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Windows Vista Secrets First Edition

by Brian Livingston (Author), Paul Thurrott (Author)
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 58 ratings
See all formats and editions
"If one book can help you master Vista, this is it." --Fred Langa, former editor-in-chief of Byte Magazine

"These two know more about Windows than Microsoft does." --Chris Pirillo, editor of Lockergnome.com

Go beyond Microsoft's Help guide and discover the true secrets of Windows Vista that are essential to power users. Written by two of the most recognized Windows authorities, this resource provides you with numerous tips, tricks, and undocumented features that aren't available anywhere else. You'll find extensive screenshots, tables, and illustrations that clearly show how to achieve optimal performance, fix desktop problems, and take advantage of the robust features of Windows Vista.

The Insider's Guide to

  • Installing and upgrading your system (see Chapter 2)
  • Quickly finding and organizing all of your files (see Chapter 5)
  • Taking advantage of new security features (see Chapter 8)
  • Creating your own movies and DVDs (see Chapter 12)
  • Playing state-of-the-art games with amazing effects (see Chapter 14)
  • Going wireless using Windows Vista mobility features (see Chapter 15)
  • Managing your schedule with Windows® Calendar (see Chapter 20)
Previous slide of product details
  1. ISBN-10
    0764577042
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0764577048
  3. Edition
    First Edition
  4. Publisher
    Wiley
  5. Publication date
    January 10, 2007
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    7.4 x 1.4 x 9.3 inches
  8. Print length
    672 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Go beyond Microsoft's Help guide and discover the true secrets of Windows Vista that are essential to power users. Written by two of the most recognized Windows authorities, this resource provides you with numerous tips, tricks, and undocumented features that aren't available anywhere else. You'll find extensive screenshots, tables, and illustrations that clearly show how to achieve optimal performance, fix desktop problems, and take advantage of the robust features of Windows Vista.

The Insider's Guide to

  • Installing and upgrading your system (see Chapter 2)
  • Quickly finding and organizing all of your files (see Chapter 5)
  • Taking advantage of new security features (see Chapter 8)
  • Creating your own movies and DVDs (see Chapter 12)
  • Playing state-of-the-art games with amazing effects (see Chapter 14)
  • Going wireless using Windows Vista mobility features (see Chapter 15)
  • Managing your schedule with Windows® Calendar (see Chapter 20)

About the Author

Brian Livingston is the coauthor of 11 Windows Secrets books. He is also editorial director of the weekly Windows Secrets Newsletter and author of the Executive Tech column for Datamation.

Paul Thurrott is the author of more than a dozen books as well as the news editor of Windows IT Pro Media and editor of the SuperSite for Windows. He writes a daily Windows newsletter called WinInfo Daily UPDATE.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley; First Edition (January 10, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 672 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764577042
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0764577048
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.02 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.4 x 1.4 x 9.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 58 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Brian Livingston

    Brian Livingston

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  2. Paul Thurrott

    Paul Thurrott

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    The author of over 20 books, Paul Thurrott is a technology analyst for Windows IT Pro and the majordomo of the SuperSite for Windows (www.winsupersite.com). He writes a weekly editorial for Windows IT Pro UPDATE (www.windowsitpro.com/email), a daily Windows news and information e-mail newsletter called 'WinInfo Daily News' (www.wininformant.com), and a monthly column called 'Need to Know' in Windows IT Pro Magazine. He also blogs daily via the SuperSite Blog (community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul), posts regularly on Twitter (www.twitter.com/thurrott), and appears weekly in the highly rated and hugely popular Windows Weekly podcast with Leo Laporte (www.twit.tv/ww).

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
58 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book great for an overview of what's new in Vista, and say the content is clear and helpful. They also describe the writing style as nicely written.

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ContentWriting style
15 customers mention "Content"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book great for an overview of what's new, with clear explanations. They also say it's informative and straight forward for those new to the Vista system.

"...There is a wealth of knowledge in this book. In fact, it has inspired me to purchase an additional book and seek a Vista certification." Read more

"...I highly recommend the Secrets series of guidebooks as highly informative, especially when it comes to undocumented features and drilling down to..." Read more

"...Those few items that I have used it have been pretty clear and helpful...." Read more

"...It's 600 pages of information that almost any user of Windows Vista will want to keep close by, as a handy reference source...." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style nice and excellent. They also say the book covers Vista very well.

"...So I decided to purchase it and give it a read. This book is fantastic. Even though it is a book on Windows, it is very good to read...." Read more

"...I was correct, it's well written and he was able to pick up a few things right away, money well spent." Read more

"This is a nicely written book which covers Vista very well. It is the perfect book for the experienced user to find out what is new in Vista...." Read more

"Extremely well written and informative...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

WDM
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Vista book
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2007
Verified Purchase
I was introduced to this book while listening to the Windows Weekly (TWiT) podcast with hosts Leo LaPorte and Paul Thurrott. Both Paul and Leo talk reference this book on occasion in the podcast. So I decided to purchase it and give it a read. This book is fantastic. Even though it is a book on Windows, it is very good to read. This book isn't necessarily designed for the absolute beginner. It is for the user that wishes to get a little closer and under the hood of Windows Vista. I do recommend this book those of you who wish to understand Vista more. I have learned a lot about Vista I didn't already know. There is a wealth of knowledge in this book. In fact, it has inspired me to purchase an additional book and seek a Vista certification.
5 people found this helpful
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David M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Well Written Book Made a Great Gift
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2011
Verified Purchase
I bought this book after watching Paul Thurrott's show "Windows Weekly". This book was purchased as a gift for a brother-in-law who has a Vista PC and lives far away. He needed a resource such as this book to help him with a lot of little questions that seem to come up when using the PC. I figured that for the price(under $5) that if he was able to pick up one single tip from the book it would be worth the price.

I was correct, it's well written and he was able to pick up a few things right away, money well spent.
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J. Sundquist
2.0 out of 5 stars A user guide for home users - NOT FOR TECHIES
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2007
Verified Purchase
I really had high hopes for this book as I read Paul Thurrott's articles and am on some of his email lists.

My conclusion about this book is that it is more the missing user manual than a real techie book with good insider's technical knowledge. The last time Microsoft included a concise user manual with windows was with Windows 3.11. This book perfectly fills that void. If you are a home user or are trying to enhace your BASIC knowledge of vista, this is a good book.

If you are a technical professional in the field, this book is not going to give you any epiphanies. I also didn't like that there seemed to be a healthy dose of filler in the book as well. There are pages upon pages about fonts including many more pages of font character sets. I would guess that less than 1% of the people that buy the book will have any interesting reading that many pages about fonts nor will many people use the font character sets that the authors printed over many pages.

I'm Sorry to say that I'm pretty let down by this book. Especially considering that about 90% of the "Secrets" in this book are not secrets but are fairly common knowledge to advanced home and technical users.

Please gentlemen, you both have the technical skills and contacts to make a much better book than this. Instead it seems you've made a book that was stuffed with filler and basic info so that you could be one of the first to market after the release of vista.
56 people found this helpful
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Matthew P.
5.0 out of 5 stars For Home-Users & Power-Users Alike :o)
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2014
Verified Purchase
Windows Vista Secrets

If your an IT then you already know that publishers such as Syba and Microsoft Press are where you need to go for your 1000± page sleeping pills you read every new release. For power-users and home enthusiasts I highly recommend the Secrets series of guidebooks as highly informative, especially when it comes to undocumented features and drilling down to the under levels of the OS. And you won't go insane referencing tech terms you wish had been put into home user language since they already are.

:o)
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Lighthouse1212
3.0 out of 5 stars Too Much Too Soon, Windows Vista Secrets: SP1 Edition
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2009
Verified Purchase
At this time only a 3 rating as I have not used it enough. Those few items that I have used it have been pretty clear and helpful. Do not think it is for a beginner though, or even one that has some experience with Vista and or Windows. For sure it makes me want to learn so much more about Vista, and I will.
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Bilbo
4.0 out of 5 stars A must have for new Windows users!
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2007
Verified Purchase
Vista Secrets is written by two highly respected Windows experts. If you are new to the Windows operating system, or an intermiediate user, this is a must-have-it book.

The writers cover virutally everything that is new to Vista and many things that are old hat to previous Windows versions. It's 600 pages of information that almost any user of Windows Vista will want to keep close by, as a handy reference source.

It is too early in the life of the Vista operating system to declare this book the end-all for Vista users, but it provides a singularly strong start.
3 people found this helpful
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M. Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars Vista for Dummies
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2009
Verified Purchase
Brian Livingston has a Newsletter called Windows Secrets that I subscribe to and enjoy so it was an easy decision to order his book before I even had a computer with Vista on it.

He gives clear explanations, not in computerese, so it is easy most of the time to follow his meanings and suggestions.

Highly recommend this book. May also be useful for the next version of Windows that will probably be here sometime late this year or early next.
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vbeachbum
1.0 out of 5 stars No Secrets in this book
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2009
Verified Purchase
This book has no secrets. Doesn't even address the registry. You get more info on Microsoft's website. I have many "Secrets" books and this is the worst. Avoid this at all and even no cost.
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Top reviews from other countries

Mr. PT Farrell
3.0 out of 5 stars OK but not outstanding
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2007
Verified Purchase
I was first struck by disappointing images: I never expected colour at this price, but the mono screenshots are disappointingly low resolution (almost fuzzy) and a hinderance for those with ageing eyesight.

The contents brings together thousands of FAQs that can be found elsewhere in online help, blogs, newsgroups, etc., into a single publication. It is a little unbalanced in its emphasis.

Overall, I would recommend it for value and useful but only at its heavily discounted price.
8 people found this helpful
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Nanny Ogg
1.0 out of 5 stars disappointing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2008
Verified Purchase
i have to agree with the previous three reviews, the book has nothing that can not easily be found on the internet and nothing of interest for an advanced user at all.
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