Customer Reviews

Windows® 7 Inside Out

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am so accustomed to using the Missing Manual series by David Pogue for OS upgades and programs Windows 7: The Missing Manual but did not have the patience to wait for the printing of the MM book on Windows 7, so decided to buy and dive into this one instead. It is from the Microsoft Press and written by experts in the field of Windows. Who knows the operating system better than the developers themselves?? That said, it needs to be stated that this book is geared toward a more technical user who actually ENJOYS being technical and likes to tinker. If this is not your cup of tea, go with the Windows 7: The Missing Manual as it will humor you and suit your needs. The Windows Inside Out really delves deeply into customization, security, advanced file management and much more.

This book is labeled for the Intermediate / Advanced and contains a CD with tools, training and the book in e-book form. If this is your first technical book, it might be a bit intimidating. I would suggest the Missing Manual by David Pogue if you can wait for it to come to press or Windows 7 Bible which is really geared to the beginner to intermediate user.

5 Stars for Techies

As a technical professional that focuses on Microsoft products, I have read or have access to a number of technical books. Some focus on technical knowledge sharing, other focus on presentation of the information. It is rare that a book comes along that provides both. This book is very readable and not so technical that the new features get lost in terminology or filler paragraphs to create a larger book.

This book is one of those that not only provides excellent information on the new operating system, but makes an excellent reference guide for those times that you need to look up something. It is not a book you will recall everything, but the information is presented in such a way that it makes it easy to recall seeing it mentioned, which makes for quick search to find what you are looking for.

I'ver read too many poorly written books by technical specialists who just don't write very well. This book is not one of those. It is well-written, all-encompassing, and provides thorough, understandable, technical help for the novice and the geek alike. The reader can either use this book as a reference or he/she can read it from cover to cover. I did the latter--twice! I just couldn't absorb all the cool and fantastic features in one reading. This is the first time since 1988 that I feel I really have a handle on my OS. If you are running Windows 7 (any version), you cannot do without this manual. It may appear absurd to say that Windows 7 Inside Out can be life-altering, but it can be just that! Geeks and neophytes ought to celebrate.

If you are a Windows 7 Administrator, and you already have the Windows 7 RSK (ISBN: 0735627002) you can safely skip this title as it will bring little else to the table, except for a few OEM customizations bizarrely missing from the RSK. If you are looking to become a Win7 Administrator and are looking for a place to start, I highly recommend the RSK over this title.

If, however, you are looking for an introduction to Windows 7 and a way to quickly get up to speed with the new OS and its substantial changes over XP, "Windows 7 Inside Out" (W7IO) provides a solid base, focused on all readers regardless of prior knowledge of the Windows environment. Beyond a tour of the graphical interface for Windows 7, W7IO provides mini-user guides for IE8, Windows Live, all Microsoft's Media Center components, and even help for those looking to make iTunes their primary media manager. W7IO goes further for Power Users by covering general backup/recovery methods, general security and networking, and even pen, touch and voice inputs.

What you won't find in W7IO though is how to control/manage the environment using PowerShell (console or scripts), VBScript/JavaScript, the command prompt, or direct registry edits (there are some, not many), although there is information about manipulating the environment using Local Group Policies. The primary focus of this title is manipulation thru the provided graphical interfaces.

In all, this is a great read for those normal users that want to take control of their environment. It can serve as a one-stop reference, or a jumping off point for those that may want to go deeper with script/console control as well.

This book arrived in early October prior to my preordered copies on Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade. By reading portions of this book, I was able to do a clean install of Windows 7 on a desktop and laptop computer. I had to find one driver for the sound on the laptop and knew how to find it by checking in this book. The sections on Home Networking make connecting to your network very easy. I then setup my Homegroup by following the clearly defined information provided by the authors. Everything that you need to know about the basics is presented clearly in this book. One can easily add E Mail and secuity features by checking those sections of the book. There is also advanced information that I do not need but there for those with the interest and skill to use. I highly recommend this book.

Like "Windows XP Inside Out" and "Windows Vista Inside Out," this book covers every major aspect of Windows 7. And it does so in an authoritative yet understandable manner, wrapped in an easy-to-use format.

All of the major concerns one might have are dealt with, including basic setup and start-up, personalization, security, home networking, media, and system maintenance and management. All of the differences between Vista and Win 7 are discussed. This is really THE source for everything important concerning Windows 7.

There are, of course, other doorstop-sized Windows 7 reference manuals, but the strength of this book is its focus on practical information and advice. Most of us really don't need theoretical discussions; we want to know how to install, configure, operate, and maintain our systems in the best, most efficient and easiest way possible. The authors took care to make it clear that some things can only be done one way. Other things, however, can be done multiple ways, and they explain all of them and recommend one of them. This allows a lot of latitude to personalize and experiment with Windows 7 features without getting tangled up.

The CD that comes with the book contains the entire text of the book in an easily searchable format, plus some utilities. You can install it on your hard drive and have a convenient desktop version of the book.

This book is the in-depth instruction manual that didn't come with Windows 7. It enables you to get the most out of it with the least effort-- and the least danger of messing something up. If you're only going to buy one Windows 7 book, this is the one.

Let me preface by stating (admitting?) that I have well over twenty years experience as a professional in the I.T. field, much of that in the field of troubleshooting desktop and laptop computers. That, of course, means little unless one knows how good I am at the job, but at least gives some reference point to show the angle from which this review comes.

While perhaps not the definitive Windows 7 manual, it offers enough basic Windows information to satisfy the neophyte, and enough advanced information for the experienced Windows user to make the book of some value.

If one is upgrading from XP, there is more to glean from this manual than there is for the Vista upgrader. If one is well grounded in Vista, there is not a huge amount of new material; however as a desktop (your real desk, not Windows desktop) it's a good manual to have on hand. If one is new to Windows (everyone has to start somewhere; I go back to DOS 1.2)this is an excellent reference book to own.

While Windows 7 offers a considerable amount of built in help and, of course, there are numerous sources on the Web for installing, maintaining, repairing, or tweaking Windows 7, this manual still offers considerable value; on line help only helps if one can actually get on line.

The networking section is well done, and options on customizing Windows 7 are fairly well covered. The Registry coverage is limited to the basics, but of course Registry hacks would perhaps cover a book in itself.

The accomanying DVD is handy for those who travel; while I prefer hard copies of books over electronic versions, having the DVD copied on to my laptop allows me to have the reference along without schlepping a pound or two of paper.

This manual has earned it's spot on the bookshelf nearest my desk - at least until the next Windows operating system comes along.

Recommended for both beginning and experienced Windows users. For professionals it is, perhaps, a bit light; but one may assume that I.T. professionals are not the main target audience of this book.

(While not a review of the book, the shipping of this item from Amazon took considerably longer than shipping normally does. In the past I have opted for "free shipping" by ground and had the item(s) within three or four days. This shipment arrived within the specified time frame of free shipping - but just barely. If one is impatient one may be well advised to choose a faster (read "more expensive") method of shipping).

This is a thorough Windows 7 manual. Don't expect any tricks or tweaks though. It is just a complete reference guide for Windows 7. If you are looking for an operations manual that should have been included with Windows 7, this is it. If you are a more advanced user looking for tweaks, keep on looking.

In terms of technical level, an advanced beginner could handle this book. Anything less might cause problems.

Good book for the right reason.

I have been using Windows since Microsoft created a GUI front end to DOS, but Windows 7 is the first Windows O/S that I really like, and this book was the icing on the cake. Windows 7 Inside Out is an easy read, interesting, practical, and thorough. Many of the technical details are contained in sidebars so you can pick the places you want to dive in deeper. After just a few chapters, I'm doing things I wished I could do when I had Windows XP, and some things that I never knew I was missing.

I am in the computer business (Repair, install, etc.) and I needed answers to Windows 7 that were complete and understandable. This book does just that. I also like the fact that a DVD containing the entire book came along with the purchase. It allows me to have a handy reference on my laptop while traveling. The book is thick and too heavy to carry around.

Glad I have it.