Introduction

Elegant.

I remember the first moment I moved a mouse across a Mac OS X Desktop. At that time, it was the beta of version 10.0 — and I very well remember the word elegant as my first impression. (My second impression was UNIX done better.)

That’s really saying something, because I’m an old operating system curmudgeon: I cut my computing teeth on Atari, Commodore 64, and TRS-80 Model III machines, and I still feel much at home in the character-based environment of DOS and UNIX. Of course, I’ve also used every version of Windows that His Gatesness has produced, including the much-improved Windows XP and the somewhat-improved Windows Vista. And yes, I’ve used Mac OS since before the days of System 7, using a Macintosh SE with a 9-inch monitor (and a built-in handle).

But out of this host of operating systems, could you really call one elegant before now? (Even Mac OS 9 didn’t deserve such a description, although it did provide the foundation of convenience and simplicity.) Mac OS X — now at version 10.6, affectionately called Snow Leopard — is something different: It’s a fine-cut diamond amongst a handful of semi-precious stones. It’s the result of an unnatural marriage, I’ll admit . . . the intuitive, graphical world of Mac OS 9 paired with the character-based stability and efficient multitasking of UNIX. Who would have thought that they would work together so well? Mac OS X performs like a Ferrari, and (unbelievably) it looks as good, too.

Therefore, you can imagine just how excited I was to be asked by my friends at Wiley to write this book and how I immediately jumped at the chance to write a comprehensive guide to Apple’s masterpiece. The book that you hold in your hands uses the classic For Dummies design; it provides you with the step-by-step instruction (plenty of which my editors grudgingly agree is somewhat humorous) on every major feature of Mac OS X. It also goes a step further from time to time, delving into why something works the way that it does or what’s going on behind the scenes. You can chalk that up to my sincere admiration for everyone in Cupertino and what they’ve perfected.

What you won’t find in this All-in-One is wasted space. All the new features of version 10.6 are here, including improvements to Apple Mail, Safari, the latest versions of all the “iApps ’09” (including iWeb), and the new incarnation of iWork ’09. Everything’s explained from the ground up, just in case you’ve never touched an Apple computer before. By the time you reach the final pages, you’ll have covered advanced topics, such as networking, AppleScript, Internet security . . . and yes, even an introduction to the powerful world of UNIX that exists underneath.

I sincerely hope that you’ll enjoy this book and that it will act as your guide while you discover all the wonderful features of Mac OS X Snow Leopard that I use every day. Remember, if a Windows-enslaved acquaintance still titters about your iMac, I’ll understand if you’re tempted to drop this weighty tome on his foot. (Of course, if you’re using an Intel-based Mac, you can also boot into Windows and watch him turn purple.)

The official name of the latest version is (portentous pause here, please) Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard. But who wants to spit out that mouthful every time? Throughout this book, I refer to the operating system as Mac OS X, and when I discuss something that’s particular to the latest version, I call it Snow Leopard.

What’s Really Required

If you have a Mac that’s either running Mac OS X version 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or is ready to be upgraded to it, you’re set to go. Despite what you might have heard, you won’t require any of the following:

♦ A degree in computer science: Apple designed Mac OS X for regular people, and I designed this book for people of every experience level. Even if you’ve never used a Mac before, you’ll find no hostile waters here.

♦ A fortune in software: I do describe additional software that you can buy to expand the functionality of your Mac; however, that section is only a few pages long. Everything else covered in this book is included with Mac OS X Snow Leopard — and by the size of this volume, you get a rough idea of just how complete Mac OS X is! Heck, many folks buy Macs just because of the free software you get, such as iMovie and iPhoto. (Tough cookies to the vast Unwashed Windows Horde.)

♦ An Internet connection: Granted, you’re not going to do much with Apple Mail without an Internet connection, but computers did exist before the Internet. You can still be productive with Mac OS X without receiving buckets of spam.

Oh, you will need a set of Mac OS X version 10.6 installation discs, unless Snow Leopard came pre-installed on your Mac. Go figure.

About This Book

Although this book is an All-in-One, you can also read it in a linear fashion (straight through) — probably not in one session, mind you. (Then again, Diet Coke is cheap, so it is possible.) The material is divided into eight minibooks, each of which covers an entire area of Mac OS X knowledge. For example, you’ll find minibooks on networking, the Apple Digital Hub suite of applications known as iLife, Apple’s iWork office productivity suite, customizing your Desktop, and Internet-related applications.

Each self-contained chapter discusses a specific feature, application, connection, or cool thing about Mac OS X. Feel free to begin reading anywhere or skip chapters at will. For example, if you’re already using an Internet connection, you won’t need the chapter on adding an Internet connection. However, I recommend that you read this book from the front to the back, as you do any good mystery novel. (Watch out; oncoming spoiler: For those who want to know right now, Bill Gates did it.)

Conventions Used in This Book

Even For Dummies books have to get technical from time to time, usually involving commands that you have to type and menu items that you have to click. If you’ve read any of my other For Dummies books, you’ll know that a helpful set of conventions is used to indicate what needs to be done or what you see on-screen.

Stuff you type

When I ask you to type a command or enter something in a text field (such as your name or phone number), the text appears like this: Type me.

Press the Return key to process the command or enter the text.

Menu commands

When I give you a specific set of menu commands to use, they appear in the following format: Edit⇒Copy.

In this example, you should click the Edit menu and then choose the Copy menu item.

Display messages

If I mention a specific message that you see on your screen, it looks like this on the page: This is a message displayed by an application.

In case you’re curious about computers

No one expects a book in the For Dummies series to contain techno-jargon or ridiculous computer science semantics — especially a book about the Macintosh! Apple has always strived for simplicity and user friendliness. I hereby promise that I’ve done my absolute best to avoid unnecessary techno-talk. For those who are interested in what’s happening under the hood, I provide sidebars that explain a little more about what’s doing what to whom. If you’d rather just have fun and ignore the digital dirty work, please feel free to disregard these additions (but don’t tear sidebars out of the book, because there’s likely to be important stuff on the opposite side of the page).

How This Book Is Organized

I’ve done my best to emulate the elegant design of Mac OS X by organizing this book into eight minibooks, with cross-references where appropriate.

Book I: Introducing Mac OS X

This minibook begins with an invigorating chapter explaining exactly why you should be so happy to be a Mac OS X owner. Then I provide an introduction to the basic tasks that you’ll perform — copying files, running programs, and the like. You’ll also find coverage of Snow Leopard’s Spotlight search engine, a guide to normal Mac OS X maintenance and troubleshooting, and instructions on using the Mac OS X Help system.

Book II: Customizing and Sharing

Who wants to stick with the defaults? The material in this minibook leads you through the steps that you need to customize Mac OS X to your specific needs and desires . . . everything from a tweak to your background or screen saver to a description of how to set up and administer multiple accounts on a single Macintosh. You’ll also find coverage of the different settings you can change in System Preferences, which is an important place in Mac OS X.

Book III: The Digital Hub

Sweet! This minibook jumps right in among the crown jewels of the Digital Hub: iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, iMovie, iWeb, GarageBand, QuickTime Player, and the DVD Player. Taken as a suite, those first six applications make up iLife ’09, and they allow you to plug in and use all sorts of electronic gadgets, including digital cameras, digital video (DV) camcorders, and MP3 players. Plus, you can edit or create your own DVDs, audio CDs, and movies.

Book IV: Using iWork

iWork ’09 is rapidly becoming the favorite office productivity suite among the Apple Faithful. You’ll find a chapter devoted to each application: Pages for desktop publishing, Numbers for spreadsheets, and Keynote for presentation projects. Who needs that other productivity suite? (I forget the name.)

Book V: The Typical Internet Stuff

This minibook contains just what it says. But then again, it’s easy to get enthusiastic about Apple Mail, the latest version of Apple’s instant messaging application (iChat), and the online storage provided by iDisk. I also cover Safari, Apple’s hot-rod Web browser. Finally, you discover more about the built-in Internet firewall and how you can use it to safeguard your Mac from Internet undesirables.

Book VI: Networking in Mac OS X

Ethernet, Bluetooth, and Bonjour are lurking in this minibook. I explain them step-by-step, in language that a normal human being can understand. Find out how to use wireless networks such as AirPort Extreme from Apple as well as how to share an Internet connection with other computers in a local network.

Book VII: Expanding Your System

Time to take things up a notch. In this minibook, I discuss the hardware and software that everyone’s adding to Mac OS X and why you might (or might not) need such toys. Memory (RAM), hard drives, printers, USB, and FireWire 800 . . . they’re all discussed here in detail. Consider this a banquet of expansion information.

Book VIII: Advanced Mac OS X

I know that I told you earlier that I was going to avoid techno-talk whenever possible, yet I also mentioned the advanced things that you find in this minibook, such as using UNIX within Mac OS X and using Automator to build your own custom script applications that handle repetitious tasks. If you don’t mind immersing yourself in all that’s technical, read here for the skinny on hosting a Web site and communicating with Mac OS X by using your voice and your handwriting.

Icons Used in This Book

The icons in this book are more than just attractive — they’re also important visual cues for stuff that you don’t want to miss.

Mark’s Maxims represent way-important stuff, so I call your attention to these nuggets in bold, like this:

Something Really Important Is Being Said that will likely affect your person in the near future. Pay attention, commit those Maxims to memory, and you’ll avoid the pitfalls that the rest of us have hit on the way.

The Tip icons flag short snippets of information that will save you time or trouble (and, in some cases, even cash).

These icons highlight optional technical information for folks like me. If you also used to disassemble alarm clocks for fun when you were six years old, you’ll love this stuff.

Always read this information next to this icon first! Something looms ahead that could put your hardware or software at risk.

Look to the Remember icons for those tidbits that you need to file away in your mind. Just remember to remember.