Mac OS X Panther for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: Avoid this book
Review: After being spoiled by Dummies books by David Pogue, it came as a surprise that this is 0ne is not for beginners or even those coming from OS9. Terms are used that are not defined,there are misleading illustrations, and totally confusing directions. If you already know OSX this may be of some help but don't start with this.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty clear and a quick read
Review: I bought this while waiting for my first ever Mac to arrive, so I suppose it's a credit to Levitus that I felt relatively confident about using it pretty much straight away. The book covers relatively basic topics like the Finder, saving files, navigation, file management etc. As a lifelong Windows user, it all seems pretty familiar stuff.
What it doesn't cover, except in passing, is stuff like how to use the Superdrive, or standard OSX Applications. Oh, they get a half-page mention, but this isn't the book that tells you everything in great detail.
Think of it more as a starting point. But at least it isn't daunting and over-technical.
I found the endlessly jokey tone of the writing a little irritating, like being with a used-car salesman. It's a little bit "loud" if you know what I mean. I also wasn't that impressed by the illustrations which often seem to be on a different page to the one they're described on, needlessly.
Anyway: it's pretty cheap, a quick read, easy to understand, but don't expect in-depth information.

Rating:
Summary: A Hasty Job
Review: I have found more faulty references in this book than helpful ones. I'll cite just one example. I wanted to find out more about the "Find" function in Panther, in particular about how to extract the location of the "found" file when I'm looking at a trail of unnamed "folder" icons. The index sent me to page 82 (the only reference to "Find"). The information there was a tiny paragraph languishing under the heading "Desktop Madness." It said, "Use the Files->Find command when you can't remember where you put it in a file or folder." (sic). Then the second and last sentence: "This command is a Mac OS X feature that really kicks some butt. I discuss it in detail in chaper 12." Guess what? Chapter 12 is called "The Fail-Safe Guide to Printing." No more references to "Find." You know whose butt I'd like to kick. Enough said.