Customer Reviews

Crossing Platforms : A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

every new Wintel convert and for those of us who have to work on the "other" side occasionally. This is the second book of this genre that I have purchased for my wife the teacher who now teaches on the Wintel platform. The first, "Windows for Mac Users" is 421 pages of details, details. I would rate it 4 stars. "Crossing Platforms" is 321 pages of dictionary-like listings of phrases "cross" referenced to the other platform e.g. Force Quit (Mac) = End Task (Win); Key Caps = Character Map, etc. If you want a quick reference book to help you with that temporarily borrowed (or newly purchased) "other" platform, this is the one! (If I were providing marketing advice to Sears, CompUSA et al, this would be bundled with every iMac and IBook purchased by a Wintel user.)

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.

Recently I took a job which required me to work in an office that was mostly Windows-driven. Knowing Adam's and David's reputation, I decided that their book was a good choice.

After skimming through "Crossing Platforms," I was able to tell the Information Support guy how to do something under Windows that he wasn't aware of. Four days after I was hired! Within two weeks I was completely comfortable using Windows (except for that silly mouse design and other poor UI choices, but that's another matter). Now I have a reputation as a computer genius. I just hope it's reflected in my paycheck.

"Crossing Platforms" is, as the title of this review hints, as far from a "Dummies" book as you can get. It starts by assuming that you're an intelligent person who simply doesn't have the experience on one of the world's two major computer operating systems.

Much of what you want to do on a computer is possible under either Mac OS or Windows-- after all, they were built to manipulate files, send and modify information, etc.-- but there are different terms and some different ways of treating the information. In other words, you know the music, but not the words. "Crossing Platforms" will allow you to make the paradigm shift and use what you've spent years learning. It helps you avoid the pitfalls and gotchas, and is laid out in a manner which makes it easy to reference. In short, twenty-four of the best dollars I've spent recently.

A long-time Mac and Unix user, I recently started a new job where I have to use a Windows system. I wish this book had been published a couple months earlier, as it would have saved me much time trying to figure out how to do things in Windows that are automatic for me on the Mac. Even still, it has provided valuable explanations for differences I'd encountered, and has helped me out a number of times in the last few weeks. The book is objectively written, complete, and serves as a useful guide to both systems. (I've even found myself browsing the "Mac for Windows users" section several times.) I only wish that the book contained a detailed index; the A-Z approach is fine but a little constraining for a reference manual. But overall an excellent book that sits right on my computer at work.

Adam Engst and David Pogue are longstanding and prolific writers in the Mac community. Both have also made the transition to working with Windows as well.

Their book is a good reference work for any dual-platform user. It literally is organized like a Spanish-to-English/English-to-Spanish dictionary:

One half of the book gives Windows equivalents to various MacOS features such as Preferences, Extensions and Control Panels. The other half does the converse, explaining the Mac equivalents to Windows features. Differences in each case are spelled out. In some cases, there is no real equivalent and the particulars are explained (for instance, there is no Mac equivalent for the mysterious Windows "Registry" -- similar functions are handled very differently by "Preferences" on a Mac.)

This book has no real beginning or end and is mainly a reference book. Mac users wanting more of a start-at-the-beginning explanation of Windows should check out "Windows for Mac Users" by Robin Williams -- one of the most well-written computer books on the market.

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.

I enjoy using a computer and begin with a Mac. I eventually starting using Windows to gain an understanding of that platform. I wish such a text as Crossing Platforms would have been available three years ago. It would have reduced my learning curve time a considerable amount. I currently use both platforms but prefer the Mac. I especially like the cross index approach. This is a text most any computer user should find useful.

If you are learning the Mac or Windows OS as a second language then this book is the best investment you could make. Terms are translated between the two environments by quick, simple look-up in a translation dictionary. More important, the translations are actually useful. The concepts are translated, not just the words. Look up a term and you get an explanation of the equivalent idea and jargon, even if the terms have no exact match. This is the book to have in your hands while you talk to foreign tech support. I've purchased a couple of copies of this book each year since it came out, mainly because other people borrow mine and then beg to keep it. I was buying another couple of copies today in Jan 2003 (one for me, one for my new tech support person) and I realized that there are very few computer reference books that are still so useful 4 years after publication. This is one computer reference book that will get dog-eared.

As a 15 year PC user & tech support person, I am struggling to learn the MAC environment. Using this guide made my life much simpler, and I have personally recommended it to several users here in our company who are going PC->MAC and MAC->PC. If you've ever tried to learn a "foreign language" and used a translating dictionary ... you'll immediately know how to use this book. This is one tech book that won't sit on your bookshelf collecting dust!

As usual, David Pogue crosses platforms with his wit & style. It feels as though one is reading 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. More books, esp. MAC books, by David Pogue.