Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #430773 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 725 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Widely esteemed Mac authority David Pogue weighs in on the latest offering from Cupertino with Mac OS X: The Missing Manual. It's a fact-packed romp through the operating system and the extras that come with it, made resoundingly more readable by the depth of Pogue's knowledge, his familiarity with Mac history, and his eagerness to engage novices as members of the Mac user community. Unlike most books about Mac OS X, this one explores its Unix-like underpinnings (the Apple implementation is called Darwin) pretty thoroughly. However, on the logic that if you wanted to use Unix, you would, Pogue emphasises the traditional, graphical Mac interface over the Terminal window.

Pogue, who's written about Macs for years writes about Macs at the user level with clarity. He's also quite good at dealing with the numerous options and variations that apply to Mac procedures, and makes very good use of sidebars for clarifying details. In a section on printing, for example, Pogue explains why there's no longer an option to turn off background printing (true multitasking has rendered the option obsolete). There's also good coverage of the online iTools, tailored to people unfamiliar with integrating remote resources into their personal computing environments. --David Wall

Topics covered: Apple Mac OS X for people who will use the operating system, either on a standalone computer with Internet access or on a computer that is part of a home or organisational network. Running applications (in Classic mode as well as in native Mac OS X mode), printing, networking, multimedia, security (including Keychain), and utilities are all covered.

Clark Morledge, Williamsburg Macromedia User Group, May 15, 2002
This is the best reference manual I have seen for a Mac operating system, and is among the best of reference manuals for any type operating system.

Stewart Brand, Whole Earth, August 2002
I recommend getting and studying 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual,' from O'Reilly, and then take the time to explore.

Customer Reviews

The ultimate practical and friendly guide to OSX
David Pogue has a rare ability to make a complex subject understandable. He did it with his 'Missing Manuals' Guides to System 9 and iMovies but had the good sense to wait until OS Version 10.1 before giving us the definitive step by step guide to the new system.

The language is non technical but each aspect of the system is clearly explained and more important how each can be used. To this he has added valuable hints and tips and for the more technically curious some explanation of the underlying Unix System.

This is a generously illustrated book which can sit by the computer as you follow the steps beginning with the new layout and going on to explain how to use every aspect of OSX. It is structured to lead both first timers and System 9 converts into the new OS with an opening chapter which takes the reader through the new way of dealing with windows, folders and desktop. This is complimented by an appendix which explains where familiar parts of the former system are now located.

This leads to a chapter 'Organising your stuff' which demonstrates the day to day operating of the system before going on to examine the new Desktop, the Finder Toolbar and the content of the Applications and Documents folders. Each of the programmes provided is analysed and considerable space is devoted to iTunes, iMovie, iTools and Quicktime. The structure of the book provides a step by step journey through the use of OSX but also allows the impatient to dip in and find answers or check the Troubleshooting resource.

From my experience of David Pogue's earlier books I awaited this one before jumping into the new system and I am very glad I did. Other books I looked at are much more superficial and the early ones are now out of date. There are two other reasons for buying this as the only OSX book you will need. Go to the publisher's site [...] and you can read a sample chapter and decide before you place an order with Amazon. On the site you will also be able to download all of the shareware programmes mentioned in the book and save the cost of an added CD.

Much needed guide for regular apple users
Despite one of the reviews on this page saying that the book was for people with little or no knowledge of Mac, I decided to purchase it and see for myself. I consider myself an experienced apple user, and it was precisely this reason that made the brand new OS X system so awkward to get to grips with. I found the book very helpful, with everything explained concisely and clearly. I would recommend it to anyone as a time saving way to get to know your new Mac. Its fun to read and there's something to learn for everyone of all ranges.

The painless way into Mac OSX
This is an excellent introduction into the strange world of OSX, written with knowledge and more than a sprinkling of the Pogue wit (he memorably describes memory allocation in terms of a playground scrap, for example).
For those migrating from OS8 or 9, and those who like me know nothing about the arcane world of Unix and are not particularly techie-minded, the chapters on this new underpinning of the Mac OS are well-nigh indispensable.
The book covers all the programs that come with Mac OSX.1 - iTunes, Mail, iMovie etc - as well as explaining the difference between Carbon and Cocoa programs and what exactly happens when you run your old pre-OSX programs in Classic mode.
There's also an informative chapter on where all those extensions and control panels that seem to have disappeared actually went.
The book doesn't come with a CD - which is why it's cheaper than most compter manuals - instead, you can log into the book's site at the O'Reilly website where you can pick up the free and shareware programs Pogue mentions as well as other freebies, updates and corrections.
OSX works totally differently from previous Mac OSes and it really helps to have a guiding hand. Luckily for non-techies, Dave Pogue provides a hand which is both informative and entertaining. Highly recommended.