy's example would indeed be pretty embarrassing.

I used to teach for a living. Before every class, I'd dutifully check all the hardware: computer, projector, clicker, etc. I'd also run through the slides to make sure I hadn't changed anything I'd forgotten about. And 9 out of 10 times all would be well. The trick in handling that 10th time is to be flexible. Having a fall-back plan is always a good thing, but being able to talk about what you can't show is the ultimate fall-back.

All my teaching was "extemporaneous." This technique requires the teacher to know the material very well, and to use an outline-style lesson plan. In other words, unless there was some critical detail that MUST be presented exactly, I taught from memory, following the outline to ensure flow and coverage. Because of that, I could handle a lot of issues that the hardware might throw at me. It also means that I get sort of annoyed at people whose presentations consist of reading their notes (what kind of eye contact do you get from a speaker who reads his notes? None.) and/or reading their slides out loud. Student presentations are one thing, but when a professor does it, it's really, REALLY annoying.

The wierd thing is is that I checked right before the class a few time to see if the MacBook was working right. I had a ton of apps open and it was fine and I put it to sleep with all the ram used up and it worked fine. Then when I got up there it just broke I guess. I really wish my PowerBook was with me (my dad took it on a trip so I couldn't use it).

[TheoCryst]

It obviously had stage fright.

[imitchellg5]

Maybe Apple quietly introduced a device that automatically makes the MacBook not function in front of an audience as a safety feature (like SMS).

[alligator]

I gave a speech in my first year college public speaking class that went way over the time limit. The professor had held up signs and I had missed every one of them. Eventually the class ended. The professor was so upset he gave me an "X" for a grade. Not an A through F, but an X. Nobody, including myself, understood what that meant. His explanation? He couldn't figure out what grade to give, so he just gave me an "X".

Good thing my grades in my 2-4th years pulled up the messed up grades my first year.

[♥]

It's weird, but when you're younger you hate giving speeches. Well, most people do.

Now that I'm older, I've spoken in front of a few thousand people and it doesn't bother me one bit.

I remember way back when I was in 6th grade I had to give an oral book report. Well, I was petrified and wouldn't do it. I took a full grade lower for the year rather than give an oral book report.

[alligator]

I actually enjoy public speaking now. Especially if I know the topic well.

[irunat2am]

This thread makes me giggle like a little school boy. Some rough stories

[jersey]

My speech instructor had a speech impediment ...

While she was speaking, her voice would just quit, as if the vocal were on a break. Then in a few seconds, they'd start up again.

[indigoimac]

Well that sucks, but honestly it's bound to happen when you're talking up a product (or anything else). Something will likely go wrong to totally destroy your credibility.