Crossing Platforms A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook: A Dictionary for Strangers in a Strange Land
Crossing Platforms A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook: A Dictionary for Strangers in a Strange Land by Adam Engst and David Pogue
- Binding:
- Paperback
- Number of Pages:
- 326
- ISBN:
- 1565925394
- Product Group:
- book
- Publisher:
- O'Reilly Media
- Publication Date:
- Nov. 23, 1999
- BooksForGeeks.com ID:
- 761
Say what you like about the farmer and the cowman, but the Windows user and the Macintosh jockey likely will never enjoy much more than a grudging co-existence. That's why it can be so traumatic when a job or other tragic circumstance requires a devotee of one environment to switch to the other. Crossing Platforms: A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook helps ease the change by translating the terms and conventions of each platform into the other's equivalent.
It is organised like a translating dictionary, with two distinct sections: One for translating "Macintosh" into "Windows", the other for going the opposite way. Someone who was familiar with Windows and who wanted to know the equivalent of booting into Safe Mode could look up that term in the Windows-to-Mac section and read all about holding down the Shift key to boot Mac OS without extensions. A Mac user could look up Finder in the Mac-to-Windows section and learn how to use the functionally equivalent Windows Explorer.
Each section opens with a handy "10 Most Important Differences" section, which explains such things as the operating systems' differences in window anatomy and that whole single- versus multiple-button mouse debacle. There is a certain amount of "nyah-nyah" sniping about which operating system's features are better, but it's all in fun. This is an honestly useful book. --David Wall, Amazon.com
Reviews for Crossing Platforms A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook: A Dictionary for Strangers in a Strange Land
-
Excellent guide to the other side
Rated out of 5 stars, December 12th, 2001
I found this book to be extremely useful.The book is concise, just like a phrase book.
The approach is mostly unpartisan about the platforms - whilst recognising the many benefits of the Macintosh and its excellent design and execution, the book also recognises those (few) (
) cases where the Windows world is well done. -
Keep it handy...
Rated out of 5 stars, September 12th, 2000
A Windows user regularly exchanging info with Mac-centric designers, I find myself having to give them lots of support over x-platform issues. not easy with little Mac knowledge. "Crossing Platforms" to the rescue...This handy guide takes the form of a dictionary in 2 halves. The front section helps Mac users to understand Windows and the back half is the reverse for Windows users. Things like Finder vs Explorer, file extensions, accessing networks, opening/deleting files are covered. Reading the 'wrong' half can also help sharpen your perspective on how the other OS's user see common tasks.
The only thing I expected/hoped for which I didn't find was info on what (CD) formats of the other OS that Mac or Win can read - this is an issue when doing lots of stuff on CD-R.
I've found this most useful and seen nothing else like it. If you are on a different OS (Mac/Win) to many of your colleagues or clients I'd recommend this reference to you.