Customer Reviews

Robin Williams Mac OS X Book, The, Jaguar Edition (2nd Edition)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Robin Williams is a goddess when it comes to useful books for beginners, this book and "The Mac Is Not A Typewriter" are the two books I tell all new Mac owners to buy. Apple should just bundle the two of them in the box and hire Robin to write all their documentation.

This book is informative, fun, insightful, useful, well written, well designed and everything you'd hope for in a book that is going to sit next to the most amazing computer of all time. (Sorry, was I gushing.) Robin spends a great deal of time explaining the inner workings of your computer in very readable, informative way.

Always a good book the rewrite for Mac OS X has just added to its appeal - I've been using a Mac for more than ten years, OS X for more than 6 months and Robin taught me several things about my Mac and the new OS.

If you often find yourself recommending the Mac to friends (and I know I do) buy them a copy of this book the moment you hear about their new purchase. It will save them many headaches, ease their path into "The Macintosh Way" and you'll get a lot less phone calls.

REVIEW: ROBIN WILLIAMS MAC OS X BOOK

Robin Williams Mac OS X Book Jaguar Edition is probably the best book to recommend to a new Macintosh user with little or no prior computer experience. It describes how to use Macintosh OS X simply and clearly, and tells the new user what results to expect. It does not, however, talk down to new users. If an example shows a document, the content of the document shows some creativity and class.

A follow the dots tutorial skips around so the new user can learn the essentials in just 186 pages. The dots are half circles that bleed to the edge of the page so they are easy to find, and the information is still organized so that you can find it later with more advanced information on the subjects. A beginner who completes the 186 page tutorial will have a better base for using a Macintosh than many more experienced users.

In sports, coaches spend a lot of time going over the basics, the fundamentals, even with professional athletes. Robin Williams Mac OS X Book Jaguar Edition provides thorough coverage of the basics that will improve the performance of any user. I have twenty years of experience with Apple computers, am probably an intermediate user, and have read other Mac OS X books, and Robin Williams Mac OS X Book contained many very useful ideas that were new to me.

An example of the thoughtful instructions for beginners, "When you see and instruction like Command + Shift + B do not type the pluses."

An example of something I had read before, but not used as I should, in any finder window view you can quickly go to and select an item by keying the first few letters.

An example of something new to me, you can create a new icon for a file and the Macintosh will adjust the image size to fit.

The Robin Williams Mac OS X Book contains clear easy to understand information about Mac OS X features such as the login process and login options. I like the way Robin writes and makes a friend of the reader.

I liked Robins description of the font collections available in programs written specifically for Mac OS X not for both Mac OS X and OS 9. "Whoever made up the names for these collections certainly did not know anything about type." Following her directions and examples, I have reorganized my collections.

I have recommended David Pogue's Mac OS X: The Missing Manual to all kinds of readers, as I am sure many other user group members have done. But, after reading Robin Williams Mac OS X Book, I would recommend it as the first choice for new Macintosh owners without a lot of computer experience. I still recommend David's book as the first choice for experienced users. It is worth buying both books, or at least reading both from your user group library.

I own Mac OS X: The Missing Manual Second Edition(by David Pogue published by O'Reilly) and would not part with it. I have ordered my own copy of Robin Williams Mac OS X Book using the Peachpit Press user group member discount. ..

Robin Williams is the most skillful writer of manuals for the Mac and publishing. As the cover says, this new book is for Beginning and Intermediate users of Macs equipped with the new MacOS 10.1 operating system. You'll be guided by a charming writer through the simplest steps into full use of most things provided by Apple. A Mac pro new to OS X can start with Appendix A and easily browse elsewhere to get up to speed on the strange new file, window, and menu systems (use the 12 page TOC and 49 page Index to reach many "eureka" moments).

Following a mini-glosssary, the first 19 chapters-including a tutorial and word processing basics-are for new Mac converts. Rank beginners need only follow the special grey-edged pages. The next 10 chapters cover easy customizing, iTunes music, iMovie making, and the built-in utility applications (most of which Williams suggests you don't touch). Another eight chapters take you through setting up and using the internet, including the free iTools website, file sharing, connecting two computers, and email eitquette (please!). The final three chapters cover ports, partitions, and using the built-in "Classic " (OS 9) system that will run all your old programs. Short chapter quizzes serve as summaries. At 822 pages this latest edition in her series is no longer a one-handed "Little Mac Book," but still it lies open pretty flat.

This is not the book to find Macintosh history, instability and compatibility issues, discussion of available programs, or anything about its base in Unix. Networking is limited to connecting two home computers. There are no troubleshooting procedures, but if you follow William's exquisitely clear and witty instructions to the letter you won't have much trouble, will you? While much of her information is available somewhere in Mac Help on your computer, it is better organized and much more visual here.

Peachpit Press has high typographic standards and reasonable prices. This is a lovely, clear, crisp looking book, although spell checking was a bit hasty. Her classic "The Mac [or PC] Is Not A Typewriter" was the best thing since a typing course, and this new book is arguably the most readable of the OS X manuals.

Trust Robin Williams to create the most user-friendly of books on whatever subject she chooses to write about. Fortunately for Mac users, she chooses to write about Macs most of the time. If you have never used a computer before, or are an average user making the switch from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X, you cannot find a better book as your guide for the experience. Multiple screen shots, clearly explained terms, separate explanations for beginners and experienced users where appropriate, and impeccable formatting are hallmarks of this book. For novice to intermediate users.

This book is truly the very best book about any OS I have ever read and I have read well over 100. The author shows you exactly how to do whatever is able to be done on the computer . This is my first Mac after many Windows machines and this book has really explained everything. Robin Williams knows how to teach. I own about 12 books on Win98 and all of them put together DO NOT contain this much precise information on how to use a computer. She makes it so easy to love my new Mac.

First of all, let me say that I am not a computer whiz, though neither do I approach every new computer task with trepidation. Before I got this book, I had been able to install OS X, and to operate it for a couple of weeks. So I was looking for some pointers on how to extend my skills and knowledge of the new OS. I can't say I got quite what I was looking for.
This is a great book, if you are a total Mac and/or computer novice. If you're familiar with basics like icons, menus and the like, you'll find a lot of filler in this book. That's not to say that it doesn't have some useful stuff for the intermediate level user (like I consider myself to be) but the majority of the book is apparently targeting a different audience.
I'm now sending the (still mint condition) book to a friend who only recently decided to take the plunge and to get himself a computer at home, and who wisely opted for a Mac.

I am a great fan of Robin Wliliams' books and I think I own every book she has published. This book has the same strengths as her others. She presents information in English, not tech speak, and makes it much simpler to understand, e.g. for the first time I now know how to tell a crossover from a straight ethernet cable. Some may say it is too basic, but while I have found the transition to X not very difficult, I have picked up a number of tips I would have missed. She also covers things not covered elsewhere, notably iTools and has a major discussion of iTunes. Williams uses lots of screen shots so you can compare her picture with what is on your screen. While some may consider it mundane, another strength of her books are the indexes. This one doesn't disappoint--as always, it's very thorough and her use of bold titles makes it much easier to find things. If you are a power user and want to know about terminal and how to use UNIX, this book won't help, but if you are a beginner to intermediate user, GET THIS BOOK!

If you are not familiar with OS X and you want someone to take you by the hand and teach you all there is to know about OS X this is the book. Ms. Williams took me by the hand with my first iMac three years ago and she did it again. The best part is that she shows you pictures in the book that actually show up on your computer screen. I have never had a question that I could not answer from some part of the book. She covers it all!

This book is fantastic--best technical and instructive book I have ever read! I never thought I would not be able to put down a computer book, but that is the case with it. It gets down to the basics basic. I recommend it for anyone--especially anyone new to Macs. Brava for Robin Williams!!

Only goes through OS 10.1 & 10.2 has many changes.