Guide to Switching to the Mac
Reviewed by Robert L Pritchett
Introduction
The book is for both the new Mac
user, and for anyone who wants to get to know their Mac better and do more with
it.
The book quickly gets you comfy
with your Mac, demonstrates the "Mac way" to perform every common
Windows task, and shows how to do more with Macs than you ever could in
Windows... way more! It's all here -- everything from choosing the right Mac to
creating your own videos and DVDs.
Rosenzweig covers the latest Macs
and the new Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system. Best of all, he
focuses on what today's computer users need to know, including loads of
coverage of using your Mac on the Web.
Every Mac switcher needs a friendly
Mac expert to show them the ropes. With this book, you've got yours!
• Discover
what's different about your Mac's hardware and software -- and what's similar,
too.
• Navigate
the Finder and learn how Mac files are organized.
• Make
the most of the Mac's built-in applications.
• Move
your stuff from your PC to your new Mac.
• Use
Safari, Mac's great built-in Web browser.
• Set
up Mac email, instant messaging, and audio and video chatting.
• Share,
back up, and archive your files.
• Choose
and use Mac business and productivity applications.
• Organize
your music and buy new songs with iTunes.
• Import,
manage, edit, and share your photos.
• Create
awesome videos with iMovie, QuickTime, and iDVD.
• Run
Windows on your Mac, if you must.
• Keep
your Mac up to date and running smoothly.
What I Learned
I got reacquainted with Gary Rosenzweig's MacMost video
podcasts (up to 306 as of this writing) and felt so good about them, that I
linked to MacMost on our macCompanion
home page.
I found the book to be an adjunct to the work Gary's team
has been doing for quite some time now (really only 2 years?).
I'm sure much of what is written is based on feedback from
those who watched the MacMost video podcasts and the responses have been put to
print. Now, with Snow Leopard, I think the transition has been made much
easier.
Probably the most valuable chapter is the one on "Moving
from Windows to Mac". It is much easier than you think.
Conclusion
This is an excellent book on exploring the ways and means of
moving from a Windows environment to the relative comfort zone of the Mac.
