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Buying a Computer For Dummies (Paperback)

by Dan Gookin (Author) "Welcome to Buying a Computer For Dummies - a book which assumes that you know nothing about a computer but are strangely compelled to buy..." (more)
Key Phrases: Microsoft Office, Other Mac, All Macintosh (more...)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)


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Editorial Reviews

Review
It's in-your-face fun reading, well-organized and wide-ranging. -- Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 19, 2000 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
  • Realizing that purchasing a computer is a significant investment, beloved author Dan Gookin assists readers in finding a tailor-made computer that suits specific needs while also offering longevity
  • Delivers all the know-how in an understandable, enjoyable, friendly style so readers don't feel overwhelmed by all the choices they'll face when buying a computer
  • Walks readers step by step through all the new developments: CD burner/DVD combo drives, processor upgrades, flat panel displays, new modem and networking options, new peripherals, and more
  • An essential reference for first-time computer buyers looking to make a wise purchase, and for anyone looking to get an additional computer


See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 332 pages
  • Publisher: For Dummies; 2006 edition (November 10, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 076459818X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0764598180
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #906,280 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #23 in  Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > PC Buyers' Guides

Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Welcome to Buying a Computer For Dummies - a book which assumes that you know nothing about a computer but are strangely compelled to buy one. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Microsoft Office, Other Mac, All Macintosh, Alpha Speed, Hardware Worksheet Operating, Home Edition, Office Word, Software Worksheet Product, Some Questions, Wiley Publishing
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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
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 (2)
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This book helped me more than anything else out there, March 11, 1999
By A Customer
I walked into a computer-mega store to buy a computer and left confused and dazed. I then bought Dan Gookin's book and had a completely different approach. Mr. Gookin's book helped me to not get caught up in product name, but more on what I wanted to get done with the computer. What a great approach. Buy this book before you even think about buying a computer. It will honesly help.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Demystifying the Sacred Computer, April 7, 2003
By Randall R. Rector (Fort Scott, KS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Having looked at others, I have to agree that I found Dan Gookin's book to be by far the most helpful in preparing me to buy a computer for the first time. Sure, he didn't mention brand names, but there's plenty of information available from many sources to make that decision after you understand the basics, which he rightly concentrates on. As for Gookin's humor, that is a matter of taste, but I see no contradiction in being humorous, even silly, while at the same time being very serious and knowledgable about this subject. His humor helped put me at ease in a topic that is often scary for the beginner. We need awe and reverence, but they belong to God.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent but necessarily incomplete, January 30, 2004
By Judge Knott "judge_knott" (Upper West Side, NY, NY) - See all my reviews
Okay, this is a little tough to explain. This is an EXCELLENT guide for people who need to buy a new home computer or laptop. But it by itself will not be enough to guide those people through the process smoothly.

There are two considerable strengths to this guide. First of all, it demystifies all the jargon and obscure terminology, and does a commendable job doing it. Second, Dan Gookin's advice to think about SOFTWARE primarily and not HARDWARE or PRICE when one is buying is worth its weight in gold. (The fact that brand names are scarcely used in this book is a strength and not a weakness, I believe, and fits in with Mr. Gookin's approach.) And for people who think "For Dummies" guides have too much clowning around, there is very little of it here, and it is not intrusive.

Having said all of these nice things, the book is occasionally minimal on key information. It could be argued that to make this guide complete, the author would have had to have written an 800-page book. In any case, this book alone won't get you through the computer-buying process comfortably. You should supplement the book with a friend who is moderately or heavily tech savvy.

In short, this is a great beginning and I honestly think it would be foolish for a computer beginner to buy a new machine without having read this very price-friendly work. But that reading will have to be supplemented by a friend or work colleague in the know about personal computers.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An eye opener as regards PCs.
I wish I had read this book when I first bought my current computer; it is real eye opener. I don't know that I will buy another product or service without first reviewing it in... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Martin Donabedian

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS REALLY KEPT ME FROM DOING SOMETHING DUMB
This really helped me from buying something that I did not need or what. It kept me from spending more than I should, being a first time computer buyer. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Gregory Sheppard

1.0 out of 5 stars Outdated information for you to buy a computer in 2005
Don't depend on this 2005 edition of Buying a Computer FOR DUMMIES to help you to buy a computer in 2005. Read more
Published on January 20, 2005 by cs2001

5.0 out of 5 stars An Asset for the Average Buyer
The book is well written without becoming too overbearing. As with many "For Dummies" books, there is the correct amount of levity and quite a bit of useful information... Read more
Published on November 10, 2000 by Navyvet

4.0 out of 5 stars Good solid advice for the first-time computer buyer
Buying a Computer for Dummies is a wonderful resource for someone who has never been through the herculean task of buying a computer. Read more
Published on June 21, 2000 by allriledup

2.0 out of 5 stars buying a comp for dummies, uh i don't think so!
this book is for the beginner (not even), but for a person looking for more info look elsewhere. He doesn't talk about specific companies, so a beginner doesn't know what good... Read more
Published on October 14, 1998

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