Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Woody Leonhard (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471749419 | Publication Date: December 15, 2006 | Edition: 1

With Vista, Windows has had an extreme makeover. Many of the features that were old friends in Windows XP now look and act differently. And if you’re thinking of upgrading to Vista but haven’t done it yet, wow — there are eight different versions! How do you know which one to choose?

That’s easy — look in Book One of Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies. Windows expert Woody Leonhard starts off this everything-you-want-to-know-about -Vista guide by helping you choose the version that fits your needs. He follows that with minibooks Two through Nine, each devoted to one specific area — setting up, securing, and customizing Vista, going online, adding cool hardware, getting the most from multimedia, exploring Vista video, and setting up a network. You’ll find out about:

• Ripping and burning discs of data, music, or movies
• Organizing desktop files and folders
• Collecting and editing your digital photos in the Photo Gallery
• Controlling users, making backups, and maintaining your system
• Locking down your system to deflect spam, scams, spyware, phishers, and viruses
• Exploring alternatives to Internet Explorer
• Adding hard drives, printers, key drives, USB hubs, and other hardware
• Making movies, adding music to your iPod, and setting up Media Center

Covering almost anything you will ever need to know for a long and happy relationship with Vista, Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies is a guide you’ll refer to again and again.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

9 books in 1 — your key to Windows Vista survival!

Your one-stop guide to new Vista features, video, music, networks, cool hardware, and more

Tame and tease Vista's new features with the expert advice in these handy minibooks. From gadgets to glass, desktops to downloads, backups to browsers, find what you need to know about Vista, iPods, free antivirus software, pictures, scumbusting, Windows renovation and resuscitation, and much more.

Discover how to

• Choose and install the right Vista version
• Rip and burn discs of data, music, or movies
• Organize your desktop files and folders
• Spruce up pictures in the Photo Gallery
• Play music and podcasts anywhere

About the Author

Woody Leonhard's wisdom and straight-shooting style have saved many from Windows agony. He invented the "MS-DEFCON" system for consumers to safely apply patches. He runs the AskWoody.com Web site and has written a dozen For Dummies books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 792 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (December 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471749419
• ASIN: B0027CSNOY
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,315,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've written a whole lotta computer books over the years, starting with "Windows Programming for Mere Mortals" in 1991, going through the "Hacker's Guide to Word for Windows" (with Vince Chen and Scott Krueger), the "Mother of All Windows Books" and "Mother of All PC Books" series (all with Barry Simon), then the "Underground Guides" to Word, Office, Telecommuting, and many more, "Word Annoyances", the "Woody Teaches Office" series, and the "Special Edition Using Office" series (with Ed Bott). I'm probably best-known for my "Dummies" books, which tell the straight story (whether Microsoft likes it or not!) in a way that won't put you to sleep.

My books have been translated into dozens of languages, and are widely available at bookstores, computer shops and warehouse chains all over the world. I've edited several series of books for various publishers. I've also written hundreds of magazine articles, most recently for PC World and the late, lamented PC/Computing magazine. I used to publish a handful of electronic newsletters, and print newsletters before that, but now confine myself to dispensing news, advice, and a wee bit o' insight, at www.AskWoody.com and my column in the Windows Secrets newsletter, www.WindowsSecrets.com.

I started in the computer book biz in a very odd way. I wrote a novel. An action-adventure novel, no less, set in Saudi Arabia. I never found a publisher, although I keep threatening to dust the novel off and submit it again. But along the way, I came to know - and love and hate - a brand new word processor known as Word for Windows. I wrote a lengthy electronic book about all of WinWord 1.10's bugs, which were legion, and how to work around a whole bunch of 'em. Posted it on CompuServe. Andrew Schulman (who wrote "Undocumented DOS" and "Undocumented Windows" among many others) stumbled into my "Hacker's Guide to the Univers", and he asked me to write a book for him. It all went downhill from there.

My writing has won an unprecedented eight Computer Press Association awards and two American Business Press awards - more than any other computer book author, I think. I was one of the first Microsoft Consulting Partners, and a charter member of the Microsoft Solutions Provider organization.

I still think of computers as a "means", not an "end". I wonder when people lost sight of the fact that PCs were invented to make life easier, to get your work done and get home early. I firmly believe that PCs make passable slaves but horrible masters.

I'm impressed with much of what Microsoft is doing to Windows, although the continuing security screw-ups really leave me shaking my head. I'm much less impressed with what's happening to Offfice. In my opinion, Microsoft is using its monopoly on the desktop to sell more server software, making Office updates less and less compelling for the individual or small business user. Like me. And I'm appalled that Microsoft is now selling a "service" that protects us from the flaws in their own product.

Yes, indeed, the gods must be crazy.

I went to grad school in Boulder, Colorado (M.S. and A.B.D. in CS/Software Engineering), worked in Saudi Arabia for five years, then spent 15 years on top of a mountain in the Rockies. I moved to Phu ket in 2000, with my teenage son, Cocker spaniel and beagle. I live in the hills above Patong now, with my long-time girlfriend, Add. If you ever get to Phu ket, drop me a line! It's an incredibly beautiful place to visit. Or to live, for that matter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful Book, March 10, 2007

By 

Dr. James E. Tille "Dr. James E. Tille" (Lakewood, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (Paperback)

I found the book Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference quite helpful in learning the new features of Vista. I wish I could say the same for Vista. It is a memory hungry, slow dog of a system. It was definitely released before it was ready. If I knew what I know now about drivers, slowness, and lack of a great deal of backward compatibility in the 32-bit version, I would have stayed with Windows XP Pro. Anyway, the book is a great help for me to use when I encounter some the silly built in features of Vista. Buy the book, if you plan to use Vista. It will help keep you sane.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great help with all sorts of questions., April 10, 2007

By 

Joan E. Fogleman "Book Worm" (Inverness, Fl) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (Paperback)

I ordered this book for Windows Vista but figured I wouldn't really need it...Wrong. This book has answered a great many questions and helped me handle a few of the glitches that come in every new operating system.
I highly recommend it.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vista Bound, January 22, 2007

By 

Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner" (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (Paperback)

These days, everyone knows how to purchase a computer. Yet, while everybody does know how to get one, they just really don't knwo how to operate one. There are so many owners who've thrived at this point with Windows XP on their computers as the main operating system whether it is the original operating system, or the now popular media center edition, which is currently standard on all Windows XP computers. Yet, there has been so much hype now with the next operating system, Windows Vista. Nevertheless, it does work very well for some, others might not know whether to upgrade to the next edition. This book will help you decide that choice.

Windows Vista All-in-one For Dummies is a much more decresptive and reflective look into the next edition of Microsoft Windows. The version covers all the versions from the basic Vista, to the popular Media center edition. This book reflects on every aspect for the premium Vista user. The book teaches you how to operate on all the new chapters and changes in operating programs like the newest Internet Explorer 7, which including phishing filters for identity theft protection, and Windows Media Player 11, which includes the ability to download music from new music and video sites like Urge. The photos and the graphs give die hard wannabe Vista operators a real reflection of every aspect of knowing how to use anything for the system including the new interface, and the method of programming earlier programs that aren't as compatable to Vista.

All in all, Windows Vista All-in-One is a comprehensive reflection on the new upcoming operating sytem that is sure to give Windows users a run for their money. Before you decide to get the new version, you definitely should consider buying this and see how easy it can be to operate on your computer. I definitely recommend buying this a whole lot.

Price: B

Convience: B-

Photos and Graphs: B 1/2+

Overall: B