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PC Annoyances, Second Edition [Paperback]

Steve Bass (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews) |
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Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0596008821 | ISBN-13: 978-0596008826 | Edition: 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.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steve Bass is a longtime popular staff writer at PC World magazine and founded the Pasadena IBM Users Group.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 252 pages
  • Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Second Edition edition (March 5, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0596008821
  • ISBN-13: 978-0596008826
  • Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Steve Bass Page
Steve Bass
I first learned about computers in 1982 with an IBM PC I bought from Computerland. When I asked them for support, they said, "Don't use it in the shower."

The following day, I founded the Pasadena IBM Users Group. After 24 years, I finally closed the organization, releasing the over 2,400 former members onto the streets (http://www.pibmug.com). Be careful out there. And in the late 1980s, I co-founded the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (http://www.apcug.org), a nationwide organization serving user groups.

I'm also a Contributing Editor to PC World, writing the "Hassle-Free PC" column since 1990, the "Tips and Tweaks Online Newsletter," and dozens of articles including "Net Phones: Dialing Without Dollars," and "The Ultimate PC Troubleshooting Guide."

My "How to Fix the Biggest PC Annoyances" article has won PRSA's prestigious Excellence in Technology Journalism award.

My blog is at http://snurl.com/BassBlog. You can also subscribe to my weekly newsletter (a compilation of the week's blogs) at http://snurl.com/homeoffice (Look for "signup" at lower right corner of the page). And a collection of previous newsletters are available here: http://snurl.com/homeoffice.

I've also written for Forbes, Family Circle, and Computer Currents, and once had a syndicated newspaper column that was way more work than it was worth. But wait, there's more: I have a semi-regular spot on KPCC''s "Airtalk," an NPR affiliate radio show, and Pacifica's KPFK's "Digital Village." I'm also producing a new computer show, "Phrenology: The New Topology." It's been a bumpy road.

In a previous life, I was a licensed family therapist (hard to believe, I know); owned PCG Seminars, a training company for mental-health professionals; and met his wife while doing magic at Hollywood's Magic Castle.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
No matter how necessary the PC is to your very existence, there are times you want to pitch the beast out the window. It's either irritating hardware glitches or software designed by monkeys. The second edition of PC Annoyances by Steve Bass can help you mend your love/hate relationship with silicon. It's good stuff...

Chapter List: Email Annoyances; Windows Annoyances; Internet Annoyances; Microsoft Office Annoyances; Windows Explorer Annoyances; Music, Video, and CD Annoyances; Hardware Annoyances; Index

If you haven't seen an Annoyances book before, it's a series of questions or statements (like SP2 Blocks Skype or Back Up Your Autocorrections) with an annoyance and a fix listed for each one. Under each of the Annoyances chapters, you'll have subsections like Word/Excel/Powerpoint/Outlook/Outlook Express annoyances under the Microsoft Office annoyances area. Depending on just how annoying the software or hardware is, you may have five to 20 ways to reduce your frustration level. So, if you don't think the current tip applies to you, keep reading as the next one probably will. Some of these you'll know already, many you'll never have heard of, and others will prompt the "you mean I can change that?" moment (or at least it did for me!). Because Steve's writing style is irreverent and conversational, you almost feel as if you're sitting ringside with him and someone else as they solve the computing hassles we all deal with daily.

If that was it, it'd be plenty valuable. But there's more. There are a number of sidebar tips that don't necessarily fit into the question/answer format, but are just as important. For instance, he devotes a large sidebar to the best way to capture screen prints to show brain-dead tech support people that the screen really *does* show what you said. You may already know how to do that, but it's always worth seeing if there's a better way. He also offers a multitude of URLs you can visit to download free or cheap utilities to do things that you just can't do any other way. Want to fill out forms automatically? Check out the free RoboForms software he recommends. Need to remove hidden meta data in your Microsoft Office documents? Check out the tool from Microsoft that will clean them up. There are all sorts of gems like those on every page.

The book is a rare blend of humor and utility in a fun and easy format, and it will easily pay for itself in short order. Highly recommended.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This books is suited to readers who have used PCs for some time--long enough to run into the annoyances referred to, but not long enough to have found solutions, at least to all of them. Almost half are found in Microsoft Windows, Office, or Windows Explorer. Others are from various email clients, Internet software, music/video, and hardware. Some examples: how to delete a "file in use," how to quickly and safely remove a USB device without going through multiple dialogs (pp. 206-7), and how to add a short note to accompany a file (p. 163).

There is also an interesting tip on single-use credit cards, for online shoppers and some tips related to Google.

This is one of those books that can be read five minutes at a time, or from cover to cover. Perhaps the most effective way to use it is to at least skim the entire book, then later concentrate on the sections of interest. (If you don't use a particular program, tips on it's use probably won't interest you.)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Helped some, not updated for my old Windows XP
Maybe because I had a copy of an earlier version, I was expecting the new edition to be more helpful. Read more
Published on February 5, 2010 by mary wilcoxson
SAVE YOUR MONEY
This book is so outdated as to be useless. It should be removed from sale. Written in 2002 and an alleged second edition in 2005, the latest Windows information included deals with... Read more
Published on January 5, 2010 by John H. Pierson
PC Annoyances
It is good for Windows Systems thru XP but was written before Vista and is no good for thatPC Annoyances, Second Edition
Published on September 22, 2009 by Alan Dougherty
Worth the money
I was so impressed by this book when I checked it out from the library I realized I had to have a copy of my own for those times when problems crop up that drive me toward the deep... Read more
Published on February 25, 2007 by Kent K. Balmer
Not a technical manual
OK for the nontechnical XP users. Most of these hints have been published elsewhere but it is a nice collection.
Published on February 3, 2007 by OldSoftware
Would recommend this book
I love the format Steve Bass uses while writing

about computer annoyances. Many of the tips and solutions

can save you frustrations that are always there... Read more
Published on August 14, 2006 by J. Granger
Very Practical,Funny,To the Point.
After slogging through books on W2KPro/XPPro that are painful to read and no help unless your running 100+ PC's this book was a welcome relief in it's smarts,humor,and direct... Read more
Published on July 16, 2006 by A. M. Dambrosi
PC Annoyances
This is not the usual boring computer book. Just the opposite.

I'm reading it the second time with a felt tip marker. Read more
Published on February 27, 2006 by W. Buchanan
Will help you deal with many PC annoyances!
When I read a work of non-fiction, I typically look for one idea that

I can implement . . . Read more
Published on February 9, 2006 by Blaine Greenfield
useful, entertaining and funny
Steve Bass' books are positive proofs that you can entertain people while explaining useful things to do with your computer. Read more
Published on July 15, 2005 by Roxy__Italy
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