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Mac OS X: The Complete Reference
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by Jesse Feiler
Sales Rank: 1116328
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Discount: 34 %
$0.30
At Amazon
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Paperback: 763 pages
Publisher: MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES; 1 edition May 25, 2001
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0072126639
ISBN-13: 978-0072126631
Product Dimensions:
9.2 x 7.4 x 1.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
Product Review
On the surface, Mac OS X isn't all that different from Mac OS 9.1. Indeed, most users will be just as happy with the slightly older version of the Macintosh operating system as with version X. But for people who have longed for a more robust kernel with true preemptive multitasking, better graphics support, and a stronger suite of programming tools, Mac OS X is manna. Like too many other books that choose to focus on Mac OS X as just another Mac System for everyday home and office users, Mac OS X: The Complete Reference explores the new Mac OS in terms of its basic features before delving into its new architecture, server capabilities, and BSD Unix-derived features.
Feiler's coverage of the new features isn't terribly deep--readers might expect more from a "Complete Reference." In explaining the new low-level architecture of Mac OS X, for example, Feiler does a fine job of explaining that Mach manages system resources and that an implementation of BSD Unix handles tasks associated with networking, the filesystem, and threads of execution. Great, but there's nothing about configuring a machine at the BSD command line or the "Unix way" of thinking about hardware and settings. Read this book if you're a beginner or interested in a high-level guide to the new features, but look elsewhere for deep documentation. --David Wall
Topics covered: The features of Mac OS X, explained at a level suitable for everyday users, with some sections of interest to administrators and power users. Specialized sections address architectural fundamentals, hardware and software setup, networking, and programming with AppleScript, Carbon, and Cocoa.
From Library Journal
A timely and complete reference for OS X is in order. Maria Langer's Mac OS X (Computer Media, LJ 7/01) faltered, but Feiler has come through. He clearly covers a range of concepts, including the Aqua interface, networking, applications, and, surprisingly, programming OS X with Carbon and Cocoa (see above). This volume lives up to its nameDthe programming aspect is a nice bonus. Highly recommended for libraries catering to Mac users.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Customer Reviews & Comments
As a Mac power user for almost ten years, I've seen quite a few sad Macs, bombs, and blinking question marks on monitors. What I hadn't seen before upgrading my PowerBook to a TiBook with OS X about six months ago was a Unix command-line interface. Until recently, I had dealt with major OS X crashes by rebooting in OS 9.2.2 (a.k.a. Classic) and then resetting the Startup Disk control panel preference to OS 10.1.4 (OS X) and hitting the restart button. One day, I was tweaking some data in the NetInfo Manager utility and some related library files, and somehow I accidentally trashed my root password. When I rebooted, I encountered the command-line interface on a black screen, with a line of text that read 'etc/master.passwd not found.' I entered my System Administrator and sysadmin (root) logins and passwords to no avail. Next, I reached for my copy of 'Mac OS X: The Complete Reference' by Jesse Feiler, which I had received as a gift but had never had occasion to use much. 'Using the Command Line,' Chapter 21, is intended for use with the OS X Terminal utility application, not for use in the situation I have described above. However, I entered almost every command listed there, from 'sudo' to 'chmod' to 'mkdir.' Nothing worked. I couldn't access the Mac Network Administration Help file for this problem because I needed to be logged onto the OS X network to do so, and I couldn't log on. I looked in this 'Complete Reference' for the troubleshooting section, and there wasn't one. The index didn't even have a listing for 'troubleshooting,' except for one on 'troubleshooting utilities,' which wouldn't have been useful for this kind of problem. I rebooted into Classic from a CD and then did enough online research to figure out that the best way for me to solve the problem would be to do a backup of my files, reinitialize the hard disk, and reinstall the OS X and OS 9.2 system software, applications, and files. Next, I decided to partition the 48 GB hard drive. (The new TiBook had shipped with OS X and Classic pre-installed on one partition.) I consulted the 'Complete Reference' for some advice on partitioning. On page 103, there was one long paragraph that ended with this recommendation: 'One strategy is to create a small partition - with a very stable set of software - on your hard disk.' In other words, this book recommended that I create two partitions, one small (used for rebooting purposes) and one large (for everything else). There was no information on formatting with Unix, which it is possible to do by using Disk Utility. On pages 239-41, I found more vague information on using Disk Utility for partitioning that didn't answer my questions. 'Complete Reference' made the assumption that unless one was a software developer or tester, there would be no need for more than two partitions on one's internal hard drive. I had been doing extensive beta testing with OS X software applications, not industry related or for fun but out of necessity because so many of my apps for OS 9.x had not interfaced well, and some not at all, with OS X. 'Mac OS X: The Complete Reference' is an 800-page general overview. It gives a succinct history of the Mac OS evolution from 1984 to today, including chapters on Classic, Carbon, and Cocoa. From my perspective, the information presented in this book is too simplistic for most Mac users. The 'Using Mac OS X' section may be helpful to first-time Mac users who prefer a nonintuitive approach to learning their way around the Aqua environment. The information on iTools is nothing more than what is available at the Apple site. The 'Networking' chapter has very basic information that could be useful to Internet and Intranet novices. I think the lack of troubleshooting advice is a glaring omission. Based on other reviewers' helpful advice, I'm purchasing John Ray's 'Mac OS X Unleashed' to assist me with what's 'under the hood' with OS X, and Robin Pogue's 'Missing Manual' for some new 'tips and tricks.'
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Mac OS X: The Complete Reference
Discount: 34 %
Available from Amazon
Price: $0.30
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