Running Mac OS X Tiger: A No-Compromise Power User's Guide to the Mac

Doesn't waste any time with fluff. Just dives in to interesting details and what you want to know.

'Running Mac OS X Tiger' by James Duncan Davidson is for those Mac users that want to get beyond simply surfing the Internet, writing some emails and moving files from one folder to the next. Written in an easy to follow manner, this book will take you from the basics of using the computer that you love so much and move on to the next level. From scheduling tasks to learning more about the filesystem to creating accounts and managing users, this book is a joy for anyone that likes to tinker around and learn new things. Chapter Overview: 01. History 02. Installation 03. Overview of Tiger 04. Terminal and Shell 05. System Startup and Login 06. Users and Groups 07. Open Directory 08. Files and Permissions 09. Disks and Filesystems 10. Printing 11. Networking 12. Monitoring the System 13. Automating Tasks 14. Preferences and Defaults Recommending this book is a piece of cake. This has the brevity that I desire, yet the dense writing that I also seek. The chapters are logically laid out, and it's a joy instead of a task to read through this text and play around. If you want to learn more about how to make your Mac a powerful tool, pick up this book, you will not be disappointed. ***** RECOMMENDED

James Duncan Davidson and Jason Deraleau's Running MAC OS X Tiger: A No-Compromise Power User's Guide To The Mac is for advanced OS X users who want more details on customizing Tiger. From creating user accounts and handling files and permissions to managing printers and monitoring activities, Running MAC OS X Tiger is packed with shortcuts, tips, and customization options.

Are you a user or power user of Mac OS X? If you are, then this book is for you! Authors Jason Deraleau and James Duncan Davidson, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that will help you master the latest version of Mac OS X. Deraleau and Davidson, begin by discussing how the Mac OS X system operates to this day. Then, the authors show you how to get going with Tiger and help Tiger get going on your Mac. They continue by examining diverse tools and how they work together to form Apple's next-gen OS. Next, the authors show you how to use the Terminal and how to configure the various shells on the system. Then, they look at what gets executed when and what the various boot options are. They also dive into the question of why there are multiple users on the system and why they are gathered into groups. Next, the authors show how Open Directory works and how to modify data contained within it. Then, they explain the various attributes and permissions that a file can have and how to work with them. The authors continue by giving you the lowdown on the different kinds of filesystems you can use and the pros and cons of each. They then give you a detailed look at how printing works, and how to use print servers, how to connect with Windows-hosted printers, and even how to share your ink jet printer with Windows users. The authors also show you how the networking system works including wireless, spontaneous networking, and Internet Connection Sharing. They continue by covering the Console, System Profiler, Activity Monitor, and many other tools as well as give you the skinny on what to look for in your system's logfiles. Next, the authors dive into using Automator and other tools for automating your Mac. Finally, the authors show you how to modify preferences stored in the system in a variety of ways. In this excellent book, you'll learn how to get the most out of the pretty GUI. You will also learn how to dive into the Unix layer of the system to take fine grained control when you need to.

This is a fine introduction to the Mac OS X operating system. If you have any interest in diving below the icons, but don't know anything about Unix this book is for you. Screenshots are plentiful, but are used effectively. Some of the more difficult and esoteric Unix topics, like file permissions, are illustrated and described well.