Mac OS X Unwired: A Guide for Home, Office, and the Road [Paperback]

Tom Negrino (Author), Dori Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2003

Mac OS X Unwired introduces you to the basics of wireless computing, from the reasons why you'd want to go wireless in the first place, to setting up your wireless network or accessing your wireless services on the road. The book provides a complete introduction to all the wireless technologies supported by Mac OS X, including Wi-Fi (802.11b and g), infrared, Bluetooth, CDMA2000, and GPRS. You'll learn how to set up your first wireless network and how use the Mac OS X software that supports wireless, such as iSync, iChat, and Rendezvous. You'll also get a good understanding of the limitations and liabilities of each wireless technology.

Other topics covered in the book include:

• Using wireless at home, in the office, or on the road
• Connecting to wireless hotspots
• Wireless Security

Mac OS X Unwired is a one-stop wireless information source for technically savvy Mac users. If you're considering wireless as an alternative to cable and DSL, or using wireless to network computers in your home or office, this book will show you the full-spectrum view of wireless capabilities of Mac OS X, and how to get the most out of them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... small handbook of only about 200 pages, written to the best O'Reilly traditions. It is short on theory and long on explanations and how-tos, including all kinds of trouble-shooting tips ... Both the book's authors are professional writers, not 'just' techies, and that does make a difference. The language is good and the narrative clear, the disposition logical. " Information Security Bulletin, March 14th

About the Author

Tom Negrino is a book author and contributing editor for Macworld magazine. He began his writing career in 1985 with MacGuide magazine, joining the Macworld ranks in 1987. Tom's articles have appeared in several other magazines, and he has written more than a dozen books since 1994. A frequent speaker at Macworld Expo and other computer trade shows, Tom teaches seminars on Mac and Windows software.

Dori Smith is co-author of JavaScript for the WWW: Visual QuickStart Guide, 4th Edition, author of Java 2 for the WWW: Visual QuickStart Guide, and a contributor to numerous online and print computer industry magazines. She's a frequent speaker at industry conferences, belongs to the Steering Committee for the Web Standards Project, and serves as Publisher and ListMom for the Wise-Women's Web organization.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596005083
• ISBN-13: 978-0596005085
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Office Mac
  • #81 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Mac Administration

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for understanding Mac OS X and wireless tech, March 24, 2004

By 

Kirk McElhearn "Freelance writer and translator" (A town in the French Alps) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mac OS X Unwired: A Guide for Home, Office, and the Road (Paperback)

If only this book had been available when I started delving in wireless networking! While my network is simple - and getting the AirPort network up and running for my Macs was a breeze - it does involve a DSL modem, a switch, an AirPort base station acting as a bridge to a wired Ethernet network, and several computers, including PCs. I remember spending a fair amount of time when first setting it up to get everything working correctly, especially the link between the wired and wireless network. Negrino and Smith walk the reader through all the steps required to set up and configure an 802.11 network, and cover the sticky issues concerning IP addresses, DHCP addressing and many other acronyms that novice users may be unfamiliar with.

One of the strengths of this book is the authors' tone of voice. Negrino and Smith assume that the reader does not know a lot about the many protocols and acronyms used, and they explain these elements in a cool and patient manner. There is no talking down to the reader, nor is there any obfuscation. The explanations are clear and simple, and readers will be able to set up a wireless network - no matter how complex - with ease.

But the book goes beyond mere WiFi networking, with a thorough presentation of Bluetooth, cellular connectivity, Rendezvous and more. No matter which wireless technologies you want to use with Mac OS X, this book explains them in simple, non-geeky language.

As more people - even home users - have multiple computers, connecting them is the best way to leverage all their functions. Wireless networking is, as the authors say, "simple the most cost-effective and least obtrusive way to connect all of your computers." If you've been tempted by wireless networking, and have been hesitant, thinking that it's complex and complicated, invest in this book - it's the perfect toolkit for setting up all kinds of wireless networking with Mac OS X.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid end-user based introduction to WiFi and Bluetooth, April 30, 2004

By 

Jack D. Herrington "engineer and author" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mac OS X Unwired: A Guide for Home, Office, and the Road (Paperback)

This is a fairly comprehensive, if brief, book on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for Mac OS X. RF stuff is covered in an appendix at the end. From my read it's meant primarily for end-users. Advanced folks will probably get a tip here and there, but not much more.

Chapter by chapter; Chapter one is basic terminology and an overview. Chapter two covers Wi-Fi hardware. It does have a nifty fix for the Wi-Fi problems on the 15" TiBook. Chapter three covers base stations and antenas. Chapter four is a very brief look at Wi-Fi access from external sources, like Starbucks. The fifth, and last chapter on Wi-Fi, covers the basic protocol layer tools like SSH.

Chapter six covers Bluetooth, it's a good introduction but it's a little screenshot heavy. Chapter seven is on cell-phone connectivity, which is pretty cool new material. If you are serious about that you should get this book. Chapter eight is on rendevous and it's a nice, but short, introduction.

If you are just getting into Wi-Fi on Macintosh you should probably take a look at this book.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding., January 8, 2004

By 

Jason Illuran (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mac OS X Unwired: A Guide for Home, Office, and the Road (Paperback)

Dori and Tom have created a total guide to handling wireless networking and peripheral work that is just plain outstanding. If you've got a wireless card, or have bluetooth, and you've not played with it, or dabbled in it, or even if you've got a great understanding of WiFi and you're syncing your Bluetooth phone with a headset and your laptop, all the while using the phone's GPRS connection to post a review like this one, then this is a book for you.

They explain the complicated, but don't dumb it down entirely, so you've got an excellent contrast of approaches.

This is not one to miss.