Sebastopol, CA--According to Apple, Inc., more than 150 new features debut in Mac OS 10.2, making "Jaguar" a different kind of animal entirely. It's faster, more powerful, and much more customizable. The fact that it comes without a manual is scarcely lamented by Mac users who turn, instead, to the humor and expertise of author David Pogue. To help users master the changes in Jaguar, Pogue has produced a completely rewritten and expanded new edition of Mac OS X: The Missing Manual (O'Reilly/Pogue Press, US $29.95).
"Just about every page has new material on it," Pogue says. "In addition to Jaguar's 150 new features, there are literally hundreds of tiny tweaks, rejiggered keystrokes, and restructured dialog boxes."
The first edition of this book was the #1 bestselling computer book of 2002, selling 100,000 copies in six months. With new material on almost every page, this second edition offers a wealth of detail on the numerous changes in OS X 10.2. Pogue includes new chapters on iChat (Apple's new, AOL-compatible instant-messaging software), Sherlock 3 (the web search tool that pulls critical web information directly onto the desktop), and the new Finder (which reintroduces--spring-loaded --folders by popular request). With humor and technical insight characteristic of the Missing Manual series, the book also delves into features under the hood, such as the networking tools that allow Macs and PCs to swap files on a network.
With its solid Unix foundation and attractive Apple-designed user interface, Mac OS X is a nearly crash-proof system that has reinvigorated Macintosh computers, attracted Unix software developers, and brought a steady stream of refugees from Windows. Mac OS X was a stunning achievement when it was released in 2001, and Jaguar is another leap forward.
"Jaguar is the best-looking, least-intrusive, and most thoughtfully designed operating system walking the earth today," Pogue insists. "Don't be fooled by the small increase in the version number. This is a polished, innovative, and--if such a term can be applied to something as nerdy as an operating system--exciting upgrade."
As with the first edition of "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual," Pogue tackles his subject with scrupulous objectivity--revealing which new features work well and which don't. Through it all, he demonstrates the refreshing humor, technical insight, and crystal-clear, jargon-free prose that distinguish the Missing Manual series from other books.
What the critics said about the first edition:
"As a newly converted Mac user I found myself lacking some of the basic understandings of the new hybrid OS X. Armed with some basic Unix understanding I installed OS X and found myself able to move around the system in the Terminal, but not in Finder. This O'Reilly book made all the difference in the world. This may sound silly, but I found the lists of keyboard and mouse shortcuts to be the most helpful chapter. The descriptions of the back end of the OS was also a great help, folder tree structures, and where the OS puts certain system files helped me figure out OS X. Thanks O'Reilly."
--Dave Tabakin, Williamsburg Macromedia User Group, June 2002"The Mac is in massive innovation mode these days, and is likely to remain so. That's why their 'Switch from your PC' campaign is working. OS X is quite different from what came before. Really grasping its capabilities is important for keeping up with dazzling new stuff coming along every month. I recommend getting and studying 'Mac OS X: The Missing Manual,' from O'Reilly, and then take the time to explore. You'll be rewarded."
--Stewart Brand, Whole Earth, August 2002"This is probably the best reference manual I have seen for a Macintosh operating system, and it is among the best of reference manuals for any type operating system in general."
--Clark Morledge, Williamsburg Macromedia User Group, May 15, 2002"This book may save you a lot of pain and suffering moving from Mac classic or Unix to Mac OS X."
--brian d. foy, Perl Review, March 2002
Additional resources:
Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition
David Pogue
ISBN 0-596-00450-8, 712 pages, $29.95 (US), $46.95 (CAN)
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
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