PC Annoyances, Second Edition

PC Annoyances, Second Edition
by Steve Bass

PC Annoyances, Second Edition
List Price: $19.95
Our Price: $5.88
You Save: $14.07 (71%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Steve Bass
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-03-05
ISBN: 0596008821
Number of pages: 252
Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Book Reviews of PC Annoyances, Second Edition

Book Review: New Edition, Lots of Great New Content
Summary: 5 Stars

If you own the first edition, you won't experience déjà vu while reading the second edition. The new one has many changes that you won't recognize it. Whether you're a power PC user or a casual one, you will benefit from the book. Because of the wide array of topics covered, I can't imagine many geeks who know all of these tips.

Instead of calling tech support and staying on hold or going to Google, check PC Annoyances for the answers. It's impossible to have the answers to all the problems you encounter on a PC, but Bass touches on a bit of everything. If you don't find the answer in the book, you might find enough clues to shorten your search.

GMail joins the book and its tips immediately pay off. Other than the usual Microsoft applications, get stress-busters for fixing annoyances related to music, video, CD, and general email. Mozilla, Firefox, and Thunderbird don't make the cut this time. However, we know how the publishing industry struggles to keep up with tech changes. The book lists a few Netscape-related tips and what you can do in Netscape usually works in any Mozilla product since they're based on the same "bones."

How many times have you come across an interesting URL in a book that was a mile long and took several attempts to get it right? Bass takes care of that by using a URL shortening service making it easier and quicker to get the right URL on the first try. He provides links to software, humorous sites, and resources. After fighting a round with your PC, wouldn't taking a break by going to a funny resource release a few tense muscles? It does for me.

His software recommendations include free and fee-based products. I recognize many of the programs and own some. Based on my experience, he provides excellent recommendations, so you can trust that he isn't looking to pump up his stock with any of the companies. Most, if not all, of the programs come with a trial period, so you can play with them and see if they meet your needs. If not, uninstall and no harm done. If so, then thank Mr. Bass.

The only complaint I have lies with the warning boxes. They're dark blue with black text. Not easy to read.

Bass writes likes someone who has battled with the annoyance and shares the solution. It's conversational, enjoyable, and easy reading. You don't have to worry about insults from those who think they're the sultan of computers. Instead, Bass makes you feel better with his "buddy-style" advice. Thanks, Steve.

Summary of PC Annoyances, Second Edition

In every PC user's life, there's a point when desperate measures must be taken. Some push their PC off a pier or chuck it into a landfill. Others turn their former computing ally into a planter box. But don't give up on your PC yet--help is at hand. This easy to read, accessible book from PC World expert Steve Bass covers the waterfront of PC gripes and gremlins, with fixes for everything from Windows glitches to browsers that won't browse. Each fix is served up in bite-sized portions for quick reading--and even quicker fixing. A revised version of its best-selling predecessor, the 2nd edition offers 50 additional pages and over 120 new fixed annoyances. This reader-friendly book tackles problems related to a wide-ranging number of topics:

  • Windows--King of Annoyances! learn how to kick Windows in the rear, overcome glitches, take charge of the interface, live with the dreaded Service Pack 2
  • Hardware--wake up your DSL, tame your notebook, silence your PC's fan, work wonders with your scanner, and save paper
  • Email--from Outlook to Eudora! Defeat spam, avoid mailing list hassles, send big files, manage folders
  • Microsoft Office--learn workarounds for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that help you back up the unbackable and automate data entry
  • Internet--shake up IE, stop Flash, outsmart defaults, control Favorites, add the Google toolbar to Netscape

Plus, you get access to more than one hundred utilities that will help you squash bugs, enhance your email, untangle a system snarl, and much more. If your PC has ever annoyed you (do we see several billion raised hands?), PC Annoyances is for you. With the flip of a page or two, you can fix that faux pas and have your PC purring again.

Computers & Internet Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Computers & Internet Books
Learn to Program with Java ImageLearn to Program with Java
by John Smiley
Osborne/McGraw-Hill; Published: 2002-01-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.99
Price in other shops: $39.99
QuickBooks 2000: The Official Guide ImageQuickBooks 2000: The Official Guide
by Kathy Ivens
McGraw-Hill; Published: 2000-01-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops: $32.95
HTML: A Beginner's Guide ImageHTML: A Beginner's Guide
by Wendy Willard
Mcgraw-Hill Osborne Media; Published: 2000-11-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.86
Price in other shops: $29.99
Cisco(r) CCIE(tm) Lab Practice Kit ImageCisco(r) CCIE(tm) Lab Practice Kit
by Stephen Hutnik, Michael Satterlee
McGraw-Hill Companies; Published: 2001-02-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.56
Price in other shops: $59.99
Genealogy Online 9/E ImageGenealogy Online 9/ E
by Elizabeth Crowe
McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; Published: 2010-08-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.73
Price in other shops: $24.99
The Musician's Guide to Pro Tools ImageThe Musician's Guide to Pro Tools
by John Keane
McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; Published: 2007-09-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.00
Price in other shops: $42.00
DVD Demystified Third Edition ImageDVD Demystified Third Edition
by Jim Taylor
McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; Published: 2006-01-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.81
Price in other shops: $60.00
Strategies for the Electronic Futures Trader ImageStrategies for the Electronic Futures Trader
by Jacob Bernstein, Jake Bernstein
McGraw-Hill; Published: 1999-10; Unbound; Book
Fire in the Valley: The Making of The Personal Computer (Second Edition) ImageFire in the Valley: The Making of The Personal Computer (Second Edition)
by Paul Freiberger, Michael Swaine
McGraw-Hill Companies; Published: 2000-11-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $139.58
Digital Signal Processing ImageDigital Signal Processing
by Sanjit Mitra
McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; Published: 2005-01-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $126.66
Similar Books and other products
Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks, 2nd Edition ImageWindows XP Annoyances for Geeks, 2nd Edition
by David A. Karp
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2004-11-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.45
Price in other shops: $34.95
Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts: Troubleshooting PC Hardware Problems from Boot Failure to Poor Performance, Revised Edition ImageComputer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts: Troubleshooting PC Hardware Problems from Boot Failure to Poor Performance, Revised Edition
by Morris Rosenthal
Foner Books; Published: 2011-08-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops: $14.95
Windows Vista Annoyances: Tips, Secrets, and Hacks ImageWindows Vista Annoyances: Tips, Secrets, and Hacks
by David A. Karp
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2008-01-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops: $34.99
Fixing Windows XP Annoyances ImageFixing Windows XP Annoyances
by David A. Karp
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2006-03-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.55
Price in other shops: $19.99
Internet Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Going Online ImageInternet Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Going Online
by Preston Gralla
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2005-01-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops: $24.95
Home Networking Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Home Network ImageHome Networking Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Home Network
by Kathy Ivens
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2005-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.49
Price in other shops: $24.95
Excel Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Favorite Spreadsheet ImageExcel Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Favorite Spreadsheet
by Curtis Frye D.
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2005-01-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops: $24.95
Word Annoyances: How to Fix the Most ANNOYING Things about Your Favorite Word Processor ImageWord Annoyances: How to Fix the Most ANNOYING Things about Your Favorite Word Processor
by Guy Hart-Davis
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2005-07-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.04
Price in other shops: $19.95
PC Hardware Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Computer Hardware ImagePC Hardware Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things about Your Computer Hardware
by Stephen J. Bigelow
O'Reilly Media; Published: 2004-11-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.97
Price in other shops: $24.95
PC Help Desk in a Book: The Do-it-Yourself Guide to PC Troubleshooting and Repair ImagePC Help Desk in a Book: The Do-it-Yourself Guide to PC Troubleshooting and Repair
by Mark Edward Soper
Que; Published: 2002-11-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.00
Price in other shops: $29.99