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User's Guide to Mac OS X's Core


Book Review byO'Reilly Releases "Running Mac OS X Panther"

Apple has shown no mercy to the Macintosh power user--that dedicated individual who knows his or her machine thoroughly inside and out: what makes it tick, and what makes it tick better. In the rapid evolution of Mac OS X, there have been three major releases since its introduction in March 2001. Each new release challenges the power user to conquer the learning curve once more, and Mac OS X Panther is no exception. With more than 100 new features, including a new Finder, there's plenty to master. Fortunately, power users have a secret weapon in "Running Mac OS X Panther" by James Duncan Davidson.

This book takes readers deep inside Mac OS X's core, revealing the inner workings of Panther for those who want to get the most out of their system.

According to Davidson, the book is written for Mac users or power users and assumes that readers will already have some experience with the operating system and computers in general. "This book will help you master the latest version of Mac OS X. You'll learn how to get the most out of the pretty GUI as well as how to dive into the Unix layer of the system to take fine-grained control when you need to," Davidson explains. "It's the perfect guide for users who want to customize, tweak, and otherwise generally rev up Mac OS X Panther."

The book's easy-to-follow format is organized into three primary parts: Getting Started, an introduction to the operating system; Administration Essentials, a guide to the tools you need to examine how your system is running and adjust it when necessary; and Networking and Network Services, a look at the ways Mac OS X Panther interfaces with the world around it.

Topics covered include:

Written for readers who are inquisitive and confident enough to dig into their Macintosh system, "Running Mac OS X Panther" doesn't waste time talking about silly Finder tips or glossing over the messier details. This book dives right in and explains how Panther works. You may not be a Mac guru when you start this book, but once you've read it, you'll be well on your way.

User's Guide to Mac OS X's Core
James Duncan Davidson; 306 pages, $39.95 US, $57.95 CA, from O'Reilly (Click here and save up to 30%); 0402-09; Click above for more details or to purchase.

Reviewed by Kathryn Barrett

 
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O'Reilly & Associates is a favorite information source for computer technologies and caters to user groups. The company's books, conferences, and web sites bring to light the knowledge of technology innovators. O'Reilly books, known for the animals on their covers, occupy a treasured place on the shelves of the developers building the next generation of software. O'Reilly conferences and summits bring alpha geeks and forward-thinking business leaders together to shape the revolutionary ideas that spark new industries. From the Internet to XML, open source, .NET, Java, and web services, O'Reilly puts technologies on the map. For more information: http://www.oreilly.com
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