By Adam Engst, David Pogue
November 1999
Pages: 320
ISBN 10: 1-56592-539-4 |
ISBN 13: 9781565925397
(Average of 5 Customer Reviews)
Like travelers in a foreign land, Mac users working in Windows or Windows users working on a Mac often find themselves in unfamiliar territory with no guidebook. Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook offers users a handy way of translating skills and knowledge from one platform to the other.
Full Description
- A general introduction to the key differences between the Mac and Windows
- A to Z sections for each platform: one section where Mac users look up familiar Macintosh terms to find the equivalent function in Windows along with an explanation of the differences; and another section where Windows users find familiar Windows terms with pointers to the Macintosh equivalent along with full descriptions of how the function works on the Mac and important differences between the two platforms
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Book details
First Edition: November 1999
ISBN: 1-56592-539-4
Pages: 320
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 5 Reviews)
Featured customer reviews
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review, November 09 2002
This is a great book if the two platforms you are concerned with are Windows and Mac OS 8.x/9.x. However, the book hasn't been adapted to Mac OS X, so it seems incomplete to me. Hopefully, the authors are working on a new edition that compares Windows ME/2K/XP with Mac OS X.
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review, May 15 2000
I do cross platform support for a living, and knowing both platforms' jargon has been the basis for my success. I've also read Pogue's and Engst's independent work -- and am extremely happy at their collaboration. This is very objective and will help those who must positively speak on both the Win and Mac side.
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review, May 15 2000
As usual, David Pogue crosses platforms with his wit & style. It feels as though one isreading a humorous tome,but in fact, one is learning essential facts and gaining knowledge. Any other author would bore us to death, but Mr. Pogue doesn't even make us feel that we are learning. I have to give this 100 stars, 5 is just not enough.
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review, May 15 2000
An absolutly essential book, at least for Macusers. Many of us are confirmed in our
choice of operating systems but find ourselves in a cross-platform world. I find their approach unique , very handy to use,and invaluable in translating to a different platform. I can't tell you how much time and frustration it saved me, for instance in just one area -- comparing keyboard shortcuts.
Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook Review, May 15 2000
As a translator, and Mac user, I was delighted to see that Adam Engst and David Pogue, who are, in a way, the Strunk and White of Macintosh journalism, released this original book. As a translator first, it is an essential reference book for terms on both platforms. But as a Mac user, confronted with Windows often (I do own a PC as well) this answers all my questions about how best to understand the different philosophies of the two operating systems. Well written, clear and efficient, this book is really excellent. If you work with both platforms, don't hesitate to get it. The only drawback I found was the lack of an
index. In spite of that, I couldn't recommend it more.
Media reviews
"Crossing Platforms is an extremely useful book, whichever platform you're more familiar with. It won't burden you with information you don't need, and it won't force you to take the time to read cover-to-cover in order to gain familiarity with your new operating system. Instead, it takes advantage of what you already know, translating your need (in the vocabulary of one system) to the solution (in the vocabulary of the other)." -- Paul Fatula, ATPM, June 2001
"Best MAC-WIN book under $30" --Third Annual BookBytes Awards, Dec 2000
"Say what you like about the farmer and the cowman, but the Windows user and the Macintosh jockey likely will never enjoy much more than a grudging co-existence. That's why it can be so traumatic when a job or other tragic circumstance requires a devotee of one environment to switch to the other. Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook helps ease the change by translating the terms and conventions of each platform into the other's equivalenty This is an honestly useful book." --David Wall, Amazon.com, March 2000
"a simple solution for everyone who has been confused and frustrated by the arbitrary and sometimes capricious differences between the Macintosh and Windows operating systems." --Reginald Bosanquet, Freelance Informer, Feb 18, 2000
"So why would a Macintosh user want to cross over and learn a Windows-based computer? The answer is sooner or later, your work will force you to learn a second language. And when you do, you'll find Crossing Platforms invaluable." --Sam McMillan, Communication Arts, May/June 2000
"a nifty accessory for folks who work with both Apples and IBM-compatible PCs." --Heather Newman, Detroit News/Free Press, April 16, 2000
"Let the operating system zealots duke it out in endless flame wars on the Net. Some of us work with both Macs and PCs, and we strive to be Zen about it. This book caters to our need to transfer skills and knowledge from one platform to the other." --Shirl Kennedy, Information Today, April 2000
"a definitive guide to terminology, techniques and system information for individuals working in both Windows and Macintosh environments." --Paper Clips, March 2000
"you really only need to read half of it to get the whole (but I read the whole thing anyway, just because it was so good!) I'm elated to have found a book that shows painstakingly the similarities between the two platforms so I can wrap my mind around the concepts I tolerate on a dial basis. . . I highly recommend this book." --Robert Pritchett, "the Finder', Mid-Columbia Macuser group, March 2000
"Like travellers in a foreign land, Mac users working in Windows or Windows users working on a Mac often find themselves in unfamiliar territory with no guidebook. O'Reilly & Associates has addressed these situations with a new book, Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook" --Hadley Sharples, Graphic Design: USA, Feb 2000
"a most useful reference invaluable for those of us who must keep one foot-and one computer-in both Windows and Macintosh camps." --Shutterbug, April 2000
"Pogue and Angst are two of the premier Macintosh authors, having exceptional talent in writing with skill and wit for all levels of the Mac community. Their hearts are firmly entrenched with us Applefiends, but they realize Windows is here to stay (and vice versa) In this concise, no-nonsense book, Adam and David don't have the opportunity to wow us with the pithy prose they use in their regular TidBITS. and Macworld columns, but don't let that deter you from buying and studying every word in this RECOMMENDED and ground breaking new book from Book Bytes Award winners." -- John Nemerovski, My Mac Magazine, April 2000
"Anyone who is proficient on one platform and finds himself needing to identify and learn the alternative operating system counterpart will love this book. It's well-thought-out and could be indispensable." -- Houston Chronicle Dec 31, 1999
"Book of the Week" --About.com Mac OS, January 12th - 18th, 2000
"This invaluable guide will be treasured by everyone from the harried corporate IT Manager to the hapless temp who knows not what machine-set awaits at tomorrows assignation. It is a bridge over garbled command sets that will help foster office peace." --Tony Reveaux, Film/Tape World, January 2000
"A fabulous bridge over the troubled waters between Macaholics and Windows wonks." --Tec.Buz, Chicago Tribune, Jan 10.2000
"Macintosh users and their Windows counterparts are separated by a cultural chasm even though they use similar point-and-click computing systems. Now, in the interest of cross-platform understanding, Adam Engst and David Pogue have conjured up Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook. Much like a Spanish-English dictionary, this paperback presents commonly used Windows terms along with their Mac "translations," and vice-versa." -- Julio Ojeda-Zapata, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Februrary 7, 2000
"Here is the "bilingual" book I would have found very helpful three years ago when I feared Macintosh was going down the chute and I was "convinced" to "convert" to Windows." -- Len Harvey, Charlotte Bytes, Jan 2000
"Anyone who is proficient on one platform and finds himself or herself needing to identify and learn the alternative operating system counterpart will love this book. It's well thought out and could prove to be indispensable." Craig Crossman, Palm Beach Post (also Annapolis Capitol, Dec 26, 1999) Jan 1, 2000
"New book provides the Rosetta Stone for cross-platform users for anyone working with Macs and PCs, Crossing Platforms is an extremely useful reference book." --John p. Mello, Jr., Mass high Tech, Jan 16, 2000
"it could be one of the most important books that you'll be buying this year. In fact, it's one of those books that should be in every reference library of every business in town... this book should be included automatically with your computer when you buy it... this book has been needed for a long time, and I would like to welcome it to the world." --Mark Burrows, Western Slope Sunday, Glenwood Springs, CO, Jan 9, 2000
"Third Annual Book Bytes Award: Best Mac-Win Book" Feb 2001
