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Summary: Jeffrey McPheeters MyMac.com Book Review
Review: Confessions of a 'Net Geezer:' Yep, I'm old enough to remember when the term 'geek' was synonymous with 'nerd;' old enough to remember programming computers with punch cards; old enough to remember when "real geeks wore pocket-protectors." Now, of course, most of you reading this came on board the personal computing platform during the great Internet-Quake, which brought with it that dreaded Dot-Com Tsunami which is still wreaking havoc in the ebb of its tide. If you are a geek, (and you know it if you are) then you understand that vi isn't necessarily the Roman number for six, perl isn't a misspelling of a precious jewel, and X11 isn't a top-secret military reconnaissance plane. Indeed, it's been suggested that "real geeks speak Unix." Of course that's an overly narrow view, but there's no denying that the server and development landscape has been radically changed by Line, freebased, and the many *nix offshoots that have begun to mature and come into their own. As with all O'Reilly publications, Mac OS X for Unix Geeks is authored by true experts in the topic, in this case, Unix geeks. In addition it has a complete index and helpful appendixes. But the content itself is fairly inclusive of all the basic tools and services with which Unix developers will be familiar. Apple wouldn't be Apple if it didn't 'think different-ly' and such is the case with Mac OS X. The file structures are just consistent enough but with significant variances to throw an old Unix geek into fits of frustration, and cause the newcomer to become befuddled rather quickly. Whether mainly managing services, building structures, or seeking information about Darwin and advanced compiling techniques, Brian and Ernest have excellent advice and pointers for you to consider. They will quickly take you through the basics of Mac OS X's file structure and services, how to modify them to suit your personal needs and preferences, and get that "personalized" Unix that only a geek could appreciate! In addition, you'll get the benefit of their advice about using some of Apple's cool new GUI tools to manage some services that are typically only handled via the command line in traditional Unix installations. Unix geeks who have been around awhile know that much of the information they need can be found in detail, IF one knows where to look. By now, there are more than a few excellent online resources that cater to Mac OS X from a Unix point of view. This book provides suggestions for outside resources dealing explicitly with a particular topic of interest. I recommend checking out Brian's article: Top Ten Mac OS X Tips for Unix Geeks. The largest section of the book is for the developer. Apple is counting on developers to port their applications from other operating systems over to Mac OS X. While much has been made of the purported ease of moving current Mac OS 9 apps over to Mac OS X via Carbon, there's actually a bit more to it, as is often the case, and this little book does a good job of giving the developer a handle on where the Unix tools are located and how best to approach the packaging and deployment of applications for Mac OS X. One of the toughest challenges in writing a book like this is knowing when to stop. This is not meant to be an exhaustive text about Mac OS X, nor is it a full-featured explanation of Unix from a Mac perspective. It's a very handy guide for someone who's familiar with the 'engine' but isn't sure of the terrain. My advice is to view this book as a quick reference source for an overview of the common command-level features currently available in Mac OS X, how they are addressed either through the Terminal or a GUI or both, and where further details and help can be obtained online and in print. Software developers in particular will want this book, followed by server administrators. Network administrators will probably find this is not as helpful as a more exhaustive and general work like Unix Power Tools. MacMice Rating: 4 out of 5
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Summary: I think MAC OS X HACKS ISBN 0596004605 ...
Review: Don't buy this book. Most of the info is in the net. Much better if you get the MAC OS X Hacks by Dornfest (O'Reilly also)
Rating:
Summary: I think MAC OS X HACKS ISBN 0596004605 ...
Review: Don't buy this book. Must of the info is in the net. Much better if you get the MAC OS X Hacks by Dornfest (O'Reilly also)
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Summary: A FINE HANDOUT FOR 'UNIX' GEEKS
Review: For sure, 'Mac OS X' has aroused the interest of 'Unix' geeks, but they are not alone in that. Even Unix Administrators and Developers have been lured! This book, ("Mac OS X for Unix Geeks") is one other thing these enthusiasts have in common.
The book is small, but very versatile. It is a carefully compiled text, which is big enough to dissect all aspects of the superb OS. Every information that the user of the Operating System would need is beautifully summarized in this portable book. The manner with which it correlates 'Mac OS X' with the more traditional 'Unix' environment deserves commendation. It is a fine handout that most 'Unix' geeks would love. A trial will definitely convince you!
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Summary: A FINE HANDOUT FOR 'UNIX' GEEKS
Review: For sure, 'Mac OS X' has aroused the interest of 'Unix' geeks, but they are not alone in that. Even Unix Administrators and Developers have been lured! This book, ("Mac OS X for Unix Geeks") is one other thing these enthusiasts have in common.
The book is small, but very versatile. It is a carefully compiled text, which is big enough to dissect all aspects of the superb OS. Every information that the user of the Operating System would need is beautifully summarized in this portable book. The manner with which it correlates 'Mac OS X' with the more traditional 'Unix' environment deserves commendation. It is a fine handout that most 'Unix' geeks would love. A trial will definitely convince you!
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Summary: Not enough stuff
Review: I also agree I felt really cheated. There are a ton of topics regarding OSX from a Unix users's perspective I'd like to see covered and this book had about 5% of them. There is good information in the book its just not indexed well enough and there isn't anywhere near enough book to justify the title. Its more like a dozen good articles than a book.
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Summary: Not enough stuff
Review: I also agree I felt really cheated. There are a ton of topics regarding OSX from a Unix users's perspective I'd like to see covered and this book had about 5% of them. There is good information in the book its just not indexed well enough and there isn't anywhere near enough book to justify the title. Its more like a dozen good articles than a book.
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Summary: Disappointed
Review: I had been waiting for this book for some time and was quite disappointed. The information covered is inconsistent, painfully obvious information for Unix "geeks" (hey there's a cat command!) is mixed with useful information. I wish there had been more coverage on how Apple technologies that have been around for a long time on the Mac OS such as AppleScript could be useful to Unix people. The upcoming OS X in a Nutshell from O'Reilly looks more useful, even for Unix geeks, then this book.
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Summary: Great if you are coming from a technical background
Review: I have been using Mac OS X since the first public beta, and have some other Unix experience. I must say, this book has taken me a long way towards applying the things I know about other Unix environments to Mac OS X. Despite my Mac OS X experience, I feel that this book has taught me a lot about the Darwin flavor of Unix. As an added bonus, the book's careful explinations have helped me to better understand the other Unix platforms I have worked with. All and all, this was a good, if technical, book. Perfect for anybody who is interested in porting Unix software to Mac OS X, as well as the Unix admin who wants to get the most out of the new environment. However, unlike the title maintains, you don't have to be a Unix geek to get something worthwhile from the reading - though you may consider yourself one after carefully going through this book. My only complaint is that the book leaves you wanting more information in some areas. Thankfully, it is always quick to point you to other O'Reilly titles that fill in the gaps.
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Summary: Good effort for a first edition
Review: I've been waiting for a book like this for over a year. Almost ever other Mac OS X book is geared toward UNIX newbies, and if you have been using UNIX, Linux, FreeBSD or some UNIX-like OS for several years, the remedial/brain-damaged treatment of UNIX in existing OS X texts was frustrating as best. Happily, Jepson and Rothman have addressed the *nix community switchers without being preachy about OS X. The book, as others have mentioned, does have some holes in its coverage. Also, some assumptions (due to the publishing schedule) were made about OS X 10.2 Jaguar that simply turned out to be false (e.g., StartUpItems scripts would shut down daemons) once 10.2 was actually released. The authors have posted some errata and clarifications to the first edition at the O'Reilly website. Another shortcoming of this first edition is the shoddy copy editing/proofing in regard to the tables and diagrams. There are numerous instances where the tables and diagrams are wrong or outright missing. Like many other O'Reilly titles, this book is not intended to be the definitive compendium, but rather a quick introduction to *nix developers who are trying to find their bearings in a mostly recognizable, but occasionally idiosyncratic neighborhood. It is not a system administration guide; O'Reilly's UNIX sysadmin book (by Frisch) is a far better one. While this book may not unveil any new *nix secrets, it will accelerate familiarity with your new OS X surroundings. Assuming you value your time above minimum wage, the price of this book is negligible compared to the time it will save you figuring things out by yourself or perusing scattered websites.
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