Windows Vista® Plain & Simple Kit: Help Family & Friends Get Started With Their First Computer (BPG-Plain & Simple) [Paperback]

Jerry Joyce (Author), Marianne Moon (Author), Katherine Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0735626731 | ISBN-13: 978-8120331495 | Edition: 1

This colorful two-book kit is designed for those helping friends and family select, set up, and use a new PC—or those new to the task themselves! Get up and running right away—and get to the fun staff faster! Windows Vista Plain & Simple Guide to Helping Family & Friends: If you answer the new-computer ‘S.O.S.’ calls in your family—or you’re getting ready to buy a new PC yourself—here’s friendly, plain-talking advice. This timesaving guide answers the most common questions and how-to’s—with an emphasis on keeping it simple!

• Learn—and explain—computer concepts in non-techie terms
• Get practical PC-shopping tips—what you need and don’t need
• Hook it all up—cables, connections, components—the easy way
• Get ready to venture online—from e-mail to shopping
• Transfer photos from a digital camera
• Enjoy your first podcasts, PC games, movies, and more
  

Windows Vista Plain & Simple: Your easy, colorful, SEE-HOW guide to getting things done with Windows Vista! Jump in wherever you need answers—for simple-to-follow steps and screenshots that show exactly what to do.

• Run programs and gadgets, and play games
• Send e-mail, share files, and traverse the Web
• Organize your photos, music, and videos
• Burn CDs and DVDs—even make your own movie!
• Set up a printer and simple home network
• Adjust security settings and perform easy tune-ups and fixes

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Key Book Benefits:

-Your no-jargon, quick reference to everyday questions about Windows Vista -Covers common tasks including burning CDs, browsing the Web, organizing photos, playing games, running programs, and troubleshooting -Features an easy-to-read design--including numbered steps, concise information, and helpful tips and exercises--in full color -Delivers concise answers in visual format for people who want information they can put to work right away; ideal for beginning-level users of Windows Vista --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Katherine Murray is the author or coauthor of 40+ computer books, including First Look Microsoft® Office 2010, Microsoft® Word 2003 Inside Out, and First Look 2007 Microsoft® Office System. She is also a columnist on the Microsoft® Office Community site on Microsoft.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 1 edition (December 17, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735626731
• ISBN-13: 978-8120331495
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 9.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > PCs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

225 of 225 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast and easy to understand., April 4, 2007

By 

R. J Kaucher (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows Vista(TM) Plain & Simple (Bpg-Plain & Simple) (Paperback)

I am an IT professional and I have been running Vista since the beta. If you are a Windows XP expert a book like this is far too simple. However one of my main job responsibilities is in educating users who may be buying their very first computer. In my opinion this book has a number of features that set it apart from (and above) other books.

First is that it is written in a format that does not require the reader to read it like a novel, from front to back. You may simply set it next to your PC and refer to the ample index when you want to know how to perform a certain task. Need to know how to burn a data CD? Look up CD in the index, turn to the page and follow the steps as shown with full color photos and easy to understand text.

The second item that sets it apart is the full color photos, mentioned above, included with each step. Including so many color photos reassures users that they are not committing a catastrophic error that will require them to restore the system and potentially lose all their data.

I highly recommend this book for non-technical people who were not experts with Windows XP I also recommend that you use it to learn how to perform the following critical tasks:

1.Make regular backups of you data (pictures, documents, email, etc)

2.Perform basic system maintenance (defragment your disk drive, install programs and uninstall programs) This is like knowing how to put gas in your tank and air in the tires of your car, essential!

3.Actually enjoy using your PC!

52 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plain & simple Windows Vista, March 8, 2007

By 

Michael E. Ashbaugh (West Jefferson, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows Vista(TM) Plain & Simple (Bpg-Plain & Simple) (Paperback)

This is a" must have" book for those of us that don't start up a new computer system every day. Easy to follow directions take you step by step from start to finish. I intend to keep my copy on my desk for easy reference.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vista manual, September 17, 2007

By 

Donald I. Page "Retired" (Dragoon, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows Vista(TM) Plain & Simple (Bpg-Plain & Simple) (Paperback)

This is the first Microsoft operating system manual that I have ever had in which I found something, non-trivial, that I was looking in for an answer. I am impressed.