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if you purchase a book by clicking through from this site.
Ain't Capitalism grand! You can also use the Amazon search
engine that is below the Go To menu to find a
book.
Windows XP books have been put
over here.
This page will be continually updated. If you have a
favorite book then eMail
us with the information. All books will be considered but
not necessarily posted to this page.
This initial posting is just the beginning. It is a lot
of work to hunt down all the books listed below. The books
Windows Assistance recommend have
been reviewed and some purchased by Windows Assistance.
The books listed under Top Sellers
have not all be reviewed. |
Going to the bookstore, whether online or the
real thing, to purchase a Windows how-to book can be daunting
task. Does size matter? Is that one over there with no CD but
only 300 pages better or worse than the book on the top shelve
with a CD but is over 1000 pages and weights 5 lbs? Or does any
of that matter? Just what constitutes quality in Windows
reference books?
First I will travel to Amazon web site and get their top
selling list of Windows reference manuals.
Does a top seller make a good book? We will compare each one
against the criteria I have established for a good reference or
how-to manual.
Information you can get from amazon.com about the books is:
Table of Contents [most items,] Read an Excerpt [some items,]
Amazon Articles [some items,] Editorial Review [most items,]
Customer Reviews [some items.]
I look at both the Table of Contents and the excerpts when
available. note: All O'Reilly books have sample chapters
at the O'Reilly web site.
Next we need to travel to one of the big bookstores and
examine each book for content.
The final judgment belongs to Windows Assistance.
How I Judged The Books
How Many Chapters Are About Non-Windows OS Subjects
Many of the large (600+ pages) get that way because they
spend a lot of pages on subjects that have nothing to do with
the Windows operating system. Add up all those non-Windows pages
and you will be surprised how large the total is.
What Are The Chapters With The Most Pages
This can be a real eye opener. Many chapters that have
nothing to do with Windows are the big winners in this category.
Again big books get that way because of all the non-Windows
subjects that are covered.
Can You Quickly Find Information On The One Subject That
Confuses You The Most
Go to the index a see what you can find dealing with some
part of Windows that drives you crazy. I generally search for
anything about Find (or Search in Windows Me
and Windows 2000.) This can be the most telling test of
all. In one 700+ page book I found only one reference to Find
and it was dealt with only in secondary manner. Not good.
How Well Are Files, Directories, Shortcuts, and Favorites
Explained
Every new user is confused about this area of Windows (or
Mac OS, Unix, whatever OS you are using.) This is one area I
am very critical of in all books. Many of the basic or
beginners books gloss over this subject or ignore it all
together.
CDs Are Useless
You may think that having a CD included will enhance a book.
Not. I have rarely used anything that is included on these CDs.
With more advanced manuals the CDs may contain some useful data
but I doubt it.
Since I wrote the previous paragraph I have examined many
books. Very few have CDs. I think they get the picture. The
Resource Kits do have a CD and it is very helpful.
Top Sellers by OS
What is a basic book. Hard to tell. Most, if not all, the
illustrated books are for beginners. Many books that I or Amazon
have classified as books for beginners may not be appropriate
for them. That is why I always recommend that you, the user,
examine a book before buying.
note: The list below contains links to the books at amazon.com.
Windows 98:
Basic:
Windows 98 For Dummies
Windows 98 Simplified
Teach Yourself Windows 98 VISUALLY
More Windows 98 For Dummies
Special Edition Using Windows 98 Second Edition
Windows 98 For Dummies Quick Reference
Master Windows 98 VISUALLY
The Big Basics Book of Windows 98
Teach
Yourself More Windows 98 VISUALLY
Advanced:
Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows
Windows 98 Annoyances [CD]
Windows 98 in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference
Microsoft Windows 98 at a Glance
Windows 98 Registry Handbook
Windows 98 Registry For Dummies
Windows
98 Secrets
More Windows 98 Secrets
Windows 1998 Bible, The
Microsoft
Windows 98 Resource Kit [CD]
Windows Me:
Basic:
Windows Millennium: The Missing Manual
Teach Yourself Windows Millennium Edition VISUALLY
Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition [CD]
Microsoft Windows Me For Dummies
How To Do Everything With Windows Millennium Edition
Easy Microsoft Windows Millennium
Complete Idiot's Guide To Microsoft Windows Millennium
Microsoft's Windows Millennium Edition Simplified
Master Visually Windows Millennium Edition [CD]
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition At a Glance
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Fast & Easy
Microsoft Windows Me for Dummies: Quick Reference
Practical Microsoft Windows Millennium
How
To Use Windows: Millennium Edition Advanced:
Windows Me Annoyances
Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Secrets
Windows
Me Complete
Alan Simpson's Microsoft Windows Me Bible
The Unauthorized Guide to Windows Millennium
Windows Millennium Registry
Do It Yourself Microsoft Windows Me
Windows Millennium Edition: The Complete Reference
Windows 2000 Professional:
Basic:
Windows 2000 Pro: The Missing Manual
Windows 2000 Professional for Dummies
Windows 2000 Professional Simplified
Master Windows 2000 Professional VISUALLY
Easy Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Complete Idiot's Guide To Microsoft Windows 2000
How To Use Microsoft Windows Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional At A Glance
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Step by Step
Advanced:
Windows
2000: Quick Fixes
Windows
2000 Performance Guide
Mastering Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit [CD]
Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Running Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Windows 2000 Professional Advanced Configuration and
Implementation
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Expert Companion
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Unleashed
Special Consideration:
Computers Simplified: Simply the Easiest Way To Learn
PC Upgrade and Repair Simplified
Teach Yourself Networking VISUALLY
My List
note: The list below contains links to the books at amazon.com.
Windows 98:
Selecting a basic book for beginners wasn't easy. I haven't like
the dummies series and nothing else seems appropriate for the
beginner. For the very new users the illustrated books will get
you started. Do you consider yourself a dummy or an idiot? I
didn't think so. If you plan on making yourself an expert on any
of the Microsoft OSs then I recommend you get the Resource Kit
for that OS.
Basic:
Windows 98 Simplified
Advanced:
Windows 98 Annoyances [CD]
Microsoft
Windows 98 Resource Kit [CD]
Windows Me:
The Missing Manuals
are terrific books. Very readable. That's why we recommend these
manuals for whatever OS they cover.
Basic:
Windows Millennium: The Missing Manual
Advanced:
Windows Me Annoyances
Windows 2000 Professional
Basic:
Windows 2000 Pro: The Missing Manual
Advanced:
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit [CD]
Windows
2000 Power Toolkit [CD]
Every User Needs A Manual
Companies spend a small fortune supporting their users. I
suggest that every user in the company be given the basic
manual. Make them sign for it. Tell them the manual is their
first line of support. Only after they can show your support
group that the basic manual isn't enough then they get help from
others. For Windows 2000 Professional users The Missing
Manual is only $20.00 ($16.00 at amazon.com.) This is a tiny fraction of what is
expended in the name of support and if bought in quantity can be
purchased for even less.
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