Mac OS in a Nutshell: A Power User's Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) [Paperback]

Rita Lewis (Author), Bill Fishman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With Macintosh products earning more devotees every day, there's ever- increasing demand for a high-quality book that welcomes new users without being overly simple. Mac OS in a Nutshell mostly takes a basic approach to the Mac OS, going into detail on the core (pun intended) UI and its built-in productivity and customization tools. Rita Lewis explains even the most basic Mac facts--such as how to create and rename folders--but, unlike many of her book's competitors, doesn't stop there. Readers will find this book useful after they graduate from novice status, because Lewis digs into harder subjects, such as fonts and networking. In these sections, Lewis shows how to get things done, but also explains a fair bit about underlying technologies (in the case of networking) and good style (in the case of typography).

Better coverage of AppleScript would make this book better--as it is, the volume hardly touches on the powerful do-it-yourself programming language. Also, the section on Internet connectivity assumes that you'll be hooking up by using an old-fashioned analog modem; with broadband connectivity becoming more popular, it should receive some attention. These are trivial problems, however. Overall, Lewis does a great job of showing new Mac OS users how to become familiar with (and then master) their computing environment. --David Wall

Topics covered: Mac OS 8.5 and Mac OS 9, covered from the point of view of an everyday user of the OS. Beginning with user-interface fundamentals, the author progresses through Control Panel applets, file management, fonts and printing, local area network (LAN) connectivity, Internet hookups, and multimedia.

Product Description

O'Reilly's "In a Nutshell" series revolutionized computer book publishing with their common-sense approach, depth of detail, and focus on practical information that's of real use. This style is perfect for both intuitive and deep Macintosh users. If it's true that "you can learn the Mac in two hours," it is also true that this operating system has hidden depths. Mac OS in a Nutshell plumbs those depths for readers who want to know the Mac OS and its integrated system of hardware and software inside and out. Up-to-date with information on the iMac and System9, Mac OS in a Nutshell opens the world of Apple computing to a new audience. It contains:

• New changes for Mac OS 9, including information on the revamped Sherlock
• A fast-paced introduction to the operating system for new users
• Detailed documentation on User Interface, including clipboard and memory management, plus a look at almost every command and utility available with Mac OS, including window behaviors, universal commands, and important documentation on programs such as QuickTime
• Detailed advice and documentation on multimedia and printing, including color management and fonts
• A detailed treatment of Internet configuration and access via Dial-Up Networking; also covers peer-to-peer and client-server file sharing
• Lots of tips, gotchas, and clever ways to do familiar and not-so-familiar tasks
• Pointers to useful online sites for additional information

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 396 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565925335
• ISBN-13: 978-1565925335
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #3,067,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well done, a good addition to the Nutshell series, July 8, 2000

By	B. Drummonds "Depeche Mode fan" (Austin,TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mac OS in a Nutshell: A Power User's Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) (Paperback)

I found this book to have full coverage of the Mac OS and many utilities. The book goes into many aspects of the system providing the friendly full featured Mac OS. This book is intended to give some technical knowledge to the reader, and it does it well. The only thing that I find it lacked was more meaty system level details, but I still think that it was a good overall look. Very good book about a great OS!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What a let down, August 16, 2000

By	Jim W. Everson "Jim Everson" (San Rafael, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Mac OS in a Nutshell: A Power User's Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) (Paperback)

I placed my order for this book on Amazon in April 1999! Over one year later, it finally arrived on my doorstep. I just finished the EXCELLENT Lingo and Director in a Nutshell books and was looking for the same level of analysis for my preferred OS. I didn't get it. Yes, this is a fine book for beginners, but anyone who has used a Mac for over a year will find little to add to what they have learned through day to day use. As a Mac user, I am not crazy about the choice of a chimp on the book's cover. Is the implication that even a chimp can use the MacOS? It actually comes across as saying the Mac is "not as highly evolved as other OSs" and "Only a monkey would use this product." Let's hope O'Reilly has an excellent OS X book in the pipe to make up for this one.

2.0 out of 5 stars Overrated, June 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mac OS in a Nutshell: A Power User's Quick Reference (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)) (Paperback)

I should have waited to browse the book in a store before ordering online. This book is clearly inferior to rival products, such as in The Missing Manual series. Many practical tips in the latter are missed entirely in this one. Also, the English in this book is substandard, which sometimes makes it unclear what is being affirmed.