Rating: 

Reviewed by: Curt Blanchard, Tucson Macintosh Users Group
Date: 1/2/07

Here is another must-have from the O’Reilly Missing Manual series. Switching to the Mac is a hot topic these days not just because the overall Mac experience is superior, but because it’s much more secure from malware and other online nastiness. Now that Boot Camp and Parallels allows users to run Windows on the Mac, the arguments against switching are few. This book may well push those fence sitters over the edge. David Pogue and Adam Goldstein explain what the Mac gives you (lots!) – and what it taketh away (not much). With the Mac, you gain stability, strong security, advanced networking, true plug-and-play and simpler everything. When you switch, you may lose a few apps and access to some peripherals.

The book deals with the basics about how a Mac is different in hardware, how to get online and an exploration of the iLife apps as well as Mail, Safari, etc. There are in-depth explanations of Accounts, System Preferences and other elements that the new user will need to know. This is no lightweight glossing over of the subject matter; it’s over 500 pages of detailed informative material that the new Mac user will want on the reference shelf. One of the well-considered features is a dictionary titled, “Where did it go?” Here you can look up “Alt Key” or “Task bar” and find the Mac equivalents.

If you are a switcher or are considering switching, this is definitely the place to start. If you are looking for a gift for a new Mac switcher, this is something that will be greatly appreciated. Highly recommended.

--Curt Blanchard