The Little Mac Book [Paperback]

Robin Williams (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201696738 | ISBN-13: 978-0201696738 | Publication Date: January 1998 | Edition: 5th

With over 500,000 copies in print, The Little Mac Book is one of the best-selling guides for Macintosh beginners of all time. This "little" book with the big content covers the essentials of operating a Mac using a friendly tone that doesn't get mired down in the details. The Little Mac Book is considered required reading for all new Mac users, and it's a key reference for any Mac user's bookshelf. For the fifth edition, Robin has completely updated the book to cover all the new features of Mac OS 8. Beginners learn the Mac basics, from starting up and shutting down to using the mouse to working with the Finder, menus, folders, and icons. As their familiarity with the Mac grows, users learn to work with fonts, the System Folder, control panels, and more. All users will appreciate the coverage of the new interface and the all new Internet and intranet capabilities. From its detailed TOC to its extensive (and much praised) index and all the wonderful material in between, The Little Mac Book, Fifth Edition, is a must-have for Mac newcomers, Robin Williams' fans, and any veteran Mac users who want to get up to speed with OS 8.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

*Hmmmmm*

To the Mac faithful, that's the lovely sound of the system starting up -- soon to be followed by the initial smiling computer icon. Unfortunately, as with many things in life, sometimes bad things happen. Expecting to receive a greeting from your familiar, cheerful icon, you hear chimes of doom and a frowning computer appears.

Have no fear! Ms. Robin Williams, expert Mac author, is here! The last chapter of The Little Mac Book quickly runs through possible scenarios as to why your machine would be unhappy. But reading The Little Mac Book is like taking preventive medicine. Williams spends the first 300+ pages of The Little Mac Book introducing readers to the fascinating inner workings of the Macintosh system. With a greater understanding of the Mac's files and folders, you may never come to meet either the Sad Mac or -- more ominously -- the Dead Mac.

With a style both chatty and informative, Williams has crafted a guide blissfully free of heavy-handed techno-garble. Instead, she provides a tour simple enough for the newest Mac owner and complete enough to teach experienced users a thing or two.

Review

"If you're looking for an introduction to the Mac there are more inspiring books."Mac Format, September 2001 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 369 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Pr; 5th edition (January 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201696738
• ISBN-13: 978-0201696738
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,600,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you only buy ond Mac how-to book, buy this one., September 6, 1999

By 

L. Patterson "graphic designer and Mac wonk" (Rising Fawn, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Little Mac Book (6th Edition) (Paperback)

Having never owned a computer before, I bought every book I could find about iMacs and Macs in general. What a waste of money! Robin Williams' book is the only one I or anyone needs! It not only is comprehensive, but is easy to understand and to use. I particularly enjoy the way she uses real- world analogies to explain what a hard disk is or what memory is. I really believe that Apple should endorse this as the "Official Apple Handbook," enclose it with every iMac they sell and give everybody a big break, after all, Jeff Goldblum's charisma and Steve Jobs' Nehru jacket only take you so far. Buy this book before any of the others pretending to teach you iMac or Mac. PS: I got a strawberry.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the beginner, September 23, 2001

By 

Summer B. Frace (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Little Mac Book (6th Edition) (Paperback)

I used this book when teaching computer classes for Mac and I have to say it is the perfect introduction to the Macintosh. As another reviewer put it, if you only buy one book on the Mac, make it this one. Part One of the book covers "The Basics" and takes you through concepts such as the desktop and finder, the mouse, menus, windows, icons, folders, and more. Part Two continues with more intermediate information regarding the system folder, control panels, aliases, file sharing, and information about hard disk vs. memory (an often confused concept). Part Three covers the Internet, and Part Four contains information about peripherals, some tips and tricks, and also a very helpful section on troubleshooting.

One of my favorite things about the book is the large number of pictures showing you how things look on the screen and also her use of bold type to emphasize important terms. There is a little mini quiz at the end of each chapter that is helpful in reviewing what you learned. The book is very well organized and well written in easy to understand language. If you are a more intermediate or advanced Mac user, this isn't the book for you, but beginners should definitely check this one out.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Windows/PC User, Learned a Mac with this in 2 Saturdays, July 1, 2002

By 

carol irvin "carol irvin" (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little Mac Book, The (7th Edition) (Paperback)

I had to learn how to run a Mac in order to take my Photoshop course. As a PC/Windows user for years, I wasn't looking forward to it. The class ran for only 2 Saturdays but with reading this book inbetween the 2 sessions, I was running the Mac like a champ on the 2nd Saturday and have been using it to create art work in my Photoshop course ever since. This compact book is a real gem and it is rightfully being used with students in beginning Mac courses. You can't miss with buying this baby!