iMac: Portable Genius

Reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher

Authors: Kate Binder and Guy Hart- Davis Wiley 10475 Crosspoint Blvd Indianapolis, IN 46256 Released: September. 2008  $25 USD, $28 CND Pages: 384 ISBN: 978-0-470-29061-3   Strengths:  The book is packed with lots of information. Colorful, easy to read and covers a broad range of iMac topics. Additional helpful information is provided in the way to short tutorial sections entitled notes, genius, Caution. The tutorials and information are well done and provide much assistance for anyone who is beginning with Leopard  or who  is trying to  making your operating system a more efficient one to use. The information is extensive and is integrated with the screenshots, tables, visuals and more.   Weaknesses: None found.

 

Introduction

These new series of Apple guidebooks are entitled “ Portable Genius”. Each of these useful books are colorful, informative and provides helpful tips and easy to read shortcuts that will help you learn more efficiently.

 

Binder has published Mac and Adobe Photoshop books while Hart-Davis has authored more then 40 computer books including ones about iPods, iTunes, Llife Portable genius and others. 

 

This book has 384 pages, which includes 13 chapters. The book’s content is well laid out. Light blue bars at the top of the pages have the titles of the chapters which makes access of the chapters a little easier. This colorful, easily readable screenshots also have informational/ titles that are targeted with lines and zone in exactly where the specific information is so that you don’t have to “fish around to find them”.

 

This makes for easy reading with less words that focus upon screen/desktops visuals. Additional tables, desktop screenshots highlight additional information that are straightforward and crisp in terms of understanding, knowing and searching for helpful information that is targeted by the text (which is kept to the minimum). The different coloration of the text and boldface fonts serve to offer better reading though out the book.

 

This book includes customizing the toolbars, windows, dock; setting up the your Mac for multiple users; hooking up the iMac; setting up local network; using iMac to get organized; all you want to know about email and communicating; telecommuting on your iMac; using the software on your iMac; backing up files; keeping iMac healthy; useful websites and shortcuts. I also like the specific information concerning older iMacs (like I have) and upgrading your iMac if that is possible or what you want to do. There is even support and information about reinstalling ram and hard drives within the computer. There are  troubleshooting sections in all parts of the book as well.

 

Conclusions

 

The best thing are the visuals, the integration with the tutorials and detailed information. Colorful, bright and authoritative, this book as well as the series has a lot of good information for beginners but also those who want to find out more about using their operating system and computer a more efficient one.  I would suggest looking it over to see if you would like to add it to your collection.  This book  may save you a lot of time and make you a more efficient learner of your iMac.