Windows Vista: The Missing Manual
by David Pogue
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Book Reviews of Windows Vista: The Missing Manual
Book Review: Excellent resource for novices through mid-level users
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the second book in the Missing Manual series I've gotten my mitts on (the iPod one being the first) and I'm extremely impressed with the series so far.
This book does a great job of covering topics that everyone from novice through experienced mid-level folks can use. The format, writing style, and layout make the book easy to browse through, and the great table of contents and nicely done index make it fine as a reference.
The content ranges from basics such as how to tweak your system's appearance to more technical topics like delving in to the search infrastructure in Vista. There's also an entire section of five chapters guiding you on details surrounding networking in Vista, plus there's a separate appendix dedicated to details on installing Vista. If you're feeling very frisky there's yet another appendix on "Fun with the Registry." The section on Vista's multi-media capabilities is particularly well done and has given me some very interesting ideas for ways to better use my Vista-based home systems.
I think the book does a great job of filling in gaps for newbies to mid-level users. Advanced users probably won't get much out of the book, but the depth of content is sufficient enough to keep everyone else happy.
Put another way: I've got access to scads of Vista-related material through Microsoft courtesy of my MVP status and my company's Gold Partner relationship. I'm keeping the book around as a handy guide. It's that useful!
Book Review: Another Excellent Book From Pogue
Summary: 5 Stars
When I upgraded from the horrible Windows 98 to Windows XP, I purchased David Pogue's Missing Manual for Windows XP and was so glad I did. It was worth every penny because of the amount of information it contained. I didn't have to use it that much but whenever there was any information I did need, it was there inside the book and easy to find.
The same holds true for Mr. Pogue's book on Windows Vista. I initially wasn't crazy about switching to Vista because of the negative comments I had heard about it, plus my own experience using it on other people's computers. My main reason to try it - because I felt like a change. Before I did, however, I purchased this book to be familiar with it before installing. Like the book on XP, this one contains all the information most people would want for using Vista, in a clear, concise, easily understandable and organized format. The writing style is friendly and never a chore to read, there are sections covering every major aspect of Vista, and it is easy enough to find what you want to know.
That said, if you are really into the technical aspects of the program, this book is probably not the best for that; but for the average person who wants a reference book for using the operating system, this is an excellent choice. By the way, I am much more pro-Vista now after having installed it on my own computer (so far no problems whatsoever) than I was with my experiences using it on other people's computers.
Book Review: Exactly what I needed!
Summary: 5 Stars
Although not a complete computer novice, Vista is several operating systems newer than the one on my old computer, (which I never really learned to use anyway because I've always had a Resident Techie around, until now.) This is exactly the book I needed! As the subtitle on the cover states, this is The Book That Should Have Been in the Box.
Since I've been out of the loop so long, I started at the beginning and picked up lots of information I needed to know in the "up to speed" sidebars. After five minutes, I felt confident enough with author David Pogue's explanations and instructions to skip to the index, and to the problem that had prompted my purchase of the book: The first day with my new computer, I'd accidentally uninstalled the RSS Feed Gadget while attempting to get it to update news headlines.
The Help menu and the new Vista search feature were so unhelpful, I'd even gone through files individually to see if I could find it. (not a total loss, since I found an old favorite, Minesweeper.) After five minutes with the Missing Manual, I not only found and reinstalled the Gadget, but learned I have to subscribe to a feed to make it display current headlines. (Who knew? It had current headlines on it the first day.)
David Pogue's writing style is so good, and his instructions are so clear, I'm looking forward to sitting down and reading the book cover to cover so I don't miss anything. I'll never need a resident techie again!
Book Review: "Windows Vista: The Missing Manual" A Review By: John Inzer
Summary: 5 Stars
Generally, I am not a fan of manuals...they
can be boring, vague and for the most part
you even wonder if the writer has actually
seen the product being discussed.
Enter: "Windows Vista: The Missing Manual"
Written by: David Pogue
Published by: Pogue Press - O'Reilly.
Vista truly is a new experience and all aspects
of the various features are explained in detail
in this comprehensive, easy to read manual.
If you are a first time computer owner or a
veteran from the days of DOS this is a book
you will find yourself referring to over and over.
Everything from the graphically appealing
Windows Aero interface to tips on how to
install Vista is covered. 32-bit vs. 64-bit,
organizing your files, Gadgets, hooking up
to the net, Internet Explorer 7, Windows Mail,
Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, transferring your
files, tweaking the Registry, making backups,
maintenance...it's all in there and much more.
Finally, I must say the RepKover binding of this
more than 800 page treatise is excellent. You
can actually open it flat on the desk and it won't
slam shut like many books will. This can be
quite useful when you are trying to read and
implement the instructions while sitting at your
keyboard.
Wow! This really is the book that should have
been in the box.
Book Review: Pogue takes you by the hand through the tough journey of adapting to Vista
Summary: 5 Stars
Windows has never been the most usable Operating System. From day one, it's been playing a catching up game with Apple Operating Systems and Vista is no exception. The thing is, this time, Vista takes a quantum leap comparable to the one that Microsoft took with Windows 95 vs. the previous incarnations of their OS, which spells a lot of trouble and confusion for new users and users who take the leap.
David Pogue in "Windows Vista (Missing Manual)" acknowledges the learning curve Vista will entail and the confusion resulting from things that changed places, got renamed or simply dissapeared, leaving both, new and experienced Windows users at a loss. At the same time, his voice and tone keep you engaged in spite of the length of the book (827 pages), resulting in a book that serves as a general go-to reference for specific things and doubts, as well as a guide to take you through the thick and thin of Windows Vista until you become as experienced as you want to get and you are enjoying all the cool features Vista brings to the screen for PC users.
Although I have not got yet the computing juice Vista demands nor the guts to take the leap away from XP, having read it, I recommend the book to anyone considering to upgrade to Vista or anybody getting a computer with Vista pre-installed.