Windows XP Pro : The Missing Manual

This superbly written book uses wit, technical insight and scrupulous objectivity to shed light on Microsoft's newest and most reliable operating system. Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual isn't for system administrators or OS theory geeks; it's for the novice or budding power user who wants to master XP Pro and get down to work. Coauthored by David Pogue, New York Times technology columnist and Missing Manuals creator, the book reveals which XP features work well and which don't, such as the Remote Desktop software that enables people to connect to the office from home or the road, the encryption file system that protects sensitive information, and the Windows Messenger that enables real-time text, voice and video communication. The book also helps you reduce window clutter, tame the multi-column Start menu, and set up your own small-office (peer-to-peer) network. Anyone who uses XP Pro will find this new system much easier -- and more fun -- to digest with Windows XP Pro: The Missing Manual. This is the crystal-clear, jargon-free book that should have been in the box.

User review
XP manual
Excellent, excellent, excellent! I use this constantly. First place I go now for any XP problems/installations. How did I ever manage without it?

User review
Great Book
I got a new computer with Vista. What a mess, never could get anything done with it. Went back to XP and got the book `Windows XP Pro The Missing Manual` This is definately one great book. If you want to learn and know all about Windows XP this is the book. Like the title says it should have been in the box. Maybe some day Microsoft will get with it and include good manuals in there products.

User review
met my expectations
Worth the money. For the casual user seeking to become a power user. You can find all this info on the net but not this concise and well laid out. Anything not in this book you can find on the net as well.

User review
Average User
After a few minutes of reading and in front of the PC, I was able to understand many of the new features in XP Pro. This book should have been included with the software. I considered myself as a fairly competent PC user, but the book unlocked all the items that you cannot find using the `Help` function in XP Pro. At least it seems that way to me! I highly recommend this purchase for ALL PC users.

User review
He's Right, It Should Have Been In the Box
The title is right! This is the book that should have been included in the basic box with XP Pro. It is set at just the right level for the average user trying to come up to speed on a new operating system. While the basic user interface is more or less the same as the previous windows operating systems, the underlying code structure is based on NT rather than the older DOS/Windows.

This book isn't for system administrators or advanced readers. It's aimed at the average user who wants to master the machine well enough to get down to work or to look up something without having to call for support. It is basically crystal-clear, jargon-free (well, computers are still the subject, how about nearly jargon-free).

This edition is up to date to include Service Pack 2, which changed a number of screens and philosophies in the security area.