Microsoft Windows Me for Dummies (Paperback)

~ (Author) "One way or another, you've probably already heard about Microsoft Windows..." (more)
Key Phrases: tile commands, compact disc drives, paste stuff, Control Panel, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Microsoft Windows Me has a lot to offer someone who wants to use Windows in a home or small-office setting. Author Andy Rathbone competently explains its advantages (as well as some of its shortcomings) in Microsoft Windows Me for Dummies, a fine example of software documentation that appeals to novices without shirking its responsibility to include lots of details. To his credit, Rathbone knows that what's interesting to the Microsoft marketing department isn't necessarily important to most users of Windows Me. That's why he's gone to some trouble to include instructions for such unglamorous but important tasks as duplicating floppy disks and copying text from place to place in a document.

About half of this book deals with absolutely fundamental Windows subjects, such as running programs by choosing them from the Start menu, and moving files around. Rathbone deals with this material ably, although with far fewer illustrations than some readers might want. More exotic material--such as using two video monitors at once, and the essentials of e-mail and the Web--also gets attention. However, Rathbone totally neglects what might be the most exciting new feature of Windows Me--the Home Networking Wizard. Instead, he (or, probably more to the point, his publisher) chose to relegate the Home Networking Wizard to More Windows Me for Dummies, which is a cheap ploy to sell more books. If you're new to Windows and getting started with Windows Me, however, this book has what you need. --David Wall

Topics covered: The fundamentals of Windows Me, including program launching, file management, hardware essentials, customization of the look and feel of Windows Me, and the little programs that ship with the operating system. There's also coverage of the Internet; specifically, of Internet Explorer 5.5 and Outlook Express.

Product Description

Microsoft Windows Me For Dummies boils down to this simple fact: Some people want to be Windows wizards. They sit in front of their computers randomly pressing keys, hoping to stumble onto a hidden, undocumented feature. And you? Well, you’re no dummy, that’s for sure. But when it comes to Windows and computers, the fascination just isn’t there. You just want to get your work done, feed the cat, and relax for a while. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

That’s where this book comes in. Instead of becoming a Windows Me expert, you’ll know just enough to get by quickly, cleanly, and with a minimum of pain so that you can move on to the more pleasant things in life.

Don’t try to read this book in one sitting. Instead, treat it like a dictionary or an encyclopedia. Turn to the page with the information you need, then put down the book and move on. Don’t bother trying to remember all the Windows Me buzzwords, leave that stuff for the computer gurus. In fact, if anything technical comes up in a chapter, a road sign warns you well in advance. That way, you can either slow down to read it or speed on around it.

You won’t find any fancy computer jargon in Microsoft Windows Me For Dummies. Instead, you’ll find subjects like these, discussed in plain old English:

• Why did they choose a dumb name like “Windows Me”?
• Finding the file you saved yesterday
• Moving those little windows around on the screen with the mouse
• Making Windows Me run a little better
• Performing chores in Windows Me that you used to do in older versions of Windows
• Starting and closing programs by clicking the mouse button

In Microsoft Windows Me For Dummies, there’s nothing to memorize and nothing to learn. Just turn to the right page, read the brief explanation, and get back to work. Unlike other books, this one enables you to bypass the technical hoopla and still get your work done.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (July 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764507354
• ISBN-13: 978-0764507359
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,084,628 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Windows Me For Dummies -- the best book for beginners, November 13, 2000

By	Andy Rathbone (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hundreds of Windows Me books fill the shelves. Some are for beginners, others for more advanced users. "Windows Me For Dummies," however, is for absolute beginners -- people sitting in front of a computer for the first time. (Or if every time they use Windows Me it *feels* like the first time.)

My book covers Windows Me basics: turning on the computer, copying a floppy disk, and figuring out that weird "cut" and "paste" stuff. It prepares readers for that first foray into setting up and exploring the Internet and e-mail. It describes the dozens of programs and features built into Windows Me so readers knows which buttons to press -- and which to avoid.

In short, "Windows Me For Dummies" is for first-time Windows users. If you've already used Windows 95 or 98 and are pretty comfortable with the Windows Way of Life, then you're probably better off with "MORE Windows Me For Dummies." That book covers the more advanced features of Windows Me that many beginners can live without.

If the basic features of Windows leave you scratching your head, this book is written to ease your pain. If you're puzzled over Windows Me's new video editor, home networking system, shared network modems, connections for digital cameras and scanners, and advanced e-mail and Internet browsing, then my other book, "MORE Windows Me For Dummies," might be the book for you.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners, October 30, 2000

By A Customer

I recently bought my dad his first home PC for his birthday (his 68th) and wound up spending hours on the phone answering his questions. I finally bought a copy of this book and sent it to him. Now we can talk about more important things, like football scores, when he calls. This probably isn't the book you want if you've used Windows for years and are looking for the latest greatest junk Microsoft has added, but it sure helps the absolute beginner understand the software.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, September 26, 2000

By A Customer

This book is almost an exact duplicate of Windows 95 and 98 for Dummies. Even some of the page numbers in the index are incorrect. Windows Me Secrets, Windows Me Bible or even Mastering Windows 98 would be better choices.