The iMac Way: Your Guide to the Digital Universe

Rating:
Summary: A MUST BUY . . . IF
Review: A MUST BUY . . . IF you want to use your iMac to soar, to do magic, and to bring you into new levels of computing. The iMac: what a wonderful machine! It is high powered, low priced, and you can actually USE it with ease - this in stark contrast to the kludgy, unstable WinTel machines that are now referred to as "99% of a Mac." (Don't believe it.) Yet many an iMac owner uses his or her computer for email and a letter or two; and that's fine, though it is a little like using an F-16 fighter for a trip to the market or for crop dusting, maybe.

The iMac has extraordinary power, and that's what this book is all about. It is not the ABCs of the computer that'll explain a double click, but it will lead you with simple language and copious illustrations into our new, digital world of sound, photos, movies, and graphics. It also delves into Web page authoring, networking, and some of the "hidden talents" of the iMac. Mercifully, it is all very understandable. As easy as the iMac is, you're simply not going to reach the next level by trial and error and the Help Screen.

Messrs. Hansen and Miser are qualified experts who have the gift of communication. They are adept at taking complexities (e.g. URL language) and factoring them down for us "regular folks" who have inherent creativity but lack an MIT degree. They really do a tremendous job. With the book, a bit of software, and the funky little iMac, you'll be astounded at what you can do.

Best of all, you could easily buy separate books on iTunes, MP3s, iMovie, digital photography, networking, building web pages, etc., but this one volume will get you well on your way while saving money and shelf space. Later, if you want a "master's degree" in some subject, you can always buy a specialty book.

Two quibbles: I wish Hansen had provided more information on selecting a digital camera. The range of choices and options out there is bewildering and seems to change markedly every day. Second, Miser strongly dissuades you from buying a Digital 8 video camera. Sony markets these, and they have one fabulous advantage. If you have built up a library of Regular 8 or Hi 8 tapes over the years as I have, the Digital 8 cameras are "backwards compatable" and will play these tapes. This means that all your old material can go directly into the iMac in the requisite digital form without first being converted. This, to my mind at least, is a HUGE plus.

Rating:
Summary: Decent introduction, some disappointments
Review: In the rapidly evolving field of digital audio and visual, it's reassuring to have a clearly organized, relatively comprehensive reference work such as this. Nevertheless, far from being exhaustive, the book is a starting point--one, moreover, that will inevitably soon be dated information. For example, the authors' publication date doesn't permit them to consider the latest generation of flat-panel iMacs in their discussions.

Despite the book's length, I'm surprised that some additional paragraphs weren't devoted to matters such as converting analog audio and VHS tapes to video files suitable for burning, or copying, through use of the iMac. The authors begin by assuming you'll be using "Sound Studio" to create audio files, but since their subsequent discussion soon promotes the advantages of using Roxio's "Toast," it's unclear what the advantages of Sound Studio, if any, might be. My question about how to equalize audio frequencies before burning was not addressed. Moreover, it's not explained if either program is capable of automatically creating individual files from a multiple-track analog LP, as is the free shareware "Coaster."

The discussion of "iTunes" is surprisingly brief, containing nothing not immediately observable from using the program. Most disappointingly, the authors do not address the question of memory and disc space. Is it important that virtual memory be turned "off" while recording? More importantly, how many MP-3 audio files can be imported to the iTunes library or stored on the iMac's hard drive without affecting the machine's speed and performance?

As for digital video, I would have appreciated some discussion of converting VHS tape to digital files. One school of thought says to use a "bridge" such as the Hollywood Dazzle; another says the job can be accomplished just as well if not better by most camcorders. Which is right? And if the latter, what particular camera is recommended?

Less talk about how to shoot a good movie and more about the hardware and software would have measurably enhanced the book's usefulness as far as this reader is concerned.

Rating:
Summary: Decent introduction, some disappointments
Review: In the rapidly evolving field of digital audio and visual, it's reassuring to have a clearly organized, relatively comprehensive reference work such as this. Nevertheless, far from being exhaustive, the book is a starting point--one, moreover, that will inevitably soon be dated information. For example, the authors' publication date doesn't permit them to consider the latest generation of flat-panel iMacs in their discussions.

Despite the book's length, I'm surprised that some additional paragraphs weren't devoted to matters such as converting analog audio and VHS tapes to video files suitable for burning, or copying, through use of the iMac. The authors begin by assuming you'll be using "Sound Studio" to create audio files, but since their subsequent discussion soon promotes the advantages of using Roxio's "Toast," it's unclear what the advantages of Sound Studio, if any, might be. My question about how to equalize audio frequencies before burning was not addressed. Moreover, it's not explained if either program is capable of automatically creating individual files from a multiple-track analog LP, as is the free shareware "Coaster."

The discussion of "iTunes" is surprisingly brief, containing nothing not immediately observable from using the program. Most disappointingly, the authors do not address the question of memory and disc space. Is it important that virtual memory be turned "off" while recording? More importantly, how many MP-3 audio files can be imported to the iTunes library or stored on the iMac's hard drive without affecting the machine's speed and performance?

As for digital video, I would have appreciated some discussion of converting VHS tape to digital files. One school of thought says to use a "bridge" such as the Hollywood Dazzle; another says the job can be accomplished just as well if not better by most camcorders. Which is right? And if the latter, what particular camera is recommended?

Less talk about how to shoot a good movie and more about the hardware and software would have measurably enhanced the book's usefulness as far as this reader is concerned.