By James Duncan Davidson
December 2003
Pages: 332
ISBN 10: 0-596-00500-8 |
ISBN 13: 9780596005009
(Average of 2 Customer Reviews)
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Running Mac OS X Panther is the ultimate Swiss Army Knife™ for power users who want to customize, tweak, and generally rev up their Mac. This book takes readers deep inside Mac OS X's core, revealing the inner workings of Panther for those who want to get the most out of their system. You may not be a Mac guru when you start this book, but once you've read it, you'll be well on your way.
Full Description
- Getting Started introduces you to Mac OS X--where it came from, how it's put together, and how it works
- Administration Essentials gives you the tools you need to examine how your system is running and adjust all the knobs behind its operation
- Networking and Network Services covers all the ways Mac OS X interfaces with the world around it, including wireless and spontaneous networking
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Book details
First Edition: December 2003
ISBN: 0-596-00500-8
Pages: 332
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 2 Reviews)
Featured customer reviews
Excellent Book full of Gems of Information, April 30 2004
This book is an excellent source of technical information for Mac OS X 10.3 for beginning to intermediate level support technicians. Information is presented very clearly and gets to the point without a lot of extra discussion.
I hope the author considers publishing a book covering the technical aspects of Mac OS X Server 10.3.
Running Mac OS X Panther Review, March 03 2004
Book Review: “Running MacOSX Panther”
by John Suda
Most Mac users are perfectly happy that the Mac user interface shields them from the intricacies and complexities of the Unix-based “plumbing” beneath the surface of their machines. Others, however, like motorheads who compulsively tune, torque, and tinker with their souped-up cars, love to open up their Mac, so to speak, to get at the innards. This book is for them.
“Running MacOSX Panther” is a systematic guide to the core of OSX written, not just for power users, but for those with a compulsive need to know how the Mac works inside-out. It is for those who want master-level knowledge of how the Mac operates inside.
After a short history of the developmentof the Mac operating system, the book describes all the essentials: what happens during the startup and login process; how files organized and permissions set up; how preferences are maintained and edited; how users and groups are set up and administered, and more. The emphasis is on the Unix underpinnings and use of the command line to view, customize, and control the Mac. There is discussion on how to see and edit hidden files and directories, how to use the Unix “shell” and text editors, and how to edit Open Firmware - the Mac version of the PC’s “BIOS”. You can learn to create a user account for non-human users (not including your kitty!)
The advanced sections discuss the Open Directory, a type of database which stores information about the system and its components, and advanced networking information and options. Journaling is explained and an argument is made why disk defragmentation is not necessary on OSX. It convinced me.
An appendix providing guidance on installing Panther has sections for ordinary users as well as for Mac “motorheads”. The motorheads will enjoy reviewing the list of Boot Command key combinations.
Media reviews
"[Running Mac OS X Panther] is written well, and if you happen to be sitting next to your computer while reading it, you'll be constantly torn between the two. There are lots of things you'll want to try right away...Check out this book if you want to learn the gory details of Mac OS X's core. It's short on gimmicks but long on information."
--Matthew Leingang, Slashdot.org, November 2004
"...well written, well edited, tight and crammed full of information pitched at just the right level. Davidson has done an excellent job with this book."
--Tony Williams, Slashdot.org, April 2004
http://books.slashdot.org/books/04/04/22/157218.shtml?%20tid=107&tid=185&tid=187&tid=190
"Last year I came back to the Macintosh platform after a 10 year absence. I couldn’t ask for a better companion for my return journey than 'Running Mac OS X Panther,' by James Duncan Davidson. Most of the GUI programs built into Panther (like Mail, iTunes, and iCal) are intuitive, but if you want to explore Panther’s internals you may need a guide...The book is full of useful tips on how to interact with or enhance GUI programs from the command line."
--Marc Garrett, Since1968.com, June 2004
http://since1968.com/article/43/review-two-new-macintosh-books-from-oreilly
"I'll come right to the point: Davidson's 'Running Mac OS X Panther' is an excellent book...James Davidson has targeted the advanced user who wants to learn useful advanced Macintosh techniques, but does not want swim through a 1000 page technical reference. It's a pleasure to find a book that covers complex material in a readable way, without losing focus amidst a flood of geeky detail...'Running Mac OS X Panther' is a fine little book that you can read, re-read, and enjoy yourself while doing so. It's full of useful advanced level information, but it doesn't read like a textbook. Highly recommended."
--David Weeks, MyMac.com, June 2004
http://www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?id=1740
"IMHO, Apple should have included this book with every copy of Panther - it would have filled that empty space in the box very nicely, added real value and more than justified the $230 I had to pay for my copy of Panther. As they didn't, may I recommend that, if you really care about what makes your Mac tick, you get to the nearest bookshop, as soon as you possibly can, and get your copy that way? You won't regret it. And NO, you can't borrow my copy, I need it right here alongside me, it's my security blanket!"
--George Carrington, Apple User Group Incorporated, April 2004
"This is the definitive guide to the core."
--Major Keary, PC Update, March 2004
"I'm not exaggerating when I say that Running Mac OS X Panther is the best book currently available on the inner workings of OS 10.3 Panther. If you want to become a Panther power user, look no further."
--Elsa Travisano, MUG ONE, March 2004
http://www.mugone.com/pages/Reviews/RunningMacOSXPanther.html
"'Running Mac OS X Panther' is the book the Mac Power users have been waiting for. Author James Duncan Davidson takes you deep inside Mac OS X's core and shows you how to make Pather Purr?If you are inquisitive and confident and want to dig about in Mac OS X and get the most out of it, you really can't go wrong with this book!"
--MacSofa, February 2004
http://www.macsofa.com/index.php/weblog/comments/13/
"Strengths: Drills deeper into the Unix-side of Panther without being snooty about it.
Weaknesses: None found...I love the Further Explorations at the end of each chapter and I thank whomever wrote the Preface , because it does such a sweet job outlining what is in the book...And my hat's off to O'Reilly for having and hosting weblinks for their authors and books...I really wish all my Linux buddies could read this book. Many of them have already quietly migrated, but this book will bring the rest of them over to this Apple platform...Do like I did, open the book and breath deeply as the aroma of Unix wafts up from the pages and shows the BSD Unix Core while allowing me to drink from a few power user tips and tricks...Not a Mac Guru yet? You will be if you can remember everything James Duncan Davidson wrote here."
--Robert Pritchett, Mac Companion, February 2004
http://www.maccompanion.com/archives/february2004/books.html#7
