Macintosh Books

Being familiar with the author's expertise on the subject I found familiar ground, he answered my questions (even a few questions that I didn't know I had) in a way that was understandable and within the realm of my possibility. I would reccomemd the book to all that are not that versed in the new operating system. There are many books on the market and this is my recomendation, you will find yourself referring, and finding, the information it holds. Go buy it!!

Unfortunately, this book contains large amounts of tedious information and is far too shallow to be called "Power"-anything. Perhaps it was silly of me to expect this book to "go beyond the basics" as was claimed.

For example, I was very interested in using SSH to remotely and securely log in to my PowerBook. In the index, SSH is listed as page 434. However, page 434 is about File Sharing and only barely mentions SSH ("...I'll talk about [it] later in this chapter...").

It's not until 14 pages later (on 448) that SSH is directly discussed. Even then, the barest minimum of information is given: enable SSH, grant access to yourself, and use the ssh command to connect to localhost. Beyond that, there's nothing -- no discussion of ssh-keygen, RSA/DSA auth, or SSH tunnels.

Absolute beginners who want a little bit of everything in a thick book will probably satisfied; others who want to truly "go beyond the basics" and "become a power user" will be disappointed.

This book IS NOT WIMPY! It's really comprehensive -- there's something in here for everyone, but less for beginners, more for those who are familiar w/ OSX. Author does a good job of differentiating system-configuration variations and his companion web site is icing on the cake.

Very well-written, very well edited, very well organized. Like a piece of century-old furniture, it's hard to find computer books with the overall quality of this book these days.

As the author of Mac OS X Power Tools, I'd like to make a quick comment, as I feel that M. Christianson's "review" misrepresents this book. As I've tried to make clear in the introduction to the book, it is written for the typical beginner to advanced beginner who is looking to become more of a power user. It covers the necessary basics and then goes well beyond them to help readers truly understand the inner workings of Mac OS X and how to best take advantage of its power and flexibility. However, if you're searching for advanced information on SSH tunneling, key generation, RSA authorization, and similar IT-level topics, this isn't the book for you. Instead, I highly recommend Mac OS X Unleashed by Ray and Ray, an excellent and exhaustive book that covers many of the advanced Unix underpinnings of Mac OS X.

I'm a supporter of the Mac since 1988 and I got this book in 1992, while starting my first software project in HyperCard (do you remember that little wonder?). I really think that this publication will make you think twice before any step of your programming and this can only be a good thing!

We can almost say that these guys are the ones that actually invented the concept of Human User Interface Design. We have to remember that the Mac IS this book and that's why Microsoft has always been trying to copy the Apple's user interface.

You will surely enjoy this book's style: easy and at the same time dead serious and even scientific about its topics. Interface planning will become second nature in most thing you'll do. Not just programming, but even your communications in general will be influenced by it.

You can download it from the Apple site now, but I do still prefer to read the real thing. ;-)

A fantastic introduction to not only the rules of good HMI design but the principles and reasons behind them. The basic principles apply to all man machine interfaces not only Mac's and not only GUI's. Can build apon the ideas presented in this book by reading a more modern style guide for your target environment afterwards.

You can get it for free in pdf format at Apples developers website

This was an excellent book, when it first came out. Nowadays GUI's are much more advanced, but the fundamental characteristics of the MacOS are still the same. Much can be learned from the MacOS GUI design. The goes into great detail on every bit of the GUI, so you won't miss anything.

Basic, but shows you that Freehand is almost as good as Illustrator without the cool filters, but with direct Flash support (just copy your Freehand work and paste it in flash and bling bling). Some nice features with text and some good masking tips, but for someone who doesn't know much, and is looking for a no-nonsense book at a nice price.

Macromedia FreeHand 10 For Windows And Macintosh by Sandee Cohen is the latest in the superbly presented "Visual Quickstart" guidebook series and swiftly teaches the basics of Macromedia FreeHand computer applications by relying heavily on screenshots and pictures rather than extensive verbal explanations. A marvelous reference for learning Freehand quickly and easily, and enhanced with a special chapter concerning Flash animations, Macromedia FreeHand 10 For Windows And Macintosh is very highly recommended, especially for novice computer users who tire of puzzling their way through excessively long textual descriptions.

I have not been disappointed with any visual quickstart guide. This was the first one I purchased and it's one of my favorites. This teaches you blends, paths, all the basics, and even flash animations!

For 13 bucks, I haven't seen a better deal.

The Freehand 10 Visual Quickstart Guide is probably an excellent choice for beginners and of some use to long time Freehand users.
Most questions are quickly answered, although information on some of the new features is weak.

This is a much better book than the Visual Quivk Pro book. At least you don't get the manual just reprinted...but with less detail.

My problem with this book is that it's not for a beginner. Doesn't anyone do a book that's not for Oscar winners? I got FCP2 as a present and just want to edit my DV footage and add some titles and effects. Macworld has some neat ideas but theres just too much inbetween what I need.

I guess I'll just start on the manual again... :O(

This is a really good book. What makes it one you won't outgrow is it's breath. It's not only a really good book about Final Cut, but a good book about the full range of professional DV video editing. If you want to build your own system or just feel comfortable in someone else's suite this is it.

As with any software there's using it, using it well, and getting it to play well with others. It's this last level that's the real working environment that we all need to learn about. We used to be happy just to learn how to use software, that's no longer enough; we're looking for real insight into the workflow of editing. We no longer think just one application will solve all problems. So if it can't how do we get out, fix something, and get back. Finally, distribution is now in multiple channels: web, tape, DVD - how do you get there from here. If I were trapped in an edit suite with only one FinalCut book this would be it.

I also see that the authors wrote an AfterEffects 5 Bible. When it comes out I think I'll get that too.

Normally I find the "Bible" series of books to be cumbersome and difficult to extract meaningful information. Not so for the Final Cut Pro 2 Bible. This book is a joy to read because all of the topics are thoughtfully separated and self contained. The use of cross-references gives you a complete treatment of any subject. The wealth of information is amazing. I am learning something new each day. Like the manual that comes with Final Cut Pro, this book also provides many examples of information helpful for using the program in the context of DV production. In reality it is two books in one: a book about Final Cut Pro and a book about digital video production.

Zed Saeed has made brilliant short films, and won many awards for them. This book reflects his expertise as a filmmaker, and THEN his expertise with computer systems and applications. To take a mind, eye and heart which is trained in cinema and its esthetics, and to combine those assets with computer genius, is to provide experienced and would-be filmmakers with just the guide they need. What a gift!!!

At last, an excellent book for those who want to know how the OS X ticks. It gives lots of good info and deep knowledge of not only the commands but also supplies comprehensive info on things like how to work with Apache and tweak it for other web support programmes. If you are a tech person wanting to know lots about how to drive OS X Tiger, then this is the book for you. (e.g. I found the instruction that allows the Finder to see all the files on the disc, not just the ones Apple wants you to see.)

As a neophyte, I found the book dificult to understand. Frankly I am disappointed in 10.4. It is not as user friendly as 9.2.

Liked the book. Easy to understand and covers just about everything about the Mac OS. I recommend this book
to anyone who wants an excellent book on the Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger.

I like a printed manual to refer to and Todd Stauffer is the best. He touches on every facet of the Mac.

Psych is already hard enough, why stress yourself out more than you have to?! This book offers pre- and post tests, all with different questions, and gives you the main points you have to know. PLUS, if you're lucky enough to buy it with the CD included, you'll get not only the questions in the book, but a bit more at that. One thing I learned with psych class is to take notes of example story citations when the instructor gives them (helps differentiate the terms), then also hit up as many NCLEX-style psych questions as possible. This book helped me pass the class in very good standing.

I didn't get to use this book too much. I bought it late in the semester. It was good though. I just recommend buying sooner.

I used this book for test reviews although I wish they had put more questions in it, I found that the rationales helped a great deal when figuring out what I got wrong and why I got it wrong. I would recommend this book to any nursing student that was doing the Psy rotations as a good test study aid.

As much as I love my psych text book, I found this book to be very helpful as a Cliff Notes-type supplement. It is concise and easy to read, and the CD that goes along with it works in my Mac and is totally awesome! You can go through pre and post test questions on line, just like within the chapters, as well as check out some NCLEX stuff. All of this was very helpful for exams and just plain learning.

Love it and highly recommend it for supplementing your studies!!

This books makes learning the workings of Microsoft Office 2004 super easy. The photos and instructions take the reader step-by-step through the inner workings of the program. A must for the beginner and a resource for the experienced user. Learn Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as Entourage and more by using this guide any way you wish.

Aimed at the beginning and intermediate user of Microsoft Office for Macintosh, this book is part of the Visual Quickstart Guide. The philosophy of the series is to use a lot of photographs so that you can see what the screen should look like as you do various tasks during the learning process.

The organization of the book, after an introduction that you really should read or at least glance over, is modular just like the software. There's a part on Word, on Excel, on PowerPoint, and on Entourage. Each part is self standing and can be used independently of the other parts. You can read the part on the software you need without having to go do everything at once. Although to be sure you will sooner or later want to use the various applications together, and for this there is Part VI: Combining the Applications.

As a visually oriented book, there are hundreds of pictures/drawings to illustrate just about every point. It's a very fast way to get started.

This 453-page book is written for beginning and intermediate users of Microsoft Office 2004. It blends short, well-written sections on the various parts of Office 2004 with screen shots and other graphics that show you visually how to do things. This is a winning combination and makes learning about Office 2004 easy and fun. I also was pleased to find short "tips" following the various discussions that further enhanced your ability to use the feature being discussed.

Starting the book is a good summary of what's new with the four components of Office 2004, namely Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Entourage. This is followed by separate "Parts" for each of these four applications plus an introductory section and a special ending section. The latter contains instruction on combining some of the aspects of the four applications. Within each of the major "Parts" are Chapters of major features each broken down further into short sections focusing on the various useful ways to use various features of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Entourage.

For example, Part II is on Microsoft Word. It is broken down into 6 chapters focusing on working with word, document formatting, text formatting, adding graphics, creating tables, and other word features. Then within each of those are several subsections providing specific help on various aspects of each chapter topic. For instance, within "document formatting" you'll find specific focus on paper size and orientation, margins, headers and footers, page numbers, inserting page breaks, creating multiple sections, and multiple columns. And all are user-friendly and quite helpful!

This book is part of the "Visual Quickstart Guide" series of Peachpit Press, and the again lives up to the other fine visual guides from this company. I was also impressed by the knowledge shared in this book by the skilled author whose past works included more than 50 other books and hundreds of computer-related reviews and articles for various well-known computer magazines. He knows his subject and has the skills to guide the reader to a most satisfying understanding of Office 2004.

All and all, I would highly recommend this helpful book and I'm sure I will be referring to it many times whenever I have a question about Office 2004 - and I have confidence that I'll find the answer!

This is one of the best of the Quick Start guides. It is clear and concise and makes a long time Mac. user comfortable.

Owen O'Meara

This little book is a goldmine for nurses and others who work in the health professions. It is compact, full of information, up to date and has the added bonus of a CD-ROM which enables practitioners to print out patient information specific to a particular person's prescription. Highly recommended as a personal or organisational reference!!

This book is good only if you are already thoroughly familiar with pharmacology, and you only need the highlights in order to understand thoroughly. However, if you really want to know exactly how drugs work in the human body, don't buy this book--you will be frustrated by its vague descriptions. I would recommend the PDR for that (you'll remember it longer if you have a clearer picture). Also the organization is a bit awckward. It's great for comparing drugs within a category which is great to do in your liesure time, or if you are prescribing drugs, but as a quick reference, it's not the best. For instance, if you come across an unfamiliar drug and want answers quickly, the PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook's alphabetical list is much faster; with this book you have to go to the index first for practically every drug. Also, PDR's N.D.H. explains the how's and why's better (especially about pharmockinetics). One good thing about it, though, the adverse reaction listings distinguish the common and life threatening ones with italics and bold, which makes it quick and easy to focus on what is important. I have not seen this feature in any other book. But PDR's NDH and especially the PDR helps you make the mental connection between mode of desired action and unintended adverse reactions. But this book simply lists them as seemingly unrelated facts, which makes them difficult to remember. This book did impress me with how much information it provided on herbals--they really keep up with all the brand new information.

I can grab this thing and find out what I need to know in a big hurry. It has all the essentials. The 2001 edition continues the fine tradition of its predecessors, with meds grouped by function, an index that covers both generic and brand names, and drug descritions that tell you what you really want to know right now for treating someone. How good is this book? With the PDR available to me for free, I am paying money to get this one.

IN addition to the ... book Info and other reveiwers, I'd like to say how thankful I am with this drug handbook. I actually carry this one with me in my nursing pocket during duty, It's light and not bulky. Pictures of meds in all colors and sizes, generic and brand names. It even have varieties of forms/colors from different companies for the same medications. Adverse reaction is also mentioned in this handbook. You have a question about a drug? Open this handbook and get answers in a flash. Surely a must for all nurses.

This book is a great tool for Pro Tool users. I would highly recommend it.

This book is wonderful! Its clear and concise outline on Pro Tools LE 5.0 and ideal for the new digital recorder! I wish I purchased this book earlier! I recommend this book for anyone who is learning Pro Tools Le 5.0.

This book by Roback is something of a godsend. Not that the manaual that came with ProTools was shabby, it's just that the manual assumes the reader is already at some level of proficieny.
This book demistifies some of the areas that the manual just did not explain.
Better yet, this book is organized for "quick look-up" use. It seems a ProTools user always needs information about a certain subject or operational proceedure. It can be a nightmare trying to get a quick answer with the factory manual. Not only does Roback take you precisely where you need to go effortlessly, he provides clear illustrations and a 1 - 2 - 3 step guide for each
function you are trying to implement. If you want to end your frustration with PT, this is the book to have.
Also, this book is currrent. It covers the latest version of PT (5.1) and th first I have seen with information about the new MBox.
If you are looking for the definitive source for PT...this is the book for you.

This book offered an excellent overview for yours truly who found himself starting completely from scratch. A combination of read, try out, screw up, read, try out some more left me recording songs in a matter of a couple hours after getting things installed. Basic yet essential insights into getting the most out of your recording are included as well including adding width, depth and height to your sounds, creating space for instruments with EQ and ordering effects properly. One caveat, once you get into connecting external devices through OMS (Mac users) and how to take advantage of all the midi features you will find yourself in the lurch. Got on a first name basis with the techies at digidesign attempting to route my midi properly and had to figure out a lot of the features myself. Attention: move midi regions in "region" edit mode only! Anyway, the basics are there, however. As for everything else, between reading and experimenting, you're in business.

A ggod help to a non expert like myself

epitomises the switch to Mac. Nice for an overview or cheat-sheet. Good for covering all with some detail. Worth the money

I have been thinking about buying a Apple computer and this book is excellent reading before buying.

A friend loaned me this book when I bought my first Mac a couple of months ago. Having been a PC user for many years, I was fearing the change. But this book made the transition simple and easy. It may be that the Mac itself is so ease to use, but I don't think so. Whenever I wanted to do something that the PC could never do, the Mac was able (with the book to guide me through the simple steps).

The book helped me transfer all my PC files across to the Mac, update my calendar and address book, sync with my phone and interact with my iPod. It was simply laid out, with everything easily discovered by leafing through the index. I am sure there will be more to discover about getting the full use of the programs provided, but thus far the book has given me everything I need and more.

Excellent book, particularly for a Mac novice with some idea of how to use a computer.