21 Nov 2005 | Print  |

Take Control News/21-Nov-05

by Adam C. Engst

"Take Control of Switching to the Mac" Released -- There's little more frustrating than watching a friend or relative struggle with Windows when you know they'd be happier with a Mac. But as much as Apple produces great hardware and Mac OS X is easy to use, making the jump to the Mac is still a daunting proposition, what with finding comparable applications, moving data between machines, and learning the differences in the user interface. That's why we're particularly pleased to announce Scott Knaster's "Take Control of Switching to the Mac" - it's a great resource to give anyone considering a switch to the Mac or for learning more about how to help others make the switch. (And yes, if you were wondering, it's all right with us if you buy it and give the PDF file to a friend, just as you would with a paper book if it could be sent via email or copied to a CD-R.)

Scott guides switchers through the process of making the decision to switch, choosing the right Mac model, setting up the Mac, choosing the appropriate Macintosh applications to replace common Windows programs, and moving data - documents, email, address books, and Web bookmarks - over to the Mac. Scott then teaches readers the basics of using a Mac from the perspective of someone who knows only Windows, starting with an explanation of user interface differences and moving on to lessons on how to use the Finder effectively, search with Spotlight, manage applications and windows, connect to network resources, download software updates, and more. A collection of five key Macintosh features and five useful tips help readers move beyond the basics and become more capable with their new Macs, and the ebook offers extra help for those who must still share documents with Windows users or run the occasional Windows application. In keeping with the practical nature of all Take Control titles, Scott includes essential troubleshooting advice in case problems appear, along with a glossary to help Windows users learn Macintosh terminology.

We were especially happy to have Scott write this book, since he has impeccable Macintosh credentials, including having written one of the first books about programming the Mac, five years of working at Apple, and a variety of recent books about Mac OS X, iTunes, and the iPod. Adding to the pedigree is his editor, Caroline Rose, who was the lead writer and editor on Inside Macintosh at Apple, then editor in chief at NeXT, and later editor in chief of Apple's developer technical journal, develop. But what really qualifies Scott and Caroline for this ebook is that they've both spent time in the Windows world as well, Caroline from being a freelance editor for the last eight years and Scott from spending five years working at Microsoft. Put simply, Scott is one of those rare birds who can write well about the Mac while still understanding what it's like to be a Windows user.

You can read more about Scott's ebook, download a free 21-page sample, and place an order at:

<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/switching.html? 14@@!pt=TRK-0024-TB806-TCNEWS>

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