Customer Reviews

Mastering Microsoft Office 97

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

 

 

We are switching to Office 97 at the office. Prior to the switch, 8 of us formed a test group to evaluate various books on the subject. Our consensus was that, overall, this was the best book. So, this is the one we are selecting for the entire company to use. Its strong points are in its clarity of writing, its high level of organization, and on its focus on what you need to know. The index isn't bad, either.

I spent about 2 hours browsing actual copies of books on Office 97. None had the appeal this one had. It's well-organized and written in a clear manner. And the information is correct. I have been a power user of Word and Excel for many years, and still found this book immensely valuable. The "newbies" I have shared this book with also find it really helpful. The book has lots of sidebars following such themes as "Mastering Troubleshooting," "Tip" (100s of good tips), and "Mastering the Opportunities." The "Warning" boxes are an especially nice touch, as are the notes sprinkled throughout. This text is comprehensive, without being too byzantine. It makes for a good overview, and then some, of all the Office applications. Of course, if you want to be an Access guru, you'll need to buy an Access book of similar size. But for the typical user, this text hits the mark dead center. My only regret is the book is showing signs of wear from all the use. I finally told my coworkers to get their own copies--and they did.

This book is now tattered, because we use it so heavily. I like the tabs and the great indexing. You can find anything you want, and fast. I hate the "Dummy" series of books. They have too much detail, and you have to wallow in all that just to answer a simple question. Mastering Office 97 gives you what you need, in a way that doesn't waste your time.

I was really disappointed by this huge book (1150 pages). The topics tackled are really too simple and even include a revision about the use of Windows 95 !!. A more consistent book would be advisable for people willing to take advantage of the real qualities of Office 97. For example in the chapters about Excel I am still looking for useful comments about the solver.

I've tried all kinds of books, and they all want to show off what the author knows. Either that, or they are so annoyingly cute (like the "Dummies" series) that I can't stand them. This text is perfect. It's well-organized, so you can jump to what you want. It's thorough, so you understand what you are reading. And it doesn't try to shove a lot of advanced stuff down your throat. Also, I like having everything in one book, vs. getting 5 separate books. This one's worth its weight in gold. The fellow who wrote the comment this book is a "waist" of time should read it more carefully so he can see how to use Word's grammar checker.

Anyone really serious about mastering Microsoft Office shouldn't bother with this book. Someone contemplaiting purchasing a copy of Microsoft Office who wants to gain a thorough understanding of what Office is capable of before purchasing it, may find this book of some use. As for anyone who is actually trying to master Microsoft Office, your best choice is the STEP By STEP series from Microsoft Press. The books aren't cheap, but I recomend them even over taking an actual class.