Personal Computer Secrets (... Secrets (IDG)) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Computers are the tools and toys of the modern age..." (more)
Key Phrases: other startup files, particular data channel, main system bus, Device Manager, Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Bob O'Donnell has done the personal computer community a favor by writing Personal Computer Secrets. He's compiled a considerable store of general computing knowledge and presented it in a readable, easy-to-reference format. Users who are beginning to explore the more advanced capabilities of their Windows-based personal computers will appreciate the clarity and depth of this book.

For starters, Personal Computer Secrets is an introductory book suited to people new to Windows and personal computing in general. It explains what features to look for in all of the components of a new computer and shows you how to install additional RAM and a new hard drive. O'Donnell also covers the essentials of working with Windows applications and managing files.

But Personal Computer Secrets is distinguishable from other introductory-level computer books in its depth of coverage. In addition to the basic information he presents, O'Donnell goes into some detail on networking--and not just in hooking two or three Windows computers together in a workgroup either. Rather, he explains how to configure a real Internet-standard network using the TCP/IP protocols and even shows how to incorporate a Macintosh into the system. Best of all, he shows how to share a single Internet connection among several computers by installing a proxy server--a valuable topic that few books written at this level cover. --David Wall

Product Description

If you really want to take advantage of everything your PC has to offer, then you need this book. For the first time, well-known TV and radio host Bob O'Donnell shares his most powerful PC secrets in a fun-to-read, one-stop reference. From Windows 95/98/2000 tips to networking to digital photography, this all-encompassing guide opens up new PC horizons and helps you do more in less time.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 926 pages
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; Pap/Cdr edition (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764531336
• ISBN-13: 978-0764531330
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,294,089 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Written by real person., August 7, 1999

By A Customer

As opposed to the usual software manuals, this one is clearly written in plain English and delivers the promised goods. It solves a wide variety of problems ranging from routine upgrades to operating system failures.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, July 22, 1999

By	[e-mail] George Eisal (California Delta , Antioch,California) - See all my reviews

A well written computer book that the non nerd can use to understand the sometimes overwhelming arena of the modern computer world that we live in today.New computers are changing so rapidly and this book gives you the basics to expand with this ever changing electronic world.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save Your Money and Listen to his show, January 20, 2003

By	Tom Detweiler (Grass Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I value Bob O'Donnell's radio program and listen regularly so I was greatly dissappointed in this book. For of all things, a PC reference book, it has one of the worst indexes of any reference book, ever. Yes, they "back-published" an only marginally better index which is on his website (I will not give it) and you can download it (how convenient for the book buyer!) but it still lacks detail or depth and does not allow one to find what they are looking for intuitively. Okay, it is PC Secrets and not a complete treatise on Windows, but a book about PC's with only a one paragraph, scant mention of Hyperterminal? And nothing about what it does, at that. I'll put it this way: I bought the book hoping it would teach me something of value, and it hasn't, except to pay attention to reader reviews first. Almost without exception, everything I looked up was NOT in the index or there was the barest mention of it at all. My advice: Save Your Money
and check it out of the library, first!