OS X book for absolute beginner?

[Aluvus]

What book would you folks recommend for a Mac OS beginner? I'm looking for what you would recommend to your mom... because it's for my mom.

She's pretty much starting from square one: a very small amount of experience with Windows, none with a Mac. Her needs are pretty basic (browsing the web, looking at pictures, listening to music). The hardware is the current (unibody) Macbook with Snow Leopard.

 

[dwell]

 

[suklee]

Don't forget Apple's site, even though not a book you'll find lots of good information there:

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

 

[Kaido]

If she's a reader, definitely pick up the Missing Manual book that dwell linked to by Pogue. It's the best, hands-down. When I switched to Mac back in the Tiger days, it got me up to speed really quickly. His writing style is EXTREMELY easy to read, it's almost like going through a Harry Potter book lol.

 

[mshan]

http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#iphoto

 

[speg]

I picked up one of the "Missing Manual" books when I got my first Mac - but that might be a bit too technical for a Mom. Maybe something from the "Dummies" series?

 

[rdp6]

The SL Missing Manual is on my Christmas want list; I wonder if the iMovie 09 missing manual is worth getting?

I can make a movie but don't have insight / talent / luck to make anything special at this point.

Also, 24 hours to import & analyze 90 minutes of 24 Mbps AVCHD sucks. They really need to include a scheduler or at least a way to stop & resume such long processes.

 

[Kaido]

The SL Missing Manual is on my Christmas want list; I wonder if the iMovie 09 missing manual is worth getting?

I can make a movie but don't have insight / talent / luck to make anything special at this point.

Also, 24 hours to import & analyze 90 minutes of 24 Mbps AVCHD sucks. They really need to include a scheduler or at least a way to stop & resume such long processes.

If you're a reader, yeah. I like video tutorials and use Lynda.com ($25/month unlimited video tutorials).

Wow...24 hours is an incredibly long time. Spend $39 and get VoltaicHD:

http://www.shedworx.com/voltaichd

 

[Aluvus]

Thanks for the suggestions. The links look very helpful, even if they're not books

Any other suggestions?