One of the problems with computer application books is that there will always be updates which usually make some (if not most) of the information contained in them obsolete. And that's a shame because this is one fun to read informative tome. Andy and Tony have done a great job of walking the reader through the intricacies of the 5 components of iLife 04. And for someone like me who has just recently migrated to OS X, it offered me all the assistance I needed to understand the ins and outs of iLife.

This 500+ page book begins with an overview of iLife titled "iLifestyle" which offers not only an introduction on how one can use iLife but also share the results with others. While the book is not done with color graphics, it is well laid out offering a pleasing page layout. The typesetting is of a large enough font size that one doesn't get tired reading an entire chapter at one sitting and has bold headers for the major points, tips (done in blue lettering) and what I call "insights" by both authors in sidebars (boxes), done in white letters on a blue background. Now the blue is not an aqua blue but neither is it the blue screen of computer death that Windows users encounter (apologies to Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House). Andy's tips are recognizable by the inclusion of an icon of his Western style Stetson hat, while Tony's are iconless. What's significant about their tips is that they're logical progressions to questions that readers might pose when they silently ask what's the next step or how do I do this?

The whole book is written with a light, humorous touch, much like the presentations of David Pogue and Bob (Dr. Mac) LeVitus. The two authors "play off" each other and use their individual expertise to enhance the usage of a specific application. Andy is musically inclined and his tips on iTunes and GarageBand are worth the price of the book alone. Both seem to be iPhoto and iMovie experts and their tips are invaluable. I found their explanation of the different components of iPhoto to be especially useful as I'm just starting to organize all my railroad photos, which number over 20,000. Much like iTunes' playlists, I've used their tips to begin to organize my pictures in a meaningful way. Like my photos, the book is easily referenced for tips and hints.

So what's the bottom line? As I wrote this, Macworld SF 2005 has just finished and there is now iLife '05! I would expect this book to have a quick second edition to encompass the changes to iMovie, etc. If you decide not to upgrade from iLife '04 to '05, I would recommend going out and getting this book. I consider it to be a great bargain at the list price which, of course, is always offered discounted through the UG connection, Amazon and computer/book stores which discount. It's helped me understand the portions of iLife that I use so that my productivity has increased. The fact that it's an "easy read" because the authors have done it in a lighthearted approach is an added bonus. This book should well be one of the missing manuals that Apple no longer offers.