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Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Mountain Lion Edition 1st Edition
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Ready to move to the Mac? This incomparable guide helps you make a smooth transition. New York Times columnist and Missing Manuals creator David Pogue gets you past three challenges: transferring your stuff, assembling Mac programs so you can do what you did with Windows, and learning your way around OS X.
Learning to use a Mac is not a piece of cake, but once you do, the rewards are oh-so-much better. You won't find questionable firewalls or inefficient permissions. Just a beautiful machine with a thoroughly reliable system. Whether you’re using Windows XP or Windows 7, we’ve got you covered.
- Transfer your stuff. Moving files from a PC to a Mac is the easy part. This guide gets you through the tricky things: extracting your email, address book, calendar, Web bookmarks, buddy list, desktop pictures, and MP3 files.
- Re-create your software suite. Big-name programs from Microsoft, Adobe, and others are available in both Mac and Windows versions, but hundreds of other programs are Windows-only. Learn the Macintosh equivalents and how to move data to them.
- Learn OS X Mountain Lion. Once you’ve moved into the Macintosh mansion, it’s time to learn your way around. You’re in good hands with the author of Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, the #1 bestselling guide to OS X.
- ISBN-101449330290
- ISBN-13978-1449330293
- Edition1st
- PublisherO'Reilly Media
- Publication dateOctober 23, 2012
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions7 x 1.8 x 9.19 inches
- Print length762 pages
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About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : O'Reilly Media; 1st edition (October 23, 2012)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 762 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1449330290
- ISBN-13 : 978-1449330293
- Item Weight : 2.65 pounds
- Dimensions : 7 x 1.8 x 9.19 inches
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

David Pogue was the New York Times weekly tech columnist from 2000 to 2013. He’s a five-time Emmy winner for his stories on "CBS News Sunday Morning," a New York Times bestselling author, a five-time TED speaker, and host of 20 NOVA science specials on PBS.
He’s written or cowritten more than 120 books, including dozens in the "Missing Manual" tech series, which he created in 1999; six books in the "For Dummies" line (including Macs, Magic, Opera, and Classical Music); two novels (one for middle-schoolers); his three bestselling "Pogue’s Basics" books of tips and shortcuts (on Tech, Money, and Life); his new how-to guides, "iPhone Unlocked" and "Mac Unlocked"; and his 2021 magnum opus, "How to Prepare for Climate Change."
After graduating summa cum laude from Yale in 1985 with distinction in music, Pogue spent ten years conducting and arranging Broadway musicals in New York. He has won a Loeb Award for journalism, two Webby awards, and an honorary doctorate in music. He lives with his wife Nicki and their blended brood of five spectacular children in Connecticut and San Francisco.
For a complete list of Pogue’s columns and videos, and to sign up to get them by email, visit https://authory.com/DavidPogue. On Twitter, he’s @pogue; on the web, he’s at www.davidpogue.com. He welcomes civil email exchanges at david@pogueman.com.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book informative and helpful for new users. They appreciate the simple, clear language and easy navigation to specific issues. The book helps them transition from Windows to Mac with its how-to guides and humor. The indexing is thorough and the Kindle edition allows keyword searches.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book informative and helpful for new users. They say it's a valuable resource that helps them understand the differences between the two operating systems. The book provides an excellent introduction to Mac use for those coming from Windows. It covers all the basics efficiently and effectively, with wit.
"...it presumes a certain familiarity with computers, it presumes no prior knowledge of Macs...." Read more
"...It does have a website however, where you can research further on a topic...." Read more
"...Overall, the book is very helpful in getting you started, because, really, you need help from someone or a manual to use the Mac well, even if, as..." Read more
"...This book clearly explains the differences (even between the MAC desktops and laptops) and identifies areas that the new MAC user may find..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to use and navigate. They appreciate the concise language, clear indexing, and helpful how-to guides. The instructions are excellent and well-written with a sense of humor. The book is thorough and helpful for new users.
"...Apple seems to think that their user interface is so intuitive that no special instructional tools are needed...." Read more
"...I had to purchase this book to help me with the basics. It is well organized and informative...." Read more
"...Clearly indexed and simple for non-geeks like to me to find the PC equivalent and understand how to make it work on a MAC. Thank You David Pogue" Read more
"...The book is over 700 pages long and can be quite wordy. The book certainly has a lot of detail on various features of Mountain Lion, the Mac OS...." Read more
Customers find the book helpful for transitioning from Windows to Mac. It teaches them how to move from a PC running Windows 7 to an iMac, and answers their questions about switching operating systems. Readers recommend it for PC users switching to Mac and say it helped them learn the operating system well.
"...This book is outstanding. It's great, because it teaches you how to move from Windows to Mac...." Read more
"...wandering around OS X without yet having this manual, I learned the operating system well...." Read more
"laid out very well. Extremely helpful in the transition from windows to mac, in laymen's terms...." Read more
"...Recommended for PC users switching to Mac." Read more
Customers find the book's indexing helpful. They say it's organized and easy to navigate to specific issues. The Kindle edition allows keyword searches for anything they need to look for.
"...And having this book in Kindle edition means I can do keyword searches for anything that I need to look for...." Read more
"...Clearly indexed and simple for non-geeks like to me to find the PC equivalent and understand how to make it work on a MAC. Thank You David Pogue" Read more
"...I like reading the Kindle version on my new Mac. It's searchable. I can try everything out while I read about it...." Read more
"The book is organized and searchable. I have the Kindle edition and I open it on my computer then search for what I need...." Read more
Customers appreciate the humor in the book. They say it keeps the information from being too dry.
"...And then a great reference. All written with a bit of humor to keep it from getting too dry." Read more
"...Instructions are excellent and written with a sense of humour." Read more
"Good Info with Humor..." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2012After 27 years of working with Windows and DOS (and before that, CPM!), I finally bought a Mac. To help with the transition to the new and sometimes wacky world of OS X, I enlisted the help of David Pogue, whose work with the NY Times and the Missing Manual series I was already familiar with. I couldn't have chosen a better guide.
For people like me who are making the switch from Windows to Mac OS, this is the perfect book to get. Although it presumes a certain familiarity with computers, it presumes no prior knowledge of Macs. So it strikes just the right balance between presuming too much and presuming too little. With Pogue's assistance, I have gotten up to speed with OS X in particular and with the Apple way in general in short time and with little effort.
Apple seems to think that their user interface is so intuitive that no special instructional tools are needed. Nothing could be farther from the truth. But with Pogue's help, even one brand new to all things Apple can achieve a comfort level fairly quickly. I'm looking forward to working my way through the rest of this excellent volume.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014I purchased my first Mac computer (15" Macbook Pro w/ Retina display) last fall. I had never used OS X before, but consider myself to be a savvy Windows user (up to Windows 7, don't have any desire to move to Win8!). I needed a good resource to learn how to use the Mac. This book is outstanding. It's great, because it teaches you how to move from Windows to Mac. If you did it this way in Windows, now you do it this way in Mac. That's exactly what I was looking for.
I feel completely comfortable in OS X now. And having this book in Kindle edition means I can do keyword searches for anything that I need to look for. And since my MacBook has a Kindle app, I can have this manual sitting on my MacBook for whenever I need it. If you're new to the Mac and want to learn how to use it, you'll love this book!
- Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2013I recently purchased a new Mac after decades of using a PC. I got so tired of the Windows updates and problems that I thought I would give the Mac a try. I had to purchase this book to help me with the basics. It is well organized and informative. The only reason I did not give it five stars is due to the fact that I was hoping it would give more detail to some topics such as the Apple software and hardware. It does have a website however, where you can research further on a topic. And lets face it, when I run into a serious how-to problem, I can usually find the answer on the internet! I would recommend this book for any novice Mac person to get them started.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2013I recently bought a MacBook Pro and then bought this book. Pogue can be a good writer, but often gets carried away in his praise of the Mac and his strained efforts to be funny. The book is over 700 pages long and can be quite wordy. The book certainly has a lot of detail on various features of Mountain Lion, the Mac OS. Overall, not a bad investment, but I would have preferred more list/bullet points and less long paragraphs. I also do not need to be gushing about the Mac's superior system at every turn. I am not yet convinced that the Mac is more "intuitive" for an experienced Windows user. I think it is not. And, I am not yet convinced on the often-touted idea that the Mac is a great tool for photo and video editing. Maybe it is, but I have yet to be convinced. Compared to many Windows PCs, I have not seen a Mac that has a Blu Ray built-in drive that burns high definition disks (many cameras and camcorders now capture high definition video), and the software to edit and burn such video to disk is very limited on the Mac. Overall, I think the book is good in helping with the introduction to the Mac, but it should stop the uncritical praise. Indeed, for many, it is not really a "switch" to the Mac, but really just trying a new laptop or desktop while still using Windows PCs as well. Overall, the book is very helpful in getting you started, because, really, you need help from someone or a manual to use the Mac well, even if, as in my case, this may not be the first time you have ventured into the high-cost Mac world. So, if you can read quickly through the long paragraphs, withstand the efforts to be converted to an uncritical Mac salesperson, then you will have a good book and a good reference guide.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2013Having used PC for the last 30 years and watching as Microsoft destroyed their basic , good operating systems ( XP) in a relentless game changing mission to P-off their clients - I refused to re-learn another crap system that is called Windows 8 that conflicted with all my current PC files, I needed a new computer, The Microsoft Nazis would not sell a new computer without Windows 8 OS system bundled into the unit. Therefore I took my money and made the leap to MAC. I've never owned a mac computer and was worried, but this book has been a Godsend. Clearly indexed and simple for non-geeks like to me to find the PC equivalent and understand how to make it work on a MAC. Thank You David Pogue
- Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2013This book is a great read and a great reference book. I just switched from a MS machine to a MacBookPro (Laptop) at the same time I switched from a flip to an iPhone. The phone was pretty intuitive (although I bought the missing manual for that too). However, navigating the Mac can be frustrating for long-time MS users. This book clearly explains the differences (even between the MAC desktops and laptops) and identifies areas that the new MAC user may find challenging. I don't regret moving to Apple products for one second...this book is part of the reason. With the help of this book, I have found that Apple products are very easy to use and that my frustration with the switch was a result of over thinking the navigation after years of using MS machines.
Top reviews from other countries
- ak1995_ukReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Really should have been in the box
This is my favourite series in computing reading source and have never failed me and have no reserve in recommend it to any new and intermediate users
- AllegroReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable guide
The title is true, it is the missing guide. Intelligently written without techno guff. Highly comprehensive and rewarding to have to hand
- Robert John ArisReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2013
4.0 out of 5 stars Switching to the MAC
The book is extremely comprehensive & I would have given it 5 stars except that I found it unable to help me resolve a MAIL problem (able to receive Emails but not send them). However this may have been my unfamiliarity with iMAC methods because I managed to resolve the problem later.
As a manual there is more within than most of us will ever require!
- SPorterReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2021
2.0 out of 5 stars What an irritating book!
There's lots in there except, it seems, what you need to know! The most basic fact (and difference from the PC) is the shutting down procedure. It simply isn't explained properly - I still can't see what to do apart from what would be 'crashing' a PC - and you are even prompted to leave the Mac on permanently. How American: how wasteful and how harmful to the environment!
The writing is sometimes insultingly childish - "Power On Dude" - and this gets in the way of a straightforward understanding of some of the instructions.
The author seems too intent at times on showing what a 'cool dude' he is instead of just giving it straight. Irritating, like trying to listen to music with a buzzing in your ears.
- EllieDReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal
How to learn lots about the mac, especially when you are new to it, loads of very useful tips. Indispensible.