The Little Mac OS X Book (Little Book) (Paperback)

by Robin Williams (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
There's always been more to the Macintosh than the ability to make calculations, store files, and connect to the Internet. A community has grown up around the Mac's (always smartly designed) products and (usually intelligent) software. No one, with the possible exception of David Pogue, understands this better than Robin Williams (no, not that Robin Williams--the author of this book is female, for starters). The Little Mac OS X Book is the latest revision in her series of Little Mac books. Like its predecessors, this one welcomes its readers into the community of Mac users while showing them how to use their hardware, software, and the resources to which they can connect.

Although it's well suited for use in an academic environment, with review questions at the conclusion of each chapter, this book is equally good for independent Mac users in need of a home or office reference. The designers of this book have done a great job of presenting screen shots. They're not just lobbed into place as they are in many volumes; rather, they're of modest size and have their key features (buttons, or whatever is under discussion at the moment) highlighted with circles and labels. Williams completely neglects the command-line interface of the Unix core ("Darwin") that underlies Mac OS X, and devotes only a paragraph (with no specifics) to setting up a high-speed DSL or cable connection to the Internet. However, if you're only interested in the graphical user interface, you'll find her treatment of Mac OS X more than acceptable. --David Wall

Topics covered: Mac OS X 10.1, from the point of view of a user or (perhaps) a corporate system administrator. Coverage goes all the way from keyboard and mouse basics ("What's the Delete key for?") to setting up a home network with an AirPort hub and wireless network access cards.

Product Description
The Little Mac OS X BookNo other author documents the Mac OS the way Robin Williams does. In The Little Mac OS X Book, she brings her inimitable approach to Apple's radically redesigned OS, eschewing jargon for straightforward explanations and a good dose of humor. It's an approach that works equally as well for newcomers looking for a gentle introduction to the Macintosh as it does for experienced Mac users upgrading to OS X.

This practical, how-to guide covers all the exciting new features in Mac OS X, including the new window structure and the Dock (a combination of the control strip, Apple menu, and Application Switcher), and how to use them with common Macintosh applications. Robin doesn't neglect the basics either. You'll find logical, easy-to-follow sections on how to use your Mac for a variety of everyday tasks: printing, sending email, exchanging files, and surfing the Web. And for those frustrating moments When Things Go Wrong, Robin has compiled a troubleshooting guide for common Mac snafus. See for yourself why Robin's Little Mac series has won her millions of fans.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 824 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (January 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201748665
• ISBN-13: 978-0201748666
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #879,757 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Williams does it again, February 6, 2002

By	A Williams "honestpuck" (Neutral Bay, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robin Williams Mac OS X Book or The Missing Manual?, May 22, 2003

By	Hartley J. Jackson (Lyndonville, VT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Robin Williams Mac OS X Book, The, Jaguar Edition (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

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. ..

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE Starter Book, April 27, 2002

By	tertius3 (MI United States) - See all my reviews

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.