Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The title of this book and the editorial description are both lame. This is not a book about using (just) your MacBook - but, rather, a Snow Leopard-specific introduction to using any Mac. The only thing that is really MacBook specific - vs iMac or Mac Pro - is the brief illustration that shows what the various ports are.
This book is only for you if you have an Intel Mac running Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6).
Note, too, that every Mac comes with iLife, yet this book does not make mention of any of the iLife applications.
While beautifully laid out and illustrated with screen captures, the editorial content of the book seems to have not been reviewed by a Mac expert, as there are numerous issues throughout that are either awkward, or not appropriate for a typical user.
In the first pages, the author notes the use of context menus via clicking a right mouse button, but does not note that with certain Apple mice, the right button must be enabled in the System Preferences first. He then talks about control-clicking (the way to get a secondary click with a single / left mouse button) on the trackpad - and does not mention the more convenient trackpad methods until much later in Chapter 8.
He notes that folders can be dragged to the dock, but does not point out that they can only be dragged to the right side of the dock only. This is unfortunately typical of the almost-correct instructions throughout the book that a knowledgeable reviewer / editor might have helped smooth out.
On page 23, in a sidebar box called "Remember your Gestures!", Ray talks about four-finger swipe, etc., on the trackpad - but he does not introduce these until pages 213-214 in Chapter 8. Even there, they are not adequately described. Sort of hard to "remember" them on page 23 if you don't see it for another 200 pages.
Chapter 2 contains way too much information on extremely unusual network situations, breaking the flow of the whole book. Most of the content of this chapter belongs in an Appendix in my opinion. Much later, on page 150, Ray talks about sharing an internet connection in a way that most users would not understand ... or require.
Chapter 10 describes MobileMe backup before the more fundamental Time Machine backup.
The description of the keychain, which saves passwords, does not mention the importance of a secure login password to protect the (login) keychain. Describing Address Book, Ray implies that a name can only be a member of one group, not describing dragging into multiple groups and opt-clicking on a name to see which groups it belongs to. The description of displaying calendars in iCal is incorrect - suggesting that selecting a calendar displays its content, rather than checking the checkbox next to it.
The section on external monitors does not describe the designed-for-MacBook 24" Apple display or how to operate with the laptop lid closed and with the external monitor as the only active monitor.
The Time Machine pages do not describe at all how to restore files - or how Time Machine can intelligently recognize certain applications, such as Mail, iCal or Address Book and restore individual mail messages, addresses, etc.
So, after not describing fully or correctly many of the basics of using Snow Leopard, Ray then goes into describing how to access the LaunchDaemon lists to delete services, something that most users should stay far away from.
The description of installing a new hard drive (to replace the existing one) is unrealistic unless the drive is dead - suggesting that one reinstall Snow Leopard from the original installation disks. There is no mention of the more normal choices of (1) boot from the install disk and do a full restore from your Time Machine backup disk, or (2) attach the new disk via a USB or firewire cable and clone the old disk onto the new one before physical installation.
There is nothing in the book on how to burn data onto a CD or DVD via a Finder Burn Folder. There is no mention of how to create a zip file (via the Compress command in the file context menu).
In summary, a lot of good content that is beautifully displayed, however there are also a lot of errors and omissions and inappropriate material.
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My MacBook (Lion Edition) (2nd Edition)Step-by-step instructions with callouts to MacBook photos that show you exactly what to do.Help when you run into MacBook or OS X Lion problems or limitations.Tips and Notes to help you get the most from your MacBook.Full-color, step-by-step tasks walk you through getting and keeping your MacBook working just the way you want. The tasks include:• Managing and arranging your desktop• Creating and navigating virtual workspaces in Mission Control• Opening and organizing applications in Launchpad• Accessing the Internet through wired, wireless, and cellular networks• Communicating via email, instant message, audio, and video chat• Troubleshooting system problems• Entertaining with music and videos• Keeping in touch and on-time with Calendars and Contacts• Downloading and managing software from the App Store and other sources• Sharing files, printers, and even scanners over your network connection• Expanding your capabilities with peripheral devices• Protecting and securing your data• Recording video and publishing it instantly online
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