PCs For Dummies Quick Reference (For Dummies: Quick Reference (Computers)) [Plastic Comb]

Dan Gookin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764589601 | ISBN-13: 978-0764589607 | Publication Date: May 9, 2005 | Edition: 3

If you aren’t a proficient PC pro and you want to get answers and get going, this is your practical reference. In a concise, no frills style, it gives you the vital information on:

• Setting up and connecting your PC and peripherals, including your keyboard, digital camera, joystick, modem, monitor, printer, scanner, wireless gizmos, and more
• Installing hardware and software
• Creating, managing, naming, opening, saving, and finding files
• Organizing your stuff, with info on folders, Windows Explorer, Compressed (ZIP) folders, and more
• Networking, including accessing another computer or a shared folder, connecting to the network, and workgroups
• Creating your own CDs, including building and burning a playlist, importing music, and more
• The printer, keyboard and the mouse

With step-by-step instructions and lots of screen shots, this book helps you walk the walk. In case you want to talk the talk, there’s a glossary with clear definitions of common PC terms. A detailed index helps you find the how-to you need fast. If you want to know the history of the PC and all of its intricacies, get a big book. If you want to know how to get your PC to do what you need it to do, get this handy little reference and get to work fast.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Getting Around This Book If you're new to computers, take a look at the first part of this book, The Big Picture. The Big Picture gives you an overview of PCs and provides helpful cross-references to other things you do with a PC. Or jump in at any part, where you find an alphabetical listing of the topics covered.

Get the lowdown on keyboards, Windows, disk drives, files, printing, software, the Internet, maintenance, peripherals and add-ons, troubleshooting, and just plain old having fun with your PC.

A handy appendix offers our very own Top Ten list:

Ten Things Worth Buying for Your PC. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Fast answers to frequently asked questions

All the PC essentials at your fingertips!

If you like your answers quick and your information up-to-date, look no further. This concise, superbly organized reference walks you through setting up a PC, connecting all the parts, using programs, organizing your stuff, storing things on disk, printing, networking (wired and wireless), burning CDs (data and music), upgrading your hardware, and everything in between.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 240 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 3 edition (May 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764589601
• ISBN-13: 978-0764589607
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,681,431 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Gookin has been writing about technology for over 20 years. He combines his love of writing with his gizmo fascination to create books that are informative, entertaining, and not boring. Having written more over 120 titles with 12 million copies in print translated into over 30 languages, Dan can attest that his method of crafting computer tomes seems to work.

Perhaps his most famous title is the original DOS For Dummies, published in 1991. It became the world's fastest-selling computer book, at one time moving more copies per week than the New York Times #1 bestseller (though as a reference, it could not be listed on the NYT Bestseller list). From that book spawned the entire line of For Dummies books, which remains a publishing phenomena to this day.

Dan's most popular titles include PCs For Dummies Word For Dummies, Laptops For Dummies, and Droid X For Dummies. He also maintains the vast and helpful Web site, www.wambooli.com.

Dan holds a degree in Communications/Visual Arts from the University of California, San Diego. Presently, he lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he enjoys spending time with his sons playing video games inside while they watch the gentle woods of Idaho.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I keep it by my computer, March 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: PCs for Dummies Quick Reference, Second Edition (Plastic Comb)

This book is full of great information and to the point. I hate books where I think, "Well I'll never need that information." But this book is stocked full of practical and useful computer topics. Stick this book by your computer like I did. I refer to it from time to time and it really helps me.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick and Easy, July 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: PC's for Dummies Quick Reference (Plastic Comb)

Quick and to the Point! I love this book. No extra verbage, just quick, easy steps to get the job done.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good tips, December 29, 2000

By 

lockeeg (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PC's for Dummies Quick Reference (Plastic Comb)

this book offers many practical tips for everything about pcs. the section on setting up a pc is helpfull.