Windows 98 in a Nutshell

Rating:
Summary: You use win98? You buy this book...
Review: ...it's that simple. This book is a must have for anyone running win98. I have a number of good books on the OS, but none so portable and so crammed full of info I need as this. It is not unlikely, that if you don't already own a win98 book and you buy this one, you will never have to buy another book on the subject.

Rating:
Summary: Supurb Windows 98 reference
Review: An excellent all-around reference to Windows 98. It especially excels in Command line (DOS) coverage and it tells you virtually everything you'll ever want to know about running Windows 98 and IE 5 or Windows 98 Second Edition (which comes with IE 5). This book is for intermediate to advanced users. It also has a handy guide for experienced Win95 users who are upgrading, by highlighting the differences between Win95 and 98.

What I especially liked is that you can use it as a quick reference as well as a detailed "how to" book. This book has it all.

Rating:
Summary: No Fluff
Review: From the moment I opened Windows 98 in a Nutshell, I was in love. This is the way a book should be written. Every word counts. There is no wading through unimportant information. Why aren't all technical books written like this? I cannot say enough! Thank you.

I bought the book because of its title, and because it was not as thick as all the rest, and because it didn't have a thousand pictures of windows and screens inside. Whatever made me reach for it, I was very fortunate. Thanks again.

Rating:
Summary: No Fluff
Review: From the moment I opened Windows 98 in a Nutshell, I was in love. This is the way a book should be written. Every word counts. There is no wading through unimportant information. Why aren't all technical books written like this? I cannot say enough! Thank you.

I bought the book because of its title, and because it was not as thick as all the rest, and because it didn't have a thousand pictures of windows and screens inside. Whatever made me reach for it, I was very fortunate. Thanks again.

Rating:
Summary: Top Marks
Review: I am doing a review for my User Group and have to completely concur with with the previous two reviewers. A uniquely sensible and empowering book, but still,it is on this side of perfection.

I came to this book with five W98 problems, only one was resolved. I do not find it a "Quick Desk Reference" since I struggled to locate the nuggets that were on the edge of my memory. I would like to see this on a CD where the Find tool could be used. And, hyperlinks are the way to go.

My guess as to why this book dazzles is that the editors worked hard to make the Boss look good; lots of clean sentences, only a few murky ones.

Rating:
Summary: Windows 98 In a Nutshell
Review: I must confess that I would not ordinarily think of buying a windows nutshell book because I foolishly thought that I already knew a fair bit about Windows 9x and NT for that matter. However, after browsing through W98Nut in a Border Books, I discovered that this book thoroughly covered many aspect of Win9x in a very concise and readable fashion: networking, boot process, all (and I mean all) miscellaneous and utility programs.

Each aspect is covered very nicely - syntax, command options, the effects of the choices (*very important*) and something that I found neat...often there are URLs pointed to a Web reference for a piece of shareware or freeware that either replaces the Windows functionality or supplants it with a better idea.

This is the type of book that I call a "commuter book" because you are unlikely to read it cover to cover at one sitting, but more likely to pick it up every spare moment and just cruise through it looking for a gem (and there are many tidbits).

In my case, I was on the commuter train thinking about how to automate an FTP file upload from a customer's machine to a Unix server on their network and I looked up the DOS mode ftp program and discovered the syntax to conduct an unattended ftp session! Marvelous.

I think if you run Windows 9x you have to have this reference book - forget all the other books that are phone book size (with a CD full of useless stuff that is out of date anyway) and get this compact and chock a block full guide.

(I already own Unix in a Nutshell, but I had bought that when I knew little about Unix - now I realize that you need these books more when you THINK you know what you are doing!).

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste you money
Review: If you are looking to learn about Win 98 buy ANY other book. This is a complete waste of time in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Stay away from this book
Review: The name implies a book for users of all skill levels. Not so. Grab a Dummies book instead and save some cash.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Win 98 references
Review: This book is very efficiently organized and it contains lots of useful information about excellent accessory programs that most people have never heard of. It helped me configure Windows to the point that I really like it now. It is weak on registry information, so you have to buy another book if you want to know a lot about that. Definitely worth the money anyway!