Macintosh Systems Books

Some reviewers have suggested that this is not a beginner's book. It's not ... if you are looking for an A-B-C approach. But as a beginner DVD maker who wants to learn more about what's going on "under the hood," this book is great!

Thanks, Martin! :-)

My number one recommendation for learning DVD Studio Pro ( versions 3 or 4, as not
much changed between 3 and 4, except adding HD authoring). If your a self taught person
like me, who likes to learn, or just wants to be able to author a DVD in an hour without
getting technically lost in Apple's Manual for the program, GET THIS BOOK!!!!

This book will take you from A to Z but seam to be a little outdted because Studio Pro is now 4.0 but anyway, this book is well done. I will gladly share it to my videographer friends.

Basically a excellent tutorial and reference. But unfortunately falls into the
do-everything cracks by forcing someone who wishes to produce a simple slideshow only to learn all about how to create complex video audio supported programs. Before the user can put together a slide show they will have to learn many functions that have no relation ship to what they ultimately want wind up with.

Thank you Martin Sitter! I am a filmmaker/photographer who needed to move into the realm of making DVDs. You took me from A to Z in an informative, easy to understand way. I really liked how you started at the beginning of what the differences are between DVDs and CDs and especially what countries use what format (all those film festival markets!) Words like MPEG-2 video streams, encoding, and assets roll off my tongue now and it all makes sense!
You have opened up a new world for me and I am grateful!
- Lisa Bevis, Los Angeles, CA

Programming/scripting is not natural for me! It is hard work. This is the third book on AS 3.0 I've tried. The other books did not work for me. I need a book that will tell me what to do in a very elementary manner. I can then put it in context. For example:

1. This is how you script interactivity in a button (code)
2. This is what it is doing
3. This is what the various segments of code mean
etc.

This is the way I learned HTML. I looked up the code to do a given item. Over time if morphed into a thorough understanding of what HTML is and how to do it. This book enables me to do something similar. It takes basic AS 3.0, shows you how to do it then gives the information so you can put it in context. I'm relieved and grateful to find a book that allows me to construct the learning in a way that best fits me. THANK YOU!

This book has taught me sooo much already! If you want to learn how to use flash, this is the book for you!

A major upgrade to the previous editions and a must for any serious web design professional.

This is a great guide that will give you step by step instructions on how to use Adobe Flash CS3 professional. You'll learn how to make Flash animations to add great multimedia to your websites or just games for local use.

I love the Visual QuickStart Guides. This book has easy to follow lessons which are great for beginners. Professional refers to the more robust version of Flash not the skill level of the reader. I have combined this book with some video tutorials which is ideal for learning actionscript fast.

Forget that previous "review." Obviously this fellow has a problem.

I have been teaching introductory computing for 20 years on both Mac and PC platform. I recommend this book to students of Mac AND PC users.

I recommend it to my students.

As a Mac user, the book excels in discussing the virtures of the iMac. As a regular PC book it excels on info about the Net. In fact, it is the best intro to the Net. Chapter One is really the only chapter specific to the iMac. The rest of the chapters can apply to any computer. The examples and URL's are all Mac related true, but on how to use a computer to conduct research on the Net, this book is invaluable.

It's been a LONG time since OWB reviewed a book--- that's because there just haven't been any worth reviewing--- until now! Don Rittner's "The iMac Book" (The Coriolis Group...) is a treasure-trove of internet information, so-much-so that you'll keep the book real handy, even if you're not ready for the iMac!

Don has published more than 12 books on science, computers, and the

Net. His writing style is user-friendly, matter-of-fact, down-to-earth and easy-to-follow (i.e., "Get The iMac Book!"). We like it so much we keep it right next to the old PC!

In 10 chapters, the book gives readers a solid foundation on the operation of the iMac and the Internet, from a complete description of the iMac itself to a laundry list of websites that will turn you and your machine into an internet tiger! (Again, take note, even if you are using a PC, the information in Don's book is a cut above anything you could surf for and sort through and hope to find on your own! This book is written in non-technical language and covers a wide variety of topics including how you can actually run Windows programs on your iMac!

When you take your new iMac out of the box, Don's book will prove invaluable (maybe they should pack a copy with each iMac shipped) as he walks you through the most common problems associated with the iMac and how to correct them. There's a chapter devoted to troubleshooting that names some of the many online tech support Web sites that will help you if you get into trouble while offering the best maintenance tips for keeping your iMac healthy and sound.

"Throughout this book I direct you to a variety of places on the Internet to obtain resources for making your computing experience a pleasant and productive one. I also have created an area on my Web site, The MESH - Inside Cyberspace...that links many of these resources. Feel free to use it, and please let me know how it can be improved. You can reach me at drittner@wizvax.net, or themesh@global2000.net."

Don ordered his first Macintosh in January, 1984. Soon after receiving it, he and friends started Macintosh Enthusiasts Club of the Capital Area, (MECCA), one of the oldest Mac User Groups in the country, which he still runs. In 1985, he became a columnist and User Group Editor for Macazine, an early national Mac magazine writing for Apple user groups and in 1988, he was the user group editor/columnist for Mac Horizons, another national Mac magazine. He has written for numerous other national magazines over the years. In 1988, he created MUG News Service, a computer news service that reaches half a million Mac users worldwide. Today, Don writes a weekly computer column for THE RECORD newspaper (Troy, NY).

"The iMac Book" is an invaluable resource for anyone new to computers or to the Macintosh platform. This new book written by long time Mac community member Don Ritter, with contributions from Guy Kawasaki, covers an incredible breadth of topics ranging from setting up and Internet connection to running alternate operating systems on your iMac.

Keeping the "i" in iMac as a major focus of the book, "The iMac Book" offers comprehensive information about how the Internet works, how the iMac interfaces with the 'Net, a guide to the Macintosh on-line community, and how to do effective research with your iMac. Did I mention that it has scores and scores of excellent links? I may be a bit biased, but I found their link to the Apple Wizards website to be most valuable indeed! :)

Computer newbies will love "The iMac Book" for its down-to-earth language and explanations of common Macintosh problems. Basic troubleshooting techniques will empower new Macintosh users to feel comfortable with and in control of their computers.

Despite my raves, I was initially disappointed that one important, yet technically intimidating topic was left out of the book. The topic in question is taking the iMac apart in order to upgrade RAM or VRAM. Sure, dismantling the iMac is a task that is best suited for the more adventurous, but it is not so daunting that it cannot be accomplished by your typical iMac owner. I asked author Don Ritter about this concern, and he informed me that he had in fact, planned to include such a section, but unfortunately the Mac website that was compiling that information was unable to meet the publisher's deadlines.

All told, I strongly recommend this book to all beginner through intermediate iMac users. Even if you aren't a beginner, "The iMac Book" with its attractive Bondi-Blue hardcover, translucent dust sleeve, and archive of resources is the perfect addition to anyone's library or Apple literature collection.

The iMac Book is the dream reference tool for anyone with an iMac from Apple Computer, Inc. Whether you are a new computer user or a die-hard Macintosh (Mac) user, you will learn how to get the most out of your iMac. You will quickly learn how the iMac works, how to run Mac and Windows 95/98 software and how to connect the right peripherals to your iMac. The author also tells you how, in literally a matter of minutes, you can be connected to the Internet and using your iMac for research on any topic. Chapter 7 provides a gold mine of information on how to effectively use the Internet for research.

The iMac Book is the complete technology and cyber culture resource on Apple's new iMac for beginning computer users. You will learn how the Macintosh Operating System (Mac OS) works, as well as your option to run more than 30 other operating system on your iMac, including Windows 95/98. Additionally, you will discover how to troubleshoot problems, choose upgrade paths, add paths, add peripherals, and increase your computer memory by yourself.

The author shows you how easy it is to get on and surf the Internet and find resources to build your own Web page. You will be guided directly to thousands of Macintosh-related resources on the Internet, such as Web sites, mailing lists, software archives, live chats, newsgroups, and to sources that provide the latest Mac news and product updates. This book is written in a non-technical style and is designed to elucidate and educate, not intimidate.

Don Rittner ordered his first Mac in January 1984, and received it the next month-the same month he started Macintosh Enthusiasts Club of the Capital Area (MECCA), one of the oldest Mac User Groups in the United States, which he still runs. In 1985, he became a columnist and User Group Editor for Macazine, an early national Mac magazine for Apple user groups. In 1988, he was a columnist for Mac Horizons, another national Mac magazine. He has written for MacUser, MacWeek, Online Access, and other national magazines.

Reviewed by Azlan Adnan. Formerly Business Development Manager with KPMG, Azlan is currently Managing Partner of Azlan & Koh Knowledge and Professional Management Group, an education and management consulting practice based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. He holds a Master's degree in International Business and Management from the University of Westminster in London.

If you bought the iMac Book expecting to find a little more on the "how the iMac works" type of information, you might be a little disappointed. This stuff is dealt with briefly, but most of the book is focused on getting on-line and what to do once you're there. And that's fair enough-after all that's what the iMac is all about.

The iMac Book is an excellent reference work for using your iMac on-line. But if it's more technical stuff you need on how your little coloured beastie works, then iMacs for Dummies is probably a better buy.

I have used this series of books for a long time and they are excellent. This book is easy to follow and has a good deal of diagrams and pictures to help you learn both of these excellent applications. I have used this book with people new to iMovie & iDVD and those with a lot of experiences. I highly recommend it.

Having quicky tired of Vista, I took the plunge and bought a Mac laptop. This was one of the first books I bought for the Mac.

Author Jeff Carlson does a great job explaining the basics of movie-making with iMovie. Although I've quickly stepped up to Final Cut Pro (although very cool, iMovies is pretty limited), I still find myself referring back to this book from time to time.

If you're new to Apple computers and like to shoot movies, then this book is a must have!

Happy Filming!

Peachpit's Visual QuickStart Guide series is one of the best how-to series out there for beginning to intermediate computer users. In this book, the author does a great job of explaining the basics of video, giving readers a solid base of information for what follows. From there, he explains how to create your own movies and DVDs using the two video components of Apple's iLife '08 software package.

While most of the book sticks to the step-by-step approach that's part of the Visual QuickStart Guide style, I found the general information about lighting, cameras, and movie-making invaluable.

No, I'm not a video expert -- but if I were, I don't think I'd be using iMovie. This book is right on target for the iMovie/iDVD audience.

Apple overhauled iMovie for its "2008" release (actually revealed in 2007), and Jeff Carlson did the same for his book. I found iMovie '08 rather mystifying at first, because of how differently the program handles tasks that I've been using iMovie to handle for years. But Jeff's book helped me sort it out.

iMovie '08 also doesn't play very nicely with iDVD '08, and Jeff's book provides the necessary missing information (Apple left it out) for better using the two programs together. (iMovie '08 is really oriented towards YouTube and online, not burning DVDs.)

I do almost no video editing, but when I had to dive into iMovie recently, Jeff's book was a big help. The Visual QuickStart Guide approach of explaining a single task per page, with steps accompanied by screenshots, was just what I needed to import a movie taken from my digital camera, superimpose a title, add some scrolling credits at the end, and publish it to my .Mac Web Gallery. Sure, that may sound like simple stuff, but when you've never used a program before, it's helpful to have explanations of what to drag where. The only problem now is that I saw instructions for doing all sorts of other cool things in the book that I'd love to try, but there are absolutely no instructions for finding more time in the day to play with iMovie.

Learn that you can do more with an iPod(tm) Shuffle than just uploading songs and listening randomly. If you have a Shuffle, you might want to start with this little 90 page soft-bound book. It is compact (5.9 x 6") and beautifully designed. There are all color images or screenshots on almost every page. One feature that I found very handy was the color coded chapter tags on the left hand side of the pages. On the right side listed the chapter you were in making finding things easier.The red part of the cover is actually a separate piece and I found myself using the ends as a bookmark. No big deal but nonetheless a useful feature.

The book handles all the basics in an easy to understand manner. The chapters range from getting started, all about iTunes, playlists, using your Shuffle as a Pocket USB Drive, cool stuff for your Shuffle and Troubleshooting. Extras include how to make CD covers in iTunes, burning playlists to CD or DVD, making celebrity (or different moods) playlists, and publishing your own playlists in iMix in iTunes.

You do receive a little 29 page (paper) User Guide with your Shuffle that walks you through the basics quite adequately but if you want to know and do more, then this inexpensive iPod Shuffle Fan Book is for you. The chapter on iTunes and the music store was very comprehensive, as was the listing of Apple's and various other web sites about iPods. It gives a new owner a good place to start. I was totally blown away at the power in the little Shuffle. I was equally impressed with this little book. Many aspects of the book will still be relevant if you upgrade to a Nano or larger iPod. Buy the book...it's cheap at $9.95 and makes good quick reading so you don't have to wade through pages and pages to get an answer. Information is presented in a comprehensive and fun manner! I recommend it heartily.

This is the book that Apple should have included with the Shuffle. It is a great and simple source of information.

I've owned the iPod Shuffle for about a year, and find it's the best model for people who want to use their iPods while they jog or work out. It has enough memory (even at the low 1/2 gig end) to store a days worth of music, and can either play songs in order or do the whole shuffle random thing. Controls are very intuitive, and it's easy to operate. This book is great for people who need instructions. The actual manual that comes with the Shuffle is short and not too in-depth, and this book is a good replacement for new Shuffle users who are unfamiliar with the product. But people looking for some "Shuffle secrets" like how to jump to the beginning or end of a playlist by a couple of button moves won't find these hacks here. That's my only gripe. The book is cheap, cute, but really doesn't go in to the secret world of all the little tricks this thing can do. You'll have to search the Web for that part.

Are you thinking about getting an iPod Shuffle, have an iPod Shuffle or maybe you just wanted to learn a little more about the world's littlest iPod without having to wade through a book five times the size of the Shuffle itself? If you are, this book is for you! Author Jude Biersdorfer, has done an outstanding job of writing a great book on how to use the iPod Shuffle.

Biersdorfer begins by explaining how to work the iPod Shuffle and how to make digital music file in iTunes. Next, the author specifically shows you how to use iTunes to get digital music files for the iPod Shuffle. Then, Biersdorfer shows you how to transfer the digital music files. The author continues by playing with playlists. In addition, the author next focuses on ways of using the iPod Shuffle to carry files. Biersdorfer also discusses iPod Shuffle accessories. Finally, Biersdorfer tells you where to find more information about the iPod Shuffle and where iPod fanatics like to hang out on the Web so you can drop by and find out all the latest iPod Shuffle news.

In this excellent book, Biersdorfer goes well beyond the brief booklet that comes inside of your Shuffle box and explains in complete detail how to use an iPod Shuffle. According to Biersdorfer, "life is random, but learning how to use your iPod shouldn't be!"

The "iPod Shuffle Fan Book" is an outstanding guide for anyone that wants to get the most out of their iPod Shuffle! From discussing what makes the iPod Shuffle truly unique compared to its bigger cousins to getting music on your Shuffle to playing music throughout your house to all the neat stuff you can buy for your iPod Shuffle, this book is for you!!

In a nutshell, this book is for anyone that wants to learn all the different great ways they can use their iPod shuffle and how to make this great little product all that much better. If you are heavily experienced in using portable music players you probably wouldn't find it as useful, but for the novice to amateur iPod person, this guide is a great companion and makes a great gift!

***** RECOMMENDED

OS X UNIX is amazingly friendly and accessible. Some people who had never used it before type commands and work with the operating system directly as a "cool guys" in movies! This book is very helpful and well written and it is serves as a very nice reference. I have followed advice in someone's review and paired this book with that "UNIX Essentials" DVD I found here on Amazon and it is complete UNIX course recorded. This book and a video they contribute one another greatly. The book is very particular about the subjects that related to OS X and because there are some differences between OS X and other UNIXes it is nice to have a book that deals with it.

This book deals with the most difficult stage of getting into UNIX: the beginning. If you at the beginning you may find this course to be helpful Linux and UNIX for a beginner training suite, 4DVDs + 2CDs includes 4 Unix Academy Certifications ed.2008
UNIX as probably any other operating system is a system: it means it is complex and not easy to comprehend. This book is very nicely, didactically organized and facilitates the transition from subject to subject.

I was one of the people that winced when Mac made the leap from O9 to the unix based OSX. The "old" command line did nothing for me in the early 80's and I didn't truly fall in love with mac until the GUI interface and the mouse came along. Once I was forced to make the move to OSX I began to hear about all these powerful unix commands and things you could do beyond the scope of aqua from my IT friends. It intriqued me enough that I picked up Learning Unix for Mac OS Panther. It was a true eye opener. In no time at all I was using the terminal for ftp, I even had Pine (a unix email program) configured and was speedily browsing the web with Lynx (the unix text-based browser).

The book is clearly written, and a breeze to use. I usually buy about one software book a month, but this is one of the few that has become dog earred, filled with marginalia and rife with stickie notes. It is a great starting point for anyone who wantes to learn more about the unix underpinnings of Panther. It's like learning about a whole new, previously unseen, side of your mac.

As with many books, I often flip immediately to the back to look over why the publisher thinks that I should read have this book. In the case of Learning Unix for Mac OS X Panther, by Dave Taylor & Brian Jepson, the statement which caught my eye was that this "compact book provides a user-friendly tour of the Mac's Unix base for the uninitiated."

As for being new to the Anchorage Apple User's Group (AAUG), allow me to introduce you to my background. I have been a fan of Apple computer's since my first computer, an Apple IIc, twenty years ago. Since then, I have stayed with Macintosh, through the SE, SE/30, IIci, and my trustworthy beige G3. Since arriving in Anchorage in October, I upgraded to a Powerbook G4 and I've been in heaven ever since.

At the same time, I've worked (reluctantly) with Unisys proprietary systems, MS-DOS systems, Windows 95-present (and I even have XP operating on my Powerbook, by way of Virtual PC), and Sun's workstations. Through working on Sun's unix based operating system (Solaris), I began to know some basics of what unix is all about.

I had heard that Apple had made OS X revolutionary through its version of unix as a basis for this new operating system. And I had even read a little about some tricks and treats available to the "everyday" user of the Mac, but I was still reluctant and hesitant to do anything with something titled (so appropriately, I thought) as the "Terminal."

And one more note prior to discussing the book itself ... this book is for the uninitiated, but be warned, I believe you need to have a serious interest in learning the unix operating system. Gratefully, for those of you who love the Mac for what you can do, not what you "have" to do, you can remain blissfully unaware of any of the unix which runs so very well hidden, out of sight, and out of mind.

But, since you've stayed with this book review thus far, I assume you have some interest in what exactly is going on "underneath it all", on what makes Panther such a great operating system. So, I recommend you read book. It is an ideal starting point for the uninitiated. I highly recommend it both as a "how to" and a "reference" book.

Dave Taylor and Brian Jepson, the authors, start off by explaining "Why unix?" This first chapter helped me a good deal, even though I had already used a version of unix on another platform (the Sun workstation.) The overview and history of how unix grew as an operating system, and how it came to be on the Mac was very interesting. Additionally, the starting point (the Terminal application) was explained succinctly; similar to how a train station is known as a terminal, the authors helped me get on the path to successful learning of this unix stuff.

As the book progressed into the file system and file management, I found myself frequently switching between having the book in hand, and the Terminal up and running on screen with the computer in my lap. And doing exactly as the title described ... I was learning unix for Mac OS X Panther.

A part of the O'Reilly series, the authors follow in a familiar pattern with just enough instruction, including practice assignments, balanced by shared experience and cautious warnings. I found myself spending about one hour on each chapter, and going back and forth practicing some of my newly acquired talents and skills.

By no means do I consider this book to have made me very smart, but it allows me just enough confidence to continue and look into other parts of how unix works in the Mac world, including using this operating system to help make life better. I even find myself wanting to get into one of the related books in the series, Mac OS X for Unix Geeks.

Ce livre donne l'occasion au nouveau utilisateur de Mac OS X de comprendre les dessous de OS X qui sont sembleble au système Unix.
Recommandé.

Just took and passed the exam. Spent about three days reviewing the material in this book, as well as the notes provided by Apple on their web site. I thought that the book did a very good job covering the test material, though could have spent some time discussing network connectivity to windows systems.

All in all, a very good review for the exam. Covered about 90% of what was tested on the exam. Highly recommended for anyone preparing for the test.

Very good intro book here. Some of the basics were amazingly basic, but after the first few chapters, there was some serious meat to chew into. I commend this highly, especially to those new to the Mac fold (and to us old Mac dogs trying to figure out this *nix stuff).

Best bet is to play with your Mac while reading. Nothing beats hands-on while you are learning. Can't wait for the rest of the Apple Certification stuff to come out.

beware, that you need to review the material with a mac os x computer infront of you (in fact that is what they advise you to do). but the most important thing, is to try out a lot of stuff yourself. especially when working as a non admin user in os x. this is not all too well covered in the material.
all in all i passed the exam, and the book played a major role in helping. the tech notes at the end of the chapters were a big help too. do not forget to read also another book on os x.

The book is good for passing the exam and getting acquainted
with Mac OS X.
You'll do fine on the test by reviewing the book. Definitely
plan on reading another book after you pass to gain advanced
knowledge of OS X as it doesn't even try to go beyond the scope of the test.
(which is ok! Pass the test now, get a job, master the material later.)

This study guide is well written and superbly organized. I feel that I'm ready for the exam! If you're not using Mac OS X now, please get a copy, you'll never want to go back to Classic. With some experience with X, and this book, you'll be well prepared to move forward in getting your ACTC certification. I only hope that the author's next book is Mac OS Server Essentials Exam Cram. I'll order it the minute it is announced.

Sub-Title: An Interactive Guide to iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie. iDVD and GarageBand

Apple doesn't include much documention with their iLife products. This book is a quick and easy way to learn these packages. The large number of illustrations and the two hour movie that's included with the book is just about the fastest way possible to get started. It's a like the Apple philosophy.

The basic concept of computers, that they aren't very bright and persist in doing just what you tell them to do rather than what you want them to do is very well brought out. There is good reason that this book is the top-selling book on iLife.

The layout of the book is well done. It is intended that each couple of pages covers one task that you might want to do. You could go through them one at a time, but you don't have to. The index will quickly direct you to getting the task done that is the emergency of the moment.

An aesthetically pleasing book. Heid looks at Apple's latest offering, which is a powerful suite of {iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand}. Each of the programs has been well received by Apple's fans. All have Apple's trademark of careful UI design. Plus, the book has numerous screen captures, that are well integrated into the accompanying text. The publisher also deliberately chose high reflectivity paper for the pages. Makes the diagrams sharper and improves the tactile nature of the pages.

A major emphasis of the book is not on each program, per se, but on what iLife represents. A well chosen diagram shows how you can move data from one program to another. The synergy of iLife. It increases the value of each program and the flexibility of the entire package. What Apple is offering is for you to maximise your creativity, by giving as many options as possible.

This is an excellent book for those who are new to the iLife suite of applications for Macintosh and prefer step-by-step guides. Jim has done a great job distilling these feature rich applications down to their essence and teaching you want you need to know to use them effectively.

He also provides helpful tips that apply to each topic in general and not just the application. For example, in the iPhoto section he has tips on how to compose images properly. In the iMovie section he has tips on what chapter markers to use for wedding videos (and other common scenarios). This may seem like nothing but it's the practical hints that allow you to get the most out of these applications. Not just learning about which buttons to push.

The included DVD is well done and augments the book with a step by step explanation that you can follow visually.

This book is not for intermediate or expert level readers. For those folks I would start by recommending an O'Reilly book that covers your specific topic. For example photographers should try Derrick Story's excellent iPhoto 4 book. You will get more in-depth coverage of all of the features of iPhoto in that book.

O'Reilly has an intermediate level book that covers all of the iLife features that was just recently published called iLife '04. I recommend this book instead for beginners.

I'm the author and host of this book/instructional DVD, and I *greatly* appreciate the kind words written by S. Brown in the adjacent review.

I just wanted to address one criticism: S. Brown said that the book doesn't cover Apple's GarageBand. I suspect he or she reviewed the older edition (also available here on Amazon), because the new edition most definitely covers GarageBand. With the DVD, you even get to watch over my shoulder as I compose and perform a song. (I'll leave it up to other reviewers to judge my musical abilities. :-)

Enough said. I appreciate all feedback and reviews of the book -- but please be sure you're reviewing the latest edition, which has "04" in its title: "The Macintosh iLife '04."

Jim Heid's book is a great guide to all the iLife products. I found it to be very helpful for both the complete novice AND the experienced user. For instance, I use iTunes all the time, but still found all sorts for interesting nuggets of information. My son, on the other hand, was able to use the book (and the accompanying DVD) to learn GarageBand in less than an hour! He was quickly on to creating music of his own.

The layout of the book is highly accessible. Rather than imposing pages of unrelenting text, the book is filled with screenshots, diagrams and all sorts of helpful, easy-to-follow instructions. Even with all the pictures, this book is no light-weight. There is a wealth of information on all the iLife products.

In my house, I've heard the following said about this book, "he explains things really well". High praise indeed!

I have just about every book on Objective-C that you can find. Mainly because I love books. The two that I find most helpfull as a non-programmer who is self-teaching are this little gem and 'Programming in Objective-C'. What I like about this book is that it shows the basic form and structure used in ObjC with very little clutter. It is not a book to learn from so much as a book to distill concepts into managable bites. Armed with this book and Programming in Objective-C will get you well on your way to programming in C, ObjC, Cocoa, and GNUstep (which is mainly what I am learning). All the other books get you deeper in the quagmire, yet for the most part assume that you the knowledge covered in these two books. This is the 'Ah Ha, now I see!' book when you have basic knowledge and need to get right to the point. I sometimes forget to look here first, usually to my irritation. Just buy it.
Also note that I am a big fan of all the 'in a nutshell' books as secondary refferences.

I'm attacking Objective-C from the perspective of a C# and former VB and Java developer, with some knowledge of C as well. I'm trying to actually read through the book as a fast jump-start into understanding the syntax, and although it does well for this, I found this book a bit frustrating at times. It leaves a few fundamental terms unexplained and then carries on using them as though the reader understands.

For example, what are namespaces in the context of Objective-C? In C#, they are simply explicitly declared container names. In Java, they are the same but also a file system hierarchy. In C, AFAIK, namespaces don't exist. But the book frequently says things like "classes are in the global namespace" and "categories are in their own namespace so they can have the same name as classes". What are namespaces in Obj-C? How on earth do you work with these namespaces??

Code examples from one to the next have nothing to do with the previous, so as you learn a new keyword, and you see a one-line syntax example, you have no other code to see it in context.. such as, hello, how on earth would I *use* that after invoking or declaring it?

It also failed to explain "field sections". One of the reasons I BOUGHT the book was because I didn't understand why some things are declared in braces in the interface declaration, and some things are not, but are still before @end. The book said nothing about these braces and what they're containing. It just said, oh hey, there's no semicolon after @end. (Over and over again, needlessly.) I only figured it out by inference--and am still not sure if I'm right--when I came across the "Category" sample code and where in sample code there's often an area in braces with fields there was instead the comment, "// No field section." Ah. So I guess whatever goes in braces is supposed to be fields.

The book is also obsolete. Objective-C 2.0 has since been released, and this book doesn't cover that. It's dated 2003.

So the book doesn't do a good job as a syntax tutorial like I hoped. But I'll admit that it came really, really close. If the book had these missing components, it would only be about 10-15% thicker I imagine, though, but I don't feel that there's any excuse as it's not just small, it's thin.

Probably the best book to read to learn Objective-C, if Apple's PDF on the language is not enough for you. Covers Objective-C both from Cocoa and non-Cocoa perspectives. Try Apple's PDF first, and if it's not enough to let you jump into one of the Cocoa programming books (which all mostly assume knowledge of C and Objective-C), then this book is recommended.

Andrew Duncan's Objective-C Pocket Reference is just the book that budding Cocoa programmers should have on their desk. It is well written, well indexed, and succinct enough to read in an evening if desired.

After reading it cover to cover, I think this will be a valuable resource for looking up any Objective-C related questions I have.

Note, you should have an understanding of C before trying to read this book. Also - it will probably make more sense to you if you already have some experience with Cocoa. This is a quick reference - probably not the best way to learn the language. However, the book contains a list at the end which recommends other books and websites which are more thorough.

I'd say it's well worth the cost.

O'Reilly's OBJECTIVE-C POCKET REFERENCE follows in its line of slim booklets designed for quick reference while at the computer. I found it a very helpful book.

While titled "a pocket reference", the book is not something that should be put on the shelf right away and merely consulted from time to time. For a beginning Objective-C programmer, reading the book straight-through can be very enlightening. The basics of Obj-C are easy to grasp, and an Obj-C beginner can immediately start constructing solid applications without knowing about categories, protocols, or root objects. But O'Reilly's book is the best place to start becoming familiar with these obscure topics that might just help one solve a particularly tricky problem.

I have only a few complaints about the book. One is that it talks about the #import preprocessor directive, but nowhere does it mention the advantages of using #ifndef guards. Another problem is that in some parts it is Cocoa-specific; I would have preferred that it concentrate on the OpenStep standard in general so that other OpenStep implementations might not be left out (but the book does occasionally mention GNUstep, which is great).

O'Reilly proves itself the best publisher for developers again with this book, and any Objective-C programmer should invest in it.

This book was given to me by my director, and so at first glance, I thought this book would put me to sleep.
For all you SAP Tester, after the first day of reviewing this book, I found it to be very easy to read and understand.
The terminolgy was easy to comprehend and at the back of the book there is a glossary for you to look up, if your not sure of the abbreviations used.

It's a definite book to be included in any SAP library

Bought the book in March 2002 and much to my surprise, this book deals with R/3 Version 4.0. Given the CATT tool and workbench went through a major overhaul in versions 4.5 and 4.6 (including the addition of a new, simplified transaction), this should be recognized. If your buying this for the tool, be aware.

Clear and concise guide to R/3 testing and optimization.This book gives a clear and concise approach to test and to optimize the R/3-System. What is most useful is that the customising is explained. I think this is one of the most useful sapbooks. By reading this EXCELLENT book i have learned how to automate tests, how to optimize R/3 business processes and to use the Computer Aided Test Tool effctively in an R/3 implementation, at each stage of the implementation model. As an experienced SAP consultant, I found this book extremely useful, comprehensive and concise.

This book was given to me by my director, and so at first glance, I thought this book would put me to sleep.
For all you SAP Tester, after the first day of reviewing this book, I found it to be very easy to read and understand.
The terminolgy was easy to comprehend and at the back of the book there is a glossary for you to look up, if your not sure of the abbreviations used.

It's a definite book to be included in any SAP library.

Easy to read, easy to summarize and most importantly you can start putting it to use day one. If you are beginning to look at the advantages of utilizing the CATT tool within your SAP project or you have reached that threshold of being able to capture scripts but need to take advantage of the power, risk reductions and cost savings provided by implementing test procedures on a more integrated level, then this is your book. The added bonus is it also provides an overall view of the system development life cycle utilizing the various different implementation methodoligies known today in an easy to understand format.