Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual by David Pogue
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Book Reviews of Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual
Book Review: No better Manual for OS X Leopard
Summary: 5 Stars
The preeminent general reference source for Mac OS 10 has always been the "Missing Manual Series" written by David Pogue. The latest iteration in the series is its Mac OS 10 Leopard Edition, completely revised, and it is the biggest, most comprehensive, and most useful of all the editions in the series. It covers the OS X desktop and file system, the free applications included with the OS X installation, the system components and technologies, networking and online features and components, and includes welcome appendices on installation, troubleshooting, Windows/Mac comparisons, and a "Master Keystroke" list.
Every one of the editions has been exceedingly well-designed and written combining serious treatment of subject content with style, wit, and humor, as well as honest evaluation and critique of features of the Mac operating system. All of the OS X Missing Manuals have addressed issues for a broad range of users, from the lightly experienced, the intermediate, and for power users. For the most part, however, the primary focus of each edition has been on the less experienced users. This has changed with the Leopard edition.
There seems to have been a deliberate effort to make the book more appealing and useful to upper-end users without losing any utility at all for others. There seems to be more material for power users- -there are more "Power Users Guides" providing advanced information and techniques, more UNIX references for those willing and able to take avail of the UNIX kernel underlying the operating system, more identifications of keyboard shortcuts, and more disclosure of undocumented and advanced features than in previous editions.
For example, Pogue itemizes and describes at least 20 UNIX utilities that only power users would want to use, explains how to configure preferences for the Terminal application, explains how to deal with the file and folder permissions system using UNIX commands, and even notes the existence of the venerable "Eliza" therapist emulator program hidden in a part of the emacs text editor. At each juncture of describing operating system features, Pogue explains from the perspective of different levels of users, including the power user, like himself. Unlike in many other books purporting to cover a broad range of users, this one does not short on the higher-end.
This is all well and good as casual users are still widely well-taken care of by the thorough and well-organized explanations of nearly every feature of OS 10.5. The book is illustrated profusely with screenshots of system features, configuration processes, comparison of the Mac OS X versions, comparisons of Mac OS X to Windows features, and more. Nearly every page is loaded with "Tips," "Notes," FAQ's, lists, tables, and sidebars. Throughout, there are nuggets of insight and technical arcana that even Mac veterans will be surprised to learn about. I learned, for example, that the one-button Apple Mighty Mouse has a secret 2-button feature. Also there is a similar way to operate a laptop with a two finger trackpad technique. There are a lot of tips and tricks like that in the book. Even beyond description and explanation, Pogue provides useful recommendations for configurations of the Dock, recovery from common errors, and using Automator to design practical workflows for common tasks.
The subject content builds upon that of previous editions and updates it with material relating to the 300-plus new features of Leopard. Much of the new material covers the Leopard update highlights - the backup program called Time Machine, a desktop switching application called Spaces, the Stacks organizing feature, the file previewer, QuickLook, and the feature enhancements in iChat, Mail, and especially Spotlight, the search tool.
Spotlight is much more than a mere search tool although it is a great one. A whole chapter is devoted to it alone. Pogue explains how to use it not just for casual and advanced searching (using over 125 types of data and metadata) but as a quick launcher of files, folders, and applications; as a calculator; and as a dictionary. Sophisticated query languages can be used and Pogue lists a series of power user keyboard shortcuts for Spotlight use.
I see the book as especially useful for those Windows users of all levels gravitating to the Mac platform. Not only is the treatment of the Mac OS done well, but at nearly every juncture, Pogue takes the perspective of a Windows user and provides practical comparisons and contrasts of operating systems.
Weaving all of these perspectives into a harmonious, readable manual is a fine achievement. The content discussions and explanations are never abstract but written from the viewpoint of the thoughtful and practical user and no one is better at this than David Pogue who has been cited before as one of the world's best (technical) communicators. The denseness of the treatment of the subject content diminishes somewhat from the readability of the book compared to prior editions and there is a bit less wit, humor and style. That is the trade-off, I presume, for the increased breadth and depth of the content treatment but this Missing Manual is still as well written as a computer manual can be expected to be.
Book Review: Russ Walkowich's mymac.com Review
Summary: 5 Stars
David Pogue's latest endeavor, Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual has built upon all of his previous versions and his experience in working with Macs. This is what should come in the box with your Mac. Everything you need to know or would like to know about Leopard is in this book.
Mr. Pogue has broken this manual down into six basic sections; The Mac OS X Desktop, Programs in Mac OS X, Components of Mac OS X, The Technologies of Mac OS X, Mac OS Online and the final section, the Appendixes, four of them, plus he even throws in a Master Mac OS X keystroke list. To give you an idea of just what he covers in the book, here is a quick breakdown.
Part One (The Mac OS X Desktop) covers Folders, Organizing, Spotlight, the Dock, Desktop and Toolbars.
Part Two (Programs in Mac OS X) covers Documents, Time Machine, Syncing, Moving Data, Automator and AppleScript and Windows on a Mac.
Part Three (The Components of Mac OS X) covers System Preferences, Free Programs (what programs come standard with all Macs like the Address Book, AppleScript, etc.), CDs, DVDs and iTunes.
Part Four (The Technologies of Mac OS X) deals with Accounts, Parental Controls and Security, Networking, File Sharing, Screen Sharing, Printing, Faxing, Fonts and Graphics, Sound, Movies and Speech, the Unix Crash Course, and Hacking Mac OS X.
Part Five (Mac OS Online) works its way through Internet Setup, Mail and the Address Book, Safari, iChat, SSH, FTP, VPN and Web Sharing.
The final part, the Appendixes, covers Installing Mac OS X 10.5 from getting ready to install to Uninstalling Mac OS X 10.5, then into Troubleshooting, the Windows-to-Mac Dictionary and finally, Where to Go after you've read the manual.
The nice thing about Mr. Pogue's Missing Manuals is that they cover the bases for the beginner-to-advanced Mac user, sometimes with a sense of humor, sometimes just directly with the information that is needed to get things up and running properly. It's not "dumbed-down" nor is it "techo-geek"; instead it just works the way a manual really should. The book provides for first time users by displaying sidebar pieces called "Up To Speed" that give the first time user the basic, introductory information to get started. If you're a veteran Mac user, he still provides for you by sidebars called "Power Users Clinics" with more detailed information. Another thing to notice is that Mr. Pogue starts you off with the information on Mac OS X 10.5, then almost at the end tells you how to install the OS on your Mac. This give you the background and basis for dealing with anything that may pop up when you do so, and give you a head start if you're a new user. He makes good use of screen shots to emphasize points to make things easy to understand if the reader has a problem with a particular tip or section. You'll discover something new every time you pick up the book and it's a great resource to have on hand.
In the previous version of the Missing Manual (Panther), Mr. Pogue briefly covered the UNIX underpinnings of Mac OS X, roughly 20 pages worth. This edition has been expanded to almost 50 pages, including a section covering 20 useful UNIX utilities that can be of use to the Mac user. The book itself is a bit changed from the previous versions in its expanded tips for Power Users.
Now, when you've finished reading the book, and you get to the back cover, there is a drawing of the Missing CD-ROM that didn't come with the book that shaved $[...] off the cost. You'll find instructions to go to [...] and then to click on the Missing CD icon. Once there, you will find links to sites containing additional software that Mr. Pogue covers in the book.
At times, I'm amazed at what Mr. Pogue can come up with in the way of tips for the reader. As an example, if you go here you will discover "5 Tips and Tricks" put forth by Mr. Pogue. Check out the tip on Mosaic, part of the screensaver program for the Mac. I tried it out and was amazed, I know that I hadn't seen or read that before.
As I have before, I really enjoyed reading this book. It's well written and covers what a Mac user needs to know to work with OS X Leopard. As has been stated in the past with Mr. Pogue's other Missing Manual books- this is a definite must-have for Mac OS X users! Check it out online or at your favorite bookstore!
Highly Recommended!
My Mac Rating: 5 out of 5
Book Review: a Tome by any other name
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow! How does one measure such a work? I measured the book to be 1.75 inches thick! The page count (excluding forwards and appendices) is 814. There's no CD, so these are printed pages. Then there are the additional PDFs at missingmanual.com, another 5 booklets! And these are "meaty" chapters. For example, the very last chapter is entitled "SSH, FTP, VPN, and Web Sharing" with the last section on using a VPN, which, if you're a network person like me, is very important. If one were to ask users to read the manual before installing Leopard, they'd never do so.
I consider myself an advanced user, having worked for Apple in a technical capacity and now providing network engineering support. I decided to read this book as fill-in, provide how-to information on the 300+ new Leopard features, possibly fill in any missing gaps I may have in Mac OS in general. I feel this was completely satisfied by reading this book. I even put post-its on a few pages for reference to sometimes used features for quick reference.
There are many other fine reviews detailing the book's contents. I'll just point to a few things I thought made the book stand out. The most often used new feature for me is Quick Look. Just like dragging a file to a desktop printer icon prints a file, so Quick Look allows me to view any supported file type without having to launch an app. I even took the suggestion in the book and visited www.qlplugins.com to find more Quick Look plug-ins. The book did a great job explaining the many controls available in Quick Look.
I look forward to the side bars, thinking I'll find "special features" revealed. I've had Windows users ask me about viruses. The book has a concise sidebar I can now reference on p. 839, Appendix B, simply stating there's little about which to worry. This appendix also explains some tips to troubleshoot when, for instance, the computer starts loading and the watch dial just keeps on spinning. These are useful reference tips. I don't think I'm alone in getting questions from people asking me for something so they can "learn more." More about what? Well, this books obviates the what, as The Missing Manual touches upon anything I can think they may ask.
I've had Microsoft's Windows Vista Inside Out book, 1019 pages, for years and never made it through. The book is simply not engaging and even a nerd like me can only endure so much. The missing credits seems to indicate Pogue had four contributing writers. This is a daunting amount of writing. It seemed obvious those chapters he wrote, for they contained elements of light-hearted fun, such as p. 537, "thanks to a freaky little wormhole in the time-space continuum." In spite of the length of this work, this book is a reference text in many ways. How can this book cover the scope of color management, of routing? In fact, it can't. That's why I characterize it more as a reference book. The book also contains an appendix entitled Where to Go From Here as an answer to more detailed questions/culture/information. I already know of two others to whom I'm going to recommend this.
Book Review: Response to the few who gave this book a low rating
Summary: 5 Stars
I have found this book to be invaluable, but before writing this review I looked at those few who rated it with 2 or 3 stars. I would like to address the issues they raise before mentioning a few features of this OS X Leopard Missing Manual book.
Out of 156 reviews, only 3 reviewers gave it a 2-star rating, and only 8 rated it with 3 stars. That, in itself, speaks volumes for this book
One of the 2-star reviewers complained of "PC bashing by the author and Mac snobs." After using Windows since the beginning, switching to the Mac has freed me from fighting with Windows. Now I use the Mac productively with nary a glitch. If that makes me a snob, I plead guilty! I tell everyone how freeing the Mac is!
Another said it "isn't helpful for New Mac Users." I agree! If you are a PC user who has or plans to purchase a Mac, then Pogue's "Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition" is a much better choice for you. The chapter near the end of it entitled "Where did it Go?" alone is worth the price of the "Switching" book for former PC users!
The third 2-star reviewer's complaint also hits the nail on the head. He said that he and his girlfriend were able to do anything they wanted on the Mac without a book, because the OS is so easy to use. Yes, but this book is for those who want exhaustive coverage of all the Mac OS X features, including automating with scripts, access to the Linux layer, and more. The O'Reilly "Mac OS X Leopard Pocket Guide" would have been a great choice for this reader. It fits in your pocket and costs much less! Yet it covers all the key Leopard features, reminds you of keyboard shortcuts, tells about settings for all products, and more.
Of the 3-star reviews, only two were substantial. Both "Not the best book" and "Not enough troubleshooting help" reviews may be right on--read them and check their links for yourself. No one book can meet all needs. The other six either complain about David Pogue's writing style, complain the book is too long, or revisit one of the 2-star reviewer's concerns. I sometimes enjoy Pogue's style, but often just ignore his comments.
After writing so much above, I just want to point out that I have never failed to find the answer to a question that I have looked up in this valuable resource. I use it as a reference source--not for evening reading by the fireplace! But when approaching a topic that is new to me, like Apple Script, then I do read the chapter thoughtfully. In those cases, I find the material readable and filled with tips, helpful screen shots, step-by-step instructions, and links to resources & tutorials at Apple, third-pary, and O'Reilly "Missing Book" web sites.
Book Review: Another great book from Pogue press
Summary: 5 Stars
Pogues' books on Mac keep getting better and better. This book covers all of the features in Leopard in detail. For those that have used Tiger the missing manual will not be disappointed at all by this book.
For the new Mac user this book covers all of the essentials to get started. It also gives you the tools to go in depth with Leopard. For the experienced Mac users there is still so much valuable information here to make it well worth the purchase. All of the applications that come with Tiger are covered in good detail. Dash board, Spotlight, Apple remote desktop, Sherlock, iTunes, iSync, iChat .Mac, Safari RSS for internet feeds, iDVD, iChat, iPhoto, iCal, iMic, iMovie, iDisk, iSync and iTunes, Apple Script and Image Capture to name a few.
Also covered in detail is converting from Windows to Mac for the new Mac user.
Creating user accounts is covered along with file and directory permissions, configuring the user environment and user preferences, passwords and other elements of security.
The Intel chip set is covered in detail.
There are a myriad of new features and features that have been changed or have been enhanced. There are so many new features that are not intuitive in Leopard. This book helps you through these with ease. Throughout the book there are There are lots of well placed screen shots to guide you.
The book is methodically laid out in an order that makes sense. It is filled with tips and how to's. For the user coming from Windows to Mac this book will be a tremendous help. It will really simplify things that could be fairly daunting. Even for the veteran Mac user this book will be very handy.
There are several informational snippets:
Power user's guide: Explains the more technical details of the subject being described.
Frequently asked questions: This is pretty self explanatory.
Work around workshop: These sections detail why you can't do something but then gives you a work around.
Gem in the rough: Shows you how to share with other Mac and non Mac machines.
Up to speed: These sections walk you through speeding up your machine and various applications.
Not quite as much humor in this book as with other books in the Missing manual series perhaps because of the depth and breadth of the material covered. As with all Pogue press books this is very easy read. It is detailed but not cumbersome. There are so many new features in Leopard that this book is a must. Pogue press consistently produces the best Mac books and this is no exception. 5 Stars for the Beginner to intermediate user 4 stars for the advanced user.