Windows Vista: The Definitive Guide by William Stanek
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Book Reviews of Windows Vista: The Definitive Guide
Book Review: Better than "Vista Missing Manual"
Summary: 5 Stars
Vista Definitive Guide is a 922-page Vista bible, much better than Vista Missing Manual in my opinion. I got this after having excellent success with the author's other computer books. Extremely complete and full of answers. Kudos to the author for writing such an excellent book!Book Review: This book has the most inforamtion about Vista yet.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book has the most information on Windows Vista I have seen so far. It is easy to read and understand. It is the best buy for any one wanting to learn Vista. Thanks to Bill!Book Review: it truly is
Summary: 4 Stars
Excellent book, full depth, informative and truly a bible on the subject.Book Review: Aarrrgggrrrhhh! Even $11 is too much!
Summary: 3 Stars
Okay, I confess, I did this as a job for 15 years: Make computer do as I say, not the other way around; Vista included, Win 7 is already in the 'behavioural adjustment mill'. And I'm already used to calling upon its makers and them not being able to answer my questions, being I've tried all their suggestions before calling.
Still, I expected more from this massive chunk of paper - I was mislead to think it was for people like me, who find more on forums than in here! This is NOT definitive. It's 'definitively' large and heavy. I picked up a copy for £7.50 (about $11) and I'm already only really glad it's in such great condition that I'll be able to sell it on at no loss.
How do you install Vista. I don't know about the book, but I tend to insert the DVD - if it's pre-installed, I roll up my sleeves and get uninstalling uselessnesses put there by vendors (usually involving the odd row with one or two of them about registry-cleaning routines they don't like releasing).
How do I find the world Bluetooth in the index? I look in a different book - or should I not look under 'B'? So, okay, I have a laptop with a Bluetooth port on it - do they come without? That's a 'definitive' lack! That one last question I had, on my bluetooth settings, I'll dig up somewhere - but then, what did I get the book for?
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I'll be honest: I know a lot of people who can benefit from this book. In fact, I may not even sell it on, but post it to a good friend whose Vista is bugging her a lot.
The book
- is clean
- well organized
- has a lot for the accomplished user in it
- is written in a chummy style...
...and Mr Stanek knows quite something about Vista, which means that what he suggests is (usually) workable and not so bad, just that he doesn't suggest what to do with this one little bluetooth-nag :-).
But this is not the power-user's bible to forcing Vista down on its knees. And Vista has some stubborn legs, it's standing on; sort of a robocop of operating systems: "Don't you tweak around with me; I'll be bäck!".
You need quite an arsenal of weaponry to win against Vista. Sadly, I'm already done, and now that I'm sitting here with this book - for it was cheap - I find myself thinking, 'yeah, and nasty... oh, ball, I was really hoping this guy'd help me get this thing to run a tad slicker, still'. But I was to be wronged.
Either that's it for Vista and that's all one can do or there's another book out there that gives you more. Maybe it was my fault. If your Vista isn't cluttered and runs smoothly, don't make my mistake and get this book in the hope that you can polish its lacquer (Vista's, not the book's) a tad more. Not with this book, anyway...
***
Three Stars because it's a good all-round book for many intermediate to advanced users, and the daring beginners, too. But not more stars, coz to me it's worth about one...
A good effort gone wrong - or maybe the book just takes after the OS it's written for. Only, that I find Vista - whilst hellishly narcissitic and a bit of a clever-clog (not quite unlike myself ;-) - quite 'beatable', and this book's not giving me any new angles for another 'Tweak-Attack'. And that frustrates me :-(.
$$$
Okay, I've changed my mind; it's okay for $11...
Book Review: Not on the same level as Stanek's other books
Summary: 3 Stars
I really like William R. Stanek. Some of his books are frequent references for me. Sad to say, though, I think he blew it on this one.
Exclusive of the index, there are 889 pages here and a lot of information. The problem is that a lot of the information is essentially useless for the user experienced with Windows XP who is simply transitioning to Vista.
The organization of material is awful - and the index (or more precisely, the lack thereof) is a disaster.
For example, Stanek describes the Personal Folder, the replacement for a number of Windows fixtures like My Documents, on page 26. Fine and dandy. But there is nothing in the book that I have found about connecting other folders with the Personal Folder. Let's say that you want to keep your documents on the D: drive instead of C:. As far as I can tell, Stanek doesn't tell you how. It's not in the index and I was unable to find it in the book.
Way too much of the book seems oriented to the new user. Sections like "How Does the Operating System Obtain Driver Updates" and "Viewing Installed Hardware" or "Setting up your speakers" just don't offer much to the experienced user.
Like I said, I own a number of other Stanek titles and swear by them. This one is more suitable for swearing at.
A much better guide to Windows Vista is Windows Vista: The Missing Manual by Dvid Pogue.
Jerry