Rating: 
Summary: Williams does it again
Review: Robin Williams is a goddess when it comes to useful books for beginners, this book and "The Mac Is Not A Typewriter" are the two books I tell all new Mac owners to buy. Apple should just bundle the two of them in the box and hire Robin to write all their documentation.This book is informative, fun, insightful, useful, well written, well designed and everything you'd hope for in a book that is going to sit next to the most amazing computer of all time. (Sorry, was I gushing.) Robin spends a great deal of time explaining the inner workings of your computer in very readable, informative way. Always a good book the rewrite for Mac OS X has just added to its appeal - I've been using a Mac for more than ten years, OS X for more than 6 months and Robin taught me several things about my Mac and the new OS. If you often find yourself recommending the Mac to friends (and I know I do) buy them a copy of this book the moment you hear about their new purchase. It will save them many headaches, ease their path into "The Macintosh Way" and you'll get a lot less phone calls.
Rating: 
Summary: THE Starter Book
Review: Robin Williams is the most skillful writer of manuals for the Mac and publishing. As the cover says, this new book is for Beginning and Intermediate users of Macs equipped with the new MacOS 10.1 operating system. You'll be guided by a charming writer through the simplest steps into full use of most things provided by Apple. A Mac pro new to OS X can start with Appendix A and easily browse elsewhere to get up to speed on the strange new file, window, and menu systems (use the 12 page TOC and 49 page Index to reach many "eureka" moments). Following a mini-glosssary, the first 19 chapters-including a tutorial and word processing basics-are for new Mac converts. Rank beginners need only follow the special grey-edged pages. The next 10 chapters cover easy customizing, iTunes music, iMovie making, and the built-in utility applications (most of which Williams suggests you don't touch). Another eight chapters take you through setting up and using the internet, including the free iTools website, file sharing, connecting two computers, and email eitquette (please!). The final three chapters cover ports, partitions, and using the built-in "Classic " (OS 9) system that will run all your old programs. Short chapter quizzes serve as summaries. At 822 pages this latest edition in her series is no longer a one-handed "Little Mac Book," but still it lies open pretty flat. This is not the book to find Macintosh history, instability and compatibility issues, discussion of available programs, or anything about its base in Unix. Networking is limited to connecting two home computers. There are no troubleshooting procedures, but if you follow William's exquisitely clear and witty instructions to the letter you won't have much trouble, will you? While much of her information is available somewhere in Mac Help on your computer, it is better organized and much more visual here. Peachpit Press has high typographic standards and reasonable prices. This is a lovely, clear, crisp looking book, although spell checking was a bit hasty. Her classic "The Mac [or PC] Is Not A Typewriter" was the best thing since a typing course, and this new book is arguably the most readable of the OS X manuals.
Rating:
Summary: Robin Williams MAC OS X Book jaguar Edition
Review: Some would say that no manual can answer all the questions, but for 30 bucks, it should come close. Mac's are great machines, but Apple can't seem fit to include even the barest user manual at purchase. For almost 2 grand, this is a major omission. William's book showed promise, but as a novice user, I found it quite lacking. There's nothing included that spells out what to do when things don't work well, and Apple's in the same boat as Microsoft--it don't always work well. More troubleshooting would be helpful. (ie: what's a Fetch error. Had to call Apple on that one.) Too many examples to write about in this short space. Her visual example of the screen does not match what's on my flat-panel with OSX and that's frustrating. I recommend trying someone else's book if you're new to Macintosh. Better yet, write Apple and let them know they need to publish a good user manual for novices or PC switchers if they want to keep their market share.
Rating: 
Summary: Does not answer all my questions
Review: Some would say that no manual can answer all the questions, but for 30 bucks, it should come close. Mac's are great machines, but Apple can't seem fit to include even the barest user manual at purchase. For almost 2 grand, this is a major omission. William's book showed promise, but as a novice user, I found it quite lacking. There's nothing included that spells out what to do when things don't work well, and Apple's in the same boat as Microsoft--it don't always work well. More troubleshooting would be helpful. (ie: what's a Fetch error. Had to call Apple on that one.) Too many examples to write about in this short space. Her visual example of the screen does not match what's on my flat-panel with OSX and that's frustrating. I recommend trying someone else's book if you're new to Macintosh. Better yet, write Apple and let them know they need to publish a good user manual for novices or PC switchers if they want to keep their market share.
Rating:
Summary: The best Mac book!!
Review: This book is fantastic--best technical and instructive book I have ever read! I never thought I would not be able to put down a computer book, but that is the case with it. It gets down to the basics basic. I recommend it for anyone--especially anyone new to Macs. Brava for Robin Williams!!
Rating:
Summary: Really... THE Best Book
Review: This book is truly the very best book about any OS I have ever read and I have read well over 100. The author shows you exactly how to do whatever is able to be done on the computer . This is my first Mac after many Windows machines and this book has really explained everything. Robin Williams knows how to teach. I own about 12 books on Win98 and all of them put together DO NOT contain this much precise information on how to use a computer. She makes it so easy to love my new Mac.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book! Easy and informative.
Review: This is the first book I've picked up that actually tells you what you need to know without leaving things out. It makes learning easy and fast. I'm finally getting a handle on using OS X since purchasing this book. And so are my friends!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT Book for Mac OS X beginners and Mac in General
Review: This is the Jaguar Edition of a book that used to be called "The Little Mac Book," but at 800 pages and about 2 inches thick, it is anything but little. Just don't let the size intimidate you. This is one of the best books for beginners of Mac OS X, and the Mac in general!
So ... all you folks out there thinking of stepping up to OS X, get this book. It will help you understand what's going on. Ms. Williams covers everything a beginner needs to know, from how the whole "users" thing works, to organizing your folders, font management, file sharing, all things internet, what the "drop box" is for, etc.
There are (semi-circle, gray) tabbed pages designated for beginners. Robin gives you easy-to-understand explanations of the Macintosh user interface, including mousing and the keyboard. The beginner pages are sort of a built-in tutorial that not only directs you through the OS and provides exercises to use for practice along the way. There is a quiz at the end of each chapter, to help you understand the key points. The beginner's section ends with a terrific section about how to use the World Wide Web. Check out page 9, where she cleverly shows pics of the Finder menus, with page numbers for the sections that explain every item in the menus.
Page 709 has "Where did It Go?" for experienced OS 9 users, so you can easily see what replaced the Chooser, etc. I think this should have gone near the front of the book, but its placement is a minor flaw. This is a great Mac OS X beginners tome. What little is missing can be found in a new Peachpit Press book called The Little Mac iApps Book.
Robin sprinkles humor throughout its pages. There is URL, the friendly cartoon rat, who follows you along on your learning journey.
There is a great section on networking. Its a snoozer subject in most books, but Robin makes it simple, providing everyday network settings. What is provided is just enough to get any beginner up and running.
Everything else in the book is called "Beyond The Basics." However, Intermediate users will not find any sign of Unix, software gizmos or hacking, minimal troubleshooting, and not much under-the-hood coverage of the OS. She does tell you how to enable root user. I'm glad this book doesn't try to be all things to all users. There is just too much to know these days to do that.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT Book for Mac OS X beginners and Mac in General
Review: This is the Jaguar Edition of a book that used to be called 'The Little Mac Book,' but at 800 pages and about 2 inches thick, it is anything but little. Just don't let the size intimidate you. This is one of the best books for beginners of Mac OS X, and the Mac in general! So ... all you folks out there thinking of stepping up to OS X, get this book. It will help you understand what's going on. Ms. Williams covers everything a beginner needs to know, from how the whole 'users' thing works, to organizing your folders, font management, file sharing, all things internet, what the 'drop box' is for, etc. There are (semi-circle, gray) tabbed pages designated for beginners. Robin gives you easy-to-understand explanations of the Macintosh user interface, including mousing and the keyboard. The beginner pages are sort of a built-in tutorial that not only directs you through the OS and provides exercises to use for practice along the way. There is a quiz at the end of each chapter, to help you understand the key points. The beginner's section ends with a terrific section about how to use the World Wide Web. Check out page 9, where she cleverly shows pics of the Finder menus, with page numbers for the sections that explain every item in the menus. Page 709 has 'Where did It Go?' for experienced OS 9 users, so you can easily see what replaced the Chooser, etc. I think this should have gone near the front of the book, but its placement is a minor flaw. This is a great Mac OS X beginners tome. What little is missing can be found in a new Peachpit Press book called The Little Mac iApps Book. Robin sprinkles humor throughout its pages. There is 'Url,' the friendly cartoon rat, who follows you along on your learning journey. There is a great section on networking. Its a snoozer subject in most books, but Robin makes it simple, providing everyday network settings. What is provided is just enough to get any beginner up and running. Everything else in the book is called 'Beyond The Basics.' However, Intermediate users will not find any sign of Unix, software gizmos or hacking, minimal troubleshooting, and not much under-the-hood coverage of the OS. She does tell you how to enable root user. I'm glad this book doesn't try to be all things to all users. There is just too much to know these days to do that.
Rating:
Summary: The best book for Mac OS X beginners
Review: Trust Robin Williams to create the most user-friendly of books on whatever subject she chooses to write about. Fortunately for Mac users, she chooses to write about Macs most of the time. If you have never used a computer before, or are an average user making the switch from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X, you cannot find a better book as your guide for the experience. Multiple screen shots, clearly explained terms, separate explanations for beginners and experienced users where appropriate, and impeccable formatting are hallmarks of this book. For novice to intermediate users.
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