Customer Reviews

PC Annoyances, Second Edition

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.)

I recently finished a first reading of "PC Annoyances, Second Edition." from O'Reilly. The second edition of this enjoyable and very informative book by Steve Bass released in March 2005 is definitely worth reading. It was so much fun to read I went completely through the book in a couple of days.
The book is not only fun to read but delivers on the premise of showing you how to fix the most annoying things about your PC. By concentrating on annoyances Steve Bass focuses on topics that pc users of any experience and interest level will find useful. And the novices will be able to understand the problems and the fixes.
I know that I have to go back through the book several more times because I almost ran out of sticky notes marking tips and downloads that I want to try. I own many books to help me enjoy my computing experience but seem to have always tended to the text book type. What a delight it was to find a book that not only provides a myriad of useful advice but is also delightful to read.

When I read a work of non-fiction, I typically look for one idea that
I can implement . . . I found that on page 9 of PC ANNOYANCES
(2nd edition) by Steve Bass and kept going from there . . . by then end
of the book, I had over 45 such ideas--and that's after just a first reading.

Bass, a contributing editor to PC WORLD, certainly knows his
stuff . . . but he presents it in a way that both newcomers and
those with lots of computer experience can appreciate . . . in
addition, his sense of humor makes what could be boring
material come alive.

You name it, Bass covers it in PC ANNOYANCES . . . in fact, the
subtitle says it all: HOW TO FIX THE MOST ANNOYING THINGS
ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL COMUTER, WINDOWS AND
MORE . . . I never even realized that there so many.

Chapter coverage includes annoyances that can be found in
E-mail; Windows; Internet; Microsoft Office; Windows Explorer;
Music, Video and CD; and Hardware . . . I particularly liked the
fact that the author covered a wide range of products and
services, including AOL, Eudora, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Methinks this is one book that you'll skim when you first
get it, then refer to it often in the future . . . I know I will,
if just for such information as the following:

[when your CD-RW drive refuses to eject a disc]
Restart Windows. As it's booting up, press the eject button
and the drive should put open. If not, shut down your PC
and turn it on again, tap the CD-ROM drive's eject button,
and grab the disc out of the tray (even as the tray is still
extending), and nudge the tray back in.As soon as it's fully
retracted, press the PC's power button to turn it off.

Lastly, PC ANNOYANCES contains many useful
utilities that you can download for free, as well as
a listing of several websites that are sure to
amuse.

I was a user group president for over 10 years, I also do an early morning computer show on our local ABC station and teach seniors the basics at a local college. As you might guess I get hundreds of questions on a daily basis form a lot of very frustrated folks.

I recommend PC Annoyances and just about any book from O'Reilly as the solution to many of their headaches.

It is an easy read, has fantastic support, and the fixes work, what more could you ask for?

David A. Kerr-Burke
Corpus Christi Advanced Technologies www.ccatech.com
Computer Corner on KIII-TV (ABC) Thursday mornings www.kiiitv.com
Coastal Area Users Group, Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit www.caug.org
Del Mar Senior Education http://www.delmar.edu/specserv/seniors.html

I got this book on a Friday and I read at least half on Friday and Saturday.

I thought I was a tech savvy, but after reading this book, I guess I'm not (I'm going to be after I finish reading it). I believe I knew at most one quarter of the tips/suggestions/fixes of the book, and that is because I do a lot of reading (magazines, articles, etc..). I found a lot of annoyances that I did not know they annoyed me, and that was awesome. Even in Excel, I consider myself an advanced user (almost expert) and I found tips on one thing that I did not know.

The book talks about several different topics and areas, giving everyone (even the poor AOL people) some great suggestions. Writing is clear and fun to read, making it very enjoyable.

Great job Steve!!!

M.Kley

Even after being into computers for 18 years, I can say that I really enjoyed Steve Bass's book. Definitely not the kind of book you read from cover to cover, but each page stands by itself and is another little pleasant surprise, most of which I didn't know about my PCs. Steve is knowledgeable and his book is well written.

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 approach to fixing many of the challenges presented by the above mentioned OS's. Having one of my usual sleepless nights I started tallying up all the money I spent trying to keep MS software running,protected from hackers,bots,spyware,virii worms and it's own predisposition to fail and I realize that with an entire industry built around sloppy software as the norm and a gov't asleep at the antitrust wheel we're not likely to see a real improvement any time soon. When you hear words like regulation stifles innovation reach down and make sure you still have your wallet because it's about to be plundered. It's always about the money. If I had to spend another $25 to have this book included in the box that MS/OS came in then I would've saved hundreds on books that did'nt meet my needs and priceless amounts of lost time.

It is impossible to know where to begin a review of this book. Multiple fixes to problems you have , but also to problems you did not even know that you had. I read the book in several days and picked up much that was useful.Since my initial read, I am now able to pick and choose the real important problems that exist and fix them pronto. Very nice writing style, that never talks down to the reader. I purchased the first edition when it was released, and loved it, but the 2nd edition is even better if you can believe it. For more Steve Bass, check out his PCWorld column, you will not be disappointed