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...)

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

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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)

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Customer Reviews

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

This review is from: Buying A Computer for Dummies (Paperback)

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.

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)

This review is from: Buying a Computer for Dummies (Paperback)

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.

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

This review is from: Buying a Computer for Dummies, 2004 Edition (Paperback)

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.