Using Linux to Tame the Big Hairy Beast
Publish Date: Jul. 27, 2001

Linux and open source software are entering mainstream business practices. O'Reilly open source editor Chuck Toporek reports on Friday's keynote, "Fueling the Open Source Alternative."

The Mind Behind gawk: An Interview with Arnold Robbins: The Author of Effective awk Programming, 3rd
Publish Date: Jul. 2, 2001

O'Reilly author discusses involvement with gawk and awk and his book, Effective awk Programming. By Arnold Robbins, author of O'Reilly's Effective awk Programming, 3rd Edition (May 2001).

Greetings from the BSD Super BOF
Publish Date: Jun. 29, 2001

O'Reilly editor Chuck Toporek reports from USENIX. By Chuck Toporek, O'Reilly open source editor.

Mac OS X vs. Linux: Five Things Apple Should Do
Publish Date: Apr. 3, 2001

O'Reilly's Open Source editor Chuck Toporek looks at the potential threat Mac OS X poses to Linux on the desktop--and he offers Apple some advice as well.

Mac OS X vs. Linux: Could Apple Take a Bite Out of the Penguin?
Publish Date: Apr. 3, 2001

O'Reilly's Open Source editor Chuck Toporek looks at the potential threat Mac OS X poses to Linux on the desktop--and he offers Apple some advice as well.

View all articles by Chuck Toporek.

Mac OS X Tiger Pocket Guide

Media Reviews

"This small book is jam-packed with useful information. Unless you’re wanting to go totally geek with OS X Tiger, this book should be all you need on the topic, for under ten bucks."
--Victoria Maciulski, CVMUG, July 2005

"In my opinion, this little book would be a handy operator’s guide for any Macintosh owner. To my surprise, Torporek covers all aspects of MacOS X... This would be a great book for “switchers” coming to Mac from the PC world, as well as a great book for anyone who likes to look up how to do something."
--Bill Davies, MacNexus, July 2005

Mac OS X Leopard Pocket Guide

Customer Reviews

Pocket Guide to Leopard OSX
2008-01-04 13:45:07 ApplesBC Computer Society, Vancouver BC
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.

Mac OS X Tiger in a Nutshell

Customer Reviews

Grab some Jolt and your favorite junk food - it's Mac/Unix geek time!
2006-04-13 20:57:40 Steve Zappe
"Mac OS X Tiger in a Nutshell" isn't your typical tome on "everything you need to know to use Mac OS X." If you're looking for an easy to read, richly illustrated book to curl up with on a rainy day with a cup of coffee, this isn't it. But if you're interested in the Unix underpinnings of Mac OS X, then grab a six pack of Jolt and your favorite junk food, because there's a heck of a lot of information packed into this book.

The authors clearly identify their target audience early on - "Unix users and Unix programmers", or generally people who are already familiar with the Unix system. Obviously, that's not your stereotypical Macintosh user from pre-OS X days (i.e., System 7 or Mac OS 9). But if you've ever spent time using other operating systems (dare I say DOS?) or are feeling adventurous and want to "peek under the hood", then you'll also benefit from the wealth of information presented in this book.

"Tiger in a Nutshell" is organized into three major parts. Part I, "Commands and Shells", introduces the basic concepts of networking and system administration. After providing a four page quick reference to Unix commands by topic (terrific for beginners), fully one half of the remainder of the book is a comprehensive alphabetical Unix command reference, which the authors claim is the most complete and thorough reference available anywhere (even on the system itself). They've borrowed heavily from other O'Reilly Nutshell books to compile this list, and this compilation alone is worth the price of the book. They also cover the Terminal, which is the gateway between the Aqua graphical user interface (GUI) and what they call the "no-nonsense command-line interface" of Darwin. After briefly providing an overview of different flavors of shells, the authors then describe bash, the default user shell for Mac OS X Tiger.

Part II, "Text and Text Processing", describes the tools used to work with text files, including text editing programs like vi and Emacs, and pattern matching commands like grep and the metacharacters used in search and replacement patterns. There are separate chapters that go into the details for both the vi and Emacs editors. By the way, just a little obscure history about the vi editor... although "vi" (pronounced "vee-eye") is derived from the shortest unambiguous abbreviation of "visual", I remember learning it back in the 90's as an acronym for a less flattering term: "virtually impossible". That gives you an idea how spoiled we've become with text editors that don't require memorizing arcane commands - remember, that's why you'd buy this book, right?

Finally, Part III, "Managing Mac OS X", offers chapters on managing Mac OS X Tiger with full knowledge (gained from reading the preceding 400 pages) about the Unix underpinnings of the operating system. Here's where you'll be able to finally understand the file system, directory services, how to run network services, using X Windows (also known as X11) as an alternate GUI to Apple's Aqua interface, and learn about the defaults database, used to store preferences for individual applications.

This book obviously isn't for the casual or newbie Mac user, but provides an excellent reference for the Unix geek learning to use the Mac, and the Mac geek wanting to learn more about the incredible power of Unix that is just waiting to be unleashed. As long as you're in the target audience, I have no qualms recommending this book for you!

Hydrocephalus: A Guide for Patients, Families & Fr

Customer Reviews

Hydrocephalus: A Guide for Patients, Families & Friends Review
2002-11-03 09:15:05 Gloria Rice
One Sunday while on the telephone, I had a sudden headache. It was a pain in my right eye like what I use to refer as "Brain Freeze." When ever I ate ice cream or would drink cold water I would get this pain, behind my right eye and had to stop eating or drinking. But this time I didn't have anything to eat or drink causing this sudden tremendous pain. I hung up the phone and went to lay down on my bed. If it wasn't for my husband calling 911 and the rescue team calling for a hellicopter to take me to the hospital across town, and a wonderful surgeon I wouldn't be here today. I remained in the hospital & nursing home from Sept.16,2001 to Nov.26,2001. I couldn't eat because I was nauseaus most of the time so my husband gave me Coke Cola to drink, that settled my stomach. I used a wheel chair and a walker to get around for two months. I have rheumatoid arthritus and don't want to be in a wheel chair ever again. Sometimes I use my cane, but only when the waather turns bad.I am 72 years old.

It took me a year to remember what I was wearing that terrible day. And I wondered if anyone else has experienced "Brain Freeze" before they had this operation. Two weeks ago I saw my surgeon for the last time till next year. She said I looked wonderful and have lost 35 pounds. I have a V.P. Shunt and I am a number #2 survivor. By the way I'm also a breast cancer survivor. I will check out your book and apreciate being able to tell someone about my surgery. Thanks

Hydrocephalus: A Guide for Patients, Families & Friends Review
2002-11-03 09:03:00 Gloria Rice
One Sunday while on the telephone, I had a sudden headache. It was a pain in my right eye like what I use to refer as "Brain Freeze." When ever I ate ice cream or would drink cold water I would get this pain, behind my right eye and had to stop eating or drinking. But this time I didn't have anything to eat or drink causing this sudden tremendous pain. I hung up the phone and went to lay down on my bed. If it wasn't for my husband calling 911 and the rescue team calling for a hellicopter to take me to the hospital across town, and a wonderful surgeon I wouldn't be here today. I remained in the hospital & nursing home from Sept.16,2001 to Nov.26,2001. I couldn't eat because I was nauseaus most of the time so my husband gave me Coke Cola to drink, that settled my stomach. I used a wheel chair and a walker to get around for two months. I have rheumatoid arthritus and don't want to be in a wheel chair ever again. Sometimes I use my cain, but only when the waather turns bad.I am 72 years old.

It took me a year to remember what I was wearing that terrible day. And I wondered if anyone else has experienced "Brain Freeze" before they had this operation. Two weeks ago I say my surgeon for the last time till next year. She said I looked wonderful and have lost 35 pounds. I have a V.P. Shunt and I am a number #2 survivor. By the way I'm also a breast cancer survivor. I will check out your book and apreciate being able to tell someone about my surgery. Thanks

Hydrocephalus: A Guide for Patients, Families & Friends Review
2001-06-02 19:01:52 anonymous
I have had hydrocephalus since I was born and it was refreshing to read your book. Not only did it serve as an informative piece of work it also provided hope. I have had hydrocephalus since birth. Yet I have never seen it as a disability or impairment, instead I have used it as a way to inform others. As a result I am now in college working to earn my nursing degree. I am proof that this disease does not have to slow you down or stop you from living. I realize how fortunate I am to have this disease because it has shaped who I have become

It doesn't have to be the end of a life, instead it should be a beginning

Age:18

Hydrocephalus: A Guide for Patients, Families & Friends Review
2001-04-25 16:58:21 Yvonne Ventimiglia
I haven't yet read the book, but my daughter, age 27, has hydrocephlus and I often thought of writing such a book. I think we have had all the complications known to hydrocephalus, and know how complicated life can be. 27 years ago we were at the beginning of successful treatment (thank God)through use of shunts. Her complications resulted in visual impairment, precocious puberty, hemiplegia and now Type I diabetes which I contribute to some of the extreme pharmacological treatments she endured in her early years resulting from shunt infections.

I encourage ANYONE who has a caring involvement for someone with hydrocephalus to read and understand the lifelong adventure that the condition presents! I have read exerts, and these authors are right on and very informative. I thank them for their loving concern in writing this much needed book.

Hydrocephalus: A Guide for Patients, Families & Friends Review
1999-04-22 00:00:00 Gayle Crowe


My husband has had a shunt since the age of three years. He will be going through
his first shunt revision at the age of thirty-five. This is the first time I have
had to deal with this kind of surgery. Although he is frightened, I think I'm a
little bit more frightened than he is. This book was checked out through our local
library and has been a god send. Now I feel a bit more confident about the procedure.
They explained it so well and with words that I could understand. I am going to buy the
book so I'll have something to refer to when I have questions. Thank you for a wonderful
book!

Hydrocephalus: A Guide for Patients, Families & Friends Review
1999-04-14 00:00:00 Christine Gaitens


This book is Gold, a real Treasure

I picked up this book one morning and did not stop reading until that
evening when I was finished. It was so easy to read and so informative
that I could not put it down. Since then it has helped me with many
decisions in dealing with my daughters medical situation.

This book explains hydrocephalus completely and clearly while giving
suggestions about many aspects of receiving the best medical care
possible including how to talk to your neurosurgeons, what symptoms to
watch for and how your medical system affects the kind of care you can
expect. The sections on hospitalizations, shunt revisions and side
effects offered information that I had not received anywhere else. I
also made many new connections with others dealing with this condition
through the appendixes in this book.

Buy this book and be informed! I am now passing it around to all my
family members and friends so that they can finally understand what
hydrocephalus is all about. I will continue to treasure this resource in
the years to come as a reference and means of support when it is most
needed.

Hydrocephalus: A Guide for Patients, Families & Friends Review
1999-03-04 00:00:00 Julie Kern


Thank you again, you both have my (and Joey's) eternal gratitude
or taking the time and effort to write this book. God bless you both.

Media Reviews

"Toporek, a medical editor, and wife Robinson, a writer and hydrocephalus patient, fill a void of information on hydrocephalus (water on the brain) for the lay reader. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries." --Library Journal, June 15, 1999

"I found [this book] to be most informative. Something like this is desperately needed for families. It appears to cover essentially all of the issues that the patient's family and friends will face. The language is very comforting." --Marion L. Walker, M.D., F.A.C.S., Professor and Chairman, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Primary Children's Medical Center

"We highly recommend this sensitively written book that does much to dispel the myths about hydrocephalus, providing the reader with in-depth information and a wealth of resources." --Emily S. Fudge, Executive Director, Hydrocephalus Association, San Francisco, California

"This book talks directly to the hydrocephalic, parents of a child who will be born, or has been born with hydrocephalus and 99 percent in layman terms. It's easy to understand and can be used as a good reference book/manual. The book contains so much more information than we have ever been informed about previously. It takes away that feeling of being out of control, and also so misinformed, being unable to find answers to your questions. This book makes it so the patient doesn't feel so inadequate." --Debbi Fields, Executive Director, National Hydrocephalus Foundation, Lakewood, California

"I am truly thrilled with the accomplishment of Ms. Robinson and Mr. Toporek. They truly have done a tremendous job in this Guide. Overall, the book is well-written, and should be easily read for those whom it is directed." --Greg Tocco, Executive Director, Founder Hydrocephalus Foundation, Inc. (HyFI), Saugus, Massachusetts

"I think the book is great! I am amazed at the wealth of information in it. I hated to let it go. This is a terrific Guide for those who need to find out about everything that hydrocephalus involves, or could involve." --Lynn M. Power, Hydrocephalus patient and 1995 recipient of the Gerald Fudge Scholarship, awarded by the Hydrocephalus Association

"This book is wonderful! I wish I would have had something like this when Michael was diagnosed with hydrocephalus seven years ago." --Chris Riccio, parent and active member of the New York/New Jersey Hydrocephalus Support Group

"Bravo!! [Chuck and Kellie] have done a masterful job of combining the technical information and the personal aspects of hydrocephalus. Their work is very inclusive of all aspects of this complex disorder, and they have made it very accessible and readable for everyone." --Sue Lehr, Ph.D.

"The book is a great resource full of alot of helpful info--the parts that really kept me glued were all the antedotes from patients and families. It's always so good to know there are others out there.... I will be sure to mention the book to our NS's office. It would be incredibly helpful to many, expecially newly dx'd." --Betsy Conyard, mom to Mary 5 (hydro) & Chip 15 months

"My husband has had a shunt since the age of three years. He will be going through his first shunt revision at the age of thirty-five. This is the first time I have had to deal with this kind of surgery. Although he is frightened, I think I'm a little bit more frightened than he is. This book was checked out through our local library and has been a god send. Now I feel a bit more confident about the procedure. They explained it so well and with words that I could understand. I am going to buy the book so I'll have something to refer to when I have questions. Thank you for a wonderful book!" --Gayle Crowe

"The Unofficial Hydro Handbook...A Must Read for Families Kellie and Chuck have pursued and completed a wonderful project for patients and families who deal with hydrocephalus. Written not by medical professionals (though editing and consulting have been appropriately included) but by common folks whose lives have been impacted by hydro. The same questions, concerns, fears, and symptoms that occur to everyone impacted by hydrocephalus are addressed in easy to understand (and relate to) terms. Of particular interest are the personal accounts that pepper all sections of the book. You can almost see yourself in the various quotes and questions gathered from patients and family. You definitely will see there are others in your position. The important topic of support is also well addressed. In conclusion, this is a breakthrough writing for hydro patients and families. To my knowledge, this may be the first book on hydro written for patients and families, not medical practitioners. In libraries and bookstores there are dozens of books on cancer, heart disease, and other more common diseases. This is understandable, but I have found none on hydrocephalus and I needed a resource. Kellie and Chuck's book on hydro was the first I have found and it is available on Amazon. I highly recommend it to individuals, family, and friends who are impacted by hydrocephalus. Don't leave for the doctor's office without it!" --christopher.joy@gte.net from Ohio, USA, May 24, 1999 (*****) Amazon.com

"What an honor to get an e-mail from the co-authors of my new all-time favorite book. I have ordered another four copies of your book. One for my family to share, one for Joey's school's parent lending library (and for his teacher and school nurse to read), one for the 12th floor (neurological floor) at St. Louis Children's Hospital and one for the NICU at St. Louis Childen's Hospital (where Joey spent 7 weeks after he was born). I especially want the NICU to have a copy so that they can share it with families of newly diagnosed children with hydrocephalus. I wish this book would have been available when Joey was diagnosed, it would have helped tremendously.

"I have to also tell you that when I showed the book to my brother-in-law (who is a physician), he asked me if it was a second-hand book. I told him no that it was 'hot off the press,' but that in the short week that I have had the book I have thumbed through it so many times and earmarked so many pages that it already looks like a book that has spent many years in a library. I may have to order myself another copy before too long.

"Thank you again, you both have my (and Joey's) eternal gratitude for taking the time and effort to write this book. God bless you both." --Julie Kern, Freeburg, Illinois

"This book is Gold, a real Treasure. I picked up this book one morning and did not stop reading until that evening when I was finished. It was so easy to read and so informative that I could not put it down. Since then it has helped me with many decisions in dealing with my daughter's medical situation.

"This book explains hydrocephalus completely and clearly while giving suggestions about many aspects of receiving the best medical care possible including how to talk to your neurosurgeons, what symptoms to watch for and how your medical system affects the kind of care you can expect. The sections on hospitalizations, shunt revisions and side effects offered information that I had not received anywhere else. I also made many new connections with others dealing with this condition through the appendixes in this book.

"Buy this book and be informed! I am now passing it around to all my family members and friends so that they can finally understand what hydrocephalus is all about. I will continue to treasure this resource in the years to come as a reference and means of support when it is most needed." --Christine Gaitens

Mac OS X in a Nutshell

Customer Reviews

Mac OS X in a Nutshell Review
2003-04-07 11:40:02 Steve Chambers
While I have not read this book extensively I have mixed feelings about it. I like the command reference (and neither want nor need another manual on Perl or AWK (as O'Reilly publishes books on that, I don't see a need) but found a couple of things a bit glossed over.

Check out the chapter on setting up users and groups outside of the Preference pane for it. The amount of info on that subject (something I would like more info on) is sketchy at best. Though I dont have the book in front of me, it boils down to: "netinfo is the way you do it." (sigh)

Also while the DAMP chapter (available as a download) is a nice start. It is nowhere near sufficient for what I want to do:

How about more on Sendmail, setting up a webmail interface on your web server would be nice. And brfore someone mentions Squirrelmail. I have tried it and failed. Maybe I am a doofus, but I think not...

How about setting up FTP (not anon.) so only specific users have access to a shared folder. No I am not setting up a Warez server. I keep personal (work) files there for easy access on the road and post the occaisional picture or movie for family and friends and would love to set up everyone with their own account in a shared directory.

So while I thought the book was good I found some of the subject matter curiously lacking in subject depth. However I would still recommend this book. It has come in quite handy as a reference for basic UNIX and system admin tasks.

Mac OS X in a Nutshell Review
2003-02-14 14:35:52 Dave Cheatham


I found OS X in a nutshell a pretty good reference. If you were an early adopter of OS X, you've either figuered out most of the information in the first half of the book using survival instincts, or you don't care about the less-than-obvious OS X panels, apps and utilities.

I have to compliment the writing team for covering a gazillion different mac and unix topics in one volume. That being said, some of the topics are a little thin to apply to practical use without some additional information.

I really liked the DAMP chapter. I never had the opportunity to lauch a web server before, but I had Apache up and running in 5 minutes, exactly as documented!

A pretty good all-in-one refernece for those of us who don't touch unix every day, or never earned a sysadmin merit badge. By the time this book wears out, we'll all be using OS XV.

Mac OS X in a Nutshell Review
2003-02-08 13:03:46 Dan Allen
This could easily be a great book, but the manual pages have a two huge flaws:

1) there is no man page for Perl! How can O'Reilly, the publisher of all things Perl, leave out a basic man page for Perl on the highest volume Perl shipping platform ever in history, Mac OS X? This is unbelievable.

2) there is the worst man page for Awk ever given. It lists one or two options. It should at least be Brian Kernighan's own page which is a nice summary of the language. A full man page is given for the rarely used bc (binary calculator) -- which is nice don't get me wrong -- but why give a bc page with great detail and NOT do the same for the most useful utility in the system (awk), or the most used utility (perl).

The first half of the book is interesting, but should be in the "Mac OS X for Unix Geeks" book. I'd like to see Awk and Perl treated with some dignity and respect and put with all of the man pages alone in a separate volume, tiny print, thin Bible paper, in a ultra-cool pocket reference that would really fit in a standard shirt pocket.

Also, the authors do not know Macintosh history very well. They say that AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) was introduced in Mac OS 8.5. Try Mac OS 6! There are quite a few other technical flaws, and a few very bad grammatical errors due to words being caught by spell checkers, but not by decent proof readers.

My advice? Wait for a 2nd edition that fixes these fundamental flaws.

Mac OS X in a Nutshell Review
2003-02-06 08:31:01 greg priglmeier
This book is very good. It replaces my previous #1 macintosh book, Mac OS X Unleashed, because of its detail, conciseness and that it is the most up-to-date Mac OS X book. The sections covering the BSD Unix / NextStep underpinnings of Mac OS X are excellent. My only criticism is that the book seems to be written for the client version and is missing the Mac OS Server specific commands, etc. An example of this is: diskspacemonior or IP failover. It is very well writtten. Amazon has this book for appx. $10 off the cover price! Check it out.

Media Reviews

"You will find yourself pulling this book out frequently. I reach for this book before all others I have on OS X, so I keep it close by."
--Stephen Henry, North Coast Mac Users Group, February 2004
https://www.ncmug.org/newsletter/2004/february.html

"If you can't trust a Mac OS X book written by a guy named McIntosh, who ya gonna trust? Bill Gates? There are lots of cutesy-poo books about Mac OS X and all of them are big, including 'Mac OS X in a Nutshell'...If you want the straight scoop on what's up with Mac OS X, this is the place to find it."
--Joe Farace, Shutterbug, December 2003

"In my opinion, it is a great book to add to any Mac user's library. It's a definite two thumbs up."
--Chris Henderson, Provo Linux Users Group, September 2003
https://brainshed.com/reviews/ora_macosx_nutshell.html

"This is the book you'll want to consult when you already understand the basics of what you need to do, but cannot quite recall the specifics. It also provides a handy way to review what you know, to make sure you haven't missed anything major. And, lest you worry that 'terse' equates to less information--do not fear. At 800 pages, this book has plenty of 'thud factor.'"
--Vicki Brown, "MacTech," September 2003

"O'Reilly's 'OS X in a Nutshell' is an indispensable manual for anyone who needs to know the OS inside and out...Even though it touches on nearly all aspects of Mac OS X, it hones in on many of the areas where you'll probably be looking for the most help...It is full of features and tricks that are far from obvious and a number of which we haven't found anwhere else, In either case, this is one book you'll want to keep within arm's reach."
--Ric Getter, "MacDirectory," Fall 2003

"O'Reilly's 'Nutshell' series is a benchmark in desktop quick (and complete) references. If you have not seen any of these titles, have a browse next time you are in a bookshop...This important technical reference is an essentail resource for developers and anyone setting up a Mac OS X server and is a valuable source of information for those users who want to know more about technical aspects of OS X. Very well written and should not overwhelm readers without a technical background. A must for libraries with Mac OS X holdings."
--Major Keary, "AUSOM News," July 2003

"This could be a 'holy book' for the die-hard Apple Macintosh OS X user...From the cute-looking OS shell interface right down to the BSD underpinnings this book offers something for everybody, providing a good reference for the new Mac user and old hand alike."
--Darren Ingram, "M2 Best Books," June 2003

"Bottom line: Does the book provide the information and tools that a power user would want? Yes. Do I recommend 'Mac OS X In A Nutshell?' Yes. If you are a power user or wish to be, then this book is for you."
--Bobby Zamarron, Alaskan Apple Users Group, July 2003
https://www.akappleug.org/rev/94.html

"This book by Jason McIntosh, Chuck Toporek and Chris Stone is essential to all Mac OS X users. 5 stars."
--"Computer Shopper," July 2003

"This is an important technical reference that is an essential resource for developers and anyone setting up a Mac OS X server, and is a valuable reference for those users who want to know more about technical aspects of os x. Very well written and should not overwhelm readers who do not have a formal technical background."
--Major Keary, Book News, 2003 No. 4

"..if you're interested in getting into the Unix core of OSX and learning to exploit the power of the command line, or if you're a system administrator or software developer, this book should prove to be an invaluable resource and reference in O'Reilly's thoroughgoing tradition."--Charles W. Moore, Applelinks, March 2003

Mac OS X Pocket Reference

Media Reviews

"If the perils and pitfalls of Mac OS X accost you at home, at work, and in between, you need Chuck Toporek's 'Mac OS X Pocket Reference' (O'Reilly, www.oreilly.com, $12.95). This handy guide puts hundreds of Mac OS X tips, hints, and explanations in a compact 4.25-by-7-inch format."
--MacAddict, August 2002

"Unlike the massive computer books usually seen on the shelves of book stores this book can literally fit in your pocket! Being a little nerdy I did this (just because it is titled a pocket reference and I figured it would count as research)... This isn't a book that will keep you up at night but when you are on the phone with a friend and need to know how to chmod quickly, I guarantee you'll be reaching for this."
--Jon Gales, Macmerc.com, May 15, 2002

"Although the Designer's Bookshelf concentrates on books in the visual communications fields, the 'Mac OS X Pocket Reference' caught all our Mac User's fancy and won the Design-Bookshelf.com Editor's Choice Circle for July 2002."

"The ultimate guide to newcomers to Mac OS X"--The First Coast Mac, July 2002

"I have wasted a lot of personal time and effort in early endeavors to gather the emerging, needed facts on this new system, and this timely little paperback is the best bargain I am aware of." --Bill Bankston, The Peel, July 2002

"The Max OS X Pocket Reference caught all our Mac User's fancy and won itself a place in the Design-Bookshelf.com Editor's Choice Circle for July 2002."--Design- Bookshelf, July 2002

"Don't take this book's size for minimal content...it's "mucho content at a mini size." This book contains everything Mac OS X under the sun--except for, maybe, the secret 'fsck' disk repair command...Rating: 93% A successful attempt at creating a pocket-sized reference book for Mac OS X users." --The AquaticMac, 5 June 2002

"In some respects, writing a small reference book about a topic as complex as Mac OS X is more of a challenge than writing a doorstop-sized tome. Figuring out what can be safely left out is the trick. Chuck Toporek, the Macintosh editor at O'Reilly & Associates Inc., has tackled the job with his new "Mac OS X Pocket Reference: A User's Guide to Mac OS X" which, at 103 pages plus index, is the slimmest OS X volume I've reviewed here. However, Chuck has managed to pack an amazing amount of useful information into a book that really will fit in your trousers back pocket (I just tried it). If you're not into reading lengthy and detailed manuals, but still need some help with OS X from time to time, this book is for you...Mac OS X Pocket Reference delivers on what it's advertised to do and sells for a modest $12.95. As is typical of O'Reilly books, the design, layout, and organization of the book are first-rate."-- Charles W. Moore, Applelinks, May 24, 2002

Mac OS X Pocket Guide

Media Reviews

"It doesn’t matter what your computer skill level is, this handbook will show you what you need to get moving in the OS X fast lane."
--Sean Alexandre, Bishop Eastern Sierra Macintosh User Group, June 2003
https://besmug.org/book.reviews/OSX_PG2.html

"A very good roadmap through the latest version of the Mac operating system...I highly recommend it for your reference library. With its small size you can easily keep it on your desk, or slip it in a desk drawer. It retails for $14.95; not too bad, considering you can spend over 60 on many reference books today."
--Rodney Broder, Mactechnics, March 2003

"If you have made the switch or are considering making a move to Jaguar 10.2, Apple's newest Operating System, then some reading material may be in order. Not that OS X is hard to learn or use, Jaguar is just different than any other Operating System and a good manual will help ease you through the transition of becoming comfortable with this wonderful and exciting OS. 'Mac OS X Pocket Guide 2nd Edition' would be a first-rate pick for this. It is a small book in length, only 130 pages and has a handy size of approximately 4 x 7 inches. It is also full of tips shortcuts, and how-to information on OS X. This goes to show that bigger is not always better."
--Clyde Odom, Alaskan Apple Users Group, Jan 2003

"This book will live right next to my 'jaguar-ized' computer...Early in the book, Toporek illustrates how to acclimate quickly to the new environment...The book is richly illustrated, replete with tables, screen shots, hints and illustrations. These allow you to determine what/how to do in OS X the many tasks that were once 'routine and easy' from whatever system you've switched from...Reviewing this book not only 'enlightened' me, but the reading was to my surprise, a pleasure. That despite the fact that I came to it prejudiced against the new OS. The 150 page 'Pocket-Guide' level book provides a straight-to-the-point 'primer' on working Mac OS X. The well-organized chapters and sections; clear and mostly easy to understand narratives and tables are to-the-point and the inter-dispersed notes and even the Unix tutorials seem focused and well written...This well written, exhaustively indexed, little guide book is Highly recommended to anyone who is about to or recently switched to OS X. It makes for a fine computer accessory, until you are comfortable in the new OS X environment. The 'Mac OS X Pocket Guide' is a useful, no-nonsense guide that provides the straight-forward information to technically-inclined individuals who need to orient themselves to OS X. But, newbies, reaching your desired comfort level with this new MOS will take a bit more time. You'll likely be wearing out a copy or two on your way to OS X mastery. Remember, this book is not just about help. Relax, thumb through it and you'll pick up tidbits that you hadn't noted previously, making your journey on the 'Ten Fold Way of Macintosh,' more rewarding. I deem this a must buy, even for experienced OS X users--at under $15, it's a steal!"
--Harry (doc) Babad, mac-nut.com, Feb 2003

"These are so cute! These mini Pocket Guides from O'Reilly answer almost all the essential questions... anyone with even minimal experience at Mac OS systems, old or new, will be using these handy guides often....{Toporek's} got about 10 pages on basic Unix commands, for example, a subject I always start to glaze over when it comes up. But he gives the skinny with a clarity I could understand, and now I'm practically ready to be a superuser."
--Stephen M.H. Braitman, BOOK BYTES, Jan.22, 2003

Reviews From Previous Edition

"All in all, this little guide book is HIGHLY recommended to anyone who is about to switch to OS X (the sooner the better?there's no escaping it!), or recently did. It makes for a fine travel companion until you are comfortable in the new OS X environment."
--Ludwig Laab, Alaska Apple Users Group, Oct 2002

"The 'Mac OS X Pocket Reference' is a well written book that gives a good overview of the basic functionality of Mac OS X. Although a bit too large to really fit in a pocket, it is quite small and nevertheless provides quite a bit of interesting information, no matter what your background is. The only exception is maybe when you're a long time Mac OS X (or Classic Mac OS and Unix) user, in which case you wont learn very much you can't easily figure out on your own."
--Jonas Maebe, Zeus Werkgroep Informatica, Oct 2002

"This small volume, which really does fit into a pocket, serves as a quick reference guide to OS X for Mac...a useful, no-nonsense guide that provides the information a technically-inclined person needs to orient himself or herself to OX X."
--Elsa Travisano, Newsbreak, Nov 2002

"You'll find yourself dipping into the index or scanning the contents, and then flipping to the page you need. For what this book is meant to do, this works very well, and Toporek has clearly given a lot of thought to his readers and how the different ways they might be coming to OS X..."
--Dr. Neale Monks, Applelust, Nov 2002

"O'Reilly's new 'Mac OS X Pocket Reference' hits a home run right out of the stadium! Yes, Missing Manuals are good. As are Little Books, Bibles and Inside books. However few of those tomes fit your pocket, purse, or brief case as beautifully as this little gem does! It's an essential quick-reference on OS X that all new users will use at least several times on the very first day it arrives. Not only does it contain all the really essential commands and keys, it includes basic Unix command info, printer, modem configurations, and a host of other important help one may need while at the desk or on the road. Add a user, remove a user, tune the dock, correct OS preferences, log in, log out, change passwords, and do just about anything the unfriendly new OS requires you to do. I actually like it better than the frustrating online guide help. It is well organized, has a good table of contents and index, and is designed with a simple, easy to understand format. But it's not just about help. Just thumbing through it you'll pick up tips that you hadn't thought of before. (Like building and using the powerful locate database!) It's a great little book, fits nicely in the brief case for travel and gives you the support you need when you need it. Yes, I bought David Pogue's 'Missing OS X Manual' for the kids and at home. I bought Robin William's wonderful 'Little OS X Book' to send off to college with my son. But this one...it's in MY brief case all the time. Although the Designer's Bookshelf concentrates on books in the visual communications fields, the 'Mac OS X Pocket Reference' caught all our Mac User's fancy and won itself a place in the Design-Bookshelf.com Editor's Choice Circle for July 2002."

"Contains tons of useful tips...more so by ounce than any other Mac OSX book I have."--Jack Dolby, Club Mac of Hampton, August 2002

"I love this book! Just couldn't put it down until I was able to finish it and glean all those wonderful nuggets it held. It is such a pleasure to read a How-To book that can provide me with no nonsense, straight to the point details covering the whole realm of getting into and working with my Mac OS X...any person who has used or is new to using the Mac OS X will need to place this pocketbook on their must have list. Keep it right next to your computer as you will refer to it over and over again."
--Roger Lakner, Peninsula Apple Users Group, September 2002

"the ultimate guide to newcomers to Mac OS X.."--The First Coast Mac, July 2002

"I have wasted a lot of personal time and effort in early endeavors to gather the emerging, needed facts on this new system, and this timely little paperback is the best bargain I am aware of."--Bill Bankston, The Peel, July 2002

"The 'Max OS X Pocket Reference' caught all our Mac User's fancy and won itself a place in the Design-Bookshelf.com Editor's Choice Circle for
July 2002."--Design- Bookshelf, July 2002

"Don't take this book's size for minimal content...it's 'mucho content at a mini size.' This book contains everything Mac OS X under the sun - except for, maybe, the secret 'fsck' disk repair command...Rating: 93% A successful attempt at creating a pocket-sized reference book for Mac OS X users."
--The AquaticMac, 5 June 2002

"In some respects, writing a small reference book about a topic as complex as Mac OS X is more of a challenge than writing a doorstop-sized tome. Figuring out what can be safely left out is the trick. Chuck Toporek, the Macintosh editor at O'Reilly & Associates Inc., has tackled the job with his new 'Mac OS X Pocket Reference: A User's Guide to Mac OS X' which, at 103 pages plus index, is the slimmest OS X volume I've reviewed here. However, Chuck has managed to pack an amazing amount of useful information into a book that really will fit in your trousers back pocket (I just tried it). If you're not into reading lengthy and detailed manuals, but still need some help with OS X from time to time, this book is for you...it delivers 'Mac OS X Pocket Reference' delivers on what it's advertised to do and sells for a modest $12.95. As is typical of O'Reilly books, the design, layout, and organization of the book are first-rate."
--Charles W. Moore, Applelinks, May 24, 2002

Inside .Mac

Customer Reviews

.mac out of date
2006-07-29 14:45:51 bigbill
This book is terribly outdated. Had I known that it was published in 2004, well before iLife '06, I would not have bought it. Some material remains valid, but a good portion is simply obsolete. This is a shame, since the book is well written, and I'm certain it was quite valuable when the information was current.

Just Ok
2005-02-04 19:30:02 Ben Capozzi
I bought this book along with a .Mac account and have found it to be somewhat useful, but nothing extraordinary, sorry to say.

What I find most detrimental to this book is the NUMEROUS typos. It is sloppily edited, if it was edited at all. There are some chapters where you cannot read 3 pages without coming across 2 or more typos. A few here and there is understandable, if unprofessional. But the HUGE number of typos in this book make it embarrassing.

I think it's worth a look, but not at full price. Hence, the merely average rating.

Media Reviews

"Here we have one of the best-researched and most well written books ever reviewed by MyMac.com’s Book Bytes...Writing is clean and personal, like a long conversation with the most intelligent, articulate person you’ve ever met. Inside .Mac: Making the Most of Your .Mac Membership is such outstanding value and so high in useful content that it’s at the top of our highest Book Bytes rating, 5 out of 5. If you are a .Mac member or plan to become one, run don’t walk to your favorite independent or online bookseller to purchase this title."
John Nemerovsky, Book Bytes, MyMac.com, April 2005

"If you are already a .Mac subscriber this book is an essential reference. If you are thinking of subscribing, it will tell you what to expect."
--Major Keary, Ausom News, October 2004

"If you own .Mac, you owe it to yourself to include this essential desk reference in your collection."
--Midwest Book Review, August 2004
https://www.midwestbookreview.com/ibw/aug_04.htm#computer

"'Inside .Mac' is aggressively priced given the amount of material covered, and the writing style is clear and thorough."
--Dr. Neale Monks, Applelust.com, July 2004
https://www.applelust.com/reviews/books/archives/040709unwired_dotmac.shtml

"The book covers just about every question that a user could have."
--Doug Noble, Gold Coast Mac Users Group, July 2004

Mac OS X Panther Pocket Guide

Media Reviews

"The fine folks over at O'Reilly think of everything. They have a series of pocket books that include titles on everything from C to Perl. Thankfully, they also include guides for Macintosh among those titles...For those who don't have time to go through a large book of hints, tips and tricks, this pocket books makes a great quick guide...All in all, a nice quick guide. It's not intended to teach you OS X: Panther (probably better to go to one of the Missing Manual series), but it is a great quick reference."
--Melissa McGuire, Glenn Macintosh Users Group, February 2004

"While the Mac OS X Operating System continues to morph, Chuck Toporek continues to keep up with it in his latest book, 'Mac OS X Panther Pocket Guide.' I don't know how he and O'Reilly Books are able to keep up with all the wonderful and exciting changes that Apple Computer does. I'm just glad they do!...I love the 'Equivalents' tables showing the changes from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X...If you haven't moved over to Panther yet, why not get this book to help you see what you are missing? And if you have already migrated to Panther, and the Help that comes with it isn't as helpful as you'd like, why not get this book to see how quickly you can get the answers to your questions?"
--Robert Pritchett, MacCompanion.com, January 2004
https://www.maccompanion.com/archives/january2004/books.html

Reviews From the Second Edition

"It doesn't matter what your computer skill level is, this handbook will show you what you need to get moving in the OS X fast lane."
--Sean Alexandre, Bishop Eastern Sierra Macintosh User Group, June 2003, https://besmug.org/book.reviews/OSX_PG2.html

"A very good roadmap through the latest version of the Mac operating system...I highly recommend it for your reference library. With its small size you can easily keep it on your desk, or slip it in a desk drawer. It retails for $14.95; not too bad, considering you can spend over $60 on many reference books today."
--Rodney Broder, MacTechnics, March 2003

"If you have made the switch or are considering making a move to Jaguar 10.2, Apple's newest Operating System, then some reading material may be in order. Not that OS X is hard to learn or use, Jaguar is just different from any other Operating System and a good manual will help ease you through the transition of becoming comfortable with this wonderful and exciting OS. 'Mac OS X Pocket Guide', 2nd Edition, would be a first-rate pick for this. It is a small book in length, only 130 pages and has a handy size of approximately 4 x 7 inches. It is also full of tips, shortcuts, and how-to information on OS X. This goes to show that bigger is not always better."
--Clyde Odom, Alaskan Apple Users Group, Jan 2003

"This book will live right next to my 'Jaguar-ized' computer..The 150 page pocket-guide-level book provides a straight-to-the-point 'primer' on working Mac OS X. The well-organized chapters and sections,plus clear and mostly easy to understand narratives and tables, are to-the-point; and the inter-dispersed notes and even the Unix tutorials seem focused and well written...This well written, exhaustively indexed, little guidebook is highly recommended to anyone who is about to or has recently switched to OS X. The 'Mac OS X Panther Pocket Guide' is a useful, no-nonsense guide that provides the straight-forward information to technically-inclined individuals who need to orient themselves to OS X. Remember, this book is not just about help. Relax, thumb through it, and you'll pick up tidbits that you hadn't noted previously, making your journey on the 'Ten Fold Way of Macintosh', more rewarding. I deem this a must buy, even for experienced OS X users--at under $15, it's a steal!"
--Harry (doc) Babad, maccompanion.com, Feb 2003

"These mini Pocket Guides from O'Reilly answer almost all the essential questions...anyone with even minimal experience at Mac OS systems, old or new, will be using these handy guides often... [Toporek's] got about 10 pages on basic Unix commands, for example, a subject I always start to glaze over when it comes up. But he gives the skinny with a clarity I could understand, and now I'm practically ready to be a superuser."
--Stephen M.H. Braitman, BOOK BYTES, Jan.22, 2003

Running Boot Camp

Customer Reviews

Its old now! But acts as an overview
2007-11-13 20:03:12 VJ
Talks about a basic install and configuring bootcamp for Windows XP. A good IT guide for novice developers or computists!
Well Laid out procedure with appropriate screenshots and good links. It shows step-by-step details and has also few links to handle fixes! This may not apply entirely in the new Mac OS X Leopard.

OK but not for techies.
2006-05-05 18:51:27 Terry
I find it hard to dislike anything from O-Reilly even though I wasn't sure what I would get from this one. It didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know but then I'm a technoweenie. My Apple bluetooth keyboard works fine under XP btw.

Review of Running Boot Camp
2006-04-24 13:56:05 Thomas Harris
Oreilly?s Running Boot Camp by Chuck Toporek is obviously written for Macists (ie, you aren?t supposed to like Windows, especially Windows running on Mac hardware). You are peppered with images of the Apocalypse, and comparisons what always give Macs the edge: ?just another reason why the Mac is so much better?. Having supported Macs in various environments over the last 12 years, I can relate to those having a Mac preference,.but don?t consider myself a Macist. Of particular interest to this Non-Macist is how does it run Windows? Wouldn?t it be dreamy if you had an elegent laptop that could run Mac and Windows equally well?


Toporek opens with an interesting bit of history on the challenge to dual boot mac/windows on intel Mac: a 14,000 prize apparently was sufficient motivation for someone to come up with the solution and deliver it to Apple. An interesting example of outsourcing/marketing!


Since the intall information for Boot Camp comes with the software (the Boot Camp Beta Installation and Setup Guide) and is more than sufficient to do the install, Running Boot Camp should be read for other added value Toporek provides. Is it a step by step guide as he says? Less so than Boot Camp Beta Installation and Setup Guide. Toporek has a lot more filler. All the install info is here, but it is padded with ancillary information, of varying usefulness, depending on your interest. So if you want to get right to it and just do the install, the Boot Camp Beta Installation and Setup Guide will more than succice . The Bootcamp guide is 16 pages: Toporek?s is 36.


What sort of additional information is there in Toporek?s tome? Toporek describes good backup possibilities, defines firmware, gives suggestions on XP Intro books for non-Windows users, adresses Install issues for custom multi-partition Mac environments and their solutions, etc


He does spend quite a bit of time on all variations of the upgrade. This information would be useful for anyone having customized their Mac (e.g., multi-partitioned drive) prior to installing Boot Camp on their MacTel. As for me, when I got the MacBook Pro, the first thing I did was install Boot Camp, so there was no prior custom configuration to overcome.


I did find one thing that made me say ?I wish I had read that beforehand?: Toporek indicates WHERE the Power light is; since the Boot Camp instructions say to hold the Power button down until you see it flash?I figured it would be important to SEE it flash, so I would know when to let up on the Power key?

I couldn?t find the light, so I found myself holding the Power button down for the entire time, for fear of interrupting the process by letting up too soon (I escaped unscathed!).


Toporek?s instructions are replete with warnings to help avoid turning your MacTel into a boat anchor or doorstop, which gets the point across that you should be very careful with the install process!


For example, he mentions twice (he mentions lots of things twice, actually) that you should be careful to make the partitions different sizes so boot camp won?t be ?confused? but it is pretty clear in the XP install you just need to pick the partition labeled C: for XP, which he notes will help you avoid overwriting your Mac partition! No, we definitely don?t want to do that?Since a dual boot environment means setting up a lot of things twice, we don?t also want to have to redo the Mac partition. (For me it was installing Office and Outlook/Entourage, AntiVirus, Browsers, widgets, Networking, VPN, Wireless, you get the picture. I am sure it will expand to other applications as the weeks progress)


One important issue Toporek discusses is the difference in Mac and PC keyboards. While I am not as concerned with his example as it pertains to screen capture or using the Apple shortcuts, I was interested in the Ctrl-Alt-Delete issue which I discovered the hard way. If you set up basic security on XP using login, password and Ctrl-Alt-Delete (pretty standard), you will be locked out completely. L The ?Delete? key on the MacBook Pro is mapped as a ?Backspace? key, and does NOT function as a ?Delete? key, regardless of its label. I had to (drive to my office on Sat and..) attach a USB keyboard, select Ctrl-Alt-Delete to login to XP, download a Server 2003 Toolkit, use a remap application to make the ?Delete? key to really function as a Delete key and not as a ?Backspace? key. Of course, this means I lost my Backspace key; definitely annoying, but I do have the option of remapping some other key for that?


Toporek mentions Bluetooth doesn?t work on XP because there are no Macintosh drivers. I can add the fact that there isn?t a driver for backlighting on the keyboard either, a feature sorely missing for XP.

Toporek could also mention the need for the ability to right click in XP. The MacBook Pro touchpad is single-click and doesn?t allow a mechanism for right-clicking. Fortunately, another download saves the day. You can install the Apple Mouse Utiltiy (https://www.geocities.com/pronto4u/applemouse.html).


For me the real interest is in how well XP runs software on this Intel Mac: The choice of what I am booted to most often is determined by what software I need to run most frequently: I find I am usually booting to XP, since I need to use Remote Desktop for server maintenance (there is an OS X Client,

but is very limited) and MS-SQL Server and Enterprise manager. I also have at least two browser apps that use activex that require me to boot to XP.

Users not concerned with such Windows-specific software won?t have this problem, of course.



Drawbacks overview? XP appears to take longer to boot, you have to jump through hoops to get Ctrl-Alt-Delete and Right-click, no drivers for back-lit keyboard. It would be nice if the boot menu didn?t force you to select the Option key to display it, if it could function more flexibly, like allow a countdown or stay on the boot menu until a choice is made.



Does it run XP equally well as OS X? Definitely not?the devil is in the details. But it is a step in the right direction, and hopefully when it is out of Beta they will have most of the remaining kinks worked out



Does having XP on a Mac really ?seem wrong on so many levels? ? No more than running a music store, virtual hosting sites, and building Windows Ipod software, in my opinion. I would think the health of Apple would be motivation enough to break through the OS religious issue. It might just be a good business decision for Apple.



The MacBook Pro is a nice laptop to run XP on, and with the necessary adjustments to the Intel/XP world, we could see a new player in the laptop hardware world. The next step I am sure, is to make the laptop run XP only, which many XP users would require?and could be a requirement to compete with other major laptop manufacturers.



Lastly, since we are on the topic of multi-boot, you might want to look at another option in Beta, Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X, https://www.parallels.com/., which allows the user to run independent virtual machines on top of OS X on Intel Computers. One final option that was mention is chained multi-booting, where you can use Boot Camp to boot to XP, then have XP boot another operating system such as Linux? Think of the possibilities and the additional configuration hours! The MacBook Pro and all these options should keep us busy for a long while?

Excellent help...
2006-04-23 11:27:39 John Melchior
When I first printed out Running Boot Camp by Chuck Toporek, my
initial impression was that it resembled the Apple Boot Camp Beta
installation Guide.? I thought why pay for this document when Apple provides it for free.? Then I read both, and I wished that I had
known about ?Running Boot Camp? before actual installation of
same.? it would have been well worth the few dollars it cost. the
author anticipates your unspoken questions thus making the
experience a more pleasant one.? I wish that I had known
initially the amount of time the installation would take...
Walter Mossberg?s Wall Street Journal article gave me the
impression that this was about a 50 minute installation.? Chuck
Toporek gives a much more realistic appraisal of installation
times.? Running Boot Camp is a most realistic, informative guide
for the installation of Boot Camp.? I recommend it unconditionally,

Kudos to O'Reilley
2006-04-13 19:10:16 Peter Payne
I'd like to say thanks to O'Reilly for this helpful tool -- thanks, guys. And double kudos because this PDF is published without DRM at all -- so I don't have to worry about not being able to open it. I once bought a PDF format book from Amazon, a Hemmingway title that's nearly out of copyright. What happened? Predictably it didn't work at all with Adobe's reader and I ended up pissing away my money and cursing all DRMed books. Thanks for your support, guys!

Mac OS X Panther in a Nutshell

Customer Reviews

Excellent!
2004-07-15 06:00:58 cjunkie
This one is bigger than the last one (Mac OS X - In a Nutshell) and, like it's predecessor, is very informative. They don't get to involved in the normal user apps (iPhoto, iTunes, etc.), that's what the "Missing Manual" is for. They stick to topics that help someone to maintain a Mac and administer it on a network. Making it a definite must have for the Mac/Unix administrator.

The "Unix Command Reference" chapter is worth the price of the book all by itself. Very "beefy" and educational. Having the other chapters included though, makes it a tome worthy of having on your shelf next to your "Programming Perl" and "Linux System Administration Handbook" books.

A job well done!

Media Reviews

"As tired of an adjective as it may be, there's only one word to describe [Mac OS X] Panther in a Nutshell: indispensable."
--Mac Directory, Oct.-Dec. 2004

Reviews From Previous Editions

"O'Reilly's 'OS X in a Nutshell' is an indispensable manual for anyone who needs to know the OS inside and out.... Even though it touches on nearly all aspects of Mac OS X, it hones in on many of the areas where you'll probably be looking for the most help.... It is full of features and tricks that are far from obvious and a number of which we haven't found anwhere else. In either case, this is one book you'll want to keep within arm's reach."
--Ric Getter, MacDirectory, Fall 2003

"This could be a 'holy book' for the die-hard Apple Macintosh OS X user...From the cute-looking OS shell interface right down to the BSD underpinnings this book offers something for everybody, providing a good reference for the new Mac user and old hand alike."
--Darren Ingram, M2 Best Books June 2003

"Bottom line: Does the book provide the information and tools that a power user would want? Yes. Do I recommend 'Mac OS X In A Nutshell'? Yes. If you are a power user or wish to be, then this book is for you."
--Bobby Zamarron, Alaskan Apple Users Group, July 2003, https://www.akappleug.org/rev/94.html

"This book by Jason McIntosh, Chuck Toporek and Chris Stone is essential to all Mac OS X users. 5 stars."
--Computer Shopper, July 2003

"This is an important technical reference that is an essential resource for developers and anyone setting up a Mac OS X server, and is a valuable reference for those users who want to know more about technical aspects of OS X. Very well written and should not overwhelm readers who do not have a formal technical background."
--Major Keary, Book News, 2003 No. 4

"If you're interested in getting into the Unix core of OSX and learning to exploit the power of the command line, or if you're a system administrator or software developer, this book should prove to be an invaluable resource and reference in O'Reilly's thorough going tradition."
--Charles W. Moore, Applelinks, March 28, 2003