Customer Reviews

iPad Made Simple

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The size of this book caused me to wonder how could someone write a book about the iPad that was several times larger than the iPad. While the book is not a fictional story about the iPad, it is the equivalent of an encyclopedia for the iPad.

The book is extremely well organized with ideas about using both the basic as well as unknown iPad functionality combined with tips on how to get even more value and fun from your iPad. iPad users will enjoy it very much.

If you want to learn how to operate and customize your new iPad, this is a book with so much coverage on features of iPad--from Wi-Fi connection to read iBook, from syncing your iPad with iTunes to creating documents with iWork, from using Email to watch TV shows. The book also has a very good section on troubleshooting tips and social networking. Each section of this book has plenty of step-by-step visual aid --made the learning process really simple.

I have read 4-5 iPad books and this is by far the best one (I also ordered the e-book version but was not at all happy with it). I like it so much that I've pre-ordered the "iPhone 4 Made Simple" book by the same authors. If it's as good as this book, I'll be very pleased.

I am one of those people that actually reads Users Manuals that come with devices. I read the 'e' one that Apple provided for the iPad, plus ordered a few others. I too was initially put off by the size. BUT - after perusing and checking out the others purchased at Amazon... this is the one I keep, USE & KEEP referring to, because it's the only one that has answers to most of the questions or issues that came up. In addition, if you 'register', the authors send hints & tips (in the book) via email. Two times now when I had a technical issue, or problem - I contacted Apple support, forums etc. ZERO help! The authors were the only ones that got back to me with REAL ANSWERS vs 'I don't know'. Great book, REALLY worth the $.

This was by far the best iPad book I have read to date and I have quite a few. It's detailed instruction with examples are one of the main reasons it stood out. I sat with my iPad next to me trying each tip and instruction out and was amazed with the results. I look forward to future issues as well as the occasional tips they send out.

"iPad Made Simple" is a case where appearances can be deceiving. When I got this book, I thought "but, but, it's bigger and heavier than the iPad." I wondered what there could possibly be to say in so many pages. Then I started reading. There are three reasons the book is so thick. There are LOADS of screenshots, coverage of common apps and a 70 page intro to iTunes.

What I liked best
1) The screenshots. Now I'm a techie and wound up flipping through them after a while. But for things that weren't obvious like how to select text, the screenshots were great to have.
2) The 35 page quickstart guide at the beginning.
3) The excellent coverage of what apps to look into including a comparison of leading competitors.
4) The tips - synching calendar, free internet radio, etc
5) Advanced features - voiceover
6) Seeing the word "accelerometer" is a book for beginners - don't worry - they define it

What I would have liked better
1) The physical size being smaller - I read on the train, so it was a bit inconvenient.
2) It is so specific that it may be out of date faster. For example, if Apple pushes an update to support running more than one app at once.
3) I did notice one or two typos, but they weren't significant.

I also read "iPad Portable Geniius" so my recommendation includes when to buy each of the books. The price is only $5 different so that isn't a factor. If you already know about the iPad, want some tips and want to read it on your lap, get "iPad Portable Genius." If you are new to the iPad or plan to read it on a table, get "iPad Made Simple." Either way, enjoy your new iPad!
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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing this review on behalf of JavaRanch/CodeRanch.

The last time I reviewed a book by Gary Mazo he was my Talmud teacher. Today, he's the gaon of mobile computing.

It's easy to joke about a book called "Made Simple" that weighs in at 600 pages. That's because it is really dozens of small, self-contained, simple, well-written demonstrations of iPad functions and features. As others have pointed out it is a book for beginners--like me. That is, for Apple beginners. I've been working on a PC since 1983 and I've written a couple of books on how to document software and technology. But, in truth, I have never owned a Mac, or an Iphone. Therefore, NOTHING about the iPad is intuitive to me. Nothing--the browser, the navigation, the operating system--made sense to me until I dug into Mazo's book and learned to develop the appropriate repertoire of moves.

I should also remark that iPad Made Simple also shows clearly what's wrong with the iPad. (I wrote twenty years ago that a user's manual is a compendium of everything wrong with the user interface.) IPad won't open Flash websites. It won't let you do the most basic saving and organizing activities without synching to Itunes. And there's no way to simply plug in a USB device and copy files and data to your pad.So, for all those used to the logical way to perform these functions in Windows, Mazo's book teaches you clearly the clumsy things you need to do--instead of the logical things the OS doesn't support.

The Made Simple template is an exceedingly good model for user doc. Though not as interesting to study as the Talmud.
How To Write Usable User Documentation: Second Edition

iPad Made Simple

Just like the title says: This book makes learning how to use the iPad and all its capabilities sooooo simple.
It takes you from the very beginning of setting up your
iPad to the billing process to what all the symbols and keys mean. The quick start guide gives you the basics to start using your iPad right away. The front and back covers, table of contents and index give you easy methods to find info. It features screenshots with a little hand pointing to every detail, and tips in gray boxes that are very helpful. Whatever your looking for from iTunes, entertainment, traffic info, maps, games, and any app available, this book has it all covered very simply. It is a great reference manual and I highly recommend it.

I had never owned an Apple product before I got an iPad. This book gave me a good head start on using my new iPad. Contains a lot of information but is organized so you can quickly find the information you need. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get the most out of their iPad.