Mac OS X for Dummies [Paperback]

Bob LeVitus (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764507060 | ISBN-13: 978-0764507069 | Publication Date: April 25, 2001 | Edition: 1

Mac OS X includes dozens of new or improved features to make using your Mac easier, as well as dozens more that help you do more work in less time. Now you can use these new features to be more productive, have fewer headaches, reduce your cholesterol level, and fall in love with your Mac all over again.

With Mac OS X For Dummies, you'll be managing files, storing documents, launching programs, adjusting the way the machine works, and much more in the short time it takes to move through the smoothest reference guide you'll ever meet (and re-greet every time you need a trusted resource for fast, friendly answers). In this updated volume, you'll find out what make your Mac a Mac, in addition to discovering

• The new-fangled Finder window
• The big deal on the Dock
• Icon info galore
• A sea of menus and shortcuts
• Straight talk on folder navigation

Navigating the depths of Mac OS X safely and sanely is a breeze with the coverage in this must-have companion to your Apple product. Written by renowned Mac expert and best-selling author Bob LeVitus, Mac OS X For Dummies takes you from basic training to advanced maneuvers, including

• Customizing Finder Windows with Views
• Mastering the Save Sheet and the Open Dialog Box
• Haggling with Removable Media
• Applying yourself to the Applications Folder
• Backing up by using commercial software
• Troubleshooting operating system annoyances
• Tuning into cool programs and preferences that you may use every day

Whether you’re brand-spanking new to the Mac or a grizzled old Mac-vet, Mac OS X For Dummies proves that exploring the ins and outs of Mac OS X can be fun, easy, and totally habit-forming.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Mac OS X for Dummies, Mac Daddy Bob LeVitus explains how to use the title operating system for everyday computing tasks. He does a great job of explaining--in terms well-suited to people who lack much computer experience--how to run applications, connect to the Internet, find information, and communicate with others. Plus, the Dummies format suits operating systems like Mac OS very well.

The real excitement of Mac OS X is that, beneath the surface, it's very similar to Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) Unix, an extraordinarily powerful and well-loved operating system. Apple calls this Unix core by the name of Darwin, and it comes complete with a C compiler, a whole suite of GNU-based development tools, the MySQL database, the Apache Web server, and a ton of other utilities that will open the floodgates to open-source development of software for the Macintosh.

LeVitus touches on practically none of this. True, this is a Dummies book, but it tells only half the story. The book documents Mac OS X only to the extent that it looks and runs like Mac OS 9.1. It does a good job at that, but don't turn to this book if you're interested in learning why Mac OS X is so exciting. Read LeVitus's work only if you happen to have a computer that runs Mac OS X, have very little Mac experience, and aren't interested in doing anything at the administrator or programmer levels. If you meet those criteria, you'll be very happy with this book. --David Wall

Topics covered: Mac OS X for the casual and inexperienced Mac user. The author explains how to manipulate files and folders, run programs, use Sherlock, and take advantage of Internet connectivity--the latter coverage deals with iTools nicely. An appendix explains how to install Mac OS X, and how to make it coexist on one machine with Mac OS 9.1.

From the Back Cover

Get a handle on the new Dock, the revamped Finder, and more

Get up to speed with Mac OS X in no time

The fun and easy way^™ to take Mac OS X to the max Whether you're a longtime Mac user or you just bought your first Mac, let renowned Mac expert Bob LeVitus show you how to polish your Apple. From Desktop basics to more advanced tweaks, you'll soon be zipping along on Apple's powerful new Unix-fueled operating system.

Discover how to: Navigate the OS X desktop Take advantage of new customization features Capitalize on network sharing tools Get connected to the Internet fast Save time with simple tips

The Dummies Way^™ Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

Get smart! www.dummies.com Sign up for daily eTips at www.dummiesdaily.com Choose from among 33 different subject categories Get news you can use on everything from money to health to computers

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764507060
• ISBN-13: 978-0764507069
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #629,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Mac OS X

More About the Author

Edward C. Baig is the Personal Technology columnist for USA TODAY and the author of Macs For Dummies, 10th Edition. Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus pens the popular Dr. Mac column for the Houston Chronicle and is the author of Mac OS X® Snow Leopard For Dummies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A "Dummies" book - little beyond the entry level basics, June 6, 2001

By 

Iolaire McFadden "iolaire" (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mac OS X for Dummies (Paperback)

This is a good book for true novices...

Just go the book from the library and remembered why it is a "Dummies" book. It has page after page with screen shots of things like the dock, or how to navigate the file folder structure.

If you know how to use a Mac and have looked at X for over a few weeks this might not be the book for you. I am still looking for something that would say tell me where to find the Apache config files, and this book will never do that!

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for Beginner Mac Users, December 2, 2002

By 

B. Logan (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mac OS X for Dummies (Paperback)

I recently switched from a PC to an iBook notepad with OS X. So I was looking for any help I could get to teach me what I need to know. I checked out this book from the library and have found it extremely helpful. I don't think this book is aimed at "dummies" as another reviewer wrote, but at someone like myself who is just starting out with a Mac (and I don't consider myself a dummie). It is true that someone who is a "Power User" and has years of experience with Macs and the OS would find this book boring and talking down to them. But, if you're new to Macs at all, I think you'd find this book very helpful. It is a starter book, and from here, I would like to read other, more advanced books on the topic to further my knowledge.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Big Dummies Disappointment, May 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mac OS X for Dummies (Paperback)

I have loved Bob LeVitus's other books but this one for me misses the mark. Confusing search for topics and solutions for problems that I had with Mac OS X leave me searching for another book on X. Too much reference to pre-X operating systems. OS X is a new operating system, I wanted more on X and not a refresher course on previous Mac Operating Systems.