03. Windows 7 Inside Out
By Ed Bott, Carl Siechert and Craig Stinson
- Publisher: Microsoft Press
- ISBN: 9780735626652
- Price: £39.49 (UK) $49.99 (US) Recommended Price
- Available From:
O'Reilly
Media
Book Cover reproduced with kind permission of
Microsoft Press
The Windows operating system is getting more and more complex; gone
are the days when a simply guide would tell you all you needed to know
about the operating system you were currently using. Because of Windows
7's complexity it is now, more than ever, important to have an indepth
reference book to guide you through the many facets of
Microsoft's latest brain child.
A quick perusal of your local bookstore will quickly render a multitude of
titles on the Windows operating system, including Windows 7. However,
not all Windows 7 titles are written by authors who are experts in
their respective fields.
Windows 7 Inside Out by Ed Bott, et al, is probably the most
comprehensive reference book on Windows 7 in the market place today.
Comprising a total of 976 pages (Excluding the index) the book comprises
six parts and two appendices as follows:
- Getting Started – Chapters 1 – 7
- File Management – Chapters 8 – 11
- Digital Media – Chapters 12 – 14
- Security and Networking – Chapters 15 – 19
- Tuning, Tweaking and Troubleshooting – Chapters 20 – 23
- Windows and Your PC - Chapter 24 - 26
The appendices cover:
- Windows 7 editions at a glance
- Working with the command prompt
The largest section of the book is dedicated to getting your new
Windows 7 operating system set up. The actual installation of Windows 7
is only lightly touched, as is to be expected with the books' targetted
readership. As the book progresses the reader is introduced to the
further internal workings of the operating system.
At each stage you are able to get further details regarding a
particular process from the Inside Out box out
sections. These Inside Out sections provide a timely insight
into how certain features work within Windows 7. You also gain insight
from the numerous other sidebars which provide helpful tips and tricks.
As with any new operating system common problems always occur and
Windows 7 Inside Out has addressed some of these in the form of
Troubleshooting sidebars. Here you can find solutions to some of
the more common problems which you are likely to encounter.
For those readers who need to know what features are available in
each version of Windows 7, the authors' of Windows 7 Inside Out
have provided a comprehensive list in the first appendix of the book.
From the details within the appendices pages you can quickly decide
which version of the operating system will be most suited to your needs.
Verdict
Windows 7 Inside Out is pitched at an Intermediate/Advanced
readership and, as such, is, like many reference books, more suited to
dipping into than reading from cover to cover. As I stated
earlier the book has been written by three authors' who are experts in
their field, and believe me when I say that this expert knowledge
really shines through.
Reading this book is a joy. Yes, the book is somewhat technical in its
approach but the writing has an easy manner and it doesn't blind you
with science like many reference books do; the authors' genuinely want
you to be as knowledgeable about Windows 7 as they are.
Like I said at the start of this review a multitude of Windows
operating system titles exist, however, if you want the best Windows 7 title
then go for Windows 7 Inside Out, you certainly won't be disappointed.
Rating
- Ease of use: 8.0
- Features: 9.0
- Value for Money: 9.0
- Overall: 9.0