Press releases

My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition--New from No Starch Press: A Simple, Project-Based, Get-it-Done Guide to Using a Mac

Press release: August 20, 2009

My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition San Francisco, CA, August 20, 2009—Come this September, new Macs will ship with the Snow Leopard operating system. Apple says this version of OS X is "faster, more reliable, and easier to use," and it probably will be for many. But how about those who find computers (even Macs) just a little bit confusing? Or users making the move from Windows to Snow Leopard?

For anyone entering the brave new world of the Macintosh operating system, geek book publisher No Starch Press offers My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition (August 2009, 512 pp, ISBN 9781593272098). "This is a project-based, get-it-done-without-a-lot-of-fuss guide to using a Mac—not a tedious and boring manual," said No Starch Press Publisher Bill Pollock, "because who wants to read those anyway?"

In this completely revised and updated edition of his best-selling My New Mac, Wallace Wang, (author of My New iPhone and Steal This Computer Book), walks readers through 52 useful projects that will have them doing useful things with their Mac right away. "My New Mac is a different kind of book, because the Macintosh is a different kind of computer," explains Wang. "Instead of burdening users with technical details, the Macintosh lets them get useful stuff done right away. That's why I designed My New Mac as a project-oriented book that focuses on accomplishing specific tasks, rather than a book that lists all of the possible menu options."

Hailed by Macworld as "highly recommended for newbies and switchers," the first edition of My New Mac is a best-seller in Apple Stores and bookstores around the world. This completely revised Snow Leopard edition adds coverage of the newest Snow Leopard features, while retaining the simple, no-nonsense style that made the first edition such a success. According to InfoWorld, "Wallace Wang has hit the nail on the head . . . some people just learn better and faster by doing projects rather than trying to stay awake doing tedious lessons."

My New Mac's projects cover topics like organizing music with iTunes, tracking birthdays with iCal, and clipping and saving information from the Internet. Readers learn how to:

  • Organize files and folders by color and keyword
  • Connect to the Internet, chat with friends, and listen to online radio stations
  • Install and update software—and remove unwanted programs
  • Set up and manage parental controls to limit kids' computer and Internet access
  • Share songs, images, and documents with other computers wirelessly
  • Use the built-in firewall and keep their computer and information safe from intruders

For those who need a little help navigating a new Mac, My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition is a welcome companion.

For more information, to schedule an interview with the book's author, or for a review copy of My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition, please contact Travis Peterson at No Starch Press (nostarchpr@oreilly.com, +1.415.863.9900, x300), or visit www.nostarch.com.

About the Author
Wallace Wang is the author of several best-selling computer books, including My New Mac, My New iPhone, the Steal This Computer Book series, and The Book of Nero (all No Starch Press). He is a successful standup comic who has appeared on A&E's "Evening at the Improv" and appears regularly at the Riviera Comedy Club in Las Vegas.

Praise for My New Mac:
"Highly recommended for newbies and switchers."
MACWORLD

"Wallace Wang has hit the nail on the head . . . some people just learn better and faster by doing projects rather than trying to stay awake doing tedious lessons."
INFOWORLD

"Clearly written projects that will instantly net you more from your Mac."
MAC.NZ

Additional Resources
Project 15: "Putting Your Information at Your Fingertips with Dashboard" (PDF)
Table of contents overview
Detailed table of contents (PDF)
Index (PDF)
Large cover image

My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition
by Wallace Wang
August 2009, 512 pp
ISBN 9781593272098, $29.95 USD
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000

Available in fine bookstores everywhere, from www.oreilly.com/nostarch, or directly from No Starch Press (http://www.nostarch.com, orders@nostarch.com, 1-800-420-7240).

About No Starch Press
Founded in 1994, No Starch Press is one of the few remaining independent technical book publishers. We publish the finest in geek entertainment—unique books on technology, with a focus on Open Source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, and LEGO. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our books tackle topics that people care about. See http://www.nostarch.com for a complete catalog. (And most No Starch Press books use RepKover, a lay-flat binding that won't snap shut.)

About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

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