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O'Reilly Media | Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual
Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual
Featured customer reviews
Demystify Leopard here!, April 03 2008
Book Title: The Missing Manual - Mac OS X Leopard Edition
Author: David Pogue
Publisher: Pogue Press ? O?Reilly Media, Inc.
Publish Date: December 2007
ISBN-10: 0-596-52952-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-596-52952-9
Reviewed by: Curt Blanchard ? Tucson Macintosh Users Group (4/1/08)
Panther and Tiger and, now Leopard, oh my! With each cat comes a slew of new features to master and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is no kitten ? it?s a seriously big update. Rest your fears, however, because our favorite lion tamer, David Pogue has come to our rescue with the Leopard Edition of the Missing Manual series from O?Reilly Media. This new edition weighs in at nearly 900 pages but don?t let that put you off - books like this aren?t meant to be read like a novel, they are true reference guides designed to ease the transition into a new operating system. If you have a question about something specific, a quick look at the extensive 23 page index permits you find your answer efficiently.
This is much more than a What?s New book. Pogue started the Mac OS Missing Manual series long ago and updates them with each new OS update. The book begins with the very basics and covers the Desktop, Organization, Spotlight, Included Programs, the Technologies of Mac OS X and wraps up with an excellent section covering Online applications, navigation and use.
For those who are upgrading their current machines to Leopard, there is a clearly written appendix that deals with installation of the new operating system. This section alone is worth buying the book.
Pogue?s tongue-in-cheek sense of humor shines through the technicalities making for an entertaining experience rather than an onerous one. This is why I?m a fan - I?m a manual guy, I like to sit down and read about what I?m doing in order to understand it. I just cannot get the same satisfaction from onscreen Help menus and manuals that arrive on a CD. That is precisely why Pogue started the Missing Manual series ? ?The book that should have been in the box?.
No qualms here, I highly recommend this book. It belongs on your bookshelf; you?ll find yourself referring to it often.
Mac OSX Leopard Edition: The Missing Manual, March 12 2008
David Pogue has done it again! He's written another "book that should have been in the box," an easily understood, concise operators' manual for OS X 10.5 (Leopard).
A comparison of the Tables of Contents of his books on Panther, Tiger, and Leopard reveals insertions of numerous new materials exclusively pertinent to Leopard. Essentially, Pogue has built new information specific to Leopard onto the foundation of previous editions of his OS X manuals. This one has 44 more pages of content than the immediately preceding Tiger edition. Its four parts include 22 chapters plus intro and six appendices, running the gamut from the most elemental "hold-my-hand-while-I-try-this" routines, through over 200 sub-headings that take the Mac user over, around, under, and through the intricacies of OS X. As in previous editions, Pogue delves into the technologies of OS X, explaining such esoterica as the underlying UNIX system, and "Hacking OS X."
As in Pogue's previous "missing manuals," this one is extremely comprehensive, but need not be read all at once in order to be of value. Rather, it is a reference book. A complete, detailed reading would take days, and I suspect much of its information would not be retained. Likewise, a complete review would fill dozens of pages. It's a "read-and-do it" compendium.
As one who has just jumped directly from OS 9 to Leopard, and still in shock over being weaned from the "old" environment, I have found this book to be an invaluable resource. Speaking of OS 9, "Classic" is no longer supported, nor will any strictly Classic programs run under Leopard. Whereas his "Tiger" manual devotes an entire chapter to OS 9 running under OSX 10.4, this book makes scant reference to it. However, he does mention there is an open-source Mac OS 9 emulator available called SheepShaver (https://gwenole.beauchesne.info/projects/sheepshaver/), but Pogue says it's "difficult to install and isn't what you'd call rock-solid."
The book's Introduction pages note Apple's claim of 300 new features in Leopard, but specifically mentions only some of the more important ones: Time Machine, an automatic backup system (it's great!); Quick Look , to view document contents without opening them; Spaces, a way to organize and view windows on the Desktop; enhanced Parental Controls; and Screen Sharing. It also notes that iChat, Safari, Mail, Preview, TextEdit, and auto Web links have been extensively overhauled.
PROS:
The book is well organized and easy to read and follow. Its numerous screenshots are large enough to be easily seen, and the sidebar and box texts detail important operating procedures. It?s breaking me of the OS 9 habit and easing me into the world of 10.5.
CONS:
Too bulky to read in bed, and maybe some lame jokes!
About the reviewer: Mike Berman
Mike has used Macs exclusively since 1987 when he got his first computer, a Mac Plus. In addition to utilizing using Macs for report-writing and financial purposes in his former business, since his retirement he has used Macs to track and manage his several volunteer endeavors, as well as in his present photography hobby/semi-profession. His latest acquisition, a MacPro running Leopard, is his first experience with Intel and OS X.
Still the one!, February 22 2008
This is the 3rd edition I bought in this series. Since I didn't upgrade with Jaguar or Panther, I didn't purchase the Missing Manual. I highly recommend this for a number of reasons. The main reason for me is to find the 'hidden gems.' For instance, I just learned that I can 'right click' using my laptop trackpad. Other reasons, include in depth coverage and professionally written. Oh, did I mention that it's humorous too! Even though, I have 2 other versions, I'm going to sit down and read this because so much changes in each upgrade.
Everything you want to know about Leopard (maybe more!), February 11 2008
Pogue, the New York Times? technology columnist has written this huge volume to answer all of your questions about Leopard. This is definitely not bedtime reading material!
With 300 new features in Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5), it?s hard to keep up with them, but Pogue does an admirable job. Here is just a highlight of what the book offers:
* New Technologies: Time Machine, screen sharing remote control, Quick Look instant document previews, Spaces virtual screens
* Bonus software: Demystifies all 50 programs that come with the Mac (Safar, iChat, Mail, Automator, Preview and TextEdit.)
* Shortcuts: Undocumented surprises await the reader
* Power Usage: Security, networking, Automator, macros, file sharing with Windows, and exploring Unix.
* Finding Familiar Features: Includes a Windows-to-Mac dictionary for Windows refugees to get on board with the Mac.
Contents
There are 22 chapters in this book that covers more parts of Leopard than Apple can provide in one volume. If it?s not in this book, it?s not in Leopard?it?s that simple!
Many of the basic topics are listed above, but check out how thorough the 6-part Appendix is:
* Appendix A: Installing Leopard (Basic kinds of installs and advantages of each)
* Appendix B: Troubleshooting (Frozen programs, renaming icons, startup problems, etc.)
* Appendix C: The Windows-to-Mac Dictionary (Direct comparisons of Windows to Mac features). A big hit for switchers!
* Appendix D: Where to Go From Here: Web sites, free email newsletters, advanced books (as if you need even more help!)
Operating System History
To give you an idea of Pogue?s easy to read style, check out his introduction in which he explains why Leopard, and especially OS X has emerged from Apple?s early Mac OS Days:
In any case, Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major version of Apple?s Unix-based operating system. It is not, however, the Mac operating system that saw Apple through the 1980s and 1990s, the one that was finally retired when it was called Mac OS 9. Apple dumped that one in 2001: in Leopard, even fewer traces of it remain.
Why did Apple throw out the operating system that made it famous to begin with? Well, through the years, as Apple piled new features onto a software foundation originally poured in 1984, the original foundation was beginning to creak. Programmers and customers complained of the ?spaghetti code? that the Mac OS has become.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, of course, believes in swift, decisive action and letting chips fall where they may. In his view, starting from scratch?and jettisoning the system software the world had come to know?was the only way to go.
Why Leopard?
Pogue explains that Leopard is just an evolutionary spiral of the OS:
Mac OS X 10.5, affectionately known as Leopard only builds on the successes of the previous Mac OS X versions. You still don?t have to worry about viruses, spyware, or service pack releases that take up a Saturday afternoon to install and fine-tune. And you?ll still enjoy stability that would make the you of 1999 positively drool; your Mac may go for months or years without a system crash.
He goes on to explain why Unix is the underbody that gives Leopard its strength.
Although the price of the book is $34.99, ApplePickers members can get up to a 35% discount by using discount code DSUG when ordering directly from O?Reilly.
Ordering one book will get you 30% off, buy 2 or more will get you 35% off and any order over $29.99 will qualify for free shipping.
Evaluation
If you are casually interested in Leopard, you should probably check out the Leopard Pocket Guide reviewed previously. But if you are at all serious about the features and applications in Leopard, Mac OS X Leopard Edition: The Missing Manual is must reading.
The missing manual, February 02 2008
This is really the missing manual but if you want to dig deeper and understand how to change the settings and configurations outside the GUI - this is not the book.
still the best Mac OS X manual, February 01 2008
This is still the best Mac OS X book, both for beginners and experts. Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) is mostly an incremental upgrade over the previous version, and so is this book. Leopard has hundreds of tweaks and this book covers them all.
The premier new feature in Leopard is Time Machine, a simple way to do incremental backups to a second hard drive. The book has 12 pages on Time Machine, explaining backups in general, how to set up Time Machine, and how to find and restore the backups.
Other new features include Screen Sharing (letting other Macs look at your screen and even take control for troubleshooting or demo purposes, something like the Timbuktu product), Spaces (maintain several virtual screens and switch between them - a little reminiscent of the very old program Switcher), and Quick Look (view a preview of a document without actually opening the application). All have good coverage in this book.
The Mac OS X Missing Manual series is very polished, and if you have an earlier edition of this book you won't get (or need) any additional information about older OS versions in this new edition. But you should upgrade if you are running Leopard and are puzzled by some of the features.
OSX Leopard, January 31 2008
David Pogue, Author, and OReilly have produced the definitive book on Apples new Leopard. Its a massive 894 pages and is without doubt the only book you need to master Leopard. After all Leopard has 300 new items, many of them complex, and if you have, or are about to get Leopard, this is the book for you.
It would be impossible to do a review of this book, and cover everything. There is simply far too much to comprehend, let alone try and figure out. Its more a book that you will have at your side as you explore Leopard, and Pogues clear, and sometimes humorous, explanations will go a long way in helping you understand, and make use of the many, many new features.
Now I have to say at the start that a few of the new features are glossy window dressing, and may not be of great practical use, for example, Stacks; but on the other hand, of great value is Time Machine, the automated back up program.
There are numerous other Leopard features you will love, like Quick Look - a fast and easy way of having a quick look at just about document, without actually opening the program. Its a time saver.
Spaces is also good for a person who typically has a number of apps open at one time, and makes it super easy to flit from one to the other, like your web browser, and email. Parental controls are also great, enabling you to keep track of what your kids are looking at, and who they are writing to.
Numerous other improvements have been added, from a more expansive iCal, improved mail, and a lot of new stuff on iChat - which you will find quite superior to Skype. And its free, of course, even to showing you how to get a .Mac name without paying a bunch, and thus avoiding opening an account with AOL, another alternative. Its hard to see how phone companies can make any money with programs like IChat being readily available..
There are payoffs of course - you can not use any OS9 software any more, and if there is something you obviously must keep, lets say Print Artist, then you may opt to keep your old Mac handy.
Otherwise buy Leopard, get this book, (which should have been in the carton)and enjoy the finest operating system money can buy.
Review by Ellis Brayham
Better than Tiger edition, December 13 2007
I got a lot of use out of the Tiger edition and with the Leopard book I am really impressed. I did not think it was possible to beat the last book. Scads of great info in this book. Keep up the great work.
Media reviews
Buy this Book
By David Pogue
First Edition
December 2007
Pages: 912
Series: The Missing Manuals
ISBN 10: 0-596-52952-X |
ISBN 13: 9780596529529
(Average of 8 Customer Reviews)
With Leopard, Apple has unleashed the greatest version of Mac OS X yet, and David Pogue is back with another meticulous Missing Manual to cover the operating system with a wealth of detail. Amusing and fun to read, this is the authoritative book for Mac users of all technical levels and experience. Which new Leopard features work well and which do not? What should you look for? What should you avoid? Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition offers objective and straightforward instruction.
Full Description
With Leopard, Apple has unleashed the greatest version of Mac OS X yet, and David Pogue is back with another meticulous Missing Manual to cover the operating system with a wealth of detail. The new Mac OS X 10.5, better known as Leopard, is faster than its predecessors, but nothing's too fast for Pogue and this Missing Manual. It's just one of reasons this is the most popular computer book of all time.
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition is the authoritative book for Mac users of all technical levels and experience. If you're new to the Mac, this book gives you a crystal-clear, jargon-free introduction to the Dock, the Mac OS X folder structure, and the Mail application. There are also mini-manuals on iLife applications such as iMovie, iDVD, and iPhoto, and a tutorial for Safari, Mac's web browser.
This Missing Manual book is amusing and fun to read, but Pogue doesn't take his subject lightly. Which new Leopard features work well and which do not? What should you look for? What should you avoid? Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition offers an objective and straightforward instruction for using:
Browse within this book
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition is the authoritative book for Mac users of all technical levels and experience. If you're new to the Mac, this book gives you a crystal-clear, jargon-free introduction to the Dock, the Mac OS X folder structure, and the Mail application. There are also mini-manuals on iLife applications such as iMovie, iDVD, and iPhoto, and a tutorial for Safari, Mac's web browser.
This Missing Manual book is amusing and fun to read, but Pogue doesn't take his subject lightly. Which new Leopard features work well and which do not? What should you look for? What should you avoid? Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition offers an objective and straightforward instruction for using:
- Leopard's totally revamped Finder
- Spaces to group your windows and organize your Mac tasks
- Quick Look to view files before you open them
- The Time Machine, Leopard's new backup feature
- Spotlight to search for and find anything in your Mac
- Front Row, a new way to enjoy music, photos, and videos
- Enhanced Parental Controls that come with Leopard
- Quick tips for setting up and configuring your Mac to make it your own
Featured customer reviews
Demystify Leopard here!, April 03 2008
Rating:
Submitted by
Curt B
[Respond | View]
Book Title: The Missing Manual - Mac OS X Leopard Edition
Author: David Pogue
Publisher: Pogue Press ? O?Reilly Media, Inc.
Publish Date: December 2007
ISBN-10: 0-596-52952-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-596-52952-9
Reviewed by: Curt Blanchard ? Tucson Macintosh Users Group (4/1/08)
Panther and Tiger and, now Leopard, oh my! With each cat comes a slew of new features to master and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is no kitten ? it?s a seriously big update. Rest your fears, however, because our favorite lion tamer, David Pogue has come to our rescue with the Leopard Edition of the Missing Manual series from O?Reilly Media. This new edition weighs in at nearly 900 pages but don?t let that put you off - books like this aren?t meant to be read like a novel, they are true reference guides designed to ease the transition into a new operating system. If you have a question about something specific, a quick look at the extensive 23 page index permits you find your answer efficiently.
This is much more than a What?s New book. Pogue started the Mac OS Missing Manual series long ago and updates them with each new OS update. The book begins with the very basics and covers the Desktop, Organization, Spotlight, Included Programs, the Technologies of Mac OS X and wraps up with an excellent section covering Online applications, navigation and use.
For those who are upgrading their current machines to Leopard, there is a clearly written appendix that deals with installation of the new operating system. This section alone is worth buying the book.
Pogue?s tongue-in-cheek sense of humor shines through the technicalities making for an entertaining experience rather than an onerous one. This is why I?m a fan - I?m a manual guy, I like to sit down and read about what I?m doing in order to understand it. I just cannot get the same satisfaction from onscreen Help menus and manuals that arrive on a CD. That is precisely why Pogue started the Missing Manual series ? ?The book that should have been in the box?.
No qualms here, I highly recommend this book. It belongs on your bookshelf; you?ll find yourself referring to it often.
Mac OSX Leopard Edition: The Missing Manual, March 12 2008
Rating:
Submitted by
Arguello
[Respond | View]
David Pogue has done it again! He's written another "book that should have been in the box," an easily understood, concise operators' manual for OS X 10.5 (Leopard).
A comparison of the Tables of Contents of his books on Panther, Tiger, and Leopard reveals insertions of numerous new materials exclusively pertinent to Leopard. Essentially, Pogue has built new information specific to Leopard onto the foundation of previous editions of his OS X manuals. This one has 44 more pages of content than the immediately preceding Tiger edition. Its four parts include 22 chapters plus intro and six appendices, running the gamut from the most elemental "hold-my-hand-while-I-try-this" routines, through over 200 sub-headings that take the Mac user over, around, under, and through the intricacies of OS X. As in previous editions, Pogue delves into the technologies of OS X, explaining such esoterica as the underlying UNIX system, and "Hacking OS X."
As in Pogue's previous "missing manuals," this one is extremely comprehensive, but need not be read all at once in order to be of value. Rather, it is a reference book. A complete, detailed reading would take days, and I suspect much of its information would not be retained. Likewise, a complete review would fill dozens of pages. It's a "read-and-do it" compendium.
As one who has just jumped directly from OS 9 to Leopard, and still in shock over being weaned from the "old" environment, I have found this book to be an invaluable resource. Speaking of OS 9, "Classic" is no longer supported, nor will any strictly Classic programs run under Leopard. Whereas his "Tiger" manual devotes an entire chapter to OS 9 running under OSX 10.4, this book makes scant reference to it. However, he does mention there is an open-source Mac OS 9 emulator available called SheepShaver (https://gwenole.beauchesne.info/projects/sheepshaver/), but Pogue says it's "difficult to install and isn't what you'd call rock-solid."
The book's Introduction pages note Apple's claim of 300 new features in Leopard, but specifically mentions only some of the more important ones: Time Machine, an automatic backup system (it's great!); Quick Look , to view document contents without opening them; Spaces, a way to organize and view windows on the Desktop; enhanced Parental Controls; and Screen Sharing. It also notes that iChat, Safari, Mail, Preview, TextEdit, and auto Web links have been extensively overhauled.
PROS:
The book is well organized and easy to read and follow. Its numerous screenshots are large enough to be easily seen, and the sidebar and box texts detail important operating procedures. It?s breaking me of the OS 9 habit and easing me into the world of 10.5.
CONS:
Too bulky to read in bed, and maybe some lame jokes!
About the reviewer: Mike Berman
Mike has used Macs exclusively since 1987 when he got his first computer, a Mac Plus. In addition to utilizing using Macs for report-writing and financial purposes in his former business, since his retirement he has used Macs to track and manage his several volunteer endeavors, as well as in his present photography hobby/semi-profession. His latest acquisition, a MacPro running Leopard, is his first experience with Intel and OS X.
Still the one!, February 22 2008
Rating:
Submitted by
cactuscrawler
[Respond | View]
This is the 3rd edition I bought in this series. Since I didn't upgrade with Jaguar or Panther, I didn't purchase the Missing Manual. I highly recommend this for a number of reasons. The main reason for me is to find the 'hidden gems.' For instance, I just learned that I can 'right click' using my laptop trackpad. Other reasons, include in depth coverage and professionally written. Oh, did I mention that it's humorous too! Even though, I have 2 other versions, I'm going to sit down and read this because so much changes in each upgrade.
Everything you want to know about Leopard (maybe more!), February 11 2008
Rating:
Submitted by
dvdirv
[Respond | View]
Pogue, the New York Times? technology columnist has written this huge volume to answer all of your questions about Leopard. This is definitely not bedtime reading material!
With 300 new features in Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5), it?s hard to keep up with them, but Pogue does an admirable job. Here is just a highlight of what the book offers:
* New Technologies: Time Machine, screen sharing remote control, Quick Look instant document previews, Spaces virtual screens
* Bonus software: Demystifies all 50 programs that come with the Mac (Safar, iChat, Mail, Automator, Preview and TextEdit.)
* Shortcuts: Undocumented surprises await the reader
* Power Usage: Security, networking, Automator, macros, file sharing with Windows, and exploring Unix.
* Finding Familiar Features: Includes a Windows-to-Mac dictionary for Windows refugees to get on board with the Mac.
Contents
There are 22 chapters in this book that covers more parts of Leopard than Apple can provide in one volume. If it?s not in this book, it?s not in Leopard?it?s that simple!
Many of the basic topics are listed above, but check out how thorough the 6-part Appendix is:
* Appendix A: Installing Leopard (Basic kinds of installs and advantages of each)
* Appendix B: Troubleshooting (Frozen programs, renaming icons, startup problems, etc.)
* Appendix C: The Windows-to-Mac Dictionary (Direct comparisons of Windows to Mac features). A big hit for switchers!
* Appendix D: Where to Go From Here: Web sites, free email newsletters, advanced books (as if you need even more help!)
Operating System History
To give you an idea of Pogue?s easy to read style, check out his introduction in which he explains why Leopard, and especially OS X has emerged from Apple?s early Mac OS Days:
In any case, Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major version of Apple?s Unix-based operating system. It is not, however, the Mac operating system that saw Apple through the 1980s and 1990s, the one that was finally retired when it was called Mac OS 9. Apple dumped that one in 2001: in Leopard, even fewer traces of it remain.
Why did Apple throw out the operating system that made it famous to begin with? Well, through the years, as Apple piled new features onto a software foundation originally poured in 1984, the original foundation was beginning to creak. Programmers and customers complained of the ?spaghetti code? that the Mac OS has become.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, of course, believes in swift, decisive action and letting chips fall where they may. In his view, starting from scratch?and jettisoning the system software the world had come to know?was the only way to go.
Why Leopard?
Pogue explains that Leopard is just an evolutionary spiral of the OS:
Mac OS X 10.5, affectionately known as Leopard only builds on the successes of the previous Mac OS X versions. You still don?t have to worry about viruses, spyware, or service pack releases that take up a Saturday afternoon to install and fine-tune. And you?ll still enjoy stability that would make the you of 1999 positively drool; your Mac may go for months or years without a system crash.
He goes on to explain why Unix is the underbody that gives Leopard its strength.
Although the price of the book is $34.99, ApplePickers members can get up to a 35% discount by using discount code DSUG when ordering directly from O?Reilly.
Ordering one book will get you 30% off, buy 2 or more will get you 35% off and any order over $29.99 will qualify for free shipping.
Evaluation
If you are casually interested in Leopard, you should probably check out the Leopard Pocket Guide reviewed previously. But if you are at all serious about the features and applications in Leopard, Mac OS X Leopard Edition: The Missing Manual is must reading.
The missing manual, February 02 2008
Rating:
Submitted by
Zetha
[Respond | View]
This is really the missing manual but if you want to dig deeper and understand how to change the settings and configurations outside the GUI - this is not the book.
still the best Mac OS X manual, February 01 2008
Rating:
Submitted by
Allen Stenger
[Respond | View]
This is still the best Mac OS X book, both for beginners and experts. Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) is mostly an incremental upgrade over the previous version, and so is this book. Leopard has hundreds of tweaks and this book covers them all.
The premier new feature in Leopard is Time Machine, a simple way to do incremental backups to a second hard drive. The book has 12 pages on Time Machine, explaining backups in general, how to set up Time Machine, and how to find and restore the backups.
Other new features include Screen Sharing (letting other Macs look at your screen and even take control for troubleshooting or demo purposes, something like the Timbuktu product), Spaces (maintain several virtual screens and switch between them - a little reminiscent of the very old program Switcher), and Quick Look (view a preview of a document without actually opening the application). All have good coverage in this book.
The Mac OS X Missing Manual series is very polished, and if you have an earlier edition of this book you won't get (or need) any additional information about older OS versions in this new edition. But you should upgrade if you are running Leopard and are puzzled by some of the features.
OSX Leopard, January 31 2008
Rating:
Submitted by
Ellis Brayham
[Respond | View]
David Pogue, Author, and OReilly have produced the definitive book on Apples new Leopard. Its a massive 894 pages and is without doubt the only book you need to master Leopard. After all Leopard has 300 new items, many of them complex, and if you have, or are about to get Leopard, this is the book for you.
It would be impossible to do a review of this book, and cover everything. There is simply far too much to comprehend, let alone try and figure out. Its more a book that you will have at your side as you explore Leopard, and Pogues clear, and sometimes humorous, explanations will go a long way in helping you understand, and make use of the many, many new features.
Now I have to say at the start that a few of the new features are glossy window dressing, and may not be of great practical use, for example, Stacks; but on the other hand, of great value is Time Machine, the automated back up program.
There are numerous other Leopard features you will love, like Quick Look - a fast and easy way of having a quick look at just about document, without actually opening the program. Its a time saver.
Spaces is also good for a person who typically has a number of apps open at one time, and makes it super easy to flit from one to the other, like your web browser, and email. Parental controls are also great, enabling you to keep track of what your kids are looking at, and who they are writing to.
Numerous other improvements have been added, from a more expansive iCal, improved mail, and a lot of new stuff on iChat - which you will find quite superior to Skype. And its free, of course, even to showing you how to get a .Mac name without paying a bunch, and thus avoiding opening an account with AOL, another alternative. Its hard to see how phone companies can make any money with programs like IChat being readily available..
There are payoffs of course - you can not use any OS9 software any more, and if there is something you obviously must keep, lets say Print Artist, then you may opt to keep your old Mac handy.
Otherwise buy Leopard, get this book, (which should have been in the carton)and enjoy the finest operating system money can buy.
Review by Ellis Brayham
Better than Tiger edition, December 13 2007
Rating:
Submitted by
Mort
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I got a lot of use out of the Tiger edition and with the Leopard book I am really impressed. I did not think it was possible to beat the last book. Scads of great info in this book. Keep up the great work.
Media reviews
"The preeminent general reference source for Mac OS X has always been the Missing Manual Series written by David Pogue. The latest iteration in the series is its Mac OS X Leopard Edition, completely revised, and it is the biggest, most comprehensive, and most useful of all the editions in the series...Weaving all of these perspectives into a harmonious, readable manual is a fine achievement. The content discussions and explanations are never abstract but written from the viewpoint of the thoughtful and practical user and no one is better at this than David Pogue who has been cited before as one of the world’s best (technical) communicators. The denseness of the treatment of the subject content diminishes somewhat from the readability of the book compared to prior editions and there is a bit less wit, humor and style. That is the trade-off, I presume, for the increased breadth and depth of the content treatment but this Missing Manual is still as well written as a computer manual can be expected to be."
-- John Suda, Slashdot.org
"If you're trying to figure out what to buy yourself with the gift card you got this holiday season, let me recommend David Pogue's Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition. I was fortunate to get a copy of it for Christmas this year (thanks, sweetie!) and it's 866 pages of sweet, Leopard-y goodness...Pogue's writing style is upbeat, easy to understand, and sometimes downright hilarious...I love this book and think it's a great addition to any Mac users bookshelf. This manual is one you don't want to miss."
-- Lisa Hoover, The Unofficial Apple Weblog
"Pogue, the New York Times computer columnist, is among the world's best explainers."
-- Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired
"The preeminent general reference source for Mac OS X has always been the Missing Manual Series written by David Pogue. The latest iteration in the series is its Mac OS X Leopard Edition, completely revised, and it is the biggest, most comprehensive, and most useful of all the editions in the series."
--John Suda, Slashdot.org
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