By Chuck Toporek
First Edition
November 2007
Pages: 223
Series: Pocket References
ISBN 10: 0-596-52981-3 |
ISBN 13: 9780596529819
(Average of 2 Customer Reviews)
This little guide is packed with more than 300 tips and techniques to help you get acquainted with Mac OS X Leopard. You get all details you need to learn Leopard's new features, configure your system, and get the most out of your Mac. There's a Survival Guide for newcomers, and chapters on system preferences, applications and utilities, and configuring for experienced Mac users.
Full Description
Mac OS X Leopard Pocket Guide offers an easy-to-read format for users of all levels. If you're a Mac newcomer, there's a Survival Guide that explains how to adapt, and a chapter on Mac OS X's key features. Experienced Mac users can go right to the heart of Leopard with chapters on system preferences, applications and utilities, and configuring. In all, plenty of tables, concise descriptions, and step-by-step instructions explain:
- What's new in Leopard, including the Time Machine
- How to use Leopard's totally revamped Finder
- All about Spaces and how to quickly flip between them
- How to search for and find things with Spotlight
- How to use Leopard's enhanced Parental Controls
- Handy keyboard shortcuts to help you be more efficient
- Quick tips for setting up and configuring your Mac to make it your own
Featured customer reviews
Mac OSX Leopard Pocket Guide, March 12 2008
What I love most about this book is its size. It's a pocket guide so I can take it with me everywhere without the bulk and weight of a standard-size book. The author does an excellent job of addressing all the learning levels, from beginners to advanced, in 211 pages. There is no CD; no big surprise. The illustrations are in black and white, which does not detract from their usefulness, but you cannot open and lay this book flat without assistance.
I was able to find everything I needed from the Index. Besides the informational material he gives numerous and valuable tips and tricks. I particularly love Chapter 7, "Special Characters." This alone makes me keep this book close by when I'm working on my computer. The fact that it's a Pocket Guide means it is brief, therefore necessitating having another reference book handy. For example, this book did not have enough information on how to do Screen Sharing. It only defines what it is and what it's good for.
Apple's new cat, Leopard, is a big and powerful one. This guide will help you tame it.
Pocket Guide to Leopard OSX, January 04 2008
Mac OS X Leopard Pocket Guide
The Ultimate Mac OS X Quick Reference
Chuck Toporek
Migrating from Mac OS 10.3.9 Panther to 10.5.1 Leopard, I found the Mac OS X Leopard Pocket Guide a very useful resource. The Guide describes the new features of Leopard, as well as additional features and how they may differ from those in the earlier Mac OS X. The Guide is formatted into seven Chapters which cover: What’s New in Leopard; Mac OS Survival Guide; Mac OS X Basics; System Preferences; Applications and Utilities; Configuring your Mac, and lastly Special Characters. Each chapter provides a wealth of information on the different features of this OS and provides cross-referencing to other sections of the book where applicable. As well, Mr. Toporek also provides the reader with Warnings, Tips and Notes within the various sections as part of getting acquainted with the latest “Cat”.
As a long time Mac user, I found the inclusion of “navigation to the applications” descriptions as well as the “Tips” most helpful. On a negative note, I had some difficulty reading many of the Figures illustrating the points being discussed. While the Figures were supposed to provide a synopsis for the item being discussed, I felt that many of these images were too small at 3” x 2”. The difficulty in understanding the Figures distracted from the discussion. More than once I had to reach for my photo loop to see what was being illustrated.
While most of the information is presented in a logical manner, there were some items that I would have liked more information. First, I would like to have seen more than two lines on the use of the Migration Assistant, which allows you to transfer data from one machine to another. Second, the Guide could have discussed how to import a different “Mail” program into the Leopard’s Mail Program and what to expect. Finally, I found many minor changes to the Leopard OS difficult to remember, but the Guide did cover them.
In all, the Guide is an excellent companion to an excellent operating system.
Media reviews
"Apple should include this book with every Mac sold. Or, to be environmentally friendly, Apple could email the PDF as a “thank you” to every Mac user who registers with Apple. Either way, the publishers get paid (direct from Apple), Apple strengthens its cult following, and Mac users learn a ton of cool shortcuts productivity boosters."
-- Raymond T. Hightower, ChicagoRuby.org
"The Pocket Guide is a quick and easy read, but most likely useful as a handy reference when needed. It has numerous illustrations and, screenshots, tables and charts, and a dozen or so pages of keyboard shortcuts for system and application usages. There are also dozens of “Tips” spread throughout which provide practical guidance to new users."
-- John Suda, Amazon.com
"Whether you're new to the Mac universe or just want to find out more about the features in Leopard, then Mac OS X Leopard Pocket Guide is for you. Toporek makes it easy to understand, even if you never used a Mac before. Think of this book as inexpensive insurance if you have a Leopard problem!"
-- Irv Hass, Apple Pickers Macintosh User Group
