Macs For Dummies, 13th Edition

Introduction

What an amazing time to get to know the Mac. For years, these elegantly designed computers have been models of simplicity and virus-free stability. But that’s never stopped Apple from making these machines even harder to resist by applying stunning changes.

You can benefit from what remains the best marriage in personal computing — the blessed union between Mac hardware and Mac software. You also don’t have to ditch the Microsoft Windows–based software you currently use out of habit, due to business obligations, or because you don’t know any better.

Indeed, this book partially targets Windows vets who are at least thinking about defecting to the Mac. It’s also squarely aimed at people who are new to computers — and the Internet — period. And though this book is primarily for beginners, I trust that people who have already dabbled in computers in general and Macs in particular will find it useful.

About This Book

A word about the For Dummies franchise, of which I’m proud to be a part: These books are built around the idea that all of us feel like dopes whenever we tackle something new, especially when the subject at hand (technology) reeks with a jargon-y stench.

I happen to know that you don’t have a dummy bone in your body, and the publishers at Wiley know it too. Au contraire. (How dumb can you be if you speak French?) If anything, you’ve already demonstrated smarts by purchasing this book. You’re ready to plunge into the best computing environment I know.

Because ...