Last updated 2/22/2004

Running Mac OS X Panther

Running Mac OS X Panther
Author: James Duncan Davidson
Publisher: O'Reilly
316 pages ...... $39.95
ISBN 0-596-00500-8
Inside Mac OS X's Core

Running Mac OS X Panther is written for users and power users of Mac OS X.

If you just want to understand how your Mac OS X Panther works, you can get a better understanding by reading this book. In that case the many command line references will simply help you to understand that there is a Unix underpinning to the whole works. That is really why I read the book, and I am glad I did.

If you are a Mac guru who has been helping other users solve Mac problems long before OS X, you will probably benefit more by studying the added information you can get and the modifications you can make by using the command lines that are explained here. This is also a valuable source for information about where things are kept in the directories, and how to see these directory contents.

Running Mac OS X Panther begins with a history of the Mac OS X operating system. It explains how the file system is laid out. And, it introduces you to the Terminal and Shell and how to use them to get to the heart of the Mac OS X Panther.

From there the book goes into what happens during system startup and login with all of the programs involved from Open Firmware to when you can begin using your Mac. And that is just the beginning.

James Duncan Davidson writes well so the book is much easier to read and understand than I expected though it is not for beginners. As he said, Computer books are to be used. And, it won't be long before Apple releases a new version of Mac OS X, which will prompt a revision of this book that you'll surely want to buy. So go ahead, scribble notes in the margins!

This is a book you will want to use.

For more information or to order go to
http://www.o'reilly.com/catalog/runniingmacxpanther