Mac OS X Leopard Portable Genius

Reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher

 

Author: Dwight Spivey Publisher:Wiley 10475 Crosspoint Blvd Indianapolis,IN 46256 Released: Sept. 2008 $30 USD, $33 CND Pages: 368 ISBN: 978-0-470-29050-7   Strengths:  Colorful, easy to read and covers a broad range of topics concerning the Leopard Operating system. Additional helpful information is provided in the way out 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.

 

Introduction

 

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

 

The author has published Mac books previously and has specialized in the use of the Mac operating system.  The author has provided a broad range of basics as well as an authoritatively set of wide array of information that focuses upon easily using  Leopard Operating and becoming more efficient with it and your computer.

 

An introduction ushers the  365-page book, which includes 12 chapters. What is nice about the book is that the information is easily 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 the and zone in exactly where the specific information is so that you don’t have to “fish around to find them”. What is nice this makes easy reading with less words that focuses upon the visuals on your screen/desktops. Additional tables, desktop screenshots highlight more 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 particularly focuses on Mac OSX Leopard operating system. The chapters cover the basics, applications, mastering the web with Safari and using iTunes. Two new feature/ applications are Snapshots and Photobooth. There is more about working with PDF files, printing with Leopard, customizing Leopard the way you want and configuring your accounts. Within the book you also learn how to share files, automating your Mac, working with the UNIX terminal commands and  installing Windows. Troubleshooting is also covered with good hints c concerning isolating software troubles, updating your operation system, permission problems and additional information. The index is extensive and highlights where to find specific ideas and information within the text/ chapters.

 

Having just started with Leopard, I found this book most helpful. I found out more about UNIX terminal commands which I might try someday but I am more likely to utilize the new Snapshots and Photobooth which I can see has immediate uses to tie into all the photographs I have.

 

Conclusion

 

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.  This book is a winner and so is the series. I would suggest looking it over to see if you would like to add it to your collection.  While the book is not cheap, it may save you time and make you a more efficient learner of your operation system, computer and much more.