Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible, Third Edition (Paperback)

~ Todd Stauffer (Author), Kirk McElhearn (Author) "Should you upgrade your Mac?..." (more)
Key Phrases: bronze keyboard, processor daughtercard, keyboard screws, Power Macintosh, Extensions Manager, System Preferences (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As David Pogue notes in the foreword to Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible, "The average Windows user must buy a new machine every two years; the average Mac fan keeps a Mac model running for five." One of the reasons that Macs outlive their competitors is their expandability and upgradability. With everything from software tips to detailed explanations of Mac hardware, the Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible will keep your Mac on the cutting edge for years to come (and save you some money in the process). But more importantly, author Todd Stauffer is concerned with personalizing Macs, adding bits of hardware and software that will allow you to record CDs, improve 3-D performance, or add a cable modem. The first two sections of this mammoth book consider the issues involved in making an upgrade decision and then engage the specific needs of a range of upgrades (from scanners to networking tools). The last two sections focus on troubleshooting--avoiding (or recovering from) bombs, freezes, or crashes. Throughout, Stauffer deftly moves from basic explanations to more complex technical matters when he compares, for example, IDE and SCSI hard-drive technology. Black-and-white photos accompanying the text are certain to take the jitters out of under-the-hood work. This is very much a hands-on guide for the serious user. The enclosed CD-ROM includes over 50 freeware, shareware, and demo tools such as Memory Mapper, CacheSaver, TattleTech, and Fonts Manager. --Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

* Totally revised and enhanced to cover major changes in the Mac market since 2000, including the revolutionary OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)
* Features complete information about the flat-panel iMac line, iBook and eBook, PowerBook G4, Power Macintosh G4, and the process of upgrading from OS 9 to OS X
* Includes coverage of MP3 players, iPod and iTunes, DVD-R, CD-R backup solutions, CD-RW, and much more
* The most complete and authoritative upgrade and repair manual available for Mac users, by a respected Mac expert
* CD-ROM is loaded with powerful utilities and money-saving coupons

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1150 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 3 edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764525948
• ISBN-13: 978-0764525940
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #704,132 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars better than Apple Service Source!, January 8, 2000

By	R. Mathusz "remat457" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Macworld Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible (Paperback)

This book is very good. It is one of the few books that is comprehesive of the entire Mac line (from the original mono-MAC to the iMAC). So many Mac books now only focus on the current models forgetting the earlier ones.

It is arranged by topic (memory, hd, input devices, etc.) and very easy to use. It is also suprisingly accurate. Twice I have found the information in the book's spec tables to be accurate where Apple's own ServiceSource specs were incorrect. (If only I had access to where they get their info!) :-)

Want to work on Macs? Get this book!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource; makes the technical simple!, March 15, 1999

By	Owen W. Linzmayer (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Macworld Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible (Paperback)

As MacAddict's Ask Us columnist and author of Apple Confidential, I'm happy to recommend Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible by Todd Stauffer. This massive 942-page paperback helps you identify the bottlenecks in your system, then plan, perform, and troubleshoot the entire upgrade process. Stauffer not only covers increasing your raw processing power by replacing your Mac's CPU, he also discusses the pros and cons of adding memory, hard drives, input devices, networking capability, and a whole range of peripheral possibilities. At just $39.99, Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible is a lot cheaper and more reliable than most consultants, plus it comes with a CD-ROM loaded with more than 50 useful freeware, shareware, and demo tools.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Todd, December 12, 1999

By	Charles R. Dewey "chuckwagen" (Phoenixville, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Macworld Mac Upgrade and Repair Bible (Paperback)

If your Mac's out of warranty, you have nothing to lose by trying to fix it yourself. Stauffer's the man when it comes to clear explanations of needed repairs. I replaced the hard drive and CD-ROM drive following his book's advice. The book paid for itself.