Reviews (176)

Required Reading for all text workers
As the subject says, I'd consider this book required reading for everyone trying to express ideas in text. For example: I'm a professional software developer and have yet to get into a situation where I'd have to design a poster or similar thing,and yet, the principles Robin Williams explains in this book also apply in the context of software development as far as the layout of our source code is concerned. Design is everywhere, so you might as well learn the basics of it.

NonDesigners and Designers get fueled
This is an extremely helpful book for anyone of any history in design.Back-to-the-basics design by an author that keeps it simple.Has a huge typography section, as well as some humor (a rare find in these type of books), and a lot of learning without the struggle.Buy it, read it, and add it to your library.
book review
This book was very helpful in my computer graphic class. I learned alot about alignment and proximity. I recommend this book to all beginner graphic students ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers    3. Computers - Desktop Publishing    4. Design - Book    5. Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Electronic Publishing    8. Graphic arts    9. Graphic design (Typography)    10. Handbooks, manuals, etc    11. Layout (Printing)    12. Typography    13. Computer Programming    14. Computers / Desktop Publishing / General   

Reviews (6)

An excellent book
It is excellent as far as it goes. I wish it was somewhat easier to use by being more complete.

About Mac
I like Robins ways of teaching, and her book is great. For me it is a bit confusing as I have to keek refering back to other sections. Otherwise great.

Poor effort
Robin Williams usually does a superb job - she's fun to read, has a perspective which is easy for the reader to understand and puts information clearly while not talking down to readers.
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Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh Programming    2. Computer - Apple/Macintosh    3. Computer Bks - Apple / Macintosh    4. Computer Books: Operating Systems    5. Computers    6. Operating Systems - Macintosh    7. Computers / Operating Systems / Macintosh    8. Macintosh OS   

Editorial Review

If you just stumbled into design, maybe via a hobby that grew into acareer, and you want to improve your work without having to enroll in a degreeprogram, this book can bridge some of the gaps in your acumen. Not really aprimer on basic facts, Read more

Reviews (27)

Robin Williams Design Workshop
I learned about this book at a recent seminar. Bought it here through Amazon. Was a little worried when I read the first chapter that it would be over my head because I am a total novice, but I soon found myself engrossed in the book. It really is very helpful and the repeatition of ideas and "rules" helps drive home the important stuff. Well laid out so you can skip the chapters that don't interest you. Although I would consider reading them. I found that certain ideas hit home better in some chapters than others and I think it has helped my overall design ability. Good Book especially for those of us who love how-to books.

Robin Williams Design Workshop
This is a great reference for print design but the web site section is almost laughably outdated.Gone are the days of splash entry pages and HTML tables for non-conmplex layouts (now easily rendered by CSS). And who the heck is running 640x480 resolution on a 14 inch monitor these days??

Adobe projects
It's good for the all of adobe projects that you may work on. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computers    5. Computers - Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing    7. Electronic Publishing    8. Internet - Web Site Design    9. Microcomputer Graphics    10. Typesetting    11. Web publishing    12. Computers / Computer Graphics / Design    13. Desktop publishing software    14. Graphic design   

Editorial Review

Because "there's more to Web design than Photoshop and HTML," Read more

Reviews (24)

An outstanding, uniquely useful book
Because web sites are made with computers, somehow it seems that the vast majority of authors of "how to make a web site" books focus almost entirely on the technical aspects, as somehow devoid of relation to the practical art of making sites that work.
Web Design guide
Robin Williams does an excellent job of providing clear suggestions, good rationales, and lots of examples to make her point.

Worn this one out
Several years ago I met with the main designer at company that created the web pages for several pharmaceutical distributors in Canada. At the time, I was well versed in creating web pages using several of the professional programs including Dreamweaver, as well as writing code. The designer, however,said that they did all of their designing in Photoshop and then used a slicing technique in ImageReady before editing the site in Dreamweaver.I hate to admit it, but I had never heard of creating web pages that way, so I went home and began looking through all of my web designing books to see if I could find a description of the technique.Yes, I found it in this book.
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Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Bks - Internet    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Networks    5. Computers    6. Design    7. Desktop Publishing    8. Desktop Publishing - General    9. Electronic Publishing    10. Internet - Web Site Design    11. Web sites    12. Computers / Electronic Publishing    13. Publishing on the Internet    14. World Wide Web (WWW)   

Editorial Review

While the second edition of Read more

Reviews (71)

Beauty over accessibility
I was hoping this book would be the perfect solution for a class I teach that includes basic Web design and HTML authoring skills, and some of the information hits the mark perfectly. One thing emphasized in my class, however, is accessible design for people with disabilities, and this book does not address that issue at all, except for color blindness. Many of the tips and techniques, particularly about the use of frames and design tables, are out of date in terms of accessible design. Many of the ideas, if implemented poorly (which would tend to be the case by novices), would render beautiful but inaccessible (to people with disabilities) web sites. In the book's favor, it does cover cascading style sheets (CSS) for visual layout, but the importance of using that technique for accessible design is not mentioned. That said, this is a beautiful book with many "before and after" makeovers of how simple changes, such as font size and alignment, can increase appeal and usability.

Great for High School Teachers
This book is EXCELLENT as a source for explaining concepts.There are LOTS of tutorial books for teaching HTML and specific software programs to generate the code, but THEY don't guarantee because a website 'works' logistically on a server, it WORKS for the intended audience.

Excellent Step-by-Step Web Design Book
If you are looking for a book to tell you all you need to know about HTML, don't look here.But if you have a basic knowledge of the web (well, maybe even if you don't) and just want an excellent book to teach you the fundamentals of web design, this is the perfect choice.I've been searching for months to find a book that could walk me through designing my own family website and this has been exactly what I was looking for. And truly, the book does take you through things step by step.Visually pleasing, full of examples and useful information, this book is beside my computer almost daily.Even after completing it, there are plenty of things to refer back to, including a great chapter on advanced tips and tricks that I used today when I wanted to force a link in my site to open in a new browser window. I have never felt the need to review a book before, but I'm so pleased with this purchase that I just had to make an exception. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Books: Web Programming    3. Computers    4. Data Processing - General    5. Design    6. Internet - Web Site Design    7. Web sites    8. Computers / Internet / Web Site Design    9. Internet & communications   

Reviews (17)

It's still here!
I am so glad this book is still around! I had forgotten what a great, useful, overview of basic typographic principles this "little gem" is.
Must Have Book
This is a must have easy to read book that Mac users should have in their library. It provides helpful tips on how to make your designs look professional and help out with the work flow.

Key reference for any graphic designer; entry level or experienced.
This book covers important type setting principles that are key in creating professional looking typography. Do you capitalize a.m. or p.m.? Where do you put a comma when there are quotations? How do you handle fractions - and more. Highly recommend as a staple for any design studio. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh (Microcomputers)    2. Computer - Apple/Macintosh    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computers    5. Data processing    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Desktop publishing    8. Graphic design (Typography)    9. Hardware - Personal Computers - Macintosh    10. Macintosh (Computer)    11. Reference - Macintosh    12. Typography    13. Computers / Operating Systems / Macintosh    14. Electronic publishing: techniques    15. Macintosh OS   

Reviews (13)

Robin WIlliams sets the future archetype for technology training
I cannot say enough good things about this woman's writing. She breaks the normal rules of teaching by rote, instead helps to impart a holistic understanding of the pros and cons of the technology, and thus it becomes obvious how to use it to the best effect. I have taught seminars using her books as reference materials, and recommend that everyone should own this book who uses a computer. Most people today learn technology by rote, this does not give a person the understanding necessary to face different software versions, or even different challenges that pop up everyday in the workplace. Many books written on technology are only good as doorstops, as they perpetuate the step by step learning by rote crap. This book, very thin and unassuming in it's length, get's in a user's brain like yeast and expands to help them to be able to comprehend WHY things work the way they do. I hope she writes a lot more books, especially one for Windows users, like her Little Mac Book. She deserves to be famous, successful, and prosperous.

Very outdated but still of some use for beginners
I did pick up one or two useful hints in this book. If you haven't managed to figure out for yourself that two spaces after a full stop (period) just looks plain stupid, then you will probably get a lot of utility from this book. As other reviewers have said - it is extremely short and light on content - you'll probably read the whole thing in an hour.
Useful but an extremely short book
Not counting the introduction and appendices, the content is less than 50 pages.There are excellent tips for making a document appear more attractive and some nice "before" and "after" images are provided.Some tips are obvious for proficient users, like use tabs instead of spaces for indenting.That was the case for me, and I found this book to be overpriced for what I got out of it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - IBM    2. Computer Books: Word Processing    3. Computers - IBM    4. Desktop Publishing    5. IBM Personal Computer    6. Operating Systems - Windows    7. Programming    8. Style manuals    9. Word Processing - General    10. Word processing    11. Computers / Operating Systems / Windows    12. Personal computers   

Reviews (7)

A Must Have Reference Source
As we have all come to expect from Robin Williams, this book is written in a clear, precise manor. The illustrations are all very helpful.I particularly like the way the windows of each application are illustrated with details about each item within the window.
Cool Mac Apps
Book is very informative, easy to understand and use. I bought this book for school (I don't own a mac), but there were many things I learned about iTunes (only non Mac program I use) I wouldn't have known without reading this book. Definitely would recommend for anyone wanting to get the most out of their Mac.

Offers some nifty short-cuts, tricks, and customized set-ups
John Tollett and Robin Williams' Cool Mac APPs: A Guide To iLife 05, .Mac And More may sound familiar: it's in its second edition now, and continues to back Williams' Little Mac Book by offering detailed explanations and tutorials of the main applications Mac OS X installs on your computer. From iLife applications to setting up files for Internet storage and sharing or synchronizing calendars and contact info with a PDA, COOL MAC APPS offers some nifty short-cuts, tricks, and customized set-ups.
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Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh Graphics And Sound    2. Application software    3. Computer - Apple/Macintosh    4. Computer Animation    5. Computer Books: Operating Systems    6. Computers    7. Macintosh (Computer)    8. Operating Systems - Macintosh    9. Operating systems (Computers)    10. Programming    11. Computer Software Packages    12. Computers / Operating Systems / Macintosh    13. Macintosh OS   

Reviews (17)

Wonderful intro to the world of type...
As an avid reader and (some would argue) somewhat-successful writer, I spend a lot of time looking at the printed word.But I don't have a full appreciation behind the effort and thought that goes into how that word gets transferred from writer to reader on paper.Robin Williams has a great book for those of us who are not professionals in the world of typesetting...The Non-Designer's Type Book.
Get the "The Non-Designer's Design Book" instead
I'm a big fan of the author, but I feel this is not one of her best books.She clearly illustrates all the important type concepts, but the book felt too long for the amount of information presented.
Great Guide to help get your message into print.
I have been reading Robin Williams' books since "The Mac is Not a Typewriter" came out.
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Subjects:  1. Art & Art Instruction    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Books: Web Programming    4. Computer Graphics - General    5. Computer Networks    6. Computerized typesetting    7. Computers    8. Desktop Publishing    9. Electronic Publishing    10. Internet - Web Site Design    11. Typography    12. Computers / Desktop Publishing / General    13. Desktop publishing software    14. Internet   

Editorial Review

*Hmmmmm*Read more

Reviews (18)

very basic
This book is for the most novice brand new user of OS X.4.If you've ever used a Mac, even OS9, don't bother with this book, its too basic.

The Little Mac Book, Tiger Edition
This book helped me get updated to the Tiger Operating System.
Robin Williams' Books Always the Best
No one writes better "How To Use It" books than Robin Williams, and this book is no exception.
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Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh Programming    2. Computer - Apple/Macintosh    3. Computer Books: Operating Systems    4. Computers    5. Hardware - Personal Computers - PCs    6. Macintosh (Computer)    7. Operating Systems - Macintosh    8. Operating sytems (Computers)    9. Computers / Operating Systems / Macintosh    10. Macintosh OS   

Reviews (5)

VERY BASIC BOOK!
If you no absolutely nothing about Windows Services, I still wouldn't recommend this book.You can find more useful information from one Google search than this entire book contains.Also, the link to the book's code is incorrect.The code is available via another site but is different than the code in the book.My recomendation...keep shopping!

working basic examples
the first four chapter was very good in explaining Windows Services Served Well Done
If you like Windows Services, you'll enjoy this handbook. As an entry-level systems administrator, I wasn't exactly sure how I could leverage .Net. I was taught C and C++ for windows services, but not everyone wants to learn, peer review, and maintain that.Read more

Subjects:  1. BASIC (Computer program language)    2. Computer Books: Languages    3. Computers    4. Computers - Languages / Programming    5. Microsoft .NET    6. Microsoft Visual BASIC    7. Operating Systems - Windows    8. Programming - General    9. Programming Languages - Visual BASIC    10. Basic, Visual Basic & QBasic   

Reviews (1)

Good, but more like podcasting with a touch of blogging...
This book should be titled differently as the emphasis it has is on podcasting using Apple GarageBand, rather than on blogging using iWeb. Still, this does not result surprising or dissapointing, because the level of depth and quality of the illustrations and instructions provided make it impossible for the reader to miss a beat, leading to great results when using GarageBand to create podcasts. Also, it makes sense to a certain degree, because iWeb is most definitely not the most popular (or recommendable) tool for blogging, even if you are working on a Mac.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers    3. Computers - Other Applications    4. Interactive & Multimedia    5. Sound Recording And Recordings    6. Computer Software Packages    7. Computers / Interactive Media   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Graphics - Design    3. Computers - Desktop Publishing    4. DVDs    5. Desktop Publishing - General    6. Digital video    7. Interactive & Multimedia    8. Multi-Media Hardware & Software    9. Technology    10. Television & Video    11. Videodiscs    12. Computers / Interactive Media    13. Image processing    14. Television technology   

Editorial Review

There's always been more to the Macintosh than the ability to make calculations, store files, and connect to the Internet. A community has grown up around the Mac's (always smartly designed) products and (usually intelligent) software. No one, with the possible exception of David Pogue, understands this better than Robin Williams (no, not Read more

Reviews (19)

Confusing and useless
Poorly organized and no clear target audience.Save money and trees.

Robin Williams Mac OS X Book or The Missing Manual?
REVIEW: ROBIN WILLIAMS MAC OS X BOOK A GREAT Book for Mac OS X beginners and Mac in General
This is the Jaguar Edition of a book that used to be called "The Little Mac Book," but at 800 pages and about 2 inches thick, it is anything but little. Just don't let the size intimidate you. This is one of the best books for beginners of Mac OS X, and the Mac in general!
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Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh Programming    2. Computer - Apple/Macintosh    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer operating systems    5. Computers    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Mac OS    8. Macintosh (Computer)    9. Operating Systems - Macintosh    10. Operating Systems - Windows    11. Operating systems (Computers)    12. Computers / Operating Systems / Macintosh    13. Macintosh OS   

Reviews (1)

Good savings on the set
These are beautiful books with many color illustrations and good tips for visual design. The set, though, is disappointing in that the box appears to be sized for four, rather than three, books, and the empty slot is filled with a white cardboard placeholder, making the set seem cheesy. Maybe another book is coming out soon to fill that slot -- I hope so. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Desktop Publishing    2. Computer Books: Desktop Publish    3. Computers    4. Computers - Desktop Publishing    5. Desktop Publishing    6. Desktop Publishing - General    7. Computers / Desktop Publishing / General    8. Internet   

Editorial Review

The latest Mac OS user guide from respected Mac expert Robin Williams (and co-author John Tollett, this time) is what readers have come to expect: Comprehensive, carefully illustrated, and patient in its explanations of what most novice and intermediate-level users want to do with their computers at home or in a small office. Trust Read more

Reviews (7)

just what i was looking for
before i purchased this book,i read all the reviews and they helped me out tremendously!!i just purchased my mac and was totally lost! this book takes you step by step which was very helpful for a first time computer user. now i'm excited about my computer now that i know how to use it. if you're a first time user and know nothing about macitosh then this is the book for you.

If you know anything about computers, do not waste your time
I have now read seven Mac OS X books (and reviewed several), and I struggled with how to rate this book. Here's why:
Helpful to Me
This is a huge book, but I won't be using it as a doorstop as it has been so useful to me for looking up problems and finding answers.
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Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh Programming    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Graphics - General    4. Computer operating systems    5. Computers    6. Computers - Other Applications    7. Macintosh (Computer)    8. Operating Systems - Macintosh    9. Operating systems (Computers)    10. Programming    11. Computers / Operating Systems / Macintosh    12. Macintosh OS   

Reviews (3)

Terrific resource forWindows switchers
I got this book because I'm taking a software class in a computer lab entirely full of Macintosh computers. I'm a veteran computer user, but I felt clueless.I didn't understand the Mac vocabulary,and I couldn't do basic things like find the power button, rename a file, or see what was on the hard drive. I still don't know how to page up and down using the keyboard.
Excellent Beginners Basic Book on Mac OS 10.3 Panther
The Little Mac Book, Panther Edition by Robin Williams (�2004), paperback, 196 pages,illustrations, index, chart of accent marks (2 pages).
Not enough coverage
I usually like Robin Williams' books but I am reallly disappointed with this one. I can't even find anything about the expose feature which is one of the main new features for Panther. If she doesn't cover this, I am wondering what else is missing. I really feel like I was cheated out of my money. This book might be useful to someonewho isn't familiar with Mac OS, but it won't help anyone looking for new features in Panther. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh Graphics And Sound    2. Computer - Apple/Macintosh    3. Computer Books: Operating Systems    4. Computers    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Mac OS    7. Macintosh (Computer)    8. Operating Systems - Macintosh    9. Operating systems (Computers)    10. Computers / Operating Systems / Macintosh    11. Macintosh OS   

Editorial Review

Good things often come in small packages, and that's certainly the case with Read more

Reviews (21)

Hey Peachpit Press -- Hire a Proofreader!
The purpose of this book is to teach novice computer users some basic skills and to use an iMac. It takes a sort of duckies and bunnies approach to ensure that the novice user is able to grasp the information being presented. My wife is just the person this book is aimed at and, after spending a few minutes thumbing through the book at my local bookstore, I decided not to purchase it. The problem is sloppy proofreading. Two examples should suffice. On page 10 we are told that it costs "something like $19.95 a month" to connect to Earthlink while on page 21 the cost has become "about $21.95." On page 26 we learn that the optical mouse "doesn't have an actual button to press" while on page 27 we are told to "keep your finger pressed down on the button and pick up the mouse." (The iMac comes with Apple's optical mouse.) This might seem like nit-picking by me but a person new to computers is not going to gain confidence with discrepancies such as these. Nancy Davis is listed as the book's editor and production is by Robin Williams and John Tollett. Shame on you folks.

useless
I've just switched from a PC to an iMac with OS X operating system and wish I hadn't. Not only has my new computer locked up at least 3 times in just a couple of days, but "Apple help"--which you can only access online--is worthless. Worse yet, there's essentially no "Help" material included on the machine's hard disk as there is with a Windows PC. ...After the support person revealed the missing steps to my husband we were unpleasantly surprised to learn that in the process of learning how to back-up a file on a CD we had turned two re-writable CDs into "read only" disks. This is a feature of Macintosh computers they don't mention in the "I switched to Apple" ads: if you use Apple software to burn your CDs, then once you put anything on a CD that's it. It is now a Read-Only CD no matter what it said on the label. ..."Apple Help" directed us to use "Disk Utility," and now that we've opened "Disk Utility" from two different locations we find that--surprise!--it won't erase our re-writable CD. It won't do anything, in fact: the menu pops up on the screen, but all the necessary buttons are dim rather than lit up. On an Apple machine, if a button is dim, you can't click on it. ...I'm sending the book back.

Excellent for the new iMac
This book would be great for someone brand new to the macintosh world and has the new flat panel iMac. The authors have another bookThe Little Mac OS X Bookwhich has about 400 more pages of info about OS X, while this book goes into much more detail about the programs the iMac ships with, like iPhoto,AppleWorks, ITunes etc. There are tutorials on doing basicspreadsheets,word,paint and drawings and it is explained in a very informative and fun manner, so that you know HOW to use ALLthe features of your new mac and when you want to know more they tell you where to find that information. The book is very easy to read and it is fun to read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Apple And Macintosh (Microcomputers)    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. Computers - Operating Systems    5. Hardware - Personal Computers - Macintosh    6. Hardware - Personal Computers - PCs    7. Operating Systems - Macintosh    8. iMac (Computer)    9. Computers / Operating Systems / General    10. Macintosh    11. Macintosh OS   

Editorial Review

Fonts can make or break a layout, and good designers know it. Knowing what a bitmapped font is might not seem like a big deal...until you go to print it. The author, Robin Williams, explains how a font that is bitmapped will have very different results on a printer than one that is not. Read more

Reviews (5)

Mac-Oriented Book
Although the Amazon editorial review calls Williams a Mac expert, it doesn't make clear that this book is pretty exclusively Mac-oriented.Some of it will be useful to Windows users, but there are surely other, similar font books on the market more useful for Windows users.If I had realized this before I started making notes in the margins, I would have returned it.

Everything you wanted to know about fonts...
As a typesetter in a large corporation I found this book very helpful when I recently had to organize our fonts on 12 computers. It clearly explains the difference in the various types of fonts and how to use them properly. It also covers in detail all the different type management software (ATM, Suitcase, etc.). After s