Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition (Missing Manual) Reviews

• Good packaging

  
  By A1NSJHH59U8EKD on 2008-03-17
  I have to strongly disagree with the reviewer here who suggests buying the "Leopard Edition Missing Manual" instead. Yes, there is duplication of content here, but there is also content that is NOT in the other book, and I think a Windows Switcher is going to be much happier with this book than the other. In an ideal situation, I'd give them both and have them read this first.
  
  Sure, it could have been done better, and maybe there really is no need for two thick books. Maybe all the "switcher" stuff should be taken out of the "regular" book and all the "this is the way a Mac" works stuff should be taken out of this - then the two could and should be sold as a set for those who need or want both. Certainly both these books could use some trimming; they are fat and hard to handle.
  
  This is the book I'd give my wife if and when I can get her to give up her Windows PC (I hate that stupid thing and cannot wait for it to die!). She'll be much happier with this than she would be with the other book.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Hastily stitched together snippets of author's top-selling "Big Mac"

  
  By AJPH8OQSWKR7K on 2008-03-17
  Pogue, author/publisher of the spot-on "Missing Manuals" - a series well-regarded for consistently delivering what it promises - ought to be keel-hauled for producing such a sloppily cobbled and pitifully proofed reissue of his widely-lauded "Mac OS-X Leopard", all under the thin veneer of a smashing title (sure got this recent switcher's attention!).
  
  Fortunately, the manual retains most of Pogue's inimitable touches of thorough attention to technical detail; by all rights it should have been a winner -- sad to say, it falls far short of that lofty target. This manual easily would have merited 4 stars for content, but instead turns out to be a second-best also-ran, flying under a false flag. Spend just a few more bucks to get the heavy-weight version of the author's authentic Leopard "Missing Manual"; while the switcher's tips appetizers are identical, the latter heaps more and fresher Leopard meat on your plate.
  
  Section (even chapter) text seems to be blatantly copied-and-pasted verbatim from "Big Mac", including give-away wording lifted from that manual such as '(page 835)' on p. 570 in this 590-page book. Even the handy 5-page 'secret' master keystroke list (Appendix C) is exactly the same as the original's Appendix E. And, annoyingly, on and on. The 'new thin aluminum keyboard' (fig 1-5, p.21) shows four keys at bottom left (like the wireless keyboard), whereas the redesigned USB keyboard sports just three widened modifier keys [Ctrl, Alt (eh, Option), and Command], confining Fn to just one key near the top.
  
  The Index -- an invaluable tool for transplants trying to come up to speed in the Mac world -- obviously hasn't been proofed, in that 'System Preferences' with 27 subentries is wedged between 'Sounds' and 'Spaces', to reappear (identically spelled, but with just one subentry) in its correct alpha position. I checked the Index in vain for 'Proxy Icon', a term foreign to Windows users; 'Formating' (a disk), that perennial Windows headache, likewise isn't referenced.
  
  In brief: This is more of a 'Missed' [in the sense of opportunity lost, or failing the mark] than a 'Missing' Manual. By all means purchase this author's Mac OS-X 'Leopard' bible rather than this repackaged version, whose title may be its sole claim to originality.
  
  
  

• Necessity For The Windows Divorcee

  
  By A2TVJ0YDW3QO63 on 2008-03-17
  For anyone that is not familiar with the wonderful, easy world that is the Apple Macintosh, consider yourself a poor, ignorant soul. Ever since the first Macintosh computer was launched in 1984, the Mac has been the most user-friendly computer available to the masses, and with the newest operating system X Leopard Edition, the same is true, only times X!!!
  
  For existing Windows users who have decided to make the switch because they got their slick new iPod and loves the way it works or they just got a look at a Mac recently and decided it was for them this is the perfect manual for making the switch!!
  
  Covering basics like getting e-mail up and running, importing bookmarks, listening to music, viewing digital pictures and all the other important parts of everyday personal computing is all contained in this book. Written by the amazing David Pogue, every topic is covered in an easy to read manner and this manual is chock full of images on nearly every page!!
  
  For all recent Mac OS X users or people who have made the switch, this book truly SHOULD have been in the box with the OS. It's an incredibly well-written resource, and while it's full of hard data and examples, it's really fun at the same time!!
  
  ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
  
  

• A reference worth owning if you're using Leopard

  
  By A39GHSYRJLA5KF on 2008-03-10
  As a long-time Windows user I found myself annoyed at getting around my first Mac. Apple's site has some helpful tutorials and videos -- but this book is even better. OS X is a great operating system and Mr. Pogue's explanation and organization bring it to light. I'm still not as fast with Mac as with Windows (especially the shortcut keys) but this book got me close. I recommend it.
  
  

• Just right for the switch to Mac from a veteran Windows XP user

  
  By A1YDU37QLTQAPY on 2008-04-12
  With the advent of yet another Windows version, and the professed capability to have Windows and Mac OS on the same computer, I have made the switch (or more accurately, are in the process of divorcing Windows). This easy to read and well indexed reference has been just enough information to get me from my IBM Thinkpad with Windows XP to the MacBook Pro running Windows XP in a VMware Fusion virtual machine. It is amazing to have the Windows toolbar at the bottom of the screen and the Mac doc on the side.
  
  It doesn't have all the answers, but with the documentation that accompanies the VMware Fusion I have all I've needed, and not too much fluff or technical verbage in the way. I stumbled into the book while traveling, but it is the one I needed to make the transition smooth, yet keep an understanding of how it works at the user level.
  
  The perfect addition to the sparse (but necessary) manuals that accompany your new Mac, and a copy of VMware Fusion.
  
  
• Awesome!!
  By A1F4FQ9W559U2S on 2008-06-07
  I have recently moved from PC to a MacBook. After being a PC guy for the past 20 plus years, I found it very difficult to figure out how to do things with the MAC. Everything is different on the Mac OS. The first time I tried to change from PC to Mac I became frustrated and returned to the PC. A few months later, I decided to give it another try. This book has been a savior! This really is the book that should come with the MAC. It is very complete without being a "techie" manual. I can easily find the things I am looking for and they are easy to understand. There is even a section that describes what I use to do on a PC and how to do it on the Mac. If you are switching from a PC to Mac, definitely buy this book!
  The Missing Manual also makes a similar book titled "Mac OS X Leopard". They both have a lot of the same stuff in them. "OS X Leopard" can get a little more into the weeds for a newbie. "Switching to the Mac" has the section that allows to to look up what you used to do on a PC and tells you how to do it on a Mac.
  
  
• switching to the mac
  By A3ESUB55CCTX53 on 2008-04-05
  great reference book and step instructions for mac 10.5. makes using the new os. 10.5, a delightful experience with right on topics and shortcuts. should have been included by apple with the purchase of the duel core processor and upgraded os
  
  
• Misinformation in Missing Manual
  By A3J94KYL205W7D on 2008-06-15
  Note: 'The Tornado' does NOT transfer data from your PC to your Mac. That is the most glaring error. There is very little usable info to assist in moving data. There is nothing listed for iTunes transfer. You're better off spending time and $0 reading the support sections of the Apple website.
  
  
• Essential by for anyone going from PC to Mac
  By AGSBZBR3A76GD on 2008-07-01
  Fantastic book! It provided details and ideas that the staff at my local Mac reseller did not know. The switch from PC to Mac has not been easy, but it would have been much tougher without the help provided in this book. Communicating between old PCs and new Macs became simple. Moving all old emails and email boxes was a breeze.
  
  
• A book for those who already know its contents
  By AZN06M00DYEP0 on 2008-07-10
  I am switching from PC to iMAC after tiring of continual crashes and bought this to aid me. This book is of only slight value to a novice. If the reader knew as much about iMACs as the author assumes, there would be little reason to purchase this book. Check it out yourself. Think of some simple operations that you perform on your PC. Then, peruse the index for this book in an attempt to learn how to perform the same functions on an iMAC. In the unlikely event that you find in the index what you are looking for, read the indicated pages. If you can get past the computer gibberish, you may finds something meaningful. I couldn't. And when I tried to carefully follow the instructions, the things that the books affirms will occur, did not occur. Fortunately, there seem to be several ways to perform any function on the iMAC. So by mindlessly clicking on things and wasting a lot of time I could learn myself what this book falsely promised to teach me.
  
  Its best use is to just read it through and get some feel for what Leopard is. That's not why I bought it.
  
  

• Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual
• iPhoto '08: The Missing Manual
• Office 2008 for Macintosh: The Missing Manual
• VMware Fusion
• Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition