Mac OS X Lion: The Missing Manual [Paperback]

David Pogue (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2011 | Series: Missing Manual

With Lion, Apple has unleashed the most innovative version of Mac OS X yet—and once again, David Pogue brings his humor and expertise to the #1 bestselling Mac book. Mac OS X 10.7 completely transforms the Mac user interface with multi-touch gestures borrowed from the iPhone and iPad, and includes more 250 brand-new features. This book reveals them all with a wealth of insight and detail--and even does a deep dive into iCloud, Apple's wireless, free syncing service for Macs, PCs, iPhones, and iPads.

• Perfect for newcomers. Get crystal-clear, jargon-free introduction to the Dock, the Mac OS X folder structure, Safari, Mail, and iCloud.
• Go in-depth. Learn how use key new features such as full-screen apps, Mission Control, the new Mac App Store, Launchpad, Resume, Auto Save, Versions, AirDrop, and more. Are you even more of a power user? Learn to set up a network, make a Lion flash drive, and even learn the basics of Lion's underlying Unix.

Theres something new on practically every page of this new edition, and David Pogue brings his celebrated wit and expertise to every one of them. Apple's brought a new cat to town, and Mac OS X Lion: The Missing Manual is the best way to tame it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Pogue, Yale '85, is the weekly personal-technology columnist for the New York Times and an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News. His funny tech videos appear weekly on CNBC. And with 3 million books in print, he is also one of the world's bestselling how- to authors. In 1999, he launched his own series of amusing, practical, and user-friendly computer books called Missing Manuals, which now includes 100 titles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 932 pages
• Publisher: Pogue Press; 1 edition (October 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1449397492
• ISBN-13: 978-1449397494
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 1.8 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Home Computing & How-to > Mac Computers & Hardware
  • #25 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Home Computing & How-to > OS X

More About the Author

David Pogue is the personal-technology columnist for the New York Times. Each week, he contributes a print column, an online column and an online video. His daily blog, "Pogue's Posts," is the Times's most popular blog. David is also an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News and a frequent guest on NPR's "Morning Edition." His trademark comic tech videos appear each Thursday morning on CNBC. With over 3 million books in print, David is one of the world's bestselling how-to authors. He launched his own series of complete, funny computer books called the Missing Manual series, which now includes 60 titles. David graduated summa cum laude from Yale in 1985, with distinction in Music, and he spent ten years conducting and arranging Broadway musicals in New York. He's been profiled on both "48 Hours" and "60 Minutes."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

99 of 108 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent And Comprehensive OS X Lion Reference, Buy The Kindle Version To Get The Best Usability October 28, 2011

By Amazonian Consumer TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Spanning more than 900 pages, this type of book is aimed primarily at the advanced-beginner to intermediate level users of the Mac operating system.

It is printed in black and white, and its topic coverage has more breadth and depth than typical Mac OS X user manuals, such as Mac OS X Lion On Demand, Mac OS X Lion: Visual Quickstart Guide, and Mac OS X Lion: Peachpit Learning Series. The aforementioned books are guides/tutorials, whereas the Missing Manual is a more comprehensive and technical reference. A comparable book to the Missing Manual would be Mac OS X Lion Bible, which is of similar size and coverage. Information density per page is high and there is no color, as well as fewer and smaller size graphics/screenshots. Although this is a thick book of technical nature, David Pogue's often witty and non-textbook-like writing style makes it easy even for beginners.

To determine your most suitable book, you can examine the contents, layout, and organization of each book by clicking "Click To Look Inside" on the book's Amazon page. You can also assess the amount of book revision/update by searching for Lion-specific features such as FaceTime, Mission Control, iCloud, etc. and see how much information can be found.

I have purchased the Mac OS X Missing Manual series for Leopard, Snow Leopard, and now Lion. For the first two, I had preferred buying the paper version, but this time I chose the Kindle format instead. I not only save about 30% compared to the paper-based book, I also enjoy the convenience and vastly increased usability. There is no bulk and weight of the physical book. I have the electronic copy on my Kindle, which I can take anywhere, and I can also access it on my computer via the Amazon Cloud Reader online or offline (but no searching within the book feature yet).

As the author David Pogue commented that Lion is the first mainstream download-only OS (no box, no manual, no DVD), I consider it even more fitting to buy the user manual also as a download.

The Missing Manual is thoroughly updated for Lion and is easy to read and understand. I recommend it highly.

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Notch reference to Lion November 8, 2011

By John A. Suda VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I have reviewed or at least read every Mac OS X Missing Manual since the Panther version of 2003 and I have said pretty much the same thing about them all-you can't get a better written or more useful manual anywhere. This volume covers the latest Apple desktop operating system, OS 10.7, generally referred to generally as "Lion." It also covers the cloud-based server iCloud, Apple's successor to Mobile Me.

The Missing Manuals utilize a fantastic template of structure, graphical features, unusually useful appendices, and terrific writing style. The book describes the features of the operating system; illustrates with plentiful graphics, charts, screenshots; supplements with many extras in sidebar discussions like Power User Tips, Nostalgia Corner, and Gems in the Rough; adds value by providing great practical suggestions on how best to use the features efficiently and thoughtfully; and adds dollops of wit and humor throughout.

In the latest volume, Mr. Pogue covers the 250 or so new features of Lion, highlighting the features which converge Apple's desktop and mobile device operating systems-touch gestures using the trackpad and Apple's Magic Mouse and the new iPad-like interfaces called Launchpad and Home page. The mobile designs introduce a new way to work on the desktop which will appeal to new users but probably veterans as well. Pogue comprehensively discusses both the new and older ways to run the system and applications.

The book also explains the new iCloud server features and how to transfer from the old (but still ticking) Mobile Me with great suggestions on substitutes for the handful of missing features.

In nearly every section he points out in detail how 10.7 differs from earlier systems, even in the smallest ways. This writing is comprehensive and systematic. He shows how one can revert to the older ways of doing things and even how to use older applications--even OS 9 programs --using shareware Sheep Saver--as Apple has removed the Rosetta code which allowed newer Macs to run the old applications.

There are sections on the new file transfer program protocol, AirDrop, the App Store, iTunes Match, the new Mission Control merging features of the previous operating system--Exposé, Dashboard, and Spaces, the PDF signature trick using Preview, as well as how to make a boot disk because Apple no longer gives you one.

As in all the Missing Manuals, the book covers in detail the free applications provided, the networking components, installation, troubleshooting, Windows/Mac comparisons, and more, all written to service the needs of new and veteran users.

Kudos to Mr. Pogue as no one does manuals any better.

(FTC disclosure (16 CFR Part 255): The reviewer has accepted a reviewer's copy of this book which is his to keep. He intends to provide an honest, independent, and fair evaluation of the book in all circumstances.)

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting the most out of Mac OS X Lion November 3, 2011

By M. A. Filippelli VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

For anyone who has read David Pogue's Missing manual OS X series knows the quality and value of the book and Missing Manual OS X Lion is no exception.

Pogue's easy, and humorous writing style make this series the easiest to read. Having read a lot of dry technical books I really appreciate this.

Pogue kept the sidebar subjects in Lion like "gems in the rough" that walks the user through using keyboard shortcuts as an alternate to using the mouse. "Up to speed" walks the user through finding things faster. FAQ's. "Power Users clinic" This side bar walks the users through things like creating their own icons to how to more effectively search and run queries based on specific criteria and doing more granular searches then using Spotlight by it's self. etc. I have found these sidebar's to be very useful over the years.

All of the new key functionality is covered in Missing Manual Lion like: Airdrop, launch pad, Mission control, Face time, Resume, iCloud, Lion server as well as some existing features that have been enhanced like accessibility, system preferences. printing, auto saving, time machine, networking etc.

Where this series continues to excel at is security and networking, being an IT guy this is very important. I think though that the basic user will find a wide range of topics that Missing Manual Lion covers will be invaluable.

A lot of the book is a rehash of the Snow Leopard book and that's ok, A lot of the value in Missing Manual Lion is in the new features. In the past the Missing Manual books have geared a little more to the technical side but series really has transitioned to something more of a users manual which I think works well. It makes it a better book for most users. Pogue keeps this series at about 900 pages. With all of the new features and the existing features that he covers some things have to go like the under the hood troubleshooting the OS stuff. There are still some troubleshooting tips here but not to the depth that they used to be. I believe this is still the most comprehensive book on OS X lion out there. Even if you own Missing manual Snow Leopard you should still get this book, Pogue's coverage of the new features and his detailed but concise explanations/examples are very good.

Very well written a good amount of screenshots but not over done. For the experienced Mac user with the Missing manual series this is probably a 4 star book, for the new Mac user it's a 5 star book.