The introduction starts with some very basic information, what's new in Leopard, what is no longer there and what has been revamped. There are a lot of helpful hints in the introduction and throughout the 866-page book. This Missing Manual is organized with a detailed table of contents and an extensive index, which is a benefit for someone like me who probably isn't going to read it from beginning to end.
This book covers everything you want to know about Mac OS X Leopard and more! It is divided into six sections with several chapters in each, they are:
* The Mac OS X Desktop: explains the Dock, Sidebar, Spotlight, Dashboard, Spaces, Exposé, Time Machine, icons, windows, menus, etc.
* Applications in Mac OS X: covers how to launch them, switch among them, swap data between them, use them to create and open files and more.
* The Components of Mac OS X: discusses the 26 panels of System Preferences and the 50 programs in the Applications and Utilities folders.
* The Technologies of Mac OS X: includes networking, file sharing, screen sharing, fonts, printing, graphics, handwriting recognition, sound, speech, movies, VoiceOver, and the underlying Unix Operating System.
* Mac OS X Online: covers internet related features such as the Mail email program, the Safari Web browser/RSS reader, iChat, Web sharing and more.
* Appendixes: includes a Windows-to–Mac dictionary, guidance in installing the operating system, a troubleshooting handbook, resources for further study, and a fantastic master list of all the keyboard shortcuts in Mac OS X Leopard.
This book is well suited for the advanced beginner or intermediate and beyond Mac user. As a beginner I was overwhelmed with the amount of information presented, however, I found the "Up to Speed" sidebars informative and helpful. Throughout the book there are also "Power User's Clinic" boxes filled with advanced technical tips, shortcuts and other tricks for the more advanced user. Fortunately the author starts out with more familiar topics like working with folder windows, the menu bar and an explanation of the Dock.
In the early chapters, occasionally just enough information was given on a subject to move on to the next topic, but you were referred to a page later in the book for more in-depth information. For example on page 68-69 the Users folders and Home folders are discussed. The Shared folder is mentioned but you are referred to page 487 for the complete description of this special folder. I needed to access files from my other user account and using the Shared folder solved the problem for me.
David Pogue's writing style is very readable and infused with his own computer humor. He covers every aspect of the Leopard operating system. I loved the tips, diagrams, notes and other gems that are found throughout the book tucked in their own frames. The table of contents and index deserve one more mention as they are going to help the Mac user of any level find what they are looking for when the need arises. This is a valuable book for anyone who has questions about Mac OS X Leopard.
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7-2008
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