Customer Reviews

Mastering Windows Xp Professional

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book "Mastering Windows XP Professional" and also "Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out". I recommend "Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out".

If you've never used a prior version of Windows, and are just looking for a book to get you started with XP, you will probably be happy with this book. Indeed, it may be the better book for beginners. However, I'd still recommend buying Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out instead. BOTH books address most questions you'll have from simple to complex, but "Inside Out", in my opinion, is easier to understand, easier from which to get answers and goes into greater depth in a clearer style on the advanced issues. Even if you're a novice, you may eventually appreciate the greater depth and the extra details that can sometimes make the whole picture fall into place.

I ordered both books from Amazon because I wanted to learn how to use "Share-Level Access", available in Windows 95/98/Me, in Windows XP. Specifically, I wanted to assign a "Read-Only" and "Full Access" password to my hard drive on my Windows XP Professional computer and share it with my other Windows 98 and Windows ME computers on my Windows peer-to-peer network. In "Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out" I found the answer in "Chapter 31: Managing Shared Folders and Printers" at the top of page 947 under the heading "A Third Model: Share-Level Access in Windows 95/98/Me". The "answer" is that Share-Level access no longer exists in Windows XP Professional, and unfortunately the "work around" requires setting up appropriate user accounts on the XP computer for the 9X/Me computers that wish to gain access to the XP computer. I was unable to find this answer in "Mastering Windows XP Professional". Also, in researching this question in "Mastering Windows XP Professional", I found the following quote in the chapter "Connecting to Windows XP Peer-to-Peer Networks and Domains" on page 641 under the heading Creating Shares:

"WARNING If you are using the NTFS file system on your computer and the other computers are using FAT or FAT32, they will not be able to access a drive on your computer even if it is shared."

Since I knew from my own experience that this was clearly wrong, I notified SYBEX, the publishers. To their credit they provide their website address on the back of the book, and on the site they invite you to report errors via an easy to use online form. Imagine my great surprise when I got a speedy e-mail reply (in one day) and soon thereafter got a personal phone call from Sybex management thanking me for bringing the matter to their attention, asking for suggestions for further improvements, and promising a speedy correction, which I believe they will implement. To err is human, but for a company to admit it, correct it, and provide that level of customer service is divine. I'll be keeping both books.

Mark Minasi is considered by many (including myself) to be the preeminent authority on the Microsoft Windows operating system. In "Mastering Windows XP Professional" he takes on the monumental task of documenting Windows XP Professional for the new and experienced Windows user. Because it focuses on both experienced and new users, the first section has detailed instructions for such mundane tasks as starting Windows XP, opening programs, minimizing and closing screen windows, etc. From there it moves to more and more advanced topics as he teaches you the details of the system from beginning to end.

One of the problems with a book of this size and ambition is determining the goal of the author and from there determine if the book meets that goal. To this extent, the title "Mastering Windows XP Professional" should cover the details of the operating system. In this text Mark Minasi at times gives too much detail on items that are, and should be, covered well in other books (for example, HTML programming) and at other times properly keeps the coverage at an overview level because there are exhaustive texts available (for example, Windows Scripting Host or configuring IIS).

The book does what it promises in allowing a new or experienced user to master Windows XP Professional without trying to make them an IT, Networking, or Integration professional by covering many topics outside the realm of the basic XP operating system. Also, as is common with Minasi's books, this is not designed to be a study guide for certification but a reference for real-life users to deal with and resolve real-life problems.

Does this mean that this is the definitive text on Windows XP Professional? No. While it is an excellent text, it does not rise up to the level of Mark's other books. There seems to be a pattern developing in his works. For example, "Mastering Windows 2000 Professional" was somewhat disappointing, but the second edition became the definitive text. He is obviously listening to what people say about the books and incorporating their comments into the second and successive versions.

All-in-all it is well worth the money and a great reference book. It is well organized and covers several areas that are skipped over or minimally covered in other books. For example, Internet Connection Sharing is better documented here than in any other text I have seen to date. A recommended buy, but expect the second edition to become the definitive text on the subject when it comes out (as they always do).

Are the first few chapters designed for the beginner? Yes. Does he say that up front? Yes. So the beginner has an excellent starting point (I really thought the graphic shortcuts in the front of the book were a nice touch for those people), while the "nuts and bolts" stuff in later chapters were more suited towards people who do this for a living.

But then if I find even a few tidbits that make my life easier when supporting MS products (which can be a royal pain), I consider the book to be well worth it.

If you are looking at supporting XP, don't assume that its the same as 2000. Get this book, read it over, and find out what new goodies they put into this release.

Over 900 pages of information designed to advance an intermediate Windows XP Professional user to the limits of advanced use. By the time you close the cover on this title, there won't be any unfamiliar areas to you. The author has done a great job of extensively covering the majority of the OS without crossing the line from advanced user to IT Administrator.

Ninety six pages of full color screenshots marks the beginning of the book - all before you even start Chapter one. The full basics of the OS are covered, along with most of the standard Windows XP bundled software, such as Media Player, Internet Explorer 6, Outlook Express, CD Burning and more. So much more than just the how-to of the interface is detailed - providing just enough technical information to make it interesting and to let you "get it", without turning into a dry textbook. Hardware installations and troubleshooting, Internet connections and ICS/NAT, LAN/WAN connectivity with TCP/IP and IPX/SPX, performance monitoring and MMC/System Policies are just a few of the area that this title covers that many others gloss over or miss altogether.

A well mapped out Table of Contents and a 54 page index assist in making this not only a start-to finish read, but an easy find what you need reference. Although I can't recommend this title for anyone looking for a study guide towards certification, this is certainly a great choice for user who want to know Windows XP Pro inside and out as well as for desktop administrators who want a reference for their user's interface.

Don't waste your money on this one unless you never used any version of windows at all. While simple topics are given extensive and repetitive coverage, many advanced items are sketchy, if addressed at all. Many pages are devoted to such irrelevant subjects as how to start with scripting and HTML. At the same time it gives less than 1 page (yes, less than one!)to a subject like IIS. Overall, very poor coverage of admin tools and very few examples of best practices. Recently I had a chance to look through Windows XP inside out. I wish I bought that one instead..

Today, I left my copy of Mastering Windows XP Professional at home, so I went to the XP help, Microsoft.com and other internet sites looking for the answer to a very simple question:

How do I configure XP to accept Remote Desktop connections?

After wasting nearly an hour unsuccessfully looking for the answer to this very simple question, I started looking for Mark's book on my colleagues' bookshelves. I found a copy, and in the time it took to look up "Remote Desktop Connection" in the index and then flip to p. 484, I had my answer.

Why do I bother ever trying to use any other source?

Minasi rocks!

No matter how simple or how complex the issue, Mark's books offer clear and accurate explanations. There's no better source for the material he covers available anywhere, at any price.

You can't go wrong buying anything from Mark Minasi, and this book is no exception.

Have read the reviews and awed at some people who must not have read Minasi's other books. Yes there is a lot of introductory basic skills. Supposed to be in there. Just like his other books. Advanced topics are there too. I skipped through some of this because I knew it. And read the parts I wanted. Now it is a reference book. There may be mistakes in it...where...but if you ever read a MOC (Microsoft Official Curriculum) book, you would not believe the mistakes in those. This book is perfect for someone who has never seen a computer or someone who has been using them for as long as I have. This book gave me the little bit of extra info needed to pass 70-270. Good job Mark. Keep it up!

Patrick--A+, Network+, MCP, MCSA, MCSE NT 4.0/2K

This book covers the basics and advanced inner workings of Windows XP. I bought this book to help me with:

1. Password and Multiuser Environments
2. Home Networking and Peer to Peer Setup
3. Customizing windows for users
4. Windows Network Sharing Setup
5. Login Help with Passwords and User Envirnments

This book will help you get around Windows XP and set it up the way you want.

This book helped me get a jump-start on Windows Xp. It starts off by covering the basics such as opening files and browsing your drive. More than 50 quick tips start the book off and then it goes on to a more in-depth explanation chapter by chapter. So deep that I think it could be used as a textbook to teach people Windows XP.

Mark Minasi is a great writer, with the ability to take a complex subject, like Windows XP, and make it fairly readable. This book is typical of the "Mastering" series, however, and is not intended for light weights. If you are a home or private user, you may be better served with something akin to the "Windows for Dummies" variety. I'm not trying to be condescending, just realistic. This book is highly detailed and goes well beyond the average users needs. However, the first 89 pages of this book present a color plated introduction to using XP, which I found very helpful and better than most related products on the market. The first 89 pages alone are worth the price of this book for most of us. As an administrator, this book will also serve you well with its detailed explanations, extensive graphics and screen shots, and Mark's interpretation of Microsoft's technical manuals.

Compare this book to Microsoft's publication of "Windows XP" (ISBN: 0735618054).