Easy Mac OS X, v10.4 Tiger [Paperback]

Kate Binder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0789733137 | ISBN-13: 978-0789733139

Don't be intimidated by your new Mac — tame it! Easy Mac OS X Tiger provides you with everything you need to know about the Mac OS X Tiger operating system with a streamlined, visual approach. With clear, concise explanations of system-level functions, system accessories and pre-installed applications, you will be able to zero in on and complete the specific tasks you need to know. From iLife to security issues, you will quickly learn and apply with this step-by-step guide to learning the Mac OS X Tiger system.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

About the Author

Kate Binder is a longtime Mac lover and graphics expert who works from her home in New Hampshire. She has written articles on graphics, publishing, and photography for magazines including Publish, PEI, and Desktop Publishers Journal. Kate is also the author of several books, including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Mac OS X and Easy Adobe Photoshop 6, and coauthor of books including Microsoft Office: Mac v.X Inside Out, SVG for Designers, and Get Creative: The Digital Photo Idea Book. To those interested in a successful career as a computer book writer, Kate recommends acquiring several retired racing greyhounds (find out more at http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org)—she finds her four greyhounds extraordinarily inspirational.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction to Easy Mac OS X, v10.4 Tiger

Mac OS X is like no operating system, Macintosh or otherwise, that came before it. It's incredibly stable and powerful, and it looks sleek and new and very unfamiliar to long-time Mac users. But underneath, it has the same old friendly nature that Mac lovers have always enjoyed.

With Easy Mac OS X, v10.4 Tiger, you'll learn how to take advantage of powerful and useful Mac OS X features such as the built-in instant messaging program iChat, automatic file and printer sharing with Windows PCs, and the ability to find just about anything you could want online with Sherlock. Along the way, you'll get used to being able to run a dozen programs at one time on a stable system that doesn't crash. This book's step-by-step approach tells you just what you need to know to accomplish the task at hand, quickly and efficiently. All the skills you need to get the most out of Mac OS X, both online and on the desktop, are covered here.

If you want, you can work through the tasks in Easy Mac OS X, v10.4 Tiger in order, building your skills steadily. Or, if you prefer, use this book as a reference to look up just what you need to know right now. Either way, Easy Mac OS X, v10.4 Tiger lets you see it done and then do it yourself.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Que (May 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789733137
• ISBN-13: 978-0789733139
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,337,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a set of slides, June 11, 2005

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Easy Mac OS X, v10.4 Tiger (Paperback)

Indeed, the book is in full colour. The text is accompanied by a plentitude of profusely drawn diagrams, that easily show the reader the task to be done or the point being made.

The text is actually fairly minimal, in a style that may not necessarily appeal to some of you. There really is not a set of chapters of traditional text. Rather, Binder has chosen almost a slide show format. Each page is dominated by a diagram and bullet points therein. At the bottom of the page are a few short paragraphs expanding upon the diagram. This approach has the virtue of focusing your attention on the diagrams. The visuals are indeed strong. Binder has done a commendable job here.

Binder's pedagogy works, to the extent that the subject matter is inherently visual - the user interface. But there were times when I yearned for an expanded textual discussion.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Visual Book with Desktop llustrations, September 9, 2005

By 

Paul Gerstenbluth "Reviewer" (East Greenwich, RI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Easy Mac OS X, v10.4 Tiger (Paperback)

Putting Your Senses to Work

I discovered a good way to use the book. First, just, read the pages of Easy Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger book aloud. Second, you physically move your hand on the mouse icons and follow each of the module steps from start to end. This is the best way to learn by sight, sound and physical movements.

Contents at a Glance

Part 1 Getting Started.
Part 2 Working with Disks, Folders, and Files.
Part 3 Installing and Using Applications.
Part 4 Setting System Preferences.
Part 5 Customizing Your Mac.
Part 6 Organizing Your Life.
Part 7 Printing, Faxing, and Scanning.
Part 8 Getting Online.
Part 9 Living Online.
Part 10 Getting iLife.
Part 11 Sharing Your Mac with Multiple Users.
Part 12 Creating a Home Network.
Part 13 Maintaining Your Mac.

Top Ten Tasks

Adding an Appointment in iCal
Finding Almost Anything with Sherlock
Intercepting Spam in Mail
Messaging with iChat
Putting Contacts, Bookmarks, and Calendars Online
Ripping Songs from a CD
Sending a Fax
Sharing Photos on the Web
Surfing in Safari
Syncing a PDA, an iPod, or a Phone with Your Mac

Pages Worth Bookmarking

Page x1 - It's as easy as 1-2-3. The author uses a series of short, instructional lessons for learning Tiger.

Page 23 - Using multiple window mode. You can use Quickswitch by using the Apple Command Keys 1-3.

Page 25 - Customizing the Toolbar.

Page 36 - Viewing File Information. You can click on 'Get Info' from file menu. You can make changes such as 'Open With' application.

Page 39 - Deleting a File. Empty the Trash.

Page 40 - 41 Finding Files with Spotlight. Categories: Group by, Sort Within Group by, When, (no comma after when) and Where. Sub categories include Kind, Date, and People. Flat List eliminates the categories in your search.

Page 42 - Creating a Smart Folder. Using the Smart Folder allows you to collect related files into a single folder without moving the files from their original locations.

Page 47 - Mac Labels. You can use color to organize you (your) files and folders.

Page 48 - You can use keyboard Command L (link) to make file links of your files, pdfs, graphics, etc.

Page 49 - Archiving a file or folder. Make a single, compressed file for email messages. Also, you can use it to free up disk space.

Maintaining Your Mac

Pages 246 - 260 - It is important to maintain your Mac. Learn how to fix errors with disk utility, repairing the startup disk, updating programs with software updates. First and last, learn how to properly install your updated Tiger system software.

Pro Reaction

Easy Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger book lives up to the motto: See it done and do it yourself. This book will show you the 'Top Ten Tasks' and contents at a glance. Also, you have a simple glossary of computer terms.

Con Reaction

Restricted to beginner's level. The book does not mention using keyboard Command and arrow keys for navigation.

Final Remarks

Easy Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger is an excellent way to learn the new Mac OS Tiger system. The illustrations are sharp and easy to read and use. Experienced Mac users can also benefit from this book.

==

Paul Gerstenbluth is President of the ARIE Foundation and is a Macintosh consultant. The ARIE Foundation's mission is to provide VA hospitalized patients with hobby materials and Powerbooks that help in their stay and recovery.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, concise & big print., May 6, 2008

By 

Vsmart (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy Mac OS X, v10.4 Tiger (Paperback)

Easy to find the answer to your questions since each question is one full page. I hated having to read the whole chapter in "For Dummies" every time I looked something up. Step by step illustrations. Advanced tips on the bottom of the page which is in another color. Logically organized. I bought another 2 copies for my office & my 80 year old mother.