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81 of 86 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Resource, September 4, 2009
This review is from: Windows 7 Secrets (Paperback)
I purchased this book due to my enjoyment of Paul Thurrott and Leo Laporte's Windows Weekly podcast. The book covers virtually everything in Windows 7, and should be considered the ultimate resource/guide on the OS. This is a great tool for newcomers, as well as those who have been running Windows 7 since the beta release. Even amidst the more simple sections, such as installation, the authors manage to sneak in interesting tips and secrets that even IT Pro's might not be aware of. Snarky and subtle comments laced throughout the text and below screenshots kept me smiling as I read through the chapters. Whether you're someone who has never bothered to peer under an operating system's hood, or a Windows power user just trying to figure out what features Microsoft has added to its latest operating system, this book is a great buy!
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106 of 119 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Secrets? No - More a nicely done general introduction to Win 7, October 3, 2009
This review is from: Windows 7 Secrets (Paperback)
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I am systems developer and have purchased hundreds of computer books in my life, and this one has the same problem that it seems to me all of these very large books of this type have: They are too large and heavy for the way they can be effectively used. This is most definitely not a reference book, but rather a well done general introduction to Windows 7. Due to the large number of screen captures in the book, it reads very very quickly and would be a nice book to flip through while lying in bed. But it's tedious to hold.
As for the 'secrets'... no, they aren't secrets, though if you are new to Windows and 7 specifically, there may be things that you don't know. Paul Thurrott certainly knows Windows, but this book feels just slightly dumbed-down for a general audience. I also get the feeling that the publisher required that there be 'secrets' at certain minimal intervals because some of them are almost embarassingly trivial and obvious.
If you are comfortable with Vista, this book will probably disappoint. If you are are using XP, then you may find it very useful.
But - don't buy this book if you fall into the category of someone who has been working with Win 7 (as many people have since the free beta and RC) expecting to find much.
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23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great learning guide and resource for Windows 7, October 10, 2009
This review is from: Windows 7 Secrets (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera have written an excellent guide to the new Windows 7 operating system. Windows 7 Secrets provides step by step instructions (with screenshots) on how to install and use the many features of Windows 7. The book starts out with a summary of the features of Windows 7, and then moves to a chapter on determining which of the 12 product editions of Windows 7 is right for you. This chapter informs you of the differences in the features of each product edition and informs you of the options for purchasing Windows 7. (To make it more complicated, Microsoft has Upgrade versions and Full versions of the product editions, which are discussed in Chapter 2.) There is also a big recommendation that you select the 64-bit Windows 7 rather than the 32-bit version.
Chapter 2 gives step by step instructions on how to install Windows 7. However, the authors clearly state that the simplest way to get a working copy of Windows 7 is to purchase a new PC that already has Windows 7 installed. Note that if your computer has Windows XP (or an earlier version of Windows) you can't perform an upgade installation over your existing copy of Windows--you have to do a clean install. However the authors tell you how to use the Windows Easy Transfer tool to help migrate your XP settings and documents (but not your applications) to the new operating system. Only Vista users can perform an in-place upgrade to Windows 7, but the authors recommend that you do a clean install of Windows 7 instead. One of the big secrets included in this chapter is an undocumented method of performing a clean install of Windows 7 using the Upgrade version (rather than the Full version) without having to provide a serial number or insert the set-up disk of an earlier version of Windows to prove that you qualify to use the Upgrade. Info on installing Windows 7 on a Mac is also included.
After you finish the installation, there are nearly 900 more pages that tell you how to use Windows 7. This includes information on software and hardware compatibility, the new user interface, security features, networking, digital media, games, etc etc. There are too many features to cover in this review, but I do recommend the Windows 7 Secrets book to you.
There is not a CD or DVD included with the book, but the Preface lists the websites that provide more information.
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