Customer Reviews

Apple Training Series: iLife 06

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some of the other reviews have dinged this book because of its "beginner" nature, but this is precisely why you are using a training book for beginner to intermediate type software. If you knew how to use the software already, why would you need a book? No program in iLife '06 is professional quality, it was never meant to be.

The iLife suite of products was developed to be user friendly while at the same time making attractive projects. The developers have achieved this quality beautifully, and that is why we have all paid a premium to own a MAC.

As an intermediate user of the iLife programs, I have done projects on my own and with the help of books (I have both Jim Heid's book and Rubin's book). And for my money, Rubin's book is easier to use and more logically set-up. I found myself wanting more information with Heid's book, but have found that all of the information I need is included in Rubin's book. Both books are visually very attractive, but I have to give the nod to Rubin for content. It seems more thorough and logically presented. The lessons included in the DVD are a great way for beginners to learn the products.

I would buy this book again. It achieves exactly what it set out to do; introduce you to the iLife suite of programs.

Logically and spaciously designed, well-written and conceived, ilife 06 is the perfect beginner's introduction to creative tools. It allows someone who has net zero experience in visual, audio, or web processing to put something together on the web in a matter of days. The reason ilife 06 is so good is that it limits itself to instructing true beginners and never tries to be an all-in-one manual. Of course that's also the book's downside: it will only take you through the software's most basic uses, even though the ilife suite is a much deeper set of applications. Result: eventually you'll need another instructional guide, but untill then, this is the best start-up on the market.

At first I was going to ask if the first review was done by a rep for the other book since it's not even set to be released for another ten days but I noticed that you didn't get the author's name right so I'll just leave it at that.

I have to agree that this book is pretty basic. I pre-ordered and waited almost two months to receive it in the mail and, well, not to say that it wasn't useful but the programs are simple and intuitive enough that it was easier to get through the projects by trial and error.

After glancing through the book I was very disappointed. The introduction told you that this was not a comprehensive guide and it was merely a supplement to other information such as the help and Jim Held's book. This was not stated in the information on the book. If that's the case, why not get Jim Held's book? I was particularly interested in iWeb. The information given for iWeb was sparce. It merely gave information on setting up a page and importing pictures from iPhoto onto the web page. It said nothing about links and other important web information. Perhaps it was on the disk. I dont know. I never opened the disk because I knew I wanted to return the book. The only reason I gave it two stars at all was because it said that the disk contained turorials.

Give a man a fish or teach a man to fish. To use this analogy might be slightly abstract.
But, there are two I-life books out there. I prefer the one by Jim Haid. He seems to teach you more about the I-life process as compared to a step by step instructions which leaves a lot out of what I-life is capable of doing. And believe me, there are secrets about I-life that that are dangerous to know.(Join Apple Pro Care and ask.) None the less, Jim gives an abundance of fairly easy information to follow and allows any creative inclinations you might be burdened with to blossom. Jim's version also has a great DVD that enhances the instructions in the book. Get his version and enjoy many banquets or this choice and eat a very nice meal.

It's a good tutorial book, but kind of specific to their examples. For a dumb guy like me ;), I couldn't kind of bring their expertise into my projects.

THIS IS A GREAT LEARNING TOOL FOR iLIFE 06. COMPLETE AND UNDERSTANDABLE DIRECTIONS. BOOK WAS A NEW UNUSED ITEM AS STATED. QUICK DELIVERY.