The Mother of All Windows 98 Books

Rating:
Summary: One stop reference with humor and style
Review: Being a huge fan of The Mother of All Windows 95 Books, I was rapidly anticipating the release of the "98" version. Packed full of helpful, intuitive information, Woody and Barry bring their considerable powers of computing to bear and make exploring your system fun and easy. In fact, there are little icons of Woody, Barry, "Billy (gates)" and, of course, MOM to each give a different point of view about Windows 98. Keep in mind that 98 is not an entirely different animal than 95 so much of the information and tips are basically the same. The one thing I do miss is the other characters in the last book. In addition to "Billy" and MOM, we had a Rush Limbaugh-type, MAO, Sarah, Igor, and the ever present bug. They each were distinctively different with their own personality and POV. Not that Woody and Barry aren't unique, but I really miss the banter of the previous cast. They were always entertaining and funny to read, even if the info wasn't especially relevant to me. Still, this is the book for all people who want to do more than just click "start" and play solitaire. Plus, it's based on Windows' final code while ALL other books are based on final beta. Get it!

Rating:
Summary: Save the day - keep it next to your computer
Review: I love the presentation of the material. The authors are obviously very knowledgeable about Windows 98 and PC's in general, but they present their ideas in a readable fashion. Moreover, they present opposite points of view when applicable to give a balanced approach and let the reader decide.

This book has helped me become an expert in Windows 98 faster than any other means I can imagine. I wish they had similar books on other subjects - like Excel!

Rating:
Summary: a bit long winded
Review: Much of the information in this book is useful. But for the sake of being funny (which it is) the book is wordy. I mean really--- when you have repeated error messages or the blue screen of death in front of your eyes do you really want to sift thru page after page of sarcasms and puns to find an answer to your predicament? Not that Mother contains those kinds of answers - it's more a learning tool. Contains lots of useful hints about configuring win98 as well. I was amused by the chapter, "Is Win 98 for you?". Yah right! Everyone buys a $.... book about configuring an OS prior to actually installing the OS on their system. If you are unsure, this book will not help you decide one way or another because the pros and cons offered will make your head spin. If you already have win98 and you like reading long commentaries with sarcasm and opinionated blabber- which is funny, I admit - you will love this book. If you want a book that will reference answers you need immediately without being too beginner, I recommend "Running Windows 98".

Rating:
Summary: Jokey & tech-ey but loaded with unique detailed info
Review: The Mother of All Windows '98 Books is a great reference. It answered most of my questions, including where to find and install Microsoft Fax (it's hidden deep in the CD). Woody and Barry also provide great tips on customizing Win '98, such as the full benefits of the Quick Launch Bar and extra actions to add to your context menu.

This book is well-written, and the humour keeps it from getting dry. My only criticism is that the humourous headings (carried over into the Table of Contents) sometimes make it difficult to locate a topic.

Rating:
Summary: The best book on tips and tricks of Windows 98
Review: This book is the best resource I have been able to find on Windows 98. I have been a fan of the "Mother of all..." series since the first book and the authors have not let me down. It is funny, informative, and very accurate. Most of the other books of this type rush to get the book out before the product ships which so they miss the final changes in the product. The "Mother" series makes sure they are accurate with the product that ships rather then some beta version. I would recommend this book highly.

Rating:
Summary: "The Mother of All Windows 98 Books" is a hit!
Review: Woody's books are always a treat and very useful. I've bought a LOT of computer books over the years and his are ones that stay right next to my computer. I'm about ready to upgrade to Win 98 and, with this book, I'm even more assured of success. I also am responsible for pcs at work and expect to use "The Mother" book in recent weeks as we're just starting to receive Win 98 pcs. Woody picks up the annoying and potential problems, tells you how to avoid and/or fix them as well as making sure you have the details you need. Also his web site and newsletters are a very helpful, and up-to-date addition to the package. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: a bit long winded
Review: would have paid more for a bundle: book, cd, postit flags, a highlighter, and a sharpie.

This is the flimsiest book I've ever seen. In other words, it's a flop. It's like trying to read an octopus. You can't use a highlighter, or any other marker without it bleeding into other pages. I'm left wondering what influenced Woody and Barry's production decisions. Doesn't't say much for Addison Wesley Longman either. In keeping with tradition, I will cover the cons first, then proceed to the pros.

There are some outright mistakes in the book. How do I submit them for correction?

This book isn't about troubleshooting Win98, so don't expect to solve your mysteries with it, or find answers. If your printer, modem, or usb doesn't work, maybe you're looking in the wrong book. Maybe, that is, unless you picked up on the need for NT. Matter of fact, forget about usb; don't look here. The index is lacking. I think "My Documents" and "Virtual Memory" are important enough subjects to be listed in the index, but they're not. This book should be sold as a hardback, with pages that don't leak, ... Woody, Barry, do you two know what "presentation" means? How about having an Adobe CD companion? Makes searching a little easier.

The pros: the parrots on mom's shirt. I like parrots. I commend you on dedicating a page to the Tibetan Children's Fund; well done. The book has a lot of information in it, and, as I have said, I highly recommend the use of "postit Flags." The task of using this book as a reference tool is left to the reader; if your organizational skills are strong, then this book is definitely worth the investment.

Don't let me discourage you from reading this book. I've learned a lot from it. But before you make the purchase, write to Addison Wesley Longman and request the hard cover version that doesn't't bleed. If you can't get that, check the book out from the library.

Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 stars Excellent book! 4 1/2 stars
Review: You buy an 800-page book on Windows 98. Then you cannot find the specific topic you are looking for. Arrrrgggghhh!!! This book needs a solid index or an accompanying cd that allows you to search for specific topics. This book is not nearly as useful as it could be.