Apple Training Series: Desktop and Portable Systems (Paperback)

~ Peachpit Press (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With today's multiplatform, multisoftware, multieverything computing environments, as a computer support professional you¿re expected to know everything about every component that makes up your environment. For Apple hardware, this book provides the solution! With lessons keyed to the learning objectives of the AppleCare Service Technician Portable and Desktop Systems certification exam, this guide is both the perfect supplement to Apple's own training class as well as a first-rate primer for computer support personnel who need to troubleshoot Macs as part of their jobs. The self-paced, step-by-step volume begins with an introduction to troubleshooting tools and practices before moving on to an exploration of common hardware and underlying technologies (LCDs, CRTs, networks, and more). Once grounded, you'll delve into the nitty-gritty operation of Apple's various desktop and portable computer models. Along the way you'll find self-quizzes and chapter tests to reinforce the knowledge. The accompanying DVD includes four service manuals with complete documentation and diagnostic tools for repairing a sample iBook, desktop Mac, PowerBook, and iMac.

Product Details

• Paperback: 864 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (June 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321256115
• ISBN-13: 978-0321256119
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #764,043 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #63 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Apple > Desktop Publishing
  #91 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Maintenance, Repair & Upgrading

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Apple Hardware Manual, January 7, 2005

By	V. Maciulski - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is part of the AppleCare training curriculum, designed to be a training manual for people who want to get certified by Apple to be an AppleCare-certified technician. As such, each chapter in the book is a Lesson. Early lessons cover topices such as "General Troubleshooting Theory," and "Safe Working Procedures and General Maintenance."

Lessons 5 through 10 cover common hardware and technologies, including basic computer theory , underlying technologies, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), cathode-ray tubes (CRTs), wired networking and wireless networking.

If you are a person who likes to do your own upgrading and maintenance of your Mac, you'll find this book very helpful. Likewise, if you want to make your living taking apart Macs and replacing parts as repair or upgrade.

This book does not cover Operating Systems. If you want to solve a problem in OS 9 or OS X, you need a different book. But, if you want to see the "Take-Aparts" for certain Mac models, including iMacs, iBooks, mini-towers and PowerBooks, this is for you. Both CRT-based and Flat-Panel based computers are covered.

There is a good section on how to search the AppleCare knowledge base, and doing advanced searches. They recommend you bookmark Apple Knowledge Base document 75178, as it gives good info on how to use keywords to search the Knowledge Base. And another section on locating Apple replacement parts.

The main reason this book has over 800 pages is the copious amount of photos. They support the step-by -step instructions for installing or replacing hard drives, optical drives, RAM, Airport Cards, etc.

I'm glad I got this book, as it will be useful when I want to upgrade the hard drive on our G4 flat-panel iMac and add a second hard drive to my G5 desktop.

Apple states in the beginning of the book, "Whether you are an experienced technician or someone who just wants to dig deep into a Macintosh, you'll find in-depth technical service information as well as a comprenhensive overview of the service tools and procedures used by AppleCare-certified technicians to diagnose, upgrade and maintain Macintosh computers."

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally - Real Apple Certification Books!, July 6, 2004

By	Brandon Edling "sapridyne" (Lawrence, KS United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book (along with books for Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist, Apple Certified Technical Coordinator, and Apple Certified Systems Administrator) has been sorely needed for the past few years. The book is a big one -- chock full of well written information and excellent illustrations.

I suggest purchasing the $299 technical training kit from Apple as well as this book (the web materials, available through the kit, are referrenced often and are helpful during many exercises). All in all, good book if you want to become ACDT and/or ACPT.

Peachpit is releasing a book for the ACHDS at the end of July... and hopefully books for the ACTC and ACSA as well.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything in one Book, November 26, 2004

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Apple makes it very simple. If you are not certified by Apple and you do almost anything inside of an Apple computer and the warranty is void. This is the book that Apple uses in their certification classes for desktop and portable systems.

Apple has integrated their service effort and procedures together just as well as they did their hardware. So part of this manual is how to use their on-line service aids as well as the software tools that they have produced to aid the service technician.

There are some distinct advantages to Apple's approach of having one vendor for the whole system. The motherboards, for instance, are all designed around common design criteria, common interface structure, and specialized to operate with common software. Common service techniques are another advantage. Here in one book everything can be covered from wireless lan to displays to motherboards. Compared with the PC where everything might be from a different vendor, you only need one book. And for service, this is it.