This is the Book for any one who has switched to Mac Computers. It should be included with every Mac Computer. The book helped understand the differences between pc and MAC computers. I recommend this book for any one thinking of switching from pc to MAC. It is invaluable!

I Just bought my Macbook Pro 6 weeks ago and experienced many PC to Mac switcher issues. This book is really helping me get acquainted with my new mac. The author attempts to add a touch of humor to make an otherwise boring 400 page instruction manual easy to read. It didn't work, but I didn't buy a piece of fiction and I'm not expecting to be entertained; I'm expecting to learn how to fully utilize my new Mac, and this book delivers as promised. After looking at [...] price for the book, my only regret is that I didn't buy it here. Instead I picked it up at a Fry's Electronics and paid a whopping $[...] for it! Sorry, amazon, I should have been a loyal shopper and tried you first.

Excellent. Lots of details that I can use or if too complicated for me, can ignore. But they are there for me to decide. Similar books try to dumb down the information and consequently leave out things that I could use. It just fits what I was looking for. Plenty of pictures in case your own computer is not responding like the text seems to say. Text is not written as a text book but with a lightness(not just going for a joke). Since this is by definition a comparison of two computer systems, there is no dumping on MS; just pointing out the differences.

Great book and very well illustrated. I found a wealth of information in an easy format to read and understand. I would highly recommend this book! I had used the Mac for a while before getting this book and wish I would have known about it a lot sooner.

I wasn't aware that the the thousands of software applications written almost exclusively for Linux would run on a mac.

Having been a PC-user for 25 years, it was a little daunting to make the switch to a Mac. "Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition" really helped me find functions that would have taken a lot longer by hunting and clicking around blindly. Things I like about the book:
- very clearly written - not too technical, but not condescending either;
- humor, without overdoing it;
- good overview of the Mac philosophy;
- "Where'd it Go?", mapping MSWindows functions to corresponding OS X functions;
- mail transfer support;
- brief introductions to applications.
Disappointments:
- Leopard edition not available when I bought the Mac (not a criticism).

I have recommended this book to friends, and will be purchasing the "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition".

Excellent resource for anyone who is switching from a PC to Mac. Easy to understand chapters, great content, helpful hints. I had no idea how powerful Macs were in comparison to PC's.

This book appears to be the most comprehensive compared to other books of this nature for the Mac. Apple doesn't supply any form of manual therefore this manual appears to be the best bet. David Pogue has authored a number of books on th subject of Apple computers and is very well qualified to do so. It won't be until I need to solve any problems that I will find out how useful, comprehensive, or thorough this manual is. I feel this is the best choice.

Good book. No matter how you handle this 400+ pages on how to run an OS is boring. While info is good, best to have the computer in hand so you can refer to the real thing. I am too broke to buy the Mac Pro that I want so will wait untill after X mas to treat myself and then reopen the book!

Tremendous help. Menus large and clearly illustrated. Easy explanations. I am reading it cover-to-cover because I want to be aware of most everything. In the long run, it will save me loads of time. Although I will not remember everything I read, I will remember that I read something about the topic and will be able to reference back to it! And with this knowledge I will be a power MAC user!

This book is definitely worth the money. I used this book from the moment I began using my new Mac. And it's true, this book should have been included with the computer -- it is indeed the "missing manual."

My doctor had a top of the line Mac and I really liked the way it ran. I also thought the huge screen was totally cool. So I had the chance to buy a four year old iBook G4 for a good price, just to see what I might be missing. It's Great for creative work.

Until a few months ago, I would never have bought anything but a PC. For some reason, I decided to buy an iMac. I love it now. But this book made it possible. At first, I was confused and knew I had made a monumental mistake by not buying yet another trusty PC. Oh, yes, I looked back wistfully and yearned for the weekly (if not more frequent) updates to keep those pesky viruses, worms, maggots, whatever out of my computer. But then I found this book, and combined it with one other (MAC OS X, Tiger Edition) and discovered another dimension of computing. I love my iMac. I love these books. And if you are new to the Mac, they are invaluable!!! I even bought a set for my son in college, who also decided to surrender his idolatry of the PC and switch to a Mac Book. He feels the same! Easy to read. Easy to find what you need. Easy to follow directions!!! They're great!

This book will save you time in the transition from PC to Mac, now increasingly common as buyers are attracted to the new Intel Macs. You can probably figure out most of the operating system differences on your own, but the hints in this book justify the price.

The switch, by the way, is also worth it.

Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition
Great book!
It tells you all the things us poor PC users would take ages to learn.
The language is easy, fun and very, very clear, although sometimes it tends to err on the verbose side of life.
Good buy for the money

I haven't read the entire manual. Due to some cerebral related problems, I have a very short attention span, and short term memory loss. So I was really hoping for some sort of clear cut index comparing Microsoft OS to Tiger OS. There was an index, but it wasn't wired that way. Other then that, It seems to be a comprehensive publication. Since the problem really sits with me, I guess I should have given it a better score.

I have seen so much hype about the Pogue "Missing Manual" books that I had to try this one having just switched to the mac after being a long time PC user. This book helped me in some ways but was tediously written. I don't like the author's writing style and some of the contents were irrelevant to me. I would try another book if one were available.. Writing a 500 page book on how to use a computer for a person already able to operate a PC seems like overkill to me. I read about half of it while awaiting being called for jury duty but by the second half had to skim it. It is more like a boring textbook than a primer and transition book. I wouldn't recommend it to the average reader making " the switch".

If your a PC user and are converting to a Mac this is a must have book. It is very easy to read and does a thorough explaining the differences between Windows and the Mac OS X operating systems.

Highly recommended.

I decided about 6 months ago that I wanted to switch to Mac from Windows. The lure of a system which had both hardware and software designed together was just too strong from me to resist. I knew that transferring might be difficult. This book appeared in one of the websites that I was searching for a way to ease the transition. I'm not sure I could have done it without it. I won't say it was effortless, but every time a problem appeared, this book got me out of it. I STRONGLY recommend it to anyone considering switching from Windows to MAC. The writing is easily understood, the sections carefully designed for ease of finding the necessary tips. You won't want to change without it.

I've been a PC user for years. Switching to the Mac should have been a no brainer. The Mac has lots of app's that are easy and fun. Also self evident. But I did have a problem sending mail with my Mac account (still unresolved). This book does not discuss issues with sending mail. Most of the other chapter material is unnecessary. The organization is poor and arcane topics are discussed at great length. I learned more from my 70 page manual that came with the Mac.

This helped a lot when I finally got a Mac after years of lousy Dell computers. David Pogue knows his stuff and this book is very informative and easy to follow.

I just got a Mac, and was lost on how to use it. This book helped greatly.

YES, THIS IS A MUST HAVE... this book really should have been in the box. Helps draw the connections... I'm an old PC user from 1990 to 2006... Never again. Mac is the way to go and this book shows you how to make the connection and really start doing computing.

A+ simple, practical, and mostly complete. Easy from the basic of basics to the pro... and even if you're a pro you'll still pick up some great tips!

As a die hard PC user for many years, I had poo-poo'ed my friends' enthusiasm for macs. I assumed that they would be difficult to use, incompatible with many current programs and basically all too hard. I finally submitted a few months ago, purchasing my first mac, and haven't looked back. However, this book, together with Pogue's "Mac OSX Tiger Edition", has taken my understanding of the mac to a whole new level. This book is a faultlessly easy to use guide as to where to find the mac's equivalent to all the PC's functions. It's very well written, easy to understand, and doesn't have the all too common assumptions that the audience is already an advanced user. Heartily recommended, especially in conjunction with the "Mac OSX Tiger Edition".

Just what the Dr. ordered!!

Most everyone I know is making the switch from PC to Mac and that's what this book is all about.

We don't need to know the Mac from a Mac user's point of view, but from a PC users's point of view.

If that's you then this book is for you

I'm taking the time to write this review because it was what i read from other's reviews of this product that convienced me to buy it. I'm no IT techno geek but i have worked with windows PC's now for 15 years at work and i am amazed at what i learned from this manual and how easy it made my transition to the mac. I had some serious doubts about going mac but with the help of the manual i learned a ton fast. Alot of my friends see me with the manual and ask where i got it and then say they wish they had bought one at the same time they bought their mac's. Spend the money you won't regret it.

It's been a while since I used a Mac. The last operating system I used was System 7. This is a simple to read and understand book. The writer tries hard to make it light and not a dry technical manual.

The book is FULL of apple button commands. They are like short cuts. Only thing is, that its like teaching DOS to a guy that only knows Windows. Who can possibly remember even a quarter of these commands. The one important thing I gleaned from this book was the software they recommended for changing your files from your outlook mail box to apple mail. Coming to think about it, I pulled that off the apple site O2M by Little Machines, 10 bucks grabs the files you need to transfer. Or just take it to the apple store and have a genius do it for free. I did learn how to alt-tab, its apple button tab. there, I just saved you a few bucks.

I found this book really useful. I have used a PC for more than ten years and managed the basic changeover stuff, like new names for similar objects. But David Pogue has a knack of explaining the detail of things to make sense of the differences which helps greatly. I would recommend Switching to the Mac (Tiger) Missing Manual.

For those who are switching from a windows machine, this book is very helpful when you go looking for things like how to do different commands for the same result (i.e., how to get the same results on a mac as you do on a pc). That's the main use for it. Otherwise I'd just get the regular Missing Manual for your product. But still useful. I got some good use from it.

I have had a PC for about 12 years. I recently purchased a MAC, which I now love. At first I s ready to send it back bacause it was almost like starting over. After I purchased the Missing Manual it helped me fall in love with my new MAC.

Thanks

Michael

I have had a PC for about 12 years. I recently purchased a MAC, which I now love. At first I s ready to send it back bacause it was almost like starting over. After I purchased the Missing Manual it helped me fall in love with my new MAC.

Thanks

Michael

Couldn't be more helpful. Couple of small holes, but otherwise a great book for starting (or, in my case, returning to) with a Mac

This is a must-have for those new to the MAC scene. I recently purchased my first apple laptop - Macbook - and this has provided me a wealth of information on various topics. I really enjoy how the book explains comparable functions for what you were used to on the PC (printscreen, mycomputer, software installs, etc.).

I bought this book because in a new job I have, I have to deal with the department that uses Macs on the intel platform. I'm a very in depth experience Windows/Unix network admin and didn't want to "fly blind" so to speak with Mac' so I decided to get this book. It's a pretty good book for beginner/intrmediate users. However I found it to simple because I'm a computer geek. I wanted to know the ins and outs of the Mac OS X platform to compare it to windows. This books essentially gave me the basics of Mac and I was able to search for more advanced details such as the core unix platform running the system and how to manage it via comand line etc. TO summarize, this book will be very good for a non-computer savy person but for an advanced user, you might find it to simple. Overall though, it's a good introduction to the Mac platform. Btwn, the pc is better, especially Vista. Windows has come a long way and is far more stable now than when it first came to the market. Windows core system software is just was well as Mac and the of course more programs etc are written for the pc. The Mac was more stable because it's buitl on Unix, an age old platform that has been revised through many years making it more stable. Windows has been around for a shorter time, and is just as stable if not more than the Mac. Learning the Mac is easier because it's built for the consumer market whereas pc's are built for all markets andyou can get different flavors of windows to suit your needs. Sure windows is more exposed to hackers etc, only because it's more widely used around the world. I've already found ways to hack into Macs and I just started using them. If they were to become more mainstream, like Windows they will be constantly attcked by hackers just as much as windows.

This book is excellent for those Windows users who are either switching to the Mac or are adding a Mac to a household of office where PC's are still being used. The book paves the way in just enough detail so that a Windows user can transition to the Mac, illustrating the important similarities and differences.

I believe the author goes a little overboard in his praise for the Mac operating system vis-a-vis the Windows OS, but the more I use the new Mac we have recently bought, the more I have become convinced that the author has a point!

Whereas all graphical user interface operating systems have much in common, the author points out the relative simplicity of the Mac OS, carefully guiding the Windows user to make use of his or her Windows experience to ease the learning process of the Mac. In addition, the many features of the Mac are explained in more than enough detail to understand what they are and how to use them.

The title should have been Switching Operating Systems from Windows to Mac OS X Tiger.

Hooking up projectors, etc., is not covered. Since that is something I have to do in the front of a room with 200 people waiting, it would be good to know how. I suppose that is contained in another book. Or perhaps the authors want to save the world from death by PowerPoint (or Keynote).

Some applications that come with the Mac computer are covered, like Mail. But it assumes you use some Microsoft e mail program, not a Web based one. Still, it is a useful book.

best manual I could have bought. I have been a Windows user for over 21 years beginning with DOS, windows 3.1.1 for workgroups, NT 3.5.1, NT4.0, Win 2000 and Win XP This book made my first MAC experience a delight. It taught me everything I needed to know in an easily understood fashion. Great job!

Title: Switching To The Mac, Tiger Edition
Author: David Pogue and Adam Goldstein
Publisher: O'Reilly, Pogue Press
ISBN-10: 0-596-00660-8; ISBN-13: 978-0-596-00660-0

Reviewed by: Curt Blanchard, Tucson Macintosh Users Group
Date: 1/2/07

Here is another must-have from the O'Reilly Missing Manual series. Switching to the Mac is a hot topic these days not just because the overall Mac experience is superior, but it's much more secure from malware and other online nastiness. Now that Boot Camp and Parallels allow users to run Windows on the Mac, the arguments against switching are few. This book may well push those fence sitters over the edge. David Pogue and Adam Goldstein explain what the Mac gives you (lots!) - and what it taketh away (not much). With the Mac, you gain stability, strong security, advanced networking, true plug-and-play and simpler everything. When you switch, you may lose a few apps and access to some peripherals.

The book deals with the basics about how a Mac is different in hardware, how to get online and an exploration of the iLife apps as well as Mail, Safari, etc. There are in-depth explanations of Accounts, System Preferences and other things that the new user will need to know. This is no lightweight glossing over of the subject matter; it's over 500 pages of detailed informative material that the new Mac user will want on the reference shelf. One of the well-considered features is a dictionary titled, "Where did it go?" Here you can look up "Alt Key" or "Task bar" and find the Mac equivalents.

If you are a switcher or are considering switching, this is definitely the place to start. If you are looking for a gift for a new Mac switcher, this is something that will be greatly appreciated. Highly recommended.

--Curt Blanchard

It really is the missing manual. Worth every penny. Writen in plain English. Great book.

Good for details, much of which I'll never use. Many shortcuts I'll probably never remember, and programs I'll never use. However easy to understand and get a feel for the various programs. Nice useful product, more informative than I needed or expected.

It is a very good guide book for beginners really. I knew maybe just a little about Mac. But definitely not enough to help me go though a smooth work process. This book teaches me shortcuts and the necessary surviving skills I needed. I would recommend to other people.

I've been using Windows since the early 1990s and recently bought my first Mac. At first I thought this wasn't the book I wanted. I wanted to learn the OS on its own, not in "translation." For example, you'll find things like this in this book: "Finder = Windows Explorer," "Dock = Taskbar," etc. I thought it would hinder learning in a way total-immersion wouldn't; I'd hoped to learn to use the Mac directly. So after my husband picked up "Switching to the Mac" the first day I had the computer--in order to figure out how to network the Mac to our PCs and printers, and to transfer files, etc. (all of which is in this book)--I ordered four other books. I wanted to read them like other reviewers did: straight through, fun learning. But, it's not as easy as I'd hoped to learn a whole new operating system and, for me, the manuals don't prove to be fun reading -- as cheeky as their humor can be. So, I find myself reaching for "Switching to the Mac" as a necessary reference book. It presupposes that the reader is proficient at using a computer, but not a Mac (unlike other books, which either assume no computer knowledge or are written in "Mac language" for those familiar with previous Mac operating systems.)

That said, the space taken up on translating Windows lingo/usage to Mac takes up space that isn't used to fully describe how to use Mac applications. This book does a stellar, succinct job of teaching the OS. From there, I need a second book to explain the applications. And, oddly for me (because I'm not a David Pogue fan, and wouldn't have chosen either book had my husband not bought this one first) "The Missing Manual OS X," also by Pogue, is the best of the books I've bought for that purpose. The latter picks up where this book leaves off. Pogue states in the intro that the material overlaps, and as nice as it would be to spend money on one book rather than two, I've not found overlapping material to be a problem, and I've found them equally useful. Since the books are already fairly weighty, the two together are working very well for me. I truly don't think I'd have learned as easily or quickly without "Switching to the Mac." I definitely recommend it for Windows users...and I had resisted this approach.

I've been using Windows since the early 1990s and just bought my first Mac. At first I thought this wasn't the book I wanted. I wanted to learn the OS on its own, not in "translation." For example, you'll find things like this in this book: "Finder = Windows Explorer," "Dock = Taskbar," etc. I thought it would hinder learning in a way total-immersion wouldn't -- I wanted to learn the Mac directly, not through Windows. I wanted to go directly to being a Mac user without looking back. So after my husband picked up "Switching to the Mac" the first day I had the computer, in order to figure out how to network the Mac to our PCs and printers, and to transfer files, etc., I ordered four other books. I wanted to read them like other reviewers did: straight through, fun learning. But, it's not as easy as I'd hoped to learn a whole new operating system and, for me, the manuals don't prove to be fun reading -- as cheeky as their humor can be. So, I find myself reaching for "Switching to the Mac" as a necessary reference book.

That said, the space taken up on translating Windows lingo/usage to Mac takes up space that isn't used to fully describe how to use Mac applications. This book does a stellar, succinct job of teaching the OS. From there, I clearly need a second book to explain the applications. And, oddly for me (because I'm not a David Pogue fan, and wouldn't have chosen either book had my husband not bought this one first) "The Missing Manual Tiger Edition," also by Pogue, is the best of the books I've bought for that purpose. The latter picks up where this book leaves off. Pogue states in the intro that the material overlaps, and as nice as it would be to spend money on one book rather than two, I've not found overlapping material to be a problem, and I've found them equally useful. Since the books are already fairly weighty, the two together are working very well for me. Aside: the Mac Bible is one I haven't had use for [just yet] and the Pocket Guide is a bit too small to be informative. The Pogue books are just right. I truly don't think I'd have learned as easily or quickly without "Switching to the Mac." I definitely recommend it for Windows users...and I had resisted this approach.

Are you a long time Windows user that is new to the Mac?
Perhaps you are a long-time Mac user that is thinking of running Windows on your new Intel-powered Mac?
In either of these cases, "Switching to the Mac" is a great book to read. Surprisingly, I also found it a good book for Mac users that have no interest in Windows.

When I see the name "David Pouge" on the cover of a book, I expect to be entertained and educated in equal measure. "Switching to the Mac" did not disappoint on either front. Mr. Pouge has a talent for starting his books in a conversational and humorous manner that draws you in, and after you've turned some pages, you realize that you've learned some useful tricks and tidbits.

"Switching to the Mac" is broken into four parts.

Part One, Welcome to Macintosh (Chapters 1 to 4), covers differences between the Mac and Windows, terminology, and an overview of the Mac OS, including many small but very useful tips. Although I've been using OS X for as long as it has been around (and Macs for as long as they've been around), I was pleasantly surprised by the things I learned in this section of the book. The authors succeed at a difficult balancing act - giving new users the information they need, while giving power users information to keep them from being bored. For example, the first thing taught in Chapter One is where to find the power button on various models of Macs, then just a few pages later they show where to root around in the System folder to activate the Eject menu extra. One of the many highlight of Part One is Chapter Two's discussion on finding files, which covers Spotlight (Apple's new search technology), and Smart Folders (saved searches).

Part Two, Moving In (Chapters 5 to 8), covers transferring data, an assortment of third-party (non-Apple) applications, and hardware that connects to the Mac. Highlights of Part Two are Chapter Six's detailed discussion on transferring your email and contacts from PC to Mac, and Chapter Eight has several sections useful to any Mac user, covering topics as diverse as printing, burning CDs and DVDs, and a discussion on fonts that could save you hours of frustration and grief. Part Two shows repeatedly how useful the book is, not only as a tutorial, but also as a troubleshooting resource.

Part Three, Making Connections (Chapters 9 to 11), is the breeziest part of the book. Chapter 9 covers the many ways to connect your Mac to the internet, and Chapters 10 and 11 cover Apple's Mail application and Safari web browser. Most of this you may skim over, particularly if your plan on using more powerful alternatives to Apple's applications, such as Entourage (mail), and Firefox (web browser). Chapter 11 does have a nice section on RSS (subscriptions to internet-based information). If you read a lot of web pages and are not currently using RSS, this section explains why you'll love it, and how to set it up.

Part Four, Putting Down Roots (Chapters 12 to 15), covers OS X's built-in applications and system settings. Chapter 12 discusses accounts and security in a manner that is both easy to follow and detailed. I wish that this one chapter were available separately, as I'd like to make it mandatory reading for every Mac user. Chapters 13 and 14 briefly and alphabetically discuss each of the System Preferences and built-in Apple applications. Given the length of these chapters, they're probably best used for the curious--looking up a particular item--than reading from start to finish. My only disappointment with the book was that there was no discussion of Automator in Chapter 14 (or anywhere in the book). "Switching to the Mac" finishes with a chapter on troubleshooting. The authors hope that you'll never need the information in this chapter, but I'm glad that they wrote it. Many of the basic OS X troubleshooting techniques are covered here, and you may find yourself wanting to name your next child "David" after these details save you from a misbehaving Mac and a heart attack.

Many people would not think of reading a computer book as a fun activity, but "Switching to the Mac" was certainly both entertaining and informative. I'd recommend this title to anyone who wanted to understand the Mac better.

The price was right, it arived earlier than expected, and was just what I needed.

I bought this for my daughter when she got her new MacBook (replacing an XP Prof/IBM Thinkpad). She didn't want a book, but right away realized this was a must have. I plan to buy myself a Mac and will buy another as I love this book. The Mac is easy to use but from the Windows world we are coming from another world and just can't see (or believe) the way things on done with Tiger and then are surprise how easy and elegant it is. I am an IT professional. Buy the book you won't regret it.

I really had high hopes for this book. So many of my clients are switchers. They go from a PC to a Mac and don't have a grasp of any of the basics. "Where's my Outlook? Internet Explorer? Oh no!!"

Unfortunately this book is for intermediate PC users who are switching to the Mac, not novices. The book assumes knowledge of how to configure a PC and then builds on that knowledge for you to be able to do it on a Mac. The book tells you how to move your files from your PC to your new Mac, PC programs and their Mac equivalents, and how to configure your Mac. Not much time is really spent on how to "use" your Mac. To be fair, that's what the title says "Switching to the Mac", not "How to use a Mac, Switcher edition."

The best chapter by far is the "Transferring email and contacts" I took copious amounts of notes because the chapter was so detailed. Anyone who wants to move their emails from their PC should buy this book. It covers using Outlook, Eudora, Netscape and more to their Mac equivalents, including OS X's Mail.

In my experiences, people switch to a Mac because they found PCs too difficult to understand. Explaining things in PC terms kinda defeats the purpose of switching. For novices, look at one of the Intro to Tiger books.

If someone isn't an intermediate PC user trying to switch, but a novice...by this book for the person setting up your Mac so they can get all your information off your PC and make the transition to Mac as seemless as possible.

Pros: Expert advice on how to take your files, settings, and programs from a PC to a Mac
Mac: If you wanted to learn all that stuff, you'd probably still be using the PC

I have given copies of this book to several friends who were thinking about switching or had made the decision to buy a Mac. This book does a great job of explaining how to utilize the many wonderful features of the Mac while comparing how the terminology or a function differs in the Windows world.

Macs are fun & logical but they're not dumbed down; every user can gain much from spending some time with a Missing Manual book. I own a number of the Missing Manual books & have found them to all be invaluable. I personally use the Tiger OS MM book by David Pogue for even more information.

Are you tired of Windows and want to switch to MAC OS X; but don't really know very much about it, except for what you've seen and heard on Apple's Switch ads? Well, you're in luck! Author David Pogue, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that will help you do it.

Pogue, begins by covering the essentials of Macintosh. Then, he discusses the actual process of hauling your software, settings, and even peripherals across the chasm from the PC to the Mac. The author continues by showing you how to find your Internet settings on the old Windows machine--and, where to plug them in on the Macintosh.
Finally, he shows you how to set up private accounts for people who share a single Mac, navigate the System Preferences program, and operate the 50 freebie bonus programs that come with Mac OS X.

This excellent book is intended by the author as a more in-depth guide to Mac OS X. Thus, in keeping the preceding in mind, this book reveals the shortcuts, surprises, and design that makes the Mac computer the most coveted IT tool in the world!