Book Reviews

Low End Mac reviews are subjective - they are the reviewer's response to software and hardware that we've worked with. If we haven't tried a product or don't think it merits a review, you won't find it reviewed here.

Beginning in April 2003, Low End Mac began using a ratings system with some product reviews. Reviewed products will receive from zero to four LEMs. The scale goes something like this:

0. Buy this and you will want your money back.
1. Possibly useful if you are in need of a product of this specific type, but it may not be worth the cost or effort.
2. Okay, but has a few shortcomings or deficiencies.
3. A solid, capable product that performs as advertised.
4. Wow! A truly stellar, impressive product.

Products might receive ratings with "1/2" increments from time to time.

In keeping with the focus or this website, when rating products which are for use directly with or on a Mac, a factor in our evaluation will be how well it works with lower-end Macs and the Classic Mac OS.

Books

• iPod 'Missing Manual' grows but drops coverage of older iPods, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.18. The 6th edition of iPod: The Missing Manual has extensive coverage of all the current iPod models, but at the cost of dropping coverage of all earlier models.
• FaceBook: The Missing Manual a very useful resource, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.04.15. There is so much to Facebook that you almost need a book to take full advantage of it. This is that book.
• Get more out of Leopard and Vista with these helpful volumes, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.03.31. Today's operating systems come with minimal printed documentation. These books will help you get a lot more out of Mac OS X 10.5 and Windows Vista.
• Discover the power of iWork with The Missing Manual, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.08.06. Since not much has changed between iWork '05 and iWork '06, the 2005 edition should be plenty to get any iWork user up to speed quickly.
• Book Review: Digital Retro, Joshua Coventry, Cortland, 2006.11.10. A great introduction to the history of personal computing with original photos.
• Mac mini Hacks & Mods for Dummies, Hardy Menagh, Empowered, 2006.05.05. This volume provides a lot of useful information, but those with Intel minis or speed-bumped G4 minis will realize the book is already dated.
• Degunking Your Mac, Tiger Edition, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.04.24. This book explains how to degunk your Mac by removing unwanted and obsolete files, clearing out spam, and generally tuning up your Mac.
• Mac OS X Missing Manual 'the OS X book to have', Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.04.10. "Whatever aspect of working with the operating system and the 50-odd programs that come bundled with it, you're almost certain to find it addressed in the pages of this book."
• Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual - Tiger Edition, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.01.18. "...Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual is a must-have for anyone making the Windows to Mac transition."
• 'Just Say No to Microsoft' fails to convince, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.01.17. Although a useful resource for those seeking alternatives to Microsoft, the author's biases and errors undermine the book's credibility.
• Revolution in the Valley: The people and stories behind the Macintosh, Alan Zisman, 2005.02.08. Andy Hertzfeld and other members of the Macintosh development team share the stories behind the computer.
• Fix a Troubled Mac, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2004.08.23. Ebook provides lots of useful information for troubleshooting a Mac running either OS 9 or OS X.
• Mac OS X Panther Hacks, Alan Zisman, 2004.09.15. "I suspect most Panther users will find enough of these hacks valuable to justify the purchase price."

Manufacturers and distributors: Interested in having your product reviewed? Please read our review policy.

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