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Fix a Troubled Mac
This is the only book that I'm aware of that gives you troubleshooting assistance like it should be. I've never encountered a chapter in any book that is dedicated to helping one create an emergency firewire drive, or a bootable Mac CD-ROM that will boot essentially any modern Macintosh, let alone, explain which software troubleshooting tools to use, or how to set up system software for quick reinstalls. In addition to this, the writer takes you on a guided course on how to approach the command line (for brave Mac OS X users) to fix start-up problems and corrupted user logins.
Fix a Troubled Mac is densely packed with information presented in a light, easy-to-read way. It accelerates you through basic information towards in-depth and advanced topics -- even if you get left behind, what remains in your head are relevant and well-formed concepts and frameworks. As the author mentions at intervals, this book approaches running a Mac studio in a holistic manner. Having said that, the therapy of the individual computer user is not overlooked. Even a computer-literate person with two or three Macs in a SOHO setting will benefit.
The first chapter of the book, "Be Your Own IT Support" covers concepts on how to approach problems. Starting with the basics like the Cardinal Rules (Ask yourself, "what has changed lately?"). From there it's a nice, easy, sometimes humorous introduction to how networks work. After a few pages, much of the bafflement that is computer-related pain begins to ease, furrows recede, clock speed returns to normal. Such simple ideas, such profound effects. Perhaps this book could be subtitled 'The Tao of Mac.'
This book does indeed read like a distillation of 6 years of a Mac technician's life, filled with numerous methods to efficiently and effectively diagnose and repair troubled Macs. From paper-bag solutions for a beige box with the hiccups, to rolling out a customized OS X laboratory in less than a day, this book will walk you through the higher realms of careful planning and execution.
Very little information in this book is dedicated to the beginner. If that is my only criticism of the book then let that stand. Like any good thriller, at times you will find yourself with heart beating and sweat on your brow (when did I last back up?). Even hardened professionals will find themselves taking unhealthy interest in particular chapters.
A whole chapter of the book is dedicated to the creation of an emergency firewire drive, which is referred to again and again throughout the book and although creating one may seem arduous, you quickly learn how to use these tools to repair, recover and restore after disasters, as well as install new systems and software updates quickly. The author makes extensive references to some software essentials like Carbon Copy Cloner and NetRestore by bombich software.
There are a lot of recommendations of various software tools and their uses. Many of these tools are inexpensive, but of course there are the usual heavyweights like Retrospect and Disk Warrior. Helpfully, each tool's precious place in your toolbox is analyzed and explained, along with the situation and manner in which to use it.
Reading this book cover to cover, one of the things I found confusing was the order in which topics were presented. Of course, such a book isn't generally used in this way, and given its electronic and search/click nature, it doesn't cause any real difficulty. It may be off-putting to some, to each his own.
In keeping with its holistic backbone, the book doesn't make assumptions about the flavor of your studio's environment. Just as much coverage is given to Mac OS 9 based Macintoshes as to the Mac OS X side. There is a large section devoted to running a Mac Studio with Mac OS X Server, including hardware, software and configuration tips and guidelines.
Much of the technical knowledge contained in these pages is freely (as in free, sans-cost) available on the internet. Some of the information is quoted (and attributed) directly from such sources. However, finding this information online yourself can be very time consuming and this book addresses that problem, with well researched links that extend on the information presented, should you need it. Having all these weblinks in one document also has its benefits. This is a integrated guide and a distillation of core issues and key tips earned through (someone else's) blood, sweat and tears (not yours). And of course, in the event of system failure, even Google stops working.
There are many Macintosh books out there, so this book finds itself in a very competitive arena. However, it has several advantages over many of these books. Firstly, its in electronic format, and is therefore quickly searchable. The author recommends at the beginning of every chapter how to mine the book's information. Secondly, all references to other sections of the book are hyper-linked for quick access and all external references are hyper-linked as well. Thirdly, the book is available on a subscription basis. This may seem an expensive option, but a subscription means the information will be kept up to date and expanded as new techniques and technologies become available. Perhaps one of the few disadvantages is that in the event of emergency, the book may be stuck on your machine. (It's certainly one of those precious items to be stored on your USB stick, iPod or emergency CD-ROM .)
With a guide like this, you can quit moonlighting as fixit guy and go back to your day job.
You can download or subscribe to the electronic-only Fix a Troubled Mac through the book's official site. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, carefully read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
Wake up, it was only a nightmare!
It's funny, laugh.
Over 10K a year, gasp! =p
As someone who makes his living fixing such problems for similarly situated companies:
Can't we get the religious right to find some sort of sinful part of this book that they can use to get it banned?
"Installing the RAM," maybe?
Mindy: "Well...desserts aren't always right." Homer: "But they're so sweet!"
this book is definitely for you
And if it were Windows, you would need a whole library!
Lighten up. Its a joke
But that one girl saved Christmas with her Mac! If they put it on T.V., it must have been true.
Good times!
simple solution: don't use a prybar to remove chips!
Use a big magnet or slip-joint pliers!
But then we would miss out on the really suave, trendy support people apple send round to fix things for us. They tell us the latest fashions and give us advise on colour, they let us listen to their iPods so we know which indie bands are cool, helping to avoid embarassing faux pas in music conversations. Plus they have this cultivated look of practised distain I am trying to get my developers to adopt when someone says something stupid like 'WinXP is really not that bad for the casual user'.
No without apple support people our lives would be so much poorer and so much more uncultured.
Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
What truth?
There is no dupe
Sorry to reply to your comment twice. Also of note, from the book's official website:
;-)"
"The book is written for advanced Mac users (not newbies) and aimed at creative studio and production environments and for anyone that is looking after 5-50 macs (less than 5 and greater than 50 is fine too
5-50 macs is quite a few. If you fry them all at once, you've got a fucking talent for it. =)
1. Denial
2. Denial
3. Denial
4. Denial
5. Buy another Mac
You were 80% angel, 10% demon. The rest was hard to explain. - Over The Rhine
"Math in a song is good."-Linford
Instead of removing spyware, ensuring my OS is up to date, grabbing the latest virus definitions, dealing with system file conflicts, etc etc, I can actually BE productive. [my emphasis]
Totally. You have far more slashdot posts an hour now.
I don't know what you were doing with your Winboxes, but I run a corporation(~450,000 machines) and have only had one problem in the last 3 years since they were delivered, which was easily fixed (total time invested in maintainence: ~2 mins). The only real problem was with lousy software running without a proper Linux, which I've updated to an proprietary licence. Even upgrading the entire Company to SCO Linux license was a breeze through our lawyers. Windows XP is rock solid. Don't even get me started on the previous Mac Classic computers these PCs replaced.
I am living proof of the Peter Principle
Have you tried "ssh" and "sftp"? :)
http://alternatives.rzero.com/
.. but.. but.. el Presidente Jobs promised me my Mac would "just work"!
You mean to tell me they break, just like every other computer? This is an outrage!@@#@!11 I demand my eight thousand dollars back!
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
Dude, start wearing death-metal shirts and get a skull tattooed on your neck. Then use a large hunting knife as a pointer when telling them what the problem was. No more font problems!
Crushing my karma one post at a time.
No, last I heard it was saltwater only. And a bitch to properly clean, too...
(so *that's* what karma smells like when it burns!)
I remeber back in the days (mid to late 80's), when I had my MAC II. 256 colors w00t.
if you are old enough to have been messing with the innards of a mac ii in the mid 80s then, by god, you are far too old to be saying w00t.
Bít, zabít, jen proto, ze su liska!