Windows XP Home Edition : The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition

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Summary: David Pogue does Windows
Review:
It is probably fair to say that author David Pogue "does Windows" as well as anyone. Not in designing the operating system, of course, but in explaining how to use it. Pogue has written "Windows XP Home Edition: The Missing Manual, 2nd Ed.", which is an update of the original 2002 Edition. Although he is long associated with writing about the Apple Macintosh operating system and applications, here he demonstrates his knowledge of the Windows XP system as well. The book covers the latest version of XP Home, including the Service Pack 2 update.

Pogue is currently a computer columnist for the NY Times and the author of 35 books, most notably many in the "Missing Manual" series published by Pogue Press/O'Reilly Media, Inc. With that series, Pogue has created a "template " for explaining operating systems and applications for non-technical users of all levels which almost cannot be improved upon. He describes and explains technical material in a straight-forward manner in clear, concise language. Nearly every page of the Manuals include either an illustration, chart, or sidebar helping to facilitate both reading and learning. More significantly, he mixes humor, practical experience insights and guidance, and some mild critique of the software to create manuals which don't really read as mere manuals. No one likes to read manuals after all, but Pogue makes such reading as pleasant as it can be, as well as being functional, of course.

This book starts by introducing some developmental history of the Windows operating system and provides some basics of the system. It describes the newest features of XP, and realistically notes the "Dark Side" of the current Microsoft offering - its security weaknesses, its privacy issues, its continual use of proprietary data and other formats, and its less than subtle marketing features. Pogue is not writing a critical work here, but fairly comments on matters which confront the user of XP, both to help explain a feature and why it works in a certain way, and to let the reader know that what seems like an oddity in design or function is not due to the user's failures.

There are five parts comprised of 18 chapters of substantive material covering pretty much everything a non-technical user needs to know about using and maintaining the XP operating system, as well as how to use the many applications which come with it. The book provides material on backing up files, maintaining the operating system, and troublesho oting. There are whole sections just on configuring the various Control Panels to customize one's machine, and a menu-by-menu description of XP Home.

There is even material for higher level users and for those who want to know more about the higher-level technical stuff. There are "power user" tips sprinkled throughout the book and Appendix C, for example, discusses the Windows Registry where novices are discouraged. Pogue describes the Registry, how to edit it, and even provides some (safe) examples.

There is plenty of material here for virtually everyone, including those who just want or need to know about specific matters, like how to handle digital photos and sound files, how to configure and use the chat and video conferencing applications, or in adding hardware, like printers, scanners, and external drives.

Perhaps the best aspect of it all is that all this good writing and printing production costs only $24.95. A bargain.

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Summary: All inclusive Windows XP walkthrough
Review: Despite it's tome like weight this is a well organized and written walkthrough of both basic and advanced use of Windows XP. Screenshots are used, but not excessively so. Often arrows are used to make sure that one screenshot covers as much territory as it can. It may seem odd to concentrate on screenshots, but that's what differentiates this book from some of the super bible style books that are just loads of screenshots with a few sentences between each.

About two thirds of the book is on the basics of the operating system; installation, file management, hardware management, networking, security, firewalls, etc. The last third of the book is on the basic applications; internet explorer, email, messenger and other.

A very solid walkthrough that will teach even the power user a thing or two they didn't know about Windows XP.