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Summary: The essential manual for OS X
Review: Even if my new iMac DID come with a manual, I'd discard it and use "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Second Edition" instead. Not only does David Pogue cover all the bases, he also puts the information into context as no official manual would do. For example, he says, "Few people use PlainTalk speech recognition. But if your Mac has a microphone, PlainTalk is worth at least a 15-minute test drive." And "For the movie fan, [the Movies] feature of Sherlock might be worth the entire price of Mac OS X right there."The book revealed features I had no idea were present in OS X, and told me enough to begin using them. For example, I now write my own AppleScript programs, and can use FAXstf to send faxes. It's incredible how up-to-date this book is. I'm running OS X 10.2.3, and the book covers it all. Two months ago I had never seen an iMac. Thanks to this book, I'm approaching "iMac expert" status - at least within my family.
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Summary: Must-have information for any MacOS X user
Review: With the second edition, Pogue has done a great job of addressing new Mac users, longtime Mac users (OS 9 converts), and Windows converts. He covers the desktop interface, networking, utilities, printing, application programs, and more. In each section, he covers the basics as well as the nitty-gritty details (with lots of useful tips along the way). He does a great job of explaining user accounts and permissions, including permission problems and how to correct them. I read the first few chapters in detail, skimmed the rest, and now refer to the book whenever I have questions or problems. I've yet to run into anything that wasn't covered in this book.
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Summary: An excellent guide, for Mac newbies and experts alike
Review: Mac OS X is a great operating system, but to really get the most out of it you need a book like this Missing Manual. There's lots of little tips and tricks for newbies and long-time Mac users alike, and the book never talks down to the reader. The style of writing is very easy to read (and enjoyable too), with lots of screen captures to help you see the steps involved. Brief interludes on the history of various aspects of the Macintosh world are also interspersed throughout the book, adding background as to why features are there (or not). One thing that is really refreshing about this book is that it is downright honest. Mac OS X is certainly not perfect, and it has its share of little glitches, flaws, and annoyances. Pogue comes out and mentions these up front, with no BS. And instead of just griping about it, he includes workarounds (official or otherwise) when they exist. He is obviously very excited and proud of OS X (as well he should be), and this enthusiasm is rather contagious. But he doesn't kid the reader about where the OS is less than stellar. Enough blathering - I can sum up this book in one sentence: Whether you're new to the world of Macs (or computers in general), or someone who knows what 'dogcow' is, this book has lots of good stuff you can make use of. Buy it. Buy it NOW. :)
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Summary: Apple should put this book in the box
Review: Apple recently shifted to an operating system (OSX) based on UNIX. It's a bulletproof system, but those of us with years of experience on Macintoshes can get lost in the new system. And those people who are buying their first Mac are also lost because Apple's in-the-box manual is terribly scanty. Pogue is the best of the computer writers -- he doesn't bore people who don't need instruction in how to click a mouse and yet he doesn't lose the beginners either. With this book you are prepared to get the most out of what arguably is the most advanced operating system in the world. The book is intelligently organized and has what you need in time of computer crisis -- a great index. As a bonus, Pogue's book is eminently readable and occasionally witty (not silly like some of the forced-humor computer books, but truly witty).
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Summary: I always look to see if David Pogue wrote a book
Review: on whatever computer or software I buy because I know if I buy it then I'll be ok.
He makes everything easy. He writes as if he really cares if you understand the subject.
I keep the Missing Manual near my new laptop and refer to it often. I gave one to my sister also and she thanks me daily.
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Summary: I was lost in OS X before this book
Review: I was a power user of the Mac OS until X came along. After playing with the OS for a day and a half, I decided I needed some help in finding my way around. Like other Mac books that Pogue has written, this one is excellent for either power users or new Mac owners. I whole heartedly recommend this book to everyone but savvy Unix users.
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Summary: Worth the money for experts and newbies alike
Review: This book is well written, simple and concise, yet jam-packed with lot's of useful information and hints and tips for OSX Jaguar. If you are considering migrating to Jaguar, or even if you are already using it but would like to use it more effectively, you should get your money's worth out of this manual. I consider myself a fairly expert Mac OS user, but still learned quite a lot from this book. Although I found myself skipping through several sections because it covered information that I already knew or that I knew I could easily figure out on my own, just by sitting down with the computer. For example, there is a section on iTunes that I did not feel I needed to read since I had been using iTunes already. There are several other sections that I skipped through because they seemed quite basic to me, although for beginners they are probably necessary.
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Summary: Pouge saves any MAC day
Review: David Pogue is the foremost and most helpful writer when it comes to MAC. He is great, straight forward and honest. Honest? I emailed him soon after I bought my G4 and listed my current booklist; there was a newer edition of MacSecrets out but he suggested given my system to wait for this book. I did and it is great. I started with Macs for Dummies, More Mac for Dummies, Mac Secrets 5th edition, Mac OS 9 and now Mac OS X the missing manual (all by Pogue). Macs are good but Macs with a Pogue book in hand are heavenly. Also, Bookmark his website and read his magazine stuff. The man in super. Words cannot express how helpful Pogue is or the frustration and stress he can remove. Waiting for more wonderful insight into a computer/company that wishes they understood thier own product as well as you. Thanks David Pogue.
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Summary: The best one for me
Review: I am new to Apple--and no computer wizard--, having bought my first iMac 3 months ago. Well, as a complete newbe I bought and quickly went through 'The Little iMac' book and its larger cousin 'The Little iMac book OSX' ; however, as I bought one of the first OSX 10.2 iMacs these books were not fully up to date for Jaguar. Now I'm hooked on the system, and have been enjoying many new things; I have quickly moved to the realm of serious application usage. However, there were many little things that were not covered or explained in the other books. I was having some trouble with some technical things (moving 'home' folder to different partition, booting from different partitions, dedicated SWAP partition, iDVD, UNIX basics, burning movies to DVD-RW, restoring iTunes library, splitting iPhoto libraries, trouble shooting etc.). So I went and bought this book. Perfect; compared to the other 2 books, there is much more detail and explanation on how and why things work. Now, I know that the 'Little iMac Book' is just supposed to be an introductory guide, and that niether of the other books were writen for 10.2. However, I feel that you will soon outgrow a more basic book or not find as many useful items in a less well written full manual. If you want a beginers guide-- that you will likely grow out of - get a simple introductory book. If you want a complete resource that you will enjoy learning from, get this one.
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Summary: Pogue does it again
Review: OS X can be puzzling even for experienced Mac users. That's why Mac OS X Missing Manual, Second Edition, by David Pogue is one book you should add to your bookshelf. If you aren't familiar with any of Pogue's previous books, then you've missed reading one of the most intelligent and easy-to-read Mac writers since Robin Williams. Pogue writes in a clear, easy-to-follow style that makes it simpler to understand the sometimes arcane and relatively new operating system. Most of Mac OS X Missing Manual concentrates on the non-unix and less geeky parts of OS X. And of course, that makes perfect sense, since venturing into the seemingly dark and obscure world of UNIX is an option in OS X, not a requirement. But several chapters do delve into this foreign side of the new Mac OS. There's more than enough information to enable the reader to begin using UNIX features like the Terminal, SSH, FTP, VPN, and so on. Of course, this isn't a UNIX book, per se, so if really want to become a bull goose UNIX geek, you'll need another, or probably several, other books. Since OS X includes some integral applications, like Mail, iPhoto, iChat, iCal, and the rest, so Mac OS X Missing manual also includes plenty of information to help you get the most of these free programs. The new OS X utilities are also covered in some detail, and since many of them are completely new to users of previous Mac operating systems, that's a very good thing. This thick tome lists for $29.95, which isn't bad for a book of so much weight. One of the cost-cutting measures employed by O'Reilly Press in the Missing Manual series is to not stuff a CD full of questionably worthwhile, and most likely out-of-date (by the time you get them) utilities and applications in the back. However, every piece of shareware and freeware mentioned in the book is available for download from www.missingmanuals.com/cds/. I like Pogues books, they have earned prominent places on my bookshelf, so I have no hesitation strongly suggesting that if you use OS X, you pick up a copy of Mac OS X Missing Manual.
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