|
|
| |
Book ReviewsMac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition |
|
|
Book: Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition
Written by: David Pogue |
Publisher: Pogue Press
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5
|
|
Bilingual
Rating:
5 / 5
I'm becoming bilingual--I'm learning to speak Apple as well as Windows. I just got a new iMac G5. Apple basically tells you to learn the system by pushing all the buttons to see what they do. Yeah, right. I also have the XP Missing Manual. This is a good series, a lot better than the Dummie series, if you really are a dummie. The organization is good and there is a lot of information, starting with the basics and going from there.
A superb book.
Rating:
5 / 5
In section 3.5, David Pogue writes "In some ways, just buying a Macintosh was a renegade act of self-expression...", I believe it says it all! :)
David really knows what he's talking about. I've tried almost every tip/trick/gem he gives in this superb book and it worked. The missing manual is great book for a stunning operating system and a fantastic computer.
This book is highly recommended for folkes who are really interested in knowing how to work with Mac OSX. Worth the $.
Cheers.
Save your time -- This is the only book you need
Rating:
5 / 5
I recently decided to make the switch from PC to Mac. The last time I had a Mac was 1997, which was the era of System 7. I have browsed seven -- count them, seven -- books now on Mac OS X Panther, and I can tell you without a doubt that this is the only book you need if you're new to Mac and/or switching from Windows (or Linux, for that matter).
Most of the other books (including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0782142834">Mastering Mac OS X</a> and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0321232968">Robin Williams Mac OS X Book</a>) provided nothing more than ancillary, high level information that a third grader would know. None told you anything that 15 minutes playing around wouldn't, and 85% of most targeted new users. Seriously, do you really need to know the top of the mouse is called the "button" (graphic included) and how to "click" and/or -- wait for it -- double-click this button? Seriously, it sounds crazy, but these other books actually spend chapter after chapter on elementary concepts such as how to click the mouse and how to drag-and-drop an icon.
The Missing Manual (this book), instead seems to target the average computer user. I found the writing much easier to read (mainly because I didn't have to browse through pages of elementary instruction), and important information like keyboard shortcuts and using the terminal were easier to find. When I'm reading a 700+ page book, it's very important for me to be able to browse (or speed read) quickly. I found this book very condusive for that.
If you're a software developer (like me), I might suggest two other books that build on the foundation covered by this book. <A href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596006179">Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther</a> is a great book for transitioning to the terminal/console included in OS X. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596006063">Mac OS X Panther in a Nutshell</a> is another great book because over half of it is spent on Unix tools like vi and bash, and includes a full reference of commands at the end. Like all the books in the Nutshell series, the sections are tabbed on the side, making it very easy to flip to a particular section. However, I do not recommend either of these books for non-developers or for someone looking for a foundation of Mac OS X.
If I could give this book ten stars and burn the rest, I would.
I hope the information proves useful.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|