With Leopard, Apple has unleashed the greatest version of Mac OS X yet, and David Pogue is back with another meticulous Missing Manual to cover the operating system with a wealth of detail. The new Mac OS X 10.5, better known as Leopard, is faster than its predecessors, but nothing's too fast for Pogue and this Missing Manual. It's just one of reasons this is the most popular computer book of all time. Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition is the authoritative book for Mac users of all technical levels and experience. If you're new to the Mac, this book gives you a crystal-clear, jargon-free introduction to the Dock, the Mac OS X folder structure, and the Mail application. There are also mini-manuals on iLife applications such as iMovie, iDVD, and iPhoto, and a tutorial for Safari, Mac's web browser. This Missing Manual is amusing and fun to read, but Pogue doesn't take his subject lightly. Which new Leopard features work well and which do not? What should you look for? What should you avoid? Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition offers an objective and straightforward instruction for using:

• Leopard's totally revamped Finder

• Spaces to group your windows and organize your Mac tasks

• Quick Look to view files before you open them

• The Time Machine, Leopard's new backup feature

• Spotlight to search for and find anything in your Mac

• Front Row, a new way to enjoy music, photos, and videos

• Enhanced Parental Controls that come with Leopard

• Quick tips for setting up and configuring your Mac to make it your own

There's something new on practically every page of this new edition, and David Pogue brings his celebrated wit and expertise to every one of them. Mac's brought a new cat to town and Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition is a great new way to tame it.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 177 Ratings

Mac OS X Leopard Edition - 2009-09-16
Reviewer Rating:
Where the book for Dummies leaves off, this one takes over. Easy to read and learn the information I need to extend the knowledge base of this complex system. If I can not find the answer here, then it is time to make an appointment with the Genius Bar.

The only way to know a Mac - 2009-08-26
Reviewer Rating:
I've owned my MacBook Pro now for 10 months. It's a fantastic computer. I got so tired of XP running me, instead of me running my computer, that I bought a Mac after consulting with many friends. I learned how to get into my work computer over the Internet in Space 4, run XP in Space 2 and run Leopard in Space 1 and seamlessly switch between all of them. The Internet is lightning fast with Safari with no Virus checking software. No need. The actual computer does not need the most extreme processor clocks or memory to be super fast because it runs Unix at the core on Intel processors. There is no bloat or waste or slowness that is common with XP and VISTA. They actually waste your computers actual power to, well, compute. I boot up in 40 seconds. More impressive is that I shut off in 6 seconds. No waiting for Windows to shut down or finish installing something. When Leopard needs to download an update you can easily put it off till you are ready and not interrupt your work. There are so many good things about the Mac that it's impossible to write here.

So what about the book? Well, it's pretty easy to adjust to the directory and file structure of a Mac as opposed to Windows but it is different. The instructions that come with the Mac are pretty minimal and poor. Yes, you learn the basics quick but if you don't read this book and learn what Leopard can really do you are missing about 80% of what a Mac is really about. It's a long book that covers everything there is to know about the Mac and Leopard. You may only want to refer to chapters that you need to know more about. It's a reference book. But reading it from cover to cover is the only way to truly understand and take full advantage of this computer and operating system. This is truly the Missing Manual that should of been included with the computer. It is well worth the money to buy this book. There are so many mouse clicks, key strokes and ways to do things easily and quickly that it opens up another world to your Mac. You can do everything from a mouse, or the keyboard or any way you are comfortable with. If you use your Mac a lot you will speed up what you can do with the shortcuts that this book describes. I find it very cumbersome to go back to a Windows computer.

If you only use your computer for email and the Internet then maybe you won't benefit from this book. If you do a lot of file manipulation, pictures, video, music you will definitely want to get this book and learn WAY more than what you can get out of the box and by poking around trying to learn the programs.

VERY Poor substitute for printed manual. Don't buy. - 2009-12-26
Reviewer Rating:
I want to start this review by stating that I love the manual itself. I have ordered and used several of these "Missing Manual" books and find them to be easy to read, accurate, and very helpful.

That being said, the Kindle implementation of this is almost WORTHLESS!

One of the most crucial sections of the book is its table of contents and its index. The table of contents is huge and extremely hard to navigate on the Kindle. The index of terms, which I find indespensable, is omitted entirely, probably because the terms would have to be reformatted to be tied to locations in the Kindle instead of pages (as it is in the printed manual).

Furthermore, the hardcopy book is filled with marvelous illustrations - showing in detail exactly what you see on the Macintosh screen when you are trying to carry out different tasks. In the Kindle implementation of this work, the illustrations are so fuzzy that you cannot see what is actually in them making them totally WORTHLESS!!!

I love my Kindle and use it daily. It travels with me and is wonderful entertainment. I had thought it would be helpful to have the Missing Manual always with me when I traveled with my laptop. However, I was so disappointed (and so needed help with the Leopard operating system) that I went out and purchased the hardcopy of this book, which suits me fine.

I am writing this in hopes of keeping other Kindle/computer users from wasting their money.

Richard H. Reitz

VERY INFORMATIVE! - 2009-11-30
Reviewer Rating:
Love this book! Any time I have a question I flip to the index and look it up and in 2 minutes I have my answer. David Pogue is a great author and he is really thorough!

Mac OS X - the missing manual - 2009-09-06
Reviewer Rating:
I'm very happy with my purchase. It arrived in a timely manner and much to my surprise appeared to be brand new.......absolutely no indication of ever having been used before. A bit overwhelming at first glance but it's organized very well for specific subjects and does a very good job of informing the customer.

I'm one happy customer!!


RM

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