Q I have been asked to produce an estimate for quite a complicated job and so far I have run into brick walls with several companies not being interested at all – even a company who produces something similar. Basically, this is a document in a handheld format that opens up to reveal a spread of information. When you turn it 90 and fold it back on itself, it reveals more content. You do this two more times and you’re back where you started. It seems to involve a clever combination of flaps and folds. Finished size is 210x100mm. Not sure whether this is something that can be outsourced to Asia or not. Can you help at all? Many thanks.
Jane, via email
A What an intriguing thing. It does bring back memories of something that I saw at school way back in the last century – was it called a Chinese wallet? It’s similar, but not quite the same thing. The clever flaps and folds make me think that it should be right up Cardmasters’ street (01256 766602, www.cardmasters.co.uk); you could also try Create This (0845 6800 398, www.create-this.co.uk), they have something called a ‘body boggler’ in their quick turnaround products that seems to be akin to the item you’re looking for. Also Whitney Woods (01706 210538, www.whitneywoods.co.uk); or GI Solutions and their Creative Formats wing (0116 225 2020, www.creativeformats.com).
Q I am currently looking to purchase a couple of Apple iMac systems. I am wondering if anyone knows either of anyone who is looking to sell one or two with a view to upgrading, or of any companies that deal with secondhand, ex-corporate Mac systems? Thanks in advance for for any help you can give.
Chris Smith, via the printweek.com forum
A Where do old Macs go to die? This question resulted in an interesting debate with a chum about how many businesses, other than the usual publishing and graphics companies, use them at all. The view being that those who do invest in them typically hang on to them until the sides fall off. This spurred me to ask Haymarket’s own IT supremo about what happens to our old computers, and I discovered that they are donated to charity, Computeraid (www.computeraid.org), which refurbishes the machines for use in Africa and South America. I did find a couple of companies that offer refurbished Macs for sale in the UK, though. Try Forever Mac (0870 3000905, www.forevermac.com) or Second Chance PC (01223 833412, www.2ndchancepc.co.uk).
