Product Description

Hey you know your way around a desktop—so now dig into Windows XP and really put your PC to work! Fully revised for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and other recent updates this supremely organized reference now packs even more timesaving solutions

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #145905 in Books
• Brand: Microsoft
• Published on: 2004-10-01
• Platform: No Operating System
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Dimensions: 1.63 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 1344 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Ed Bott and Carl Siechert have combined their considerable talents for producing user-level documentation in creating Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out. One of the most carefully researched books on Windows XP to date, this large volume has all the information and procedures most everyday users of the operating system will want. With its nicely formatted how-to instructions, detailed documentation of command-line commands, intelligent explanatory text and broad scope, this book makes a great reference for a family or business that uses Windows XP extensively. Even the illustrations are more helpful than usual, largely because the publisher has gone to the trouble of annotating many of them with pointers and labels.

Bott and Siechert deal with the most controversial features of Windows XP, notably product activation, in a straightforward way. They simply explain what activation is for, tell how to go about it, and move on. If you're a power user interested in getting around activation and performing other unsanctioned hacks, look for your information in online newsletters. This book plays by Microsoft's rules, and that's fine. It's obvious that the authors have had access to Windows XP for some time, and spent a lot of time exploring its new features. Count on this book to explain the complete set of Windows XP's features--even the exciting networking stuff--in terms you can easily follow. --David Wall

From the Author
Ed Bott is an award-winning computer journalist and one of the most widely recognized voices in the computing world, with nearly two decades of experience as a writer and editor at leading magazines like PC World and PC Computing. Currently, he is Senior Contributing Editor for Smart Business (formerly PC Computing), a 1999 National Magazine Award winner with a monthly circulation of more than 1 million. He is the author of a long list of Que books Windows and Microsoft Office, including Special Edition Using Microsoft Office 2000, Using Windows NT® Workstation 4, Special Edition Using Windows 98, Platinum Edition Using Windows 98 (coauthored with Ron Person), and two editions of Using Windows 95.

Customer Reviews

A technical resource bible
Once again Ed Bott has written a superb book. The book is enriched with detailed contexts and he has covered every area possible. I've been in the IT industry for over 10 years and have recently upgraded to Windows XP Professional. This book makes sure that my investment is not wasted and shows me how to get the most out of the new OS. From simple things like how to tweak the UI to the more complex of filing systems and security settings. Unlike other books that are for the first time users, this book takes you steps further from what you already know. This book is a MUST for anyone serious about their computing and I would sincerely recommend it.

Very Good Buy
This book is an excellent reference book for Windows XP. It will suite both the novice seeking to understand the basics of an operating system, as well as the intermediate and expert users who have upgraded from other operating systems.

At first glance the size of the book (1250) pages may be off putting to a casual buyer. I found that despite its size it was easy to follow and very informative. The chapters are laid out in a logical fashion with plenty of screen shot pictures throughout. The book covers everything from basic desktop manipulation to writing scripts and batch files to automate Windows XP.

The companion CD contains various demos of useful software like anti-virus etc, as well as copies of all the batch files and scripts discussed in the book. By far the best feature of the Cd is the eBook, which at 48mb for a full install allows you to have all the books content on your lap top for easy reference.

At the time of writing I can find no book that even comes close to this one for content and value.

Excellent Value For Money
I purchased the hardback 'Deluxe' version of this book and found it to be excellent. As a seasoned Unix developer and a long term Windows user I found myself trying to set up a home network of 2 XP & 1 Linux system. This book has all the inside information that I needed to get things up and running; plus many, many other eye openers that have greatly enhance my abilities to manage my XP systems.

My only gripe is that the Deluxe version states it includes service pack 1 on the CD (I need this for one of my systems). However on launching the CD I read that it's not available on the CD and has to be downloaded from the Internet (6+ hours at 33.2Kbs :( )

Despite this I still rate it a very good buy.