PC Annoyances, Second Edition (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In every PC user's life, there's a point when desperate measures must be taken. Some push their PC off a pier or chuck it into a landfill. Others turn their former computing ally into a planter box. But don't give up on your PC yet--help is at hand. This easy to read, accessible book from PC World expert Steve Bass covers the waterfront of PC gripes and gremlins, with fixes for everything from Windows glitches to browsers that won't browse. Each fix is served up in bite-sized portions for quick reading--and even quicker fixing. A revised version of its best-selling predecessor, the 2nd edition offers 50 additional pages and over 120 new fixed annoyances. This reader-friendly book tackles problems related to a wide-ranging number of topics:

Windows--King of Annoyances! learn how to kick Windows in the rear, overcome glitches, take charge of the interface, live with the dreaded Service Pack 2 Hardware--wake up your DSL, tame your notebook, silence your PC's fan, work wonders with your scanner, and save paper Email--from Outlook to Eudora! Defeat spam, avoid mailing list hassles, send big files, manage folders Microsoft Office--learn workarounds for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that help you back up the unbackable and automate data entry Internet--shake up IE, stop Flash, outsmart defaults, control Favorites, add the Google toolbar to Netscape

Plus, you get access to more than one hundred utilities that will help you squash bugs, enhance your email, untangle a system snarl, and much more. If your PC has ever annoyed you (do we see several billion raised hands?), PC Annoyances is for you. With the flip of a page or two, you can fix that faux pas and have your PC purring again.

About the Author

Bass is a longtime contributing editor to PC World and the author of the magazine's "Home Office" column and numerous how-to features. He runs the Pasadena IBM Users Group and is a founding member of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 2 edition (March 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596008821
• ISBN-13: 978-0596008826
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #409,794 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Edition, Lots of Great New Content, May 11, 2005

By	Meryl K. Evans "Content Maven behind meryl.net" (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

If you own the first edition, you won't experience déjà vu while reading the second edition. The new one has many changes that you won't recognize it. Whether you're a power PC user or a casual one, you will benefit from the book. Because of the wide array of topics covered, I can't imagine many geeks who know all of these tips.

Instead of calling tech support and staying on hold or going to Google, check PC Annoyances for the answers. It's impossible to have the answers to all the problems you encounter on a PC, but Bass touches on a bit of everything. If you don't find the answer in the book, you might find enough clues to shorten your search.

GMail joins the book and its tips immediately pay off. Other than the usual Microsoft applications, get stress-busters for fixing annoyances related to music, video, CD, and general email. Mozilla, Firefox, and Thunderbird don't make the cut this time. However, we know how the publishing industry struggles to keep up with tech changes. The book lists a few Netscape-related tips and what you can do in Netscape usually works in any Mozilla product since they're based on the same "bones."

How many times have you come across an interesting URL in a book that was a mile long and took several attempts to get it right? Bass takes care of that by using a URL shortening service making it easier and quicker to get the right URL on the first try. He provides links to software, humorous sites, and resources. After fighting a round with your PC, wouldn't taking a break by going to a funny resource release a few tense muscles? It does for me.

His software recommendations include free and fee-based products. I recognize many of the programs and own some. Based on my experience, he provides excellent recommendations, so you can trust that he isn't looking to pump up his stock with any of the companies. Most, if not all, of the programs come with a trial period, so you can play with them and see if they meet your needs. If not, uninstall and no harm done. If so, then thank Mr. Bass.

The only complaint I have lies with the warning boxes. They're dark blue with black text. Not easy to read.

Bass writes likes someone who has battled with the annoyance and shares the solution. It's conversational, enjoyable, and easy reading. You don't have to worry about insults from those who think they're the sultan of computers. Instead, Bass makes you feel better with his "buddy-style" advice. Thanks, Steve.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, irreverent, and pays for itself in short order..., April 21, 2005

By	Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

No matter how necessary the PC is to your very existence, there are times you want to pitch the beast out the window. It's either irritating hardware glitches or software designed by monkeys. The second edition of PC Annoyances by Steve Bass can help you mend your love/hate relationship with silicon. It's good stuff...

Chapter List: Email Annoyances; Windows Annoyances; Internet Annoyances; Microsoft Office Annoyances; Windows Explorer Annoyances; Music, Video, and CD Annoyances; Hardware Annoyances; Index

If you haven't seen an Annoyances book before, it's a series of questions or statements (like SP2 Blocks Skype or Back Up Your Autocorrections) with an annoyance and a fix listed for each one. Under each of the Annoyances chapters, you'll have subsections like Word/Excel/Powerpoint/Outlook/Outlook Express annoyances under the Microsoft Office annoyances area. Depending on just how annoying the software or hardware is, you may have five to 20 ways to reduce your frustration level. So, if you don't think the current tip applies to you, keep reading as the next one probably will. Some of these you'll know already, many you'll never have heard of, and others will prompt the "you mean I can change that?" moment (or at least it did for me!). Because Steve's writing style is irreverent and conversational, you almost feel as if you're sitting ringside with him and someone else as they solve the computing hassles we all deal with daily.

If that was it, it'd be plenty valuable. But there's more. There are a number of sidebar tips that don't necessarily fit into the question/answer format, but are just as important. For instance, he devotes a large sidebar to the best way to capture screen prints to show brain-dead tech support people that the screen really *does* show what you said. You may already know how to do that, but it's always worth seeing if there's a better way. He also offers a multitude of URLs you can visit to download free or cheap utilities to do things that you just can't do any other way. Want to fill out forms automatically? Check out the free RoboForms software he recommends. Need to remove hidden meta data in your Microsoft Office documents? Check out the tool from Microsoft that will clean them up. There are all sorts of gems like those on every page.

The book is a rare blend of humor and utility in a fun and easy format, and it will easily pay for itself in short order. Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Handy Collection of Tips, July 8, 2005

By	Midwest Reader (Minnesota US) - See all my reviews

This books is suited to readers who have used PCs for some time--long enough to run into the annoyances referred to, but not long enough to have found solutions, at least to all of them. Almost half are found in Microsoft Windows, Office, or Windows Explorer. Others are from various email clients, Internet software, music/video, and hardware. Some examples: how to delete a "file in use," how to quickly and safely remove a USB device without going through multiple dialogs (pp. 206-7), and how to add a short note to accompany a file (p. 163).
There is also an interesting tip on single-use credit cards, for online shoppers and some tips related to Google.

This is one of those books that can be read five minutes at a time, or from cover to cover. Perhaps the most effective way to use it is to at least skim the entire book, then later concentrate on the sections of interest. (If you don't use a particular program, tips on it's use probably won't interest you.)