OS X book for absolute beginner?

Aluvus

Platinum Member
Apr 27, 2006
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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

pics?
Oct 9, 1999
5,185
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david_pogue
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
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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.
 

speg

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2000
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www.speg.com
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

Senior member
May 14, 2007
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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

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
52,476
7,694
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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

Platinum Member
Apr 27, 2006
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Thanks for the suggestions. The links look very helpful, even if they're not books :)

Any other suggestions?