macOS Catalina: The Missing Manual: The Book That Should Have Been in the Box 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

This book is chock full of great macOS tips and keyboard shortcuts. Experienced users may find this title a beneficial reference volume if they want a bit of a “refresher” on a particular topic. However I don’t recommend this book for a beginning Mac user or a Windows user migrating to the Mac platform.In my opinion, the author assumes the reader has knowledge of a particular topic before he has actually introduced that topic. As one example, early in chapter 1 during a discussion of the “folder proxy icon” in a Finder window, he says that dragging the icon to a different location on the same disk follows “the usual folder-dragging rules”. But then, as if he realized his premature approach of the topic, he follows that remark with a colon symbol and detailed instructions on the procedure for performing the task. Then, after that back and forth writing, he concludes the topic with parentheses telling readers that the “details on moving and copying icons” are included in the NEXT chapter!This sort of back and forth writing style combined with a lot of superfluous content (apparently the author’s attempt at being “witty”) result in the title being an unnecessarily long 864 pages.While I do think the book has value for the experienced Mac user who won’t be as annoyed with a premature discussion of items they may already be familiar with, I think the new and migrating users I mentioned earlier may find “macOS Catalina for Dummies” a much less confusing (while still entertaining) title.I began using a PC in 1992 and have used every DOS/Windows version up through Windows 10 (version 1803). I also had previous Mac experience in the 90’s using the old Mac System 7 operating system. However, with my sizable investment into a new MacBook Pro running Catalina, I was looking for a “beginner to intermediate” level book to become thoroughly familiar with the details of macOS. With that as a background, I have found the “...for Dummies” series title more helpful and easier to follow than this “Missing Manual” series volume.

This 800-page book is overladed with excessively verbose text that is surprisingly superficial when it comes to explaining the features of the OS and its apps. The writing style has a sophomoric tone full of meaningless phrases like "magical button" and "crazy editing screen" that are no help to readers searching for useful guidance on how to benefit from the Catalina upgrades.The general impression of the book is that the author has done less than an exhaustive examination of how key apps function. For example, only 13 pages are set aside for a description of the Photos app including about 3 pages worth of nearly illegible screen grabs, illustrations with too much 9-point text, and a scattering of tips many of which are obvious and contribute to the filler overload. There is a half-page definition of what it means to crop an image, and nearly a full page on. "iCloud Photos (formerly iCloud Photo Library)". Not much space is left for describing the features, options, and management of albums, how videos find their way into Photos, and the way the Photos integrates with other apps like Final Cut Pro, and other features.I expected to find Photos and the other apps considered in more depth. I hope this missing manual series does not attempt a separate book on using Photos. It would be better to make a second edition of this book count for something, and then send a free copy to everyone who paid for and suffered through the current bloat as a way of apologizing for suggesting the current version bore any resemblance to an actual manual.

As a long-time veteran of iPhone, iPad and Windows OS, I thought it would be relevantly simple to transition into my first MacBook (Pro 2019 Catalina 16”).NOT SO! I discovered the Apple Mac system is an entirely different entity all it’s own! I got through the initial setup without much too trouble. However, the interface confused the $h/t out of me! So much for my computer savvy ego... Technically, with time and patience, trial and error would teach me what I need to know, but, it certainly wouldn’t teach me all the bells and whistles I want to know.For me, this book is a time saving Godsend as the perfect reference for cutting to the chase while discovering hidden gems and perks in the world of Apple Mac.I cannot say for sure how well this book can teach a first time computer user, though... I do know it scared the bejeezus out of my 83 year old Mom. If you are an all around novice, technical inclination be part of your personal disposition.

I have David'd books for every Apple hardware item I own. Never without a first addition plus all the revisions.Well written, easy to understand moreso than Apple documentation.

I have a lot to learn but to my surprise I'm finding it very useful. Just finding the time to sit down at my iMac and try what I learn so I will will remember. Very well written for this long time iMac user

I am a long time Windows user and when it came time for a new computer i decided to get a Mac - mostly to see what all the who-ha was about. Much to my surprise, i found a much larger learning curve than expected. I bought this manual and found it to be an incredibly useful resource that has answered every question I have come across. Additionally, between table of contents and the index i have quickly been able to find any topic or question I have sought. I'm still learning but this manual has been an awesome resource!

As with other books in this series, macOS Catalina: The Missing Manual is just what a non-computer-geek like me needs to know about the product—and more. But the information is not delivered in confusing techno' language, but in simple English. And it is thorough, unlike many other books on the subject. It is a hefty volume, but an essential one.

An encyclopaedic work which appears to cover everthing the Mac user needs for Catalina. Perhaps understandably it’s slanted towards the US reader – who presumably finds some of the numerous witticisms more intelligible and useful than I do. Despite this reservation I’m glad I bought it.

Every time there is a 'New' Apple OS I "Go To" Pogue The Missing Manual. These books are always very good being highly informative and slightly amusing. The macOS Catalina contains every aspect of instructions and troubleshooting. A must for Apple fans.

Very good book and easy to follow, each time I upgrade to a new OS I always purchase a Missing Manual book, a great reference book!

A very useful book but some areas are not as well covered as they might be or as they have been for earlier MacOS covered by this series

Most things are covered but there are some areas not as well detailed as they might be.