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| Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual | 
 enlarge | Author: David Pogue
Publisher: Pogue Press
Category: Book
List Price: $34.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  144 reviews
Sales Rank: 461
Format: Illustrated
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 912
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 7 x 1.9
ISBN: 059652952X
Dewey Decimal Number: 005.4465
EAN: 9780596529529
ASIN: 059652952X
Publication Date: December 15, 2007
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| Customer Reviews:
 Excellent, thorough but misses bugs and gothca's January 4, 2008
23 out of 28 found this review helpful
David Pogue is one of my favorite technology writers; I read all his NYTimes columns and frequently his blogs.
He shows his skills and knowledge here; the "Leopard" book is an excellent reference (as is the related iMovie/iDVD missing manual). It is thorough without being dry, is accessible enough to pull off the near-impossible of being useful to newcomers, "migrators", and long-time Mac users. It is also pragmatic, rather than being a feature list. The index is well done.
I'd recommend this book for anyone using or about to use Mac OS X.
I have one criticism: Pogue is a Mac-cheerleader and thus his book doesn't truly fulfill the promise that an "independent manual" would in telling you about the problems, bugs, and gotcha's the manufacturer doesn't want to admit exist. For example, Pogue claims the Mac OS doesn't lock up. Well, that's simply not true; within days after getting my MacBook Pro with OS X 10.5 it locked up simply importing into iTunes, requiring a hard-reboot. After which it wouldn't even recognize a USB drive, forcing another restart. How do you fix a corrupted file in iTunes? Is there a work-around for TimeMachine's problems backing up MS Entourage files (it's one large DB, and TimeMachine can't do incremental back-ups)?; TimeMachine can't do a full image restore (unlike MS Vista's back-up), and can NOT work across a NETWORK -- all HUGE, HUGE flaws. Are there work-arounds or is this a showstopper for real back-up? I know this is a manual, not a review, but tips in dealing with bugs are among the most valuable insights, and those are too few here IMHO.
Still, an excellent book.
 No better Manual for OS X Leopard January 4, 2008
44 out of 45 found this review helpful
The preeminent general reference source for Mac OS 10 has always been the "Missing Manual Series" written by David Pogue. The latest iteration in the series is its Mac OS 10 Leopard Edition, completely revised, and it is the biggest, most comprehensive, and most useful of all the editions in the series. It covers the OS X desktop and file system, the free applications included with the OS X installation, the system components and technologies, networking and online features and components, and includes welcome appendices on installation, troubleshooting, Windows/Mac comparisons, and a "Master Keystroke" list.
Every one of the editions has been exceedingly well-designed and written combining serious treatment of subject content with style, wit, and humor, as well as honest evaluation and critique of features of the Mac operating system. All of the OS X Missing Manuals have addressed issues for a broad range of users, from the lightly experienced, the intermediate, and for power users. For the most part, however, the primary focus of each edition has been on the less experienced users. This has changed with the Leopard edition.
There seems to have been a deliberate effort to make the book more appealing and useful to upper-end users without losing any utility at all for others. There seems to be more material for power users- -there are more "Power Users Guides" providing advanced information and techniques, more UNIX references for those willing and able to take avail of the UNIX kernel underlying the operating system, more identifications of keyboard shortcuts, and more disclosure of undocumented and advanced features than in previous editions.
For example, Pogue itemizes and describes at least 20 UNIX utilities that only power users would want to use, explains how to configure preferences for the Terminal application, explains how to deal with the file and folder permissions system using UNIX commands, and even notes the existence of the venerable "Eliza" therapist emulator program hidden in a part of the emacs text editor. At each juncture of describing operating system features, Pogue explains from the perspective of different levels of users, including the power user, like himself. Unlike in many other books purporting to cover a broad range of users, this one does not short on the higher-end.
This is all well and good as casual users are still widely well-taken care of by the thorough and well-organized explanations of nearly every feature of OS 10.5. The book is illustrated profusely with screenshots of system features, configuration processes, comparison of the Mac OS X versions, comparisons of Mac OS X to Windows features, and more. Nearly every page is loaded with "Tips," "Notes," FAQ's, lists, tables, and sidebars. Throughout, there are nuggets of insight and technical arcana that even Mac veterans will be surprised to learn about. I learned, for example, that the one-button Apple Mighty Mouse has a secret 2-button feature. Also there is a similar way to operate a laptop with a two finger trackpad technique. There are a lot of tips and tricks like that in the book. Even beyond description and explanation, Pogue provides useful recommendations for configurations of the Dock, recovery from common errors, and using Automator to design practical workflows for common tasks.
The subject content builds upon that of previous editions and updates it with material relating to the 300-plus new features of Leopard. Much of the new material covers the Leopard update highlights - the backup program called Time Machine, a desktop switching application called Spaces, the Stacks organizing feature, the file previewer, QuickLook, and the feature enhancements in iChat, Mail, and especially Spotlight, the search tool.
Spotlight is much more than a mere search tool although it is a great one. A whole chapter is devoted to it alone. Pogue explains how to use it not just for casual and advanced searching (using over 125 types of data and metadata) but as a quick launcher of files, folders, and applications; as a calculator; and as a dictionary. Sophisticated query languages can be used and Pogue lists a series of power user keyboard shortcuts for Spotlight use.
I see the book as especially useful for those Windows users of all levels gravitating to the Mac platform. Not only is the treatment of the Mac OS done well, but at nearly every juncture, Pogue takes the perspective of a Windows user and provides practical comparisons and contrasts of operating systems.
Weaving all of these perspectives into a harmonious, readable manual is a fine achievement. The content discussions and explanations are never abstract but written from the viewpoint of the thoughtful and practical user and no one is better at this than David Pogue who has been cited before as one of the world's best (technical) communicators. The denseness of the treatment of the subject content diminishes somewhat from the readability of the book compared to prior editions and there is a bit less wit, humor and style. That is the trade-off, I presume, for the increased breadth and depth of the content treatment but this Missing Manual is still as well written as a computer manual can be expected to be.
Really Outstanding Book January 1, 2008
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I am a 20 year Windows "veteran" and an IT consultant. I recently switched to the Mac. This book was one of the most well written pieces that I have ever used. It made the changeover to the Mac far simpler. There is even a section detailing Windows terminology in terms of the Mac. It detailed Windows/Mac networking, etc.
Really outstanding...take my word for it...spend the $20 or so and get this book.
Imagine- a computer manual that's a great read! December 29, 2007
21 out of 22 found this review helpful
Having enjoyed David Pogue's technology columns at the NY Times, I picked up this book to help me master Mac OS X Leopard operating system. It has been a real pleasure having David Pogue and his team guiding me through this extensive upgrade. He covers every conceivable topic with great clarity, all the while mixing in a delightful array of self depreciating jokes. Whether it is reviewing Leopard's 300 new features, learning how to make smart folders in finder or figuring out how to fax a document, or set up a home network Pogue guides you through the learning process with clear prose and a liberal dose of humor. I like this 900 page tome so much that I've started turning to random chapters just to see what I will stumble upon. Over the past week I've managed to become acquainted with various corners of the software I never would have encountered without David's encouraging and humorous approach to working with technology. I highly recommend this book for both beginners and more experienced users.
Excellent! December 26, 2007
70 out of 76 found this review helpful
David Pogue writes well, but what's special about this is that it covers details that most authors wouldn't bother with. I've been a Mac OS X user since 2003, and upgraded to Leopard the moment it was available and yet I was absolutely astonished by how much I learned - this is just packed with tips!
As an old Unix hand, I was happy to see that David included an excellent chapter on Terminal and Unix in general; too many Mac books ignore the Unix underpinnings or gloss over it.
Definitely recommended for anyone using Leopard.
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