Product Description
The definitive iLife reference, completely updated and revised. TheMacintosh iLife ’06 is the ultimate iLife learning experience, alavishly illustrated handbook packed with easy-to-follow instructions,essential technical background, and tips for iLife users of all levels.

• Shop ’til you drop at the iTunes Music Store
• Take your iPod beyond music—watch videos, view photos, store contacts and calendars, and more
• Improve your photography and video-shooting techniques
• Create spectacular slide shows, photo books, calendars, and greeting cards
• Refine your photos to perfection with iPhoto 6
• Share photos via email, Web albums, and cutting-edge photocasts
• Explore the latest video formats with iMovie HD
• Record and arrange your own music with GarageBand
• Create and publish your own Web sites, blogs, and podcasts
• Preserve the past: digitize old records, photos, and movies

Each two-page spread is a self-contained tutorial or set of tips.Everything you need is at your fingertips, and every page is updatedfor iLife ’06.

The Web site: Get updates, tips, and much more at this book’s companion Web site, www.macilife.com.

Jim Heid is one of the most admired writers and instructors in the Mac community.
A contributing editor of Macworld magazine since 1984, he has beenusing and teaching each of the programs in the iLife suite since itsdebut.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

This is a great book
If you want to learn about iLife this is a exception one to get. Lots of good solid
techniques, tips and tutorials about using iLife applications. Good visuals and
helpful information along the way. Very extensively written. The only knock against
the book and iMovie is that it seems all too easy. I've had problems with iMovie and iDVD and I still
have not figured out how to recify the errors. I wonder if he will come out with a version for ilife ?

Great Book!
one of the best computer books I've worked with. Very detailed about using ILife 06

Mac iLife 06 is AWESOME!
This book is very well organized, easy to follow and a great reference to quickly find answers to your questions. It is much more helpful than the online tutorials. I highly recommend this as a reference to keep close by when working with any part of iLife.

Indespensible accompaniment to your new Mac.
You have to have this book if you want to get the most out of your new Mac.If you don't have it, you can spend a lot more and pay for personal tutoring at the Mac store (assuming you have one available).

I miss the DVD
I loved Jim Heid's iLife '05 book because of the integration with the included DVD.You could easily follow along in the book while Jim demonstrated each feature in the DVD and there were good cross-references.The '05 book was the best money I have EVER spent on a computer book.But iLife '06 doesn't include the DVD..... still a very good book but no longer so outstanding.I guess it just got to be too hard to produce a timely DVD with features being added to iLife and new versions coming out so fast.Too bad. ... Read more

Product Description

Make the most of your Mac

Are you looking to get the best out of your new Mac, either as a complete novice or as a convert from a PC? Or have you just upgraded to Leopard and want to know what's new? Either way, this is the book for you. Teach Yourself Basic Mac Skills offers a wider, more beginner-friendly scope--an all-in-one reference for those who want to understand the basic concepts rather than the in-depth technicalities. Focusing on email, iPhoto, iCal, iMovie, iTunes and other iLife applications, it will help you to enjoy the full Mac experience. With straightforward writing from expert authors, this book cuts through the "techno babble" and instead gives you easy and enjoyable access to all of the computer skills you want to acquire.

Customer Reviews (1)

Mr.
I haven't had the book long enough to give an honest appraisal. From the table of contents, I thinkthe book contains lots of information I need, but I can't find all my needs addressed. Forexample: How do I put an attachment in email? and Why won't my browser open all attachments in incoming email?My juvenile status probably explains my inability to use all the Applications; I should be a teen-ager again.Steve Profilet ... Read more

Product Description
The comprehensive reference to UNIX commands and utilities. Focuses on the basic and advanced command groups of standard UNIX System V. Commands are listed alphabetically and explained in straightforward text, while each entry states the purpose of the command, what it does, and how it is used. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Truth be told
For all you newbies out there, this is the book that men are made of, my suggestion is to memorize it then read it again, aka. ya newbie.

Old but very useful reference
When I first pick up this book in the library, I was suprised by the date it was published. After reading a few pages, I start to love this book, it gives a detail describtion on almost every command that you'll need in Sys V. This is a good book to read and good book to keep for reference. Since most major commercial Unix are based on SVR*, this book still has its value after all these years. ... Read more

Product Description

For database software, FileMaker Pro has always been almost shockingly easy to use. However, somewhere along the way it also became incredibly powerful-so much so, in fact, that's it's no longer about just creating small-scale relational databases. If you're ready to move beyond the basics and take advantage of FileMaker Pro 7's advanced features, this task-based guide provides the key. By applying the same visual approach, step-by-step instructions, and concise explanations employed by the popular Visual QuickStart Guides to complex topics like creating and managing links between fields in multiple tables and employing the advanced security features to define which fields are editable by different user categories, this handy guide represents the most efficient way for experienced FileMaker users to take their skills to the next level. By the end of the volume, you'll be creating custom databases, using advanced querying features, and managing huge volumes of complex data (text, video, images, audio, PDFs, and more) with FileMaker Pro 7!

Customer Reviews (2)

Good intermediate book
I found this a very useful adjunct to Stars and Child's book Learn Filemaker pro 7.Agree with the other reviewer that the screen shots are too small to read at a comfortable distance.Also unlike Stars' book the examples are not real tutorials.For me, I found the explanations clear and help me understand filemaker better.Would place SAMS Learn filemaker pro in 24 hr very low inmy choice of books for learning filemaker.It hindered my learning more than helped.Filemaker IS NOT a easy program to master.It takes time, diligence, lots of references and help from others.Avoid going it alone if possible.

So-So
This is another UNvisual QuickPro Guide from Peachpit Press:the screen shots are way too small and must be viewed outside in bright sunshine.At about half-off list price, a case can be made for purchase, if you're a FileMaker junkie (like me).It's (unfortunately) intermediate level, not advanced (as it claims). It covers indexing options, conditional valuelists, textstyle functions, mass update of serial numbers, script parameters, bulk e-mail, importing with scripts, and communicating with a Palm. ... Read more

Product Description
Using the AppleWorks 6 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide, readers will learn everything they need to master the many tools in AppleWorks. Revised from the ground up by a new author, the new edition offers complete cross-platform coverage complete with hundreds of illustrations and examples highlighting classroom and home-use projects. Additions not in previous edition will include a section highlighting AppleWorks's new Presentation module. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I converted a PC user!
When a friend who was unfamiliar with Macs asked me for advice, I sent her this book. I saw her this weekend and she was telling people to buy a Mac. ... Read more

Product Description
This handy resource provides all the information you need to buy and download music, share music with other computers in your home, burn DVDs or CDs with music, use music in slideshows or in home movies, and much more. New features let you view album art, categorize tracks by beats-per-minute, use expanded search options, and more. ... Read more

Product Description
* The definitive, 100% complete handbook and reference for the more than 12 million Mac OS X users has been improved and expanded to include essential expert guidance and advice on all of Tiger's new features
* Tiger boasts more than 150 new features including Spotlight, the new system-wide search tool; Dashboard, which provides instant access to accessory programs; and iChatAV, which allows users to videoconference with up to three additional people
* Packed with useful tips and secrets on installation, taking advantage of hot new features, setting up OS X on a network, running older apps in emulation mode, using Sherlock "X," AirPort, iChat, iCal, Address Book, Mail, QuickTime "X", and other Tiger features
* Includes updates to iLife and the latest built-in Tiger apps ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

MAC BOOKS
This book is without question THE best source of information for the Mac operating system.It is very clear and allows one to solve just about any problem that may come up - - even on older Macs.

Helpful guide for new Macbook Pro owners.
This is probably a must have if you're not a computer whiz (which I am certainly not) and you decide to make the switch to Mac.I love my Macbook and will never look back but it's still a steep learning curve to start.The OS X tiger bible is an easy to read reference for the essential problems you may encounter and can't work out on your own.I highly recommend this book.

Not what I expected
I found the Missing Manual much easier to use and had more topic in the index that I needed. The "Bible" seemed always not to have an answer to my questions. The query on Disk Image led me to completely abandon the "Bible" as inadequately indexed, if not inadequate in content.

I found more listings and quickly resolved my problem via the index in the Missing Manual. Next time, I will buy the Missing Manual only.

A necessary 1st step for new Mac users.
Why doesn't Apple make a book like this?even on a CD included with the computer? These are powerful machines, yet it takes a 3rd party to explain how to use that power.

I was going to give this book a 4, until I remembered this is for 1st time users of Macs (which I am) and that it covers such a breadth of subjects (including network connections and the Automator) that I figured it deserves a 5.

TOO Complicated
I got this book along with MAC OS X "The Missing Manuel", and I use that book more then the Bible. The Bible has some good things in it, but it is sometimes hard to understand, and I don't like the layout as well. ... Read more

Product Description
If you're an individual user, these books are great.Ifyou're an instructor, they're ideal, and already a proven winner inadult education courses.Teach--or learn--only what you need.Weget right to the point in "See Spot run" language.Illustratedexercises explain the software concepts and show you how to applythem.No time wasted.Second and third day courses help you expandyour skills from the basics to more advanced concepts.Each bookcomes with a practice disk to eliminate typing the exercises. ... Read more

Product Description
Adobe Flash CS3 is the leading software for Web designers creating dynamic Web sites. Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Advanced for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide offers the most efficient way for smart, creative, busy professionals to learn Flash. Updated to include the important new features in Flash CS3, this book covers the latest ActionScript standards that make Flash CS3 so powerful, and details the expanded support for rich media. This handy guide combines a visual approach with straightforward, step-by-step instructions and screenshots, concise explanations of animation techniques, and task-based learning. Taking the highly accessible instructional format of the popularVisual QuickStart Guides to a more advanced level, the book guides readers through all the intricacies and new features of this top-selling Web multimedia application. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great book foradvanced flash
I love the quickstart series!As a webmaster, they are my first go-to resource.They are laid out in a way that I can find what I need, quickly.They give just what I need to get started.

Flash CS3 Professional Advanced took me to the next level in FLASH.Espeically the audio/video information, which I have more and more customers asking for.

The information on dynamic pages was also extremely helpful.

This is worth every penny!

Highly Recommended for beginner and intermediate AS 2.0 users.
When actionscript 3.0 (Flash CS3) came onto the scene, it caused great consternation among interactive designers who were used to working directly in the Flash IDE and coding AS 2.0 on the timeline.Almost all the new books/threads on the topic, including Moock's 'Essential 3.0', showed a bias in demonstrating AS 3.0 in the context of OOP and Flex. Granted, that is where the true power/purpose of AS 3.0 lies. BUT, this also created the sentiment in the non-developer camp that AS 3.0 is severely verbose and not as flexible and fun as AS2. This is simply not the case as AS 3.0 was created to embrace BOTH designers and developers.

I think Adobe was so preoccupied with wooing the developer crowd that it failed to reassure existing beginner/intermediate 2.0 users that 3.0 works just as well on the timeline and that you CAN still make a banner ad, personal portfolio site, microsite without building/executing your codes as Classes or authoring them in Flex/Components.

Having said that, if you are hardcore OOP developer and need to build an enterprise level web app using AS3, this book is NOT for you. In fact, you have no business using the Flash IDE or coding on the timeline.

Russell Chun takes nothing for granted and starts by giving a quick overview of the program's tools. Then you'll be taken through a series of exercises that is very easy to follow. By the end of the book, you will have learned enough to build a decent interactive web page. You will also have the foundation to move onto OOP.

I have owned a number ofRussell Chun's books since MX2004 and will vouch for its effectiveness. Its generously illustrated, concise, clearly written examples will help beginners and intermediate 2.0 users EASE into 3.0.

Get this book and you'll see that AS 3.0 can be just as fun.

worthless for me
I suppose this book may be fine for anyone wanting to learn a broad overview of AS3 ("Flash" is a misnomoer; Flash is ActionScript).But for anybody like myself trying to build a website with specific components, the book is worthless.This is because the author, instead of showing the steps to create a complete component (dropdown menus that LINK; scrolling thumbnails that LINK), shows you instead how to build shells that do nothing, and says, "we'll discuss the rest in a later chapter."Then doesn't, at least not in a way directly applicable to the previous instructions.Why not just show us how to create something that actually works, all in a single lesson?Forgive me if that's too much to ask.

Great Reference!
Constantly refer to this book as a reference while coding.This book provides short, but well explainded "How To" on esssential Actionscript 3 coding topics.I own several Actionscript 3 books, but this is the one I refer to again and again.

If you buy just one Flash CS3 book, this is the one to get
The Visual QuickPro Guide Flash CS3 Professional Advanced, the follow-up to the Flash 8 book*, is a great tool for anyone trying to make the transition from ActionScript 2 (Flash 8) to ActionScript 3 (Flash CS3). I am Flash 8 Certified, and as I make the push to re-certify for ActionScript 3, this is the book I am studying. It is more concise and compact than the Flash Bible, yet still contains the information needed to build great Flash apps and to pass the expert exam.It covers all the big differences between AS3 and AS2 in a clear, concise manner. But newbies shouldn't be put off by the title: beginner topics like 'what is a Movie Clip' and how to do timeline animation are also covered. The only complaint is the lack of a companion CD-ROM containing tutorial files. But even without a CD, this is still a fantastic resource for the Flash aficionado, professional or student. (*Anyone buying this book might also consider the Visual QuickPro guide for Flash 8, which is also excellent--and still relevant. The Flash 8 book deals with ActionScript 2, which is widely used for developing mobile / cell phone apps.) ... Read more

Product Description
An alternate edition of the best-selling Introducing the Unix System, this new book presents complete coverage of AT&T's new standard release of the Unix operating system, System V. For users and programmers involved with any hardware running Unix System V, this edition reflects the joint efforts of AT&T and Sun Microsystems to reconcile Berkeley BSD 4.2 (the most popular non-AT&T version of Unix) with System V. Covering Unix from the first logon to advanced techniques and featuring the numerous examples and careful attention to detail that made the former book a success, the book provides an easy growth path for novices as well as a reference they'll never outgrow. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderful book
I too had this book as a college text book, over 20 years ago (copyright date 1983)! and I am still using it as a reference to this day. Easy to understand, lots of examples, and well organized. I even have mine signed by Rachel as I worked with her many years ago!

This was a college class book that I still use today
This was a required textbook for one of my college classes and it was such a good book that I still use it today as a reference (over 13 years later). In fact, I refer it to people quite often. The material is presented in a logical way that makes it easy to learn.

lucid with good examples
This book is really good for the beginers, but the language is little hard for the beginers !! thats it ... Read more

Product Description
When the last edition of The Macintosh Bible was published Mac OS X was still in its infancy, the full suite of free Mac iLife apps had yet to appear, and the idea of switching from a PC to a Mac was still considered heresy by most Windows aficionados. Obviously, a lot has changed: Here to address those changes is the 9th Edition of the most comprehensive Mac resource on the planet. Offering an expanded chapter on digital media, a new appendix on switching (not just from Windows to Mac OS X but from earlier Mac OS versions as well), an increased focus on the newest (and newly mature) OS X versions, and brand-new interviews with Mac luminaries (at the end of each chapter), this completely revised volume offers something for Mac users of all stripes and skill levels. Leaders of the Mac community address every aspect of Mac use here, packing in hundreds of tips, trivia, sidebars, and other goodies along the way.Amazon.com Review
To listen to some Macintosh fans, you'd think they take the title of The Macintosh Bible literally. Their fondness for their computers can verge on zealotry. It's easy to understand why, though: the latest Macs are the best ever, capable of handling home computing with style and business computing efficiently. Macs, as they always have, also excel at specialized work with publications and graphics. The Macintosh Bible introduces its readers to the full range of modern Macs' capabilities, leaving them well prepared to buy, configure, use, and troubleshoot their computers. Clifford Colby and Marty Cortinas aren't as good as some other Mac writers at conveying the liveliness of the Mac-user culture--authors David Pogue and Robin Williams excel in that area--but they and their collaborators have done a great job of compiling facts, procedures, and ideas about Macs and their software.

For a how-to book, this one is unusually dense with text, and that's a good thing. After all, most aspects of Macs are pretty easy to figure out unaided, so it stands to reason that when you turn to a book for help you'll want the kind of detailed explanations that the authors provide here. There's lots of information on the history of Mac products, as well as peripherals offered by third-party vendors. Procedural details about how to do work in Mac OS X and other programs are right on, though more information about the Unix underpinnings of Mac OS X would be nice (there's hardly any, a characteristic typical of most recent Mac books). Background information about, for instance, how database management programs work also helps novices and intermediate users gain familiarity with the Mac environment. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to use a modern Macintosh computer, at a level suitable for someone new to Macs or moderately experienced with them. Coverage of hardware options, third-party software, productivity tools, utilities, and local area networks (LANs) is nice, though there's little coverage of AppleScript, Cocoa, or other programming subjects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A useful reference
The strengths of this book are the tips to getting yourself out of trouble. The interesting part of this book are the interviews with the major players in the history of the MAC. Gives a chance to those people to voice their opinion of the state of the MAC.

Not Quite Everything You Need to Know, but Almost
There are four major parts to this book:
. Looking at the Mac, which talks about the Mac in general from an overview of the operating system to storage systems and printing.
. Getting Productive which walks about common business and personal applications like word processing, databases and spreadsheets.
. Getting Creative, all about graphics, web design and HTML, after all, the Mac is reknown for its capabilities in the graphical area.
. Extending your Reach, reaching out for the internet, for networks and even working with Windows machines. This part also has a chapter 'Switching to the Mac from Windows.'

In a bit over a thousand pages the authors have room to cover nearly every aspect of working with a Mac. This book covers the standard everyday tasks that you're likely to do on a Mac. From here, of course you can go on to more specialized programs if that's where your job lies. For instance in the graphics area, iPhoto, which is supplied with all new Macs is covered. But if you're a graphics professional you probably want some more professional. And the book talks about the professional level packages such as Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop, ACD Systems Canvas, Macromedia FreeHand, Corel Painter, and others. It doesn't cover these in detail, but at least talks enough about them to get you started on deciding which is best for your needs.

This book is, as the title says, the Bible of the Mac. It doesn't contain everything there is to know about the Mac (if it did you couldn't lift it) but it certainly contains enough to get you well started.

"Bible" is apt...
I have to admit, from the outset, that I am not a Mac person. I am a PC tech trying to service one of the only Mac's I will probably work on this year. I have a copy of the Mac Bible. It is huge! That's not bad if it is useful. The problem I am having is finding what I need while I have to wade through the barrels of verbage that are useless to me. I finally had to resort to scouring the Web to find my answers. I guess I'm used to the more direct, almost cookbook approach to troubleshooting and setup. To be fair, and thats why I gave the book two stars instead of one, I realize that the different chapters are written by different authors, so the content and style will vary. Unfortunately for methe sections I needed were written by authors I would rather not consult in the future.

I found it very useful
I recently had an excellent opportunity to try out this book as I made the switch from the PC to a new 15" PowerBook G4.This is the type of book that very few people probably read from cover to cover.Rather they would read it as a resource book when they are having troubles or questions.As I made the change from one OS to another I found myself going to the book eleven times.Two of those times the book didn't answer my questions.But for the most part I learned what I needed to know each time.

If you are about to make a switch or are having issues with your Mac I would recommend this book to you.

good
its a good book, if you are reading this review, skip the first chapter. I wish it had information of the newer OS like OS X. I learn many simple things about Macs I had no idea.
good book!!The is a newer Mac bible, take a look on that one. ... Read more

Product Description
This work quickly gets readers up-to-speed on all of Macromedia Director MX 2004's new features, including JavaScript support, cross-platform publishing, Flash MX 2004 integration, Windows Media support, and DVD-Video capabilities. ... Read more

Product Description
LightWave 3D 7.5 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide is the fastest way to get up and running with NewTek's robust and powerful 3D modeling and animation program. Rather than force you to sit through pages of theory and long, drawn-out tutorials, this task-based reference lets you skip right to the topics that are giving you trouble. While advanced designers will appreciate this flexibility, beginners shouldn't feel like they're getting in over their heads. The book also includes brief explanations of popular 3D theories and concepts at the start of each chapter as well as total coverage of the LightWave 3D working environment. Straightforward and concise, LightWave 3D 7.5 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide relies on short, step-by-step how-tos and ample screenshots to explain how to create simple and advanced animations, work with vertex maps, edit geometry, render projects, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Quick Reference
The book is just what it advertised. It's a good quick reference book with a few explanations.

Muy educativo
Siendo como soy un principiante sin mucho tiempo libre. Este libro te quitara todos los miedos con el programa. Te dara la valentia necesaria para ponerte a experimentar, y probar las diferentes herramientas.
Muy recomendable.

Great starting point to learn Lightwave
Good one! This book guides you step by step on everything (Modeling, Layout, Rendering and many more). At first I thought that Lightwave was very complex but when I finish the book I found out that it's simple, very easy to work and you can do amazing things in no time. This book also serves as a reference resource once you're working with the software.I highly recommend this book to beginner-intermediate users. ... Read more

Product Description
Pro Tools is the industry standard for recording and editing digital audio. Its elegant interface and powerful editing features make it the most widely used digital audio software by professional recording producers, musicians, home studio professionals, and quality-minded hobbyists worldwide.

Using the easy-to-follow visual format of the Visual QuickStart Guide, Pro Tools 5 for Macintosh and Windows will show readers how to make multitrack audio recordings using Digidesign's Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools Free software. The body of the book will offer concise, step-by-step instructions on how to use Pro Tools' main functions, including recording, editing, mixing, and effects processing. It will also introduce and explain the basics of automation, MIDI sequencing, and file management in Pro Tools. It will also show readers how to setup and use several Digidesign hardware systems, including the Digi 001, Mbox, and Audiomedia III.

Customer Reviews (3)

The Book That Digi Should Ship
This book by Roback is something of a godsend. Not that the manaual that came with ProTools was shabby, it's just that the manual assumes the reader is already at some level of proficieny.
This book demistifies some of the areas that the manual just did not explain.
Better yet, this book is organized for "quick look-up" use. It seems a ProTools user always needs information about a certain subject or operational proceedure. It can be a nightmare trying to get a quick answer with the factory manual. Not only does Roback take you precisely where you need to go effortlessly, he provides clear illustrations and a 1 - 2 - 3 step guide for each
function you are trying to implement. If you want to end your frustration with PT, this is the book to have.
Also, this book is currrent. It covers the latest version of PT (5.1) and th first I have seen with information about the new MBox.
If you are looking for the definitive source for PT...this is the book for you.

Concise Overview for Beginners
This book offered an excellent overview for yours truly who found himself starting completely from scratch.A combination of read, try out, screw up, read, try out some more left me recording songs in a matter of a couple hours after getting things installed.Basic yet essential insights into getting the most out of your recording are included as well including adding width, depth and height to your sounds, creating space for instruments with EQ and ordering effects properly.One caveat, once you get into connecting external devices through OMS (Mac users) and how to take advantage of all the midi features you will find yourself in the lurch.Got on a first name basis with the techies at digidesign attempting to route my midi properly and had to figure out a lot of the features myself.Attention: move midi regions in "region" edit mode only!Anyway, the basics are there, however.As for everything else, between reading and experimenting, you're in business.

Pro Tools 5 for Macintosh and Windows
This book is a great tool for Pro Tool users.I would highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Photoshop Elements 3, Adobe’s more accessible version of its flagship product, Photoshop, opens the door for amateur photographers, business users, students, and home users who want professional-looking images for their print and Web projects.

Photoshop Elements 3 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide uses task-based lessons to show readers how to capture photos from traditional or digital cameras, reduce red eye, correct color, work with layers, erase backgrounds, create photo-illustrations and Web graphics, simulate painting and drawing techniques, apply artistic effects, and more. Longtime graphic designer and digital imaging expert Craig Hoeschen provides concise, step-by-step instructions and plenty of screenshots to help users look up just what they need to know, while an eight-page color gallery shows off sample filters, effects, and plenty of retouching and compositing examples for additional inspiration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

My first choice for a manual replacement
The Visual Quickstart series is, in my opinion, the best replacement for a manual, or for those excuses for a manual that appear in software boxes. The Photoshop Elements book fits that need to a T.

The numbered steps take you through each of the operations, and I've yet to find an error or omission in any Quickstart book I've read. The reason that this book doesn't get five stars is that Photoshop Elements is a difficult book to fit in the Quickstart format.

In writing a dual-platform book, author Craig Hoeschen faces the problem that a large part of the program (the Windows Photo Organizer) only shows up in one version. It is possible to work without the Organizer, but most Windows users will adopt it, so then there's the problem of looking for what you consider the basics only to find they're in the last chapter of the book.

Many programs need no explanation of how to use them in terms of what you need to do at the meta level - there aren't books such as How to Write a Novel in Microsoft Word. It's assumed that once the user learns the difference between the program and the traditional way of doing things (like MS Word versus the typewriter) then no more help is necessary.

But Photoshop needs lots of project-based instruction, and although Craig Hoeschen makes a good stab in a chapter called Creative Techniques (and in many instances through the rest of the book), you really need another book to help with this (which is why I bought Jennifer Fulton's "Photoshop Elements 3 in a Snap"). Then I found the book to extend Photoshop Elements called "The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 3" (by Richard Lynch) which came with a CD that added many useful features to the program.

So the Quickstart Guide can't deal with all your Photoshop queries. It will satisfy your needs for an easy-to-get-to guide for many program operations, but you'll need other books to get the most out of the program. All these books are good, but be warned that no single Photoshop Elements book will show all you need to know.

Good Format, Good Writing, Good Book
I like the format of the Visual QuickStart Guides. Generally speaking, the pages are divided into two columns. The outside column has a headline explaining what the page is about and text to describe how to do it, and perhaps include a bit of explanation or a Tip. The inside column has a screen shot of what the monitor should look like as you do that particular operation. This is combined with an index that directs you to the page based on what you need to do.

I find that this approach works very well for me. I also happen to like the writing style that Craig Hoeschen has. He seems to pick just the right level of detail that I want to start doing some function.

This particular book is on Photoshop Elements, version 3. Version 3 has some nice extensions to the older versions of Elements, but if you've used Version 2 you probably don't need this book to pick up the differences. If you're new to Photoshop Elements, this is an excellent place to start. ... Read more

Product Description
The Windows 2000 Mac Support Little Black Book is an essential reference for systems administrators who need to integrate Macs with Windows NT and Windows 2000 servers, and for power users who wish to configure their Macs to access resources through a Windows-based network.Amazon.com Review
When Windows people write about networking their computers, they often forget the Macintosh entirely or relegate Mac connectivity to an afterthought chapter. Not only is Windows 2000 Mac Support Little Black Book dedicated to the issue of interoperability between Windows and the Mac, but it addresses the connectivity problem from both ends of the wire. Gene Steinberg and Pieter Paulson go into detail on what needs to be done to your Macs, as well as your Windows NT 4 and Windows 2000 boxes, in order to bring about file sharing, printer sharing, cross-platform database access, and application sharing. It's a complete and carefully researched statement of configuration strategies, and perfect for advertising houses, Web development shops, and other environments in which large parts of the staff use the Mac.

Like all Black Book titles, this one divides its coverage between "Immediate Solutions," which feature precise steps to follow in order to enable features or bring about effects, and more prose-heavy background information. Both types of coverage are well written and worth reading, and it's easy to find the sections you need with the help of an intelligent system of page-edge dark areas and a good index. There's no CD-ROM, but the documentation is of high quality and addresses a poorly covered area. --David Wall

Topics covered: Using LANs to connect Macintosh computers to machines that run Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. Emphasis is on Thursby Systems' DAVE package on the Mac side and Macintosh Services on the Windows side. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

This Book is Great...
I truly cannot understand where this dude gets the idea there is no discussion of TCP/IP connections in the section covering Windows 2000. Evidently he's not paying attention. In fact, the section called "Learning How DHCP Works With Your Macs," beginning on page 292, clearly shows how you can use your Mac's TCP/IP Control Panel to access a DHCP Server established under Windows 2000.

Either that dude missed this section, or read another book. Either way, he doesn't seem to understand how it's supposed to be done.

In my company's network, a mixed setup with Macs in our art department and Windows boxes elsewhere, this book was an invaluable assistant in getting things to work properly when we migrated to W2K. I recommend it highly.

Windows 2000 Mac Support
Bummer, this book is a "wannabe".

Although, the Windows NT information is without a doubt, far and above superior to Microsoft's documentation it falls short with Windows 2000 support. Unfortunately, this book dwells upon AppleTalk as a viable protocol.However, Macintosh systems have supported TCP/IP as the native protocol since 7.x. AppleTalk is for all practical purposes dead -- Modern Giga Bit routers do not route AppleTalk. There is no discussion of Macintosh access via TCP/IP except implicitly through DAVE.

Microsoft might as well have written the discussion of the UAM (Universal Access Module) it is so terse. This book will be a great asset for those unfortunate folks supporting Legacy systems whose budgets will not allow forward progress.

Useful, but it could be more extensive
Generally, while I haven't READ it from cover to cover I spent a good 20-40 minutes examing the various parts that I was interested in.Overall, its useful to it's target audience as others said.However, if appears toomit some important points.First, the MacOS limits you to 255 volumes perserver, resulting in some strange issues if you exceed this.Second, itignores SMS integration and Netopia NetOctopus - software used to managesystems.In a cross platform environment, these can be very importantissues that I feel should have been discussed.

For what it does discuss -which is otherwise extensive, including various service pack bugs - it doesappear to be well organized and quite useful.

Great for peer-to-peer networking too
Despite what another review says, this book is not just for users of Windows 2000 Server. My Mac/Windows network is set up on a peer-to-peer basis, and yet I found this book valuable, because it explained how toconfigure Thursby Systems' great program, DAVE, to allow for this sort ofconfiguration.

I don't know what this other reviewer was thinking whenthese very clearly labeled instructions were missed.

Although the bookassumes some degree of familiarity with both Windows and the Mac OS, evensomeone who is not an experienced administrator will learn how to set uptheir systems with as little fuss as possible.

I highly recommend thisbook.

For server based networks or users of Thursby's Dave.
Updated from review of May, 2000.
A more accurate title for this book would be "Windows 2000 SERVER or Users of Thursby's Dave Mac Support ..." This book is a step-by-step, how-to book for configuring Windows servers and Mac clients in a SERVER-based environment. If you are a knowlegible system administrator and/or Dave user and what you need is a recipe for doing X, including dialogs and what to click/enter when, then this book is well organized and complete.

If you are working in a peer-based (i.e. nonWindows server-based) network, don't own Thursby's Dave, or if you need to learn/understand the different ways in which Macs and PCs can internetwork, then this book won't help you.

I rated the book 3 stars because its title and description led me to purchase the book (in May 2000) without being able to actually look at it. Had I been able to thumb through it in a bookstore I wouldn't have bought it. Otherwise I believe it delivers good value for its target audience (Windowssystem administrators or owners of Dave), even though I don't fit into this category.

I wanted a book to help me set up a network with the systems I had, not a book on how to use a software product (Thursby's Dave) that I did not own and did not necessarily want to buy. Without Dave the book is limited to Windows 2000 Server, so I stand by my original judgment. The basic change I'd make is to the title of my review. This is all academic now that the book can be previewed online and OS-X has supported SMB out of the box from the beginning. ... Read more

Product Description
Like travelers in a foreign land, Mac users working in Windows orWindows users working on a Mac often find themselves in unfamiliarterritory with no guidebook. Crossing Platforms: AMacintosh/Windows Phrasebook, with information presented in atranslation dictionary-like format, offers users a handy way oftranslating skills and knowledge from one platform to the other.This complete reference includes:

A general introduction to the key differences between the Mac and WindowsA to Z sections for each platform: one section where Mac userslook up familiar Macintosh terms to find the equivalent function inWindows along with an explanation of the differences; and anothersection where Windows users find familiar Windows terms with pointersto the Macintosh equivalent along with full descriptions of how thefunction works on the Mac and important differences between the twoplatforms

Topics covered: Differences between modern Microsoft Windows (Windows 95 and 98) and Apple Mac OS (Mac OS 8 and beyond) operating systems, organized in dictionary format for people looking for the "other" system's equivalents of interface features they know. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

doesn't cover OSX
I bought this to recommend to friends who are shifting to Mac. While it has lots of good and still relevant information, it was written before OSX so many things are changed. Despite that, t's handy for those who are familiar with Windows to find the equivalents in the Mac.

Still Useful!
If you are learning the Mac or Windows OS as a second language then this book is the best investment you could make.Terms are translated between the two environments by quick, simple look-up in a translation dictionary.More important, the translations are actually useful.The concepts are translated, not just the words.Look up a term and you get an explanation of the equivalent idea and jargon, even if the terms have no exact match.This is the book to have in your hands while you talk to foreign tech support. I've purchased a couple of copies of this book each year since it came out, mainly because other people borrow mine and then beg to keep it.I was buying another couple of copies today in Jan 2003 (one for me, one for my new tech support person) and I realized that there are very few computer reference books that are still so useful 4 years after publication.This is one computer reference book that will get dog-eared.

Only book of its kind .. .found it invaluable!!
As a 15 year PC user & tech support person, I am struggling to learnthe MAC environment.Using this guide made my life much simpler, and Ihave personally recommended it to several users here in our company who aregoing PC->MAC and MAC->PC.If you've ever tried to learn a"foreign language" and used a translating dictionary ... you'llimmediately know how to use this book.This is one tech book that won'tsit on your bookshelf collecting dust!

Good reference for dual-platform users
Adam Engst and David Pogue are longstanding and prolific writers in theMac community. Both have also made the transition to working with Windowsas well.

Their book is a good reference work for any dual-platform user.It literally is organized like a Spanish-to-English/English-to-Spanishdictionary:

One half of the book gives Windows equivalents to variousMacOS features such as Preferences, Extensions and Control Panels. Theother half does the converse, explaining the Mac equivalents to Windowsfeatures. Differences in each case are spelled out. In some cases, there isno real equivalent and the particulars are explained (for instance, thereis no Mac equivalent for the mysterious Windows "Registry" --similar functions are handled very differently by "Preferences"on a Mac.)

This book has no real beginning or end and is mainly areference book. Mac users wanting more of a start-at-the-beginningexplanation of Windows should check out "Windows for Mac Users"by Robin Williams -- one of the most well-written computer books on themarket.

The opposite of a "Dummies" book
Recently I took a job which required me to work in an office that was mostly Windows-driven. Knowing Adam's and David's reputation, I decided that their book was a good choice.

After skimming through "CrossingPlatforms," I was able to tell the Information Support guy how to dosomething under Windows that he wasn't aware of. Four days after I washired! Within two weeks I was completely comfortable using Windows (exceptfor that silly mouse design and other poor UI choices, but that's anothermatter). Now I have a reputation as a computer genius. I just hope it'sreflected in my paycheck.

"Crossing Platforms" is, as the titleof this review hints, as far from a "Dummies" book as you canget. It starts by assuming that you're an intelligent person who simplydoesn't have the experience on one of the world's two major computeroperating systems.

Much of what you want to do on a computer is possibleunder either Mac OS or Windows-- after all, they were built to manipulatefiles, send and modify information, etc.--but there are different termsand some different ways of treating the information. In other words, youknow the music, but not the words. "Crossing Platforms" willallow you to make the paradigm shift and use what you've spent yearslearning. It helps you avoid the pitfalls and gotchas, and is laid out in amanner which makes it easy to reference. In short, twenty-four of the bestdollars I've spent recently. ... Read more

Product Description
Readers can get their System 7 operating systems up and running quickly and easily. The book lays out the basics for taking advantage of System 7's virtual memory, 32-bit addressing, file sharing, and more. ... Read more

Product Description
Mac OS 8 is a sophisticated system that can help you work faster and more efficiently than ever - if you know the tricks! This all-time classic reveals them all - power tips, customization secrets, and troubleshooting advice - everything you need to make your Mac live up to its reputation for speed and convenience. Learn to master the basics and hot new features, streamline your system, discover the Internet, power up your PowerBook, plus look at Java, Cyberdog Internet tools, QuickTime, QuickTime VR, and more!Amazon.com Review
The perfect companion to Apple's new Macintosh operatingsystem, The Mac OS 8 Book is a comprehensive end-user guide forall levels. The text is written like a user's manual rather than atutorial, so you can expect depth as well as clarity on all of thetopics. Plenty of screen shots, charts, and highlighted tips illustrateeach section. Seasoned users will appreciate the exhaustive referenceand excellent troubleshooting guides, as well as the complete tour ofOS 8's new features.

Chapter topics include the new Finderinterface and desktop appearance, working with multiple applications,networking, and connecting to the Internet. Other new features includemulti-threading, improved hard-drive and memory management, and thePersonal Web Server. If you're worried about whether your currentsoftware will work properly on OS 8, a section is devoted todetermining application compatibility. The included CD-ROM contains anassortment of utilities and trial versions of popular softwareincluding BBEdit and Debabelizer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good general guidance, but not enough troubleshooting help
A good enough general survey of the Macintosh operating system -- fairly complete, and easy to read and follow.However, for more advanced users there is not enough information on troubleshooting, which is what I think most users are looking for in a computer book.

good book for beginners
well the really good thing about the book is that it contains a complete reference of what is possible with the mac, but for previous users of Mac Os 7.x it is just too much of informtaion. Unfortunately there is no section "what`s new in the MAc OS 8".

Mac Os 8 for Beginners
This is the manual Apple should have supplied with Mac Os 8. I would certainly recommend it for beginners or new users. However this book offers no real help to users wishing to resolve problems or to experienced "Macusers"This appears to be an issue with almost all "System" books written for the Macintosh. For those people looking for a users manual on system 8, a good buy.

Not enough trouble-shooting information.
When a Mac works properly, one does not need a book.I buy books like The Mac OS8 Book to help me when I am in trouble.When OS 8 freezes and crashes (and it does!) the book offers no help.I was disappointed. ... Read more