Sams Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Jill Freeze (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 067232301X | ISBN-13: 978-0672323010 | Publication Date: October 13, 2001 | Edition: 3

Sams Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours is the replacement documentation that you don't get with sub-$1000 computers.

It's designed to be an "all-in-one solution" to help users to get up and running on their computer and learn all the software applications that came pre-loaded on their system.

This book is a cost-efficient alternative for the user who will probably not purchase separate books on general PCs, Windows, the Internet, Word, and Excel.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you want to learn how to use a Windows-based personal computer (as opposed to a Macintosh), you'll be confronted with a learning curve. Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours teaches you Windows 98 conventions so you're able to use and enjoy your computer.

Unlike many other books for new users, this book is text-heavy, foregoing comic-book-like sequences in favor of numbered steps. The author begins by identifying the parts of a personal computer and helping you find the floppy disk drive, the mouse, and the other major components. She then steps back a bit, explaining how to assemble a typical PC right out of its box and start it up. Then, she details the critical conventions of Windows, explaining what a file is, how to use nested folders, and how to adjust screen resolution. She walks the reader through the Internet Setup Wizard (which the reader will use to get online) and touches on using Windows 98's Internet applications. She also explains a little bit about Microsoft Word, Microsoft FrontPage Express, Microsoft Works, and Microsoft Money 98.

Sometimes the author assumes that the settings on a reader's machine are a certain way, when there is more than one possibility for the settings--this could confuse a nervous new user. Aside from this flaw, Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours is a competent introductory computer guide. --David Wall --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Author

Thanks to dozens of wonderful e-mails from readers, this book has really evolved over time. In the first edition, much time and space was given to teaching the fundamentals of understanding hardware. With each edition of the book, that coverage lessened, as readers let it be known that they just wanted to make the blasted machine do something useful or fun! Of course we still cover critical hardware issues, but instead of a long rambling section on what RAM is and how it works, we cut to the chase and tell you how much you'll need to make your software run smoothly. That gives us more time and space to cover fun stuff like using scanners, movie making, downloading goodies from the Internet, and so on. Also with time, content has shifted to include such popular topics as digital photography and instant messaging.

Readers are always invited to e-mail their questions, comments, and/or suggestions to me at [e-mail]. I answer every single note myself (though it may take me a while sometimes when I'm in the middle of writing a book).

Check out the sample chapter online here at Amazon to see how we tried to make mundane topics fun and easy to learn about. And if you have any questions about the book, please feel free to e-mail me.

Happy computing! Jill

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Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Sams; 3 edition (October 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067232301X
• ISBN-13: 978-0672323010
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,697,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Introduction to the Personal Computer, April 14, 2009

By 

1Sunbum - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sams Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours (Second Edition) (Paperback)

For several years I volunteered at a couple of senior citizen centers teaching/coaching "seniors" how to use a personal computer. There was no standard text, curriculum, etc. because of the varied interests of the participants. For example, some wanted to learn the internet; others email, or word processing, or spreadsheet basics. Most brand new students came to the class not knowing what a computer actually was or what it did. I eventually settled on this book as my recommendation for a good, all-around introduction to the computer, its functions and uses. It covers all the essential basics of computer use, from an introduction to the machine itself, to the basics of Windows, email, word processing, spread sheets, etc. The supporting graphics are excellent, with lots of screen shots to illustrate each lesson. The structure of the book is sensible: It begins with an intro to the computer, then setting up the computer (connecting the monitor, etc). Next, it goes into Windows and its features, then Word, Excel, etc. I got nothing but expressions of satisfaction from the students that bought the book. It's the manual that should come with the computer for the first time or casual user, who wants a good introduction to the computer and a good overview of many of the things it can do.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars It aint bad if ya aint goin any place..., September 11, 2005

By 

Melissa A. Howell (Rexburg, ID) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sams Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

Okay, really this could be just the book for you...Depends on what your looking to learn. I was supposed to buy this book for a computer class and i did, only to find that nothing in the book was helpful. I passed the class with flying colors, but with no thanks to this book!