The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Computer Basics 5th
Time for an upgrade!
The fifth edition of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Computer Basics places the reader in charge of the computer, rather than the other way around, and places the focus on software troubleshooting rather than hardware techno-babble. The reader wants to do something practical with his or her computer—this book shows them how.
·Covers basic office programs and how to manage photo, video, and music files
·Advice on safe web-surfing, including coverage of newsgroups, message boards, and mailing lists
·New green computing initiatives that help protect the environment
·Maintenance and upgrading information more info
Good on computer tips, but poor on graphical illustration!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Users of this book should ignore part of it’s title regarding the “complete idiot.” It has very useful tips for the average computer user as well. It packs a lot of information into 383 pages and has a good glossary and index. However, it would have made a great book had the publisher considered colorful graphics and reader-friendly font types!
Tips and tricks even for those who are computer literate
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I travel a great deal in my business and inevitably, as soon as I get away from home, my wife has an issue with our home computer. It’s 5+ years old and definitely is not state-of-the-art, but still adequate for our needs; primarily e-mail, web browsing, etc. I picked up a copy of this book for her reference when she had a problem and I wasn’t around to solve the issue. It’s well laid-out, easy to understand and covers the basics thoroughly.
I consider myself to be reasonably computer savvy, but in thumbing through this book, I found several sections containing tips and tricks I didn’t know. Chapter 31 was particularly useful; tuneup suggestions that made our old PC run much faster and with greater stability. Who knows – we might get another couple of years out of it. Thanks Joe!
Getting briefed on the basics
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Another great addition to the “Complete Idiot’s guide”- series. This one covers all the neccessary basic information needed to beat the dread one might feel as an “uninitiated” in the midst of the ever-increasing media-hype about computers. Buy it for your Granny.
Computer Basics and More
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Computer Basics, Fifth Edition, is an excellent resource for beginners and anyone else who needs to know the basics associated with using a PC. Recently, when neighbors asked me to help them troubleshoot a problem with their PC, I referred to my copy of Computer Basics, which assisted me in no time at all in helping solve their problem. Leaving their house with my copy of the book was a little more problematic (they wanted to keep it for themselves).
I appreciate how easy it was to find exactly what I was looking for in Computer Basics. The chapters are easy to get through, and the Index provides quick access to just the information I need. I also like that the graphics presented in the book look exactly like they do on screen, and that the call-outs to those graphics are clear and concise.
From setting up email on your PC and finding lost and misplaced items, to the basics associated with using spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation programs like MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, this book really does have it all, and it really is super easy to read and understand!
A great buy for all types of computer users!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Joe Kraynak presents computer ‘basics’ here with wit, charm and plenty of helpful tips and information. Perfect for the true computer novice or even for those computer users who consider themselves PC savvy. ‘The Least You Need to Know’ sections at the end of each chapter do a great job of hitting the high points. Great job Joe!
For Everybody
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
My sister received a computer, but had no clue how to use it. I got this book for her, because it explains things clearly without a lot of jargon. I would have preferred that it had a little more information about some aspects of the computer such as email, but this book has a lot to cover. It can’t go in depth about everything (and besides that, the publisher puts out other books in this series that explains individual computer subjects). A good starter textbook for those who are totally new to the computer, however.