The Apple Macintosh personal computer operating system went through a significant change in May 1991. The latest version of the operating system is called System 7. The improvements brought the Macintosh closer to a multi-tasking environment, but it is not quite there yet (try an Amiga if you want a personal computer with multitasking). The most noticeable changes are the networking and file sharing addition, hot links, and font handling.

With the introduction of System 7, several books explaining all the new features and how to use them appeared. Crabb’s book came out after System 7 had been out for several months; this distinction is important. Since the author had time to use System 7 with other applications and hardware configurations, he has experienced what System 7 does in the real world, rather than what Apple claims or early beta testers found.

The book is about two-thirds System 7–oriented and one-third computer manager–oriented. This balance differs from the other System 7 books and reflects Crabb’s occupation as a personal computer consultant. He also writes columns in several personal computer magazines (such as MacWeek). This book, like his columns, contains a mix of fact and opinion. You are warned early in the book that he is not shy about calling it as he sees it and naming names. I find this directness helpful, even when I do not agree with his opinions.

Like other System 7 books, this book describes the new features and how to use them. More illustrations would help the reader to understand some topics. The topics do not seem to be covered in the same depth as in other books on the subject, and the book is shorter than the others. It is more a reference for the Macintosh office manager than the lone Macintosh user, which is not surprising, since Crabb tends to work with the first type of person.