01. Windows 7 Annoyances
By David A. Karp
- Publisher: O'Reilly
- ISBN: 9780596157623
- Price: £30.99 (UK) $39.99 (US) Recommended Price
- Available From:
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Book Cover reproduced with kind permission of
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In its quest to develop the perfect operating system, Microsoft has
regularly caused more frustration than joy; and while Windows 7 is
better than previous versions of Windows, its capacity to annoy users
still persists. However, we cannot claim that every frustration is
an annoyance; after all, what one person considers an annoyance
can, and very often does, in the eyes of another, turn out to be a
much needed feature.
Windows 7, fortunately, isn’t half as annoying as Windows Vista but, because
Windows 7 was developed off of the Windows Vista kernel, there are
still a lot of annoyances from the merging of the two that raise
their ugly head.
For this reason it is important to have an informative book to hand
that can quickly solve any impending problems. In this respect you
need look no further than Windows 7 Annoyances
by David Karp to provide timely tips, hacks
and solutions to some of Windows 7’s major annoyances.
Comprising nine sections and two appendices Windows 7
Annoyances covers the following topics:
- Getting Started with Windows
7.
- Shell Tweaks.
- The Registry.
- Video, Audio and Media.
- Performance.
- Troubleshooting.
- Networking and Internet.
- Users and Security.
- Command Prompt and Automation.
The appendices cover:
- BIOS Settings.
- TCP/IP Ports.
It has to be said that the target audience for Windows 7
Annoyances is the advanced and power user rather than
that of the beginner, with a large section of the book dedicated
soley to
the Windows Registry.
While editing the registry is useful to the advanced user, it can be disastrous for
the beginner who has more curiosity than technical know-how.
The registry can be a minefield to the uninitiated, and although
many computer magazines regularly advise users to edit registry
keys to solve specific problems, making the wrong changes can prove
fatal. Fortunately, Karp describes editing the registry clearly
and concisely and makes the point (pages 157-163) of providing
step by step instructions on how to back up the all-important
registry prior to making any such changes.
The Troubleshooting section (pages 341-425) contains a mine of
information and you will find yourself regularly dipping into its
content. Of particular interest is What to do when a program
crashes. This is one annoyance that everyone, beginner and
power user, suffers and something that Windows 7 is a master of.
If Windows isn’t sure what is going on then up pops the infamous
program is not responding message and you are left pulling
your hair out trying to think what you did wrong to cause the
problem in the first place.
Interestingly, the troubleshooting sections' many useful notes, hints and
tips can quickly help troubleshoot your problem and get your PC back to
normal with the minimum of fuss.
It has to be said that Karp has a way of keeping his reader
entertained, even when some of the information becomes excessively
technical in nature. Once you pick up the book and start reading
you will find it difficult to actually put down. At every page
turn there's a tip, hack or solution worth noting for
reference.
Verdict
Windows 7 Annoyances is a great book, even though it is
somewhat geeky in its approach. It is thorough in its coverage of
the most common Windows 7 annoyances and doesn’t stint on
explaining how easy it is to turn a complex Windows operating
system, such as Windows 7, into one that is far less intimidating
and far easier to use. It is a book for dipping in and out of
rather than actually reading from cover to cover. Karp is master
of annoyance troubleshooting and his book, Windows 7 Annoyances,
can only be described as a thoroughly enjoyable reference work on
Windows 7 Annoyances.
Rating
- Ease of use: 8.0
- Features: 9.0
- Value for Money: 9.0
- Overall: 9.0