Part II

Introduction

Welcome to your new Mac OS X Lion operating system. This book will help you get the most out of Lion by teaching you how to leverage the power and flexibility of one of the most advanced operating systems in the world. This section will show you how the book is organized, providing you with a reference list for navigating its chapters. This reference list will help you find what you need to begin making the most out of your Lion OS!

Welcome to Mac OS X Lion!

There are many operating systems (OSes) in use today; however, the three most commonly used are Windows 7, Linux, and Mac OS X. In my opinion, Mac OS X Lion combines the best of both Windows 7 and Linux, marrying the ease of use of the former to the tremendous power inherent in the latter. Thus, Lion enables the most novice user to get his work done with ease, yet power users like myself can create programs and automation tools that take full advantage of the underlying software and hardware features of the UNIX operating system that underpins Mac OS X Lion.

Lion's combination of stability, usability, and reliability has no equal in any other operating system. It allows users to transparently take advantage of advanced computing technology in the form of built-in security, networking, communication, and file manipulation; yet does so in a way that doesn't expose the novice end user to the very complex beast that is UNIX. This is a big part of what makes Lion so attractive to developers and end users alike.

Lion gives developers the ability to deploy very sophisticated applications that rely on modern technologies in myriad powerful and novel ways. For example, the Lion OS enables users to take full advantage of technologies as diverse and powerful as voice and touch-screen communications. In this book, you will learn how to take advantage of this combination of ease of use and power to explore a world of computing that has no limits beyond those imposed by your own imagination. Simply put: if it can be done in the world of computing, Lion is capable of doing it—and a whole lot more!

Getting the Most Out of Lion Made Simple

This book covers the wide range of things that are possible using the Lion OS. It begins by walking you through the basics of getting started with Lion; moves on to discuss specific applications; and concludes by covering the importance of security and backing up your files. The chapters in this book are laid out as follows:

• Chapters 1–3: These chapters impart a basic understanding of the Lion operating system and how to use it. For example, you will learn about the core features that make up Lion's user interface; the different ways you can navigate around the OS; and some of the key attributes common to most Lion applications, including basic menu design and many useful keyboard shortcuts.
• Chapters 4–6: These chapters walk you through a handful of specific applications, including iWork and the apps that make up the iLife suite. These chapters cover what the apps do, where you can find them on your computer, where you can purchase them (if applicable), and how you update them. These chapters will help you become productive right away, explaining how to get the most out of your Lion OS out of the box.
• Chapters 7–9: These chapters cover how to use Lion's built-in utilities; how to use Safari to surf the Internet; and how to communicate with others using Lion's built-in communication features. Together, these chapters will help jumpstart your ability to communicate with the outside world quickly, easily, and securely.
• Chapters 10–11: This book's final two chapters cover how to back up your data, secure your information, and otherwise take advantage of some of Lion's more advanced features, including automation.

By the time you finish reading these chapters, you will have a great understanding of what you can do with the Lion OS, including how you can best make it work for you.

This book steers clear of “techy” verbiage, sticking to the basics. This means you can treat the book as a handy and easy-to-peruse resource. The best way to readthis book is a chapter at a time, without skipping chapters. Even if you are a power user, you are sure to be rewarded in every chapter with hidden gems that will make you an even more powerful user. Take the time to digest every chapter thoroughly, and you will find this book an invaluable resource on Mac OSX Lion.

Lion, the Name

This book is meant for all users of the Mac OS X Lion operating system. It is a version-specific write-up; and while some of it is applicable to previous versions of Mac OS X, it is 100-percent compatible with Lion, the latest version of the Mac OS X operating system at the time of writing. Therefore, I recommended that you do not try to apply the lessons of this book to anything but the Lion OS.

Navigating this Book

This book consists of three main parts: “Part I: Quick Start Guide”; “Part II: Introduction”; and “Part III: Mac OS X Lion Made Simple.” The sections that follow provide an overview of what you will find in these parts. In addition to these main sections, you will also find a handy “Day in the Life of a Lion User” reference. This referenceis located inside the front and back covers, and it provides a general look into how I use the Lion OS throughout my workday and beyond.

Part I: Quick Start Guide

The Quick Start Guide covers two importantsubjects:

• The Mac OS X Lion Interface: Learning the basics of the Mac's hardware interface will help you navigate your Lion OS with ease.
• Mouse Gestures and the Keyboard: Learning how to use gestures on your trackpad will reduce the time and effort required to navigate your Lion OS, especially when compared to the time and effort required by a traditional mouse and keyboard approach.

Part II: Introduction

You are reading this part now.

Part III: Mac OS X Lion Made Simple

There are 11 chapters in this book, and each chapter after the first builds on the concepts that you read about in previous chapters. You will find that the material for each chapter is interconnected, and that each succeeding chapter is somewhat dependent on the chapter that precedes it. This part of the book is where you will get a good, in-depth look at the Mac OS X Lion operating system. It is also where you will learn to become proficient in using it.

Quickly Locating Tips and Notes

As you read this book, you will see specially formatted NOTES that discuss important things to consider when using your Lion OS to accomplish various tasks.

Feedback!

Feel free to give me feedback, and let me know what you think of the book. You can also contact me if you have any questions pertaining to how to use the Mac OS X Lion operating system (relative to the contents of this book); time allowing, I will respond to inquiries you might have, helping you increase your understanding and comprehension of the Lion OS. I can be reached at [email protected].