Whatever your reason for diving into the Aqua-filled world of Mac OS X, rest assured that you made the right choice. Thing is, Apple has made Mac OS X quite different from earlier Mac operating systems, and it's way different than Windows, so you may need a little help finding your way through that big, complicated operating system – not to mention all that great software that comes bundled with it.

That's why veteran Mac-scribe Bob LeVitus has written a not-so-big, not-so-complicated Dummies book about Mac OS X. Recently revised for version 10.2 (a.k.a. Jaguar), Mac OS X For Dummies, 2nd Edition, shows you what Mac OS X is all about, without boring you silly, confusing you to the point of frustration, or poking you with sharp objects. You'll discover the information and advice you need in a language that you can understand (unlike those other computer books that shall remain nameless).

  Inside Mac OS X For Dummies, 2nd Edition, you'll find the following topics and more:

• Setting up and turning on your new Mac
• Getting around on the Desktop and in the Dock
• Finding stuff with the Finder
• Working with Mac OS X applications and files
• Surfing the Internet – Mac OS X style
• Sharing and printing files and documents
• Making your Mac your own: Setting System Preferences
• Troubleshooting – Yes, even Mac OS X crashes every once in a while
• Top Ten lists on how to speed up your Mac experience, accessories you should consider, Web sites all Mac freaks should know about, and valuable third-party software

No matter what you use your Mac for – whether it's to surf the Internet, watch DVDs, listen to online music, or any number of other reasons – Mac OS X For Dummies, 2nd Edition, will get you well on your way to becoming a bona fide Mac guru.

Amazon.com Review
In Mac OS X for Dummies, Mac Daddy Bob LeVitus explains how to use the title operating system for everyday computing tasks. He does a great job of explaining--in terms well-suited to people who lack much computer experience--how to run applications, connect to the Internet, find information, and communicate with others. Plus, the Dummies format suits operating systems like Mac OS very well.

The real excitement of Mac OS X is that, beneath the surface, it's very similar to Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) Unix, an extraordinarily powerful and well-loved operating system. Apple calls this Unix core by the name of Darwin, and it comes complete with a C compiler, a whole suite of GNU-based development tools, the MySQL database, the Apache Web server, and a ton of other utilities that will open the floodgates to open-source development of software for the Macintosh.

LeVitus touches on practically none of this. True, this is a Dummies book, but it tells only half the story. The book documents Mac OS X only to the extent that it looks and runs like Mac OS 9.1. It does a good job at that, but don't turn to this book if you're interested in learning why Mac OS X is so exciting. Read LeVitus's work only if you happen to have a computer that runs Mac OS X, have very little Mac experience, and aren't interested in doing anything at the administrator or programmer levels. If you meet those criteria, you'll be very happy with this book. --David Wall

Topics covered: Mac OS X for the casual and inexperienced Mac user. The author explains how to manipulate files and folders, run programs, use Sherlock, and take advantage of Internet connectivity--the latter coverage deals with iTools nicely. An appendix explains how to install Mac OS X, and how to make it coexist on one machine with Mac OS 9.1.