Macs All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) [Paperback]

Wallace Wang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 26, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0470169575 | ISBN-13: 978-0470169575 | Edition: 1

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Mac! Whether you’ve just decided to switch from Windows or you’ve been using a Mac for awhile and want to take advantage of all its bells and whistles, Macs All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies is the perfect guidebook to Mac land.

You probably already know that Macs were made for media. There’s iPhoto for organizing, editing, and sharing your digital photos; iMovie to let you become a moviemaker; iDVD for preserving that movie and playing your favorites; and of course, iTunes for managing your music. But your Mac is just as happy creating documents, browsing the Internet, putting together cool presentations, or even crunching numbers. This guide shows you how to use all those applications and more. Seven minibooks cover Mac basics; working with photos, movies, and music; using the Internet; working with iLife and iWork applications; various other Mac programs; time-saving tips; and networking. You’ll discover how to

• Set up and customize a new Mac
• Get online, choose a browser, configure an e-mail account, and instant-message with iChat
• Handle Mac security and troubleshoot problems
• Create a Web site with iWeb and get it online
• Back up your files, sync your stuff, and manage your life with your Mac
• Network your Mac with other computers, even PCs, and share files, printers, and more

Even if you’re a seasoned Mac veteran, we bet you’ll find some things here you didn’t know! And you’ll refer to this book again and again.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

7 books in 1 — your key to Mac happiness

Your one-stop guide to the Mac, plus tips for switching from Windows

Want to enjoy a marvelous relationship with your Mac? Everything you need to know is in one of these minibooks. Find out how to turn on your Mac, store and organize audio and video files, browse the Internet, create presentations and crunch numbers with iWork applications, connect your Mac to a local network, and much more.

Discover how to:

• Set up and customize your Mac

• Send and receive e-mail

• Have fun with iLife and work wonders with iWork

• Store and organize digital photos, videos, and music

• Troubleshoot problems and protect your Mac

About the Author

Wallace Wang is the bestselling author of more than 20 For Dummies books. He moonlights as a stand-up comic and has appeared on A&E's An Evening at the Improv.

Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (February 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470169575
• ISBN-13: 978-0470169575
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I may be the only computer book author who hates computers. I love what computers can do but I hate the fact that they're so complicated, hard to use, unreliable, and downright troublesome. Besides writing computer books, I also enjoy performing stand-up comedy just to do something creative that involves human beings as opposed to machines.

I've been involved in computers, stand-up comedy, teaching, writing, and game designing for most of my life. In the computer industry, I've written over 50 computer books. Initially I focused primarily on Microsoft products such as Visual Basic and Microsoft Office. Later I switched focus to the Macintosh, iPhone, and iPad as I've watched the trend of computing shift from the PC/Microsoft dominated world to the mobile/Apple-influenced world. I've also shifted my programming focus from Delphi/Pascal and Visual Basic to Objective-C and LiveCode (a HyperCard clone) to create Macintosh and iPhone/iPad programs.

In the stand-up comedy world, I've been performing stand-up comedy for over 20 years, having appeared on A&E's "Evening at the Improv" and SiTV's "Latino Laugh Festival" along with appearing at the Riviera Comedy Club in Las Vegas. Currently I'm focusing my comedic writing skills towards occasional comedy performances but mostly towards screenwriting. You can read my screenwriting blog at The 15 Minute Movie Method (www.15minutemoviemethod.com). I've collected the best ideas from my screenwriting blog and condensed them into an e-book also called "The 15-Minute Movie Method," which is available as an e-book.

In 1992, I got my first cat and after reading a basic cat care book, I found that none of the advice offered had any basis in reality for dealing with the quirks and whims of a real cat. Based on that experience, I wrote a parody of a cat care book called "How to Live with a Cat (When You Really Don't Want To)." This book is now available as an e-book.

In the teaching world, I've taught at community colleges around San Diego as well as teaching at the University of Zimbabwe in Africa. Currently I teach an online Microsoft Word course through a company called Ed2Go.

In the writing world, I've written for several magazines including Computer Power User (CPU), Boardwatch Magazine, and Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities. I also write a weekly Macintosh column in an online computer magazine called ComputorEdge (www.computoredge.com). In addition, I've ghost written several books for real estate experts, stock day trading specialists, and network marketing millionaires. In 2008, I also helped San Diego State University's film department win their first student Emmy when they filmed my sitcom pilot, "Three of a Kind."

In the game designing world, I've created and published a game in 1983 called "Orbit War," which was published by Steve Jackson Games (the game is now out of print). The game simulated low orbital combat between satellites. I'm currently designing educational games for teaching various college level topics such as organic chemistry, calculus, and geometry.

I'm interested in always learning something new and combining my various skills and experience to stay ahead of changing technology and I enjoy writing about complex topics and making them easy to understand.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just for Dummies!, December 30, 2008

By 

J. R. Donaldson "JRobin" (Anchorage, AK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Macs All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

PRO: quick referencing at your fingertips, tangible, no electricity required! thorough table of contents and index.

CON: it's heavy, the title is embarrassing,

Despite the title of this book, the `Dummies' part, it is an extremely useful reference book for long-term users of Apple computers as well as the newbie and / or PC converts. This reverence book takes the reader through the Mac basics it a very friendly, readable way. I've been working with Macs for 20 years, since the early 80s when they were first made available and I thought I knew my Apple product. But we must remember that the geniuses as Apple continue to tinker with and improve upon the software of the product as well as the hardware. Therefore, there are always new things to learn, new short cuts, new tips, etc. The world of Apple computing is as organic as an organization and it's products can get.

Apple niche is the ease at which these computers handle the media world. So one big advantage this reference book has over others; ie, Using Mac OS X Leopard.doc, is that it also covers the use of the basic applications that come as standard with every Apple computer. The publishers actually claim that there are 7 mini-books within this one reference that cover Mac basics; working with photos, movies, and music; using the Internet; working with iLife and iWork applications; various other Mac programs; time-saving tips; and networking.

Oh my gosh, if you have the time and the inclination, the detail in which this book goes into telling the reader the pros and cons of one of these basic applications, just when, where and the how of using them as well is a breath of fresh air. I have learned more tidbits just thumbing through the pages. It's not only amazing, it's fun; it's refreshing; and it is addictive. Actually knowing the ins, outs and short cuts is what turns an interested buyer of an Apple computer into an enthusiastic fanatics. And believe me, Mac addicts are known for their devotion to the machine. It's the programmers who keep us hooked!

To be able to take advantage of all the bells and whistles for which Apple computers have become known, you need to know them. This reference book also works as a guide for these, offering useful "Tip" on just about every page. You will find this book is not only well written but also well illustrated.

The purpose of a reference book is to have it readily available when that one question arises for which a physical book is invaluable, especially if that question covers something to do with your inoperable computer! I know that I refer to this book fairly consistently and certainly over and over again and again.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Macs for Dummies, June 2, 2009

By 

J. Saldivar - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Macs All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

I purchased this book to keep as a reference after I purchased my new Mac. I have very pleased with this book. I find that it is easy to read and explains in step by step directions many different procedures. Since receiving this book, I have gotten more out of my Mac & hope to discover more in the future.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars macs for dummies, November 4, 2008

By 

Margaret J. Tate - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Macs All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

this book came in very very good condition - delivery was before expected very reliable vendor