Practical Computing (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

by Lynn Hogan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Practical Computing has been crafted to address the unique challenges novices face in mastering PCs, combining user-friendly design, creative multi-media tools, and a focus on useful skills students can apply immediately, either at home or in the workplace.

Windows Vista, working with the Internet, understanding electronic communication, computer maintenance and security, creating documents, creating spreadsheets, purchasing a home computer, and creating basic Web pages.

  For professionals who are learning the basics of computers.

About the Author

Lynn Hogan

Lynn Hogan has taught computer literacy and microcomputer applications classes at Calhoun Community College for 25 years.  For the past 18 years, she has served as chair of the Department of Computer Information Systems.  She received Calhoun’s outstanding instructor award in 2006, and currently teaches computer literacy for senior adults and web design courses.  Having developed the first online computer course at Calhoun, she continues to work with the distance education program.  She received an M.B.A. from the University of North Alabama and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama.

 

She resides in Alabama with her husband and two daughters.  Much of her free time is spent traveling to cutting horse shows and dressage shows, watching her daughters compete.  In addition to working with horses, she enjoys cooking, reading, and family travel

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (January 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131585630
• ISBN-13: 978-0131585638
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #716,960 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars no mention of IM, IRC, p2p, blogs, music or video, April 20, 2005

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Practical Computing (Paperback)

Hogan offers you a very vivid guide to personal computing. She imagines that you are a novice at all this. So the book walks you through the main aspects of computing. Unsurprisingly, several chapters are devoted to Microsoft Windows and its Word and Excel programs. Reflecting its dominance of the desktop. But the book isn't exclusive. It gives respectful coverage of the Mac; acknowledging its ease of use. Plus unix and linux get an all too brief mention.

For many users, a key attraction of a computer is to interact with others. So the two killer apps, email and the Internet, each get a chapter of common sense guidelines.

Unfortunately, the book has weaknesses. It avoids completely any discussion of Instant Messaging, Internet Relay Chat, peer to peer networks and blogs. And no mention of using your computer to play or record music or video. All these are massively popular, and it is a sad shortcoming that a reader will find no assistance with these in the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book for Novices, January 29, 2008

By	College Professor (PA) - See all my reviews

Ms. Hogan presents a very comprehensive view of the basics of computing for novices (i.e. - people who may never have touched a computer before). She uses easy to understand language and avoids the use of jargon so as not to confuse her readers. I have taught frequently with this book in introductory computer classes at a community college and have never had any students say a bad word about it.

Aside from the basics of computing in Windows, the book also covers an introduction to Word 2007 and Excel 2007. Surfing the Internet and using e-mail are covered extensively as these applications are so frequently used by novices and professionals alike.

A previous reviewer noted weaknesses but I respectfully disagree. The topics that reviewer mentioned as weaknesses (lack of discussion of instant messaging, internet relay chat, peer to peer networks and blogs) are beyond the scope of the novices for which this book is designed. I myself found no weaknesses in this solid, well written text.

Buy it for your parents (or grandparents). You won't regret it!

4.0 out of 5 stars Adequate for a brief overview, deficient otherwise, February 15, 2008

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This book, designed to give the absolute beginner experience in using a computer running Microsoft Windows Vista, succeeds in giving the reader a fundamental overview in the basics. Each topic is presented in a visual manner with diagrams used to support and explain the more complicated operations. True/False and multiple choice problem sets are included at the end of each chapter.
The topics are:

*) Understanding your personal computer
*) Working with Windows Vista
*) Working with files and folders
*) Working with the Internet
*) Understanding electronic communication
*) Understanding computer maintenance and security
*) Creating documents (using Microsoft Word 2007)
*) Creating spreadsheets (using Microsoft Excel 2007)
*) Creating presentations (using Microsoft PowerPoint 2007)
*) Working with graphics

However, I would not consider using this as a textbook in basic computer classes as the coverage lacks the necessary depth. For example, 23 pages are devoted to Word, 31 to Excel and 33 to PowerPoint. Given the many diagrams and that the last four pages of each chapter are summary and problem sets, this is not enough to give the student the necessary detail. The entire book, including index is only 338 pages. If a superficial scan is all you need, then this book will be adequate. However, for anything beyond that you will have to look elsewhere.