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Summary: Try David Pogue's "Missing Manual for OS X, second edition"
Review: I'd like to recommend a different manual, since this one is just not shipping when it should...If you really want to get going with OS X v 10.2.x, go instead with David Pogue's Missing Manual for Mac OSX, second edition. It's incredibly well written, jam packed with useful and FINDABLE help, appropriately humorous, and best of all, it will actually ship when you order it!!! I have ordered several manuals for the mac updated to OS X Jaguar. All have arrived EXCEPT THIS ONE, (Robin Williams') even though I ordered it Dec. 18th, and the info says it's available! This book was supposed to be released Dec. 20, and mine hasn't even shipped yet! (08Jan03) I would, instead, recommend David Pogue's "Missing Manual" for OSX, second edition, which is a GORGEOUS encyclopedia of knowledge of the full capability of Jaguar. I haven't found a question yet that Pogue's "Missing Manual" hasn't addressed fully, unlike the Jaguar ed. of the Little Black Book, which often didn't even begin to address problems encountered with very common procedures, like setting capabilities for different user accounts. I had to go to Apple Tech Support, because I didn't yet have Pogue's "Missing Manual," which actually, was even more helpful than Apple's tech support!! If you really want to rev your new Jag, go with the Missing Manual for Mac OSX, second edition. As I said above, it's incredibly well written, appropriately humorous, and best of all, it will actually ship when you order it!!!
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Summary: Only buy if you are an absolute beginner
Review: If you are an absolute beginner with Mac Os X and really NEED to habe a book by your side then this might be the book for you. Otherwise is not a little book at all, is huge, but it is so because it goes through basic things with endless descriptions and screen captions. Things that could be explained in just 2 pages in this book go on for 6. Besides that I really need some sense of humour on the book (that's what I liked about Christopher Breen's Mac 911)
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Summary: Robin Williams Mac OS X Book or The Missing Manual?
Review: REVIEW: ROBIN WILLIAMS MAC OS X BOOK Robin Williams Mac OS X Book Jaguar Edition is probably the best book to recommend to a new Macintosh user with little or no prior computer experience. It describes how to use Macintosh OS X simply and clearly, and tells the new user what results to expect. It does not, however, talk down to new users. If an example shows a document, the content of the document shows some creativity and class. A follow the dots tutorial skips around so the new user can learn the essentials in just 186 pages. The dots are half circles that bleed to the edge of the page so they are easy to find, and the information is still organized so that you can find it later with more advanced information on the subjects. A beginner who completes the 186 page tutorial will have a better base for using a Macintosh than many more experienced users. In sports, coaches spend a lot of time going over the basics, the fundamentals, even with professional athletes. Robin Williams Mac OS X Book Jaguar Edition provides thorough coverage of the basics that will improve the performance of any user. I have twenty years of experience with Apple computers, am probably an intermediate user, and have read other Mac OS X books, and Robin Williams Mac OS X Book contained many very useful ideas that were new to me. An example of the thoughtful instructions for beginners, "When you see and instruction like Command + Shift + B do not type the pluses." An example of something I had read before, but not used as I should, in any finder window view you can quickly go to and select an item by keying the first few letters. An example of something new to me, you can create a new icon for a file and the Macintosh will adjust the image size to fit. The Robin Williams Mac OS X Book contains clear easy to understand information about Mac OS X features such as the login process and login options. I like the way Robin writes and makes a friend of the reader. I liked Robins description of the font collections available in programs written specifically for Mac OS X not for both Mac OS X and OS 9. "Whoever made up the names for these collections certainly did not know anything about type." Following her directions and examples, I have reorganized my collections. I have recommended David Pogue's Mac OS X: The Missing Manual to all kinds of readers, as I am sure many other user group members have done. But, after reading Robin Williams Mac OS X Book, I would recommend it as the first choice for new Macintosh owners without a lot of computer experience. I still recommend David's book as the first choice for experienced users. It is worth buying both books, or at least reading both from your user group library. I own Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Second Edition(by David Pogue published by O'Reilly) and would not part with it. I have ordered my own copy of Robin Williams Mac OS X Book using the Peachpit Press user group member discount. ..
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Summary: out of date
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!
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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.
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