Mac OS X Leopard Edition The Missing Manual by David Pogue Mini Review
December 23rd, 2007 at 12:32 am
If your like me, you have several friends and family members calling you on a weekly basis about OS X because they consider you the computer guy of the bunch. This year I decided to order 6 copies of Mac OS X Leopard Edition The Missing Manual for Christmas to hopefully cut down the calling. My book order came in the mail this Friday and decided to take a quick peek at the book before I wrapped them.
A quick peek turned into reading the whole book from front to back. This by far was the best OSX book ever. I highly recommend this book for any OSX user beginner to advanced. I loved this book so much, I even ordered one for myself as a good reference.The book pretty much covers the whole GUI side of OSX, and maybe 3 pages of terminal (which is fine for most people).
Chapters in the book range from how to log in (ultimate noob stuff) to pretty advanced things like how to hack your trash label to say “Rubbish”.My favorite chapter in the book has to be about spotlight. Its amazing how powerful it is with the right commands, example typing “flash:1″ in spotlight will show all pictures taken with the flash on and “flash:0″ will show all pictures with it off. Yes this might be pointless, but its kinda cool.Next time your at the book store take a look at this book you wont be sorry.
Minor Mistake in the book
I did find one minor mistake in the book, on page 486 “Shared Data Files”. The section explains how to share iTunes music with 2 accounts on one computer.Mr. Pogue explains all you have to do is go into iTunes->preferences->advanced and point to a common users shared folder on both accounts.This works fine at first, but iTunes does not scan for new files in the directory to update its library nor does it use the iTunes xml file. You need an automator or applescript to import the shared directory into itunes to find new music, movies or tv shows when a user logs on to check for new music in the shared folder. You can also drag and drop the whole shared folder in iTunes too every time the other accounts buys something new.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I share the same data directory and iTunes xml file for three different machines on our home network with excellent results. The process would work the same if you used a directory that multiple users on a single machine all had access to.
I basically copied my iTunes data directory from ~/Music/iTunes to a shared drive. That folder contains the xml file and all of the music and album art. Then, on each machine, I launched iTunes by holding down Option and clicking on the iTunes icon in my dock. When prompted, I navigated to the shared iTunes directory I created and selected that library.
From that point on, iTunes defaults to the library I chose. If the machine I’m on doesn’t have access to the share for whatever reason, iTunes prompts me to select a different library or quit.
It may not be the perfect solution for everybody, but it has been working out great for me for quite a while.
December 28th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Whoa, i didn’t expect that.
I may just go buy the book, being a new to OS X I am not in need of the “ultimate” n00b stuff however it seems like there is actually good information.
Now knowing about the feature in spotlight regarding flash, i wonder how far that ability extends, if it possibly extends to being able to find black & white picture. Does the book feature a list or a bit of information on how to find more of those nifty tricks?
December 28th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
I do have some Barns and Noble gift cards…might pick this up.
December 28th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Wow, I’m really new to Mac OS X (macbook christmas present), and I’ve been combing the web picking up random tips and tricks and info as to how to use my macbook to the fullest. I’ll have to pick this up.
Speaking of manuals; my mac came with Logic Express 8 preloaded, so of course I didn’t get the manual that would have come with it if I had bought it separately. Anyway, does anyone know of a way to pick up this manual? I’m tired of reading the LONG file on my screen.
January 24th, 2008 at 12:04 am
[…] month I reviewed The Missing Manual Leopard Edition by David Pogue (Link). I really enjoyed the book and found it to be to best book out for leopard by far, but I did find […]