O’Reilly news

iWork '05: The Missing Manual: Create Slick and Stylish Documents and Presentations Like a Pro

September 23, 2005

Sebastopol, CA--"It seems the software wizards at Apple aren't about to rest until every aspect of your computer life is as stylish, elegant, and well-designed as the Mac itself," notes Macintosh expert consultant Jim Elferdink. To that end, Apple has produced iWork '05, an innovative software suite that allows Mac users to create slick and professional documents and cinema-quality digital presentations that are sure to impress.

iWork '05 contains Pages and Keynote 2, which rival any of their competitors on the market today. Unfortunately iWork '05 doesn't come with any quality documentation of its own, so Elferdink's new iWork '05: The Missing Manual (O'Reilly, US $29.95) is the essential manual that should have been in the box.

"iWork follows the path blazed by the iLife programs--and generations of kindergarten classes: it's important to work, play, and share well with others," says Elferdink. He shows readers how to do just that with the classy and colorful iWork '05. In his in-depth, useful, and user-friendly book, Elferdink presents "step-by-step instructions for using every Pages and Keynote 2 feature, including those you may not have even quite understood--let alone mastered--such as styles, hyperlinks, animations, charts, and so on."

Along with all the essentials of Pages and Keynote 2, iWork '05: The Missing Manual gives readers an objective look at each program's capabilities, its advantages over similar programs, and its limitations. And it's written for readers at every technical level--sidebars bring beginners up to speed, and countless undocumented tips, tricks, and shortcuts will enhance the experience of power users.

iWork '05: The Missing Manual covers:

  • Pages: This book shows readers how to make the most of the brand-new, streamlined word processor and page layout program to quickly and painlessly produce professional-looking brochures, newsletters, letters, invitations, product data sheets, and more.
  • Keynote 2: Keynote 2 is a significant upgrade to Keynote and a great alternative to PowerPoint. Elferdink helps readers use this extraordinary presentation software to build incredible presentations, demonstrations, storyboard animations, interactive slideshows, and more--including sound and video.
  • Presentation Advice: Elferdink goes well beyond the technical side by offering readers expert guidance on planning and pulling off effective, unique presentations--he even includes tips on analyzing an audience, outline planning, selecting projection and presentation equipment, becoming an effective presenter, and more.
  • Integration: The iWork programs join the happy family that Mac users already know and love: iPhoto, iMovie, and iTunes. With this book, readers can use Pages and Keynote 2 to tap into the media gems already on their Macs.
  • Troubleshooting: iWork '05 is polished, but it's not perfect. So Elferdink offers candid discussions--and helpful solutions--to every hiccup Apple hasn't yet fixed.
  • With plenty of practical guidance, advice, and lots of illustrations and real-world examples, Elferdink delivers everything readers need to unleash the power of iWork '05.

    Additional Resources:

    iWork '05: The Missing Manual
    Jim Elferdink
    ISBN: 0-596-10037X, 408 pages, $29.95 US, $41.95 CAN
    order@oreilly.com
    1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000

    About O’Reilly

    O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

    Email a link to this press release