Product Description
"Amber understands how important it is for all of us, both as individuals and as businesses, to be able to use social media to connect with people in ways that are real and authentic. I think she's a leader in this space."
-Tony Robbins, world-renowned speaker and entrepreneur

Amber Mac wants to be your friend.

She may be a tech-savvy webpreneur, the popular host of TV shows and video podcasts, and an in-demand consultant and speaker, but if you ask Amber Mac about her strategy for success, she'll tell you she's just trying to be a good friend.

When it comes to social media-whether it's Facebook or Twitter or the latest video blog-the tools evolve quickly, the rules change rapidly, and the technology feels more and more complex. But making social media work for your company doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. In this compact yet thorough guide, Mac shows you how to effectively harness the online world to grow your business.

The secret: think of your audience as your friends and then treat them that way. The Power Friending approach is all about developing real relationships based on mutual respect and support. While you may never meet some of your online friends face-to-face, they still expect you to follow the established norms of friendship: be authentic, reach out, listen. And don't lie to your friends. These same rules apply when building a strong brand online.

Whether you're a blogger, a small company, a well-known global enterprise, or an aspiring queen of the Internet, Mac shows how to make the most of social networking tools, including:
-Targeting the right networks
-Feeding and seeding a community
-Authentically engaging with customers and fans
-Managing your online friendships on a daily basis and on a budget

This isn't a book of abstract theories or complicated strategies. Mac writes from personal experience: she built a huge fan base through social networking. She also draws on real-life and up-to-date examples to give you the information you really need in order to establish and maintain credibility and meaningful relationships online. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Feeling Powerful and Ready to Make Friends
This is a great overview of social media trends, case studies, best practices and more. What I really enjoyed about this book, is that it provides concrete recommendations, tactics, tools and examples of things to try and ways to measure success. Great work Amber, hope to see more from you in the future.

Power Friending...by Amber Mac
This book was easy to follow and helped take the fear out of this whole new area for me.

An absolute must read for web entrepreneurs
I went into reading this book with no expectations. I have always been a huge fan of Net@Night (Amber's podcast) and the entire TWIT network. I can honestly say that this book helped me focus my social media campaigns and turn my internet site from concept into a reality. [...] is now gaining social traction by leaps and bounds. Thank you Amber.

Excellent Book
This a great book for anyone trying to navigate the world of Social Media.I highly recommend it!!

ABCs for this book: Awesome, Beneficial, and Creative
I just finished this book to give me a better perspective on social media, and how to implement it with my small business (I own two inns on Prince Edward Island, Canada.) What I loved about it, was the tone. AmberMac is clearly passionate about this topic, and has a very thorough understanding of it. I thought it was super important that she mentioned how to properly shoot video or record podcasts, rather than just leaving it to the reader to figure it out.

Amber has clearly done her research to exemplify the many rules of social media, so that the reader can understand what works, and what doesn't. This book is a perfect read for anyone who wants to dive into the wonderful world of social media.

Thanks Ambermac! ... Read more

Product Description
Guitar transcriptions for 14 Fleetwood Mac classics, including: Don't Stop * Dreams * Gypsy * Hold Me * Landslide * Little Lies * Rhiannon * Sara * You Make Lovin' Fun * and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A good endeavor but lacking....
Before I started reading this book I didn't know much about Fleetwood Mack and now that I've finshed it, I still feel like I don't know much about this band.

The origins of Fleetwood Mack were probably the most interesting parts but then he stars skipping all over the place with no indication of where in their career he's referring to and things start to get a little murky and drawn out.

Mick wrote this book and I don't think he should be writing any others.

Mick Fleetwood on Fleetwood Mac
I applaud Mick Fleetwood's insightful on his feelings of the group.He tells of the early history of Fleetwood Mac to the many transformations of the band. Mick does not sugar coat any part of the struggles, relationships and his own faults. I found it a very moving book that I couldn't put down

good read
I found this very interesting reading as to howbands are formed and act and spend everything thus requiring that they continue to tour.Very frank and entertaining.

boring
i can't believe how boring this book is.for example: when christine and john initially get together...he's sitting next to her.he asks her to have dinner with him sometime, and she says she would.wow...how riveting is that?

A Quick Read -- Funny, Informative, Highly Enjoyable
I picked this up at a used bookstore the other day, wondering what ole' Mick had to say about all the goings-on in the band.

What a surprise!

This is a funny, entertaining, highly enjoyable pass through the life and times of English rock in the early to late 60s, abd then an equally enjoyable romp through the craziness that was the LA music biz in the 70s and 80s.

Mick's voice is assured, hilarious, wry, insightful, and informative.He is at times modest, regretful, generous and always engaging.The early days of Mac, including the wild goings on with Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer, were a highlight, and of course the Rumours era insanity and some not-flatterring anecdotes about Buckingham are there as well.

If you have any interest in rock and roll you will want to read this book.

Bravo Mick! ... Read more

Product Description
There are several other books on programming for Mac OS X, but none of them comtain explanations of how to leverage the powerful underlying technologies. This book goes down to the real nitty-gritty of multi-threading, interprocess communication, networking, performance tuning, distributed objects, queues, Bonjour, authentication, the keychain,and directory services. The tools are also covered: gcc, gdb, subversion, Shark, and Saturn. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

A bit dated but excellent content
A must have for any serious MAC OS developer. Written in 2005, some of the content in this book is dated, mostly those chapters related to Frameworks and performance tools. However the book mostly focuses on the internals of MAC OS which is a mature unix platform that hardly ever changes over the years. Therefore most of the content in this book is still very much relevant to current MAC OS.

Fills in a lot of gaps
This is a book that is about Mac OS X programming. Its easy to forget its title and expect that it would be advanced Cocoa programming but that is not the intent and therefore not what it delivers. What it does do is provide a lot of details regarding programming OS X apps and various aspects of the system that you don't find elsewhere. The primary aspect of this book that I liked was the fact it filled in many little gaps that I definitely needed filling.I definitely recommend this book for those who want to fill in those gaps like I did.

Awesome Book
If you want to know about the finer details of Mac OS X Programming, this is the book to get.This is, by far, the most detailed book on the subject available on the market.The author does an excellent job of covering all of the most pertinent topics to the nth level.If you want to be a hardcore Mac OS X programmer, get and read this book!!

Excellent information, but full of typos
This book is full of excellent information which is hard to find anywhere else, but it is also unbelievably full of typos. As I'm reading, I come across at least one or two mistakes per page! You'd think they could have taken the time to proofread it, especially considering that this is the second edition.

Odd format... great content... scary title
When I first received this book, I was intimidated by the advanced topics in the table of contents and also the format of the book. It looked painfully dry and highly complicated, but as I started reading the book, I realized it is very reader-friendly. This books very well describes the unix tools for version control, testing, and development. There is a very useful chapter on subversion which gives enough introduction to get things rolling. It also provides topics on os X technologies that you won't find in other books such as Bonjour, Multi-Processing, and Keychain management. I think it is an essential complement to any Cocoa development book.

Advanced topics are described with a very easy language and I was able to read almost half of the book in a few days, and trust me, I'm a slow reader. I recommend this book to all Mac OS X programmers and Cocoa Aficionados. ... Read more

Product Description
Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide uses a combination of task-based instruction and strong visuals to teach intermediate Macintosh users how to automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks with the Automator application that is included with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Automator comes with many useful automated routines (called actions) preinstalled, for lots of popular applications, that do things like remove empty playlists from iTunes or add attachments to Mac Mail. The real power of Automator lies in mixing and matching these actions to have them do exactly the job you want. They're put together in a string of actions known as a workflow. Author Ben Waldie introduces readers to how Automator works, and then helps them assemble and use Automator workflows.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Automator has more limits than the book
The problem is not with this book, although it is fairly superficial.

The problem is with Automator.Apple upgraded it in Snow Leopard, and obsoleted many "actions," which have not been replaced.

I've built a few, and finally just gave up, and went back to the GUI.Point and click, point and click.Plan your manual workflow, and you can save more time than you will save messing around with Automator.

Automator Rocks
PRO: Excellent tutorial and reference for both Automator. Online extras is a bonus
CON: none
Moose Rating: 1-5 (5 highest) 5

With each evolution of Mac OS X, Apple keeps improving Automator, although I wonder how many people really use it. It really is a jewel in the rough as it can make routine redundant tasks very easy to accomplish. I have been discovering ways to use my Mac and make my tasks easier using Automator. From scaling and changing formats of graphic files to batch renaming to thinking of ideas of how to use the image capture plugin to make a useful Automator action for better photo management. Ben Waldie first wrote this book for Leopard and this one is expanded to cover the latest information. In this edition, a beginner to Automator will learn how to start making workflows ( or recording them), saving them as workflows, applications or plug-ins. All the information is here, he explores the standard actions available and includes some of the applications that have Automator support. Fetch FTP is an application not listed that has AppleScript and Automator support.

Early in the book, you are shown some simple Automator workflows. Chapter Three builds on the complexity of workflows. Whether you need to use variables (user defined) or system or add AppleScript to overcome an Automator limitation it is covered in the book. I have found trying to build my own workflows is the best way to learn. You can also use the record process or find existing examples to use or glean from. Chapter 12 provides automator resources.

I have in the past contacted Ben Waldie by email asking questions about how to do something. He has always been very generous with his time and assistance. This is an intangible we don't see much anymore but appears to be more prominent in the Mac community. His website is [...] and has workflows available for purchase.

I would say the added bonus to this book is the companion site which offers two bonus chapters and two appendices. There was also flash video or iPod friendly podcasts available through iTunes. I found the flash video quality to be questionable but the podcast were acceptable. It looks like podcasts are added on a regular basis so this continuous the learning process of Automator.

The book is available in paperback, Kindle edition and in Adobe e-pub format from the Peachpit site. Maybe we'll see this on the iPad too. In closing, this is a great book to get started on learning Automator and reducing your workload.

Solid
Automator is a wonderful tool built into OS X, and I think most people skip right over it. It is unfortunately, not an incredibly intuitive program, and the QuickStart Guide is very helpful. It gives a few examples of how it can be used and that would be my only think keeping from giving it a full five stars is that it could use a few more real life day to day examples of how Automator might be used. I recommend this. ... Read more

Product Description

Taylor Wellington doesn't do relationships. She learned a long time ago that they were a recipe for heartache. However, she does do flings--steamy affairs that burn hot...and brief. And her sexy new contractor, Thomas "Mac" Mackenzie, has her thinking about burning up some sheets. Problem is, now that she's got him right where she wants him, she can't seem to stop playing with fire.

At the start, Mac is in perfect agreement with Taylor--they'll keep things hot and light, then walk away when they're done. But for reasons he can't explain he doesn't want to end this affair. In fact, he wants more. So now he'll just have to use some seductive persuasion to convince her that this is too good to let go....

Customer Reviews (1)

lighthearted romantic romp
Though her two new friends that she rents rooms to recently found love, Taylor Wellington expects to never fall into that disgraceful state.She does not need love to tell her how to live as she has observed relationships through her uncaring mother.She not only expects to grow old alone, she looks forward to it.

In South Village, five miles from Los Angeles, Taylor has hired a contractor to renovate her Victorian style home built in 1902 that she recently inherited.However, though they start off poorly as he thinks she is a spoiled princess, Taylor and contractor Thomas "Mac" Mackenzie are attracted to one another.Although they begin to fall in love she holds back because she knows he still loves his ex-wife while he wonders if she cherishes someone more than him.Unless these two non-believers clear the air, a chance of a lifetime will become memories that love hurts.

MESSING WITH MAC is a lighthearted romantic romp that delightfully closes Jill Shalvis' warm South Village trilogy.The story line never takes itself seriously so the audience can sit back, relax and just enjoy the heated tale.Though Taylor's mother is unbelievable, fans will appreciate this contemporary romance.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
Titles are: Albatross
* Black Magic Woman
* Big Love
* Bleed to Love Her
* The Chain
* Don't Stop
* Dreams
* Fleetwood Mac
* Go Your Own Way
* Gold Dust Woman
* Gypsy
* Hypnotized
* Landslide
* Never Going Back Again
* Oh Daddy
* Over My Head
* Rhiannon
* Sara
* Say You Love Me
* Sentimental Lady
* Songbird
* Spare Me a Little of Your Love
* Sweet Girl
* You Make Loving Fun. ... Read more

Product Description
In the same uncompromising style of Jesus Freaks, bestselling authors Michael Tait and TobyMac of dc Talk now urge readers to take their stand for America's future--by examining our past. Using unforgettable accounts of both famous and little-known Americans, Under God examines the stories of men and women who forged our nation. Against these, they pair the dark side of America's legacy--racism, slavery, injustice--in order that a new generation might seek God’s face and avoid repeating sins of the past. The authors draw on the resources of WallBuilders, a national organization that distributes historical, legal, and statistical information and helps citizens become active in their communities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Michael Tait and Toby Mac continue their look at history and faith
In "Under God" Toby Mac and Michaet Tait continue to the exploration of faith and history that they began as members of the musical group DC Talk with books like "Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks." The main themes of the book are faith, civil rights and political freedom. Many of these same themes were explored in DC Talk's best-selling "Jesus Freak" album with such songs as "Colored People" and "What Have We Become."

For me, "Under God" was both a great book and a frustrating book. As a history teacher, I applaud any attempt to encourage people to learn our history. Mac and Tait do not sugarcoat the failings of our country and our Founders. But, they also are sure to point out when those same people got it right.

"Under God" is a beautiful book with a wraparound cover, jagged edge pages and faded illustrations that are oftentimes set behind the text this book makes a stunning presentation.However, the text is done in a popular (sadly) shotgun style of presenting history - things are not presented in chronological order or even by theme. Instead, we bounce around - at one moment discussing Jamestown, than Jim Crow, than on to Daniel Webster followed by Nathan Hale. There are 60 seperate entries here. I am pleased to note that, scattered though they are, there are some people that rarely are studied, such as Benjamin Rush and Angelina Grimke.

But, this history of America is by no means complete, nor entirely fleshed out. Some things are overlooked, such as Jefferson's non-traditional beliefs. There is no discussion of the Industrial Revolution, barely any mention of any of America's wars in the 20th Century. I cannot recall anything more recent than Martin Luther King, Jr. which means they ignored more than 35 years of American history. Perhaps they will address these oversights in another volume?

Both Toby Mac and Michael Tait include an afterword. I especially was struck by a passage from Tait: "While I agree with [Toby Mac] that America is in need of great repentance and I do not brush over that lightly, I must add that our country is also in great need of forgiveness. As a black man, when I discover the stories of all the injustices that occurred in the past as well as the injustices that take place today...it is understandable to be angry. It is okay to be angry. But it is what you do with the anger that matters. When anger turns to hate, it becomes a vicious poison that creates its own form of imprisonment." (p. 365)

This is an excellent book about our country and it's relationship with God.
This book has a lot of intersting stories about people in our US history who have had a relationship with God.

Under God
We appreciated receiving this book.It arrived in good shape soon after I ordered it.Thank you!

I am giving this book out to my friends as a gift.
What a great book. The stories are quick, to the point and inspiring. About people both famous and little known, but about people willing to lay it all on the line for God and Country. Real people in real situations. You showed our good side and some of our bad side. I hope to be able to measure up to the good side of some of these folks before I die. Thanks, Toby. You and Michael did a great job with this.

Under God
This is a great book.We purchased extra copies to give as gifts and were very pleased at the condition of the books and the speed in which they arrived.Thank you. ... Read more

Product Description
Mac Gober grew up with an unholy appetite for violence and brutality, satisfied first by war in Vietnam and then as a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang. This is the story of his dramatic conversion and his new life as a minister of God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Amazing
My brother is a Vietnam Vet; bitter, troubled and disillusioned.This book touched something deep inside him that only another Vet can touch, open and heal.I don't know if he will change his life but I do know that it opened up conversations that we would not have had without the influence of this book.It's a quick read.There is some language and situations described that can be disturbing but Mac is telling a true part of his life.He doesn't sugarcoat it. Thanks Mac Gober.

Excellent Book and Testimony!
Great book, moving.

I actually contacted the author, Mac Gober after reading it!

Great Testimony!

amazing
this book was beyond amazing. I was rivited to me seat like in a roller coaster ride. He told an amazing story of violence and love with out using one piece of prophanity. this story should be a movie.
the media can take a lesson from Mac Gober on how to tell a story that was as horrific as his without being offensive. it totally can be done; by the leading of the holy spirit.
I am buying the book again because I gave the copy I had away.
this book should be read in Jr/high school. it also should be must reading in juvinile detention centers, or wherever there are youth behaving badly.
I love you Mac. try to get this made into a movie.

Read it all nite
about three years ago, I picked this book up, and I couldn't put it down. And I have read it several times since. I let several people read it. Some of them have even got their own copies to give out to others.It may sound corny, but I laughed, I cried, and grew in my love for all those who are still lost.Jesus is real, and this man proves it. Jesus is powerful, and He proves it right here in this book. God's love for you never gives up as long as there is breath in your body. in this book, Mac proves how God loves all of us so much, no matter how dirty we get.I am convince that most of us don't even really understand the passionate love of God for us. I have seen Mac Gober speak in person, just last nite and today in fact, for probably the fourth time in my life, and he is just so sincere and genuine, funny, very smart in the knowlegde of the Word of God. He loves Jesus, and he loves people because Jesus loves them! And he knows without Jesus we are NOTHING! Sin ruins us, but Jesus set us free! Mac Gober is a reflection of the work that Jesus came and did on earth!!!! He is a Leader! Check out Canaanland!!

True MAN of God
Mac Gober's story is an amazing story of a man who can trully speak from experience on God's grace and His love.From the jungles of Vietnam to riding with one of the most notorious bike gangs in history, this book covers it all.

I had a chance to hear Mac speak personally, and what a life changing experience it was.

Please, read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This popular book shows readers how to take advantage of the iLife '08applications that to many are the coolest parts of using a Mac. Throughtutorials, tips, and techniques readers will learn how to use each ofthe powerful applications -- individually and as part of an integrated,interactive suite. Robin and John also cover the features of theimmensely popular .Mac Web Gallery, which enables you to share youriPhoto library with family and friends with just a few clicks.Friendly, practical instructions will have new and veteran Mac ownersusing all that's new in the suite in no time. They'll find everythingabout getting on the Internet and using email; using the way-cool iChatAV, which adds audio and video to instant messaging; using iTunes,including access to the iTunes Music Store; the new video libary iniMovie; new organization and editing tools in iPhoto; new animatedthemes in iDVD; and much more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Cool Mac Apps
This is a very concise but well explained book. It is easy to read and follow.The illustrations are clear and accurate. An excellent book for anyone, especially those of us who are not well versed in computer usage.

Good Over-view of Applications
As a new Mac owner I needed something to help me navigate through the jungle of options, widgets events and albums which differ from folders for filing pictures, menus and much, much more.
I have had my new computer for 1 month and now I feel comfortable thanks to the information garnered from this book.

Good book, but not Robin's best work
Robin Williams (the writer and graphic designer, not the actor) has rightly earned her crown as Queen of the Mac. Her writings on Macintosh software is simply outstanding. While "Cool Mac Apps" isn't her best work, it's still a great book and compliments other books on how to use Leopard. In fact, this book should be seen as a companion to her other books on Leopard, most notably her "Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Peachpit Learning Series." "Cool Mac Apps" expects a basic understanding of how to use the Mac and the Leopard operating system.

The book assumes you have iLife '08 and Leopard installed, and while focusing on iLife, it still covers such Leopard applications as iCal, Mail, Address Book, Safari, iChat and Time Machine.I would have suggested calling this an iLife book, but with the addition of some of the more practical applications that don't fit into the iLife series, that wouldn't make much sense either.

Overall the book is a competent overview of iLife and other Leopard applications.The book was lacking in some of Robin Williams' trademark design.In fact, this book read like most other books on computers.The writing was a bit dense and lacking in full color photos and white space that increases readability.Dare I saw the book was a bit boring?The writing in individual chapters consisted mostly of features, menu commands and preferences and was lacking in practical applications or exercises.

After reading this book, don't expect to become an expert in any of these subjects, but if you feel you want to "dabble" a bit more and don't want to buy a whole book on iPhoto or iDVD, this may be a good book for you.This might be a good "in-between" book to help a reader determine if they want to explore iLife further. I would recommend this book to a Mac beginner who understands the basics of their new Mac, but wonders what all those programs that came with the computer can do.

Pros:Broad coverage of programs that come with new Macs
Cons:Lacks readability and practical application

Greatest author in the world
This author is just excellent. I cannot say enough about her. She takes the technical out of technology and speaks to us like a friend. She is the Pulitizer-worthy author of computer books. What can I say to convince you. She is very cool as well as being totally informed about the software and hardware she writes about

Many missing pages. Poor quality printing and figures.
I got this from Amazon with 46 pages missing. The print looks like it was run off an old black and white 1960's era Zerox machine and stapled in a binder. I told Amazon about the missing pages and they sent a new one quickly. Apparently no one read my note and Amazon sent another copy that had exactly the same missing pages. I returned that one too and asked for a refund. Wasted time!
I liked Robin William's books, but quality control is lacking at both the publishers andAmazon. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn how to get the most out of Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard with legendary teacher and author Robin Williams.

The Peachpit Learning Seriesbrings you the best-selling authors you know and love, on the topicsthat are near and dear to you, in a format that allows you to learnjust what you need to know, and at your own pace. With this book, youcan learn in your own way—whether it’s working through the lessons fromstart to finish, jumping straight to step-by-step exercises about newfeatures, or looking up just what you need to know at that moment.There are hundreds of exciting tools and hidden gems in your Macintosh.And with the gentle yet expert hand of Robin Williams guiding you alongthe way, you will learn to take full advantage of all that Leopard hasto offer. If you are new to Mac OS X, you'll learn to use your Mac withhelp from a world-renowned teacher. From there, you can move on tocustomize it to suit the way you work. And if you've been using Mac OSX already, you'll learn to use the new features in Leopard, likeSpaces, Quick Look, and Time Machine, and explore all the enhancementsto favorites like Mail and iChat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Not what I was looking for
I was looking to be able to learn Leopard but the index was hard to follow. I was unable to find a lot of things I needed to learn a new operating system. As an old Windows user it's hard to change some old habits.

The Finder program is hard to figure out but with a lot of searching I did make it thru....

Just became a mac user and loved this book.
This book was a great help since I just became a mac user. I had general questions about the most basic parts of a mac and its system. This one answered all my questions and then some.

Mac OS X Guide
I looked at several different Mac guides before I selected this. I'm a average windows user that's converting to Mac.The thing that sold me on this guide is the abundance of photo's that accompany the text which makes it very easy to follow. All the material would enable the user to use most of the Mac functions. If you're already an advanced windows user David Pogues book would be a better selection but for the rest of us this is a great book.

OUTSTANDING! STRONGEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!
I'm GLAD I took the time to get/read this book from cover to cover. I went from "n00bie" to having a pretty fair grasp of what's up with my Mac. I'd recommend it to all with no reservations whatsoever (it was positively the BEST book I found on Leopard).

Not that Great
If you are familiar with computers in general, all the information found on the book are there for free on the internet. Don't waste your money buy this book. There plenty of other choices out there. I was extremely disappointed with this book and it was a waste of money .. Look at alternative before you buy

... Read more

Product Description

You’re smart and savvy, but also busy. This comprehensive guide to Apple's latest version of Mac OS X 10.6, Snow Leopard, gives you everything you need to know to live a happy, productive Mac life. Learn Mac OS X Snow Leopard will have you up and connected lickity–split. With a minimum of overhead and a maximum of useful information, you’ll cover a lot of ground in the time it takes other books to get you plugged in.

If this isn’t you’re first experience with Mac OS X, skip right to the "What’s New in Snow Leopard" sections. You may also find yourself using this book as a quick refresher course or a way to learn new Mac skills you’ve never tried before.

What you’ll learn

• Discover all the ins and outs of the Finder and Snow Leopard's streamlined workflow.
• Use the latest features of Apple’s built–in applications, including Mail, Safari, iCal, Address Book, iChat, Preview, and more.
• Learn about Snow Leopard’s improved security and reliability, and how to take full advantage of the connected world and a wealth of new mobile devices.
• Administer your computer and network for yourself, your family, or your business.
• Work with add–on devices via direct connection or wirelessly.
• Master effective strategies for data backup, recovery, and security.
• Explore all of Apple’s improved iLife applications, including iTunes, iPhoto, and iMovie.
• Delve into more advanced topics, such as how to take advantage of the Darwin subsystem in Leopard, how to run multiple operating systems on your Mac, and how to cooperate with other operating systems (and help them cooperate with you).
• Get started with your own Mac OS X development in Snow Leopard

Customer Reviews (1)

Learn Mac OS X Snow Leopard (Learn Series) versus Windows 7 The Black Book
Amazon has asked me to review two books that I ordered on 11/22/2009:

1) Learn Mac OS X Snow Leopard (Learn Series)
by Scott Meyers
and
2) Windows 7 The Black Book
by Sean Odom

As this is the first time that I try to review a book I find it appropriate to to tell you about my basis for accepting this invitation:

a) In Denmark, I've worked for many years as a documentalist, my main job being to find and write abstracts of technical and scientific papers of interest to the research department of the company I was working for.

b) When Denmark joined what's now called the European Union (or EU for short) I went to Brussels and worked for 23 years as a translator of technical and scientific texts for the European Commission.

So, although I haven't actually tried to review any books until now I do think that I'm qualified to form an opinion of the two books in question - and that's what I'm going to give you !

Having been in the Windows camp all my professional life, but with several 'Apple fanatics' among my colleagues I decided that instead of purchasing yet another PC, this time I'd opt for an iMac with a 27 inch screen and a 1 TB hard disk, on which I intended to install Windows7 in addition to SnowLeopard - in order to obtain the advantages of both worlds - possible with Intel-based Macs, andBootcamp now part ofMac OSX!

Although ordered the same day, one of the books arrived a week before the other one, giving me enough time to form an opinion of the first one and a basis for comparing the two when the second one arrived. - And rarely has the difference between what I expected and what I got been so great: A great disappointment in the first case - and a very pleasant surprise when the second book arrived!

I have Windows XP Professional installed on my 6 year old PC, and Mark Minasi's "Mastering Windows XP Professional, Second Edition" has been 'my bible' during those last six years. So, when "Windows 7 The Black Book" by Sean Odom was called "The most Comprehensive Windows 7 Guide Available!" I quite naturally expected to receive a book of the same kind and on the same level as books published by Sybex. But what I got - although recommended by three readers on Amazon(!) - was not much more than a collection of screen.shots, often so poorly printed that I find them hard to read - even when using a magnifying-glass!

In additionto that, the book has less than 300 pages, the last 35 being taken up by a glossary and more than63 of the remaining pages only 'half full' of text, 12 pages 3/4 empty and page 201 totally blank for no obvious reason. - Add to this that most of the 20 pages called "Fun Stuff" are taken up by screen shots of well known games likeBackgammon, Checkers, Chess, Minesweeper, FreeCell, Solitaire etc., and I think that you begin to understand my disappointment with this book. For about a year, now, I had been reading all articles in PcPro about what to expect from Windows7 - and I imagined that this book would be at least on the same level as my Windows XP 'bible'. What a disappointment!!!

When ordering the other book - Learn Mac OS X Snow Leopard (Learn Series) the parentesis had braced me for a book on level with the "... for Dummies" books in the Windows world;but not having had any hands-on experience in the Apple world myself I accepted to start on a rather low level and then by a 'better' book later on when I had learnt the basics. - What a pleasant surprise then to receive a book with the sub-title "Thinking Person's Complete Guide to Mac OSX". And complete is is: nearly 700 pages filled with very well.written, clear and instructive information on all aspects of the latest version of OSX . I haven't found any 'fluff' at all in this book and although it starts out on a level that only supposes that the reader has a basic acquaintance with computers in general but no specific knowledge of Mac OSX , it goes all the way up to a thorough description of "Darwin", scripting and development tools - the first half of the book laying the basics and the second half being on what I'd call a semi-professional level.

Summa summarum: Using the evaluation system in PcPro for value for money I'd say that paying USD 30- for the Windows book merits 1 on 5 as a great maximum while the book on SnowLeopard at only USD 23.75 merits 5 on 5!!!

Windows 7 The Black Book ... Read more

Product Description
Angels protect, assist, and serve us. Are you allowing them to help you??? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the best books on angels
This is one of the best books I've ever read on angels.Mac Hammond explains the purpose of angels so clearly.My favorite part is Mac Hammond's description of Satan, before and after his fall, and how it relates to us today as Christians.It's filled with scripture references and information.A great book!

Enlightening book of knowledge
This was the first book I had read by Mac Hammond and I loved it!!I couldn't put it down and I wanted to read it again and again.
Mac Hammond's writing on the spiritual realm is insightful and very easy to read and understand.He highlighted key points in our society such as power of our words, being a doer not just a hearer of the word and explained the adverse effects of what we say and do in our natural realm will effect us greatly in the spiritual realm.To me, personally, this book showed me the only thing standing between me and God's blessings is my mouth!!
I recommend it to everyone!This book will help you to know God, to draw near him on a very personal level.

Finally-Biblically correct and lifechanging info on Angels
The real truth about God's plan for angelic host in ministry to Christians....it is the best book on Angels available for those who put Jesus first in their lives.
Not another "New Age" angels how-to, but a guide to God's intended place for angels and their relation to people in His kingdom. This book expresses in a concise and exciting way how Christians may be ministered to by God through His angels.
Not heavy theology, but insightful quotations from Scripture help the reader understand God's way of protecting Christians and preparing their way to accomplish His Will through the angelic host.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Some might say we all want Linux with an OS X GUI. Mac for Linux Geeks will assist you step by step in migrating from Linux–based systems to OS X. Dual booting, virtualization, and building out the Linux environment on OS X are discussed in detail, along with a comparative view of well–known Mac tools and their open source equivalents. Written for daily use, this concise and dependable guide will steer you across the technical landscape from your chosen Linux flavor to the OS X promised land.

• Live with OS X, but work with Linux tools.
• Make the OS X–Linux hybrid a reality.
• Use Mac tools where possible and free software where appropriate.

Product Description
If Mac OS 9 can do it, you can do it too … From its Sherlock 2 search engine to its voiceprint passwords, Apple's new operating system is packed with ingenious features that make your life easier. This all-in-one guide explains how to make the most of OS 9's capabilities, whether you're a Mac veteran or you just bought your first iMac.Amazon.com Review
Ever stylish and seamlessly integrated with the Internet, the Macintosh may be enjoying the best days of its long career. Macs are powerful computers, capable of serious work, but they distinguish themselves with their intelligent way of interacting with users and their enthusiastic community of fans. MacWorld Mac OS 9 Bible unlocks the technical aspects of the Mac OS and the computers that run it, enabling you to begin realizing your personal- and business-computing ambitions right away. By doing that, it enables you to become part of the Mac community and start enjoying the little computer that Apple founder Steve Jobs called "insanely great."

The authors of this book use a rather text-heavy approach to their topic, which means they can communicate a lot of information about why things are as they are, in addition to the usual (and competently presented) how-to material. This style, with relatively few illustrations and procedures in paragraph (rather than numbered-list) form, will appeal to people who are willing to do more than glance at a page for a quick answer. Whether you're learning how to manage files, connecting to the Internet, or automating tasks with scripting, you'll appreciate the authors' detailed approach. More information about some subjects--especially networking with Windows and Linux machines--would make this book better, but MacWorld Mac OS 9 Bible is a great resource already. --David Wall

Topics covered: Mac OS 9 for novices, intermediate-level users, and (in some areas) power users. All user-level details (as opposed to those of interest to programmers or system administrators) receive attention. Basic tasks (using programs and files), intermediate-level tasks (connecting to the Internet, advanced multimedia, and performance tweaking), and advanced features (AppleScript and local area networking) get approximately equal coverage. Sherlock 2, speech recognition, and multiple user accounts are examined particularly closely. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

TOTAL CONTROL
This book gives you total control over OS 9.Nothing is left out and is presented to you in plain english.Don't be intimidated by the number of pages this book contains, you'll read every single page.

Comprehensive for the Mac Guru
Being a MS person, I needed a single book that could take me from mere basic familiarity with Mac OS to a comfortable level of fluency. This "bible" does just that: comprehensive and easy to follow, it issimply the best Mac book on the shelves for anyone who wants more than asuperficial or "dumbed down" and simple user's guide.I highlyrecommend this book.

Comprehensive and clear treatment
The Mac OS 9 seems to bring few improvements over the previous release, you may have thought. Not after you read and benefit from this comprehensive book. You will understand why the Mac is not widespread likethe Windows big brother, but it is the best of the two. ... Read more

Product Description

One night, I come in and find my mama in front of the TV, cryin'. And you know how it is when you're a little kid: your mama cryin', you gonna be cryin' in a minute.

"What's wrong, Mama?" I ask her.

"It's nothin', Bean. Sometimes I think sad thoughts."

"What thoughts?"

She didn't answer. She was lookin' at the TV. Black guy's talkin' to Ed Sullivan. I look at him, but I don't hear but a few words. And I can't make them out anyway, see, because suddenly my mama's laughin' to bust a gut. Her whole lap's shakin'. I got to hold on tight or get thrown clear across the room.

I turn to look at her -- this is the same woman that was cryin' a second ago? -- then turn back to the TV. "Who that man, Mama?"

She's still laughin'. Takes her a while to catch her breath. "Bill Cosby, son. He's a comedian."

A comedian?

"What's that?"

I look over at this Bill Cosby. I don't know what he's talkin' about -- but I know that, whatever it is, it's got power.

"That's what I want to be, Mama. A comedian. Make you laugh like that, maybe you never cry again."

By the tender age of five, Bernie Mac had found his calling: making others laugh. Now this amazing comedian delves deep inside to tell the poignant story of his childhood and the people who helped shape him into the comedian -- and the strong and self-reliant man -- he is today.

When Bernie was just sixteen, he lost his beloved mother to breast cancer. As he was growing up, she was a tough but loving teacher of life lessons and "Mac-isms," which would carry him through many hardships: You have to meet all of the challenges, big and small. Because how you start is how you finish. The loudest, clearest voice needs to be the one inside your own self. These lessons gave him the strength to choose hope over despair and to follow his dream of becoming a comedian.

Bernie recounts his slow rise to stardom, from doing stand-up at a church dinner at age eight to performing in amateur open-mike nights to earning a regular gig at Chicago's Cotton Club, and eventually to entertaining huge audiences onstage and in film and on television.

An inspiring memoir filled with hope-restoring humor, Maybe You Never Cry Again is a powerful testament to how a mother's love makes everything possible.

Customer Reviews (34)

Iain't lyin
I remember the news, and thinking, pneumonia? I'm still shocked, to be honest. 08 the same year we lost Carlin and Rudy Ray Moore. I'd been a fan of Mac since the Kings of Comedy, and I loved his show. The thing too, is how real he was, you felt like you knew him. Well, I did. This is an impressive biography, about a man who persevered through a lot of horrific life situations only to come out stronger. Toss all your self-help books in the trash and pick this up. Redd Foxx's inspiration is awesome too. Like I have all day to write this review.

I Ain't Lying...
...I couldn't put the book down!!! Anyone looking for pearls of wisdom, and I mean there are some rugged blue mother oysters of wisdom in this one, but 'Maybe You Never Cry Again' will give it to you straighter and realer than a stand-up routine of any length could ever tell.

A well put-together memoir from start to finish. The reading is not only rare and raw, but comes from a man with a heart as tender as it was big. The wisdom doesn't lay flat, but rather stands up to the telling of a persuasive entertainer. Told in crisp, jaunting, Bernie Mac fashion it's all in here; the values Bernie placed on becoming a man (stemming from his grandparents, his mother, and even his brother), his marriage & marriage, friends & friendships, his daughter & raising children, and how perspicaciously he modeled these values to steer his career. There is so much in here, and the book at approximately 300 pages is filled with pictures as well.

Overall the pacing is smooth and in quite a few spots especially touching. The comedy (true to Bernie Mac form) is fiercely honest, which includes many clips of his performances... some well-known, others less known. And the narration is unfailingly, over the top, all around inspirational. My gosh, can't nothing be more powerful than a man who values family!

Bernie Mac: Let me tell ya America this is one good book!!
Bernie's story is a motivational speech and tear jerker rolled into one. I was completely inspired by his struggles in life and encouragement from his mother. Bernie's story is one that shows that a dedicated parents engagement and involvement in their children's life makes all the difference. It was a good read, narrated in Bernie's style. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Great book!
This is a great book! It was warm, touching, and funny. He tells the story of his life with passion. Not just telling the facts, but painting a picture of emotions behind the events. - I've read quite a few autobiographies. I would have to say that this is one of the best that I have read.

BERNIE MAC, I LOVE YOU!
This is the second book I have read and purchased. This is a wonderful book, I wish it were longer. He writes from the heart. My only regret is that I never met this fine man before his death in August 2008. Enjoy this book, buy it, find it in a library, wherever you can get your hands on it. I also recommned watching any films Bernie has made, if you are a Mac fan you'll love this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Get Started Fast with Objective-C 2.0 Programming for OS X, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Product Description
Have more fun and get more done with your Mac!

Now you can get the most out of your Mac, whether it's an iMac, MacBook, or Mac mini. How to Do Everything: Mac shows you how to set up and customize your Mac and use all of the built-in tools and applications, such as iTunes, Mail, Safari, and the iLife and iWork suites. The revolutionary new features available in Mac OS X Leopard are also covered, such as Quick Look, Time Machine, and Spaces. Plus, you'll get details on hardware and peripherals, networking, troubleshooting, and maintenance. This is your must-have Mac guide!

• Manage files, folders, and applications with the Finder
• Connect to the Internet and explore with Safari
• Use iWork for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations
• Edit, organize, and share your pictures with iPhoto
• Master iTunes and iMovie for music, video, and movies
• Tweak the System Preferences
• Synchronize your Mac with your iPod, PDA, or cell phone
• Set up a wired or wireless network
• Dual-boot between Mac OS X and Windows
• Add external devices via USB and FireWire
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and back up your Mac

Customer Reviews (5)

Book order
Purchased this book online and it was received in a timely manner and in great condition; truly got what I paid for.

Transition from Windows to Mac OS X
Having transitioned from Windows to Mac, I have been reading every book that I can get my hands on to become more adept to operating my new notebook (Macbook Pro 15").

This resource covers the basics from navigating through the Graphical User Interface (GUI), the Dock, Finder, iTunes, and iLife. There is extensive coverage on using iMovie, iWork, iPhoto, Safari, and other accessory programs that are included (except for iWork).

Every aspect of operation from printing and faxing to connecting to the network is covered. Tweaking the system, troubleshooting, backing up the system and adjusting system preferences is very useful. The author also includes internet links for more useful information and suggests programs based upon what tasks you need accomplished (i.e. System Maintenance or Antivirus).

Text is clearly organized, and there are black and white photographs to guide the reader. "Did you know?" boxes are scattered throughout the book for additional information to operate your system.

SUMMARY

This is a great introduction to the OS X Leopard.

Excellent Book for ALL I-MAC USERS
This book is an excellent resource/must have for all I-MAC users! Excellent tutorial without the Boredom Nonsense.

BEST MAC BOOK THAT I HAVE EVER PURCHASED!
This book, by far is the best book on the current Macintosh that I have ever purchased. It covers ALL of those 'secret' things in a very logical and pleasant (not too geeky) way, and has lots of tips for those who (like me) have been using the Mac for 14 years (started with the Apple II)... I just bought a big 24" duel core Intel iMac with everything!!!! This covers the Intel versions on, including some Leopard... Time machine, all the extras, all the behind the scenes stuff...lots of well-illustrated diagrams and good copy, too. Good history, too and even some info on the development of Apple and it's superior design ability. Get it! You just CAN'T know everything!!!!!! A great and pleasant reference book.

Stuffed with iPod-cool eye candy, but where's the hot Leopard sizzle?
Two stars for the author's valiant effort, three demerits to the editor/publisher staff for putting this incomplete beta version of a "How-To" manual on the shelf. I bought this book to ease the transition from creaky Windows to robust OS-X. Other than finding my bearings with the Dock and the Finder, and far too many glowing page fillers about those esoteric OS recreational applets, I found little of practical productivity use - other than a gushy 40-page discourse on iWork (the second coming of MS-Office?) - until I discovered that the MacPro Leopard version offers iWork trialware neither as a Dock icon nor as a file in the 'Applications' folder (even Searchlight couldn't come up with a reference).

The unfamiliar (to PC users) keyboard isn't clarified at all, and the presence of two Control keys - along with the distinct cloverleaf Command keys on the slim Apple keyboard - only adds to the confusion for PC keyboard switchers (Ctrl-C, for instance). Far more serious is failure to mention that the CD/DVD drive is accessed with a keyboard button next to the [F12] key, rather than with a screwdriver pried under the slot's cover. Further on that topic, the top row of function keys does double duty - primarily adjusting screen, sound and playback options - but requiring the additional press of a function [Fn] key to signal when you want the ubiquitous [F1] to [F12] shortcuts for application software ... perhaps Apple's new slim keyboard took the author off guard? Advice for keeping the Finder's columns aligned after tedious adjustments is nowhere to be found -- drove me banana's!

Incredibly, there isn't even the briefest instruction for installing application software - it's as if the Mac needs only the packaged applets to sing, dance and entertain. The reader is just assumed to have a broadband connection, nothing on dialup modems (not to mention the unflattering forum reviews of the Apple modem) for those living in the boonies, or on the road with a notebook. For instance, the 352 MB Leopard upgrade to version 2 would require a nearly 24-hour continuous connection that would give my ISP fits. Sure, I went to the local Kinko's to download the disk image ... but where do I go from there? Not a word of help to be found. Bootcamp is nicely covered; there is a hint that Parallels might be a more flexible solution for co-installing MS-Windows (stick with well-proven, albeit dowdy, Win-XP!), but the author seems unaware of the competing VM-Fusion utility that is optimized for virtualization with Intel multicore processors.

In short: this is an earnestly conceived manual, but with too many vital parts lacking to survive its premature birth. It might serve as a very basic personal entertainment guide, but fizzles out in substance and depth for productivity workers. My suggestion? Stick with the "Dummies" series for the basics. ... Read more

Product Description
The latest update of Robin Williams's bestselling guide will have you working miracles in no time with Snow Leopard, the fastest and most reliable version of the Mac OS X ever. With this book, you can learn in your own way, whether it's working through the lessons from start to finish, jumping straight to step-by-step exercises about new features, or looking up just what you need to know at that moment. There are hundreds of exciting tools and hidden gems in your Macintosh. And with the gentle, yet expert, hand of Robin Williams guiding you along the way, you will learn to take full advantage of all that Snow Leopard has to offer. If you are new to Mac OS X, you'll learn to use your Mac with help from a world-renowned teacher. From there, you can move on to customize it to suit the way you work. And if you've been using Mac OS X already, you'll learn to use all of the new features in Snow Leopard. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Well...not what I expected
I wasn't thrilled with it. I found that, even as a new Mac user, this book is too basic as far as it goes concerning Snow Leopard itself. Any user of a PC would know most of the stuff contained in here concerning basics just by fooling around for a couple days. True, the book gives direction and so one would waste less time, and the book does contain chapters on using specific features, but I was hoping for more info on how to perform basic tasks like unistalling applications, drivers and so on. Along with other maintenance tasks I'm used to doing in Windows XP Pro.

Course I can't say a lot for Snow Leopard in general as a very stable platform. Mine has not been since I purchased a Mac Pro with Snow Leopard. There've been chronic problems with it, and problems with Safari as well. XP is a better platform overall, though I'm still glad to get away from PCs, frought with their own host of problems/issues. (I have Windows installed in Bootcamp as a matter of necessity in a business world that uses only Windows.)

To be fair (and giving it 3 stars), I'm sure the book is fine for people looking for intros to a number of bundled features, from using I-Tunes to trying to figure out Time Machine (which is no Restore Point, believe me!). But that's not what I expected in a manual that says on the cover: "Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard." I expected a manual on understanding and using the platform itself to solve problems with the platform itself (yes akin to Windows various system tools and so on, which Mac OSes seem to lack in general), not on using the applications bundled with it. The title is a little misleading.

If your thing is playing with all the mini-applications, then go for it. If you work on computers in a more professional capacity, look for a different book.

Informative Book - Helpful tips
Very informative book.Our office recently went "all mac" and the book has answered a lot of questions for myself and my team.

Stellar as always!
Robin Williams never ceases to amaze. As a Mac user for many, many years, it's always wonderful to pick up her latest and see what the new Mac brings. The format is easy to follow and if I need to find how to do something quickly, it's easy to do. Kudos to Ms. Williams and Mr. Tollett.

Snow Leopard
I gave this book as a gift and haven't had any feed back from the "receiver". I leafed through it and it looks like it had bunches of good information for this new Mac program.

asparagus
great vegetable, one that we should always consider on a regular basis. the book is good as well, but not as tasty as the asparagus. ... Read more