The iMac for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Be careful before buying this book!
Review: ... This book - The iMac For DUMMIES (2nd Edition / ©2000) - is the PERFECT CURE for the: "What the Hell NOW!?!"s. : ) ... I'm serious! After reading this book, I feel a LOT more secure and a LOT more relaxed when sitting in front of my Apple computer. This book by David Pogue is a Godsend! In fact, in my case, it was a DOUBLE Godsend - because it was a gift from Amy Tine and Cindy Tello, two fine ladies who cared to find out what made me tick! (Thank you, Amy & Cindy ! :)

... It took me a LONG time to read this book, because when it comes to tools this powerful, one cannot be too careful - and I tend to be a VERY careful person, especially with complicated and sophisticated technology. ...Anyway, it takes time to read this book, because you gotta read it when you are sitting in front of your computer. So, just accept that fact, and then GO AT IT!

... I love the sense of humor of this guy - David Pogue. He really makes a dry topic a fun read. Any book that mentions The Smashing Pumpkins is fine by me! ... You will learn A LOT! ... One EXAMPLE: on page 327, David teaches you how to do what is called: Rebuilding the Desktop File. ... I did it. (As I did just about ALL of the motions he puts you through. I thought I was back in Driver's Ed again!) I can unequivocally state that after having done what he said to do, the damn computer ran MUCH faster - and I'm packing 256 megabytes of RAM, 30 gigabytes of ROM, with a 500 megahertz Apple G3 Power Chip, over AT&T Cable Road Runner ISP service! ... The tips he gives you are great! You will NEVER regret having spent the time to read this book - and don't be misled by other reviews: it WILL take time; but it's WORTH it.

... I also bought FIVE other Apple iMac books: My iMac / 2nd Edition by Andrew Gore; I'm Turning On My iMac, Now What? by Chris Sandlund (which I already read as a "dip your toes in the water" introduction); How To Do Everything With Your iMac / Second Edition by Todd Stauffer; Sams Teach Yourself The iMac in 24 Hours / Second Edition by Gene Steinberg; and The Little iMac Book / Second Edition by Robin Williams. Like I said: I'm a real CAREFUL person! (I also WORK in a BOOKSTORE - so I get a discount, thank goodness! : ) I have only SKIMMED through most of these books, but they ALL look great, and I hope to read ALL of them. (Lord knows WHEN?! : ) I'll let you know what I think when I do.

... Anyway, if you want to learn how to do more than just e-mail and surf the web; if you REALLY want to know what makes your computer tick - inside & out - and have a hankering to get into the guts & gears, and nuts & bolts of understanding how this baby (or beast?) runs; then grab this book - and keep it BY your computer at all times; because there is NO WAY you are ever going to REMEMBER all the stuff in this book (at least not right away - if ever! : ) ... The iMac does NOT come with a MANUAL. Now, maybe this NEW, paisley-print / tie-dye / hippie, iTunes, Music-oriented one does ("Jeez! If I had only waited another six months!" - Same Old Story : ), but I doubt it. So, you're going to need SOME kind of book like this so you don't drive the guy at the computer store CRAZY with all your questions! (Thanks, Rick! : ) ... Just sit back, put on The Grateful Dead, pretend you're back in college, crack open the book, press that ON Button on the front of your iMac, and get ready to learn HOW to DO things with, and FIX things in, your beautiful new computer. This book makes it easy to wade through the trees and see the forest for what it is: a real silicon jungle WITH PATHS that go through it - if you KNOW where to look. ... LOOK HERE! ... YOWZA! - The Aeolian Kid

Rating:
Summary: If you are switching from a PC to an iMac, BUY THIS BOOK
Review: I bought this book for my 71 year old Mother for whom we just bought an iMac. It was my first encounter with David Pogue. I sort of ho-hummed as I picked the book up with a highlighter in one hand. I didn't put it down until I finished it. It not only helped me with my own G-3, but you should se my Mom!It is funny and easy to follow & I promise you will search out all of Mr. Pogue's other works. Enjoy!! [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Be careful before buying this book!
Review: I ordered this book for my mother, who just purchased her first computer, an iMac. The book came, and I looked at the back cover, where it states this book covers Mac OS 9. HELLO! Mac OS 10 is the current OS, and very different in nature from OS 9.

So while this may be a great book, it may be worthless to you if you are buying a new Mac.

Rating:
Summary: Informative & funny. A pleasure to read!
Review: I read the book cover to cover (although not front to back) in just a few days. I looked forward to reading it because I felt I was learning so much and it was fun to read because the author is so amusing. I learned a lot about my new imac and Macintosh in general. I also picked up some additional tips on MS Word and Excel that I didn't know. I wish David Pogue could write all the dummies books on the subjects I'm interested in reading. (By the way, is he married? (Just kidding)

Rating:
Summary: Overall absolutely indispensible and terrific!
Review: I recieved this book for Christmas and I am giving it five stars even though I was very dissappointed with it. This s a great book if you have never owned a Macintosh before. But if you have had a Macintosh before skip it. For it is nothing more than a revised edition of David Pogue's other book, Macs for Dummies (The book I cut my Mac teeth on.)

My favorite tip from the book, by the way, is to put an alias (you'll learn what that is and how to create one in the first few chapters) in a file called Start Up Items. Each time you start your computer, every item (like say America On Line) will be launched automatically.

But again, if you know how to use a Macintosh, this book isn't going to help you with the iMac...

Rating:
Summary: If you are switching from a PC to an iMac, BUY THIS BOOK
Review: If you are already a Macintosh user and say things like Windows95 is Apple 84, then you can skip this book. If you have Pogue's other book, MACS FOR DUMMIES, you can skip it as well. (You will want IDG's OTHER iMac Book: MY iMAC.) If however, the iMac is your first Macintosh book, This is the book for you. In it you will such important information like what an alias is, how to create one, and why you would need to. What items in your system folder you can trash, and what you should never ever even entertain the thought of trashing. The book is funny and practical. I turn to mine time after time.

Rating:
Summary: A fabulous, friendly, common sense book for real people.
Review: Last night, I bought and began reading "iMac for Dummies" by David Pogue. OK, I'm no computer wizard. I'm from an older generation that has had to learn this stuff like a second language. Nonetheless, I must exclaim with glee that simply reading thie iMac for Dummies book is more fun than anything I've ever DONE on a Wintel machine and one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done with computers. I have purchased several different Dummies type books for Word, Windows, DOS, etc., over the years. Never, ever has one come close to being this readable. After one night and morning of reading, I feel I am user-friendly with Macs. Contrast this with the countless hours (years) I spent planted in front of Windows programs, jaw clenched, with three books spread in my lap and trying in vain to solve indecipeherable error messages, glitches and crashes. Suddenly, it seems absurd how simple computing might really be and could have been all along. I am beginning to get a feeling--a strong feeling--that one can actually have a good time on a computer. Mac fever. Bless Mr. Pogue and Apple for rescuing us from the dark side of the force. I can sleep safely now, iMac and Dummies book by my bed, knowing that my family is safe from the evil Wintel demon. Seriously, kudos to Mr. Pogue for writing an emminently successful and accessible book on personal computers "for the rest of us."

Jeffrey Teuber

Rating:
Summary: The iMac for dummies
Review: The book is very funny and does get you started. If you want to use it for a quick reference after you have read it, the jokes get in the way. Doesn't cover OS9 hardly at all. That was my main problem. I have OS9 and this book is probably great for OS8 and older. Would not recommend for OS9.