Pocket PC Clear & Simple (Clear & Simple (Digital)) [Paperback]

Craig Peacock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0750673540 | ISBN-13: 978-0750673549 | Edition: 1

The expert introduction to Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system that runs
on devices such as the Compaq ipaq, Casio E125, EM-500 and the HP Jornada
540 series.

Pocket PC Clear & Simple teaches readers how to use, customize and get the
most out of the built in applications included on the Pocket PC. The book is
packed with over 200 screen shots to illustrate the points being made. Pocket PC is bursting with powerful new capabilities, including direct internet connectivity, multimedia, and e-book reader functions, features that have led many industry experts to dub it the "Palm killer," referring to the competing Palm Pilot device.

Pocket PC Clear & Simple is written by Craig Peacock, a recipient of Microsoft's "Windows CE MVP" award and one of the few Windows CE gurus outside of Microsoft. Drawing on his extensive experience running "Craig Peacock's Windows CE Pages," one of the most heavily trafficked sites on the topic, the author offers extensive tips, workarounds, and innovative solutions that will help readers get the most of a Pocket PC device. Consistent with the "Clear & Simple" series, this book features a very visual and engaging style.


Teaches customization techniques and workarounds
Written by "one of the undisputed experts on Windows CE" (Microsoft)
Requires no technical or in-depth computer knowledge

Editorial Reviews

Review

A wonderful book for beginners, complete with step-by-step pictorials covering all the basics of the Pocket PC.
-Pen Computing

From the Publisher

Pocket PC Clear & Simple is written by Craig Peacock, a recipient of Microsoft's "Windows CE MVP" award and one of the few Windows CE gurus outside of Microsoft. Drawing on his extensive experience running "Craig Peacock's Windows CE Pages," one of the most heavily trafficked sites on the topic, the author offers extensive tips, workarounds, and innovative solutions that will help readers get the most of a Pocket PC device. Consistent with the "Clear & Simple" series, this book features a very visual and engaging style.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Digital Press; 1 edition (February 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750673540
• ISBN-13: 978-0750673549
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,538,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Borrow, don't buy: Low information content and poor editing, October 2, 2001

By 

David M. Ng (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pocket PC Clear & Simple (Clear & Simple (Digital)) (Paperback)

This is a short book (146 pages) that purports to give step-by-step instructions for the major Pocket PC applications, and also to provide tips and notes. The concept and format are promising, but the content does not measure up to the potential.

Some of the decisions made concerning what material to present and where is baffling. If the Find utility is "one of its [Pocket PC's] most powerful and useful functions", why is it described at the very end of the book (page 138)? Why is there a page on video players when there is no information on making video available on the Pocket PC (page 131)? The section on wireless connections gives no real information about wireless connections, it tells you how to set up DNS which is not specific to wireless (pages 63-65).

The book was poorly edited. For example, the topic of page 26 is the Notes application but the graphic shows Pocket Word. Similarly, on page 103 the topic is the Inbox but the graphic is again Pocket Word (the same as on page 26). The instructions for converting text omits an important step (clicking on the pen button) (page 29).

There is some useful information, for example, setting up the New menu (page 14) and how to cheat in Solitaire (start Solitaire, bring up the software keyboard, tap Ctl (not Ctrl, another typo!), tap Shift, tap New) (page 140). And I learned that the various applications look in the My Documents folder and one level of folders nested within My Documents. Overall, there is enough useful information to make it worthwhile to borrow the book (and it's a quick read), but I do not recommend purchasing it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the Beginner!, February 25, 2001

By 

Jason Dunn "Digital Home Thoughts" (Calgary, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pocket PC Clear & Simple (Clear & Simple (Digital)) (Paperback)

This book does exactly what it says it will: it explains the basic functions of the Pocket PC in a clear and concise manner and is perfect for a beginning Pocket PC user. There are many little tips thrown in along the way that even an intermediate user will find useful, but if you're an advanced user, this book wasn't written for you.

13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a waste of money!, February 20, 2001

By 

D. Startsev (IL, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pocket PC Clear & Simple (Clear & Simple (Digital)) (Paperback)

Well, maybe I didn't do my research well enough. Maybe I didn't read all of the descriptions twice. Whatever. This book is still not worth the paper it's printed on. It simply goes over the standard apps (calendar, tasks, email) in very little detail, does not explain any of the advanced features well, does not really explain how to efficiently use the Pocket PC -- it's just specific features of specific apps... This is how you create an appointment... This is how you open an email message... That's it!!!! Anyone with a half of brain would figure that just by using the thing; for some mentally challenged there are even manuals on the net. This book has 0 added value!

Yes, once again, I should've read the reviews more carefully. But I'm gullible! I was hopeful! Mr. Craig Peacock and Digital Press: cudos to you for being able to publish and sell a book like this. Don't do it again, this is a disgrace to writers and publishers who actually make an effort to sell something useful.