Mac OS X Panther In a Nutshell
A Desktop Quick Reference
By Chuck Toporek, Chris Stone, and Jason McIntosh
Published by O'Reilly Media, Inc., List Price $39.95
Reviewed By Gail H Schadt
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Mac OS X Panther In a NutshellA Desktop Quick Reference By Chuck Toporek, Chris Stone, and Jason McIntosh Published by O'Reilly Media, Inc., List Price $39.95 Reviewed By Gail H Schadt |
This is a great book. Why? It has an easy to understand beginning that builds to an extensive Unix command reference.
The book says it is for the power user and that the Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition (Pogue Press/O'Reilly) or Mac OS X Panther Pocket Guide (O'Reilly) are better choices for the person using word processing, graphic design, web browsing, etc. applications. I am inclined to disagree with this statement. I found this book easy enough for the Mac user adopting OS X for the first time; at least someone with a little technical bent. It is true that the Unix command reference is for the more technically bent, but someone reading this book could very well become more technically bent.
Reading this book leads one to gradually become aware of the Unix system and of its terminal interface. Unix commands are introduced to the reader during what I call the user interface with the OS X portion of the book, approximately 400 pages out of 1000 pages. This gradual Unix introduction can lead the reader into the use of the terminal making the Unix reference portion of the book interesting and useful reading.
There are five (5) parts to this book, I. Lay of The Land, II, System and Network Administration, III. Scripting and Development, IV. Under Mac OS X's Hood, and V. Appendices. Parts I and II are what I above called the user interface portion of the book. Parts III and IV are for the more technically bent or those who have become more technically bent reading this book.
Part I. (Lay of the Land) gives the reader all the information they need to operate Panther and run its built-in applications including the Apple Safari web browser. This part explains very nicely the three modes (my term) of operating in OS X. These are OS 9 only, OS X only, and Classic that is OS X with a bridge into OS 9 to run OS 9 applications. Part II. (System and Network Administration) gives the reader the knowledge to put Panther to work including networking to wireless Internet connections, Part III. (Scripting and Development) gives Mac users the ability to develop their own applications for Mac use. Chapters in Part III cover Applescripting to automate recurring user actions, Xcode for building Mac applications, Java for building Java applications, and CVS for user developed revision control. Part IV (Under Mac OS X's Hood), for the technically bent, covers the BSD Unix base of OS X and use of the Terminal window for control of and access to the BSD Unix base. It also provides the most complete Unix command reference in print for OS X. Part V (Appendices) provides information on how to generate special characters using only the computer keyboard, and a list of Mac related resources such as books, magazines, web sites and mailing lists.
This is sold as a desktop reference book; I can state that it has served me well as stated on the book cover.
This is a great book. However, it may be too much for those not exposed to current technology, not familiar with operating a computer, or less than technically bent and not the curious type. As you can read, I have modified my initial statement concerning who can use this book. After writing this review with the back referencing to the book, my engineering background and Mac experience over 20 years led my to soften my statement. However, the experienced Mac user and technically bent and curious should buy this book. Others should buy Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Panther Edition (Pogue Press/O'Reilly) and then buy this book.