Customer Reviews

ACT! 2000 for Windows for Dummies

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this manual no more helpful than the User's Guide provided with ACT! 2000. In my opinion, this "Dummies" book is written on the same level as the User's Guide, and really does not speak to the "dummy" or new user any more clearly or understandably than the ACT! 2000 User's Guide does. In fact, I found Mr. Mayer's book confusing at times and would turn to the User's Guide for clarification. I wish I had read some of the Amazon reviews before purchasing Mr. Mayer's book. Had I known what I know now, I would not have purchased ACT! 2000 For Windows For Dummies but would have saved myself time, study, and money by simply using the ACT! 2000 User's Guide.

This book covers a large amount of information very quickly. As a more advanced user of ACT!, I found most of the topics too superficial. However, my users frequently find the book very helpful in assisting them with basic tasks in ACT!. I found the constant references to the author's classes and other books somewhat annoying after the first several.

I have great affection for the unfortunately-titled Dummies series. Typically they combine a very digestible series of easily read lessons, which teach rather more than the title suggests. And if I find the writing style cloying, with the mandatory joke per page, I at least give them credit for trying to ease the worried reader's misgivings.

ACT is notorious in clerical office worker circles as being a daunting bear to learn really well. The instruction manuals make one think that one could spend the same amount of time learning C++ or rocket science. Typically that's when someone like me turns to a Dummies book.

I cannot fault the book for the very complete information it provides. It does it as well, or better, than any other complete manual I've seen. What disappoints is the fact that the information here makes the subject no less daunting than any of the other complete manuals.

It becomes almost sad when the reader realizes by the middle of the second chapter, that the writer is uniquely colorless and lacking any inate sense of humor -- and his attempts at it strike one as pathetic. The easy digestibility one expects from a Dummies book is completely absent. I still felt like I'd make a better living if I spent the time learning rocket science. The Dummies books on Excel, or A+ Certification -- not lightweight subjects -- make ACT appear like the height of esoteric knowledge by comparison.

This is a very fine manual, and I learned alot from it. ...

ACT! 2000 the software is an excellent product and I use it 2 or three times a day. ACT! 2000 for Dummies is extremely helpful and very entertaining. I learned alot from ACT! for Dummies. The first version of ACT! for Dummies was well written and ACT! 2000 for Dummies is even better. I bought it three or four years ago when I upgraded my software to ACT! 2000 and I still keep it handy and refer to it for all my ACT questions and how too's. I have also told everyone who uses ACT! 2000 to buy their own copy and keep it close by. TG

ACT!2000 for Windows for Dummies was the basis of lesson plans I developed for beginning, intermediate, and advanced ACT!2000 classes. Jeff has a knack for uncomplicating a feature-rich piece of software. He literally hand carries users through the program and enables them to take advantage of the best Personal Information Manager on the market.

(Phil Ardussi is a consultant in NT4.0 installations and has been an enthusiastic ACT! user for over five years.)

This book is a good resource for any ACT! user and fulfills the needs of both the beginner and the seasoned user. It uses humor and a nice bullet-rich format to make reading easier. I encourage all of my ACT! clients to buy this book. You should, too.

(This reviewer is an ACT! Certified Consultant.)

Mayer has combined his experience with ACT! in a useful guide that takes you beyond keystrokes. He helps you understand how to use ACT! to manage your day and make more money. (This reviewer is an ACT! Certified Consultant and a specialist in Customer Relationship Managerment)