Comprehensive in its treatment of Microsoft's latest and greatest operating system for the masses,
Alan Simpson's Windows XP Bible has an answer to most `How do I,,.` questions that are likely to arise in the minds of Windows XP users, particularly those who aren't too familiar with recent versions of Windows. If you're going to buy a Windows XP reference book for your office, this would be a good choice. The author--the respected Alan Simpson, who's put out similarly comprehensive books before--must have incredible patience, because he manages to document almost every Windows procedure down to the last option and the final `OK` click. Most people won't need this level of handholding--almost everyone has gained knowledge of the basic Windows conventions by now--and perhaps this book could have been more compact (as it is, it's pretty hefty) or contained more obscure details without it. But don't accuse Simpson of neglecting details.
No one will read this book front to back. Most visits will begin with the table of contents (which is very detailed) or the index (which is even more so). A page-flip or two later, readers will have explanatory prose (which is clear and detailed, and almost always strictly businesslike without being off-putting) and a procedure or two with numbered steps. The procedures have a particularly good design when it comes to options--it's clear what happens if you make different choices in dialog boxes. Again, coverage is absolutely comprehensive, with detailed explanations and procedures extending even to Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and the new Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). --David Wall
Topics covered: Microsoft Windows XP (Professional Edition and Home Edition) for beginning and intermediate-level users of the operating system, with a few bones thrown in for more advanced users. Internet connectivity (standalone and shared), file management, administrative duties such as backing up files and uninstalling programs, local-area networks (LANs), and all other user-level aspects of Windows XP are covered. Chapters on portable computer issues and security are particularly nice.
User review
Windows XP Bible
Good value for the money (bought it used).
Nice reference to WinXP, always usefull in every shelf.
Good to the common user who wants to know whats behind and wants to go a bit further.
User review
Windows XP Bible
The book arrived in perfect condition and just in time for me to use it for the new Windows program I had purchased.
User review
Bible? I think not.
I am not often moved to write a negative review. But paying $30 for a `comprehensive` 1200 page `Bible` on XP should prove more useful than a paperweight. Admittedly I have not used it a lot. But I have already lost confidence in its thoroughness. With hectic schedules, engineers don't have a lot of time to waste looking for answers in places that `might` have them.
The very first topic I tried to explore was `RAID`, a formidable topic that I had no doubt would be covered in an XP `bible`. Out of 1200 pages, at least a few of them, or even an entire chapter, should cover the complexities of RAID on XP -- F6 driver installs, slipstreamed installs, benefits of mirrored v striped, hardware v software, tradeoffs, driver mechanics, ad infinitum. But when I looked up `RAID` in the index, I found but one (1) page out of the entire 1200 referring to the subject. And all that page did was give instructions on how to disable it. According to the author, RAID is a `server` issue, not XP, so the only XP-related knowledge you should need is how to turn it off, which is the recommended action for any and all XP users/administrators. WHAT?!?! That is flat out ridiculous, misleading, and wrong.
What other vital XP know-how is missing or incorrect because the author never found a use for it or is simply too naive to know what it means? Frankly, I just don't have time to give it a second chance. Off to the goodwill with it.
This so-called `bible` is a poor example, lending to a questionable reputation for any other [B]ooks that may share the `Bible` name. Publishers ought to think twice about what they are willing to pass off as a comprehensive bible.
Sincerely,
Mike Jalkut
User review
Hefty but not as inclusive as claimed
Has as a lot of useful information but is not as all inclusive as they claim.
Not one word about how to handle .dll problems, for example.
User review
The best reference book ever!
I love the Alan Simpson's Windows XP Bible! I never fail to find the answers to my questions in this book. Now, I don't have to keep a notebook of notes on how to do things on XP! I had a copy of the first edition, and this new edition covers so many other things that it is worth upgrading to.
