Windows XP: The Complete Reference

Rating:
Summary: Windows For Absolute Beginners...
Review: ... at least that is what the book should be called. This book does not deserve to be called a "complete reference". It seems to have been written for people who have never used a computer before, and have no idea what Windows is. As an IT person I had hoped for something with substance, but it was not to be found in this book. Much of the information is misleading because of ambiguous phrasing, or just plain wrong. If you need solid, detailed information about XP, then look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent reference for Windows XP
Review: I found the book to have everything I needed for working with Windows XP. For example, I was having a problem with accessing web pages with XP on my home network. I used the network setup section of the book to ensure my home network was setup properly to work with Windows XP. At the same time, I learned some shortcuts for displaying network information.

I especially like their tips which are sprinkled throughout the book.

I believe this book will work well for the beginner up through the advanced user.

Rating:
Summary: Windows XP; The Complete Reference is "the best"
Review: I found this book to be most helpful. Being a new computer user this has bailed me out so to speak many times. I found the information to be very helpful. I appreciated seeing the pictures in the book matched what was showing up on my computer. I'm not one to sit and read from the beginning of a book I guess I kind of fly by the seat of my pants so when I encounter a problem I need something to refer to that explains in easy to understand terms the information I need to solve my problem. I would recommend this book to anyone who has windows
XP you won't be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: Windows XP; The Complete Reference is "the best"
Review: I found this book to be most helpful. Being a new computer user this has bailed me out so to speak many times. I found the information to be very helpful. I appreciated seeing the pictures in the book matched what was showing up on my computer. I'm not one to sit and read from the beginning of a book I guess I kind of fly by the seat of my pants so when I encounter a problem I need something to refer to that explains in easy to understand terms the information I need to solve my problem. I would recommend this book to anyone who has windows
XP you won't be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: I'm the author, and here's more info about the book
Review: I wanted to correct a few misconceptions that other reviewers posted about this book. It's not mainly about Windows XP Home Edition: it's about both Professional and Home. We wrote it about Windows XP Pro, and then noted where Windows XP works differently.

Someone else claimed that the book omits getting a Windows XP computer networked with a Windows 98 computer. Chapter 28 is about setting up LANs, and it describes the whole process. There's a Network Setup Wizard you can run on both the Windows XP and Windows 98 system to get them both configured. The key point is that older Windows versions use the NetBEUI networking protocol, and Windows XP doesn't, unless you do some extra steps. The best solution is to switch your older machines over to TCP/IP, the networking protocol that both Windows XP and the Internet use.

Anyway, I hope that this extra information is helpful!...

Rating:
Summary: Very helpful
Review: I've been using Windows 98 for years, but my friend has a fairly new computer with Windows XP. I'm constantly going over there to help him correct his mistakes, as he likes to change settings, sometimes with disastrous results. So I looked for a book that wasn't only for beginners, but was easy enough for a somewhat novice to understand. It is very useful to both of us!

Rating:
Summary: Don't Bother
Review: If you can access Amazon, this book is too basic for you. If you have ever used any windowing computer that ever was, you won't find anything of value in the 1070 pages. The author tells you that XP was designed to communicate over networks, but doesn't explain how to communicate to a machine running windows 98 (which XP doesn't like to do at all), nor does he explain how to burn a CD with Microsoft's seamlessly integrated (and useless) CD software. There is a paragraph on the concept of a zoom button, but none on making your digital camera download pictures.

Since the pages are to small to be used in the fireplace and too stiff to use in the bathroom, I have no use whatever for this book.

Rating:
Summary: Manual for WinXP Pro
Review: It is an excellent book. I consider it to be the right manual for WinXP. It contains everything that an average user needs (although not for computer technicians). It is also good for more advanced users who want to explore some hidden power of WinXP.

The most difficult part of WinXP is the network configuration (wireless network, domain network, and private network). I find the book sufficient for a beginner to setup the networks.

The best of all about this book is that it includes an e-book version of the whole book on a CD(about 18MB). Thus, the book can be with the computer wherever you go. There are a lot of other advantages of an e-book over a hardcopy. In an e-book, you can (1) search for key words, (2) move from page to page and from chapter to chapter more easily, (3) have access to additional information on the internet by clicking the mouse (the e-book has many useful links to pages on the World Wide Web), (4) take some notes by cut-and-paste.

Rating:
Summary: Windows XP: The Complete Reference
Review: This book focuses more on the Home Edition and does not provide the detail needed to call itself a complete reference. It does provide about 99% of what you'll use, but not the detail I was looking for. This is why I gave it 3 stars. Not a bad book for most, but not a reference.

Rating:
Summary: Windows XP The Complete Reference
Review: Windows XP The Complete Reference is an excellent book for Beginers up to Advanced Users. The book gives lots of information about what everything means. I was very surprised to find System Confifuration Utility as a lot of other don't. I checked out other books such as Que Press Windows XP Home Special Edition, Mastering Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Bible, and Windows XP Inside out. After reviewing these books I settled on Windows XP Inside Out as a Reference book and Windows XP The Complete Reference as my reader book.