by Dave Greenbaum
The Mac OS X Lion Project Book, despite its title, isn’t as much a book about Lion as it is a book about how to use a Mac with Lion to do certain neat projects. Most Mac users can figure out email and surfing the web, but what about taking your DVD collection and putting it on your Mac?
Before purchasing this book, read through the projects. Even if one of them interests you, the book will be a great value. If you aren’t interested in any of this, then it’s probably worth taking a pass. Projects are as follows:
- Organizing your files
- Mastering Spotlight searches
- Printing to save paper
- Installing applications purchased at the Mac App store
- Providing Remote Technical Support
- Remote controlling a Mac in your home
- Accessing your files remotely from another Mac
- Using DropBox
- Copying DVD content to your Mac
- Basic photo editing and touch ups
- Creating a slideshow
- Using Rapid Weaver for a family website
- RSS Feeds
- Configuring TextExpander
- Full screen mode to avoid distractions
- Audio Podcasting
- Setting up Time Machine alongside a cloning solution
- Using your signature in a PDF
Each of these projects are short—just four or five pages. The book is easy to understand and the projects are fun and relevant. They assume a basic to intermediate knowledge of Lion. No explanations of files or how to click a mouse is included.
Since I knew how to do all of this or the things I didn’t know didn’t interest me, I didn’t find the book that valuable. I learned this stuff the hard way through trial and error. However if someone asked me how to do any of these small projects, you bet I’ll suggest this book.
New Mac users who simply want to feel more comfortable with their Mac and need some ideas of projects will find this book ideal. If I did Macintosh tutoring this would be a great companion manual.
Overall, a fun book for intermediate Mac users with relevant and interesting projects.
Pros: Excellent digest of fun projects to get to know Lion and your Mac better
Cons: Limited scope if you already know how to do these things or if they don’t interest you.
Five out of Five Dogcows
Originally published and written for the Lawrence Apple Users’ Group 2.0 http://www.laugks.org/news and published by Dave Greenbaum at http://www.clickheretech.com
