By Eolake Stobblehouse

When I started in on the Mac several years ago, I went to the library a few weeks before I got the machine, and read Mac For Dummies by David Pogue. As a result, I jumped right into the machine without a ripple.

Now I am a power user (due in no small measure to another book by Pogue; Mac Secrets). I use the Mac every day for fun and profit, and I love to read about it.

Then it happened recently that I got the wondrous Powerbook G3 400 Mhz. So I sold off my old powerbook cheap to a friend who needed to get computerized. So naturally I got hold of a copy of Mac For Dummies about the same age as the machine (to match the system installed). Then I started reading the book and regretted that I had to give it away.

Since I have an iMac as a second computer I used that as a justification to buy "iMac for Dummies", which is basically the same book, with additional data for the iMac, for myself.

I recommend this for you, the power user, who are absolutely sure that no "Dummies" book could have anything to teach you. I promise you that if you don't find at least 20 things in the book that you didn't know, and really can use, I will personally refund you.

Further, it is just so pleasant to read. Firstly Pogue is simply a wonderfully direct and clear teacher, who never says anything less than useful and understandable, and secondly, the book is funny as all-git-out. I doubt that there are other tech books that will have you ROTFL as often as this one.

A few examples:

From Chaper One:

"Moving the mouse

"The mouse is the round, plastic, yo-yo-like thing on the desk beside your keyboard. Having trouble visualizing it as a rodent? Think of the cord as its tail and (if it helps you) draw little eyeballs on the sloping side facing you.

"Now then, roll the mouse across the desk (or mouse pad), keeping the cord pointed away from you. See how the arrow pointer moves across the screen? For the rest of your life, youl'll hear that pointer called the cursor. And for the rest of your life, you'll hear moving the mouse called moving the mouse."

From Chapter 4:

"[the new document] doesn't exist yet, to be perfectly accurate, except in your iMac's memory.

"You may recall from the notes you took on chapter 1 1/2 that memory is fleeting. (Specifically I mean computer memory, but if you find a more universal truth in my words, interpret away.)"

From Chapter 9:

"Make an alias of a file.

"The File menu has a command called Make Alias. Although you might expect this command to generate names like One-Eyed Jake or "Teeth" McGuire, the term alias represents something slightly different - a duplicate of a file's icon."

Another interesting aspect is that since this is the bestselling Mac book there is, it is often reprinted. And David Pogue uses this fact to update the content every chance he get. Which makes it the most up-to-date Mac book there is, according to David himself (and he never lied to me:).

In conclusion, go to your favorite online bookstore, and get thee "Mac (iMac) For Dummies". You'll be surprised at how much you'll learn, and how much fun you'll have.

You may buy it by going to Amazon, this page.

Read about more computer books here.

- Stobblehouse