Biography
Books
Articles
Make the Books Lay Flat
Publish Date: Dec. 17, 2004
The Missing Manual series is one of a few that use a special lay-flat binding called RepKover. It costs more to produce, but it's much more convenient for readers who want a book to lie open on their desks so they can easily work from the material.
Shift, Control, Option, and Command Keys Locking
Publish Date: Oct. 20, 2004
"For the love of God, please make it stop!" This Mac OS X user is finding that some of the keyboard keys are locking when they're hit twice. David Pogue offers the explanation and the solution.
Apple Logo in iDVD
Publish Date: Aug. 1, 2004
If you make your own movies with iDVD, you may be troubled by the Apple logo that imposes itself upon your finished images. You and your viewers need not suffer through the persistent advertisement. David Pogue tells you how to get rid of the Apple watermark so your movies can be Blockbuster hits.
Shared Data Files
Publish Date: Mar. 3, 2004
Try as he might, a reader of Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition can't get filesharing to work on his iTunes library. He's following David Pogue's instructions, so what gives?
"Hopscotch" Reading
Publish Date: Dec. 17, 2003
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual includes comments about earlier editions of the Mac OS, comparing what was with what currently is. One reader says these retrospective comments make him come to a screeching halt. David Pogue responds.
Trouble Downloading to iPhoto
Publish Date: Nov. 1, 2003
Why aren't all of the pictures stored in a digital camera downloading to iPhoto? David Pogue explains it's a question of file format, not memory.
Entourage Synchronizing from Desktop to Laptop
Publish Date: Oct. 31, 2003
With MS X Entourage, how do you synchronize the Entourage Calendar from the desktop to the laptop? David Pogue gives you the answer.
Mac OS X 10.1: The Real Mac OS X
Publish Date: Nov. 9, 2001
O'Reilly book author David Pogue discusses how his latest Missing Manual on Mac OS X will help users better understand the operating system's Unix underpinings.
Crossing Platforms: An Author-to-Author Interview
Publish Date: Jan. 1, 2000
Mac and Windows users have always had a difficult time crossing the great semantic divide between each operating system. But now they have a guide: Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook, co-authored by Adam Engst and David Pogue.
David Pogue's PalmPilot News
Publish Date: Sep. 1, 1998
David Pogue's PalmPilot News
PalmPilot Top Ten Tips and Tricks
Publish Date: Jun. 1, 1998
palmpilot tips and tricks
An Interview with David Pogue
Publish Date: Jun. 1, 1998
Meet David Pogue, the author of PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide in this O'Reilly interview.
Multimedia
Automator Automation - David Pogue's Podcast #3
Publish Date: Aug. 9, 2005
Listen to David Pogue cover Automator workflows that can help save on computing time. Learn how to use Automator to automate backups, zip up applications, and set alarms for automatic processing. (4 minutes, 26 seconds)
Dashboard Widgets - David Pogue's Podcast #2
Publish Date: Aug. 3, 2005
Listen to David Pogue cover Dashboard Widgets--what they are, how to use the Widget Bar, and what Widgets can do for you. He provides tips on some of the crazy and fun widgets available for free download. (6 minutes)
All About Spotlight - David Pogue's Podcast #1
Publish Date: Jul. 22, 2005
Listen to David Pogue's secret Tiger tips for Spotlight super searches--how to use spotlight to help access your data faster, streamline searches, and even launch applications faster. (7 minutes, 6.6 MB)
Reviews
GarageBand: The Missing Manual
Customer Reviews
GarageBand: as good as it gets
2004-10-05 18:17:07
Michael Twombly
I've been waiting for months for this book and consumed it when it finally arrived. It's as good as I had hoped, with great examples and hands-on funny training that really works for me.
What's missing? A little more on the advanced business of working with MIDI keyboards and new soundfonts, since theM-Audio 49e has so little documentation, and most of the downloadable soundfonts require special decompression.
But get the book if you want to play with GarageBand! It's everything you can imagine and more.
Media Reviews
"All in all, a most impressive book to explain an equally impressive program."
--Dave Warren, ApplePress (Diablo Valley Macintosh Users Group newsletter), March 2005
"From locating new loops and making a single to exporting to iTunes and burning CDs, GarageBand: The Missing Manual is the reference of choice."
--The Bookwatch ("Midwest Book Review"), January 2005
"One of the 'magic five' of the Mac package, GarageBand deserves its own book, which author Pogue has recognized: chapters cover all the fundamentals on song building, orchestration, and GaraBand's plug-in programs. From locating new loops and making a single to exporting to iTunes and burning CDs, GarageBand [The Missing Manual] is the reference of choice."
--Bookwatch, January 2005
"[David Pogue] is an accomplished music maker who understands out software and hardware needs before we do...Book Bytes is comfortable giving GarageBand: The Missing Manual our 5 out of 5 highest rating for readers who are prepared to study, practice, and hold all calls while their musical skills are improving."
--John Nemerovski, MyMac.com, September 2004
http://www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?id=1803
iMovie HD & iDVD 5: The Missing Manual
Media Reviews
"Whether you're just starting to work with iMovie HD and iDVD 5 or simply
want a comprehensive guide to either or both applkications, then iMOvie HD
& iDVD 5: The Missing Manual deserves a serious look."
Camcorder & Computer Video Magazine
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition
Customer Reviews
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition Review
2004-02-03 04:10:22
John Suda
This is the third iteration of “Mac OSX: The Missing Manual”, by David Pogue. It updates the contents to cover the new features and elements of OS 10.3, known as “Panther” which is touted as having 150 new features. I’ve already described the previous editions as representing the best of software manual writing and this edition continues that excellence.
The format, structure, and graphical features are the same as the earlier editions, although this volume is a bit larger, at 763 pages, including index. All the important and most popular features of Panther are covered comprehensively, including the new Sidebar navigation feature, the Exposé application “launcher”, FileVault encryption, the return of the Labels feature, and fast-user switching. The new applications are covered here also, like the built-in fax program, iChat AV, and the Font Book font manager.
Pogue is best when he provides power-user tips and discloses hidden or little-known features of Panther. The nearly-obscure ColorSync control panel now illustrates gamut spaces in color profiles, for example, and he describes “Pixlet”, a new video codec which is a lossless highly efficient video compression tool (supposedly designed for use by Pixar employees and associates only).
Other little-known tidbits include descriptions and insights to some of the Developer tools on the XCode Tools CD . There is an OSX version of Simple Text which includes a sound-record feature, not available anywhere else in Panther or in OSX applications, with the exception of iMovie. A special feature is the addition of mini-manuals on Safari and the iLife applications - iMovie, iPhoto, iChat, and iTunes.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition Review
2004-01-30 18:06:12
Alan Webster
When Apple comes out with a new version of their
operating system, the first thing I think is "I hope
David Pogue gets out his book soon". "His book" is the
Missing Manual series he has created to fill the void
that Apple has created by not including a manual in
the box OS X Panther comes in. Even if Apple had a
manual, I doubt it would be as good or complete as
this one is.
You can run Panther without a reference, but you only
scratch the surface of what it can do. I consider
Pogue's book a reference book, because at 740 pages of
small type, I don't think you are going to read it
cover to cover and remember much of it. I remember
when the first "MacBible" came out (I think it was for
System 6) I could read all of it, but times have
changed. Apple's OS X is not just for running Word
Processors, MacPaint & MacDraw. Now we have the
Internet, e-mail, digital photos and movies. Things we
did not even think of just 10 years ago. Who would
have thought that we would have music and photo files
on our Macs? Whole collections of them. The biggest
sound files I had in OS 6 was a clip of Homer Simpson
saying "Computers can do that?" and "Doh".
With all these new capabilities "under the hood" of
Panther, "Mac OSX: The Missing Manual , Panther
Edition" has to be large. It starts with the very
basics of using Panther, continues on with
mini-manuals on how to use iMovie, Mail, iTunes,
Safari, iPhoto, iDVD, iChat, iCal, and any other "i"
you can come up with. Then you can move up to the more
advanced- how to make Applescripts, share files, and
even dabble in UNIX. It is fun to thumb through the
book and try out different things too.
David Pogue doesn't just tell you how things work, he
also tells you how well they work in Panther. This can
save you from the maddening "why isn't this working?".
When you know someone else has run into the same
problem, you won't keep trying to make it work.
I recommend all David Pogue's books. I consider this
one essential.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition Review
2004-01-19 17:43:51
Murray Massin
First there was Cheetah, Mac OS 10.0
Then Puma, Mac OS 10.1
Then Jaguar, Mac OS 10.2
Now there is Panther, Mac OS 10.3
Each built for speed and camparatively light compared to an elephant.
However,this December, 2003 book, and only the First Edition, is a
dinosaur of 762 pages. It has 21 Chapters and 6 appendices. The amount of
material rivals The Bible, only this religion is called the Macintosh
Operating System, put together by the Apple Computer Corp.
Although in fact, Panther is a revision or update of the previous Mac
Operating systems called X, it stands alone on its own four dynamic feet.
However, its underneath platform is a basis called Unix, which with the
otherX Systems, separates it from all of the previous ones started by
Steve Jobsand Steve Wosniak in 1984. With his innate sense of humor, Pogue
calls the entire X series “Steve Jobs 1.0 ”, because Jobs originated
and supervised its birth and development by Apple Computer Co.
To explain the need for such a gigantic volume, it covers not only the
latest, but all the previous items in the in Apple’s 10 series. There is
a study of the Dock, iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, iSync, iDVD, along with the
way to use the new Sherlock, Mail, and Address Book.
For people new to the Mac Computer, this Manual is a necessity. For
people whose new computer started with OS 10.2, this book is very good
reference for the many changes. For those old timers , still secure with
the OS 8 series, this manual is a “must”. Without it their computer
will never get “userfriendly.”This reviewer doubts if anyone can read
the entire book without being hypnotized or frustrated, but it should be
nestled next to their computer ready for instant reference.
David Pogue has world wide reputation as a Mac advocate. Every,
lecture, class, and symposium that he delivers is a sellout. His numerous
Missing Manuals, are well organized, well documented, and are written in
non-technical language that is easy to read. At a publishers price of $29.95
it is a bargain, because to learn Panther, this book is all you need.
Review by Murray A. Massin.
Laguna Woods Macintosh Users Group in Laguna Woods , Ca
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition Review
2004-01-04 15:27:39
steve lockwood, Alaska Apple Users Group
If you have read any of the Missing Manual book series, particularly ones by David Pogue (on OSX 10.1&2, iMovie, iPhoto, Switching to the Mac), you might expect this OS X Panther Edition to cover all aspects of Apple's newest operating system in depth, to offer plenty of tips not only about what the system and its programs do but why you might want to use them, to provide tips about undocumented features, to suggest additional resources including books, web sites, and news groups, and to employ a writing style that is clear and humorous without being condescending or smug. That's a lot to ask of any book, let alone a computer manual. Pogue delivers all of it. Maybe that's why he's "the #1 bestselling Macintosh author" (back cover). In fact, if all you want to know is whether to buy this book--and you do need a manual if you expect to learn how best to use your Mac--, here's the answer: yes.
And now, a short list of reasons why you'll want this book. Apple claims that Panther has 150 new features, but Pogue says this is actually an undercount (2), and says about his book there's not "a single page that hasn't changed since the last edition" (7), which covered 10.1 and 10.2. While reading the book, I marked over 50 new features that are important to my workstyle, but in the interests of brevity, these are the ones most likely to appeal to all users. Panther has a new sidebar to complement the dock (18-20); Filevault can encrypt and decrypt your account transparently (363-66); window management is much easier with Exposé (124-28); servers and shared folders--even from PCs--appear automatically in the sidebar (18, 22, 397); Safari is improved and installed as the default browser (640-51); Text Edit can open and save Microsoft Word format, though not footnotes, unfortunately (311); Image Capture can work over a network, and can control scanners and web cams (275-76); Preview works much faster and can search and copy text from PDF files AND can open raw Postscript files, which means they can be saved as PDFs that can be printed at clear resolutions on cheapo inkjet printers--no need for a Postscript laser printer to see clean output (297, 435); in fact, print dialog boxes now offer saving as pure Postscript (427); color labels for files/folders are back from OS 9 (74); the built-in Help program now works contextually, producing results only for the program you're using (53); all menus, dialog boxes, and the dock now can be controlled from the keyboard (18, 138); Activity Viewer offers another way to force quit misbehaving programs (119, 312); Digital Color Meter can grab color values from images and web pages (316); Font Book organizes fonts by families and allows you to form sets that you can turn on and off as needed (436-42); the calculator finally acquires scientific capabilities, a "paper" tape, and performs conversions (263, 331); the Chess game is updated with new 3-D looks and can be rotated in space (264); Disk Utility now offers the option to clone a hard drive--good news for people in charge of Mac labs (317-18), and it can burn multiple sessions on a CD (340); faxing is now built in (431-35); GIMP-Print is included, a Unix collection of print drivers for scads of older printers (421); Virtual Private Networking to connect to corporate networks (666) and Firewire networking (390) are much improved; Mail has at least nine major improvements, including much better threading and filtering (574-615) and seamless cooperation with Microsoft's Exchange Server; iChatAV is free, and although the iSight camera isn't, a free iChatAV account at .Mac is (615-16).
Oh, and the default volume format for hard drives is journaled (692) for better troubleshooting, and for security Panther redoes group designations for user accounts (407, 511) and adds a master password that sits between administrator privileges and root (365, 376). If anything in that last sentence is foreign to you, that's another reason to buy this book. Also, Panther permits scheduling of print jobs (427)--a big boon on networks--and of unattended startup and shutdown (241). It even includes the ability to Zip and unZip files (94), and to clone your .Mac iDisk on your hard drive (564) for greater speed. Overall, it's also faster than previous versions.
The book now contains mini-manuals for iDVD, iMovie, iPhoto, and iTunes, even though the Missing Manual series has book treatments of each. Of course, the Panther book skips all the tips, tricks, and resources for these programs, but it has enough to get you going successfully. It covers much more, such as ways to import address books from Entourage and Outlook, an AppleScript tutorial, a Unix tutorial, an OS 9 tutorial with tips for speeding up Classic, how and why to use web sharing and Secure Shell, and ways to change the interface colors, icons, and information labels (change "Trash" to "Rubbish," for example). And the appendixes include installation (A), troubleshooting (B), and "secret keystroke list" (F).
Despite having to dictate the book "due to a wrist ailment you really don't want to hear about" (764), Pogue maintains his good humor, which means the book is fun to read. His style faintly resembles that of Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry. For example, in his discussion of AppleScript Studio (216), his aside is "ASS for short--how did that one get past Marketing?" Or when explaining how to activate iTunes visual displays, he says of the light show (345), "The effect is hypnotic and wild. (For real party fun, invite some people who grew up in the Sixties to your house to watch.)"
All is not perfect, however. I found eight grammar snafus (about one per 100 pages!) and five factual errors, only one of which (583) is really confusing because it refers to a picture that doesn't exist in the text (although what you're supposed to see has just been explained clearly). And two discussions confused me: about Firewire networks (390ff) and about command-line (Unix) file searching (518). But another benefit of the Missing Manual series is that once I've reported these miscues to Pogue, they'll be incorporated into subsequent printings of the book. Pogue pledges (9) to keep the book current with Apple's continuing updates of 10.3 (this printing [11] covers through 10.3.2), and to keep errata lists--along with much of the software mentioned in the book--on the website (www.missingmanuals.com). My previous experience with six other books in this series suggests that Pogue will indeed keep book and web site updated.
You'll definitely get your money's worth from this book. But beware--you'll probably be enticed to buy others in the Missing Manual series.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition Review
2004-01-03 18:51:26
Michael Bean
Upgrading to Panther?
I upgraded to Panther and wanted to learn more about Mac OS X 10.3.2. As there is no manual that comes with Panther I decided a book was in order. I have read several outstanding Pogue books in the past and thought his "Mac OS X Panther Edition" might be a good place to start.
What Will You Learn?
Reading this manual you will learn a lot of information about new Panther features, changes in the way some items work and lots of tips and tricks. Some of the items discussed in the first two chapters are working with folders, different views, labels, icons, aliases, new trash features, Get Info, search bar, the find command, keyboard shortcuts, right click menus, creating a zip archive and a lot more. Did you know you can customize the toolbar on the top of your Folders? Did you know you can use the toolbar as a dock substitute? Page 110 shows you how.
Applications in Mac OS X
Chapters 4-7 deal with using Apple applications in Panther. You will learn the basics of using an application in Mac OS X and about Expose. Learn what F9, F10, and F11 do for your arrangement of desktop folders on page 127. You will also learn several useful finder shortcuts and navigation tips. Another nice book feature is a web site setup at http://www.missingmanuals.com/cds/ that provides links to all of the shareware tools discussed in this useful Panther manual. You will learn how to setup, launch and use programs in Classic. Next, you can install the Apple Script menu and learn what scripts come with Panther and how to make your own.
The Components of Mac OS X
In this section you will learn about system preferences. On page 235 you can learn how to take pictures out of a screen saver to use as a desktop picture. Page 246 shows you how to use the Character Palette. Page 258 will show you how to access system preferences from the sidebar or the dock. Page 340 teaches you how to burn a multisession CD on a CD-R disk using Disk Utility. Page 352 shows you secret keystrokes for using Apples DVD Player effectively including fast forward.
Technologies of Panther
Chapters 11 through 17 cover security, networking, printing, faxing, sound, unix and hacks. Page 372 explains how to use an iPod as your home directory. Page 375 shows you how to establish an open firmware password, for those that need tight security. Page 376 tells you what to do if you forget your password. Page 385 shows you how to enable a Root user. Page 390 explains how to setup a FireWire network. Page 410 shows you how Macs and PCs can both show up in the MSHOME network folder. Page 414 shows you how to create and setup groups. Page 418 teaches you how to lock the keychain, manage it and use it effectively. Page 422 shows you how to setup your printer and share it in a variety of ways. Page 468 explains Macintosh Speech Recognition and how you might use it. Page 483-531 discusses the unix Terminal and teaches you navigation using unix along with several useful unix commands.
If you are looking for a book that will help you learn about the many features in Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, this book will do it. It may take you a few days to get through this 700 page wonder, but you will know Mac OS X Panther much better than when you started.
Media Reviews
"Some of my Mac-using friends have told me that they haven't picked up anything from the Missing Manual series because they're under the impression that they're basically novice guides. This is both right and wrong: it's absolutely true that beginners will get their money's worth from a Missing Manual and that they won't get lost in an abundance of overtechnical discussion. The part that isn't true, however, is the implication that these are books only for beginners. I've been using Macs for over ten years now (and various Unix-like systems for five), but my copies of the Missing Manuals get dog-eared and underlined more than any other technical books I own."
Rating: 10/10
--Emma Story, Slashdot, January 2004
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/01/19/1851217
"Every Panther user should have a copy at hand."
--Major Keary, Ausom News, August 2004
"The writing in The Missing Manual hits a happy medium between the staid prose adopted by The Macintosh Bible and the anarchic Dummies Guide. There's a clear flow of ideas presented in a readable and, more importantly, easily understood manner...We would recommend this book to every level of user from the complete novice to an experienced veteran. No owner of OS X should be without it on their shelf."
--MacUser, April 2004
"['Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition' has] gems that you may not want to be without and which have the feeling of being vouchsafed to you by an insider: startup keystrokes, a section on troubleshooting and particularly good iCal coverage."
--Mark Sealey, Think Secret, September 2004
"Years ago Apple figured out it doesn't need to write manuals for its products because David Pogue will, and he'll do it much better. Pogue, the 'New York Times' computer columnist, is among the worlds' best explainers...The Missing Manuals are a thrill because they reverse the usual formula for guidebooks. Most manuals assume you have some knowledge, but no intelligence. Pogue assumes you have some intelligence, but no knowledge. He reminds constantly rather than assumes you remember. That shift makes a huge difference...The Missing Manual series is simply the most intelligent and useable series of guidebooks on any subject. I only wish there was one for all the other tools on my desktop."
--Kevin Kelley, KK.org, May 2004
"The Missing Manual series is the best of the best, in my opinion. In the final analysis, one need not decry the disappearance of software manuals; one simply needs to factor in some extra dollars for a Missing Manual. 'OS X The Missing Manual, Panther Edition,' easily justifies its existence as a shelf reference, but makes entertaining cover-to-cover reading a pleasure to boot."
--John Buttolph, Macintosh Users Group of Stowe, April 2004
http://mugstowe.org/panther.html
"Even if Apple had a manual, I doubt it would be as good or complete as this one is...I recommend all David Pogue's books. I consider this one essential."
--Alan Webster, Whittier Area Macintosh User Group, February 2004
"Pogue Press/O'Reilly to the rescue with another in their outstanding series, 'The Missing Manual,' subtitled 'The book that should have been in the box.' Amen to that. This is not just a rehash or minor update to the earlier volume, 'Mac OS X; 2nd Editon; The Missing Manual'... The earlier edition was very good, but this edition is even better."
--Space Port Users Group, February 2004
"I recommend all David Pogue's books. I consider this one essential."
--Alan Webster, Whittier Area Macintosh Users Group, January 2004
http://www.geocities.com/wamug/jan04.html
"For people new to the Mac Computer, this Manual is a necessity. For people whose new computer started with OS 10.2, this book is very good reference for the many changes. For those old timers , still secure with the OS 8 series, this manual is a 'must.' Without it their computer will never get 'user friendly'...At a publisher's price of $ 29.95 it is a bargain, because to learn Panther, this book is all you need."
--Murray Massin, Leisure World Macintosh Users Group, January 2004
"[This book] does a thorough and entertaining job of explaining and demystifying just about every Mac operation...In an era when computer and software makers short-change customers with skimpy manuals and online help sites are jargon-filled and hard to navigate, Pogue's book shines as an accessible and lively guide through the world of Mac."
--Clint Swett, "Sacramento Bee," February 2004
"If you want one-stop shopping for info about Apple's latest and greatest, look no further. In a world of incomprehensible computer manuals Mr. Pogue is a shining light of clarity. He writes clean, light prose that avoids the standard boring red flag of technical manuals. ... It's the best overall Mac manual that I've read."
--Michael McKee, Port Townsend Seriously Laid Back User Group, January 2004
"This newest edition of 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' seems to be Mr. Pogue's best to date with more complete coverage (iApps) and in-depth detail than found in the previous versions. That depth will take a completely new user will into the intermediate or advanced stages of mastering Mac OS X Panther. For the more experienced Mac OS X user this book serves as an absolutely essential reference book well placed in any Mac library."
--Robert Golding, Princeton Mac User Group, January 2004
"If you have upgraded to OS X 10.3 Panther or are contemplating doing so, and wondering if you should also upgrade your copy of OS X: TMM to the third edition, the answer is 'of course'... it's the Mac OS X book to have if you're only having one. Bravo David Pogue and O'Reilly Associates -- the Panther Edition of OS X: TMM is the best yet, and the bar was already set pretty high. This book richly deserves its status as the best-selling Mac OS X volume, With 300,000 copies in print, and it is truly a valuable service to the Mac community as well."
--Charles Moore, Applelinks.com, January 2004
http://www.applelinks.com/pm/more.php?id=487_0_1_0_M
"If you own a Mac, this is a great resource for knowing your operating system inside-out, and if you're contemplating a Mac as your next machine, this is a great overview of what to expect."
--Netsurfer Digest, January 2004
"I really enjoyed reading this book. It is well written and covers what a Mac user needs to know to work with OS X Panther. As has been stated in the past with Mr. Pogue's other Missing Manual books--this is what should have come in the box with your Mac. But since it didn't, run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore or online book seller and get yourself a copy of 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition.' This is a definite must-have for Mac OS X users! Highly Recommended! My Mac Rating: 5 out of 5"
--Russ Walkowich, MyMac.com, January 2004
http://www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?id=1313
The Internet: The Missing Manual
Customer Reviews
The idea of what the internet is capable of bringing to you!
2007-01-04 00:00:57
Tanya Boudreau
You can turn to your computer and the internet for everything. Reach for your mouse and keyboard to find up-to-the-minute news. Download or buy what you want in music, movies, or television. Try your hand at writing; create your own blog (an online diary), add photographs, and post your blog online for family and friends to read. Save time and money and do your banking, shopping, and travel planning online. Meet new people worldwide, through gaming websites or on dating sites. Stay in touch regularly through email, chatting, and internet phone calls.
This book will give you an idea of what the internet is capable of bringing to you, and what is on the internet today. The book guides you through, starting with the various ways to get online. For example, a broadband connection is the faster, but more expensive way to get online. Dial-up is the slower, but least expensive way to go. Pros and cons are listed whenever choices and options are presented. Windows and Macintosh computer systems are referred to throughout the book too. There are numerous tips, notes, diagrams and pictures inside the book. The pictures provide readers with visual examples of previous discussions. The tips and notes are helpful in making the internet experience easier to understand and maneuver. For example, one tip refers to free antivirus programs for Windows, and another tip involves erasing cookies from your computer. Some tips list fun and interesting websites. A great movie trailers page is listed in one tip. As stated in the introduction of the book, “the primary discussions are written for advanced-beginner or intermediate computer users”. In addition, the authors have provided grey boxes labeled “/Up To/ /Speed/”, which are helpful for the new learner, and boxes labeled “/Power Users’ Clinic/”, which will be of interest to the advanced users. The boxes “/Word To The Wise/”, “/Gem In The Rough/”, “/Workaround Workshop/” supply insightful information for everyone as well. The information in this book will help you learn to surf the web effectively, how to set up your browser, how to search engines and directories, and how to find many great websites. (The medical websites, and fact/reference websites presented are fantastic.) If the sites are not free, or a subscription is required, this is noted as well.
This is a handy book to have by your computer. And a good book to have if you need clarification about the internet. Explanations are straightforward, and easy to follow and understand, especially when diagrams and pictures are shown. The authors have taken the confusion and fear out of the internet. The knowledge contained in this book will give you confidence to use the internet to its fullest potential- and in a safe and smart way! Some other Missing Manual titles include: Flash 8: The Missing Manual, Google: The Missing Manual (2nd edition), Creating Websites: The Missing Manual, and eBay: The Missing Manual. The author J.D. Biersdorfer, who writes a weekly column in the Circuits section of the New York Times, is the author of iPods & iTunes: The Missing Manual. David Pogue, who writes a technology column for the New York Times, is the creator of the Missing Manual series.
Another Well Done O'Reilly Book
2006-08-28 16:24:22
Hawkeeg
Back in the 90s, the Whole Internet was the book to read to learn about the Internet. Sadly, that book has gone out of print. But this book (the latest in the Missing Manual series) essentially picks up where that book left off. And while this may indeed be a book more suited to beginning (yes Virginia, there still are folk who aren't on the Internet) and intermediate users, there's still enough information here that even long time Internet users like myself can learn something new. In my case, it was learning about podcasts, RSS feeds, more about VOIP, and online backup and storage sites. The Internet has gotten so big and spawned so many different technologies over the past fifteen years alone, that it can be a big challenge to keep up with the constant changes. All of them are documented in this book. It gives a general look at all things not just with the topics I mention here, but also topics like searching and surfing the web, blogs, web sites that list peer reviews (sorta like this review!), shopping online, games, music, videos, communicating with others online (whether it's chat rooms, mailing lists, or "community sites"), even ways of staying safe and secure online.
There are countless books available about the Internet and its many forms, but this is a great book to have if you need a well-written all purpose book about the 'Net.
Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual
Customer Reviews
Learning from the Pros
2006-08-21 07:16:34
Benny Kellogg
I have considerable knowledge regarding Windows 98SE, having had that OS since 1998, and even though Windows XP is simular, I have found untold new information in the Windows XP Pro, The Missing Manual. It definately gives those of us who enjoy exploring deeper into the hidden world of Windows. I find the book to be very precise and easy to comprehend, no mater if advanced or beginner. My hat is off to the authors of the book.
Media Reviews
"Thank the cosmic muffin that Pogue Press has put out Windows XP Pro, Second Edition, in their Missing Manual series...I have to say the book delivered beyond my expectations...I'm not going to go into specifics on what you will get from the book, it would just take too long. I will tell you that once you get into it you will be able to correct all the little helper junk Microsoft is hell bent to include, and even fix the activation issue when you replace your hard drive. You can also make XP look and act like Windows 2000, which MS refers to as “Classic” Windows. One specific tip of note: page 37 tells you how to get rid of that idiotic dog on the Search Results window. That alone is worth the price of the book. Recommended."
--Jim Huddle, Kickstartnews.com, April 2005
Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual
Media Reviews
"[Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual, Second Edition] is the defining book on Windows XP, and a guide that all others should be based on."
--Mitch Keeler, Lockergnome.com, January 2005
Customer Reviews
Another exemplary title in The Missing Manual series!
2006-07-30 13:11:44
Anonymous Reader
Even iPhoto veterans will appreciate the excellent coverage of new features offered in iPhoto 6 over previous versions of iPhoto.
The first part of this book goes outside the iPhoto application itself and presents the basics of digital photography with brief discussions of camera selection, terminology and image capture techniques (in roughly 60 pages). Nice for a digital photography newbie, but fluff for those who already own any one of a multitude of books on digital camera photography.
Parts 2 and 3 cover the majority of iPhoto’s features in enough depth and detail to represent the missing manual moniker perfectly. This is great for relative newcomers to iPhoto, but some chapters will seem like a re-hash of the basics to an iPhoto veteran. Part 3’s chapters cover the sweet spot of iPhoto 6’s new features and their integration within the iLife ’06 suite of products. It also makes a compelling case for purchase of iLife ’06 if you don’t already have it.
Some of the most valuable information for the beginner and experienced user alike, can be found in the sidebar topics that cover gotcha’s, FAQ’s and power user tips. These are sprinkled throughout the book, and keep the reader’s interest.
Part 4 covers more advanced topics like using iPhoto to generate desktop backgrounds correctly, automation & scripting, and file management. I was hoping for much more depth on creative ways of using Automator and AppleScript with iPhoto 6, but then again this isn’t a book on AppleScript or Automator.
The last chapter on iPhoto file management skips talking about one of the biggest mistakes that many iPhoto users make. That is; mucking around with the iPhoto library files by renaming, relocating, and deleting files and folders directly in the Finder. Thus breaking the iPhoto database. From a troubleshooter’s standpoint, I’d like to see the authors advise readers to resist the temptation to do this. It’d make a nice sidebar to their core discussion of managing iPhoto libraries and archiving. The appendix covers techniques to recover and/or rebuild the iPhoto database once broken and misbehaving.
This book is a great reference to have at your side when working in iPhoto, especially when using it as part of an iLife ’06 workflow. Highly recommended!
Superb
2006-06-21 01:35:43
solo
Thanks David Pogue and company for this book! It made iPhoto much, much richer and now I can use iPhoto the way it's meant to!
I also just bought a new digital camera and iPhoto6 MM helped me make the right purchase. I never expected so much valuable info in a book about software. I'm rediscovering the joy of digital photography in part because of this book. If you think you don't need iPhoto6 The Missing Manual because you have a previous edition, think again. There so much new and updated information here.
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition
Customer Reviews
Windows Mobile on a Mac
2007-02-09 14:38:27
Joan
Love the book. It's been my bible since my new Macbook Pro arrived last week.
Just wanted to add some info. I have a Palm (Verizon) Treo 700w that runs WM5. The book refers to PocketMac as a solution, but PocketMac doesn't support the Treo 700w (yet).
Howerver, a search of the Palm site found the following: http://kb.palm.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE?New,kb=PalmSupportKB,CASE=obj(40913),ts=Palm_External2001
and a link to http://www.markspace.com/
Thanks again for a great reference and I hope this info helps others missing their PDAs :)
Essential reference for switchers!
2007-01-02 19:44:06
Curt Blanchard
Title: Switching To The Mac, Tiger Edition
Author: David Pogue and Adam Goldstein
Publisher: O’Reilly, Pogue Press
ISBN-10: 0-596-00660-8; ISBN-13: 978-0-596-00660-0
Reviewed by: Curt Blanchard, Tucson Macintosh Users Group
Date: 1/2/07
Here is another must-have from the O’Reilly Missing Manual series. Switching to the Mac is a hot topic these days not just because the overall Mac experience is superior, but because it’s much more secure from malware and other online nastiness. Now that Boot Camp and Parallels allows users to run Windows on the Mac, the arguments against switching are few. This book may well push those fence sitters over the edge. David Pogue and Adam Goldstein explain what the Mac gives you (lots!) – and what it taketh away (not much). With the Mac, you gain stability, strong security, advanced networking, true plug-and-play and simpler everything. When you switch, you may lose a few apps and access to some peripherals.
The book deals with the basics about how a Mac is different in hardware, how to get online and an exploration of the iLife apps as well as Mail, Safari, etc. There are in-depth explanations of Accounts, System Preferences and other elements that the new user will need to know. This is no lightweight glossing over of the subject matter; it’s over 500 pages of detailed informative material that the new Mac user will want on the reference shelf. One of the well-considered features is a dictionary titled, “Where did it go?” Here you can look up “Alt Key” or “Task bar” and find the Mac equivalents.
If you are a switcher or are considering switching, this is definitely the place to start. If you are looking for a gift for a new Mac switcher, this is something that will be greatly appreciated. Highly recommended.
--Curt Blanchard
Media Reviews
Reviews From Previous Edition
"David Pogue has written about Windows, and is also a Windows user, and this comes through clearly in his book. His familiarity with both operating systems is patent; he is thorough and precise in presenting the differences, and his coverage of Mac OS X is more than sufficient for any switcher who needs to get a handle on the Mac."
--Kirk McElhearn, About This Particular Macintosh, July 2003
http://www.atpm.com/9.07/two-books.shtml
"Nothing is overlooked in comparing Win/Mac parts, functions, commands and components, including a 'Where Did It Go?' dictionary for the Alt Key-deprived. Extensive guides to system preferences and all the iApps and utilities that come bundled with your new machine will leave separation anxiety behind."
--Tony Reveaux, "Film/Tape World," May 2003
"'Switching to the Mac' is in Pogue's highly readable style, which makes it both a book to read through (then go and try) and one of those useful books that stays beside the computer as a handy reference."
--Graham K Rogers, "Bangkok Post," May 6, 2003
"an excellent coverage and just what a Switcher would need. In fact it could be subtitled--The Switchers Bible."
--Roger Bernau, ACT Apple Users Group, June 2003
"...as a manual for Windows to Mac switchers, it?s hard to imagine a better resource. David Pogue never disappoints, and his witty, conversational, and jargon-free writing style makes reading the material a pleasure. If you are making the transition from Windows to the Mac, the $24.95 will be well spent. A full, 5-A Applelinks rating."
--Charles Moore, Applelinks, April 11, 2003
http://www.applelinks.com/mooresviews/swtmm.shtml
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 5, 2003
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Tiger Ed
Customer Reviews
The Missing Manual
2007-02-11 09:26:22
Anonymous Reader
If this person can't get a solution for his proubem have them go to Apple.com > Support > Discussions and ask the questions in the right forum
The Missing Manual
2006-12-15 10:04:18
herbwise
After I spent 15 years on the PC/Microsoft systems, and after my many complaints about them, my family bought me a Mac last Christmas. They gave me the missing manual thinking that would help with the transition.
It is overrated. Worse, there is no way to give feedback to the author other than this way.
When I cannot find out how to do something, there is no way to get that info when I need it. Frustration is the name of the game. I have to plow through so much verbiage, it is infuriating. Then the answer isn't there. In other words it is like the rest of the computer industry. Nobody asks the consumer and let's make damn sure there is no way to communicate with the author/company because we only care about the next sale. Spin the stuff into saying it is wonderful and then do not let in any feedback. If the last sale didn't work for the consumer, too bad, so sad. Move on to the next sale.
The on-line help systems are worse. FAQs that take hours to sift through.
Invaluable
2006-10-10 05:01:53
David
I made the conversion to Mac's about 6 months ago, having always yearned to do so, they are so cool compared to PC's. I checked out a number of Tiger manuals and ended up selecting a copy of David's Missing Manual for Tiger, and have used it constantly since. This is a comprehensive guide to Tiger that has been invaluable. It is well laid out, logical, and easy to follow. This book is a pleasure to refer to and is a fine example of what a manual should be like. I'm sure it would satisfy both newcomers to Mac, such as myself, and longtime Mac users. If David comes out with a Leopard manual, I'm buying one straight away.
A Must-Have: For Review and Study
2006-02-06 20:29:05
Anonymous Reader
There's an old Apple comercial that shows a Windows PC and a large stack of manuals that come with it contrasted to a Macintosh and its single, thin user manual. It exemplifies the ease-of-use of a Mac as compared to a PC, but in reality, is that single, thin user manual all you need for a Mac? David Pogue, author of the book in review, certainly thinks not, and I'd tend to agree with him.
The retail box of OS X-Tiger contains that relatively thin manual from Apple. Maybe you glanced at it as you pulled the Install DVD out of the box, but I bet you didn't come back to it for OS X help very often! Apple apparently expects the Tiger user to depend on the Mac OS X Help menu or the Apple website to learn about Tiger and, although these are indeed useful sources of information, they simply cannot compare to a hefty tome (about 850 pages) like Mac OS X: The Missing Manual.
The intended audience of this Missing Manual is advanced beginners or intermediate Mac users and I would agree that these groups are well served by this book. Nevertheless, the brand new beginner will find informative side bar "Up to Speed" articles with introductory information and the more advanced user will find "Power User's Clinic" boxes filled with technical tips, tricks and shortcuts intended for the more experienced Macintosh aficionado.
Having read the book cover-to-cover (no small feat, mind you), I found it to be sprinkled with delightfully witty comments that serve as a brief break from the serious and extremely informative text that covers every aspect of OS X-Tiger. Truly all aspects of OS X are covered, from installation to new Tiger features like Spotlight to System Preferences and the use of all of the "free" programs included in OS X. Although you won't become an iLife expert by reading this book's chapters on iTunes, iPhoto, etc., a fine overview of these programs is presented and you'll be able to use them productively with the basics that you learn from Mac OS X: The Missing Manual.
I've been using OS X since it first came out and I feel pretty comfortable using it. Given my long experience with OS X, I didn't expect to learn a lot about it from this book. Yet I was repeatedly surprised at finding tips and tricks previously unknown to me that this book noted about most every aspect of OS X-Tiger.
My one regret is that I didn't take notes or mark up the book as I was reading all the tips that were new to me. There were so many new tips to me that I'm sure that I've forgotten the majority of them already!
This experience leads me to make a recommendation to you about Mac OS X: The Missing Manual. To get the most of it, read it a bit at a time with one of those yellow fluorescent hi-lighter markers in hand and don't be afraid to mark up important information. Then grab the book and sit in front of your Mac and review the information that you've highlighted via hands-on experience at the keyboard. If you do so, I guarantee you'll be a Mac expert when you finish this book.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual has appendices about OS X installation options, trouble-shooting, "Where'd It Go?" (relative to previous versions of OS X, OS 9 and Windows), tips about obtaining more info and a comprehensive "Master Mac OS X Secret Keystroke List." The index is extensive and inclusive of all of the important topics covered in the book.
Finally, Mac OS X: The Missing Manual also "contains" a missing CD (which really means that no CD-ROM is included), in contrast to many "manual" books of this sort. Instead, the reader is encouraged to visit the MissingManuals.com web-site to view a chapter-by-chapter list of links of the shareware and freeware mentioned in the book. The "missing CD" reduces the cost of the book and provides a method of keeping the software listings up-to-date, so I don't consider the lack of a CD to be a drawback, especially now that most users have high-speed access to the Internet.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition is 100 pages longer than the previous Panther edition and the author claims that there is not a single page that hasn't changed since the last edition. So even if you own a previous edition, you should consider purchasing this new Tiger Edition. Apple keeps adding new features to OS X with every new version. Are you using them to your benefit? You may never know about what you are missing until you read Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition! I highly recommend it to each and every one of you...
Reviewer: Jim Macak
Jim is President of Double Click, Inc, the Macintosh Users Group of Milwaukee, WI.
He is an Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist and provides Macintosh help and consulting services in the Milwaukee area as "YourMacDoc."
(http://www.yourmacdoc.com/)
Another Winner from David Pogue
2005-12-05 07:47:16
tucsontutor
The Missing Manual Tiger by David Pogue
Just the Appendixes C and D make this book worth the price...They tell Mac (Appendix C) and Windows (D) folks where things are in Tiger versus their previous operating system.
It covers the new features in detail: Spotlight - what’s the keyboard shortcut to open spotlight; how to search when you only know part of a word (usable also in text edit). He explains how to set preferences, how to keep certain items private, changing sort order, etc. Then he goes on to explain how to use the Find command (you can do much more detailed searching using Find).
Dashboard is another new Tiger feature that is covered in great detail. Dashboard is triggered by pushing the F12 key, but I have a laptop and F12 is the eject key, However by holding down the Fn key AND F12 I can open Dashboard. Did you know that you can refresh widgets by holding command and clicking R, open more than one copy of a widget and open the widget bar with the command = keystroke? Each of the 14 standard widgets are described in detail. He mentions a shareware program that will let you have a widget open while you’re using another program. Do you share your computer? Learn how and where to install widgets so they’re available to everyone, or just to you!
Another major item Apple features in Tiger is Automator. This lets you build a series of actions just by dragging tiles in the right order. Remember AppleScript that let you build instructions for a repetitive task? This is a simpler version. For the average user, one of the more useful actions might be in Safari to get text from a web page, or make a list of all the URLs from a web page, or the combine PDF files.
Security has been improved. Don’t know what a firewall is, let alone how to configure it? Pogue explains this is layman’s terms. Don’t know what the Root account is? Don’t mess with it, but understand it and learn how to activate/deactivate it ( it comes on page 455. Need to understand permissions and be sure they’re set correctly -he has pages of data on how to do this. During a download, when Tiger says “this contains an application, do you want to continue?” you can expand that box to see what program it refers to, thus preventing spyware from being downloaded. In addition, if you are installing, it will also ask for permission. In addition to the Secure Empty Trash, Disk Utillity can super erase ALL free disk space. Don’t want the people who share your computer to see where you’ve been surfing (make that present a surprise), turn on Private Browsing in the Safari menu before you begin.
Since this book is over 800 pages, I can’t review all of it for you. However, I find it an INDISPENSIBLE Macintosh tool. I always find the answer I need in Pogue’s books!
Even better then the Panther manual
2005-11-22 09:37:26
JOe Edwards
Another superb missing manual from O'Reilly and Dave Pogue
I am building up a shelf full of them and this one came free with my subs to MacWorld!
Its my first very own Mac and the book is essential. I have been supporting my daughter's Powerbook with the Panther Edition although she is now teaching me!
Keep up the good work.
Even better then the Panther manual
2005-11-22 09:37:15
JOe Edwards
Another superb missing manual from O'Reilly and Dave Pogue
I am building up a shelf full of them and this one came free with my subs to MacWorld!
Its my first very own Mac and the book is essential. I have been supporting my daughter's Powerbook with the Panther Edition although she is now teaching me!
Keep up the good work.
Great book
2005-10-27 08:07:11
Steve Holland
I just bought my first Mac ever. Old time PC user. I was lost until I got the book in. Could not be without it.
Steve
Where did it go?
2005-07-22 23:46:43
solohans
The Missing Manual is already beginning to pay for itself. I found the keycaps application that used to be in the Application/Utility folder. Buy a copy and find out where it's hidden. Find out more secret to Tiger too! Great handbook packed with lots of sound info.
Windows Vista: The Missing Manual
Customer Reviews
A User Friendly Introduction to Vista
2007-02-13 13:59:02
Jan :)
I found the book very easy to understand and "User friendly." It is well written with lots of good screen shots for clarification of specific features, tasks and events.
The book covered the variety of features that are available in the various Vista editions.
While there were features I thought needed more detailed coverage, such as the difference in the User Administrator and *Secret* Administrator, as well as the loss of Restore Points, Shadow Copies and all but current PC backups as a consequence of dual booting with XP, it was otherwise very informative.
As a Microsoft software instructor for two Community Colleges, and owner of my own business that deals in software training, data and computer services, it is a Windows Vista information resource I can feel comfortable and confident in recommending to my students and clients.
Jan :)
The right book to accompany any shiny new installation of Vista
2007-02-05 11:49:37
Greg
Even though David Pogue's "Missing Manual" series isn't necessarily marketed toward programmers or system administrators, I still found the text very useful and a great addition to my O-Reilly library. For me, this book represents a condensation of the bits an pieces of "vista info" that are floating around the new OS release.
I have to admit that I was on the fence about Vista when I received this book. I ran into trouble finding a good reliable source of raw information, so I decided to research for myself instead of reading more pro/con columns. To that end I used this as more of a reference book in order to find out how much Vista had changed from XP. To my surprise I found everything I wanted to know, and even some things I had forgot long ago.
This is a book I would recommend to my Mom as well as any of my friends or co-workers looking to discover more about Vista. Pogue writes in such a way that any beginner can understand, and any power-user can appreciate.
Windows Vista; The Missing Manual
2007-01-15 10:55:06
Anonymous Reader
When Windows XP came along, I searched for a book that would open the XP doors in a powerful yet easy to digest manual. With a little help from a few of our members, I found it...Windows XP The Missing Manual The Book That Should Have Been In The Box, by New York Times computer columnist, David Pogue.. It was superb!
Not to outdone by Windows Vista, Pogue has collaborated with several other popular computer columnists that include another of my all-time favorites, Preston Gralla, to complete The Missing Manual for Vista. It is very truly the book that should have been in the Box!
If you are even thinking about Vista, this is without question a must have. It is the best thing out there to familiarize you easily with the new operating system. This dynamite 827 Page, 27 chapter, 4indexes manual does not miss a trick. It contains everything you need to know, use and learn in Vista without missing a trick. Every page is replete with screen captures of Vista and simple, step-by-step instructions on understanding and mastering its many features.
Without question, this is the book to get. It is easily the most informative book on Vista. Vista is covered from A to Z, from the very basics to complete networking. It is written in an easy to understand style that will not leave even computer neophytes behind, truly everyman=s manual and likely the only one you may ever need or want on Vista. You should also be aware that Microsoft does not include a single written page in the Vista box. Unless you are a psychic, this book is essential!
The book includes tips and tricks for each of Vista's new programs: Photo Gallery, Internet Explorer 7, Mail, Media CenterDVD Maker, the Sidebar, speech recognition, games, Windows Meeting Space, and more.
Important Missing Manual Title Helps Prepare for Windows Vista
2007-01-12 10:03:58
Dale Farris
By Dale Farris, Reviews Coordinator
Golden Triangle PC Club
January 2007
Do you yearn for the days when you bought software that included a well designed user manual? We have for so long lived without a manual with new software, that when a rare vendor does supply one, we are thrilled at what we now perceive as "extra value" provided with the program.
Author David Pogue, now well known for his acclaimed "Missing Manual" series from O'Reilly, once again stuns us with his latest title, Windows Vista: The Missing Manual.
The latest in this marvelous series of "Missing Manual" guides will surely get the attention of potential buyers when they peruse the abundance of computer books now filling the shelves. More importantly, Vista is a major new operating system from Microsoft, not just another security update, and this makes this title even more important.
These "Missing Manual" guidebooks are designed to be authoritative, superbly written guides to popular computer products that don't come with pre-printed manuals (which is just about all of them). Each one features a hand-crafted index, cross-references to specific page numbers (not just "See Chapter"), and the always user friendly RepKover, a detached-spine binding that lets the book lie perfectly flat without the assistance of weights, like staplers or cinder blocks.
This "Missing Manual" series is now a joint venture between Pogue Press and O'Reilly & Associates. With O'Reilly's already established reputation for solid, substantial computer books that are a cut above all the rest, and the wonderful attention to new users that characterize all these "Missing Manual" works, this venture should prove very successful for these publishers.
As with any operating system you buy these days, you get no user guide with the software. Instead, you are expected to read the online help system built into the software. While this decision is understandable, as a means of keeping down the costs of the software, for many users of the software, using electronic help files is just not enough help.
With Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows Vista, this lack of a manual has created an opportunity for others to fill the gap. To the rescue comes this wonderful guide to Windows Vista that easily can serve as the manual that should have accompanied the software. Filled with hundreds of screen shots, this guide includes numerous step-by-step instructions for using almost every Windows Vista feature, including those you may not even have quite understood, let alone mastered.
Author Pogue has organized this book into eight parts, including The Windows Vista Desktop, Vista Software, Vista Online, Pictures, Movies, and Media Center, Hardware and Peripherals, PC Health, The Vista Network, and the Appendixes.
In this Missing Manual title, the author also discusses concerns regarding upgrading, versus a clean install of Windows Vista, and the all important issue of whether to even consider loading Vista on an existing machine, versus purchasing a brand new machine with Vista already installed. Readers will also be glad to know that the author includes comments on all the five (5) versions of Vista that will be available. These include Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, and Vista Ultimate.
Table of Contents
The twenty-seven (27) chapters include the following titles.
Part I: The Vista Desktop
Welcome Center, Desktop, and the Start Menu
Explorer, Windows, and the Taskbar
Searching and Organizing Your Files
Interior Decorating Vista
Getting Help
Part 2: Vista Software
Programs, Documents, and Gadgets
The Freebie Software
The Control Panel
Part 3: Vista Online
Hooking Up to the Internet
Internet Security
Internet Explorer 7
Windows Mail
Part 4: Pictures, Movies, and Media Center
Windows Photo Gallery
Windows Media Player
Movie Maker and DVD Maker
Media Center
Part 5: Hardware and Peripherals
Fax, Print, and Scan
Hardware
Laptops, Tablets, and Palmtops
Part 6: PC Health
Maintenance and Speed Tweaks
The Disk Chapter
Backups and Troubleshooting
Part 7: The Vista Network
Accounts (and Logging On)
Setting Up a Workgroup Network
Network Domains
Network Sharing and Collaboration
Vista by Remote Control
Part 8: Appendixes
Appendix A: Installing Windows Vista
Appendix B: Fun with the Registry
Appendix C: Where'd It Go?
Appendix D: The Master Keyboard Shortcut List
Target Readers
This important book is designed to accommodate readers at every technical level, except system administrators. Computer network operators will want to supplement this book aimed more at desktop users with other more technical books on supporting Vista that will soon fill the shelves.
The primary discussions are written for advanced-beginner or intermediate PC users. If you are a first-time Windows user, the special sidebar articles called "Up To Speed" provide the introductory information you need to understand the topic at hand. If you are an advanced users, keep your eye out for similar shaded boxes called "Power Users' Clinic" that offer more technical tips, tricks, and shortcuts for the veteran PC fan.
Book Contents
848 pages; acknowledgments; introduction; figures; tips; power user clinics; FAQs; appendixes; index; cover colophon
Author
David Pogue
About the Author
David Pogue, creator of the Missing Manual series, is the author or co-author of 25 computer, humor, and music books. These include the Computer Press Association award-winning "PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide," 2nd Edition, six books in the "...for Dummies" series, six books in the "Missing Manual" series, as well as the "Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual." David is the weekly computer columnist for the New York Times, and In his other life, David is a former Broadway show conductor, a magician, pianist, and occasional book reviewer for the New York Times. He and his wife Jennifer Pogue, MD, live in Connecticut with their young son and daughter.
ISBN
January 2007, First Edition
0-596-52827-2
978-0-596-52827-0
List Price
$34.99
$45.99 CAN
Publisher Contact
Marsee Henon
marsee@oreilly.com
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North
Sebastopol, California 95472
707-827-7000
800-998-9938
FAX 707-829-0104
www.oreilly.com
Customer Reviews
iPhoto 5, The book that should have been in the box
2006-09-05 16:24:20
Mugara, Macintosh Users Group Aragón (Spain)
If you‚re a Mac user, every time you face a new program, you know you‚ll hardly need any instructions to use it. This is the case with iPhoto, whichever version you use. After all, the program described in this book is the one that Steve Jobs presented in January of 2002 as being Apple‚s answer to the panic ordinary people feel when they try to download, save, edit or share their digital pictures.
The problem that comes from this ease of use is that, in most cases, we don‚t use 100% of the resources of the program.
This book answers the need for a written manual that helps us learn with ease everything iPhoto can do for us. This explains its title: «iPhoto 5, The Missing Manual, The book that should have been in the box».
The first part contains general remarks on cameras and digital photography: resolution, battery life, size of photos composition tips, photos in movement, outdoor photos, photos with flash, etc.
The second part teaches us how to manage the program (installing from iLife, choosing different options in Preferences) and how to start editing our pictures using iPhoto‚s tools.
Once you‚ve edited and modified your photographs, you have to transfer them to a media that allows you to show them what the author calls "Meet Your Public". The book shows you how to create slideshows, print your photos, email them, export them to other formats (QuickTime, home DVD‚s using iDVD), etc.
A last chapter is devoted to management of your photo albums, backups and the use of Apple Script to automate some operations.
In conclusion, it actually would have been nice to find this manual in the iLife box, because even though many of the things it explains we end up finding out about with time, it‚s always better to optimize our photos from the very start.
Media Reviews
"As ever, I'm impressed with the Missing Manuals and highly recommend them to those who want to how to use or get the most from their application. If you use iPhoto and don't have the previous version of this book, you need it. If you have a previous version of the book but have upgraded to iPhoto 5, do you need the new version of the book? That depends--not if you do not want to use the new features; but highly likely if you do. Now having written this review I will be dashing back to the book to work though it more slowly, with my digital camera in my hand!"
--Roger Bernau, ACT Apple Users Group, Canberra A.C.T. Australia, June 2005
"Authors David Pogue and Derrick Story are on their game in their latest book in the Missing Manual series... This book is a very valuable tool to have to learn how to use iPhoto 05 more effectively... I highly recommend it if you are interested in photography."
--Marianne Young, MIAMUG Mouse Tales, July 2005
"The subject of this review, iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual is IMHO, one of the finest books in the series, although my personal interest in digital photography may color my perspective somewhat. Nominally 'the book that should have been in the box,' iPhoto 5: TMM is a lot more than a surrogate users-manual for iPhoto 5, although it is certainly that. However, it also provides all of the essential technical tools you need to produce professional quality photos and photo presentations in a single volume."
--Charles Moore, Applelinks.com, May 2005
"This iPhoto 5 manual offers a whopping 400 pages of tricks, tips, and good, solid information you won't find anywhere else. If it sounds like too steep of a learning curve, let me assure you that this is NOT your father's technical manual. It's user-friendly, well-designed, and long overdue."
--Bonnie Bruno, Wonderkorner.com, May 2005
"iPhoto 5 is such a richly featured program that a manual is necessary to make use of its full potential. This book is essential for any Mac user who works with photos. While iPhoto 5: the Missing Manual is an update to an excellent iPhoto series, the addition of full color pages makes it much better than its predecessors. The book covers everything anybody would ever want to do to or with their digital photos...Overall, this is an excellent book, well worth adding to the library of every Mac user."
--Ed Noonan, MacNewsNetwork.com, May 2005
"'I've often said you won't go far wrong buying a Pogue Press book, and the new iPhoto 5 The Missing Manual (iP5MM for short) is yet another example of a well-written computer software manual. Pogue and Derrick Story have been writing about iPhoto since version 1, and he's got it down to a science. But with many new and important changes in iPhoto 5, there's plenty of information to write about...MyMac.com rating: 5 out of 5."
--David Weeks, MyMac.com, May 2005
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual
Media Reviews
"David Pogue has written about Windows, and is also a Windows user, and this comes through clearly in his book. His familiarity with both operating systems is patent; he is thorough and precise in presenting the differences, and his coverage of Mac OS X is more than sufficient for any switcher who needs to get a handle on the Mac."
--Kirk McElhearn, About This Particular Macintosh, July 2003
http://www.atpm.com/9.07/two-books.shtml
"Nothing is overlooked in comparing Win/Mac parts, functions, commands and components, including a 'Where Did It Go?' dictionary for the Alt Key-deprived. Extensive guides to system preferences and all the iApps and utilities that come bundled with your new machine will leave separation anxiety behind."
--Tony Reveaux, "Film/Tape World," May 2003
"'Switching to the Mac' is in Pogue's highly readable style, which makes it both a book to read through (then go and try) and one of those useful books that stays beside the computer as a handy reference."
--Graham K Rogers, "Bangkok Post," May 6, 2003
"an excellent coverage and just what a Switcher would need. In fact it could be subtitled--The Switchers Bible."
--Roger Bernau, ACT Apple Users Group, June 2003
"...as a manual for Windows to Mac switchers, it?s hard to imagine a better resource. David Pogue never disappoints, and his witty, conversational, and jargon-free writing style makes reading the material a pleasure. If you are making the transition from Windows to the Mac, the $24.95 will be well spent. A full, 5-A Applelinks rating."
--Charles Moore, Applelinks, April 11, 2003
http://www.applelinks.com/mooresviews/swtmm.shtml
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 5, 2003
Crossing Platforms A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook
Customer Reviews
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review
2002-11-09 11:28:53
Smith Kennedy
This is a great book if the two platforms you are concerned with are Windows and Mac OS 8.x/9.x. However, the book hasn't been adapted to Mac OS X, so it seems incomplete to me. Hopefully, the authors are working on a new edition that compares Windows ME/2K/XP with Mac OS X.
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review
2000-05-15 11:26:32
Betty MD
I do cross platform support for a living, and knowing both platforms' jargon has been the basis for my success. I've also read Pogue's and Engst's independent work -- and am extremely happy at their collaboration. This is very objective and will help those who must positively speak on both the Win and Mac side.
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review
2000-05-15 11:25:43
Amity Jones
As usual, David Pogue crosses platforms with his wit & style. It feels as though one isreading a humorous tome,but in fact, one is learning essential facts and gaining knowledge. Any other author would bore us to death, but Mr. Pogue doesn't even make us feel that we are learning. I have to give this 100 stars, 5 is just not enough.
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review
2000-05-15 11:24:33
norval mortensen
An absolutly essential book, at least for Macusers. Many of us are confirmed in our
choice of operating systems but find ourselves in a cross-platform world. I find their approach unique , very handy to use,and invaluable in translating to a different platform. I can't tell you how much time and frustration it saved me, for instance in just one area -- comparing keyboard shortcuts.
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review
2000-05-15 11:23:31
Kirk McElhearn
As a translator, and Mac user, I was delighted to see that Adam Engst and David Pogue, who are, in a way, the Strunk and White of Macintosh journalism, released this original book. As a translator first, it is an essential reference book for terms on both platforms. But as a Mac user, confronted with Windows often (I do own a PC as well) this answers all my questions about how best to understand the different philosophies of the two operating systems. Well written, clear and efficient, this book is really excellent. If you work with both platforms, don't hesitate to get it. The only drawback I found was the lack of an
index. In spite of that, I couldn't recommend it more.
Media Reviews
"Crossing Platforms is an extremely useful book, whichever platform you're more familiar with. It won't burden you with information you don't need, and it won't force you to take the time to read cover-to-cover in order to gain familiarity with your new operating system. Instead, it takes advantage of what you already know, translating your need (in the vocabulary of one system) to the solution (in the vocabulary of the other)." -- Paul Fatula, ATPM, June 2001
"Best MAC-WIN book under $30" --Third Annual BookBytes Awards, Dec 2000
"Say what you like about the farmer and the cowman, but the Windows user and the Macintosh jockey likely will never enjoy much more than a grudging co-existence. That's why it can be so traumatic when a job or other tragic circumstance requires a devotee of one environment to switch to the other. Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook helps ease the change by translating the terms and conventions of each platform into the other's equivalenty This is an honestly useful book." --David Wall, Amazon.com, March 2000
"a simple solution for everyone who has been confused and frustrated by the arbitrary and sometimes capricious differences between the Macintosh and Windows operating systems." --Reginald Bosanquet, Freelance Informer, Feb 18, 2000
"So why would a Macintosh user want to cross over and learn a Windows-based computer? The answer is sooner or later, your work will force you to learn a second language. And when you do, you'll find Crossing Platforms invaluable." --Sam McMillan, Communication Arts, May/June 2000
"a nifty accessory for folks who work with both Apples and IBM-compatible PCs." --Heather Newman, Detroit News/Free Press, April 16, 2000
"Let the operating system zealots duke it out in endless flame wars on the Net. Some of us work with both Macs and PCs, and we strive to be Zen about it. This book caters to our need to transfer skills and knowledge from one platform to the other." --Shirl Kennedy, Information Today, April 2000
"a definitive guide to terminology, techniques and system information for individuals working in both Windows and Macintosh environments." --Paper Clips, March 2000
"you really only need to read half of it to get the whole (but I read the whole thing anyway, just because it was so good!) I'm elated to have found a book that shows painstakingly the similarities between the two platforms so I can wrap my mind around the concepts I tolerate on a dial basis. . . I highly recommend this book." --Robert Pritchett, "the Finder', Mid-Columbia Macuser group, March 2000
"Like travellers in a foreign land, Mac users working in Windows or Windows users working on a Mac often find themselves in unfamiliar territory with no guidebook. O'Reilly & Associates has addressed these situations with a new book, Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook" --Hadley Sharples, Graphic Design: USA, Feb 2000
"a most useful reference invaluable for those of us who must keep one foot-and one computer-in both Windows and Macintosh camps." --Shutterbug, April 2000
"Pogue and Angst are two of the premier Macintosh authors, having exceptional talent in writing with skill and wit for all levels of the Mac community. Their hearts are firmly entrenched with us Applefiends, but they realize Windows is here to stay (and vice versa) In this concise, no-nonsense book, Adam and David don't have the opportunity to wow us with the pithy prose they use in their regular TidBITS. and Macworld columns, but don't let that deter you from buying and studying every word in this RECOMMENDED and ground breaking new book from Book Bytes Award winners." -- John Nemerovski, My Mac Magazine, April 2000
"Anyone who is proficient on one platform and finds himself needing to identify and learn the alternative operating system counterpart will love this book. It's well-thought-out and could be indispensable." -- Houston Chronicle Dec 31, 1999
"Book of the Week" --About.com Mac OS, January 12th - 18th, 2000
"This invaluable guide will be treasured by everyone from the harried corporate IT Manager to the hapless temp who knows not what machine-set awaits at tomorrows assignation. It is a bridge over garbled command sets that will help foster office peace." --Tony Reveaux, Film/Tape World, January 2000
"A fabulous bridge over the troubled waters between Macaholics and Windows wonks." --Tec.Buz, Chicago Tribune, Jan 10.2000
"Macintosh users and their Windows counterparts are separated by a cultural chasm even though they use similar point-and-click computing systems. Now, in the interest of cross-platform understanding, Adam Engst and David Pogue have conjured up Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook. Much like a Spanish-English dictionary, this paperback presents commonly used Windows terms along with their Mac "translations," and vice-versa." -- Julio Ojeda-Zapata, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Februrary 7, 2000
"Here is the "bilingual" book I would have found very helpful three years ago when I feared Macintosh was going down the chute and I was "convinced" to "convert" to Windows." -- Len Harvey, Charlotte Bytes, Jan 2000
"Anyone who is proficient on one platform and finds himself or herself needing to identify and learn the alternative operating system counterpart will love this book. It's well thought out and could prove to be indispensable." Craig Crossman, Palm Beach Post (also Annapolis Capitol, Dec 26, 1999) Jan 1, 2000
"New book provides the Rosetta Stone for cross-platform users for anyone working with Macs and PCs, Crossing Platforms is an extremely useful reference book." --John p. Mello, Jr., Mass high Tech, Jan 16, 2000
"it could be one of the most important books that you'll be buying this year. In fact, it's one of those books that should be in every reference library of every business in town... this book should be included automatically with your computer when you buy it... this book has been needed for a long time, and I would like to welcome it to the world." --Mark Burrows, Western Slope Sunday, Glenwood Springs, CO, Jan 9, 2000
"Third Annual Book Bytes Award: Best Mac-Win Book" Feb 2001
Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual
Customer Reviews
Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual Review
2003-04-10 17:37:14
Joe Berns
Hi David,
Frankly, I was intimidated by XP until I got my hands on your book Windows XP, Home Edition, The Missing Manual. It seemed to explain everything in easy to read language with plenty of illustrations. The index is really great. Even the most intricate item is there and a good explanatiion of what I was looking for. I think of it as the "bible" for XP. If it isn't there, I probably don't need it. You have done an excellent job on the Home Edition manual and if need be I would certainly look to your other Missing Manuals. Best.
Joe Berns
Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual Review
2003-03-19 07:38:22
Thomas
Great book. Helped me a lot. Though, probably not what Dave intended (since I am a Mac-to-PC-switcher and the book shows that XP is - at least for me - a better system than OS X). I hope he will do soon Office XP.
Thomas
Berlin, Germany
PS: Dave seems to be a Macintosh fan. In case he has access to Cupertino: He should let them know that they are making a huge mistake by banning Mac OS 9 from their new machines.
Media Reviews
"After reviewing many manuals on Windows XP Home as a potential text for an introductory course at a community senior center The Missing Manual seemed to be the perfect choice. The students agree."
--Michael Rosenthal, Claremont Senior Computer Club, April 2004
"'The Missing Manual' is perfect for those of you out there who, like me, bought a computer years ago in order to help your writing, then ended up spending as much time toying with the computer as you do on that manuscript (especially when the writing's not going well). I find myself lying in bed at night, picking it up and paging through it, learning something here, something there, getting caught up in the discovery process, while Don DeLillio's 'Underworld,' a novel I've been trying to clear time to sit down with since it was published in 1997, lies on the night table, half-read...when was the last time you curled up with a good computer book?"
--Rochelle Ratner, "American Book Review," June 2003
"This is a thorough, comprehensive and well written guide as you would expect when the author is technology columnist for the 'New York Times'...If you want assistance with Windows XP Home Edition beyond what is available in the help menu, this book is for you. Highly recommended."--Jack Merrill, Memphis PC Users Group, May 2003
"I would recommend buying this book if you have Windows XP."
--Karen Willingham, Bayou Browsers PC Users Group, Feb 2003
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 5, 2003
"No one's better at demystifying tech trends and applications than 'New York Times' 'State of the Art' columnist David Pogue. So it's no surprise that he's turned Windows XP Home Edition inside out--explaining everything from burning CDs to building a network."--The Computing Editors, Barnes & Noble.com
"Provides enough background to allow new home users and upgraders to get up and running, while leaving them feeling as if they have a handle on why and how things work. Ample screen shots and sidebars further this process; recommended for all libraries."--Library Journal
"This book is worth several times the cover price. I learned more about Windows XP from reading this book than I have learned from months of playing with the operating system...In my not-so-humble-opinion, no one should try and install Windows XP without having read both appendixes. And keep the book handy for reference during the actual install. I did my first few XP installs before reading this book, and every problem I had is covered. That's worth the cost of the book...If this copy gets lost, stolen, or damaged beyond use, I will buy another copy immediately--I wouldn't want to charge people for fixing their XP machines without a reference this good close at hand. And that?s all I got to say on the subject: Y'all go buy this book."
--Dale Atchison, Tampa Bay Computer Society, Dec 2002
"In just 571 pages David Pogue has brought tons of clarity to the Windows XP operating System."--Joe Farace, ShutterBug, Dec 2002
"Definitely worth the $24.95 investment. I would recommend it to any level of Windows XP user."--Linda Tyler, Mid-Hudson Computer User Group, Dec 2002
"?lives up to its claim as being the book Microsoft should have shipped in the box. If you're looking for a manual for Windows XP, look no further."
--Nick Peers, PC Answers, September 2002
"This is an extremely easy-to-follow guide to everything you need to know about Microsoft XP without insulting our intelligence."
--Joliet IL Herald News, August 26, 2002
"A visit to www.missingmanuals.com can offer instant relief to headaches generated by mounting XP glitches. David Pogue, a columnist for The New York Times and the genius behind the Missing Manual series of books, has adapted his easy-to-follow, humorous style of writing to help us survive our often-exasperating bouts with computer mania. His latest contribution is 'Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual' ($24.95). This is an extremely easy-to-follow guide to everything you need to know about Microsoft XP without insulting our intelligence, as we sometimes find in the 'Idiots' or 'Dummies' series of books, giving us step-by-step solutions to our problems."
--Mike Berman, Scripps Howard News Service, July 31, 2002
"A masterful treatment of Windows XP, written in a direct and lively style."
--Ed Laskowski, The Vista PC Journal, August 2002
"I enjoyed following the pages in this sensibly written guide. It is the way to go for first-time and intermediate PC fans. The author?s warm, witty, and jargon-free writing style is applied to every nook of Windows XP."
--Sam Gardner, PC News, August 2002
"...lives up to it's claim as being the book Microsoft should have shipped in the box."--Nick Peers, PC Answers, September 2002
"Microsoft isn't rich because of its software alone, but because of the money it saves on user manuals. The included manual for Windows XP Home Edition is a 22-page booklet, but only 15 of the pages have printing on them. (Guess they were saving ink, too.) Of course, there's online help available, and telephone help and help within the system itself. But for many, if they could get the machine on line, they wouldn't be looking for help in the first place, and telephone help costs. For those folks, there's David Pogue's 'Windows XP Home Edition, The Missing Manual, The Book That Should Have Been In The Box.' Published by Pogue Press/O'Reilly, the $24.95 paperback covers just about everything there is to cover in XP in 572 pages, with print on every one of them. Pogue, who has done previous work in the 'missing-manual' genre, is a clear and gifted writer who is able to cut through the technobabble and show the reader how to solve problems and get stuff done...The Missing Manual is an ideal companion for both first-time XP users and more experienced users who find themselves flummoxed by the software."
--Larry Blasko, Associated Press, June 24, 2002
"The book 'Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual' is outstanding in the way it presents its subject matter and in the amount of material it covers, yet manages to present it all in an easily understood manner. If you are looking for a good book on Windows XP, this is it. I highly recommend it for beginners as well as for more advanced users, for the learning of Windows XP as well as for troubleshooting. It is truly 'the book that should have been in the box' and will help you get the most out of your Windows XP computer."
--Gerhard R. Fischer, Charlotte Bytes, July 2002
"a great reference book...this book will help first-time and intermediate PC fans greatly, and it has enough depth to aid experienced Windows users, too...Since it stays clear of jargon, and does an excellent job of explaining any technical terms it has to use, a beginner should have no problem understanding the material."
--Bob Esch, The Databus, July 2002
"If you've ever struggled with XP (and if the OS is on your notebook or desktop, you're lying if you say you haven't), this book offers rock-solid advice as well as terrific tips on every crumb XP has to offer."
--Michael Cahlin, Emerging Tip World, July 19, 2002
"As with any operating system you buy these days, you get no user guide with Windows XP Home Edition. Instead, you are expected to read the online help system built into the software...To the rescue comes these wonderful guides that serve as the manual that should have accompanied the software. Filled with hundreds of screen shots, this guide includes numerous step-by-step instructions for using almost every Windows XP Home Edition (HE) feature, including those you may not even have quite understood, let alone mastered."
--Dale Farris, Golden Triangle PC Club, May 2002
"I found the book easy to read and understand. Since it stays clear of jargon, and does an excellent job of explaining any technical terms it has to use, a beginner should have no problem understanding the material... I'd recommend it to you as the book you need to get more out of the ?document free' Windows XP Operating System."
--Bob Esch, The DataBus, June 2002
Customer Reviews
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-06-29 18:35:40
Donald W. Larson
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual
Paperback, Third Printing, February 2002, 596 pages
By David Pogue
© Copyright 2002 by Pogue Press, LLC
ISBN 0-596-00082-0
Review written June 23, 2002
By Donald W. Larson, O'Reilly Book Evangelist
Email: dwlarson@mac.com
Web Site: http://www.timeoutofmind.com/
In February 2002 I moved over from MacOS 9.1 to the new Apple Operating System MacOS X. It's a major change in usage even with a great user interface like Aqua. Although I'm an Apple user since 1981, I knew I would need a great new reference nearby to help me in the transition from old to new. I asked my O'Reilly contact for the book I'll speak to next.
David Pogue's, "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual", is a tremendous help for anyone moving to the new Mac OS. I've met David when he came to a few of my San Diego Macintosh User Group picnics. He's a great guy and a very talented person. One of his talent's is writing and in the titled book, he expresses the new frontier "X" with clarity.
The book has 21 chapters and six appendices. It covers everything I could think of that a beginner or expert user would love to know about 'X". David begins the transition to the new OS from the vantage point of the user viewing the Aqua experience the first time. He traverses the topics of folders and the Dock, which presents the most visible changes in how information is organized on the hard drive.
He writes about how the programs are different and how AppleScript is supported in new ways. An entire chapter is devoted to the concept of discrete users and how those spaces are kept distinct from one another. This bears witness to the underlying Unix operating system that governs the new machine.
Because Unix is available underneath, David takes the time to explain the permissions concept and how to use the Terminal program to explore the depths of Unix and lead us easily into that new realm.
I initially started reading this book straight through back in February. I found the writing style was easy to follow but I kept getting sidetracked with David's suggestions to try his exercises out. Often one thing leads to another and I lost my reading train-of-thought. I enjoyed his style so much I gave up trying to read straight through. I discovered instead his book is a well-written reference book with a story perspective to it.
For the last few months I grabbed for this book every time I needed a fast answer about MacOS X. David maintains a website with up-to-date information and many free or shareware program listings that accompany the book. I now have a pretty good working knowledge of the book's material. I attended the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference last May and I'm glad I had absorbed much of the book by then. Many of the presentations at that conference were clear because of the foundation I had learned from the book.
Everyone using MacOS X needs this book. Thanks David!
Rating 10 out of 10. This rating is my own personal value system and as such is very subjective. I think a rating of 5 means I would read finish reading a book. A rating of 10 would indicate I had trouble putting a book down and have no complaints at all about it.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-03-18 17:50:07
Ward Maurer
Excellent Book!
I have a wall full of Mac books, and this is easily one of the best I've read.
Every page is filled with useful information. No fluff here!
I recommend it highly.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-03-06 06:00:30
stef vanstiphout
This book helped me to overcome the OS X -professionals-fear.
(1 owl less, I didn't install X yet)
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-02-21 21:16:45
Mark
I knew I was going to need a book on Mac OSX after my recent purchase of a new iMac. I perused the shelves of the Mac section and made this my choice. I am not disappointed. It is so well layed out, readable and friendly that I would recommend this to anyone wanting an excellent guide nearby as one begins their foray into OS X. It is always fun to discover new tricks and functions of OS X,
Well done Dave...
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-02-02 11:11:57
Martin
The definitive Mac OS X user guide!
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-01-30 07:35:45
Neil Faiman
Definitely the book that should have been in the box!
I've been using OS X since it was initially released, and reading the Mac web sites and Apple discussion groups all that time. I wouldn't have had to, if I'd had this book available from the start; and even so, I've learned new features from reading it.
The book is worth reading all the way through, and fortunately the writing is readable enough to make that a pleasure rather than a chore. It isn't really comprehensive -- after all, some of the chapters here (such as AppleScript, or using the Unix shell from the terminal) deserve, and have, whole books to themselves -- but it's surprising how much useful information is conveyed even on those subjects.
This comes very close to being a perfect book. It is easily worth the price!
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-01-27 10:58:39
norb
This is the best macos x book out there. I have a few of them and have learned more in your book then any other. Thanks and please start one for office x , my son just bought it and needs a great manual.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-01-21 17:58:37
Mike Scivally
Great Book!!
David Pouge has done it again! His clear and concise ability to get technical jargon across to the "average Joe" is amazing!! After having the book in hand for 10 minutes, I was able to find answers to questions that have still gone unanswered by Apple. If you have OS X you have to have this book!!
Mike Scivally
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-01-15 13:55:29
Ann
Fantastic book. Apple should pack it with all the computers they sell. I wish all user manuals were this friendly. It put me at ease with OSX from the very beginning.
I had a G4 with OSX sitting under my desk for about 2 months and I had dabbled with it. I had read all the comments about UNIX based and ROOT LEVEL and ADMINISTRATOR and all those scarey buzzwords the Techies throw around. Then I got OSX the Missing Manual. Now I feel at ease with the OSX not as scared of the unknown. Yes you don't have to be a "Techie" to use OSX
Thanks for a great book.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Review
2002-01-11 16:11:13
O.Strangeways
Great! Couldn't do without it!
Media Reviews
"A must-have...Even if you are comfy in the old Mac OS9, and are postponing upgrading, the Missing Manual is a trove of liberating remedies and deep understanding of the Mac. It’s the best Mac self-help book in print."
--Kevin Kelly, Cool Tools, October 2003
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000186.php
"Pogue has a real knack for elevating competent beginners into savvy users. And frankly, all computer books should be designed and organized this well."--Andy Ihnatko, Chicago Sun-Times, March 19, 2002
"full of good guidance and subtle humor, combined to make it an easy read for both the novice and experienced Mac user. I have several Mac OS X books in my library, and I rank this as the best of the lot."--Fred Sheffler, Apple Corps of Dallas, Applegram, March 2002
"an expert guide to the ins and outs of the operating system...If, like me, you plan to be serious about using the Mac and its newest operating system, you should be serious about getting this book in order to save aggravation and grief. I highly and happily recommend it."--Mark A. Kellner, Washington Times, 3/25/2002
"a thorough and highly enjoyable introduction to Mac OS X."--Apple eNews, March 2002
"These books {the Missing Manual Series} are actually better than 90% of the manuals I ever used, which generally seemed to either be (a) translated by a bad computer program from Japanese, even when written originally in English, or (b) boring, dry, and a torment to read. Pogue's books are written in an easy to read style and contain way more information than those old manuals ever did. 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' is no exception. It is packed with information about OS X, not just the Operating System itself, but also information on how to use the various free programs that come with X. This is great because not only is there no manual from Apple telling you anything much, but the online Help is, to put it charitably, inconvenient to use and awfully skimpy in the amount of information it provides. If you want to use OS X you are going to need to buy a book…I recommend Pogue's book without reservation to anyone who is seriously interested in learning how to use the latest, greatest, "insanely great" Mac operating system"--Avrum Lapin, chompmug.org, April 2002
"this book will save you a lot of pain and suffering moving from Mac Classic or Unix to Mac OS X."--brian d foy, The Perl Review, April 2002
"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-community."--Emazing Tip World, Feb 25, 2002
"Like most other hardware and software makers, Apple takes a minimalist approach to printed documentation. The packaged instructions that ship with each computer are enough to get users started, but usually omit more than they include. That's a shame, because with Mac OS X, Apple is shipping one of the most powerful operating systems ever…( Pogue) recently released a book, appropriately titles "Mac OSX The Missing Manual". It works on many levels-–a thorough reference to Macintosh OS X for beginner and upgraders as well as an excellent primer on the capabilities of Unix. Pogue also doesn't shy away form command-line tricks, and he does so in an informative way. Users can see for themselves the freedom granted by this new operating system. Plus, it's a lot more fun to read than the online documentation."--Matthew Fordahl, Associated Press
"the next best thing to learning from a knowledgeable and patient friend."--Jack Valancy, Mouse Tales, March 2002
"After the first 7 pages of this book, I had already learned more than I had in other books about Mac OS X…This book is way better than the manual that might have come with Mac OS X would have been. If you need a book on OS X, this is the one I would recommend to anyone. And you might want to read this cover to cover rather than just use it for reference."--Linda Cameron, The Finder: The
Newsletter for the Mid-Columbia Macintosh User Group, Feb 2002
"the tone of the writing is light and Pogue has some good taste humour and at the right doses. All in all, reading the book was very relaxing, interesting, and not boring at all."--Eugenia Loli-Queru, OS News, March 2002
"lucid and concise."-–Major Keary, BookNews, Feb 2002
Customer Reviews
iPhoto: The Missing Manual Review
2003-02-11 23:35:01
Fritz Senn
Very useful and readable. We are now waiting for an update to iPhoto2 (and for Keynote)
iPhoto: The Missing Manual Review
2002-12-03 02:14:00
Timothy Fehl
I'm a digital photo enthusiast and therefore just had to buy "iPhoto: The MIssing Manual," when it appeared on the store's bookshelves a couple months ago. I bought it on faith because I was so pleased with Pogue's "Missing Manual" series.
Anyone who is serious about their Macintosh the OSX system will want this addition to the series. It explains all the updated features clearly and in plain language how to use the iPhoto program, something Apple fails to do. It also includes sources for software when iPhoto isn't quite enough. I found "Pictures and Portraits" to be what I'm looking for, because I wanted more layout options for my prints.
There is also a lot of information on how to take pictures and how to choose the right equipment. I already purchased my camera, but I found the information in these sections a necessary part of the book and served to make it more valuable. I've just basically skimmed the book to this point because I'm finishing up his book on OSX, but I find the style and volume of information to be on par with his other books. I can't wait to begin reading it and gleaning it for the "Gems in the Rough."
When you see this book, snag it up, as you won't be sorry you did.
Timothy Fehl
iPhoto: The Missing Manual Review
2002-09-03 15:33:06
Jane Roberts
I was a new "MacUser' as well as a new digital photographer and was definitely struggling with iPhoto. I felt sure it was good and would do all the things I wanted - and had begun to do in Photoshop (the simpler version for PC's). When I heard about the Missing Manual I couldn't wait to get it and try. What a revelation!! At last I could understand the filing, the date system, the pixels etc etc. All was explained in simple language and fun to read.
Thank you for a really worthwhile investment - and to anyone hesitating - Don't!
iPhoto: The Missing Manual Review
2002-08-11 23:02:45
Mark Reibman
When the iPhoto application was first released I downloaded it and began using it for my new digital camera pics. I had just bought the Missing Manual for Mac OS X and recognized that it was published before the release of iPhoto so I wasn't going to get any help from that Missing Manual. I wrote to David Pogue and asked him if he was going to write anything on iPhoto. His reply was 'yes' and that it would come out some time later in 2002. He was true to his word. I bought a copy as soon as I found out it was available in August. I've had it for a few weeks and even though I've learned a lot about iPhoto on my own over the past few months, the book is still a treasure of information I had not previously discovered. If you are a digital camera maniac like myself or soon to be one and if you are fortunate to own a Mac that accomodates iPhoto, you're going to appreciate this book and get even more fun and benefit from your camera, your Mac and iPhoto. I find the Missing Manuals to be so well done that I can't say enough good things about them and iPhoto is no exception. If you're really interested in getting the most from your digital photography experience I highly recommend the iPhoto Missing Manual.
I do have a difference of opinion about the kind of battery that seems to work best with a digital camera. I find the rechargeable Nicad block battery with a second back up to be the most convenient and economical. That's my only gripe about the book,and I guess my two cents. Take the camera buying advice in iPhoto along with other sources of advice before you make your investment.
Great book. Lucky for us that David Pogue and friends love the Mac.
Media Reviews
"This Missing Manual is a wonderfully written and presented book. It will help you make the best use of iPhoto's ability to create your own masterpieces from your collection of digital still photographs...a must-read! The Missing Manual series is of generally high quality, so I expected a good book about iPhoto. What I found was an excellent book about photography in general, digital photography in particular, and the use of this superb application to produce excellent results in a myriad of formats and venues. The book is both informative and a pleasure to read...If you use iPhoto, buy 'iPhoto: The Missing Manual.'"--Lawrence Katz, ApplePress, March 2003
"'iPhoto The Missing Manual' is a highly recommended powerful resource for all users of iPhoto. Those who are new to digital photography will find an enormous wealth of information from how to buy equipment, to, how to get the best out of what you have. Those at the other end of the scale, who are serious amateur photographers with ample digital experience, will find the book filled with information on hidden capabilities of iPhoto, exactly what aspiring power users are always searching for. In between those extremes, the average user will find something useful either about digital photography in general, or iPhoto in particular, on practically every page of the book. In addition, everyone at any level of interest and experience needs troubleshooting assistance at one time or another, which is another value that can be gotten out of this book."
--Bob Kenedi, Naples MUG, March 2003
"If you are going to use iPhoto, you need a missing manual."
--Joan O'Brien, NCMUG News, Feb 2003
"Best iPhoto Book"--Fifth Annual Book Bytes Awards for 2002
"A well-thought out, comprehensive book...I would heartily recommend that anyone wishing to get more out of the iPhoto program purchase the book."
--Tom King, The Seed, Nov 2002
"Witty, informative, and enormously helpful, this book is your best guide to getting the most from your digital camera."--Desktop Connections, Dec 2002
"This book is detailed and gives behind-the-scenes explanations for a lot of digital photography issues. It is an excellent reference book, one which I will keep within easy reach while I use iPhoto. Mac Mice Rating 5 out of 5."--Dawn C. Schultz, MyMac.com, Dec 2002
"Story also had his fingers in another photography book I like immensely--'iPhoto: The Missing Manual.' It manages to be both informative and fun to read at the same time, an enviable feat. If you want to know everything there is to know about iPhoto and more, this comprehensive guide is a most enjoyable way to learn it."
--Bob Levitus, Houston Chronicle, Dec 20, 2002
"Anyone who has used books in this series is sure to agree that they are the benchmark of user-manual excellence...A well presented and informative manual that won't leave you floundering in techspeak."
--Major Keary, Book News No. 16, 2002
"An iBook with iPhoto and a digital camera make a potent pair, But something is missing. 'iPhoto: The Missing Manual.' Add 'iPhoto: The Missing Manual' and the team is complete. I thought I would learn some things about iPhoto from 'iPhoto: The Missing Manual' that I would not discover myself. I did, but I also learned some things about taking pictures with my digital camera that I had not discovered in months of using it...There is no way I could have learned all this without the Missing Manual. It added to my enjoyment with my digital camera."
--Hartley Jim Jackson, NVMUG Newsletter, Oct 2002
"A terrific resource for learning how to leverage the most from this deceptively simple program, and become a better photographer in the process...if you use iPhoto, buy 'iPhoto:The Missing Manual.' Most highly recommended."
--Elsa Travisano, Newsbreak, Nov 2002
"David Pogue, the creator of the excellent Missing Manual series, has done it again and even better with his July 2002 first edition of 'iPhoto: The Missing Manual' (covering the 1.1.1 version of iPhoto) to produce a 288 page manual that is both witty and standing out by its clarity and lack of nerd language. It is easy reading for the average amateur photographer. The collaboration of the two professional photographers is very noticeable and useful...This book is a very useful manual and I find it a pleasure to read. Its contents far exceed the limited information available via the built-in iPhoto Help program. The book is well organized and its convenient arrangement and extensive index make it easy to locate almost any relevant subject quickly and effectively. A pleasant contrast to some other computer manuals I have read."
--Leo de Heer, chomp.mug.org, August 2002
"If you are an aspiring digital photographer, or just have a lot of digital photos hanging around on your computer, 'iPhoto: The Missing Manual' is for you! "
--Jonathan Gales, MacMerc, September 12, 2002
"In this comprehensive, witty companion to 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' and 'iMovie 2: The Missing Manual,' Pogue Press/O'Reilly gives iPhoto 1.1 the one feature it lacks: a manual. With this guide, Macintosh fans can take their digital photos to the screen, to the Web, to printouts, to hardbound photo books, even to DVDs. And they'll learn how to take iPhoto far beyond its seemingly simple feature list."
--The Designers Bookshelf, August 2002
"Covers all there is to say about iPhoto in a style that is easy to follow and understand. What more could you ask?"
--Roger Bernau, AppleAct, September 2002
"If you are an aspiring digital photographer, or just have a lot of digital photos hanging around on your computer, 'iPhoto The Missing Manual' is for you!"
--Jonathan Gales, MacMerc, September 12, 2002
"A straight-forward, comprehensive, authoritative, and thoroughly user-friendly guide to the free iPhoto software...a superbly written and presented introduction to making the best use of iPhoto ability to create works of art from the footage of a digital camera...'iPhoto; The Missing Manual' is a 'must-have' instructional reference for anyone seeking to make the most of their iPhoto software."
--The Bookwatch, September 2002
"One fantastic compendium of quick and accurate information ...if you have or plan to use a digital camera, get this book!...Be you professional or nimrod, the $25.00 MSRP will buy you much more than just a good read. You'll have a CPU full of grand memories where you want them and in a manner most acceptable to your taste!"
--Charlie Bryan, Mountain Macs, September 2002
Windows XP Professional: The Missing Manual
Media Reviews
"Even if you've used every version of Microsoft Windows since 3.0, you're still likely to be foxed once in a while. You can't turn to the manual because there isn't one--or there hasn't been until now. O'Reilly's excellent range of Missing Manuals includes a thorough guide to Windows XP Professional, which describes just about every aspect of the OS from basics such as using Outlook Express to more complicated troubleshooting techniques and obscure utilities. This title fills the gap between the woefully inadequate leaflet you get with Windows and Microsoft's expensive and technical Resource Kit."
--Simon Edwards, Computer Shopper, October 2003
"This is a thorough and remakably comprehensive text with numerous notes, tips, troubleshotting advice and infrequently asked questions. Where there is cause to criticise Winxp the authors are on the consumer's side-and offer work-arounds to oversome some of its obstinate features...I could not detect any aspect of the WinXP Pro operating system that has been missed. A thorough, padding-free coverage that should be part of every end-user's resources."
--Major Keary, Book News, 2003 No. 4
"Touted as being the true manual that Microsoft should have bundled with its last OS release, this title is a great introductory tool to the world of Windows XP Professional...This book achieves its objectives of making Windows XP easier to use and allowing PC users from all walks of life to harness the full working power of Windows XP Professional. The jargon-free text was a joy to read and use when dealing with a problem within XP."
--Ryan Shaw, "Australian PC World," June 2003
"The latest in the 'Missing Manual' series from O'Reilly. These fill in the blanks found, or rather 'not found,' in the manuals provided by software companies. They add a lot more than that, explaining what's happening and how to change it or delete it, in language that's much clearer than the manuals that come with the products."--Bob Schwabach, On Computer, February, 2003
"If you want to be a master, then O'Reilly missing manuals book is what you want! 'Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual' wasn't written for system administrators or OS theory geeks, but for the novice or budding power user who wants to master the machine and get down to work. Yet, anyone who uses XP Pro (including hardcore techies) will find this new system much easier--and more fun--to digest with this new Missing Manual. This is the crystal-clear, jargon-free book that should have been in the box."
--Richard Brill, Computer Forum, Jan 2003
"A witty and jargon-free guide to what works, what doesn't and what you can and perhaps should do after getting XP Pro...pair it with 'Windows XP Annoyances' and you've got all you need to get the most out of your system."
--Netsurfer Digest, Jan 23, 2003
"The earth clarity, numerous and appropriate illustrations, light-hearted delivery, and comprehensive coverage all coalesce into a welcome--even necessary--addition to the library of any XP user."
--Jim Morrison, North Orange County Computer Club, August 2003
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 5, 2003
Customer Reviews
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition Review
2004-02-07 15:46:01
newton
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual
by David Pogue
I expected this book to target the end-user and in that respect it met my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised when the author would throw in some of the under-the-hood details. Those little details hint at the power of the BSD-based underpinnings of Mac OS X.
The Missing Manual is exactly what it claims to be: the manual that should have been included with a Mac running Mac OS X. It is filled with a ton of good info ranging from very basic to fairly in-depth. The material is well-organized and thoughtfully laid out, making it easy to find what you're looking for.
My biggest gripe with the book is the interjection of Pogue's opinions. I expected some of the elitest Mac attitude, but some of the things Pogue mentions are pure speculation on his part. Very early in the book, he states Apple's motivation for doing things a certain way when I seriously doubt he has any better insight into Apple's reasons than many other Mac fans. On top of that, he goes on to contradict himself later.
This is a great book if you're relatively new to Mac OS X. If you have some experience with this OS, you'll probably want to skip the first part of the book. The first few chapters are very basic and seem to hold more of Pogue's ramblings than the rest of the book.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition Review
2003-04-18 16:40:47
Sergio
Congratulations Mr.Pogue.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition Review
2003-02-25 19:30:45
Ruth Kennedy
David Exceeds Himself!
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition is not the first Missing Manual I've owned, so my expectations were pretty high. I anticpated clear, concise explanations and instructions given with a sense of fun. I expected an exhaustingly detailed index, an extensive "Troubleshooting" section, and several useful appendices. What I got was way more than that. The "Where Did It Go?" and explanation of folder hierarchies and permissions alone were worth the price of the book. In addition to the humor (without being silly) there is a consistent tone of (and I hate to use this buzzword) empowerment. Even the sections on topics I've never understood were clear enough to allow me to accomplish what was necessary in spite of my own mental block.
Being the "geek" (used VERY loosely) in the family means that I better know how to find or fix things for everyone else, and I was apprehensive about the major changes we'd encounter going from 9 to X.2. (Patience with a learning curve is not one of our virtues.) Not only did the Missing Manual overcome my uncertainty about upgrading, but encouraged me to take the plunge to wireless networking. I can not describe how much the separate accounts for each family member, yet the ability to share applications and the iTunes library have streamlined our computer experience. The one family member who had a phobia about computers now uses it daily.
I've used other software manuals, including those written by the developer, and they're generally awful.
If you only buy one OS X.2 manual, make it this one.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition Review
2002-12-05 01:09:02
i.s.moore
It's difficult for me to judge this book because I was bowled over by the clarity, style and organization of the first edition. In any case the 2nd editon was a serious disappointment to me after having read (and thoroughly enjoyed) the first edition...
the book COULD have been much more appealing and interesting for the reader of the first edition if it had been organized it differently; for example, a special section for the differences between os 10.15 and os 10.2....these differences were too embedded in the content to be of any real use to me and THAT's the reason i bought the book!
My suggestion was and still is: make a special edtion for the 2nd time reader (this is the same suggestion i made to mr. pogue in an email!)... with the differences, improvements and disappointments in OS 10.2 (and there are enough, believe me!)
My conclusion: would i have bought it now (after having read 3/4 of the book): NO!
mr. pogues articles about os 10.2 in macuser UK (special edition) were much more informative and interesting than this book!
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition Review
2002-10-24 11:18:31
Richard Lennox
David Pogue comes through (again)!
His first book on OS 10, enabled me to migrate from OS 9 with less pain and more humor than I could have anticipated. As a long-time Mac user (since 1985!) I had become entrenched in its ideosyncrancies (in fact making a living from helping designers and Print shops work with them). OS 10 was not just an upgrade...it was a change of life, and after first installing it, I considered running back to the comfort of OS 9 (where most of my friends and designers still reside). David's writing style, clarity, humor AND thoroughness was my personal friend and tutor through the minefield of OS 10 hell. I read the missing manual chapter by chapter and implemented each nuance as it came up... after a month I was fully converted. It empowered me to actually master the interface, not just to use it. It is actually painful to go back to 9 now.
I eagerly awaited his second version (which covers Jaguar-OS 10.2) and it hasn't disappointed me. Jaguar is a MAJOR upgrade, and even seems to run faster on my old G3 i mac. But the over 150 additions to this version were not on my radar. David again came througth and showed not only what they were, but how to use them (like inkwell) ...but beyond that he has wonderful sidebars that explain how to further take advantage of them and blend them with other aspects of the system.
Hip writer that he is, he has included separate "Where'd it Go?" dictionaries for Mac upgraders as well as for Windows "switchers". He covers the logic of the folder organization for both Mac users and Unix geeks, as well as troubleshooting, Unix Terminal commands, and ichat, ical, .mac. He even shows how to Hack the Mac OS... if you want to. This is truly "the book that should have been in the box"... in keeping with the missing manual's stated goal, and it should reside dog-eared on your desktop- next to your mac, not in the bookshelf. Even if you have the earlier version of the book, once you upgrade to Jaguar, this should be the very next supplement. Even better, buy the book and it will convince you to upgrade to Jaguar ( it even has a handy section on how to do that too)!
Media Reviews
"I would recommend everyone using Mac OS X (whether beginner or long time Mac user) have a copy of this book in his or her library."
--W. J. Moroney, MacMAD, December 2003
"If all you want to know is whether to buy this book--and you do need a manual if you expect to learn how best to use your Mac--, here's the answer: yes."
--Steve Lockwood, Alaskan Apple Users Group, December 2003
"'Mac OS X The Missing Manual, Second Edition' by David Pogue weights in at 700 pages and includes Jaguar and pretty well everything else. Pogue's warm and witty style enlivens what is essentially a text-based manual. And it's all chunked into bearable portions, thumb-tabbed for quick reference with enough visual support to keep you going."
--Keith White, "Australian Macworld," September 2003
"At 712 pages, 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' is a sturdy tome, covering the Desktop, Finder, applications, components, the Unix underpinnings, and much more. Even Mac OS X power users should consider owning a copy of this book. At the very least, you'll want to recommend it to all of your friends and relatives who are still using Mac OS 9, as a gentle introduction to the wonders of Mac OS X."
--Vicki Brown, MacTech, September 2003
"The first item on the shopping list of any Mac user should be a copy of David Pogue's 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual.' The title sums this book up: it's the manual that Apple ought to ship in the box with the operating system."
--"Computer Shopper," July 2003
"If I were to recommend one book for someone wanting to learn OS X effectively, The Missing Manual would be it."
--Graham K Rogers, "Bangkok Post," May 2003
"I frequently get asked what is the best Mac OS X book. The easy answer is David Pogue's 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual,' currently in its second addition. It's hard to beat the combination of helpful information and entertaining prose."
--Charles W. Moore, Applelinks, March 2003
"Bless David Pogue. I don't know the guy personally, but after reading his book 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' I consider him my personal angel...the book comes across as a treasure trove of hidden knowledge. Another subtitle on the book's cover is 'The Book that should have been in the box,' and it's true...an invaluable resource for the new Mac OS X user. This book is almost worth its weight in gold."
--David Cooper, MacDirectory, Spring 2003
"The other day I wanted to make a voice recording to CD on my G4 Powerbook. The Mac OS X HELP (the lifeboat preserver thingy) didn't help, so I called my big brother, the MacGenius. He said, 'Go to www.missingmanuals.com and get this book.' Then he read off a few paragraphs to me. I was hooked. Ordering through O¹Reilly was fast and easy; the book was delivered quickly. Within a day it had saved me from spending $331.00, no kidding! I call that 'cost avoidance'...All in all, this is a must-have book for Mac lovers. It's got stuff you know, stuff you didn't know, and stuff you forgot about."
--Judith Holder, South Mississippi Mac User Group, February 2003
"Whether as a gift or for your own power-user library, Pogue's second "Mac OS X: Missing Manual' is definitely one upgrade worth having."
--Rory Bowman, Computer-Human Interaction Forum of Oregon, May 2003
"Book of the Year"--Fifth Annual Book Bytes Awards for 2002
"All 725 pages are chock full of helps, tidbits, little-known facts and info gleaned from various sources...I have this edition heavily dog-eared...I honestly learned something new every time I picked it up...After reading this book, I felt like I really 'knew' OS X and how to use it effectively...The cover says it all, 'The book that should have been in the box.'"--Robert Pritchett, MacNut, January 2003
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 2003
"The Best of 2002: Staff Favorites, Computing & Internet Books"--Barnes & Noble.com
"This is the bible for OS X users...The 700 pages cover everything you need to know--from the desktop, dock and toolbar to the applications and utilities that come with the OS."
--Bob Brooks, The South Bay Apple Macintosh User Group, July 2003
"The Desktop, applications, file sharing, and troubleshooting are all covered in David Pogue's easy, breezy style that makes sense of the most complex concepts. The best part of this comprehensive and comfortable book, however, is the index where you can locate information on any aspect of OS X. For most of us, that's the best place to start."
--Desktop Connections, December 2002
"written in the clear, precise, no BS tone that's Pogue's patented style."
--Joe Farace, ShutterBug, December 2002
"The amazing thing about this book is you can read from cover to cover or just use it as a reference book. For those fairly new to OS X, the book is very comprehensive and easy to read. Those already familiar with OS X will be pleased to know, with over 700 pages of material, it makes an excellent reference book. I have used it in this manner on several occasions, and found it easy to quickly locate information on the most obscure of topics.
Mac Guild Grade: An 'Outstanding'. A 'Must Have' for anyone using OS X!"
--Craig Bjorkman, MacGuiuld, December 2002
"O'Reilly computer books have long been the gold standard for alpha geeks, from the 'Nutshell' quick-reference series to detailed tomes on PERL, emacs (the Unix text editor) or packet-switching. Imagine my delight a few years ago when O'Reilly began publishing the amazing Pogue Press Missing Manual series of 'books that should have been in the box.' The 'missing manuals' are beginning computer books emphatically NOT for dummies. With crystalline tables of contents, clear structure and deep indices, they provide accessible intelligence for adults who know how to read. Witty and irreverent without being cheeky, the missing manuals provide a thorough overview for beginners with precise technical detail for dippers: those who occasionally grab a book to dip in for a nugget of knowledge...whether as a gift or for your own power-user library, Pogue's 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' is one upgrade worth having."
--Rory Bowman, Portland Mac Users Group, December 2002
"With characteristic Pogue-power, you'll find an encyclopedic wealth of styructured detail leavened with the human touch."
--Tony Reveaux, Film/Tape World, November 2002
"Reading a book on an operating system can be extremely boring, or extremely entertaining. It takes a writer the caliber of David Pogue to make a book on an operating system interesting enough to read cover to cover. When you read a Pogue book you know that you're going to learn, but you're also gonna laugh. That's the secret to a great techie book, and Pogue is best of the best...But, just in case you only want one book on OS X then by all means go with The Missing Manual, is the most comprehensive without being too geeky, the most entertaining without being glib, is just right, like Goldie Locks' Porridge."
--John Manzione, MacNet 2.0, November 2002
"You'll soon know your way around your Mac with 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Second Edition'--a clear and comprehensive guide to the operating system and its extras, with coverage of iTools and running applications and utilities. Miss it, miss out."
--Melannie Pring, amazon.uk Delivers general computing, November 2002
Reviews From Previous Edition
"For those of you that have been holding off upgrading to Mac OS X, now is a great time to do so. Grabbing a copy of this Missing Manual will aid you immensely in discovering all the great new features and expanded capabilities OS X offers you."
--Fred Sheffler, Apple Corps of Dallas, October 2002
"invaluable."
--Charles Wright, The Edge, October 2002
"The 'Missing Manual' is clearly written and comprehensive. But what sets it apart is that it's also a touch irreverent. It tells you about the features in Office that don't really work, such as auto-summary, which can't, despite Microsoft's claims, really summarize a document in a meaningful way. That attitude also makes 'Missing Manual' fun to read, not that you'd want to sit down with it like 'War and Peace' for a Sunday, although it's almost as long. The real selling point is 'Missing Manual's' usefulness. It's full of revealing secrets. You wouldn't know it from Microsoft's own literature, but today you can find a keyboard equivalent for nearly every feature in Office's suite of Word, Excel, Entourage, and PowerPoint. All of them are listed here...to unlock the real power of Office X, you need 'Missing Manual.'"
--Charles Haddad, Business Week Online, October 2002
"The Mac is in massive innovation mode these days, and is likely to remain so. That's why their 'Switch from your PC' campaign is working. OS X is quite different from what came before. Really grasping its capabilities is important for keeping up with dazzling new stuff coming along every month. I recommend getting and studying 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual,' from O'Reilly, and then take the time to explore. You'll be rewarded."
--Stewart Brand, Whole Earth, August 2002
"A more appropriately named book on Macintosh OS X has yet to be published. If you plan on using OS X, you better plan on purchasing a copy of David Pogue's publication from O'Reilly. It has become my companion for my Macintosh, and it may be the best purchase you make this year."
--Jerry Brasseur, Saginaw Macintosh Users Group News, July 2002
"David Pogue has done the unthinkable! This computer guru can write and make learning an operating system, Mac OS X, a laughing matter. Literally. This book is a good thing. Really! Part of his mega-hit Missing Manual Series, Pogue pulls it off and makes OS X newbie laugh and feel better about their total inadequacies. His writing style is zany, without being overly nerdy. Best of all, you'll find the answers to your most mind-boggling question about OS X in this book. If you're navigating OS X, or you plan to, Mac OS X: The Missing Manual deserves a spot on your bookshelf. Admit it, you're a newbie or you're a former Mac OS 9 who's clueless about OS X. You'll want this book--David Pogue's point is well taken. We truly aren't in Kansas anymore. Got it? Get it now!"
--The Review Zone, July 2002
"Be glad it's not in the box; Apple never would have done it as well. The vacuum that is technology documentation has been filled quite nicely in this case with 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual,' David Pogue's well-organized, browseable, readable paperback that--at 583 pages--is larger than the box that contains OS X itself--his style is consistently light, accessible and disarmingly authoritative. Pogue immerses himself in the subject at hand, elbows deep into the muck and mire of a program's innards, so we can learn just what we need, just when we need it, keeping our own hands clean in the process...in 21 chapters and six appendices covering Mac OS X 10.1, Pogue breaks down the incredibly complex marriage of UNIX, Darwin, Quartz, Aqua, Classic and The Dock into remarkably palatable bite-sized chunks. Interspersed throughout the book are sidebars with anecdotes, tips, frequently asked questions, power users' clinics, and thoughtful, well-sized screenshots...With Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, David Pogue secures his place as the standard by which other technical books are judged. And with the dramatic differences between Mac OS X and the Classic Mac operating system, 'Mac OS X: TMM' is a must-have book not just for new Mac users, but grizzled old 'Power Users' as well. Come to think of it, we may need it more than they do."
--Chuck La Tournous, RandomMaccess.com, July 2002
"As a newly converted Mac user I found myself lacking some of the basic understandings of the new hybrid OS X. Armed with some basic Unix understanding I installed OS X and found myself able to move around the system in the Terminal, but not in finder. This O'Reilly book made all the difference in the world. This may sound silly, but I found the lists of keyboard and mouse shortcuts to be the most helpful chapter. The descriptions of the back end of the OS was also a great help, folder tree structures, and where the OS puts certain system files helped me figure out OS X. Thanks O'Reilly."
--Dave Tabakin, Williamsburg Macromedia User Group, June 2002
"Here is a book that truly lives up to its purpose...as the author of this great publication says, it is truly 'the book that should have been in the box.'"
--Lynn E. Poos, Silicon Summit, June 2002
"The book bills itself as 'a missing manual--the book that should have been in the box.' It is indeed that--it fills a significant need as Mac OS X has virtually no written documentation...in my view this book is a fabulous resource for anyone interested in or using OS X, and could not have been done better. It really underbills itself as a mere missing manual. All in all, this is one outstanding reference work and well worth the $34.95 price tag."
--John Suda, Apple Cider User Group, June 2002
"This is the first book I reach for when I have a Mac OS X question or problem. Most highly recommended."
--Elsa Travisano, News Break, Macintosh Users Group, Oneonta NY, June 2002
"Before you do anything else, I suggest you rush out and buy a copy of 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' by David Pogue...This book covers all the stuff that Apple leaves out of its skimpy 30-page introduction to Mac OS X."
--Charles Stross, Computer Shopper, June 2002
"I really think that the diehard Mac users will have as much harder time getting used to the new look and feel to OS X...getting this book has made the transition easier for me...I highly recommend this book for the novice as well as the more seasoned Mac user."
--Virginia Chilcote, MouseBytes, Bay Area Macintosh Users Group (FL), May 2002
"Mr. Pogue's writing style is evocative of an oral discussion with a knowledgeable friend or neighbor. Even the most technical aspects are approached in easily understood terms and examples. There are many illustrations throughout the book that greatly aid the reader in grasping the points raised in the text. Chapters and segments are broken down into easily read blocks. Rare is a section that is over 30 pages in length, which makes it a good read for folks whose time may be constrained. You can pick up valuable information even on a lunch break...Under the cover is a well written, easy -to -read book that moves along faster than any other computer book I've ever read. The suggestions and tips are insightful. The opinions expressed, and they are expressed throughout the book, add character and depth to the material...This is one of those books that belongs on everyone's bookshelf who is thinking about MacOS X. This book WILL come in handy as you learn and explore Apple's new operating system."
--Monte Ferguson, Grand Rapids Area Microcomputers Users Group, May 2002
"A superb grounding in the system--from installation to fonts to customization."
--MacWorld, May 2002
"David Pogue is one of my favorite Mac writers, easy to follow, pleasant writing style, and by God he knows what's he talking about when he writes...I spent 12 hours with it, locked up in my living room and read the entire book. I learned so much about version 10.1 that I didn't have a clue about. And I've been reading everything I could about OS X...if you buy this book and read it you will not only love OS X but you will be able to use it and help others use it with the utmost efficiency. And I truly mean that. This book that's the guesswork out of OS X. Plus, it is really fun to read...I can't think of a better Mac author working right now than David Pogue, and this book is one of his best...An excellent price, and excellent book by an excellent writer."
--Rocky, MacNetv2, May 7, 2002
"Here is a book that truly lives up to its purpose--to teach the Mac OS X system to the Macintosh user, be he or she new to platform or a true Unix geek. As the cover of this great publication says, it is truly 'The book that should have been in the box'....In fact it is possibly the finest publication I have seen on Mac OS X, and I have reviewed several of them...I can say without reservation that, if you were to buy just one book for reference on Mac OS X, 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' is your best choice."
--Lynn E. Poos, Silicon Mountain Macintosh User Group, May 2002
"This is probably the best reference manual I have seen for a Macintosh operating system, and it is among the best of reference manuals for any type operating system in general."
--Clark Morledge, Williamsburg Macromedia User Group, May 15, 2002
"What is the saying about better to light a single candle than to curse the dark? It really applies here. If you need Mac OS X or are planning to use Mac OS X, you need this book. Otherwise you'll spend a lot of time cursing the dark."
--Space Port Users Group, April 2002
"These books {the Missing Manual Series} are actually better than 90% of the manuals I ever used, which generally seemed to either be (a) translated by a bad computer program from Japanese, even when written originally in English, or (b) boring, dry, and a torment to read. Pogue's books are written in an easy to read style and contain way more information than those old manuals ever did. 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' is no exception. It is packed with information about OS X, not just the Operating System itself, but also information on how to use the various free programs that come with X. This is great because not only is there no manual from Apple telling you anything much, but the online Help is, to put it charitably, inconvenient to use and awfully skimpy in the amount of information it provides. If you want to use OS X you are going to need to buy a book--I recommend Pogue's book without reservation to anyone who is seriously interested in learning how to use the latest, greatest, 'insanely great' Mac operating system."
--Avrum Lapin, chompmug.org, April 2002
"This book will save you a lot of pain and suffering moving from Mac Classic or Unix to Mac OS X."
--Brian D. Foy, The Perl Review, April 2002
"'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' is the next best thing to learning from a knowledgeable, and patient friend."
--Jack Valancy, North Coast Macintosh Users' Group Newsletter, March, 2002
"The book is written with the mindset of a 'manual' for MacOSX, as these days less and less software in general, are shipping with printed manuals. However, the tone of the writing is light and Pogue has some good taste humour and at the right doses. All in all, reading the book was very relaxing, interesting and not boring at all."
--Eugenia Loli-Queru, OSNews.com, March 12, 2002
"I'm becoming quite attached to my Mac after about 10 days of doing most everything on this platform. One thing I failed to mention is that OS X users will want to get their hands on a very useful book by David Pogue, a multifaceted gentleman who knows his way around a Mac OS X. 'The Missing Manual' is in bookstores for $25 from O'Reilly (www.missingmanual.com). The book offers an expert guide to the ins and outs of the operating system. It told me--when nothing else could--how to get the time display in the menu bar to work on a 12-hour (a.m./p.m.) clock instead of a 24-hour one, and 'Appendix A' will help old Mac hands find out where everything in the old 'Apple menu' of System 9 (and earlier) can be found under OS X. If, like me, you plan to be serious about using the Mac and its newest operating system, you should be serious about getting this book in order to save aggravation and grief. I highly and happily recommend it."
--Mark Kellner, The Washington Times, March 25, 2002
"full of good guidance and subtle humor, combined to make it an easy read for both the novice and experienced Mac user. I have several Mac OS X books in my library, and I rank this as the best of the lot."
--Fred Sheffler, Apple Corps of Dallas, Applegram, March 2002
"Who else would have thought to use playground analogies to describe multitasking? David Pogue gets away with this and other irreverent humor all in the name of helping you learn to use Mac OS X efficiently and proficiently. You'll want this book if you're a long-time Mac OS 9 user."
--http://www.apple.com
"Fortunately for Mac OS X users, this documentation 'vacuum' has been filled by David Pogue's 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual.' David's book contains almost 600 pages of essential information about OS X--whether you are a first-time Mac user or a seasoned Mac veteran, 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' will make your life easier while learning/using OS X!...I find David's writing style to be quite engaging and the content of the book to be clearly explained; at the risk of sounding like a computer geek, for me reading the book was a fun way to discover and explore the powerful capabilities that OS X has added to my Mac. Even if reading an especially well-written book about Apple's latest-generation operating system isn't your idea of a fun project, this book is an invaluable reference resource."
--Steve Becker, MacEase
"Having been a Mac user since 1985, I figured that learning Mac OS X would be a walk in the park. But OS X has many fundamental differences from OS 9, and attempting to use it without a reference manual is not recommended. As usual Apple has left it to third parties to write this manual. David Pogue has once again risen to the challenge, with another in the 'Missing Manual' series. At under $20 this book is a bargain. I learned about many hidden features of OS X that I was not aware of...Pogue's style is as usual easy to read, chatty without being obnoxious, and the book is well illustrated. Pogue takes advantage of his non-Apple status to make the book more than a 'manual'--he offers excellent advice to get around the issues that the Apple engineers failed to tackle...I recommend it."
--Doug Noble, MacBookshop
"Pogue has a real knack for elevating competent beginners into savvy users. And frankly, all computer books should be designed and organized this well."
--Andy Ihnatko, Chicago Sun-Times, March 19, 2002
"the next best thing to learning from a knowledgeable and patient friend."
--Jack Valancy, Mouse Tales, March 2002
"an expert guide to the ins and outs of the operating system...If, like me, you plan to be serious about using the Mac and its newest operating system, you should be serious about getting this book in order to save aggravation and grief. I highly and happily recommend it."
--Mark A. Kellner, Washington Times, 3/25/2002
"a thorough and highly enjoyable introduction to Mac OS X."
--Apple eNews, March 2002
"There is a series of 'Missing Manuals' which are so good , I believe Apple should include them with every new macintosh. This is no hype."
--David L. Davis, macnj.org, Feb 2002
"MACINTOSH HOW-TO Book fills the bill for befuddled Mac users. Tell a brand new buyer that the Macintosh OS X operating system is easy to use and you might get a compact disc shoved up your nostril. Apple's beautiful new computer operating system is a joy to use only after you have figured out how to use it. It is vastly different than earlier Mac operating systems and utterly alien to the Windows way of doing things. Enter David Pogue with a fat but simple book called 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' ($24.95, Pogue Press/O'Reilly) that makes up for the fact that one can shell out $2,000 and even more for a Macintosh computer and get only the scantest of written instructions."
--James Coates, Chicago Tribune, February 18, 2002
"All in all, this is one of the most painless and easiest ways to learn the Macintosh there is. I highly recommend it."
--Timothy Arends, Bytelines, Feb 2002
"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-community."
--Emazing Tip World, Feb 25, 2002
"Like most other hardware and software makers, Apple takes a minimalist approach to printed documentation. The packaged instructions that ship with each computer are enough to get users started, but usually omit more than they include. That's a shame, because with Mac OS X, Apple is shipping one of the most powerful operating systems ever-( Pogue) recently released a book, appropriately titles "Mac OSX The Missing Manual". It works on many levels--a thorough reference to Macintosh OS X for beginner and upgraders as well as an excellent primer on the capabilities of Unix. Pogue also doesn't shy away form command-line tricks, and he does so in an informative way. Users can see for themselves the freedom granted by this new operating system. Plus, it's a lot more fun to read than the online documentation."
--Matthew Fordahl, Associated Press
"After the first 7 pages of this book, I had already learned more than I had in other books about Mac OS X--This book is way better than the manual that might have come with Mac OS X would have been. If you need a book on OS X, this is the one I would recommend to anyone. And you might want to read this cover to cover rather than just use it for reference."
--Linda Cameron, The Finder: The Newsletter for the Mid-Columbia Macintosh User Group, Feb 2002
"the tone of the writing is light and Pogue has some good taste humour and at the right doses. All in all, reading the book was very relaxing, interesting, and not boring at all."
--Eugenia Loli-Queru, OS News, March 2002
"If I were to pick one Mac OS X book for an extended stay on a desert island, 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' would be the one...The primary reason I enjoyed 'Mac Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' much more than the other OS X books I have read is that the book is simply fun to read. Pogue consistently writes with a light wit, yet he does not indulge in the sappy humor found in the '(fill in the blank) for Dummies' series. I learned something on almost every page, even though I consider myself an OS X power-user. Even the sections I did not need to read were interesting, and I felt little desire to skip ahead to chapters covering more advanced territory. Being able to hold the reader's attention is one mark of a good technical writer...If you are going to purchase one book on Mac OS X, buy this one...If you read it all, you'll know 95% of what you will ever need for beginner to power-user (but not Unix geek) level usage. As of this writing, David Pogue's 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' is the best OS X book for your dollar. MacMice Rating: 5 out of 5."
--David Weeks, MYMac.com, Feb 25, 2002
"David Pogue, a faithful MacUser, provides a trustworthy guide to OS X 10.1"
--Chris Goodman, Listmania! Mac OS X Programming and more, amazon.com, Feb 2002
"lucid and concise."
--Major Keary, BookNews, Feb 2002
"A must-have resource for all migrating or new Mac OS X users."
--Netsurfer Digest Jan 11, 2002
"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."
--David Wall, amazon.co.uk, Jan 2002
"I strongly recommend obtaining a book to tackle mastering Mac OSX...I can give an unqualified thumbs up on this one."
--Peter Blum, Imacination, Jan 2002
"David Pogue's 'Mac OS X The Missing Manual' is honest, thorough and to the point. It really does cover aspects of using OS X that are essential but may not be immediately obvious -- even to experienced Mac users, such as how to change the background color of Finder folders and what accounts in Unix are all about. But his treatment is not merely descriptive, certainly not perfunctory --it does not try to cover everything. It credits the reader with knowing the importance of being able, for example, to understand and manipulate file types and creator codes; it then sets out to lead him/her through the necessary steps to make the most of such aspects of the Mac's flexibility. In other words, the book really is a manual, something to accompany what you've got and use it to the full, but a manual that concentrates on the new, the obscure and the useful! In a book somewhat shorter than the other guides, 'The Missing Manual' has made some compromises. More space is devoted, for example, to the bundled software than to, say, Darwin as a technology. But the breadth of chapters is such that you get not only a well-selected taster of where to go next and a sense of the power you have under your fingers, but also a good set of appendices on all sorts of appropriate and reliable resources. A very good choice."
-- Mark Sealey, thinksecret.com, January 14, 2002
"The Missing Manual series are great books that everyone should have if you own the software...if you buy this book and read it you will not only love OS X but you will be able to use it and help others use it with the utmost efficiency. And I truly mean that. This book that's the guesswork out of OS X. Plus it is really fun to read (if you have read David before you'll understand why)... can't think of a better Mac author working right now than David Pogue, and this book is one of his best. You can buy it through Amazon for less than $20. An excellent price, and excellent book by an excellent writer. Nuff said."
--Rocky, www.macnet2.com, Jan 2002
"David Pogue's 'Mac OS X The Missing Manual' is honest, thorough and to the point. It really does cover aspects of using OS X that are essential but may not be immediately obvious -- even to experienced Mac users, such as how to change the background color of Finder folders and what accounts in Unix are all about...A very good choice."
--Mark Sealey, www.thinksecret.com, Jan 14, 2002
"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."
--David Wall, amazon.com, Dec 2001
"contains almost 600 pages of essential information about OS X -- whether you are a first-time Mac user or a seasoned Mac veteran, 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual' will make your life easier while learning/using OS X! ...I find David's writing style to be quite engaging and the content of the book to be clearly explained; at the risk of sounding like a computer geek, for me reading the book was a fun way to discover and explore the powerful capabilities that OS X has added to my Mac. Even if reading an especially well-written book about Apple's latest-generation operating system isn't your idea of a fun project, this book is an invaluable reference resource. This book does an excellent job of filling the documentation void left by Apple, and I highly recommend this book to users of OS X."
--Stephen Becker, Macease, Jan 2001
Customer Reviews
iPhoto 2: The Missing Manual Review
2003-08-08 09:20:25
Chris Wronski - MacUsers User Group
Review - iPhoto 2 - Text Format - No images
_______________________________________________________
Name - "iPhoto 2 This Missing Manual"
Author - David Pogue, Joseph Schorr, Derrick Story
Category - Book
Publisher - O'Reilly
Price - $24.95 USD
MacUsers Rating - 5 out of 5
Pros: Covers every possible thing you can think about iPhoto
Cons: None
________________________________________________________
iPhoto 2 is a very basic application to organize, edit, and publish your photos from Apple but if you want to unleash the real power of iPhoto 2 you need to get this book. iPhoto 2 The Missing Manual covers everything you could possibly think of about iPhoto 2. When I first got this book I thought "A 336 page book about iPhoto!?" I didn't think you can write so much about the simple application but when I started reading this book I found so many things that I had not know about before. This book covers everything about iPhoto, real basics, how to organize your photos, everything about enhancing and editing, presenting, and includes many tips and tricks. One of the really cool things about this book is that it features about 100 pages of lessons on how to take good pictures and also has a chapter about buying a good digital camera. The book also has some cool AppleScript tricks you can use in iPhoto and features a lot of information about publishing. It has information on how to publish to the web, archive to CD or DVD, make screen savers (Screen Effects), export to QuickTime, iMovie, iDVD, and the iPhoto Photo Book. For publishing to the web it even has a chapter on how to design your site, which is really great for newbies. So if you like iPhoto and would like to do more with it iPhoto 2 The Missing Manual is the book for you, it really is the book that should have been included in the box. Also make sure to check out the discounts section on the MacUsers website to find out how you can get this book from O'Reilly 20% off, which is a really great deal for this book.
Review written by MacUsers Member.
iPhoto 2: The Missing Manual Review
2003-08-07 09:39:48
John Suda Apple Cider User Group member
Book Review: “iPhoto2: The Missing Manual”
by John Suda
Apple Computer markets a concept they call “the digital hub” representing its integrated hardware and software combinations, especially the iLife package (iPhoto2, iTunes, iChat, iMovie, and iDVD). Beyond Apple’s traditionally elegant and harmonious hardware-software integration, the iLife programs are brilliantly designed to allow users to easily enjoy important non-computer things in their lives - photos, music, home and family and recreational video, etc. - while benefitting from the enormous background power of computer applications.
With iPhoto2, for example, images (scanned or from a digital camera) can be easily imported into the computer, viewed, printed, burned to CD or DVD, emailed, posted to websites, or composed in professional quality albums with only a handful of clicks. Other than acquiring the images themselves, iPhoto2 and the Mac can facilitate an enormous depth and breadth of enjoyment of photo images without great effort or computer knowledge. The iLife idea is to have the computer aspects work seamlessly and near sub-consciously in the background allowing the user to enjoy his or her photos.
In essence, Apple has designed and created a hardware-software combination which, in itself, does virtually everything a non-professional needs to fully enjoy photo imaging. All of the iLife applications are designed with the “hub” concept - put all the tools needed into one easily learned and implemented application; - in other words, think of what people need and give that to them in an integrated and elegantly-designed package.
As easy as the iLife applications are to use, like all computer aspects, ease of use is relative - there is no real “easy” computer or application - it’s an issue of something only more or less easy to use than another thing. Consequently, there is still a need for focused documentation and instruction to allow users to better and more fully utilize the features and power of the applications. This is where “iPhoto2: The Missing Manual” becomes useful. “iPhoto2” is part of the acclaimed “Missing Manual” series published by Pogue Press/O’Reilly & Associates, Inc. Like all of the other “Missing Manuals” it is a comprehensive, systematic, well-written paper manual where Apple provides none.
Whether intentionally designed, or not, “iPhoto2” mimics the “hub” concept - bringing together into one elegant unit all the information and tools needed to productively enjoy digital imagery. “iPhoto2” contains five parts - an opening section on how to select and buy a digital camera, and sections on
how to use a digital camera, iPhoto2 basics, how to create and produce photo projects like slideshows, prints, web galleries, photo CDs, etc., and a section on how to take advantage of specialized iPhoto2 features like making screensavers and desktop images and using Applescript. Also included is a separate set of appendices about trouble shooting, a menu-by-menu description of iPhoto2 features and commands, and a small section describing where to find additional digital photo resources.
The trio of authors are David Pogue, noted writer, NY Times computer columnist, and wit; Joseph Schorr, established Macworld writer and author of “Macworld MacSecrets”; and Derrick Story, author of “The Digital Photos Pocket Guide” (which was reviewed here favorably a number of months ago).
This book is structured into two overarching themes - as an iPhoto2 manual and as basic instruction in near-professional quality photography. Overlapping some material from “The Digital Pocket Guide”, part one of this book covers basic digital camera concepts: resolution, memory cards, batteries, controls, etc. It then continues with guides on image composition and tips and tricks on how to obtain good quality photos in a large set of situations: portraits, travel, sports, night scenes, and the like. It does no good to have the ability to easily view, print, and e-mail bad photos. Learn how to take a good shot. These sections of the book will help a lot.
The iPhoto2 parts describe how to get your “good” images into the application, how iPhoto2 is structured on the hard drive with its designated Library, for example, and its organizing concepts - “Albums” and “Rolls.” Other application features like editing, copying, and archiving images are well- explained and detailed.
The most interesting chapters are 7-12 detailing how to get quality and efficient production from the program.Features like the “One-click Slideshow” and how to make Quicktime movies from a folder of images are highlighted.
All in all, this is another well-done publication from Pogue/O’Reilly.
“iPhoto2” is published by Pogue Press/O’Reilly & Associates, Inc., 2003; 336 pages, including index; $24.95. More information is available at www.oreilly.com/catalog/iphoto2. As usual, CIDER members can get a 20% discount.
iPhoto 2: The Missing Manual Review
2003-07-17 06:47:47
Mrs. O'Brien
What a great book! I'm like a Jack-in-the-Box; something on the written page jumps out at me and I have to go to the computer to try it out. Thank you for making iPhoto 2 easy for an old person.
Media Reviews
"Can you imagine a software manual that makes you feel smart, not dumb? David Pogue's iPhoto 2: The Missing Manual does just that. It's written in a way that's easy to understand without being condescending. The straightforward style is well organized, sometimes humorous and always informative."
--Cynthia Joy, Lower East Side Mac Unix Users Group, January 2004
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596005067/%20qid=1070166784/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-6703125-8277716?v=glance&s;=books
"All in all, this Pogue Press/O'Reilly book is a "must-have" for anyone who is into digital photography and has iPhoto."
--Dan Bellack, Peninsula Apple Users Group, December 2003
"Another excellent title in the Missing Manual series covers iPhoto 2, which has a number of improvements and new features...These [Missing Manual] texts are great examples of user documentation: plenty of detail, information easy to find, easy to read, and text supported by useful illustrations."
--Major Keary, AUSOM News, September 2003
"The book is peppered with useful information and tips that take you beyond the level that most of us discovered when we ran and used the program. The authors have also provided some marvelous explanations of what is going on, the 'why' as well as the 'what.' The book is well written with a readable, light, almost witty style that somehow deceives the reader as to the depth of the material being covered. It is only when I reflected back on how much the book taught me that I realised how well it had done the job."
--Tony Williams, slashdot.org, August 2003
http://books.slashdot.org/books/03/07/30/1826204.shtml?tid=107&tid;=152&tid;=185&tid;=187
"If you want to integrate your digital images into ongoing production planning, design and management, then the 338-page 'iPhoto 2: The Missing Manual' will provide all the answers. The authors start with digital photography basics, from equipment choices to lighting and special effects, and move on to finer technical details for file formats when importing and exporting, editing or customizing album and library organization."
--Tony Reveaux, "Film/Tape World," August 2003
"If you want to unleash the real power of iPhoto 2 you need to get this book. 'iPhoto 2 The Missing Manual' covers everything you could possibly think of about iPhoto 2. MacUsers Rating--5 out of 5."
--MacUsers User Group, August 2003
"'iPhoto2' is part of the acclaimed 'Missing Manual' series published by Pogue Press/O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. Like all of the other 'Missing Manuals' it is a comprehensive, systematic, well-written paper manual where Apple provides none."
--John Suda, Apple Cider User Group, August 2003
"'iPhoto 2: The Missing Manual' is targeted at the non-geek mainstream user who may be new to the digital photography world...I have yet to read a Missing Manual book that left me unsatisfied. 'iPhoto 2: The Missing Manual' is a welcome addition to the field, and is the best help book on iPhoto 2 currently available. 5 out of 5."
--Davd Weeks, MyMac.com, June 2003
http://www.mymac.com/weeks/iphoto2missing_6.19.03.shtml
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing
Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 2003
"'iPhoto 2: The Missing Manual' gives both the beginner and advanced user critical information for taking digital pictures as well as editing the photos...If you're like me, I use a basic set of tools but ignore some of the more powerful features. This guide will expand the usual boundaries that we impose on ourselves. As with all of Pogue's books, his authoritative and humorous explanations of complex activities is most welcomed. If you use a digital camera, this book is a must!!"
--Brian Ogilvie, North Coast Macintosh Users' Group, August 2003
Reviews From Previous Edition
"If you are going to use iPhoto, you need a missing manual."
--Joan O'Brien, NCMUG News, February 2003
iMovie 3 & iDVD: The Missing Manual
Customer Reviews
iMovie 3 & iDVD: The Missing Manual Review
2003-08-26 03:18:08
Jim Hill
As usual for the Missing Manual series, this is an excellent book. Beginning with the basics of how to choose a camera and proceeding through some of the two software packages' fancier features, the readable style keeps the staggering amount of information presented from seeming overwhelming to the reader.
They take a one-star knock, though, because I'm a credit where credit is due kind of guy and there's nothing on the cover or promotional material to indicate that the iDVD portion of the book was written by Erica Sadun, not David Pogue.
iMovie 3 & iDVD: The Missing Manual Review
2003-08-08 16:55:37
Blair Hardman
"Pogue's new iMovie manual reads better than a Grisham novel"
The only problem I had with this manual was that I sat up in bed until 4:00 AM reading it, and then I couldn’t wait to get into my studio in the morning to get back on the program.
Pogue’s writing is engaging, concise, accurate, irreverent and very funny. And he leaves "trim handles" - little bits of knowledge on each side of the subject that you didn’t know you needed, but would come in handy later.
Media Reviews
"A practical tutorial-style manual that covers techniques in 'filming,' editing, and packaging digital movies. Comprehensive, good technical depth, and well-presented."
--Major Keary, Ausom News, February 2004
"Pogue offers you three things: a grounding in professional, filming and editing techniques; an iMovie manual covering each feature in depth; and a Missing Manual for iDVD3...Thorough, readable and bursting with tidbits of expert knowledge, this Missing Manual is ideal for those who want to stay within iMovie's spacious comfort Zone but still produce professional results."
--Keith White, Australian Macworld, November 2003
"Luke Skywalker needed Yoda and his light saber to defeat the Empire. For the next Blair Witch Project, you just need a Mac and this book."
--The Technologer, November 2003
http://www.thetechnologer.com/review.0.html.20.html
"This book will help you conquer every aspect of movie making with your Mac, from shooting through editing to final production on DVD. It will increase your efficiency and help you deal with all the hazards that stop you from completing your projects. Despite the amount of detail presented, it's captivating, entertaining and enjoyable to read." Mac Guild Grade: A+
--Diane Love, The Mac Guild, October 2003
"I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to advance their movie making skills working with iDVD or just get started working with iDVD. 'iMovie 3 & iDVD' gets 5 AMUGs out of 5! This book is a wealth of information. iDVD has created a new generation of movie makers just like the LaserWriter created a revolution in desktop printing. Now we need to learn how to use these tools with taste. This missing manual goes a long way toward helping me reach that goal."
--Michael Bean, Arizona Macintosh Users Group, October 2003
http://www.amug.org/amug-web/html/amug/reviews/articles/oreilly/idvd.html
"I once again find myself recommending a 'Missing Manual' to everyone. While catering to the beginner, this book goes deep enough that all but the most long-term user of these two pieces of software will find something to learn in this volume."
--Tony Williams, slashdot.org, September 2003
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/09/02/1251246
"I had produced a 'beginner' project with these two products before getting the book. While doing that work, I'd had about a half-dozen nagging questions about the how and why of these products. I got them *all* answered by leafing through this book for about 10 minutes. It's a book I wish had been available before I'd started the project. I really like David's combination of a conversational style backed by a comprehensive wealth of knowledge...Highly recommended."
--Amazon.com Customer Review, August 2003
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596005075/
"Everything you need to know about iMovie 3 and more. Essential reading-and a Manual that Apple would no doubt be very proud of."
--"MacFormat," June 2003
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 2003
Customer Reviews
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
2002-03-13 06:04:10
Bruce Gilliland
After spending two days on the web unsuccessfully looking for information on how to create automatic bookmarks in DOC/PDB files for my Palm, I found this book at the bookstore. Within five minutes, I had my answer. Sometimes, the old-fashioned way still works best -- when you can't find it on the internet, read a book!
Just one question now that the book is almost three years old: When will we see the Third Edition to cover all the changes in the past three years?
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
2002-01-21 08:20:21
Gary Wegener
Great book; my only problem now is I have a new computer with Windows ME and get error messages when trying to install programs from the CD to the desktop, to load into the Palm Pilot. Any chance of support for ME?
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
2001-05-01 13:04:30
Simon Biickert
I bought this book at the same time as my first Palm, an m105. I was amazed with the quantity of information that was presented in a very readable fashion: I read it cover-to-cover in two days. What sold me on the book, though, was its attention to Macintosh-specific features and issues. I finally understand what it means when a Palm software developer says their software requires Windows 95... it doesn't.
A great book, worth the Cdn$47.
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
2000-11-29 09:23:49
A. Caruso
I thought it was a great book that helps even the experienced piloteer become more familar with their palm. Although the software on the CD is dated with old versions of software, it does give links for updated ones. What do you expect, it takes time for a book to get to print. Anyway, the compilation of software was great. Wish it had some of the newer programs out there but overall pretty happy. Lots of good tips and tricks!
I agree with the other reviewer about the palm Emulator software on the CD. I could not get it to work either. Sounds like a cool tool though if it worked. I also sent an e-mail to the author about this complaint before even reading that he did not reply to your email. Hope we can find a solution to make it work.
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
2000-11-03 14:29:25
Stacey Donahue
Great resource. Well put together. However, I found some things frustrating.
Mr. Pogue includes his email address but doesn't respond. The Palm Emulator
included on the CD seems like a cool tool, too bad I couldn't get it to work.
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
2000-06-26 10:26:05
Sean Wood
I concur - I looked at a number of different titles relating to the palm before deciding on this one - and I haven't been disappointed. The author is obviously a palm devotee and it shows, consequently the book comes across as having been written by
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
2000-05-20 07:07:55
Mark Wilden
This is a typical O'Reilly book.
And that's about the highest praise there is!
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
1999-08-05 00:00:00
David W. Murphy
I bought my first Palm Pilot when they first came
out.I have bought a number of books and some of
them good. This is the best one to date. It is
full of usefull information. The included CD is
great.The catlog program lets you browse the 3100
programs by catagory and then shows screen shots
of the PamlPilot. You can link to the authors page
or add the program to be installed at your next
HotSync. Thanks to David Pogue for a great book.
I highly recommend it.
David W. Murphy
Systems Analyst
Arkansas State University
dmurphy@brook.asumh.edu
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Review
1998-09-01 00:00:00
J. Tormos
I wholeheartedly agree with the other glowing review currently on this post. The level of greatness of this work is almost preposterous, made yet greater by the stupendous CD-ROM that is included, with an incredibly user-friendly interface that shows you a screenshot of the program in question, along with a concise but informative blurb about it. This is likely the very best computer book I've ever read on any topic, and on virtually all counts. That's not just lip service -- though I already owned ver. 1 of the book (which had 900 apps on the CD), I couldn't turn away over 2,000 more in the 2nd ver -- in addition to the new data on the Palm V, the VII, etc. The book is a steal at its published price ($25, if I recall).
Media Reviews
"This book tells you all you ever wanted to know about PalmPilots, and then some...This book will be a great resource manual for any one that has a PalmPilot, whether they just got it or have had it for a while."
--Bernard Miller, CCPCUG, Dec 2002
"a handy book" --David Bloom, Los Angeles Daily News, September 16, 2000
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, 2nd Edition Computer Press Association Best Advanced How-To Book 2000 award
"It's an excellent update to an already excellent reference." --Keith Schengili-Roberts, Canada Computes, Nov 21, 1999
"This book earns the title 'ultimate guide' by its comprehensive approach to the total Palm environment--on its own, communicating with a Mac or Windows computer, or online. The extensive information is well organized and based on things you would want to do with your Palm, rather than on features of the instrument. Graphics, subheads, and sidebars also help organize the text, and the conversational style gives it the feel of a tutorial from a knowledgeable friend."-Judges, Computer Press Association 2000 Awards
"Pogue has put together the definitive guide to using the Palm. Superb stuff." --Terry O'Keefe, Atlanta Business Chronicle, March 23, 2000
" Top Ten Computer Book of 1999" --Computer Paper, Jan 2000
"Possibly the most quoted book in the Palm universe ... even owners of the first edition won't hesitate to dip into their pockets... More than any other book in my office,
The Ultimate Guide is the one that sits directly to hand at all times and I can give it no higher recommendation." -- Steve Litchfield, PalmUser magazine issue 1, Jan 2000, http://www.palmtop.co.uk/
"The best general-interest book about the most-adored Personal digital Assistant (PDA) clearly came about from a lot of thought and effort. With a book richer in facts and better focused than he original edition, PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide shows David Pogue's thoughtful consideration of his dedicated audience." --Designer's Bookshelf, Feb 2000
***the quotes below are from the previous edition*** "...an incredibly useful volume, a must-have for all Palm users." --Lynn.Greiner, Toronto Computes! November 1998
"Written in the same humorous, informative, entertaining style of his earlier books, Pogue's enthusiasm for PalmPilots is catching. Pogue patiently and thoroughly explains every nuance of the PalmPilot. A truly useful gift." -Suzanne Smith, San Diego Union-Tribune, December 8, 1998
"In PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, David Pogue explores the full depth of the Pilot's khooky soul from a user's point of view. He documents the standard features of all the machines in the lineage (including the PalmPilots, the Palm III, and the IBM WorkPad), and then goes into great depth on lots of add-in software that's available. If you're new to the Pilot cult, this book explains Graffiti and the other basic stuff. If your palm has held a Pilot for some time, Pogue will reveal many things you haven't yet discovered. Plus there's a great CD-ROM with tons of Pilot software to try." --David Wall, amazon.com
"O'Reilly Guide is a must-have for Pilot users-quite possibly the only book most PlamPilot users will ever need. The thing I like about this book is the breadth and balance. It never goes overboard when focusing on some PalmPilot function. It is the sort of book a new PalmPilot user will find truly useful. Aa great book for Piloteers to have on the bookshelf." --Keith Schengili-Roberts, Computer Paper, October 1998
"I used David Pogue's PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide (O'Reilly, 1998) as my manual. It's the best book on the market when it comes to maximizing the features of this gadget, and it comes with a CD-ROM stuffed with shareware add-on programs." --Paul Gilster, Raleigh News-Observer, November 29, 1998
"This 'bible' of PalmPilot covers Palm III, as well as OEM models such as the IBM Workpad. Dense with undocumented information, it contains hundreds of timesaving tips. The CD-ROM contains 850 free and shareware programs for the Pilot in a searchable FileMaker-based runtime database." --Amazon.com
"At nearly 500 pages, the book covers a lot of ground. Pogue actually writes in English, not computerese. I came away with an understanding of the Palm Pilot that my weeks of fumbling around couldn't give me. And, as with most things in life, I found that the little things matter most. The Ultimate Guide also comes with a CD-ROM loaded with a lot of programs for the Pilot. The disc is organized by function and you can easily find a program to meet your needs. This beats trolling through the hundreds of Web sites devoted to the Pilot and figuring out what to download. Pogue describes many of the programs so it's even easier to find what you need. The author also runs a Pilot forum on the O'Reilly Web site." --Stephen C. Miller, Cybertimes, New York Times, August 29, 1998
"Combining solid technical coverage with a sense of fun and exploration, David Pogue has written the definitive book about the PalmPilot line personal digital assistant...it's almost certain that this book will reveal something new to you...Pogue has created the definitive guide to PalmPilot Personal Digital Assistants. If you're new to Pilotdom or just interested in getting more out of your digital buddy, PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide will please you." --David Wall, amazon.com
"For those of you with PalmPilots, this books is a must have." --Andrew King, WEBREFERENCE UPDATE NEWSLETTER, August 17, 1998
"Required reading for PalmPilot Users...the CD-ROM that comes with
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide is worth the price of the book alone...PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide is aptly named--it's not overindulgent publisher hype. If the PalmPilot is the road warrior's 'roamin' emperor, then this book is the Gideon of Palmdom." --Michael Lasky, Computer Currents, August 18, 1998
"All the tricks of one of the world's niftiest little devices." --Bob Schwabach, Kansas City Star, August 4, 1998
"If you have a PalmPilot...[this book] will help you get the most out of it. In fact, it can teach you how to do things you didn't even know your Pilot was capable of doing...to get the most from whatever flavor of Pilot you're working with, pick up a copy of PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide, polish the simple stuff, learn the fancy stuff, and tell all your friends you figured it out on your own." --Mike Madson, Computer Bits, August 1998
"Pogue's book is certainly the best available at the moment... The PalmPilot is an incredible device, but buying one without buying David's book as well is like getting only half of what you paid for." --Tim O'Reilly
"This new book from O'Reilly is great! It is sooooo packed with info that everyone will gain some improved understanding of the palmpilot after looking it over!!
"I HIGHLY recommend this book. The other books I've seen were all a little light for a geek like me...this book is a JOY!!" --palmtops.pilot newsgroup
"I have been reading further into your book so that the readers will hear something other than my appraisal of the pages which mention PMN and the Piloteer. I am most impressed. 'Ultimate' is quite a billing to fulfill but you are not far wide of the mark. Informative and enjoyable - I am really rather taken with it..." --Marek Pawlowski, Editor Piloteer Magazine
"The book takes you way beyond the manual of the PalmPilot, into stuff such as graphics, music, e-book, and the internet. It also includes a CD-ROM for both PC and Macs that includes 750 programs for the PalmPilot. You want it, you get it. That's the whole story of the book. Unbelievable that a minuscule gadget can take you to such heights. But David Pogue proved it can. For those who dared the future and bought the Palm Pilot, this book is a must. For those who have their foot in the door--pick up the book." --Rosie Daswani, Monday Magazine, July 8, 1998
"David Pogue is one of my favorite authors. His writing consistently jumps off the page, with humor, solid facts, and idiosyncratic insights. This book is no exception...Enough reading and writing. Get yourself a P3, crack open PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide and its RECOMMENDED." --John Nemorovski, My Mac Magazine, September 1998
"No Dummies or Idiots at O'Reilly & Associates. Just Smart people writing books for smart people. The book contains hundreds of tips and tricks to help intermediate to advanced users make the most out of their handheld computers. This book is a bible that every Pilot owner should have." --Richard Brill, TCF.NET, July 17, 1998
"Pogue's book is certainly the best available at the moment. Complete with a CD of 750 PalmPilot programs, there is little which a beginner would want to know that is not contained within its many pages. Indeed, with such a rare level of insight in so many of its chapters, there will be a number of veteran Piloteers who could benefit from a browse." --Piloteer Magazine, September 1998
"PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide proves to be just that--a thorough, easily navigated guide to those wildly popular, hand-held personal organizers everyone seems to have. Written by someone who uses, and loves his PalmPilot, this manual has all the essential information required to successfully integrate a PalmPilot, or WorkPad or Palm III as the newer models are called, into your daily life." --Vicki Gervickas, ForeWard, August 1998
"If you want to use your Palm for email, paging, faxing, printing, Internet surfing, music composition and more, consult David Pogue's authoritative text, PalmPilot; The Ultimate Guide." --Paula Lovejoy, ZDNet Ultimate College Guide, Sept. 2000
Wow - I'm impressed. With my Pilot that is. I bought a Pilot 6 months ago so that I could carry my agenda (which I keep in MSOutlook on my desktop computer) to meetings with me. For six months I used it essentially as an electronic version of my filofax that I could also play backgammon or Sokoban on; and that was all. Then I read David Pogue's "well-written, nicely designed exploration of the Palm" (to quote Jeff Hawkins in the 'Forward').
Now I think of my pilot as a computer, one that will provide almost as much hackish enjoyment as my Linux box... as a matter of fact I'm now following the [4]microLinux project with great interest and wondering how long it will be before I can upgrade to a Palm/Handspring device that will run Linux, a POP3 client and support a wireless modem. In the preface, Pogue says "Taking your Palm further: that's what this book is about." He delivers on that one-hundred percent.
David Pogue's Palm Pilot:The Ultimate Guide is absolutely excellent. It did take forever to read, though, because I kept stopping every few pages to optimize my Pilot with the tricks I had just learned, or to turn an easter egg on (yes, the book tells you where all(?) of the easter eggs are). The book has everything from office productivity tips for suits (when transferring lots of data from the expense program to Excel, you can end up with multiple spreadsheets which you have to total seperately, p. 228) to great hackish tidbits for hardcore geeks (like how to turn on verbose hot-sync logging, p.142).
Like many people I completely ignored the manual that came in the box with my Pilot, so some of the stuff Pogue covers, like ferinstance the Ronomatic stroke, is probably actually in the manual (l've only ever looked at it once - to try to solve an installation failure problem. The manual was unhelpful, and I found the information I needed to solve the problem in the FAQs at [5]PalmCentral.com. The problem and solution are on page 181.
What's good and/or my favorite bits: * the musical notation for the palm chimes on p.137 * the official solution vs. the better solution to upgrading * the way it explained why a backgammon game I had installed and then deleted kept 'coming back' every time I HotSynched * even though I will probably never surf the web on my pilot the explanation of how ProxiWeb works is mega cool.
What's bad: * didn't really need four pages on the various classic games that you can download from 3Com *doesn't mention quickwrite in the 'graffiti alternatives' section
CD-ROM A few notes about the CD-ROM that comes with the book: Though it was obviously outdated by the time the book went to press, it will save you hours of hunting for the best software and, depending on the speed of your modem of course, a significant amount of download time (for those of us unfortunate enough to live in corners of the world with metered phone calls, you will probably save yourself the price of the book within weeks). I've been working my way through a variety of 'world' clocks (ones that show multiple timezones), trying to find one that I like; because there are half-a-dozen on the CD, this is pretty painless. The Catalog software resident on the CD makes it easy to find what you are looking for, and in many instances, shows you what the program is going to look like. I've 'trialed' a lot more software on my PalmPilot than I would have ever been bothered to download.
And yes - I did write this review on my Pilot, mostly on trains & on the London Underground. Speaking of which: as soon as I get the time, I'm gonna figure out how to make ImageViewer docs, so that I can update the London Underground map for the Pilot - the one that's currently available still has Mornington Crescent crossed out! --Janice Wright, slashdot.com
"I'm so excited I can barely speak. So today I'm flipping through the mail, and I see the new O'Reilly Reseller. Cool! A nice break from the usual drudgery of my day. I start flipping through the pages when I see something catch my eye: A PalmPilot book!!!!!!
"I've been lusting over PalmPilots recently. Part of me thinks that I don't *really* need one, that it's just a glorified address book. But something keeps drawing me back to them--I think it's because they're really really cool--they're backlit, they run on cheap batteries, and there's a whole slew of grassroots developers creating clever little apps for it. And they're tiny little apps, so they only take a few seconds to download off the Internet. It's a PDA you can almost feel patriotic about.
"And if O'Reilly is publishing a book on the PalmPilot, well, now I just HAVE to go out and get one.
"And even better--this book is written by David Pogue! I *adore* David Pogue. David Pogue is one of my all-time favorite writers--he just happens to write computer books. He's mostly known for his Macintosh books, although he is a jack of all trades. I often read his huge 1500 page tome
Mac Secrets in bed at night--it's that good.
"O'Reilly, a PalmPilot book, and David Pogue. I want to weep. Thank you. Please pass my jubilance on to others." --Karen Reichstein, Buyer, Powell's Tech Books, Portland, Oregon
"Pogue's book is certainly the best available at the moment. Complete with a CD of 750 PalmPilot programs, there is little which a beginner would want to know that is not contained within its many pages. Indeed, with such a rare level of insight in so many of its chapters, there will be a number of veteran Piloteers who could benefit from a browse." --Piloteer Magazine
"David Pogue's The Ultimate Guide has... almost everything you want to know about your PalmPilot and the available applications can be found in this book explained in reader-friendly terms. In its 489 pages you will find information on how to fully utilize all the functions that your PalmPilot is capable of performing.
"The author takes a detailed look into all the basic applications of the PalmPilots while pointing out the hidden functions and shortcuts specific to each individual app. Furthermore, Pogue also lets on to tips that can enhance your applications - e.g. hacks to replace the original functions, or to enhance them.
"To increase time and cost effectiveness for many users, a CD-Rom included with the book lists, illustrates, describes, and provide actual software for over 900 programs which you can use on your PalmPilots. There are also lists and comments on cyber locations where you can find more PalmPilot such as newsgroups, newletters, sites, shopping sites, magazines, etc.
"Aside from the serious stuff, this book also lets you know where you can find the Easter Eggs buried in your PalmPilots. (Easter eggs are screen surprises which appear when you perform some incredibly improbable keystrokes). For example - did you know you can summon Shelldon, the palm tree mascot of Palm Computing, to dance for you with a few simple taps? This is only one example of the various surprises that you can look up.
"The content of the book is complete and concise and covers all three generations of Palm OS palmtops making the book just as useful if you own a Pilot 1000, Palm Personal, Palm III, or OEM models such as the WorkPad. Pogue takes effort to include useful information for each different platform that the reader might be using. The book is also written in such a way that the reader should have no problem understanding it even if he/she is not entirely literate in computing terms. Experienced users may find the rhetoric too simple at parts but this should be taken as a plus point for beginners. The CD-ROM is compatible with PC and MAC so should not be a barrier if you are indeed a MAC-user. Of course, the book will not include the latest news but with the library of sources listed in the book, you should have no trouble finding where you can stay updated.
"Order your copy from the O'Reilly homepage. You can also download and read Chap 1 of the book from the homepage. If you are a non-US Resident and are interested in obtaining this book, send us a note so that we can inform the publishers." --www.palmzone.com
Windows Me: The Missing Manual
Customer Reviews
Windows Me: The Missing Manual Review
2002-04-08 09:15:14
Paul Stenzel
I was new to Windows environment when I purchased my first home PC. I found the Windows ME Missing Manual book very helpfull. I liked the fact that it was written for people like me because it explained many of the basic issues and did not assume an experienced Windows user. The format was well organized. I think there is a need for these types of books because on line documentation and tutorials cannot replace a book which expands and explains the mechanical how-to steps which one commonly finds in on-line documentation.
Media Reviews
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 5, 2003
DT&G; (Design, Typography & Graphics) 2000 Editors Choice
"The geek or even the new user who just put Windows ME on their machine will probably want to pick up a copy of this book as it contains lots of helpful information, tips, tricks and good old registry hacks. If you have ME go to your bookstore and pick up this helpful book!" --Raymond G. Angel, thirdgeek.com, April 2001
"it is better than the book that should have been in the box. David Pogue's writing style, and the way information is presented, makes it both interesting and useful to beginners and intermediate users. I would, and am, recommending this book to beginner and intermediate users of Windows Millennium. For these users, this is not only the "book that should have been in the box", but the "book that should be on your computer desk." --John L. Hedinger, Manatee Root Directory, April 2001
"an outstanding addition to the many books on various Windows systems. It is clear, complete, and well written." --Babette Bloch, GCCS Newsletter April 2001
"tinkering with your copy of Windows Me can improve its performance on your system and remove some of its annoying habits. The catch is that you have to really know what you're doing. A good place to start is David A. Karp's `Windows Me Annoyances' (O'Reilly & Associates, $29.95). Karp understands Windows' anatomy and attitude, and he writes in clear, clean, amusing English." --Larry Blasko, Associated Press, May 7, 2001
"Literaly packed with hints, tips, and plain written guidance to the latest operating system for Windows.the expertise of presentation and the wide scope exhibited by the author left me awed. " --Gregg Wright, Fallbrook PC Users Group Newsletter, Dec. 2000
"If you just bought the new Windows Millennium (Me), you probably noticed the absence of a must-read manual. But before you start cussing out the customer service rep, take note: The manual was left out of every package. Best-selling author David Pogue comes to the rescue with Windows Millennium: The Missing Manual." --Texas Technology, Nov 2000
"This brilliant book explains everything you need to know to use and enjoy Microsoft's everyday OS and manages to be fun to read." --David Wall, amazon.com, Jan 2001
"I would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about installing or upgrading to Windows ME. I whole-heartedly agree that this book is indeed the missing manual, the one that should have been in the box along with the Windows ME operating system compact disc." --Ray Jamraze, Wind-News, Feb 2001
"the expertise of presentation and the wide scope exhibited by the author left me awed." --Gregg Wright, FPCUG Newsletter, December 2000
"this is one well-written book!"--Thomas H. Boswell, The Comp Communicator, Jan 2001
"this excellent guide lights the way for PC users operating under the Windows ME system."-Gordon Nelson, Delta Computer Club News, Jan/Feb 2001
"At $19.95 Windows Millenium: the Missing Manual is well worth it for the vast amount of information it contains and the hours of frustration it saves the user."-Terry Smith, Sectors, Feb 2001
"For more information about Movie Maker an Windows Me, you may want to turn to a book like "Windows Millenium: The Missing Manual"Unlike other Windows ME books that gloss over Movie Maker or even ignore it completely, this book discusses not only how to use the editor, but how to import material form files and external capture devices."-Douglas Dixon, Camcorder and Computer Video, Feb 2001
"I recommend this book and any other book this author has written or will write. The book is broken up in six parts containing seventeen chapters. Anything and everything you need to know is covered. This is a book to have in your library."-- Paul Rivera, Midland Computer Society, Feb 2001
It's a great resource for Windows Me users and at $19.95 is cheaper and will do a better job of saving your hair than Rogaine." --Greg Langley, Baton Rouge Advocate, Oct 22, 2000
"Do you yearn for the days when you bought software that included a well designed user manual? We have for so long lived without a manual with new software, that when a rare vendor does supply one, we are thrilled at what we now perceive as "extra value" provided with the program. Author David Pogue and various other writers have teamed up to produce a new series of computer books, the marvelous "Missing Manual" guides, that are sure to get the attention of potential buyers when they peruse the abundance of computer books now filling the shelves. These "Missing Manual" guidebooks are designed to be authoritative, superbly written guides to popular computer products that don't come with pre-printed manuals (which is just about all of them)" --Dale Farris, President, Golden Triangle PC Club October 2000
"O'Reilly Press and the Windows Me, The Missing Manual is making short work of the newest OS. In this 413 page book, that Microsoft should have given you when you bought the product, you have a world of information that the writers have taken the time to lay out in a format that is easy to follow and easy to understand. The writers have really done their homework with this one." --Mike Woznicki
"This brilliant book explains everything that you need to know to use and enjoy Microsoft's everyday OS, yet manages to be fun to read. If you never really have used a computer before, or if you're trying to expand your knowledge beyond the limited procedures that you've learned on the job, you'll appreciate the contents of this well-written guide. Author David Pogue earned his stripes in the Macintosh community--he's immensely popular among Mac fans--but he's made the transition to Windows admirably. He approaches Windows Me's features (including Outlook Express and Internet Explorer) one at a time, and explains how to use each. His approach is detailed without being dull, and friendly without being fluffy or flippant."-David Wall, amazon.com, Jan 2001
Customer Reviews
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide Review
1998-10-02 00:00:00
Jim Slater
Great job. This book is really worth the price. In addition to finding out a lot more about my PalmPilot, it also includes a great list of applications including one that has really helped me improve my golf game (IntelliGolf). Great job folks!
PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide Review
1998-08-28 00:00:00
Charlie Woods
Fantastic book... Certainly a must for the newbie.
On a side note, the copy I purchased from the
BookStop in Dallas had a crack in the CD on
the "data" side which was not noticable until
the envelope was opened.
They immediately replaced the book when I
returned it with a "good" copy.
I might suggest, due the the size of the book
and the handling it may receive in bookstores,
that the envelope be replaced with a clear
plastic type, viewable on both side....
However, this may be a "fluke" and never happens
to anyone else.
Again, thanks for a very informative book.
Charlie
Media Reviews
"I'm so excited I can barely speak. So today I'm flipping through the mail, and I see the new O'Reilly Reseller. Cool! A nice break from the usual drudgery of my day. I start flipping through the pages when I see something catch my eye: A PalmPilot book!!!!!!
"I've been lusting over PalmPilots recently. Part of me thinks that I don't *really* need one, that it's just a glorified address book. But something keeps drawing me back to them--I think it's because they're really really cool--they're backlit, they run on cheap batteries, and there's a whole slew of grassroots developers creating clever little apps for it. And they're tiny little apps, so they only take a few seconds to download off the Internet. It's a PDA you can almost feel patriotic about.
"And if O'Reilly is publishing a book on the PalmPilot, well, now I just HAVE to go out and get one.
"And even better--this book is written by David Pogue! I *adore* David Pogue. David Pogue is one of my all-time favorite writers--he just happens to write computer books. He's mostly known for his Macintosh books, although he is a jack of all trades. I often read his huge 1500 page tome
Mac Secrets in bed at night--it's that good.
"O'Reilly, a PalmPilot book, and David Pogue. I want to weep. Thank you. Please pass my jubilance on to others." --Karen Reichstein, Buyer, Powell's Tech Books, Portland, Oregon
"Pogue's book is certainly the best available at the moment. Complete with a CD of 750 PalmPilot programs, there is little which a beginner would want to know that is not contained within its many pages. Indeed, with such a rare level of insight in so many of its chapters, there will be a number of veteran Piloteers who could benefit from a browse." --Piloteer Magazine
"David Pogue's The Ultimate Guide has... almost everything you want to know about your PalmPilot and the available applications can be found in this book explained in reader-friendly terms. In its 489 pages you will find information on how to fully utilise all the functions that your PalmPilot is capable of performing.
The author takes a detailed look into all the basic applications of the PalmPilots while pointing out the hidden functions and shortcuts specific to each individual app. Furthermore, Pogue also lets on to tips that can enhance your applications - e.g. hacks to replace the original functions, or to enhance them.
To increase time and cost effectiveness for many users, a CD-Rom included with the book lists, illustrates, describes, and provide actual software for over 900 programmes which you can use on your PalmPilots. There are also lists and comments on cyber locations where you can find more PalmPilot such as newsgroups, newletters, sites, shopping sites, magazines, etc.
Aside from the serious stuff, this book also lets you know where you can find the Easter Eggs buried in your PalmPilots. (Easter eggs are screen surprises which appear when you perform some incredibly improbable keystrokes). For example - did you know you can summon Shelldon, the palm tree mascot of Palm Computing, to dance for you with a few simple taps? This is only one example of the various surprises that you can look up.
The content of the book is complete and concise and covers all three generations of Palm OS palmtops making the book just as useful if you own a Pilot 1000, Palm Personal, Palm III, or OEM models such as the WorkPad. Pogue takes effort to include useful information for each different platform that the reader might be using. The book is also written in such a way that the reader should have no problem understanding it even if he/she is not entirely literate in computing terms. Experienced users may find the rhetoric too simple at parts but this should be taken as a plus point for beginners. The CD-ROM is compatible with PC and MAC so should not be a barrier if you are indeed a MAC-user. Of course, the book will not include the latest news but with the library of sources listed in the book, you should have no trouble finding where you can stay updated.
Order your copy from the O'Reilly homepage. You can also download and read Chap 1 of the book from the homepage. If you are a non-US Residents and are interested in obtaining this book, send us a note so that we can inform the publishers." --www.palmzone.com
Media Reviews
"If you've been struggling with iPhotos placement hierarchy, struggle no more. David and Derrick, without apology, make sense of Apple's placement. iPhoto 4 actually does a much better job of handling the files, but you wouldn't know it without the help of this book....Apple has a tendency to hide a lot of great features, and this book finds them for you...There's a wealth of information in here--clearly explained and easily located--that makes iPhoto as useful as Apple hoped it would be. Not only does it teach you how to make better use of the program (it even has a menu by menu appendix so you can easily work through it with iPhoto open), it teaches you how to create content worthy of the program. Now, if I could just get my friends and coworkers to read it, they would finally quit bugging me."
--Kirk Hiner, Applelinks.com, July 2004
http://www.applelinks.com/pm/more.php?id=1892_0_1_0_M
"If you're just starting out in digital photography or haven't use iPhoto 4 before (or both), you owe it to yourself to give this book serious consideration. I think the two D's [authors David Pogue and Derrick Story] can be proud of it."
--George Carrington, ACT Apple Users Group (Australia), July 2004
"More than even a tripod, Mac users with digital cameras need O'Reilly's newest Missing Manual covering iPhoto 4...Authors David Pogue and Derrick Story...walk users through each and every iPhoto wrinkle this reviewer knows--and some he didn't."
--James Coates, Chicago Tribune, June 2004
iMovie 4 & iDVD: The Missing Manual
Media Reviews
"Perhaps it's a good thing that Apple doesn't include manuals with their products, as they simply wouldn't be this good."
--Kirk Hiner, Applelinks, September 2004
http://www.applelinks.com/pm/more.php?id=2297_0_1_0_M44
"An absolute 'must-have' for getting the most out of iMovie 4 & iDVD software, highly recommended for amateur and professional moviemakers and movie editors working on the Macintosh."
--Library Bookwatch, November 2004
Media Reviews
"iLife '04 is worth adding to your library even if you already have other books on the same topic...if you are looking for a friendly overview of the entire [iLife] suite, this book will be music to your ears."
--MacDirectory, Jan-Mar 2005
"Will somebody please tell me when David Pogue sleeps?...He just cranked out yet another book, this time on Apple's cool iLife '04 creative suite that comes with all Macs. The book is superb, of course."
--Digital Camera, March 2005
"Tips, notes, screenshots and good tutorials provide for solid, in depth learning about each application. There are very specific and important tips in this Manual on all of the applications that I have not seen in other books. These help a great deal in learning and keeping up to date when it comes for using the applications. The manual provides a wealth of knowledge on all the iLife '04 applications for a great price."
--Dr. Eric Flescher, MacCompanion, February 2005
"Recently, I purchased an Apple iMac G5....What I really need is a comprehensive printed manual. Thankfully, I'm not alone. David Pogue along with the good folks at O'Reilly have published iLife '04, The Missing Manual. It is everything I need and more...The best thing about this book, is that it has clearly been written by a user of the software...Pogue also includes workarounds for features you might not even know were missing...You might not think of these workarounds yourself and that makes this missing manual a must-have...Whether you are a new Mac user like me or a seasoned veteran of the platform and its software, iLife '04 The Missing Manual will have something to offer. For more reasons than just having the comfort of a well written and well organized book at your side, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy."
--Lianne Reitter, Kickstartnews.com, January 2005
"Now, iLife '04: The Missing Manual could contain the most helpful information known to humankind, but it wouldn't matter if weren't easily accessible. No worries about that here. iLife '04 is written and laid out in a way that makes it both easy to read from start to finish or to find only the information you need. The table of contents is easily navigable, but, more importantly, the index is quite thorough, and the categorization of items is quite intuitive. In other words, you don't need to first become an expert on the programs in order to find what you need."
--Kirk Hiner, Applelinks, October 2004
Customer Reviews
Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual Review
2000-08-27 06:37:19
Petra Holmström
This is THE Book to get! It hits home even for a Power user like me. I found a few tidbits I never even thought of, which I now will add to my long term memory. I will recommend this book to all my Mac OS 9 using friends, plus I will recommend it to any "newbie" starting to use Macintosh. Excellent Book!
Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual Review
2000-07-27 15:55:34
Kirk McElhearn
I consider myself a Mac power user, having worked with Macs for ten years, and taking the time to look under the hood. Over the years, I never bought a single book describing the Mac System or OS - I always found that (in the old days) the doc was sufficient, or that I could learn enoughfrom magazines and on the net.
I bought this book more out of curiosity, and am extremely glad that I did. While I half-expected it to be a really basic presentation of the Mac OS 9, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is it an excellent book for newcomers, but David Pogue presents all the tricks and shortcuts that youwould be hard pressed to find in the help files. I learned so many useful things from this book, that I don't even regret the fact that the OS 9 doesn't come with a manual - David Pogue wrote a far better book than any manual Apple could write.
Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual Review
2000-05-15 11:35:34
Horvath Jozsef
Once you read Pogue, you're hooked. Not only does this man know all there's to know about the Mac and its OSes, he is an OS himself--operating the snappiest,wittiest, funniest English I know. I run OS 8 on my office Mac and lowly 7 at home, but MM OS 9 is the book of 2000 for me. Don't miss it--even if you're a Wintel user.
Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual Review
2000-05-15 11:33:59
A.S.Franklin
This is the book that makes you glad you splashed out on Mac OS9. If you find you're just using the basics of the Mac OS let David Pogue take you on his magical mystery tour. It's like discovering the joys of the Mac all over again. Better by miles than other manuals. Believe me - I've tried them!
Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual Review
2000-05-15 11:32:44
Amrit Tiwana
I've always been intrigued by how little time Mac users spend dealing with "fixing" thier machines, cursing them, and rebooting them several times a day. So, after being a PC user beginning with Dos 1.0, I switched to a Mac. I hated my first iMac because it lacked documentation, manuals, or decent help. And, being a long standing Windows user, I did not find it as intuitive as it was hyped to be. Guess what, I got frustrated and sold it on the big e*bay auction site. Months passed,Y2K came and went.A few days back I saw this book in my local Borders...and it all came together! THIS was what was truly missing! I had hated most Mac OS books on the marketbecause I found them insultingly oversimplified. I can only speak as a Windows convert: This is not a "dummies" book but a very decent, detailed book thatdescribes all the "power tricks" that I knew for the enemy platform! I liked this book
so much that I bought it, read it cover to cover, and decided to buy my second iMac. If you've never used a computer before, then this is not for you. But if you arelooking for a book that is perhaps the most detailed, information-dense, wellindexed, and handy reference to MacOS 9, this is it. Apple should probably bundle this book with the Mac! Highly, heartily, and strongly recommended, especially forthose who have fallen from the Windows empire for the temptation of an iMac.
Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual Review
2000-05-15 11:29:16
Kirk McElhearn
I have been using the Mac for more than ten
years, but this book gave me more insight into the system than any other.
Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual Review
2000-05-08 00:00:00
Rohin Hattiangadi
I loved OS 9 Missing manual.... it covers all the bases, and still keeps itself easy to read and informative.
I have been a Mac Users since all the way back in 1984 - and I was amazed to see how many features of OS 9 I was unaware of.
A great book, and one that I would recommend to all Mac Users :)
Media Reviews
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 5, 2003
"I bought two copies of this book. You see, my daughter trucked off to college this year, and along with a lot of clothes, and junk packed into foot lockers was a new Mac G3 Powerbook, and a copy of David Pogue's 'OS/9 Missing Manual.' I have no idea how she'll do in college, or what she'll do with all that stuff in the small dorm room. I do know however, that she's just about as well armed for computing as any freshman in the world. Now if she'll just refer to Pogue's book, I'll get fewer phone calls with computer problems. This is the 'ultimate' guide for OS/9."
--DT&G; (Design, Typography & Graphics)
"Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual touts itself as the guide that should have come with your copy of Apple's operating system. It certainly makes a strong case for that claim, as author David Pogue offers a wealth of information from the basics to some of OS 9's more esoteric functions."
--Randy M. Zeitman www.CompBookReview.com, March 2001
"David Pogue has created an easy-to-read and very informative manual and I highly recommend it."
--Ted Galloway, The PEEL, March 2001
GENERAL COMPUTING: BEST OF 2000, amazon.com Dec 2000
"A low price book for a lot of information, well put together and richly illustrated."
--Dev. Issue 78 (Italy), February 2001
"if your Mac lover needs a handle on the Mac's latest system software, this little dandy might be it."
--Holiday Gift Guide, Mac Home December 2000
"This exceptional book is arranged like one would expect a well written user manual to be...jargon-free with enough patience for the novice and enough depth for the power user."
--Sylvia Rego, Macintosh Asheville Computer Society, December 2000
"Pick an Apple Gift for less than $150?the Missing Manual series of books from O'Reilly & Associates are handy, inexpensive choices..."
--Leonard Fischer, USA Today, Dec 5, 2001
"So how do you find out about all the Mac OS 9 secrets? You could try using the on-line help system, which may or may not help, or you could rely on a real expert...this book is by far the most in-depth look at Apple's current Mac OS...after just 13 pages I had learned more about even the basic features of the finder than I thought I knew. You'll find useful information in every chapter of this valuable resource If you purchase only one Mac OS 9 related book, make sure it's this one."
--Closing the Gap, January 2001
MacOS 9 MM "Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual is notably thorough. Divided into seven parts, it is likely the most complete manual about the Macintosh OS on the market today, and it is important to note the importance and breadth of information found in this Missing Manual to truly appreciate its strengths and its valueIn addition to a wealth of information, Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual also sets itself apart from similar books with the number and breadth of useful and informative asides.. Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual is a necessary resource for all Mac users. From the person buying their first Macintosh to the seasoned Macintosh professional, all users will learn how to make use of or better use of Mac OS9's capabilities. Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual not only explains the new features in Mac OS 9 but also helps users customize their Macs and use the powerful features built into the MacOS. Along the way, Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual will also eliminate headaches."
--Mike Swope, macreviewzone.com, October 2000
"Finally, there's one other replacement for the user manual: books. Veteran tech publisher O'Reilly and Associates, in cooperation with computer columnist David Pogue, launched a series of "Missing Manual" books this spring that aim to provide the print documentation lacking in some new software releases. The first book in the series, "Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual," is already in its fourth printing, an O'Reilly spokeswoman reports."
--Rob Pegaro, Washington Post Washington Post, October 20, 2000
"The book is so good, even Apple computer could not have asked for a better producttop notch authoritative with a an easy to read techno-babble free style that flows nicely and is understandablein short, 'Mac OS9: The Missing Manual', live sup to its claim and more. It is the missing manual that should have been included with my copy of Mac OS9."
--Rick Apodaca, Amigo Border Connection, Sept 2000
"a really solid user reference for getting to grips with Mac OS9."
--MACFormat, June 2000
"I can assure readers that Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual is an example of what a user manual should be: no waffle, easy-to-find information, clear language, and no padding. Next time you are in the book shop look for
Mac OS9:The Missing Manual and see the quality for yourself."
--Major Keary, PC Update, June 2000
"Apple users will want David Pogue's 'Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual'. The subtitle 'the book that should have been in the box' says it all."
--Jerry Pournelle, Byte.com Jun 12, 2000
"At some point, the people at software companies decided that on-screen help files and animated tutorials were sufficient to convey knowledge to users, so they stopped including paper manuals with their products. Presumably, the decision had nothing to do with the fact that manual-free products cost less to manufacture and ship. In any case, Mac guru (and all-around nice guy) David Pogue has come out with a series of Missing Manual books. He's written the flagship volume Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual himself, and it ranks among the best how-to Mac books around."
--David Wall and Teri Kieffer, amazon.com, June 2000
" When Apple released Mac OS 9 they proclaimed that the built-in online help was so good that you didn't need a printed manual. Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual by award-winning Macworld author David Pogue shows just how much Mac OS 9 users are missing through Apple's omission oPogue's humorous style combined with detailed descriptions and screen-shots direct from the Mac make even the book's more technical sections easy to follow. You are encouraged to explore functions of the Mac that you may think you know well--such as desktop window views and file lists--to uncover the hidden features and tricks that enable you to use your Mac more efficientlyy If you are new to the Macintosh, or if you have just upgraded to Mac OS 9, this book is an essential introduction to the capabilities, tricks and time-saving features. Even Power Users will be surprised to learn just how many great features are hidden away in their Mac."
--Daniel Jardine, amazon.co.uk, May 2000
"If you only buy one manual for your Mac, then this should be it! Everything you should know about your Mac is contained in this entertaining read. This is the book that should have been in the box with your Mac." --alphabetstreet.co.uk, April 21, 2000
"Exceptionally well-written, very thorough, yet witty and down to earth. The book patiently explains, in detail, the how and why of every feature of OS9. It is simple enough for the newest users, but has enough information to satisfy power users. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Mac OS 9. Rating: GREAT!"
--Freda Walrod, MacCORE, July 2000
"Mac OS9 : the Missing Manual is the ideal "one book to own" for not only newbies but also for the power user who is interested in looking under the hood. I found informative explanations for what I thought were strange phenomenon on my Mac."
--Avrum Lapin, SMUG, Sept. 2000
"For the new user, this book is a gold mine. It is the best book I've seen about Mac OS 9. Finding your way through it is easy and informative. Even the advanced user will find something new about Mac OS 9."
--Rick Stringer, Cherry MUG, Sept. 2000
"These manuals are even better then the "included" manuals of olde. You get an experienced author, one who knows how to communicate in a simple language and understands using the items from a users not a programmers viewpoint. Mac OS 9: The Missing Manual is one such book. Written by David Pogue (my favorite author of Macintosh books), it is well written and very thorough."
--Ted Bade, www.ibook-user.com, Oct 2000
Customer Reviews
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2003-03-31 16:44:07
Anonymous
iMovie 2 is a great book, am anxiously waiting for iMovie 3. Benoit
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2002-05-18 07:46:56
daryl
I spent two days attempting an analog to digital pass thru ,w my sony trv900 mini dv camera, before I realised it isnt possible.!!
On page 114 of the missing manual it claims it is possible.!@#$#@!
Anyways the book is useful but not entirely correct.--d
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2002-02-03 12:50:14
Bill
One of the best computer books i've read. It was such a delight to be able to
make my first movie with this book. I especially enjoyed the chapters on film making tips and editing.
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-11-26 20:21:47
Hans Foerstel
I read the previous reviews and endorse their praises for the book and the author. There is no way one can discover all these essential features by oneself...not efficiently, not likely before the next version of the software, if ever! I,too, appreciate very much the thoughtfulness of providing the errata via the internet. I thoroughly enjoy reading and folloiwng this manual.
I am awaiting the OS 10.1 manual and hope you are working on one for the iDVD.
Thanks1
Hans Foerstel
Nov. 26,2001
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-07-29 15:57:56
Beny
I've done real video editing, and I've been playing with iMovie for almost a year. Do I need this book? Nope. Did I *WANT* this book? Yes.
I knew there had to be a few tips and tricks here and there that I hadn't figured out on my own, and sure enough, it was worth the $bux to get the extra info.
There were 2 other iMovie books available, but Pogue didn't write those, so they are still sitting on the bookshelf at the store. David Pogue is one of the best writers in the genre, bar none.
He's not my brother, I'm not getting paid for this...he's just that good. And so is the book.
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-03-20 16:00:27
pier
Great book!
Only 4 faces instead of full prize! Why?
The tiny-tiny white fonts on a grey-sad box (on location).
For an author so humoresque and brilliant the ceap gray box is a real sloppy mistake!
ps.
anyway i bought the iMovie 1 AND iMovie 2. I'm waiting for iMovie 3 without the gray boxes with the almost unreadable white fonts!
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-03-15 06:27:59
Susan Sedman
Though Apple says you don't need to have a manual to use iMovie, this book allows you to move well beyond the basics of the software. After reading this book, I understand the true abilities of iMovie 2.0. A fine edition and I appreciate the lack of words such as "dummies" or "idiots" in the title!
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-03-05 20:24:40
Walter Read
Excellent book! I truly believe that anyone can create an iMovie after reading this book, even me!!
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-02-22 12:46:21
H. Philippens
I like this book. I had several questions about using iMovie and they are all answered. Even more, questions I should have had, are answered too!
I appreciate too all the extras like this homepage.
Look for my movies on the big screens of American Movie-theaters and tv!
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-02-21 12:48:47
Barry Howell
Bravo! After doing several iMovie projects BTB (before the book) I can truly appreciate the technical makeup of this book. Anyone can produce an iMovie, but for anyone interested in squeezing every bit of power iMovie has to offer this book is a must have tool! Now if only Apple would come up with more transitions and effects!
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-02-17 20:21:07
Mike O.
I've read through most of the book and I must say, it's an excellent resource for anyone, beginner or advanced, wanting to do video editing with iMovie 2. It is full of shortcuts, insights and straight forward clear instructions to any possible question you might have about iMovie 2. I think iMovie 2 should not be sold without this excellent book!
iMovie 2: The Missing Manual Review
2001-02-04 19:08:08
GERALD CLARK
I've only read up to page 130 and it answer many of my question. Thanks a great book.
Media Reviews
"Some people think that software like this is so simple it doesn't need a manual. They would be wrong. Those people don't like manuals. People who insist on a manual will fork out good money (and well they should) for David Pogue's classic 'iMovie 2, The Missing Manual.' That book, which I own and have read most of the way through, is an excellent book for the manual-loving software user."
--Jeffrey McPheeters, MyMac.com
"You don't want to read dry, technical manual to learn your fun, creative video-editing software. Well, you don't have to. David Pogue write it, and as always, he has combined his keen sense of humor and considerable brains to pack all the necessary information onto each page while at the same time making the book a witty and entertaining read."
--Wayne Till, Gravenstein Apple Users Group, August 2002
"Editing iMovie is extremely easy with 'iMovie2: The Missing Manual.'"
--Ted Galloway, The Peel, October 2002
"This is the thorough and informative book you've been waiting for. A must for all iMovie users!"
--Gary Stager, Positive Resources for Educators, Summer 2002
"David Pogue has written an excellent iMovie reference book called 'iMovie 2: The Missing Manual.' This book covers all of iMovie's features and foibles in an informative and humorous fashion."
--James Alguire, ComputerEdge, July 26, 2002
"Fantastic book! Go out and buy it if you plan on doing any iMovie editing....It really is that good."
--Anthony Moore, The Michigan Apple, September 2002
"I would recommend any book written by David Pogue, one of my favorite authors and columnists. This book is no exception."
--Harry Babad, The Finder; The Newsletter of the Mid-Columbia Macintosh User Group, June 2002
"If you are trying to learn iMovie 2, this is the book for you...Pogue delivers value in 'iMovie 2: The Missing Manual.' Composed in Pogue's friendly style, I found this book a valuable treasure. I consider the Pogue book an excellent buy for anyone starting out in editing home movies on the Mac."
--Paul Gerstenbluth, Rhode Island Apple Group, May 2002
"You need this book if you're an iMovie novice. If you're an iMovie intermediate, you'll want this book. If you're an iMovie expert, this book is probably one of the reasons you're an expert. If you're hesitating to spend $19.95 to document a free program, instead, try thinking of what an amazing deal iMovie would be if it cost $19.95 and came with this book in the box."
--Gary Pool, Mouse Tracks, Feb 2002
"Buy the book and save huge amounts of trial and error learning...a valuable treasure...an excellent buy for anyone starting out in editing home movies on the mac."
--Paul Gerstenbluth, Rhode Island Mac User Group Newsletter, May 2002
Best of 2001: Customers' Picks, amazon.com
"A witty and entertaining read, it's packed with informtation and humour."
--Poptronics, Dec 2001
"The Missing Manual series is notable for its consistent quality of presentation and content. Very well-written, good technical detail and easy-to-follow for all levels of user. This title is a fine example of the series. Good Value."
--Major Keary, AUSOM News, June 2001
"a valuable asset to the popular software shipped by Apple...an outstanding book."
--Ted Galloway, Birmingham Apple Core newsletter The Peel, May 2001
"If you are trying to learn iMovie 2, then this is the book for you. David Pogue has an entertaining way of writing that makes if very easy to get through this book, and learn something in the process. Following along in this book makes it much easier to learn iMovie 2's secrets than trying to use the electronic help or trial and error. It is well worth the $19.95. It is very easy for me to give iMovie 2: The Missing Manual five cherrymugs. Rating 5 out of 5 cherrymugs."
--Rick Stringer, CherryMUG, June 2001
"This title is as good as all the others in the series, which is to say it's wonderful. iMovie 2: The Missing Manual does a thorough job of providing information that is either difficult or time-consuming to locate elsewhere. The iMovie software is quite easy to use, but since Apple has not documented many of its most useful features, users need a decent guide book to do anything beyond assembling a basic movie or slide show. I could have saved myself at least two hours of wasted time if I had iMovie 2: The Missing Manual before I started my project. This book is an invaluable resource for any iMovie 2 user who wants to learn to use all the capabilities of iMovie. MacMice Rating: 5 out of 5"
--John Nemerovski, MyMac.com, June 2001
"David Pogue delivers real value in iMovie 2: The Missing Manual. Composed in Pogue's trademark friendly style, the book contains enough excellently written explanations and examples to significantly flatten the iMovie 2 learning curve, so it's a pleasure to read, bookmark, and refer back to."
--David Wall, amazon.com
"A great book that explains the various inner workings of iMovie is David Pogue's "iMovie 2: The Missing Manual" by O'Reilly. It will take you step by step through what you need to know about making a movie, and lots of tips about using the software effectively."
--David Strom, Web Informant #252, 19 June 2001
"A must buy for anyone starting out in editing home movies on the Mac. Unfortunately, it is becoming a trend for software developers not to include a printed manual with their software. This may be a blessing in disguise as David Pogue has put together a most complete and user friendly book that most likely would surpass any manual that the software developers would assemble. In short, this book, at least for me, makes it much easier to learn iMovie 2 in contrast to using the electronic help provided with the software."
--Bud Getchell, Southwest Florida PC User Group, June 2001
"iMovie 2: The Missing Manual explains how to use the latest and best video-editing software for the Mac OS. David Pogue-- perhaps the king of the Macintosh writers, known for his casual yet authoritative style--wrote it, and he's been careful to cover everything from fundamental videography to the newest and most obscure iMovie 2 editing options."
--David Wall and Teri Kieffer, amazon.com delivers Home and Office Computing, May 14, 2001
"One of the Macintosh world's most respected (and prolific) writers, David Pogue, offers both instructions and software that are more helpful than the tutorial built into the latest iMovie2 software itself. If you use iMovie you need this book and the software that it allows you to download from Pogue's Web site. Pogue's book takes over once the video is in the machine and those who read it will save huge amounts of trial-and-error learning. The book offers instant access to tricks like continuing the sound track from one clip as voiceover to a second one as it fades in, a favorite of the pros but nearly impossible to accomplish without Pogue's handholding."
--James Coates, Chicago Tribune, April 22, 2001
"The whole "Missing Manual" concept is brilliant. The series provides hard copy documentation for otherwise undocumented (or sketchily documented) software, and under-documented software seems to be the latest rage in the computer biz. There's no software hungrier for its Missing Manual than iMovie, and this book fills the bill admirably. If you're using iMovie, then iMovie: The Missing Manual is Excellent, and if you're balking at spending $19.95 to document a free program, then you're not valuing iMovie as highly as you should. Instead, think of what an amazing deal iMovie would be if it cost $19.95 and came with this book in the box. If you're an iMovie novice, you need this book. If you're an iMovie intermediate, you'll want this book. If you're an iMovie expert...hey, you already have this book, and that's one of the reasons you're an expert."
--Jamie McCornack, ATPN (About This Particular Macintosh), April 2001
"For iMovie 2 buffs: Budding moviemakers may want to stop off on the way to Sundance and pick up a copy of "iMovie 2: The Missing Manual," by David Pogue (O'Reilly & Associates, $19.95). Unlike many third-party software manuals, this book starts off with a really good discussion of what makes a professional movie look like one as opposed to most amateur productions. It won't substitute for a degree from UCLA Film School, but it's nice to understand the basics before jumping into the nuts and bolts of using the software."
--Micheal Seinberg, Times Union-Albany NY, February 21, 2001
"Recommendevid Pogue's terrific book, 'iMovie2; the Missing Manual. All you need to know about shooting and editing desk top video is at your fingertips."
--Robin E. Simmons, Desert Post Weekly, February 22, 2001
"revised edition, now called iMovie 2: The Missing Manual, rewritten to cover iMovie 2 and nothing but. Far deeper and more detailed than the meager set of online help screens included with iMovie, the book helps iMovie users realize the software's potential as a breakthrough in the cost, complexity, and difficulty of desktop video production." --Dave Merten & Shari Schroeder, Focus on Mac Support, January 2001
"This book offers insightful tips, tricks, and solid movie-making direction for any home movie enthusiast. Your iMovie experience will be a more enriched one with this book at the editing table."
--Matt LaRusso, MACNJ: The Window, January 2001
"The best news in Macintosh-oriented books in 2001 came from O'Reilly books and Pogue Press...I'd been having a problem figuring out how to edit imported audio in iMovie 2 and had spent a considerable amount of time nosing around web pages and tutorials trying to figure it out, but to no avail. Within 30 seconds of picking up 'iMovie 2: The Missing Manual', I had my answer. Trust me, there's nothing like a book...well-written, well-designed, and well published." --Mac Valley Voice, Dec 2001
"The iMovie buff on your list will appreciate 'iMovie 2: The Missing Manual'"
--Mac Home, Dec 2001
MYMac Best Books of 2001: Best MULTIMEDIA book
"I would rather go without food for three days than miss any of the Missing Manual books."
--Al Fasodt of "The Post-Standard," June 5, 2003
Customer Reviews
iMovie: The Missing Manual Review
2000-08-07 22:07:19
N Andrews
iMovie: The Missing Manual by David Pogue is a straight forward, easy-to-understand, and fully comprehensive text that neither bored me nor overwhelmed me. The most helpful aspects of this book for me have been the "work arounds" and advice (pros and cons) for adding a firewire storage drive. I carried this book around with me until I read it from cover-to-cover. It continues to be a helpful guide as I try new techniques.
iMovie: The Missing Manual Review
2000-07-24 21:16:39
G.A. McAlmon
An excellent book. As easy as iMovie is to use, this book pulls together the basics of movie making and the technical end of digital video editing. Only one problem: Mr. Pogue needs to immediately update the book for iMovie2, particularly for its improved audio capabilities.
iMovie: The Missing Manual Review
2000-07-17 20:22:15
Stephane Matis
Apple's release of iMovie for all promted me to buy a DV camera. Well, that and the fact that an important wedding was going to take place. With access to a G4 coupled with Cinema Display, what more could I want ? Well, a whole lot of tips.
I shot the wedding with couple of hours of DV camera preperation. I made all the beginner mistakes. My personal gaffes and a feeling of "there must be a better way" lead me to buy the book.
What a great read!
Not only did this book reinforce my personal beliefs in the greatness of DV tehnology, it gave me all the little clues I needed. I'm almost bubbling over with ideas and plans to experiment and shoot lots of DV.
Thanks for the book, hope to see something on iMovie 2.0 :)
iMovie: The Missing Manual Review
2000-07-17 20:21:05
Stephane Matis
Apple's release of iMovie for all promted me to buy a DV camera. Well, that and the fact that an important wedding was going to take place. With access to a G4 coupled with Cinema Display, what more could I want ? Well, a whole lot of tips.
I shot the wedding with couple of hours of DV camera preperation. I made all the beginner mistakes. My personal gaffes and a feeling of
iMovie: The Missing Manual Review
2000-07-03 14:28:18
Tony G
David Pogue has done it again. I was first introduced to his work through his other MAC series, and found his instructions clear and fun to read as well.
I'd been extolling the value of iMovie to a fellow videomaker, who just wasn't listening. He, like many others, saw it as something merely for the average consumer to use.
Browsing for this book in a store, I showed him the passages about how Professional people are using iMovie to create on-air content. Before I could read further, he muttered, "If any book has at least ONE piece of information in it that you didn't know before, it's worth buying."
I bought the book, and savored each page during a recent vacation (makes a great plane book from CA to NY!). And he bought one and is finally using iMovie as well.
Thanks for the info, Mr. Pogue. I look forward to future volumes.
iMovie: The Missing Manual Review
2000-06-03 13:19:11
Carl Gandola
Happy to be the first to do a review.
This book is just plain fun—clearly written and informative. Just what I was looking for, having already gotten my feet wet with some iMovie productions.
Introductory chapters are on target—even covered basics of sound, reinforcing my RadioShack lavelier microphone purchase of earlier this week. (Use it with my Canon Ultura).
...I'll be back after I've read the whole thing. Thanks.
Media Reviews
"About not missing out on the fun by NOT finding David Pogue's 'iMovie: The Missing Manual'...a manual and a whole lot more with its tips and hints...Don't miss this one."
--About.com Desktop Video
"I've read this book, cover to cover, twice. You see, I'm trying to decide whether or not to make the plunge into imovie making…iMovie is a deceptively simple video-editing application that does not come with a printed manual. Even the online help is insufficient. Pogue treats us to hundreds of workarounds, 'hidden' features, and creative ideas. With this book you can carry out some rather ambitious film projects."
--www.graphic-design.com
"The whole "Missing Manual" concept is brilliant. The series provides hard copy documentation for otherwise undocumented (or sketchily documented) software, and under-documented software seems to be the latest rage in the computer biz. There's no software hungrier for its Missing Manual than iMovie, and this book fills the bill admirably. If you're balking at spending $19.95 to document a free program, then you're not valuing iMovie as highly as you should. Instead, think of what an amazing deal iMovie would be if it cost $19.95 and came with this book in the box. If you're an iMovie novice, you need this book. If you're an IMovie intermediate, you'll want this book. If you're an iMovie expert...hey, you already have this book, and that's one of the reasons you're an expert!" --Jamie McCornack, ATPN (About This Particular Macintosh), April 2001
"Manuals are very expensive and time consuming to create, print and ship. This is why most manuals are terrible. I'd rather have iMovie for free, sooner, and buy David Pogue's manual, than have the software released later and at higher cost, including a manual. Which, if it were like most manuals, would be so dissatisfying that I would still buy David's excellent book." --Derek Roff, iMovie mailing list, Oct 2000
"This book by David Pogue is a must read for anyone using the Apple iMove software. It is excellent! This book goes a long way in improving ones DV experience." --Gail H. Schadt, St. Croix Mac User Group, Oct. 2000
"iMovie is a deceptively simple video-editing application that does not come with a printed manual. Even the online help is insufficient. David Pogue, the wry and insightful columnist for Macworld, fills the void with another entry in his new Missing Manual series. Through many workarounds, "hidden" features, and creative ideas, Pogue shows how you can use this powerful software to carry out ambitious film projects.This series is known for giving a lot of information at a bargain price, and this book is no exception. The text gets right to the point while leaving room for background info and tips that anticipate potential problems. Reading it is like listening to someone who has already worked through the steps In fact, this book contains an impressive amount of info. It's easy to jump in at any point in the text and discover some idea so exciting that you just have to boot up iMovie right away and get creative. --Angelynn Grant, amazon.com, June 2000
iMovie MM " iMovie: The Missing Manual is a great guide to making the most of Apple's awesome new technology. Author David Pogue covers every step of video production, from choosing a digital camcorder and shooting footage to editing your film and burning the final product onto CDs."-borders.com, July 2000
"iMovie is a deceptively simple video-editing application that does not come with a printed manual--even the online help is insufficient. David Pogue, the wry and insightful columnist for Macworld, fills the void with another entry in his new Missing Manual series. Through many workarounds, "hidden" features, and creative ideas, Pogue shows how you can use this powerful software to carry out ambitious film projects In fact, this book contains an impressive amount of info. It's easy to jump in at any point in the text and discover some idea so exciting that you just have to boot up iMovie right away and get creative. --Angelynn Grant, amazon.com, July 2000
"Despite my prejudice towards online documentation, I felt iMovies help files-especially its tutorial were pretty darn good. But David Pogue's book is betterFor users of Apple's free editing software, iMovie: The Missing Manual will quickly become an well-thumbed resource. Other computer users should keep an eye out for subsequent books in this series that may be relevant for them. It looks like the series is going to be a winner."-John Mello, Mass High Tech, July 2000
" iMovie is a deceptively simple video-editing application that does not come with a printed manual. Even the online help is insufficient. David Pogue, the wry and insightful columnist for Macworld, fills the void with another entry in his new Missing Manual series. Through many workarounds, "hidden" features, and creative ideas, Pogue shows how you can use this powerful software to carry out ambitious film projects.This series is known for giving a lot of information at a bargain price, and this book is no exception. The text gets right to the point while leaving room for background info and tips that anticipate potential problems. Reading it is like listening to someone who has already worked through the steps In fact, this book contains an impressive amount of info. It's easy to jump in at any point in the text and discover some idea so exciting that you just have to boot up iMovie right away and get creative." --Angelynn Grant, amazon.com, June 2000
" iMovie, in common with many pieces of software shipped today doesn't come with a printed manual. Apple claims iMovie is so intuitive that it doesn't need one, and for the most part Apple is right. It is a particularly easy piece of software to use however the actual operation of the software is only a part of the whole creative process. This is where "iMovie: The Missing Manual" becomes an excellent resource. Not only does it explain iMovie's operation, it also leads you through the creative process from filming your subject material, to editing it in iMovie, to outputting it back to the camera or to a QuickTime movie." --Carl Makin, for ACT Apple Users Group, Nov 2000
"Buy this book, study it, apply what you've learned, and your audience will be grateful." --Stephen Withers, Australian Personal Computer, Nov 2000
"Video editing is complicated, and needs a printed manual, but you don't get one. For iMovie, and extra $20 will get you David Pogue's iMovie: the Missing Manual (O'Reilly & Associates)" --Stephen H. Wildstrom, Business Week, Spet 25, 2000
"an easy-to-follow book for users new to iMac, iMovie, and basic film editingrecommended for all libraries." -Thom Gillespie, Library Journal, August 2000
"Respected columnist David Pogue offers some well-placed advice, explaining how to prepare your video for editing before moving n to cover each feature of iMovie in-depth. David Pogue's prose is straight to the point, and he isn't afraid to point out iMovie's faults and offer some work-arounds. Pogue has written the de facto iMovie manual. " -Computer Arts, Oct 2000
"With characteristic humility, author/publisher David Pogue describes this as "the book that should have been in the box," and, well, yeah, he's right. To quote Dizzy Dean, "it ain't braggin' if you done it." The whole "Missing Manual" concept is brilliant. The series provides hard copy documentation for otherwise undocumented (or sketchily documented) software, and under-documented software seems to be the latest rage in the computer biz. There's no software hungrier for its Missing Manual than iMovie, and this book fills the bill admirably. If you're an iMovie novice, you need this book. If you're an iMovie intermediate, you'll want this book. If you're an iMovie expert...hey, you already have this book, and that's one of the reasons you're an expert." -- Jamie McCornack, About This Particular Macintosh (ATPM), Oct 2000
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