Title: iPod the Missing Manual, Fifth Edition
Author: J.D. Biersdorfer
Publisher: O’Reilly, Pogue Press
ISBN-10: 0-596-52978-3; ISBN-13: 978-0-596-52978-9
Reviewed by: Curt Blanchard, Tucson Macintosh Users Group
Date: 1/2/07
I’m a huge fan of the O’Reilly missing manual series. These are the go-to bibles for the times when you need more information than the meager instruction sheets provide. Time was when you could expect a good, thick manual in the box with your software or gadget. No more. These days, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a Quick Start guide and a link to the company website. This is where O’Reilly/Pogue Press comes riding to the rescue with the Missing Manuals, “The book that should have been in the box”.
The new iPod the Missing Manual Fifth Edition is 240 pages and was published in November 2006 and it covers all the new iPods – Video iPods and new 2nd Generation Nanos and Shuffle. Of course, by the time you read this, MacWorld Expo 2007 in San Francisco will have unleashed lots of new things upon us so realize that we live in a fast changing world.
J.D. Biersdorfer, once again, shines with her authoritative knowledge and wit. She covers the subjects in depth but with a light hand – tough to do but she’s good at it. She is the computer Q&A columnist for the New York Times and is comfortable with both the Mac and PC platforms. This is important because this book covers the iPod in both worlds.
Biersdorfer starts with the iPod basics and then explores iTunes including playlists and storage. There are chapters on video and photos, on listening via external speakers, stereo systems, etc. and there is a useful troubleshooting section at the end.
This particular edition was printed in full color in Canada. I can understand color for a book on iPhoto, but it doesn’t really seem necessary here – even though it’s nicer than black and white.
If you are an experienced user, you might consider the bigger iPod and iTunes Fourth Edition (300+ pages) which goes into a little more depth. I have to believe there will be a Fifth edition of this excellent book coming shortly.
Meanwhile, iPod the Missing Manual Fifth Edition is an ideal choice for the new iPodder. Recommended.
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