The iMac for Dummies [Paperback]

David Pogue (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Computer/Tech) | Publication Date: December 1998

Award-winning author David Pogue, who wrote the top-selling "Macs For

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Widely regarded as the greatest thing to come out of Apple Computer since the original Macintosh, the iMac is drawing thousands of new people into personal computing with its easy setup and friendly interface. While it's loaded with useful information, this guide doesn't overwhelm new and tentative iMac users. The book assumes that readers know nothing about the iMac and teaches skills that will allow them to explore the computer's capabilities without assistance--all while spouting wry humor.

The book begins its instruction by helping you pull the iMac out of its shipping box, hook up its cables, and turn it on. The author briefly but thoroughly explains how to use the mouse, how to identify and use various interface elements, and what various computer components (such as disk drives) are for. Slightly more complicated features, such as cutting, pasting, and printing, come next, followed by an explanation of the software that ships with the iMac and a good introduction to the Internet. Author David Pogue has a ton of experience writing about the Macintosh--he writes for MacWorld and is the author of the highly regarded Macs for Dummies. Pogue's light, welcoming style is perfect for newcomers. --David Wall

From Library Journal

For your Mac community, you can't go wrong with these titles. Linzmayer's Apple Confidential is an unofficial history of Apple and a great read. Pogue's MacWorld Mac Secrets explains all the oddities about any Mac still in use, while his iMac guide follows the format of the "Dummies" series. Poole's MacWorld Mac OS 8.5 Bible completely explains Mac 8.5, the newest operating system upgrade.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc (Computers) (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764504959
• ISBN-13: 978-0764504952
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,233,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Pogue is the personal-technology columnist for the New York Times. Each week, he contributes a print column, an online column and an online video. His daily blog, "Pogue's Posts," is the Times's most popular blog. David is also an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News and a frequent guest on NPR's "Morning Edition." His trademark comic tech videos appear each Thursday morning on CNBC. With over 3 million books in print, David is one of the world's bestselling how-to authors. He launched his own series of complete, funny computer books called the Missing Manual series, which now includes 60 titles. David graduated summa cum laude from Yale in 1985, with distinction in Music, and he spent ten years conducting and arranging Broadway musicals in New York. He's been profiled on both "48 Hours" and "60 Minutes."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF MACS FOR DUMMIES, December 28, 1999

By 

Dave - See all my reviews

This review is from: The iMac for Dummies (Paperback)

I recieved this book for Christmas and I am giving it five stars even though I was very dissappointed with it. This s a great book if you have never owned a Macintosh before. But if you have had a Macintosh before skip it. For it is nothing more than a revised edition of David Pogue's other book, Macs for Dummies (The book I cut my Mac teeth on.)

My favorite tip from the book, by the way, is to put an alias (you'll learn what that is and how to create one in the first few chapters) in a file called Start Up Items. Each time you start your computer, every item (like say America On Line) will be launched automatically.

But again, if you know how to use a Macintosh, this book isn't going to help you with the iMac...

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous, friendly, common sense book for real people., March 23, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (San Luis Obispo, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The iMac for Dummies (Paperback)

Last night, I bought and began reading "iMac for Dummies" by David Pogue. OK, I'm no computer wizard. I'm from an older generation that has had to learn this stuff like a second language. Nonetheless, I must exclaim with glee that simply reading thie iMac for Dummies book is more fun than anything I've ever DONE on a Wintel machine and one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done with computers. I have purchased several different Dummies type books for Word, Windows, DOS, etc., over the years. Never, ever has one come close to being this readable. After one night and morning of reading, I feel I am user-friendly with Macs. Contrast this with the countless hours (years) I spent planted in front of Windows programs, jaw clenched, with three books spread in my lap and trying in vain to solve indecipeherable error messages, glitches and crashes. Suddenly, it seems absurd how simple computing might really be and could have been all along. I am beginning to get a feeling--a strong feeling--that one can actually have a good time on a computer. Mac fever. Bless Mr. Pogue and Apple for rescuing us from the dark side of the force. I can sleep safely now, iMac and Dummies book by my bed, knowing that my family is safe from the evil Wintel demon. Seriously, kudos to Mr. Pogue for writing an emminently successful and accessible book on personal computers "for the rest of us."

Jeffrey Teuber

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are switching from a PC to an iMac, BUY THIS BOOK, October 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The iMac for Dummies (Paperback)

If you are already a Macintosh user and say things like Windows95 is Apple 84, then you can skip this book. If you have Pogue's other book, MACS FOR DUMMIES, you can skip it as well. (You will want IDG's OTHER iMac Book: MY iMAC.) If however, the iMac is your first Macintosh book, This is the book for you. In it you will such important information like what an alias is, how to create one, and why you would need to. What items in your system folder you can trash, and what you should never ever even entertain the thought of trashing. The book is funny and practical. I turn to mine time after time.