Hardware Books

Internet Security for the Macintosh - A Guide for the Rest of Us is I believe a "Must Have" Computer Manual, alongside David Pouges "Missing Manual" and Steve Schwartz "Internet Explorer for Macintosh" for every serious Mac Users reference library

The authors, Oppenheimer and Whittaker come impeccably credentialed and their expertise as filtered by joint authorship has clearly made use of their backgrounds with measured and pragmatic effective advice taking you carefully through security requirements from the bottom up. One undeniable advantage in this respect is that they also currently provide ISP services so they know what the real world is about and it shines through.

In addition the timing of the publication is excellent.

Whilst it is Mac specific it could well be considered an essential basic Internet Security Manual for PC Users as well.

The Manual of around 400 pages and 18 chapters is broken down into four sections 1. General Security Principles 2. Securing Internet Services 3. Enhancing Overall Security and 4. Advanced Topics.

The message comes through. If you don't get the basics right even if you apply the advanced advice there may be holes in your system (Microsoft where have we experienced this before!)

There are chapters on Viruses, Personal Firewalls, Home Networking, Securing Mac OS X and an intriguing - Just say no to FTP!

Here I believe in the one place is pragmatic and sensible advice which if followed will make your computer far less vulnerable to Villains, Hackers and Mischief Makers, particularly now that the migration to Cable, ADSL and other broadband DSL technologies leave us a lot more vulnerable than with dial up connections.

Peachpit Press has set up a website to facilitate feedback updates and more recent information for purchasers of the guide.

The book excellently and up-to-date describes the technical issues and is so well-written that we may read it and be glad we did, but it is also so nice and lacks an inspiring ending that we may not do much about Internet security for our Macintoshes once we have put the book down.

At last..a timely and well written book that specifically details the essentials of Mac security...highly recommended

This book is just what it promises, "a guide for the rest of us." It explains how things work, clearly and in logical order, and is laid out so you can easily pick out the parts you need to read.
I used the book to set up a firewall. I had previously purchased a perfectly good one with simple controls, but had no idea what all the buttons meant in terms of blocking unwanted intrusions while retaining normal Internet access. (I'm an experienced Macintosh user, but naive about the underlying mechanisms of the Internet.)
Oppenheimer defines the underlying concepts and provides simple instructions, and with his book I was able to set up my computer security system in less than an hour.

A "must have" for anyone serious about understanding IBM's Information Management System. Clear, concise information for those in the know too! Don't format your RAA without it!

I've been documenting IMS- and DB2-related products for almost 20 years. I had the pleasure of working with Dean Meltz on a long ago version of IMS, and knew then that his knowledge of the database was detailed and comprehensive.

I'm so glad that he was able to put much of that knowledge into one, easy-to-understand IMS primer. While many IMS gurus are retiring, and replacements are hard to find, I think this book is a staple for any IMS shop. This is not an operator's reference. (IMS already has a good one of those.) But it does provide a good overview of database structure and design and explains key points well, with very good illustrations.

This book is a much needed addition to IMS literature. I'm sure it will stand the test of decades, just as the database has done.

After giving a very brief history of IMS, the authors give us a guided tour of its extensive capabilities.

You will learn that IMS has continually evolved from its roots as a hierarchical database to an industrial strength transaction manager that services both SNA and TCP/IP and supports Java, XML and SQL access via stored procedures.

This book does not attempt to describe every nuance of all the IMS features. Instead, it touches upon each capability and discusses the most-used functions. If there is more to know, the reader is directed to the applicable IMS manuals (available on the web).

You can sit down and read this book cover to cover, or you can reference individual chapters to find out what you need, when you need it.

This reference will be close at hand on my bookshelf.

This is the most complete reference book for IMS I have ever seen.

I found this book is very useful. It is really helpful for those who have no idea about Multicasting.

Ip Multicasting : The Complete Guide to Interactive Corporate Networks by David R. Kosiur, Dave Kosiur

Networks Network Addresses Internetworks Protocol Structure Protocol Implementations TCP/IP Application Layer Protocols

David does a very good job of explaining the concepts of IP multicasting and how to use it. He writes in a manner that is easy for the network novice, as well as the experienced network professional to understand. I highly recommend this book.

This is a GR8 second reference book for the iPhone..:-)
Small enough to carry around & not look like too big of a geek..:-)

How could a book dedicated to my little iBreen, Addie go wrong. :-)
It is a perfect companion to tuck into your backpack or the storage
compartment in your car. You will find it to be a great reference,
written in that witty and informative style which is precisely the
trademark feature of Christopher Breen. As it says on the cover,
"All the Secrets of the iPhone, Pocket Sized"

A very useful reference for the iPhone. I've been using Mac's since 96, but wanted to know as much useful information as possible about the iPhone. Chris Breen, for those who don't know him, is a witty, articulate editor for Macworld magazine, and contributes much to Macintosh community. You won't be sorry you got this book, unless you designed the phone yourself you'll be helped and entertained by this book,
Like his other book, The iTunes & iPod Pocket Guide this book won't fit in your average pocket.
You can't go wrong

I love this book! Without it I would miss many of the finer points of the IPhone. Easy to read and understand. Had a quick tutorial at the Apple Store but this book is much better.

The focus of this book is not on formal definitions and theoricals models so much as it is on practical form. But in this book as many other books, does not address these topics in sufficient detail.

Instead, this book emphasizes the use of the security applications, as well as how the applications work and why they are necessary and many other interesting topics.

Yes, this is not the best book about security in linux servers, but yes is a good book for beginners and intermediate users using small LANs.

despite its smallish size (550 pages) this book is packed full of useful info. the first couple of chapters are a whistle stop tour of the all the ways a linux box can be hacked, and the rest of the book describes how to fix these problems. most of the book is intermediate level, but a couple of the later chapters are more advanced. but i think this is a good thing because it means the book goes into much more detail than most others.

If you are a network administrator who needs to get a quick handle on Linux security this would be a very good choice. It covers the basics of security in general (weak passwords, key logging, Trojans, network topology, etc.) as well as security issues that are specific to Linux.

It does a good job of explaining how Iptables are used in a firewall and how to tune the network. Linux Network Security does appear to thoroughly cover all the basic system security considerations including the passwd file, shadowing, enforcing security, using PAM, and SUDO security. The best part of the book is when the author gets to how to choose an appropriate distribution, use a chroot jail, and protect memory.

In addition to the basic Linux security common to all distributions the author discusses role based access control, the Linux Intrusion Detection System, and the secure Linux distribution SeLinux. The book ends with sections on securing the most common services for Linux - Apache, SSH, NFS, NIS, DNS, BIND, and FTP. It also includes a section on keeping your system secure using Tripwire.

If you need additional help on specific issues there are six appendixes which cover recompiling the kernel, kernel configuration for networking, firewall scripts, and cryptography. This book is obviously intended for the Linux network administrator, but the level of knowledge assumed is somewhat confusing. For some pieces it seems to assume no prior knowledge (like Chapters 1 and 2) and for other areas it seems to assume some basic prior understanding of Linux (although admittedly minimal). Keep in mind that there are whole books on some of these items (like securing Apache) so there is obviously much more detailed information available if you have a specific need. Linux Network Security is highly recommended to network administrators who are dealing with a basic file and print sharing network or who need a solid overview of Linux security and some of the security problems with common services.

Security is one of those things that everyone knows they should do but typically doesn't until too late. In spite of all the warnings most companies ignore the pleadings of the assigned security specialist until all of a sudden they are hit in the face with a penetration. And this is the theme of the introductory chapter, except that he explains it a lot better.

The second chapter starts with an explanation of John The Ripper. This is a program that attempts to automatically crack your system's password file. (The John The Ripper program is included on the books CD so you can use it to test your own system.)

By this point he had my attention. It was clear that if he wished he could get into my system and do whatever he wished. I interrupted my reading at this point and changed several system passwords to make them a lot more difficult.

After that I went on to read the rest of the book on finding, fixing and preventing holes in a Linux network. I never realized it was so easy.

The book is a combined explanation of what's happening and a wealth of software on the CD. This software, described in the text part of the book, is a selection of software off of the net. The net has a huge amount of software available. Here the author has selected a dozen or so packages that he discusses enough for you to use and to have some faith that the results you are getting are worthwhile.

Perhaps the best book on Linux security ever.

I have this wonderful iMac that does everything but make coffee. To navigate all the apps, this book is short & sweet.

Very easy to follow, not overly techie. RW & JT have a good writing style and aptitude for clear explanations. The book's illustrations (screen dumps) are well chosen and relevant to the text instructions and explanations. A good teaching tool for IT's to provide for staff or clients.

Luckily I read most of the chapters before my co-worker's permanently "borrowed" it. Now I need to buy another copy. Hope RW & JT are busy writing the next edition for the recent upgrades to some of the iLife apps announced at '04 MacWorld. I'll buy that book also as soon as it's available. Howevery, most iApps have have had only minor changes to them with Panther (and the new iLife), so this current book is still very useful and well worth purchasing.

This book is `hot off the presses,' having been published on April 10, 2003. I guess I was thinking about iLife, because I expected it to cover only iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto and iDVD. But to my surprise, it covers them and much more.

It also covers Mail, Address Book, iCal, iChat and Rendezvous, Safari, Appleworks, Omnigraffle, FaxSTF, Inkwell and all of the .Mac features, including iDisk, iCards, HomePage, WebMail, Backup, iSync, Slides Publisher and Virex. Phew! I'm glad I don't have to say that - I'd run out of breath.

I get a lot of questions from people who are converting from other e-mail apps to Mail, so I looked through Chapter 5 (Mail and Address Book) to see if the most common questions were covered. They were. The AppleWorks Chapter (17) is divided into six sections: Word Processing, Database, Spreadsheet, Painting, Drawing, and Presentation. They cover all the basics you need to get started with these tools.

Tollett and Williams tell us how to rip CDs, import and edit movies, work with iPhoto, create a chat room in iChat, edit, publish and subscribe to calendars using iCal, make a web location from any link in Safari, publish a slide show on your .Mac account, customize the button bar in AppleWorks, and so much more. the information is presented in simple, logical, straight-forward steps.

This book ought to come in the box with every new iMac, eMac and iBook. It covers everything the beginning user of these apps needs to know.

When you buy a computer, you get an operating system with it. When you buy a Macintosh, you get an operating system and an impressive set of most useful applications with it. You should have a book about using the Mac OS X operating system. You also need a guide for using the applications that came with it.

The Little Mac iApps Book is about the separate applications that come with Mac OS X that were not covered in Robin Williams' The Robin Williams Mac OS X Book, Jaguar Edition. In this one book you will find a helpful guide to:
* iLife applications -iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, and iDVD
* OS X apps - Mail, Address Book, iCal, iChat and Rendezvous, and Safari
* .Mac apps - iDisk, HomePage, WebMail, Backup, iSync, Slides Publisher, and Virex
* More Cool apps - AppleWorks Word Processing, Database, Spreadsheet, Painting, Drawing, and Presentation, plus OmiGraffle, FAXstf, and Inkwell.

More complete coverage of the iLife applications is available elsewhere, but this first section is enough to get you using these applications. If you want more information or to see a demonstration you might consider The Macintosh iLife with a DVD by Jim Heid.

The section on Mac OS X apps is, I believe, the only source that covers all of these applications and it does so with enough information to really use them. It is presented so that it is easy reading and the beginner can understand it.

Safari is still in Beta but is quite stable and has already become the favorite Internet browser for many of us. This is the only book I know of with Safari information like these two examples: To save or e-mail a link, drag the icon that is immediately to the left of the URL. To open a link in a new window behind the current window shift-Command click on it. "I can go to a search results page and open a dozen windows in five seconds."

The section on .Mac apps may be enough to get you to sign up to become a .Mac user.

The section on AppleWorks applications is presented as a tutorial. For example the chapter on the AppleWorks database compares records to recipe cards and tells you how to construct an address book which you can easily modify to fit other collections. There is a minor error where it advises you to use a character field for a telephone number and a number field for a ZIP code. The ZIP code should also be in a character field so that leading zeros display.

This is a well written and clearly presented book which should appeal to most Mac OS X users because you really should have a guide to all of the applications that come with Mac OS X.

As many versions of Authorware I have used (3 through 6.5), this book has proven to be one of the "must have" in anyone's reference library. Great examples and simple explainations of all functions and variables. I only wish Joe Ganci would publish a new revision for Authorware 7.

This book is a must have for any serious Authorware programer. It is easily the best reference for an Authorware Programer and a nice addition to the documentation that comes with Authorware 3.X. This book is filled with usefull and practical tips on how to get things done in the most popular multimedia authoring language around.

Joe Ganci, active contributor to numerous online discussions of Authorware, has created a wonderful reference for those who want to squeeze out the functionality from Macromedia Authorware 3.

This book details how, when and why to use the functions that are invaluable to Authorware power users. I've reviewed this book more throughly at my Authorware book site (http://pobox.com/~betsy/).

Betsy Bruce, Authorware Consultant

Even though Macromedia has released Authorware 5 Attain, this book still is a very handy reference. The explanations and examples are great, if just all programming manuals were this clear and to the point... Highly recommended! /Johan Lundstrom

This book is very helpful and easy to follow. It's a very nice book for anyone trying to figure out Fireworks!

Fireworks made easy!!!

Having bought Studio MX 2004 because I wanted the easiest way to integrate graphics with DreamWeaver, I struggled and struggled to use Fireworks. I use Photoshop, but read how great Fireworks was and wanted to try it. I found that it's HELP is terrible, and not very useful to new users. Then I found Sandee Cohen's book, and all is now clear. This is a great book, walking the user systematically through how to use Fireworks, and emphasizing the ease and simplicity of keystroke shortcuts. Very highly recommended.

Macromedia is clearly devoted to the web page production business. Fireworks is their graphics package that is ideally suited for producing the kinds of images you want on web sites. It is also smoothly integrated into the rest of their packages such as Dreamweaver, which is hands down the preferred web authoring package available at the professional level.

If you're thinking about Fireworks but aren't sure, you can go to the Macromedia site and down load a free trial of the package to see if you like it. As for the literature that comes with it, you will find that this book is a much better option.

The Visual Quickstart Guides us an interesting format where each page has one column of text and another of screen images. The idea is to show and explain at the same time. This is a very easy and quick way to get up and running on a software package. The concept is good, and Sandee Cohen does a great job here.

I bought this book a few weeks ago because I appreciated its aesthetic. I sat down to read it this weekend and I was impressed (and surprised) to find it equal parts conceptual and practical. Mighty Assembly has managed to articulate the challenges of developing interfaces in Flash, where the possibilities can be overwhelming. They use simple language to explain their principles of design and how they apply to developing a cutting-edge, experimental Web site. As a designer myself, I'm drawn to the experimental and appreciate contemporaries who push the medium. It's intelligent, well written, and accessible. I am inspired and highly recommend this book to anyone interested in finding new ways to think about developing in Flash.

A 360 degree tour of the mind of top flash designers in the world. It is truly amazing to see a project through the eyes of the Mighty Assembly design team, who take the reader from ideation through execution. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in producing Flash sites that wow the mind and the eye.

finally a book like this exists (a flash book worth my money), covering one entire web site rather than random pieces of various sites. the content is excellent and well written (even friendly) and the book looks fantastic! i particularly like how the authors move in and out of describing the big picture and the minute details behind creating a web site - its one giant case study worth reading. please, more books like this mighty assembly!

This book is not only well written and a visual delight, but it also contains a wealth of hard earned knowledge that is worth much more than the cover price. A must for anyone designing and developing in Flash.

I've been working exclusively on the Mac for nearly seven years, yet each chapter of this book unlocked another great time saver or just plain fun secret! It also demystifies technically cryptic computer jargon. It's a logically structured, easy read. Chapters cover the basics to the advanced. Macintosh unraveled from memory to modem! The included CD-ROM contains very useful items such as ResEdit and File Buddy, that allow you to roll up your sleeves and dig around inside your programs. A true treat from beginning to end! I can't wait to read their next edition

This book, written by two of Macworld magazine's top authors,is extremely informative. It is written not only for thefirst-time user of Macintosh computers, but also for the Mac guru. Everything it talks of finishes with at least 2 or 3 pages of extremely useful tips. The only flaw found in this book was the fact that by the time the book is on the shelf, some information is out of date. Also, some users of outdated technology will find the tips to be only for the newer systems. Of course, the CD-ROM included has much of the info for the older user.

As the owner of a Mac computer company this is one book I love to have on hand. It just doesn't get any better! Never again will someone come into my store thinking they know something I don't. It's the best book for computers I've bought in years

Hundreds of secrets and and info about everything about Macs ever revealed. Cool. I read it from front to back