$ for missing iMac manual

Tsk-Tsk indeed, but on you for failing to download the free manual cunningly located here http://support.apple.com/manuals/

There is one for your iMac, just download it.

Enter your serial number in the box on that page.

Apple has yet to publish a full user guide for the late 2012 iMac, but most of the information in the guide for the late 2011 iMac will still apply, so you might want to download that and consult that ifyou have a question.

For any other questions, you can always post in these forums and one of us, your fellow users who are the only participants here, can probably help you, and none of us charge anything. 🙂

Regards.

I have a late 2012 iMac, and other than how you access the RAM sockets in the 27" model or the ports available, the latter of which is covered in the Quick Start. I can't think of much that wouldn't be the same as in a 2011 model other than the specs. But obviously it will depend on the precise question or issue you need to address.

Apple is never going back to the days of printed manuals, nor will any other computer manufacturer. The costs of producing and shipping are just too high. If you want print, you'll have to look to the independent publishers, and they usually are a bit slow to put out new editions for new computer models.

You can always visit an Apple Store, if there's one near you, for assistance. If you want to have phone support available, you might want to consider purchasing AppleCare for your iMac. That will give you three years of phone support at no extra charge.

Regards.

I have to confess I failed to check whether that specific manual was available, tsk tsk 🙂

Apologies to the OP and thanks varjak for filling in my gaps.

Besides those linked, there really aren't any manuals. That's why the "Missing Manual" series sells so well.

I can't imagine there would be much an any manual published by Apple which had anything about the keyboard except either plugging it into the USB port, or putting in batteries to the wireless keyboard and pairing it with the Mac.

That's totally confusing, the Keyboard does not discover the Mac, it's the other way around. Correct procedure would be to replace the batteries, push the button on the rightside of the keyboard and let the Mac discover it. Are you sure that the Bluetooth (on the mac) was not just switched off?

joyss wrote:

I bought "Total Mountain Lion Superguide" from Macworld for $6. One can buy a new hardcover in the bookstores for $25. I would add $50 to my $2000 Apple purchase for a good manual. I would think with their profit that would do. If one expects less, one gets less, and consumers are getting less and less for their $.

You might pay more, but most people would not. Trust me, after years of dealing with computer support I can state authoritatively that the number of people who consult manuals, even when something goes amiss, is a tiny fraction of all users. The vast majority of people turn to the web or to other people for help, which is probably a big reason why computer manufacturers are providing only the simplest of manuals. I don't see that changing.

Regards.