Windows® 7 Step by Step (Step By Step (Microsoft))

Product Description
Experience learning made easy and quickly teach yourself the essentials of working with Windows 7. With STEP BY STEP, you set the pace building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Learn to manage windows and folders, sort and filter files, create an efficient Windows working environment, and safely access the Internet. You ll learn how to install and manage software and hardware, create and manage homegroups, share content with other computers and computer users, and instantly locate content stored on your PC or network. You ll also learn how to fine-tune your PC s performance and resolve common problems. Plus, the supplied practice files give you a chance to hone your skills and put the book s lessons to work.

Windows Vista Just the Steps For Dummies

Product Description

* Covering the new features and capabilities of Windows Vista, this book gets readers up to speed fast on interface changes, security options, and setup processes
* Simple, easy-to-follow instructions for common Windows Vista tasks show readers how to carry out essential activities and gain competence and confidence
* Bargain-priced at only $14.99, this book explains how to navigate the desktop, create files, copy and delete files and folders, connect to the Internet, search the Web, use e-mail, and much more

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #291162 in Books
* Published on: 2006-12-26
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 240 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
Just the steps you need to get going with Vista today!

Simple steps...

...for great results

Move a File or Folder

1. Right-click Start menu button and choose Explore.
2. In the resulting Windows Explorer window (see Figure 3-8), double-click a folder or series of folders to locate the file that you want to move.
3. Take the following action:
Click and drag the file to another folder in the Folders pane on the left side of the window. If you right-click and drag, you are offered the options of moving or copying the item when you place it via the shortcut menu that appears.

Get Ready To

* Use built-in Windows applications
* Manage files and folders
* Get online safely
* Set up a network
* Use anti-virus and anti-spyware tools
* Play games, music, and slide shows

About the Author
Nancy Muir has written over 50 books on topics ranging from desktop applications to online safety and distance learning. She has also contributed articles to several national magazines on topics such as distance learning and home design. Prior to her freelance career, Nancy worked in the software and book publishing industries and has taught technical writing at the university level. She holds a certificate in distance learning design.
Customer Reviews

Quick reference4
It is a quick reference and explains it simply where I can do it and move on to my work.

The very best place to start5
This book breaks things up into easily digestible tasks. It doesn't waste time with lots of explanation but shows you exactly how to get things done. Another reviewer gave this a low score clearly because he doesn't like Windows Vista, which seems unfair. If you want a good place to get going with Vista this book is well done, easy to understand, and uses lots of graphics to help you find your way.

fore dummies1
Book is for dummies and is of virtually no use to the new "stupid" user unfriendly Vista.

Microsoft Windows Vista Unveiled

Product Description

* Covering the new features and capabilities of Windows Vista, this book gets readers up to speed fast on interface changes, security options, and setup processes
* Simple, easy-to-follow instructions for common Windows Vista tasks show readers how to carry out essential activities and gain competence and confidence
* Bargain-priced at only $14.99, this book explains how to navigate the desktop, create files, copy and delete files and folders, connect to the Internet, search the Web, use e-mail, and much more

Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #291162 in Books
* Published on: 2006-12-26
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 240 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
Just the steps you need to get going with Vista today!

Simple steps...

...for great results

Move a File or Folder

1. Right-click Start menu button and choose Explore.
2. In the resulting Windows Explorer window (see Figure 3-8), double-click a folder or series of folders to locate the file that you want to move.
3. Take the following action:
Click and drag the file to another folder in the Folders pane on the left side of the window. If you right-click and drag, you are offered the options of moving or copying the item when you place it via the shortcut menu that appears.

Get Ready To

* Use built-in Windows applications
* Manage files and folders
* Get online safely
* Set up a network
* Use anti-virus and anti-spyware tools
* Play games, music, and slide shows

About the Author
Nancy Muir has written over 50 books on topics ranging from desktop applications to online safety and distance learning. She has also contributed articles to several national magazines on topics such as distance learning and home design. Prior to her freelance career, Nancy worked in the software and book publishing industries and has taught technical writing at the university level. She holds a certificate in distance learning design.
Customer Reviews

Quick reference4
It is a quick reference and explains it simply where I can do it and move on to my work.

The very best place to start5
This book breaks things up into easily digestible tasks. It doesn't waste time with lots of explanation but shows you exactly how to get things done. Another reviewer gave this a low score clearly because he doesn't like Windows Vista, which seems unfair. If you want a good place to get going with Vista this book is well done, easy to understand, and uses lots of graphics to help you find your way.

fore dummies1
Book is for dummies and is of virtually no use to the new "stupid" user unfriendly Vista.

Windows Powershell in Action

Product Description

PowerShell replaces cobbled-together assemblies of third-party management tools with an elegant programming language and a powerful scripting shell for the Windows environment. In the tradition of Manning's ground breaking "In Action" series, this book comes from right from the source. Written by Bruce Payette, one of principal creators of PowerShell, Windows PowerShell in Action shows you how to build scripts and utilities to automate system tasks or create powerful system management tools to handle the day-to-day tasks that drive a Windows administrator's life. Because it's based on the .NET platform, PowerShell is also a powerful tool for developers and power users.

Windows PowerShell in Action was written by Bruce Payette, one of the founding members of the Windows PowerShell team, co-designer of the PowerShell language and the principal author of the PowerShell language implementation. The book enables you to get the most out of the PowerShell environment. Using many examples, both small and large, this book illustrates the features of the language and environment and shows how to compose those features into solutions, quickly and effectively.

This book is designed for anyone who wants to learn PowerShell and use it well. Rather than simply being a book of recipes to read and apply, this book gives you the deep knowledge about how PowerShell works and how to apply it.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #37981 in Books
* Published on: 2007-02-05
* Format: Illustrated
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 576 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
PowerShell in Action

Part I - Learning PowerShell This comprehensive tour of the PowerShell language and runtime introduces the language and offers a deep insight into how and why things are the way they are. Part I, covers the PowerShell language including the syntax, the type system with examples showing how each feature works.

Chapter 1-PowerShell history and a quick tour of the features of the environment.

Chapter 2-PowerShell concepts you'll need to put PowerShell to work.

Chapter 3-The PowerShell type system and its relationship to .NET.

Chapter 4-Operators and expressions including basic arithmetic, comparison and assignment, wildcard and regular expression pattern matching.

Chapter 5-Operations for working with arrays (indexing, slicing) and objects (properties and methods, output redirection, the formatting operator and PowerShell variables.

Chapter 6-PowerShell language constructs like if statement and loops.

Chapter 7-Programming in PowerShell, including functions and scripts and variable scoping.

Chapter 8-Object construction and extensions, Scriptblocks and how to extend the PowerShell language.

Chapter 9-Error handling and debugging.

Part II looks at applying PowerShell in specific technology areas and problem domains.

Chapter 10-Text processing such as basic string processing, file processing (including handling binary files) and working with XML documents.

Chapter 11-Locating, exploring and instantiating types in the .NET framework including generic types with applications including network programming and WinForms.

Chapter 12-Using the application automation models to script Microsoft Word, WMI from the command line and in scripts to inspect, update and manage a Windows system, and VBScript interaction.

Chapter 13-Security, security, security.

From the Author
Wow, I wrote a book. One moment you're a humble programming language designer and the next you're up until 2:00AM every night trying to figure out how to say "and in the next example" 500 times without being boring.

So why write it? Mostly because of PowerShell. Although PowerShell draws heavily from existing technologies, it combines them in some very novel ways. This kind of novelty leads to misunderstandings. As we showed our work to the world I found that there were a number of questions that were being asked over and over again. These questions would usually arise as a result of some prior language experience that the user had. There needed to be a way to gather this information altogether in one place.

It's astonishing was how much power comes out of the synergy of the various technologies underlying PowerShell. The PowerShell team would read people's blogs and be astonished by the creativity that was being demonstrated. This book tries to foster that creativity by conveying just how capable the PowerShell is.

And finally, this is the book I wanted to read. I love programming languages and the best books are the ones that explain not only "what" but also "why". These books give the reader something more that just technical detail. They convey a sense of the overall design and some element of the intent of the designer.

Learn PowerShell, be creative and above all, have fun.

Enjoy,

Bruce Payette

About the Author
Bruce Payette is one of the founding members of the Windows PowerShell team. He is co-designer of the PowerShell language along with Jim Truher and is the principal author of the language implementation. He joined Microsoft in 2001 working on Interix - the POSIX subsystem for Windows - then moved to the help found the PowerShell project shortly thereafter. Prior to joining Microsoft he worked at various companies including Softway (the creators of Interix) and MKS (producers of the MKS Toolkit) building UNIX tools for Windows. He lives in Bellevue, Washington with his wife, many computers and 3 extremely over-bonded and very spoiled cats.
Customer Reviews

Excellent information, great presentation5
I'm an old unix hack. Although my largest hurdle now is learning all of the various Windows services and components, this book lays out the design philosophy of PowerShell that clarifies the background mechanics of the language. I still have to learn the Windows components and objects, but with this book, I can focus on that aspect and not the language itself.

Overall, an excellent purchase that I am very pleased with.

Excellent Reference - Not for Beginners3
The book does an excellent job of detailing PS. I dutifully read through the entire Part 1 (9 of the 13 chapters) and then realized I still could not construct a basic script - the chapters did not build on each other. This was the intent of the author - he clearly states in the intro to Part 2, "Part 1 covered the Powershell language and runtime features in great detail however, those features were discussed mostly in isolation". That sentence right there is what I wished had been quoted in one of these other reviews - read it over again and decide for yourself if this is the book you want.

Unfortunately, Part 2 is not a gentle introduction and it dives into some excellent, but advanced applications of PS. I am more after some baby steps to learn PS (for perspective, I am an intermediate Python/Django/PostgreSQL user, so I'm not talking about computing/programming baby steps, just baby steps in PS).

I am glad I bought the book, but I see now I have to first learn/practice basic PS programming (looping, filtering, calling functions/methods, etc), then I can use this book for advanced detail when I get stuck. Towards that goal, I am having better luck with "Windows Powershell TFM" by Jones/Hicks.

A master piece, great read and excellent content5
I am reading many books about software development. This one is by far the best computer book that I've ever read. It starts of with the basic building blocks of powershell and ends with the Great finale of putting it all together. Wow, wow and wow. It's a feast.

By the way, I love Powershell.

Microsoft Windows PowerShell Step By Step

Product Description

Learn Microsoft Windows PowerShell --one step at a time--with practical, hands-on instruction from Microsoft's leading scripting trainer, Ed Wilson. Work at your own pace and build practical system administration skills as you learn how to use Windows PowerShell to administer Microsoft Windows®, Microsoft Exchange, and other Microsoft technologies. You will learn how to write your first Windows PowerShell commands and scripts to automate setup, deployment, and administration. This guide features self-paced learning labs and a companion CD that features a complete eBook, plus dozens of adaptable sample scripts you can use on the job.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #38904 in Books
* Published on: 2007-05-16
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 320 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
Key Book Benefits:

-Book based on Microsoft Enterprise Services' Windows PowerShell course for Microsoft customers and partners

-Hands-on, self-paced learning in a proven step-by-step format

-Sample scripts and eBook on the companion CD

About the Author
Ed Wilson is a senior consultant at Microsoft Corporation and a scripting expert. He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer who delivers an immensely popular VBScript workshop to Microsoft employees and customers worldwide, along with numerous networking and administration classes. He's written several books on Windows scripting, including Microsoft Windows Scripting with WMI: Self-Paced Learning Guide and Microsoft Windows Scripting Self-Paced Learning Guide. Ed holds more than 20 industry certifications, including MCSE and CISSP.
Customer Reviews

A Port-o-John for Learning Powershell1
While there are some people that can learn from anything, I am sure some folks can learn Powershell from this book. That being said, I call this book the Port-o-John of learning powershell as you can ultimately achieve your goal of learning, but its not always the most pleasant experience while you are learning.

This book has a decent structure of chapters, but it falls apart from there. Ed is a more than talented scripter and wonderful member of the scripting community, yet I am dissappointed with this book.

Once you really dig into this book, you will find its all over the place. The formatting and general editing are terrible and there are many typos. Concepts get introduced with no introduction, and then are neven explained. This book hardly teaches any Powershell fundamentals. It does, but then it really doesnt hardly explain any "whys" which is as bad as not teaching them at all.

I just feel that there are way better ways to learn Powershell. The appendicies are decent reference material, and the book does at least come with a soft copy version. Beyond that though there are better books and this is definately not a best bet.

Great Intro3
I have found "Windows PowerShell" by Ed Wilson / Microsoft Press to be a
great intro into PowerShell. Yes you could go through all the help files that come with PS, but this book makes it very easy and provides a smooth intro into working with Powershell. If you want an absolute noob book get it - period. The author is well versed in WSH and you can use the accompanying CD filled with scripts to practice the examples in the chapters, as well as make your own for testing & production. It's very light on .Net because that is not his expertise, which is fine if you want to go from WSH to Powershell or learn how to use both within a script. It also incluse a handy appendex that shows the WSH command, and the PS command and how to utilize it. Yes there's some typo's and it's rare these days to find any book that doesn't have incorrect code examples at least somewhere. -2 stars for that and I would have like to seen more depth in some areas. Get Bruce Payette's book for Level 2.

Too basic, then too advanced1
This book misses on many points. It is a good introduction, but that could have been covered in one chapter. It does not cover something as basic as creating functions (and the issue of variable scope). It also does not go into using the framework within powershell, one of the greatest powers of powershell, or extending powershell with your own addins. After a while some of the excises get repetative. There are chapters on Active Directory & Exchange, which requires special programs to go through, and most people will not even have access to them, or know the first thing about installing them so then can go through the book. Certainly a chapter on ADO would be great, but it is all depends on Active Directory; should have used northwind. There is some good information on Errors, but it is buried in Active Directory, which most people will never even look at since it is something that they would not have any reason to investigate. Definately go with another book such as "Windows Powershell Cookbook."

Professional Windows Vista Gadgets Programming (Programmer to Programmer) by Wei-Meng Lee

Product Description

Professional Windows Vista Gadgets Programming covers sidebar and sideshow gadget development each in their own part of the book. Part 1 will cover Sidebar gadgets while Part 2 covers SideShow gadgets. In each part, the book first explains the motivation behind each technology and its features.

Then, the reader is taken on a quick walkthrough of how to develop a simple gadget, using the traditional "Hello World" approach to quickly introduce the key concepts. After the quick walkthrough, subsequent chapters will then dive into each specific API that is relevant to enhancing the gadget.

Finally, when the reader has mastered all the important APIs, each part will end with a chapter covering two or more projects, detailing step-by-step how each is built.

Some of the specific topics covered include:
Sidebar gadgets architecture and components including XML manifest
Debugging gadgets in Visual Studio 2005
Deploying gadgets
The Gadget system APIs
Localizing gadgets and sidebar security sidebar projects
Sideshow devices, UI components, and SDK
Sideshow architecture, managed code, and classes
Sideshow simple content format (SCF)
Interacting with sideshow devices and handling sideshow device events
SideShow projects
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #322324 in Books
Published on: 2007-12-05
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
379 pages
Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
Professional Windows Vista Gadgets Programming

As an easy-to-use application that provides information at a glance, a gadget basically takes the concept of portal dashboards and moves them to the more accessible Windows desktop where users can quickly and easily obtain weather information, RSS news feeds, and much more. In Windows Vista, there are two types of gadgets—Sidebar and SideShow gadgets. Sidebar gadgets are mini applications hosted in the Sidebar pane located on the Windows desktop, and SideShow gadgets are applications that send information to SideShow-enabled devices, such as an external LCD display, or even a remote control. With this hands-on guide, you'll discover the simplicity of developing Vista Sidebar and SideShow gadgets that can run onthe Windows desktop as well as send information to SideShow-enabled devices.

This book contains two parts. The first covers Sidebar gadgets and the second part covers SideShow gadgets. In each part, Microsoft MVP author Wei-Meng Lee begins by walking you through the development of a simple gadget, introducing you to the key concepts in the process. Each chapter breaks down the specific APIs that are relevant to enhancing a gadget, and helpful code samples throughout every chapter detail the step-by-step progression of how a gadget is built. By the end of the book, you will beconfidently programming Vista gadgets.

What you will learn from this book

Components of a Sidebar gadget

Detailed description and code samples for using the Sidebar APIs

Tips on using .NET Interop to enhance Sidebar gadgets

How to Interface Sidebar gadgets with SideShow-enabled devices

Tips on localizing Sidebar gadgets

How to debug Sidebar gadgets

Details of a Sidebar gadget project

SideShow architecture

How to use the SideShow managed class for .NET development

Tips on understanding the Simple Content Format (SCF) content format for sending SideShow data

Interacting with SideShow-enabled devices

Step by step instruction on how to develop a SideShow gadget project

Who this book is for
This book is for developers who want to build Windows Vista gadgets that target both the desktop as well as SideShow-enabled devices.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

About the Author
Wei-Meng Lee , Microsoft MVP, is a technologist and founder of Developer Learning Solutions ( www.learn2develop.net ), a technology company specializing in hands-on training in the latest Microsoft technologies.
Wei-Meng speaks regularly at international conferences and has authored and co-authored numerous books on .NET, XML, and wireless technologies. He writes extensively for the online publications such as DevX.com and the O’Reilly Network on topics ranging from .NET to Mac OS X. He is also the author of .NET Compact Framework Pocket Guide (O’Reilly Media, Inc) and Practical .NET 2.0 Networking Projects (Apress). You can contact Wei-Meng at weimenglee@learn2develop.net

Introducing Microsoft Windows Vista by William R. Stanek

Product Description

Popular author and MVP William Stanek offers expert insights in this first look into the latest generation of Windows operating systems. Discover the new features and tools for deploying Windows Vista, help secure PCs and user accounts, migrate user settings and data, manage application compatibility, improve reliability, reduce support costs, develop applications, and help users achieve new levels of productivity and success at home or on the job. Its the guided preview for IT professionals, business decision makers, early adopters, users, and developersand anyone else who wants to start planning and hit the ground running with Windows Vista.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #73782 in Books
Published on: 2006-07-19
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
300 pages
Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
Key Book Benefits:

- Offers a comprehensive overview of the powerful new features of the Windows Vista family of operating systems - Provides a preview of the features that IT professionals can use to help improve security, reliability, and operational efficiency, manage mobile and remote uses, and automate administration - Examines the new features that help IT professionals deploy Windows Vista, test application compatibility, migrate user data and settings, and configure manageable clients

About the Author
William R. Stanek is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and a leading technology expert who has authored two dozen computer books. With more than 20 years' experience in advanced programming and system administration, he has extensive experience developing server technology, encryption, and Internet solutions. William has a master's degree with distinction in information systems and a bachelor's degree magna cum laude in computer science. He also served in the military for 11 years, during which time he was awarded nine medals, including the United States Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross. His most recent books include Microsoft Windows XP Professional Administrator's Pocket Consultant, Microsoft Windows Command-Line Administrator's Pocket Consultant, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Administrator's Pocket Consultant, and Microsoft IIS 6.0 Administrator's Pocket Consultant.
Customer Reviews

Don't Buy this book of errors!
I do NOT recommend this book to anyone trying to learn Windows Vista.

Once I perchance this item and opened it up I was shocked to discover that this book was actually written for Windows Vista BETA version (which at the time of purchase it did not say that in the description).

Many of the items covered in this book simply are not a part of Windows Vista full release software and many of the tech tips in this book simply don't work as described in the book.

A good example of this type of incorrect information is in the book on page 137 titled "Modifying User Account Control and Admin Approval Mode" we are instructed to click on "run" and type in "secpol.msc" and click "Enter" to make these changes. However, that program was removed from Windows Vista's full release version and Vista informs you that there is no such program.

This book also has more then 18 errors that I counted and there are 2 items in this book that when I followed the instructions to the letter caused my computer with Windows Vista Premium Edition to freeze up completely and the other one deleted software out of the "C:\Program Files" which would then not work.

I would not recommend this book to anyone trying to learn or use Windows Vista (all versions) since the instructions many times don't work and cause more problem.

"Introducing Microsoft Windows Vista"
This was the first book I purchased and read. Although it is based on beta prerelease versions of "Windows Vista" it did come in very handy at times. I'm giving it 4 rating due to fact of it being based and written off of beta versions of "Windows Vista" and something's have changed.

Dennis K
Best Buy Geek Squad IT technician

Passed my MCDST
This book has the information you need to pass the 70-272 test. I used this as my study guide and passed the test with a wide margin. The book is well organized. Tells you what to concentrait on. If you do the exercises at the end of each chapter and pay attention to the hints that are bold faced and labled HINTS you can pass the test, or at least I did.

Windows Vista: Beyond the Manual by Jonathan Hassell

Product Description


Windows Vista: Beyond the Manual is a comprehensive guide to installing, configuring, exploiting, and using the richest Microsoft client operating system on the market. It guides you through the complexities of configuring and running a successful Windows Vista client computer. It also takes an in-depth look at the wealth of features and functions comprising the various flavors of the software.

Windows Vista provides a range of new capabilities and features, many of which are apparent through a totally redesigned interface, and many more that are hidden just beneath the surface. With the help of Windows Vista: Beyond the Manual, IT professionals and home PC enthusiasts alike will become expert users, taking full advantage of the myriad functions and features that make up this release. Noted authors Jonathan Hassell and Tony Campbell pack this book full of their own experience, plus hundreds of hints, tips, and walkthroughs, making it an indispensable companion that won't waste your time.
It's a one-stop shop for geeks and knowledgeable users getting to know Windows Vista.
The authors walk you through practically every useful function.
All versions of Windows Vista are covered and analyzed, and recommendations are offered.
The book devotes a section to next-generation Media Center.
A complete "Where Am I" guide is included for new Vista users.
Domain integration and unattended installation are also covered in detail.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #44649 in Books
Published on: 2007-02-28
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
475 pages
Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Jonathan Hassell is an author, consultant, and speaker on a variety of IT topics. His published works include RADIUS, Hardening Windows, Using Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, and Learning Windows Server 2003. His work appears regularly in such periodicals as Windows IT Pro, PC Pro, and TechNet Magazine. Jonathan also speaks worldwide on topics ranging from networking and security to Windows administration. He is currently an editor for Apress, which specializes in books for programmers and IT professionals.

Tony Campbell is a veteran Microsoft consultant (MCP) specializing in the architecture and design of secure Microsoft-centric business solutions. He also has vast experience in many other industry niches such as networking, collaboration, security, business logic, and disaster recovery and resilience. Tony has been involved with all sizes of business, from the very small to the very large, and has successfully delivered secure, reliable, robust solutions to over 150,000 clients in his 18 years in the business. Tony started his career back in the 1980s as a "green screen" mainframe programmer for the British Meteorological Office, finally arriving after a long journey in his current role as a self-employed IT consultant for over a dozen full-time customers.



Tony is a regular contributor to a number of IT journals distributed across the globe, and has been involved in the production of software manuals, user guides, white papers, hardware manuals, and training courses. His love of writing has led to publication of some fiction by a number of small presses as well as by a few more obscure magazines.
Customer Reviews

Great 'Nuts and Bolts' Manual
This is the only Vista manual I have at the moment. It gets you right into the features of the operating system. It also devotes considerable time on command line operations. Being an old time DOS user as well as a Linux user, I love that stuff. I think any intermediate level computer user who has Vista would like this book. Beginner computer users might want to buy a more basic companion book along with this one.

This book assumes some knowledge of computer-tise. Which is why I like it. It doen't waste a lot of time on basic definitions found in more basic books.

I also want to say that having been a long time Microsoft Windows hater, I absolutely love, 'Windows Vista', for home use.

The Manual must be bad
This book spent a lot of time cosmetic differences between Visa and XP along with information on how to perform use tasks that should be obvious to anyone prepared to kick around. What it lacks is any in depth information on the new scripting engine of any of the subjects needed to maintain Visa machines in a networked environment. Good for you average desktop user. A big disappointment if you are a sys-admin looking for in-depth technical information prepare to be disappointed

THE book to have for Vista...
As an IT professional, I was after a book that cut through the basics and told me what I needed to know about Vista; rather than having to review pages and pages of extraneous content on Microsoft's web pages. This book delivers on its promise, exposing all the underlying technologies that comprise this release of Windows. The sections on Security and Installation were particularly useful to me, but I also enjoyed learning about the new media capabilities of Media Center, Photo Galley and DVD Maker. All in all, this is a great read, easily digestible and a great start for anyone, professional or otherwise, who needs to use Vista.

MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Second Edition by Walte

Product Description

Fully updated for Windows XP Service Pack 2, this popular kit delivers in-depth preparation for core MCSA/MCSE Exam 70-270, including self-paced training, expert exam tips, full review, 425-question test bank, case studies, trial software, and more.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #4622 in Books
Published on: 2005-03-09
Number of items: 1
Dimensions: 4.89 pounds
Binding: Hardcover
1394 pages
Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Walter Glenn, Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), has been a computer consultant, trainer, and author for 17 years. Walter is a regular columnist for TechNet Zone and has authored nearly 20 computer titles including MCDST Self- Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-271): Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System (Microsoft Press 2004), MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-297): Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure (Microsoft Press, 2003), Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Administrator's Companion (Microsoft Press, 2003), and MCSE: Exchange 2000 Server Administration Study Guide (Sybex, 2000).

Tony Northrup, CISPP, MCSE, and MVP, is a networking consultant and author living in the Boston, Massachusetts area. During his seven years as Principal Systems Architect at BBN/Genuity, he was ultimately responsible for the reliability and security of hundreds of Windows servers and dozens of Windows domains—all directly connected to the Internet. Needless to say, Tony learned the hard way how to keep Windows systems safe and reliable in a hostile environment. As a consultant, Tony has provided networking guidance to a wide variety of organizations, from Fortune 100 enterprises to small businesses. Tony has authored and co-authored many books on Windows and networking, from NT Network Plumbing to MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-299): Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network.
Customer Reviews

Windows XP 70-270
Typical of the Microsoft Press books, the XP book covers most of what you need to know to be successful passing the 70-270 certification exam. You can't just read it, but should plan on performing all the exercises and make sure you understand what you are doing. If you want to know everything you'll need, then utilize the references identified in the second section. Windows XP is by no means dead as the corporate demand for Vista just isn't there. Anyone working in IT support should know all about Windows XP. Good Luck

XP
The book is in very good condition and I received it much faster than expected.

Helped me pass...
I used this book as my primary study source to successfully pass the Microsoft 70-270 exam. While the book is thorough in some areas, it lacks in others, such as IIS, which is needed for the exam.

If you don't have experience with Windows XP in a domain environment, I suggest an additional source to use with this one. Microsoft exams are tough. The questions are tricky and lengthy. I would recommend everyone join one of the excellent certification forums online as an additional resource.

With that said, the book contains few mistakes. And the Measure Up practice tests that come with the book are very helpful.

Windows Vista Secrets by Brian Livingston

Product Description

"If one book can help you master Vista, this is it." --Fred Langa, former editor-in-chief of Byte Magazine

"These two know more about Windows than Microsoft does." --Chris Pirillo, editor of Lockergnome.com

Go beyond Microsoft's Help guide and discover the true secrets of Windows Vista that are essential to power users. Written by two of the most recognized Windows authorities, this resource provides you with numerous tips, tricks, and undocumented features that aren't available anywhere else. You'll find extensive screenshots, tables, and illustrations that clearly show how to achieve optimal performance, fix desktop problems, and take advantage of the robust features of Windows Vista.

The Insider's Guide to
Installing and upgrading your system (see Chapter 2)
Quickly finding and organizing all of your files (see Chapter 5)
Taking advantage of new security features (see Chapter 8)
Creating your own movies and DVDs (see Chapter 12)
Playing state-of-the-art games with amazing effects (see Chapter 14)
Going wireless using Windows Vista mobility features (see Chapter 15)
Managing your schedule with Windows® Calendar (see Chapter 20)
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #11459 in Books
Published on: 2007-01-10
Number of items: 1
Binding: Paperback
672 pages
Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover
Go beyond Microsoft's Help guide and discover the true secrets of Windows Vista that are essential to power users. Written by two of the most recognized Windows authorities, this resource provides you with numerous tips, tricks, and undocumented features that aren't available anywhere else. You'll find extensive screenshots, tables, and illustrations that clearly show how to achieve optimal performance, fix desktop problems, and take advantage of the robust features of Windows Vista.


The Insider's Guide to
Installing and upgrading your system (see Chapter 2)
Quickly finding and organizing all of your files (see Chapter 5)
Taking advantage of new security features (see Chapter 8)
Creating your own movies and DVDs (see Chapter 12)
Playing state-of-the-art games with amazing effects (see Chapter 14)
Going wireless using Windows Vista mobility features (see Chapter 15)
Managing your schedule with Windows® Calendar (see Chapter 20)

About the Author
Brian Livingston is the coauthor of 11 Windows Secrets books. He is also editorial director of the weekly Windows Secrets Newsletter and author of the Executive Tech column for Datamation.


Paul Thurrott is the author of more than a dozen books as well as the news editor of Windows IT Pro Media and editor of the SuperSite for Windows. He writes a daily Windows newsletter called WinInfo Daily UPDATE.
Customer Reviews

Great book...
Great book for beginners, and great for those quite a bit more savvy. Good discussion of Power Script but a little too in-depth, for my taste, in fonts and rendering. Overall, highly recommended.

Dissapointing
I found this book to be a large waste of my time, full of stuff I already knew, stuff I don't need to know, stuff I don't want to know. It is my opinion that about 70% of the books ever written are useless ripoffs
and this is certainly one of them.

not for the Techie
I have been repairing windows PCs since Win 95, and this book is useless.
It is nowhere in the same class as the old Windows 98 Secrets book written by Livingston which became a standard for all the under the hood configuration and behavior of the Operating System.

I have purchase Windows Vista Inside/Out, which although still not as technically detailed as I would like, at least covers all the issues.

The Livingston book has absolutely nothing usefull on how to deal with home networking and security, spends a whole chapter on Fonts, and has numerous pages of totally useless tables.

What a waste of effort.