Ilife All-In-One Desk Reference for Dummies

by Cheryl Rhodes and Tony Bove

* Enables users to get up to speed quickly with all four of Apple's digital media applications: iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD * An essential resource, since Apple doesn't provide user manuals for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764542133
• ISBN13: 9780764542138
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 498 Pages
• Weight: 1.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Almost iDeal for the novice.

This was an ideal book for me to review. I never had a Mac before, just unwrapped my laptop a week before I got this book, and had only one file on my computer before starting to read this book. I had also just bought an iPod. I had absolutely zero experience with any of the utilities discussed in the book (as my only file was a text file). The structure is the same as other "For Dummies" books. Various icons (targets, ribbons on fingers, smoking bombs) are used to emphasize important points. The book is divided into six "mini books", one each devoted to iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iPod (which is not a part of iLife), and an additional chapter with general information on all of the above. The sides of the book have shaded thumb tabs that help with finding chapters more easily. In the front of the book there is a very useful tear-out "cheat sheet" for keyboard shortcuts. The authors assume the reader has basic skills for using a Mac, such as navigating through menu bars. But even if those are new to the reader, the text is so easy to follow, and the Mac systems themselves are so user friendly, it was quite easy to zip though processes the first time (no practice runs), and have things work right the first time. The step-by-step instructions are quite concise and simple, and are clearly oriented towards "bread and butter" tasks that the average user would do every day. When more complex issues are discussed, the text describes them in a manner that is relevant to the user. For example, the differences between music encoding formats is described in terms of how one would need to use the various formats, avoiding technical jargon that would not help the neophyte make reasonable decisions on what to use. I consider myself to be a visually oriented person. When I first fingered through the pages (before actually reading the book), I was initially concerned that there weren't enough pictures showing step-by-step processes though various windows. However, that feeling quickly disappeared, as the text was so clear. In most cases, illustrations were not required. I am not sure how useful this book would be for those who have experience with a Mac. Unfortunately, I did not have an opportunity to discuss this with someone with more experience, but it may very well be helpful to an experienced user who is starting to use a specific piece of software (such as iPhoto) for the first time. That, though, may not be enough for the experienced user to buy this book. For the iPod, there seemed to be some overlap with the user's guide packaged with the device, but to me this was not a significant drawback. However, for the other software packages, it is extremely helpful to have a clear resource in a single book, as opposed to always going online for tutorials and other help. I found out lasy week that iLife '04 and mini iPods are available--I hope this book is not obsolete before it is widely distributed.

All this dummy needed -- and more!

It's almost weird that a Mac should need a dummies Guide. It's not that they're hard to use: Macs are still THE easiest (possibly the only true) path to computing Nirvana. But it's gotten to the point where there are som many cool things you can do with your Mac that it helps to have someone lay 'em out for you. Which is what this book does, beautifully. Bove and Rhodes have been immersed in Macs forever, it would seem -- at least from the days of desktop publishing, the first "killer app" for the Mac. Now they've taken on the new killer apps -- from the Second Era of Apple Greatness: the Lifestyle Mac. It's all here, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD -- even the Ultimate Cool Token iPod and a large helping of iLife extras (scripts, shareware, troubleshooting -- even production tips for when you and your Mac decide to produce the Great American Independent Film!). Very logical, highly engaging -- it has made me much more productive already, and hungry to get into more ambitious projects.