Customer Reviews

Windows XP for Seniors : For Senior Citizens Who Want to Start Using Computers (Computer Books for Seniors series)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I work with a team of volunteer computer instructors at the Seniors Association in Kingston, Canada. Our courses cover basic home computing and digital photography. Most of our students are older people who didn't have a chance to learn about computers when they were younger. (Well... let's be honest, none of us oldies did!) They come to our classroom motivated to learn, but sometimes anxious as well, fearing it will be too difficult. Often they've been buffaloed by the children in their families, whose easy familiarity with consumer electronics is unimaginable to them.

All our instruction is done with every student in front of a computer. We don't lecture; we don't quiz anybody; and we don't drown them in technical mumbo-jumbo. Our students learn everything by *DOING IT*, and our curriculum gives them time to do so.

For years we've been looking for supportive textbooks that match this style of teaching. When Addo Stuur's books were published in Canada last year (2005), we felt we had found what we needed. We now use Windows XP for Seniors in our beginning courses, mainly as a source of homework assignments. We cover each topic in class, hands-on. Then, when the students get home, Addo takes them through the same topic, step by step, with a picture of the screen after each step.

He avoids mentioning extraneous facts not necessary to the reader's immediate success. He also recognizes that everyone will forget things as they progress, so the books contain reminders of where to go to re-read things that might have slipped from memory. As well, each chapter tells you what to do if anything doesn't work as you expect.

There are other pictorial teach-yourself books that look PRETTIER than this one. They're printed in colour and therefore they cost more. But for beginners who are seniors, I can confidently give a confident recommendation for "Windows XP for Seniors."

I know very little about computers but this book has opened up a new world for me! It is better than any of the many I have in my library. I highly recommend it to everyone, not just seniors. Thank you Mr. Stuur!

The whole series of Addo Stuur books for Seniors is excellent because it goes the extra mile to reinforce each learning episode. The Visual Steps method allows a cross referencing which helps Seniors immensely to have backup. Tie in the screen shots with emphasis on the step at hand and large type and you have a first-class book. I have taught adults and now seniors for 18 years and I have most of the books out there including books for seniors--there is no doubt these are the best. I have been ordering them for my students and recommending them to my computer clubs and every senior I talk to who is technophobic and wants to learn!! I have purchased them all to use as a teaching tool and anxiously await the new one on Word in April of this year.

For myself and those before me that have purchased these 'FOR SENIOR.....' books...we are all above average for knowing a 'good thing' when we see it! I purchased 'WINDOWS XP and MORE WINDOWS XP' SENIORS.....I also bought Windows XP For Dummies..which is good, alittle more technical and I started hating the () = COVERED IN CHAPTER.....so you have to mark where you are just to find info that is somewhere else in the book. SENIOR books: large print...PICTURES...showing 'how to', little tests, to check comprehension...with page numbers to locate the answer if you don't remember........NO MATTER WHAT YOUR AGE...IF YOU CAN READ AND WANT TO GET STARTED (or refresh) ON A COMPUTER....YOU WILL NOT GO WRONG WITH THESE 'SENIOR' BOOKS...6 TO WHATEVER AGE......................

My sister hasn't been to my place for over 10 yrs. She visited me this month and I had this book on my desk.When she flipped through it,instantly she wanted it & copied down the address to purchase it.It is so easy to understand and if you make a mistake ,it tells you what to do to get back on track again. I think it is a wonderful book for beginners.

This book is quite easy to use and contains a lot of useful information on Win XP. I am 79 years old and I found it very helpful in learning how to use Win XP.

I think this is one of the best books for seniors who are not familiar with the computer. It is a great starting tool.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is learning computer. I am impressed at the method of instruction and the testing follow up. This is a "win-win" book.

This book is very basic and is good for Seniors. I use it when working with seniors and it explains the basic steps they need to know in the beginning when using Windows XP but it also covers things like, making the curser large and outlined. Changing the display font and other tricks that we sometime forget are helpful for seniors or people with vision difficulity. I do wish there was a more recent revision for this book. It still refers to mice without the scroll wheel and floppy disks, which aren't a common item anymore with newer computers. But then, many seniors don't have the newest model of computer so this hasn't been much of an issue for me.

There is a wealth of resources for seniors on the internet. No one should miss out because of a lack of knowledge about computers. This large print volume is written in easy to follow, non technical language. As a legal aid hotline attorney and owner of an online medical supplies business, I am frequently talking with and advising seniors. Many of the people I talkt with say they wish they were more computer literate. I will recommend this book to them. As with any computer book, the material gets outdated quickly. Also, this book deals with Windows and many people find Macs are the most user friendly computer. So, those who have not yet purchased their computer may want to look into getting a Mac.