This book is terrific to find out what the Mac can do, and how to do it. I've had the Mac and the book for about a month now, and it's really helped me bridge the gap from disgruntled XP owner to delighted Mac owner. It's 900 pages and it has a good index to find the answer to specific things you want to learn to do. The author really knows the Mac and writes in a tutorial fashion, making it easy for the modest to moderately competent user to understand. The book is far superior to using the Apple web site to learn to do Mac "stuff". With the book, you can mark the pages, and you don't need to be online, unlike the skimpy online tutorials.

Highly recommended, if you want to get more from your Mac, and do more.

I am a manual person who has never been impressed with the online help screens. I like to earmark and put tabs in a manual and refer to it often. This manual has met my expectations and I would not hesitate buying it again.

This book is liferaft for me. Even seven months into using Mac OS X Leopard, after all those years in the Classic Mac environment, I still frequently find myself all at sea. It doesn't help that in my mid-seventies my memory is unreliable, but the Missing Manual is right there, well-indexed to enable me to find the topic I need and unfailingly helpful, not only answering my questions, but offering information I wouldn't have thought to ask for. Without it, I would be driving my children crazy with questions like: "Why did it return my email when I tried to attach a photograph?" and "Why can't my friend open the photos that did get through on her PC--they're all JPEGs?" See The Missing Manual, Page 708.

As a long time Windows person that finally switched to a Mac in June of 2008, this book has been invaluable. No, it doesn't have every single answer in it, as the computer world changes so rapidly, but it sure has helped me out with the basics! It's probably the one most recommended on all the various Mac forums and I can see why. A great book, not just for new Mac users, but no doubt even seasoned Apple folks will find some VERY helpful stuff!

Many years using a PC and bought this to help me get up to speed with the Mac and was dissappointed.

The Missing Manual is absolutely mandatory for anyone just getting a Mac and especially those switching from Windows to Apple's OS X Leopard system.
It is exhaustingly thorough and accurate. Without it, I would not have known where to begin with so many alternatives in the Mac system. It is like having a translation for those switching from Windows. I highly recommend the Missing Manual as the "Bible" for OS X Leopard.

I just purchased an IMac from my friend who decided to get the laptop and having used a Mac from way back when thought - what's there to learn? But the new operating system and applications/tools take a bit of getting used to..so easy. But there is always something you can't remember how to configure and this book makes it very easy to find 'how to' and move on. More time to enjoy your new IMac! Highly recommend for anyone just moving back to the 'white side', or an experienced user to quickly go to the answer.

I own many books from "The Missing Manual" series. I couldn't work without them. Easy to understand instructions for all areas of using the newest incarnation of OS X.

A great book -- I can't imagine anything better -- and yes, it is missing from the OS X Leopard, but hey -- Apple only charged $129 for this product, while the book would add significantly (at least percentage wise) to this price, and many wouldn't need this book even if included. But it is necessary for a newbie like me.

And note that there are other "Missing Manuals" in this series supporting Mac products. For example I already have their iMovie '08 & iDVD manual, and also their iPhoto '08 - a separate manual all by itself. These are all by David Pogue, and are products of O'Reilly Media of Canada. Maybe there are more, and I'll look for them when I get a min. David Pogue BYW is the technology columnist for the New York Times, and an Emmy-winning CBS correspondent besides being the creator of the Missing Manual series.

A great book -- I can't imagine anything better -- and yes, it is missing from the OS X Leopard, but hey -- Apple only charged $129 for this product, while the book would add significantly (at least percentage wise) to this price, and many wouldn't need this book even if included. But it is necessary for a newbie like me.

And note that there are other "Missing Manuals" in this series supporting Mac products. For example I already have their iMovie '08 & iDVD manual, and also their iPhoto '08 - a separate manual all by itself. These are all by David Pogue, and are products of O'Reilly Media of Canada. Maybe there are more, and I'll look for them when I get a min. David Pogue BYW is the technology columnist for the New York Times, and an Emmy-winning CBS correspondent besides being the creator of the Missing Manual series.

This is the manual that should've been included with the MAC. It has all the IN's & OUT's of the various applications as well as a guide to the hardware. As a new user to the MAC platform I found it very useful and will keep it handy as a reference tool.

I was looking for more of a "quick guide". This is great if you are looking for a desk reference book.

I'm in IT and my company is getting a few Macs. My last computer built by Apple was the IIc, so I thought I might need to brush up. I bought the Mac Mini, Mac OS X Leopard Bible, and the Missing Manual. I thought I'd need the Leopard Bible for the more complex tasks I'd need to do and as a good reference, but I have yet to do more than scan through it once or twice because the Missing Manual has it all. It's written in a way that doesn't assume you know a lot, yet doesn't insult you if you do and it is loaded with valuable information.

David Pogue once more explains all the things we never knew were buried in Leopard.

This is definitely the book that should have been in the software box. This is the 4th Missing Manual from David Pogue that I have purchased for my Mac OS upgrades, and all of them have helped me master my software. David's writing is easy to understand and gets straight to the point. I keep it on a shelf only an arms length away form my Mac. I use it constantly as my "Go-To reference guide. Thank you Mr. Pogue.

This book is good over all but I found it disappointing that there was nothing on iphoto or imovie, they claim it's not part of OS X yet they came with my mac. So make sure you buy those as well if you are interested in learning how to use those programs.

This is a fantastic book, just what we needed as we were switching from PC to Mac - clear, but detailed enough to really get us going.\

Helen Brown
www.chalets-usa.co.uk

Very helpful, well written book. I have purchased a number of books by his author and as usual have found his books most informative. Highly recommend if you have Leopard.

As I was a first time Apple computer user, had questions when the computer arrived. My brother, an Apple guru from the beginning, said the only book I would need is the one by Pogue. He was very right. Lots of info for a newbie, and lots of info that seems will be valuable once I get more expert in the use of an nonPC.

Nobody writes about Macs better than Pogue, and this volume is really invaluable. It's informative and easy to read. You can't go wrong.

I have used Macs for 20 years and I find them very user friendly. When I purchased Leopard I felt confident that it was going to be as easy to use. And I was correct. However, there are lots of new features in Leopard; things that I did not know it could do - cool things! So I researched books until I found the one that I thought would help me become proficient at Leopard. This is THE book. I have learned so much. It is so easy to read and follow. It is has humor, too.

Excellent guide to Leopard, as was Pogue's manual for Tiger. His step-by-step style is very helpful in accessing and incorporating the new features in MAC OS.

With so many ways and programs for generating indexes and cross-references it is a pity that Mr. Pogue did not put more effort into creating a meaningful and complete index that can be used when just reading his book or when the INTERNET connection is not available.

As a recent convert from PC to Mac, this manual has been priceless. I highly recommend that you buy it and place it next to your Mac for the many questions that will pop up while learning about the Mac.

This is the best book you will ever need for your new Mac. Everything you need help with is in this book. Plane and simple!

I have used computers since the days of the TRS-80 and CP/M machines, but had never used a MAC. My wife had a MAC with OS-9 and wanted a new machine. This book has allowed me to becoane a quasi MAC expert in a few weeks.

Excellent book. This is the best of its kind for the Mac and I highly recommend it to anyone who owns a Mac. If you don't own a Mac, buy this book; then, you will have that much more reason to get a Mac.

This book contains everything you need to know about OS X. It is also a pretty good read, as manuals go.

I won't go into too many details, except to say I've read nearly the entire book, except for a few sections on apps and the Automator, which I will get to eventually. His book is packed with little gems. I only wish my mind could hold them all. I know I've forgotten a few such as how to set the delay on opening subfolders.

OS X is a fabulous operating system. You owe it to yourself to master it. Things like the automator, and scripting (and the UNIX kernel) are what brought me to this OS. I was not disappointed. As a long time Solaris user, I find I love the GUI and the kernel is stout. The only thing I don't like are things like trying to delete locked files--what a PITA. Fortunately, others of the faithful, have created solutions to all the OS X weaknesses. I found an application to unlock entire folders---or lock them.

This is the only book you will need on OS X. No need to look for tips and tricks elsewhere--it is all in here. Keep a pile of sticky tabs to mark all the cool stuff, and wade in. If you spend a chapter a night for a few weeks, and try out what you've read the next day, you will remember most of it.

Enjoy!

Got an older laptop but a Leopard DVD, so decided to get this book in order to know more about the OS. Wow! It helped me with a lot of Mac basics and gave great details about what comes with the Operating System. Knew that I would fall for Mac but this helped the relationship move along...

Well-organized, great writing style and such a pleasure to discover the wide array of tips and tricks of what's possible - before purchasing any additional software. [If you're looking to learn about iLife programs, you won't find much, here - but everything else is covered grandly.]

David Pogue is probably one of the best after market manual writers out there. This book is no exception. I learned something new with every chapter. The great thing about Pogue's style is his practicality and sense of humor. You wouldn't think an 800 page book would be an easy read but he pulls it off.

Apple should really survey their customers buying macs - all first time buyers should be sent a copy of this book. It is a great reference manual for new-to-mac users.

I have to agree with LifeFX's review below. There is no doubt a lot of information here, but some of it I found somewhat lacking or misleading, and for me, this was made worse by what I considered to be a distracting hyperactive writing syle.

As an example in the section on FileVault, I got the impression from reading a few pages about it that it was something I should start using as soon as possible if I was going to have any security on my Mac! The Mac OS Leopard Bible on the other hand had half a page on it that I found much more factual and descriptive of what FileVault actually does, from which I concluded that I don't really need to use it.

Some examples of where I found the book a little lacking was in how little other security issues were discussed. I found no discussion of viruses other than regarding security issues if you are running Windows with FMWare Fusion or a similar program. On the other hand the Mac OS Leopard Bible discussed viruses in much more depth and even recommended a few relevant antivirus programs. The Special Edition: Using Mac OS X Leopard by Brad Miser does as well. I know a lot of people would like to think that viruses are not relevant to them since they now have a Mac, but it's really not true, as at this point although there are fewer viruses that directly affect the Mac there still are some and others that do not affect the Mac can still pass them on to others if they are imbedded in a Word doc for example.

Another example where I felt the "Bible" went in to more depth in regards to security issues was in it's discussion of how to monitor open ports which are available to outside hackers, and how the port monitor that comes with Leopard is less effective than a recommended alternative.

I am sure that many people will find the writing style to be entertaining. I can see how they would. The author is no doubt an entertaining writer. The author is also to be commended for presenting such a wealth of information in what for many may be a more accessible style. Although all that is true, I think there are other sources of information that may be better in some ways, but then maybe not in others. In any case, I would certainly not say this is the only Mac OS Leopard book you need, nor necessarily the best, but it is certainly worth having for the tips and information it does provide.

I have to agree with LifeFX's review below. There is no doubt a lot of information here, but some of it I found somewhat lacking or misleading, and for me, this was made worse by what I considered to be a distracting hyperactive writing syle.

As an example in the section on FileVault, I got the impression from reading a few pages about it that it was something I should start using as soon as possible if I was going to have any security on my Mac! The Mac OS Leopard Bible on the other hand had half a page on it that I found much more factual and descriptive of what FileVault actually does, from which I concluded that I don't really need to use it.

Some examples of where I found the book a little lacking was in how little other security issues were discussed. I found no discussion of viruses other than regarding security issues if you are running Windows with FMWare Fusion or a similar program. On the other hand the Mac OS Leopard Bible discussed viruses in much more depth and even recommended a few relevant antivirus programs. The Special Edition: Using Mac OS X Leopard by Brad Miser does as well. I know a lot of people would like to think that viruses are not relevant to them since they now have a Mac, but it's really not true, as at this point although there are fewer viruses that directly affect the Mac there still are some and others that do not affect the Mac can still pass them on to others if they are imbedded in a Word doc for example.

Another example where I felt the "Bible" went in to more depth in regards to security issues was in it's discussion of how to monitor open ports which are available to outside hackers, and how the port monitor that comes with Leopard is less effective than a recommended alternative.

I am sure that many people will find the writing style to be entertaining. I can see how they would. The author is no doubt an entertaining writer. The author is also to be commended for presenting such a wealth of information in what for many may be a more accessible style. Although all that is true, I think there are other sources of information that may be better in some ways, but then maybe not in others. In any case, I would certainly not say this is the only Mac OS Leopard book you need, nor necessarily the best.

I have to agree with LifeFX's review below. There is no doubt a lot of information here, but some of it I found somewhat lacking or misleading, and for me, this was made worse by what I considered to be a distracting hyperactive writing syle.

As an example in the section on FileVault, I got the impression from reading a few pages about it that it was something I should start using as soon as possible if I was going to have any security on my Mac! The Mac OS Leopard Bible on the other hand had half a page on it that I found much more factual and descriptive of what FileVault actually does, from which I concluded that I don't really need to use it.

Some examples of where I found the book a little lacking was in how little other security issues were discussed. I found no discussion of viruses other than regarding security issues if you are running Windows with FMWare Fusion or a similar program. On the other hand the Mac OS Leopard Bible discussed viruses in much more depth and even recommended a few relevant antivirus programs. I know a lot of people would like to think that viruses are not relevant to them since they now have a Mac, but it's really not true, as at this point although there are no viruses that directly affect the Mac you can still pass them on to others if they are imbedded in a Word doc for example.

Another example where I felt the "Bible" went in to more depth in regards to security issues was in it's discussion of how to monitor open ports which are available to outside hackers, and how the port monitor that comes with Leopard is less effective than a recommended alternative.

I am sure that many people will find the writing style to be entertaining. I can see how they would. The author is no doubt an entertaining writer. The author is also to be commended for presenting such a wealth of information in what for many may be a more accessible style. Although all that is true, I think there are other sources of information that may be better in some ways, but then maybe not in others. In any case, I would certainly not say this is the only Mac OS Leopard book you need, nor necessarily the best.

Graduated from OS 10.2.8 t0 Leopard. Also from an old, slow G4 to a new iMac. What a difference!


Had it for several weeks now and no hangups. The "spaces" are new. Once I figured them out I use them all the time. Mail has been upgraded so that I use it instead of Eudora and that's something. To me, Eudora was like an old shoe...it's been with me since 1993!

Overall, IMHO, It's well worth the upgrade.

This is really a great book. I bought a few Apple Leopard books from Amazon and this is the best of the three. It has everything you need to know in a quick reference format. Lockups, booting to a command line, Grey Screen, How to's and everything to get you out of a jam etc... If you want to get one Leopard book you can use and get information quickly to solve a problem this is it. There is also a lot of great information that can be used to become a more proficient user or to enhance your computing experience (things you never thought of that are very useful). The book is actually very interesting and makes for good night time reading to get you fired up for tomorrow morning in front of the computer. Highest Recommendation - A++++

I've been a die-hard PC user for over 20 years now. I'm a DOS guy who remembers Windows 3.0 and who is tied so tightly to the ThinkPad trackpoint that I've bought my own ThinkPads when working at companies that didn't provide them.

But I wanted to see for myself what all the hype was about, so I got my first Mac (a Mini) and started playing around with it. Yeah GarageBand was cool, and iPhoto was nice (though I missed Picasa), but I remember thinking to myself "what's all the fuss about Macs... they're not THAT special".

But then I picked up this book and started reading. It's written in such a clear, casual style that I actually went through cover-to-cover. And now I can't wait to ditch every last PC I own for a Mac.

This book covers it all. Much of it in detail (like Spotlight, Spaces, Time Machine, Expose, and System Preferences). And some of it at just enough detail to get you interested and pointed in the right direction (Automator, AppleScript, and the Terminal).

Without this book, I would have still been thinking to myself, "this is cute, but so what". With this book, I'm a convert. It really is the missing manual, and Apple should ship a copy with every new Mac (though it wouldn't really fit into the neat little Mac Mini box).

David Pogue is a great technical writer - he can take complex subjects and boil them down to their most essential elements. His reviews and commentaries in The New York Times are always useful, clear and incisive. Which isn't surprising - the NY Times doesn't hire slackers.

Even better, Pogue has a sense of humor, and he's not afraid to use it. A minority of reviewers here on Amazon have suggested they'd prefer Pogue never crack a joke, but, for me, his occasional witty asides enliven his work greatly. This book is 912 pages long, but you can sit and read it cover-to-cover, because Pogue imbues his work with personality and humor.

Of course, Pogue brings his gift for instruction along with the funny. This book is overflowing with helpful tips and clear-headed explanations.

I'm coming to the Mac after years of using Windows machines at a pretty high level. But after my second Vista PC in ten months self-destructed, I find I can no longer support the Microsoft empire. This book has helped me tremendously with my transition.

As a podcaster and writer, I depend upon my computer to always be up and running. Macs have a reputation for stability, but they're not perfect either. I bought Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual not only because I wanted to get the most out of the OS, but because I needed a resource to help when things went wrong, as they invariably will.

It's already helped me once. True story: I had a weird thing happen with my Finder where I could no longer see the file structure on the left. That made it very difficult to navigate my folders. I went to the Apple Store with a print-out of what I was seeing on my screen, and they had no idea what the problem was. So, I opened up and had my answer in minutes (turns out there's a "classic Finder mode" you can toggle on and off. Mine was erroneously toggled on).

The people in the Apple Store are experts, but apparently, with this book, you can be expert, too. It's a great resource and I give it my highest recommendation.

Scott Sherman, author, First You Fall: A Kevin Connor Mystery

WOW. It's worth every dime! After using Windows computers for decades, I got a MacBook Pro & was totally lost! I got this book & read every page (it took awhile because it's an enormous book). AWESOME information. Funny & informative.

There is a good quantity of useful info here, but the author never misses an opportunity to take a swipe at Windows. As both a Mac user and an MCSE, that really bugs me. It's unprofessional, silly, childish, demeaning to the majority of computer users and adds no value to the content of the book. This is why Windows users cannot stand Mac snobs. However, I did find quite a bit of the information very useful.

This is a really good book. So far it seems to cover a little of everything but it would be nice if there was a special highlights section or something. There is a little TOO much information in the book but I'm not sure that is such a bad thing!! :-)

I was able to find information that was generally useful in this tome, but each and every time I attempted to use "...Missing Manual" for trouble-shooting Leopard on a new 2008 Release Mac Pro, I was sorely disappointed. It's strange, but items for which I searched in the Index were never referenced.

I understand that no book will be a hand-holding, interactive trouble-shooter for each and every problem, but this book has - so far - considerably missed in being a trouble-shooting aid.

There is a nice keyboard shortcuts lists on page 863 and explanations for applications that come with Leopard - Dock, Safari, Finder, Dictionary, Expose, etc. I feel it falls short on hard-core trouble-shooting.

I did not get to the website, which is also a very nice feature of this manual - the always updated website of additional information.

I think a person looking for more advanced and detailed information might want to search elsewhere - maybe Chris Siebold's Big Book of Apple Hacks: Tips & Tools for unlocking the power of your Apple devices (In a Nutshell (O'Reilly)), Meyers' and Lee's Mac OS X Leopard: Beyond the Manual (Btm (Beyond the Manual)), Mac OS X Leopard Bible by Samuel Litt and others, or Brian Tieman's Mac OS X Leopard Phrasebook (Developer's Library).

If Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual is targeted to advance users and trouble-shooters, I really, really think improvement is in order. By any chance, the Index is telling and should be revisited.

The book covers many points that are very useful. It is easy to find specific information and well worth reading whole chapters on the new tools provided. The detailed screen shots makes it fun to read and experiment. I've discovered many features which are a great help in using the operating system more effectively. Highly recommended.

I found this book extremely helpful. Although Mac is the easiest computer to operate, I still had a million questions and nary a booklet. They do have classes but in a city far, far away. I will be honest, I have scanned this book. I have not memorized it nor do I claim to be an expert; however, this is what I do with all "how to" books. For me this works in that it gives me an idea of all the functions and from there when I need to know a specific thing, I just refer back to the manual and find my answer.

They were correct, Mac OS X Leopard is the book that should have been in the box.

Better than the reviews give it credit. You have the Mac, you'll find The Missing Manual fun and easy to use. Your best accessory.

The manuel is massive, weighs more than the computer, and covers many subjects. I did however fail to solve my problem from the book. What I needed was instructions for connecting my lap top to the printer in a wireless mode. Found that the printer I have is not capable of this.
I'm surprised that the computer manufacturer doesn't provide adequate info.

This is the fourth OS X Missing Manual that I've read and like OS X itself they seem to get better with each version. David Pogue is one of the top explainers of technical subjects around and he doesn't disappoint with this book. In a past version I complained that the Missing Manual rambled a bit. I'm glad to say that the subject progression seems tighter. It's as good a one volume reference as I've seen on any complex subject, offering a pretty complete foundation, written in an easy to understand style.

As the president of a Mac User Group (MUG) I am often called upon to answer Mac questions. If I don't know the answer off the top of my head I turn first to my copy of the Missing Manual. It covers a wide range of basics from upgrading from earlier systems to moving to Macs from Windows as well as offering a logical progression of OS X instructions.

And it goes beyond the basics to cover, keyboard shortcuts, little known and somewhat hidden features as well as a bit of Unix command line and using Leopard's greatly improved Automator. Obviously, no one book can cover every aspect of something as complex as an operating system and the Apple installed programs, but Mac OS X Leopard: The Missing Manual is a great place to start.

Not a book you curl up with by the fire. This one you keep next to your keyboard and when you wonder, "Can I do this? How do I do this?" You grab it and within seconds (sometimes minutes) you're doing it! I'm pretty comfortable with my Mac but like any other platform there is so much it can do that is not readily apparent. This book covers it. If you're new or if you've got years of experience this book is a must have. The guy is pretty entertaining in the way he writes as well. No need to be so serious about capturing a screen shot for pete's sake. Buy the book you won't be sorry.

I got my Mac about 18mos. ago and it took me awhile to get used to it.I learn better with a book than reading help online, so i thought it best to seek out help from a book, when i upgraded to leopard. I'm sure glad i did. I've learned things that i never knew my mac could do.
The book was and is so helpful that I've also purchased the missing manual for photoshop element 6 for mac, but that's a whole different review.

great book, for Mac users who are experienced or not experienced.