Author: Wallace Wang
Publisher: No Starch Press, 2010
Pages: 386
ISBN: 978-1593272753
Aimed at: New users of iPad
Rating: 3.5
Pros: Comprehensive - starts with the basics
Cons: Not many readers are going to need all of its help.
Reviewed by: Lucy Black

This book is intended for new users of the Apple iPad who need a good deal of handholding.

It starts from the premise that the iPad is fun to play with and a bit mysterious and goes on to present thirty-nine hands-on activities, each with a common format. The first page of each chapter is a brief introduction made to fill a page by using a huge font. Then in "What You'll be Using" you are clearly shown - with icons where appropriate, what controls are about to be introduced. The activity itself is illustrated with screen dumps - they would have been better in full color but they are large and clear. At the end of each chapter there's an Additional Ideas section.

The book is arranged in seven sections, each with between four and seven chapters. Part 1, Basic Training, starts with Turning you iPad On and Off. You may think this is going too far but I've known people who have had problems finding the switch on new devices. The additional ideas in this case introduce Airplane mode.  Charging and conserving battery power is the topic of the next chapter.

Part 2 is on customizing the iPad starting with the Home screen, then parental controls, passcodes for privacy, setting the data and time, restoring and resetting the iPad, setting up an Internet connection and installing and uninstalling apps. Part 3 is about using the Internet with the Safari browser and setting up an using an email account.

Part 4, Sharing Data with your iPad, has four fairly meaty chapters. The first covers transferring photos, movies, music, TV shows and podcasts with step-by-step instructions for each. Then comes a chapter on transferring Ebooks and audiobooks. transferring and synchronising contacts, appointments, mail, notes and bookmarks comes next and there's a chapter devoted to transferring iTunes University Courses from a computer.  

Part 5, Video, Music and Ebooks, starts with a chapter on shopping on the iTunes and iBook stores.and goes on to cover listening to audio, watching videos, watching YouTube videos, reading Ebooks, viewing photographs and using and sharing photographs.

Part 6, Organizing Yourself has chapters on jotting down notes, viewing contact information, tracking appointments, viewing maps, finding places/getting directions with maps and searching using Spotlight.

The final part, Additional Tips has five chapters: updating the operating system; accessibility; foreign languages; transferring and editing Microsoft Office documents and finally the best iPad apps which presents a small selection of those available.

The advantage of this book is that its content list and index makes it easy to find detailed information about using an iPad. However if you, or someone you know, finds technology mysterious and challenging then this should provide the help needed.