Product Description
Titles are: Albatross
* Black Magic Woman
* Big Love
* Bleed to Love Her
* The Chain
* Don't Stop
* Dreams
* Fleetwood Mac
* Go Your Own Way
* Gold Dust Woman
* Gypsy
* Hypnotized
* Landslide
* Never Going Back Again
* Oh Daddy
* Over My Head
* Rhiannon
* Sara
* Say You Love Me
* Sentimental Lady
* Songbird
* Spare Me a Little of Your Love
* Sweet Girl
* You Make Loving Fun. ... Read more

Product Description
This popular book shows readers how to take advantage of the iLife '08applications that to many are the coolest parts of using a Mac. Throughtutorials, tips, and techniques readers will learn how to use each ofthe powerful applications -- individually and as part of an integrated,interactive suite. Robin and John also cover the features of theimmensely popular .Mac Web Gallery, which enables you to share youriPhoto library with family and friends with just a few clicks.Friendly, practical instructions will have new and veteran Mac ownersusing all that's new in the suite in no time. They'll find everythingabout getting on the Internet and using email; using the way-cool iChatAV, which adds audio and video to instant messaging; using iTunes,including access to the iTunes Music Store; the new video libary iniMovie; new organization and editing tools in iPhoto; new animatedthemes in iDVD; and much more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Cool Mac Apps
This is a very concise but well explained book. It is easy to read and follow.The illustrations are clear and accurate. An excellent book for anyone, especially those of us who are not well versed in computer usage.

Good Over-view of Applications
As a new Mac owner I needed something to help me navigate through the jungle of options, widgets events and albums which differ from folders for filing pictures, menus and much, much more.
I have had my new computer for 1 month and now I feel comfortable thanks to the information garnered from this book.

Good book, but not Robin's best work
Robin Williams (the writer and graphic designer, not the actor) has rightly earned her crown as Queen of the Mac. Her writings on Macintosh software is simply outstanding. While "Cool Mac Apps" isn't her best work, it's still a great book and compliments other books on how to use Leopard. In fact, this book should be seen as a companion to her other books on Leopard, most notably her "Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Peachpit Learning Series." "Cool Mac Apps" expects a basic understanding of how to use the Mac and the Leopard operating system.

The book assumes you have iLife '08 and Leopard installed, and while focusing on iLife, it still covers such Leopard applications as iCal, Mail, Address Book, Safari, iChat and Time Machine.I would have suggested calling this an iLife book, but with the addition of some of the more practical applications that don't fit into the iLife series, that wouldn't make much sense either.

Overall the book is a competent overview of iLife and other Leopard applications.The book was lacking in some of Robin Williams' trademark design.In fact, this book read like most other books on computers.The writing was a bit dense and lacking in full color photos and white space that increases readability.Dare I saw the book was a bit boring?The writing in individual chapters consisted mostly of features, menu commands and preferences and was lacking in practical applications or exercises.

After reading this book, don't expect to become an expert in any of these subjects, but if you feel you want to "dabble" a bit more and don't want to buy a whole book on iPhoto or iDVD, this may be a good book for you.This might be a good "in-between" book to help a reader determine if they want to explore iLife further. I would recommend this book to a Mac beginner who understands the basics of their new Mac, but wonders what all those programs that came with the computer can do.

Pros:Broad coverage of programs that come with new Macs
Cons:Lacks readability and practical application

Greatest author in the world
This author is just excellent. I cannot say enough about her. She takes the technical out of technology and speaks to us like a friend. She is the Pulitizer-worthy author of computer books. What can I say to convince you. She is very cool as well as being totally informed about the software and hardware she writes about

Many missing pages. Poor quality printing and figures.
I got this from Amazon with 46 pages missing. The print looks like it was run off an old black and white 1960's era Zerox machine and stapled in a binder. I told Amazon about the missing pages and they sent a new one quickly. Apparently no one read my note and Amazon sent another copy that had exactly the same missing pages. I returned that one too and asked for a refund. Wasted time!
I liked Robin William's books, but quality control is lacking at both the publishers andAmazon. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn how to get the most out of Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard with legendary teacher and author Robin Williams.

The Peachpit Learning Seriesbrings you the best-selling authors you know and love, on the topicsthat are near and dear to you, in a format that allows you to learnjust what you need to know, and at your own pace. With this book, youcan learn in your own way—whether it’s working through the lessons fromstart to finish, jumping straight to step-by-step exercises about newfeatures, or looking up just what you need to know at that moment.There are hundreds of exciting tools and hidden gems in your Macintosh.And with the gentle yet expert hand of Robin Williams guiding you alongthe way, you will learn to take full advantage of all that Leopard hasto offer. If you are new to Mac OS X, you'll learn to use your Mac withhelp from a world-renowned teacher. From there, you can move on tocustomize it to suit the way you work. And if you've been using Mac OSX already, you'll learn to use the new features in Leopard, likeSpaces, Quick Look, and Time Machine, and explore all the enhancementsto favorites like Mail and iChat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Not what I was looking for
I was looking to be able to learn Leopard but the index was hard to follow. I was unable to find a lot of things I needed to learn a new operating system. As an old Windows user it's hard to change some old habits.

The Finder program is hard to figure out but with a lot of searching I did make it thru....

Just became a mac user and loved this book.
This book was a great help since I just became a mac user. I had general questions about the most basic parts of a mac and its system. This one answered all my questions and then some.

Mac OS X Guide
I looked at several different Mac guides before I selected this. I'm a average windows user that's converting to Mac.The thing that sold me on this guide is the abundance of photo's that accompany the text which makes it very easy to follow. All the material would enable the user to use most of the Mac functions. If you're already an advanced windows user David Pogues book would be a better selection but for the rest of us this is a great book.

OUTSTANDING! STRONGEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!
I'm GLAD I took the time to get/read this book from cover to cover. I went from "n00bie" to having a pretty fair grasp of what's up with my Mac. I'd recommend it to all with no reservations whatsoever (it was positively the BEST book I found on Leopard).

Not that Great
If you are familiar with computers in general, all the information found on the book are there for free on the internet. Don't waste your money buy this book. There plenty of other choices out there. I was extremely disappointed with this book and it was a waste of money .. Look at alternative before you buy

... Read more

Product Description

Maximize the power of your Mac

Get the most out of your Mac, whether you've got an iMac, MacBook, and Mac mini. How to Do Everything: Mac, Second Edition shows you how to configure and customize your Mac and put all of the built-in tools to work right away, such as iTunes, Mail, Safari, and iLife. Learn all about the cutting-edge new Mac OS X Snow Leopard features, including 64-bit support, Grand Central Dispatch, QuickTime X, and enhanced performance. Hardware, peripherals, networking, and maintenance are also covered in this easy-to-follow guide.

• Manage files, folders, and applications with the improved Finder
• Get online and explore with Safari
• Entertain yourself with QuickTime, iPhoto, iTunes, and iMovie
• Tweak the System Preferences
• Set up a wired or wireless network
• Use iWork for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations
• Stay in touch and on schedule with Mail, Address Book, iCal, and iChat
• Dual-boot between Mac OS X and Windows
• Add external devices via USB and FireWire
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and back up your Mac

Dwight Spivey is the author of several Mac guides, including the first edition of this book. He is a software and support engineer for Konica Minolta, where he specializes in Mac operating systems, applications, and hardware. Dwight teaches classes on Mac usage, writes training and support materials for Konica Minolta, and is a Mac OS X beta tester for Apple. ... Read more

Product Description
In the same uncompromising style of Jesus Freaks, bestselling authors Michael Tait and TobyMac of dc Talk now urge readers to take their stand for America's future--by examining our past. Using unforgettable accounts of both famous and little-known Americans, Under God examines the stories of men and women who forged our nation. Against these, they pair the dark side of America's legacy--racism, slavery, injustice--in order that a new generation might seek God’s face and avoid repeating sins of the past. The authors draw on the resources of WallBuilders, a national organization that distributes historical, legal, and statistical information and helps citizens become active in their communities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Michael Tait and Toby Mac continue their look at history and faith
In "Under God" Toby Mac and Michaet Tait continue to the exploration of faith and history that they began as members of the musical group DC Talk with books like "Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks." The main themes of the book are faith, civil rights and political freedom. Many of these same themes were explored in DC Talk's best-selling "Jesus Freak" album with such songs as "Colored People" and "What Have We Become."

For me, "Under God" was both a great book and a frustrating book. As a history teacher, I applaud any attempt to encourage people to learn our history. Mac and Tait do not sugarcoat the failings of our country and our Founders. But, they also are sure to point out when those same people got it right.

"Under God" is a beautiful book with a wraparound cover, jagged edge pages and faded illustrations that are oftentimes set behind the text this book makes a stunning presentation.However, the text is done in a popular (sadly) shotgun style of presenting history - things are not presented in chronological order or even by theme. Instead, we bounce around - at one moment discussing Jamestown, than Jim Crow, than on to Daniel Webster followed by Nathan Hale. There are 60 seperate entries here. I am pleased to note that, scattered though they are, there are some people that rarely are studied, such as Benjamin Rush and Angelina Grimke.

But, this history of America is by no means complete, nor entirely fleshed out. Some things are overlooked, such as Jefferson's non-traditional beliefs. There is no discussion of the Industrial Revolution, barely any mention of any of America's wars in the 20th Century. I cannot recall anything more recent than Martin Luther King, Jr. which means they ignored more than 35 years of American history. Perhaps they will address these oversights in another volume?

Both Toby Mac and Michael Tait include an afterword. I especially was struck by a passage from Tait: "While I agree with [Toby Mac] that America is in need of great repentance and I do not brush over that lightly, I must add that our country is also in great need of forgiveness. As a black man, when I discover the stories of all the injustices that occurred in the past as well as the injustices that take place today...it is understandable to be angry. It is okay to be angry. But it is what you do with the anger that matters. When anger turns to hate, it becomes a vicious poison that creates its own form of imprisonment." (p. 365)

This is an excellent book about our country and it's relationship with God.
This book has a lot of intersting stories about people in our US history who have had a relationship with God.

Under God
We appreciated receiving this book.It arrived in good shape soon after I ordered it.Thank you!

I am giving this book out to my friends as a gift.
What a great book. The stories are quick, to the point and inspiring. About people both famous and little known, but about people willing to lay it all on the line for God and Country. Real people in real situations. You showed our good side and some of our bad side. I hope to be able to measure up to the good side of some of these folks before I die. Thanks, Toby. You and Michael did a great job with this.

Under God
This is a great book.We purchased extra copies to give as gifts and were very pleased at the condition of the books and the speed in which they arrived.Thank you. ... Read more

Product Description
The only Apple-certified book on Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, thiscomprehensive reference takes support technicians and ardent Mac usersdeep inside their operating systems, covering everything fromnetworking technologies to system administration, customizing theoperating system, command-line programming, and more. Keyed to thelearning objectives of the  AppleCertified Technical Coordinatorcertification exam, the lessons in this self-paced volume serve as aperfect supplement to Apple’s own training class and a first-rateprimer for computer support personnel who need to troubleshoot andoptimize Mac OS X as part of their jobs. Self-quizzes and chapter testsreinforce the knowledge gained along the way. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great book, wrong book...
Unfortunately, while I love any book Schone Regan, a fellow ACN writes, this is for the prior server system and not the book I thought I was ordering.For those looking for training in last gen. server, it will be fine.

Mostly harmless
We bought a copy of OS X Server to set up a network file system, mail server, and print server.Unfortunately this book has proven completely useless in helping on those tasks.The only purpose of this book is to prepare you to pass an examination certifying that you understand OS X Server administration.Frankly, anyone who only has that certification will not really be prepared for the challenges of system administration.

I was hoping for a volume that would help me to identify the kinds of services that we need to offer in a mixed-client-OS system, something that would help design the network, install and configure the client machines, troubleshoot and debug in case of problems, and so on.

What I got was a book that says: "Insert the DVD in the DVD drive.Reboot the system from the DVD.Enter these values into the first panel that you see...."On and on and on, it's purely a monkey-see, monkey-do approach.

There's only one reason to buy this book: to pass an exam.Otherwise, look at the online guides to server administration that Apple provides on their website.They suffer from many deficiencies, but they are still far superior to this effort.

Apple OS X Server Essentials - waste of money
Apple Training Series: Mac OS X Server Essentials (2nd Edition) (Apple Training)

This book was a complete waste of money. I was looking for assistance with 2 things, neither of which were covered in any detail.

The first and biggest failing was with Mail Services; the entire discussion encompassed a small paragraph which basically states that mail services are available. No discussion of how to configure mail accounts, no discussion on how to get started with mail services. What I was looking for was a walk-through of setting up a new account that was easier to follow than Apple's PDF, which is so sketchy and poorly-written that it took me hours upon hours to figure out how to configure mail accounts.

I've read some excellent books whose goal was to demystify complex processes like server setup, but this is not one of them. Pass this book by.

nice presentation, some gaping holes in content (web hosting)
The second edition book reads well and is presented very nicely.What it presents it seems to do well.

However, it stops short of presenting some major key information.The biggest two I've noticed so far are a total lack of information on setting up web hosting SSL (security) and nothing on setting up Ruby On Rails on Leopard server.What a shame.I believe the author would do a great job on the basics of such topics.

With the oversights of SSL security and Ruby On Rails (the essential web service), I find the book disappointing as a guidebook to OSX server, and feel wary of expecting it to be comprehensive of the "Essentials" on any of its topics.It's a shame, because the style and hands-on feel with all the screen captures is very effective presentation wise.If the web hosting oversights weren't so gaping (YMMV), I would give the book four stars for excellent presentation of the basics.

Great reference for admins
Regan and Pugh provide a pointed and clear overview of Leopard server fundamentals in their officially Apple-sanctioned guide book. The fact that itis targeted for admins, and geared for certification study kills two birds with one stone. I found the book very useful in bringing up a 10.5 server from install through providing distributed solutions via Netboot through tackling Apple's Open Directory. Overall, a very well-rounded reference I know I'll use over and over. ... Read more

Product Description
Angels protect, assist, and serve us. Are you allowing them to help you??? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the best books on angels
This is one of the best books I've ever read on angels.Mac Hammond explains the purpose of angels so clearly.My favorite part is Mac Hammond's description of Satan, before and after his fall, and how it relates to us today as Christians.It's filled with scripture references and information.A great book!

Enlightening book of knowledge
This was the first book I had read by Mac Hammond and I loved it!!I couldn't put it down and I wanted to read it again and again.
Mac Hammond's writing on the spiritual realm is insightful and very easy to read and understand.He highlighted key points in our society such as power of our words, being a doer not just a hearer of the word and explained the adverse effects of what we say and do in our natural realm will effect us greatly in the spiritual realm.To me, personally, this book showed me the only thing standing between me and God's blessings is my mouth!!
I recommend it to everyone!This book will help you to know God, to draw near him on a very personal level.

Finally-Biblically correct and lifechanging info on Angels
The real truth about God's plan for angelic host in ministry to Christians....it is the best book on Angels available for those who put Jesus first in their lives.
Not another "New Age" angels how-to, but a guide to God's intended place for angels and their relation to people in His kingdom. This book expresses in a concise and exciting way how Christians may be ministered to by God through His angels.
Not heavy theology, but insightful quotations from Scripture help the reader understand God's way of protecting Christians and preparing their way to accomplish His Will through the angelic host.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Have more fun and get more done with your Mac!

Now you can get the most out of your Mac, whether it's an iMac, MacBook, or Mac mini. How to Do Everything: Mac shows you how to set up and customize your Mac and use all of the built-in tools and applications, such as iTunes, Mail, Safari, and the iLife and iWork suites. The revolutionary new features available in Mac OS X Leopard are also covered, such as Quick Look, Time Machine, and Spaces. Plus, you'll get details on hardware and peripherals, networking, troubleshooting, and maintenance. This is your must-have Mac guide!

• Manage files, folders, and applications with the Finder
• Connect to the Internet and explore with Safari
• Use iWork for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations
• Edit, organize, and share your pictures with iPhoto
• Master iTunes and iMovie for music, video, and movies
• Tweak the System Preferences
• Synchronize your Mac with your iPod, PDA, or cell phone
• Set up a wired or wireless network
• Dual-boot between Mac OS X and Windows
• Add external devices via USB and FireWire
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and back up your Mac

Customer Reviews (5)

Book order
Purchased this book online and it was received in a timely manner and in great condition; truly got what I paid for.

Transition from Windows to Mac OS X
Having transitioned from Windows to Mac, I have been reading every book that I can get my hands on to become more adept to operating my new notebook (Macbook Pro 15").

This resource covers the basics from navigating through the Graphical User Interface (GUI), the Dock, Finder, iTunes, and iLife. There is extensive coverage on using iMovie, iWork, iPhoto, Safari, and other accessory programs that are included (except for iWork).

Every aspect of operation from printing and faxing to connecting to the network is covered. Tweaking the system, troubleshooting, backing up the system and adjusting system preferences is very useful. The author also includes internet links for more useful information and suggests programs based upon what tasks you need accomplished (i.e. System Maintenance or Antivirus).

Text is clearly organized, and there are black and white photographs to guide the reader. "Did you know?" boxes are scattered throughout the book for additional information to operate your system.

SUMMARY

This is a great introduction to the OS X Leopard.

Excellent Book for ALL I-MAC USERS
This book is an excellent resource/must have for all I-MAC users! Excellent tutorial without the Boredom Nonsense.

BEST MAC BOOK THAT I HAVE EVER PURCHASED!
This book, by far is the best book on the current Macintosh that I have ever purchased. It covers ALL of those 'secret' things in a very logical and pleasant (not too geeky) way, and has lots of tips for those who (like me) have been using the Mac for 14 years (started with the Apple II)... I just bought a big 24" duel core Intel iMac with everything!!!! This covers the Intel versions on, including some Leopard... Time machine, all the extras, all the behind the scenes stuff...lots of well-illustrated diagrams and good copy, too. Good history, too and even some info on the development of Apple and it's superior design ability. Get it! You just CAN'T know everything!!!!!! A great and pleasant reference book.

Stuffed with iPod-cool eye candy, but where's the hot Leopard sizzle?
Two stars for the author's valiant effort, three demerits to the editor/publisher staff for putting this incomplete beta version of a "How-To" manual on the shelf. I bought this book to ease the transition from creaky Windows to robust OS-X. Other than finding my bearings with the Dock and the Finder, and far too many glowing page fillers about those esoteric OS recreational applets, I found little of practical productivity use - other than a gushy 40-page discourse on iWork (the second coming of MS-Office?) - until I discovered that the MacPro Leopard version offers iWork trialware neither as a Dock icon nor as a file in the 'Applications' folder (even Searchlight couldn't come up with a reference).

The unfamiliar (to PC users) keyboard isn't clarified at all, and the presence of two Control keys - along with the distinct cloverleaf Command keys on the slim Apple keyboard - only adds to the confusion for PC keyboard switchers (Ctrl-C, for instance). Far more serious is failure to mention that the CD/DVD drive is accessed with a keyboard button next to the [F12] key, rather than with a screwdriver pried under the slot's cover. Further on that topic, the top row of function keys does double duty - primarily adjusting screen, sound and playback options - but requiring the additional press of a function [Fn] key to signal when you want the ubiquitous [F1] to [F12] shortcuts for application software ... perhaps Apple's new slim keyboard took the author off guard? Advice for keeping the Finder's columns aligned after tedious adjustments is nowhere to be found -- drove me banana's!

Incredibly, there isn't even the briefest instruction for installing application software - it's as if the Mac needs only the packaged applets to sing, dance and entertain. The reader is just assumed to have a broadband connection, nothing on dialup modems (not to mention the unflattering forum reviews of the Apple modem) for those living in the boonies, or on the road with a notebook. For instance, the 352 MB Leopard upgrade to version 2 would require a nearly 24-hour continuous connection that would give my ISP fits. Sure, I went to the local Kinko's to download the disk image ... but where do I go from there? Not a word of help to be found. Bootcamp is nicely covered; there is a hint that Parallels might be a more flexible solution for co-installing MS-Windows (stick with well-proven, albeit dowdy, Win-XP!), but the author seems unaware of the competing VM-Fusion utility that is optimized for virtualization with Intel multicore processors.

In short: this is an earnestly conceived manual, but with too many vital parts lacking to survive its premature birth. It might serve as a very basic personal entertainment guide, but fizzles out in substance and depth for productivity workers. My suggestion? Stick with the "Dummies" series for the basics. ... Read more

Product Description

Some might say we all want Linux with an OS X GUI. Mac for Linux Geeks will assist you step by step in migrating from Linux–based systems to OS X. Dual booting, virtualization, and building out the Linux environment on OS X are discussed in detail, along with a comparative view of well–known Mac tools and their open source equivalents. Written for daily use, this concise and dependable guide will steer you across the technical landscape from your chosen Linux flavor to the OS X promised land.

• Live with OS X, but work with Linux tools.
• Make the OS X–Linux hybrid a reality.
• Use Mac tools where possible and free software where appropriate.

Product Description
Get Started Fast with Objective-C 2.0 Programming for OS X, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Product Description
Mac OS X Snow Leopard is the newest version of the Mac operating system, with extra power and additional cool features. Mac OS X Snow Leopard Just The Steps For Dummies is the quick step-by-step way to get up and running on this new beast.

This down-to-basics guide features numbered steps and easy-to-follow screen shots that show you exactly how to accomplish more than 150 tasks with Snow Leopard. You’ll learn to:

• Modify the look of the desktop and customize keyboard shortcuts
• Create and manage user accounts
• Save energy by adjusting power settings
• Install and use the iWork productivity suite
• Browse the Internet with Safari or Firefox
• Design and publish a blog or a Web page with iWeb
• Configure iChat for use with GoogleTalk
• Set up iTunes and export songs to your iPod
• Make movies with iMovie and burn them to DVDs
• Download photos from your camera and organize them in iPhoto
• Connect your Mac to a Windows network
• Encrypt your files, safeguard against viruses, and install a firewall

Each task is clearly presented, with step-by-step instructions and corresponding views of what you’ll see on the screen at each step. Mac OS X Snow Leopard Just The Steps For Dummies makes it easy to find what you want to do, and even easier to do it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Recommended in two instances.
This, the 3rd separate (and "most dumb") Dummies book about Mac OS Snow Leopard, is the book for technologically-challenged individuals who, far from being tantalized by the promise of "infinite possibilities," are simply turned off by such promises.(Existence is finite, after all.If you're not careful, I tell myself, the new digital technology can consume your entire life--virtual reality replaces any semblance of reality, and the consequences are far worse than most people dare imagine.Ask someone what they remember doing on their computer ten years ago--or, for that matter, a day or two ago.Computers and virtual reality have a tendency to make the personal past and, along with it memory and personal identity, irrelevant).So for the user who doesn't want to hazard non-stop headaches, crashes and freezes as a result of downloading hundreds of unused apps, etc., but who wants an Apple machine that will take care of their basic needs in our "brave new world," this book could be just the ticket.I like it because it gives me my marching orders, and if I simply follow directions, I'm all but guaranteed to stay out of trouble while enjoying non-problematic mechanical performance.

The other user for whom the book may be a refreshing find is the one who has already become overly involved in Apple's new OS, to the point of being in "too deep" to know how to get out.Regardless of what you've heard, Apple and their operating systems can be infinitely complex and full of hazards at every mouse click.For example, I simply could not figure out why I was seeing multiple copies of the same computer program on my dock, and I was at a loss to know how to free up needed memory and prevent the loss of even more memory.None of the more elaborate books about Snow Leopard made it clear that the HD folder and the Home folder are discrete, unique, different folders and have no relationship to one another.The Home folder and its applications are in no shape or form a mere "alias," or "short cut" to your HD folder and its applications.You can easily dispose of your Home folder and be at no disadvantage in the running of your machine.In fact, you may be better off by doing so--especially if you happen to be (as I suspect is most often the case) the only user of your machine.

The key is to master the uses of the Finder window (it's not merely a Search feature, like Spotlight; it's your view of the brains of the machine.Get to know its uses and limitations.And be sure to learn about the two ways of emptying your trash, or you could easily find your machine backed up with hours and hours of clutter that's denying all further progress.Be sure to select plain "Empty Trash" rather than "Secure Empty Trash."The latter means, roughly, "empty the trash so securely that it can never be retrieved."The problem is that this method takes forever, sure to drive the least impatient user to seek the services of a plumber). ... Read more

Product Description
Apple’s next version of its OS, code-named Leopard, will keep Mac usersin the forefront of making the most from their computers. Respected,best-selling author Maria Langer takes readers through Mac OS X’sgroundbreaking capabilities, including new applications such as TimeMachine and Spaces and revamped applications such as Mail, Dashboard,Spotlight, and iCal. With plenty of screenshots to clearly illustratetechniques, this reasonably priced guide is a great reference to theessentials of Mac OS X Leopard.

• Easy visual approach uses pictures to guide you through Mac OS X and show you what to do.
• Concise steps and explanations let you get up and running in no time.
• Page for page, the best content and value around.
• Companion Web site offers tips, links, updates, and more at www.marialanger.com/category/book-support/macosquickstart/.
• MariaLanger has written more than 70 computer books, including best-sellingVisual QuickStart Guides on Mac OS X, Microsoft Word, and MicrosoftExcel, as well as hundreds of articles for magazines and Web sites. AMacintosh user since 1989, Maria never tires of teaching her Macs newtricks. When she’s not writing, Maria is working hard to build herhelicopter tour and charter business, Flying M Air. Visit Maria on theWeb at www.marialanger.com.

Customer Reviews (7)

Mac OS 10.5 Leopard
I like Maria Langer's book "Mac OS 10.5 Leopard," it's better than the Mac book "Mac OS X Leopard - The Missing Manual" by David Pogue. Maria's is more user friendly than David's.
(I don't know what "Tag" means.)

Easy Read
So far this MAC manual has been very helpful. I have returned to a MAC after years with an HP PC. I definitely needed a refresher/new info. course that Apple doesn't provide themselves.I can highly recommend this easy to read manual. It's nice to have a BOOK I can refer to anytime! (good pics too).

BASIC, VERY BASIC.I WOULDN'T BOTHER...
I bought this book because I wanted to solve some problems-lost e-mails, "recovered files," integration with [...] (Mobile Me).All I got was some basic "how to's."Stuff anyone knows these days.Seven hundred pages for a "Quick Start Guide?"You've got to be kidding.

Great book!
I own several Visual Quickstart Guides. This book is very well done.. like most of them. This is a great non-sense book on "how to" do the most common tasks in Leopard. Well worth the money.

Best MAC OS X Book
We purchased several other OS X 10.5 books but this one is the best by far. The book is structured for learning and reference with examples and text on the same page.The book also demonstrates just about any thing you may want to do in concise straight forward language with clear examples.For the beginner or intermediate this book is excellent. ... Read more

Product Description
Easy Mac OS X Snow Leopard is the perfect companion for everyone who's bought a new Macintosh with OS X Snow Leopard pre-installed... every Mac user who's upgrading to Snow Leopard... and the many new Mac users who've just switched from Windows. This full-color, utterly simple, step-by-step book has been carefully crafted to provide instant access to the tasks beginner-to-intermediate users need to master. Like all books in the Easy series, it's designed to teach visually: readers never have to work their way through lengthy text explanations. Here's just some of what readers will learn how to do... " Get on the Internet and make the most of the Mac's great web and communication tools " Install and use applications, printers, and scanners " Use OS X's powerful iLife media tools " Customize their Macs " Create home networks and share their Macs with multiple users " Organize their files, folders, disks - and their lives " Keep their Macs running reliably ... Read more

Product Description
Cocoa programming is not only the favored development environment for Mac OS X, it’s also a primary tool for creating iPhone and iPod Touch software. That makes this a great time to learn Cocoa, and Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X For Dummies is the ideal place to start!

This book gives you a solid foundation in Cocoa and the unusual syntax of Objective-C. You’ll learn what’s new in Cocoa frameworks and create an application step by step. For example, you can:

• See how Xcode underlies your applications as the main component of Apple’s IDE
• Examine the basics of the Objective-C language, the elements of a Cocoa interface, and object-oriented programming
• Use Xcode and Interface Builder
• Spruce up your apps with audio, video, Internet features, stylized text, and more
• Create applications with the stunning graphics for which Macs are famous
• See how to build apps with multiple documents and even executables that aren’t traditional Mac apps
• Use all the exciting new Cocoa features
• Work with Cocoa numbers, arrays, Booleans, and dates
• Build document-based applications
• Simplify with key-value coding

The better you understand Cocoa programming, the better the applications you can create for Mac OS X, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X For Dummies makes it easy and fun!

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Good but the code listings contain errors
I tried O'Reilly's online book Cocoa and Objective C Up and Running and just couldn't follow it.Cocoa for Dummies is much easy, the examples are better explained and get you to a working demonstration of each concept quicker.However the code in the book is full of mistakes.I couldn't get any of the code from the book to work except by trying to debug it myself - an interesting exercise for a complete beginner I suppose!

Here's an example.

Code from BankAccount.h file on page 138:

-(void)deposit:(float)anAmount;
-(void)withdraw:(float)withdrawAmount;

Code from BankAccount.m file:

-(void)deposit:(float)depositAmount {
balance += depositAmount;
}

-(void)withdraw:(float)withdrawAmount {
balance -= balance withdrawAmount
}

(Note the error in the code of the withdraw: method as well).


Only by downloading the free code from the [...] website could I correct all the mistakes.However, I also found a few errors in the downloaded code, but these are fewer and easier to spot:

- (NSString *)firstName; // <- remove semi-colon before using this code.
{
return firstName;
}


Wouldn't recommend this book unless you are a confident beginner capable of deciphering the author's mistakes.

Outdated and wrong in spots
Although the book is well written and well developed, time marches on and left this one behind.Any current version of XCode will leave the reader very annoyed as the examples do not work at all.Not even close to being completable.It's a shame, because the actual description of some XCode concepts is very well done, and at other times, they miss entire areas?

Get a more updated book, this one has become a paperweight.(Written in April 2010, for reference sake)

Good. But Out of Date - Wait for a New Edition!
I agree with one of the reviewers who said that the book was 'good' but certain areas needed more explanation.

Unfortunately, worse than that, is that the book is now out of date. Otherwise I would have given it 4 stars instead of the 1 star.

I bought this book when XCode was at version 3.0 but had too many other things to work on. So it sat on my desk for 4 months before I was able to get on to reading it. Unfortunately, since that time, XCode and Interface Builder (the associated application used for designing UI for both Cocoa & iPhone apps) were updated. For the most part, many things are still relevant. But, major differences in how you make connections from UI elements in Interface Builder to your code have changed in version 3.2.1. Not to mention syntactical changes in Cocoa 2.0.

- Readers unfamiliar with Xcode (which I assume this book is aimed at) will be lost when they see pictures and descriptions that refer to panels that no longer exist.

- Workflow will be utterly confusing.

- Current Cocoa 2.0 syntax will be missed.

It's a shame that technical books become out of date so quickly. But I wish publishers and booksellers would do a better job informing people when it's happened.

For information on the changes in xcode, follow these links for release notes:
[...]

Dummies beware, wont be dumb for long!
This was a fantastic insight into programming on my Mac! I've been wanting to get a start in the programming scene for a while now and this book has helped me so much. It is a 'dummies' guide as it hasn't taught me everything, but I would strongly suggest this to anyone wishing to start programming on the mac (new programmers). Now something I would like to say to the authors: Why is it so expensive? It is only a couple dollars less than the physical book! It hascost you nothing to ship or reproduce it but still the high price. For the quality of this book, for the amount of pages, for the actual knowledge granted the reader, why not half the price? The lower the price the higher the sales. This is my personal opinion, I am on a campaign to help eBook lovers everywhere, we have a device to read it on, why are we still paying for paper?

Beware, the book is outdated
I got my new Mac Pro with Snow Leopard installed in September with the idea of beginning programming for my new Mac. I am no rookie, having programmed in C3#.Net for the Windows environment. Since I have had a lot of good experiences with the DUMMIES series in the past, I purchased this book thinking it would help. But some of the initial parts of the book made no sense to me and I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Then I discovered that the book was using Xcode 3.1 and Snow Leopard was released with Xcode 3.2. The menus were changed and the the program steps no longer worked or applied. I wrote to the Dummies people on their website to complain, but never heard a word. The book is now useless to me and I have had to purchase other books. I feel ripped off. But I guess I will just eat this paperwweight and move on. Anyone want to buy an outdated book? ... Read more

Product Description
Somewhere in the shadowy borderland between myth and history lies the territory of Finn Mac Cool. Mightiest of the Irish heroes, leader of the invincible army of Fianna, he was a man of many faces: warrior, poet, lover, creator, and destroyer. Finn Mac Cool is a man taken from one of the lowest classes of Irish society, driven by ambition and strength to rise above his birth and bring new respect and status to his people.

He had it all and lost it all, but in the end he gained immortality. Finn Mac Cool is a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and awesome adventure.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Love this book!
I received this book in Germany from a friend. I love reading it. You will want it in hardback. I wore my paperback out.

Llywelyn is a great writer
Finn MacCool looms large in Irish folklore ... Morgan Llywelyn brings him alive in a book suitable for child or adult, and cites extensive source material used. Inevitably, some of the legend has to be fabricated by the author of historical fiction, but Llywelyn can be trusted to not play too loose with facts. What really happened at Tara? To me, Tara was a disappointing group of nondescript mounds, but supposedly the signal fire lit there could be seen afar and subsequent lightings responded the length and breadth of Ireland. The author brings ancient Tara alive and weaves the legacy of Sidhe, Tuatha De Danann and Fir Bolg into the fabric of the dominant Milesians.

A real bonus to the breathing of life into folkloric history is the skill of Llywelyn's writing. Not only are situations and characters brought alive, but Erin's green hills, flowered meadows, bleak rocks and mountains, bogs and fens become real to us. Scarcely a page goes by without evidence of her huge writing gift, in the form of beautiful prose.

An enthralling read
Finn Mac Cool is a young officer in the Fianna, the army nominally under the control of the High King of Eire. Finn is a great warrior, a teller of magical tales, and a man of vision. Rising to head the Fianna, and as such second in power only to the High King, he reshapes it in his own image, into an object of honor. But there is no "happily ever after" for Finn Mac Cool. Growing older, he finds that his body can no longer keep up the pace that it did, he begins to find it difficult to tell which of his own tales are true and false, and other people begin to reshape his world to his detriment. What should he do, and how should he do it?

I actually finished this book days ago, but have had to take the time to sort out my feelings about it. Ms. Llywelyn has written a powerful story. She has taken the old Irish legends of Finn Mac Cool, and retold them in the form of historical fiction. Finn is presented as a larger-than-life man, one whose peculiar talents can make him and can also unmake him.

This book is an enthralling read. It contains stories of action, and stories about life. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Excellent Story Telling About Ancient Ireland
I am of Irish descent, and this is a very entertaining way to learn about Finn McCool, the legendary warrior from the second century A.D. Ireland. It is a fascinating period of history currently with little exposure. It has been hard to put this books down as Morgan Llywelyn has excellent story telling skills. The word picture she draws of this time long ago has infinite details. Each of the characters inhabiting this story is well developed through the book's chapters.Llyelyn's obvious strength is putting her high I.Q. into developing an intricate web of detailed relationships.This world is inhabited by tribal shamans, the Druids, who possess supernatural powers.It is inhabited by the Tuatha De Dannon (people of the goddess Danu) that shape-change, as his wife did from being a deer to being human and back to being deer.In the middle of this bronze age culture is the enigmatic Finn Mac Cool, a large man with a two handed broad sword that could cleave an opponent in half on the battlefield or behead a man in single combat, a man that became King Cormac's general in charge of his armies.

My only criticisms are small in comparison to the strengths of this story, especially for anyone of Irish heritage.It would help enormously to have Irish Gaelic words given a pronunciation guide before the start of the book.Then Llywelyn uses a female perspective.This leaves much of the battles and action minimally described in contrast to her development of each character, relationships and marriages.

However, this is a story that needs to be told.Someone needs to develop a movie from this book.Finn McCool needs the same exposure as his English counterpart, King Arthur.

Not her best book but worth reading
Morgan Llywelyn writes historical fiction based on figures from Irish history and so called myth. This one is based on the Finn Mac Cool legends. I thought it was worth reading but not nearly as good as Lion of Ireland or Red Branch. She throws in a lot of silly crap like Finn Mac Cool having problems with premature ejaculation! However whats good in this is really good so its certainly of interest to any Celtophile, or if you like fantasy or mythology. ... Read more

Product Description
Automator for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guideuses a combination of task-based instruction and strong visuals toteach Macintosh users how to automate repetitive, time-consuming taskswith the Automator application that is included with Mac OS X 10.5Leopard. Automator comes with many useful actions for lots of popularApple applications. Each action performs a single specific task, suchas removing an empty playlist from iTunes, or adding attachments to aMail message. The real power of Automator lies in mixing and matchingthese actions to perform exactly the job you need them to, in a stringof actions known as a workflow.

Author Ben Waldie introducesreaders to how Automator works, and then helps them assemble and useAutomator workflows. This book covers the major updates to Automatorthat are part of Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), including a variety of highlyanticipated features, such as recording, looping, and the use ofvariables within workflows. These features make Automator more flexibleand powerful than before, greatly increasing its appeal and interest toany Mac user looking to become more efficient.

Both beginningusers who want a thorough introduction to Automator and more advancedusers looking for a convenient reference will find what they need herein straightforward language, clear steps, and practical tips.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good and practical
Automator For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard:Visual QuickStart Guide is a good, thorough and practical introduction to the Mac Automator feature.It includes useful sample scripts that can be put to use by the reader.Should be useful even to those without any programming background.

Just too simple
This is a good book I guess if you have never ever heard about Automator before. If you have spent 1 hour trying out automator, you already know more than whats in this book....

Opens new doors into automating a Mac
Like many people who make their living using a computer I perform many repetitive tasks. I've dabbled around in Applescript a bit and have managed to make a few scripts that help me but since I'm not really a programmer that is only worth the time if I'm going to use the same script often. Even then, if the sequence task requires only a few steps it doesn't seem worth the effort to struggle with the programming. Enter Automator.

With OS X.4, Apple offered a tool to make automation easier. With OS X.5 it actually is close enough to easy, or could be easy once getting past the intimidation factor. With this QuickStart guide to hold my hand I've actually gotten to the point where I start to think of Automator whenever I need to perform repetitive tasks. The writing is clear and straightforward. I love the visual cookbook format of the series and it works well here. Walde has chosen some useful examples to teach Automator and make it accessible. The learning progression - from simpler to more complex tasks is well thought out. For an introduction to Automator, this book is excellent and will take you as far as possible without having to learn to script with Applescript or a shell language.

Bakari's MyMac.com Review
I've written in the past two years at least three separate how-to articles (here here and here about Apple's automation creation program, Automator. Since the program was introduced with Tiger, I've always looked for ways it can help me automate certain mundane tasks on my computer. Each morning, for example, I can come to my computer with five of my most frequented Web site feeds opened and ready for me to peruse. Thanks to an Automator workflow initiated by a daily iCal launch, I don't have to individually pull up those same Web sites each day in order to view them. Automator and iCal do the work for me. I have about eight other workflows like this that I use on a consistent basis.

Though I wish I were a skilled programmer, I couldn't create a bit of computer or software code to save my life. That's why Automator is a perfect program for those of us who would like to script actions on our computer but don't have the skills to do so. Automator is based on the type of select and drop features that you find in all of Apple's programs. However, I would not go so far as to say that Automator is an intuitive program for basic computer users. While my wife can put together a family newsletter using one of the Apple's Pages's template, she would be at a loss using Automator.

But for intermediate and power users of the the OS X system, Automator is very accessible. And finally, there's a introductory book about using the program that I've been wanting to see published for a while now. Not sure why it has taken Peachpit so long to publish a book about Automator, but it's great that it has.

Automator For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard is part of Peachpit's Visual Quickstart Guide series. Books in this series provide you a nice straightforward introduction to software programs with plenty of examples, illustrations, tips, and recommendations for getting the most out of the programs that a book in the series covers. The author of this book, Ben Waldie, is president of Automated Workflows (www.automatedworkflows.com) which is one of four or five Automator sites that feature tutorials and sample workflows about Automator. He has "developed professional automated solutions for clients such as Adobe, Apple, CNN, and Microsoft." He has authored numerous articles about Automator and AppleScripting and has been a frequent presenter at Macworld Conference and Expo and other events.

Automator For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard covers all the basics plus a little more. If you have never cracked open Automator, it would probably be a good idea to simply follow one of my tutorials. Have no fear, testing out and playing around with the program will not break or crash your computer. You might discover just how useful Automator and other similar programs can be in saving your time and stress. I won't say that every workflow you create won't have a glitch here and there, but as you keep refining the workflow, you will over time get some things done faster at your computer.

With latest version of Automator in Leopard, Apple includes what it calls a starting points screen to help you get going. However, if you never worked in Automator, I really don't see how the start up screen will help you. You first have to know what you want to do and what actions Automator can provide to help you do it. So it's best to select custom workflow in the start up screen and poke around and see what Automator has to offer.

Waldie's book is mostly a manual run down of the program. He breaks down each all the features and basic process for completing workflows. If you're a beginner in this program, the book might very well be useful. If you're an intermediate or advance user of Automator, I can't see Waldie's book being that useful to you. There are many articles and video tutorials on the Internet that will get you acquainted with Automator, so it's a bit of stretch to say that this book is necessary to learn how to get up and running with Automator.

Fortunately, Waldie's book covers the latest version of Automator, including how to use the much wanted Variable, Loop, Recording features. These features provide users more customization and greater control over workflows. He explains how to set up several workflows (including one that emails birthday birthday greetings, and another one that adds spotlight comments to photos) but sometimes it's not clear why a user would go to the trouble to create a few of the workflows he illustrates in the book. I say this because many of the actions that come installed with Automator are features used in the iLife programs themselves. For example, it would be pointless to create a workflow that simply opens up an application. That can be done manually or when you log in to your computer. However, it might be useful to have an application workflow that opens up two or three applications at the same time when you know you'll be using them together. You can also create another workflow that will close those same three applications at the same time. It sounds simple, but if you're doing something like this a lot, it can be definite time saver.

Waldie includes a list great sources and examples about using Automator with AppleScript and UNIX Commands. Being able to tie together the more advance actions of AppleScript with Automator enables you to create even better workflows. A recent example of this is a AppleScript command and Automator workflow that puts your Mac to sleep by sending an email to it. You can find out to easily do this by visiting Murphymac.com.

Automating and scripting programs may not be everyone's idea of having fun, but if you're using a computer on a regular basis and you're not finding ways to automate your tasks, then you're probably frustrated that your computer has more control over your time than you do. Check out Automator and learn how it can save you some time. ... Read more

Product Description
Sibley the Workhorse can do the work of two horses, but then Mac, a shiny new tractor, arrives at Stony Meadow Farm.Poor Sibley.Will he be put out to pasture or will he save the day when Tractor Mac runs into a problem? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Tractor Mac arrives at the Farm
I bought this for my 3 yr.old grandson for Valentine's Day and he loves it...cause it has 2 things he really loves a horse and a tractor.... I will buy more of this series of books in the future....Thanks... ... Read more