Review of Master VISUALLY Optimizing PC Performance (Paperback)

Another good book in the Master Visually series.Even as a computer tech I found this book very informative. The average non-geek computer user out there will find plenty of ways to tune and tweak their machine without doing any harm to the computer or themselves.Just follow basic instructions. Most high end techies will find this book pretty basic but it is a book I can recommend to my clients. I'm not a book reviewer but once again it can be said that "a picture is worth a thousand words"!

Product Description
* Offers step-by-step instructions for more than 190 optimizing tasks, including streamlining a Start menu, preventing unnecessary programs from wasting memory, improving monitor performance, and printing faster and more efficiently
* The ideal resource for intermediate to advanced visual learners who want to speed up a dragging computer, understand how to prevent bottlenecks in the future, and enhance network performance and reliability
* Addresses how to identify and troubleshoot common problems and how to check and protect a PC from viruses
* Explores different tools to get the job done and looks at which ones are best suited for different tasks
* Includes an explanation of how to assemble a collection of essential freeware and shareware utilities and get optimum performance with hardware upgrades

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Review of Adobe Premiere Pro Bible (Paperback)

This book started out great. After some explanation, it guided me through a simple video editing project in the first chapter that worked and communicated some basic ideas. It got me excited about learning more and then it disappointed me bitterly.

The rest of the book does not teach the way the first chapter does. It does do a systematic and fairly thorough job of explaining things in the interface but the usable examples are few and far between. This works well for some people but not for me. I learn better by doing along with the reading. This guide is woefully inadequate for that. Still, it is a handy reference. It's too bad I will have to further my training elsewhere.


Product Description
* Totally revised and enhanced to cover the major new upgrade to the overall leading desktop digital video application
* Packed with tutorials, tips, and tricks, this is the authoritative and comprehensive guide to creating, editing, and outputting digital video to DVD, CD-ROM, the Web, or videotape
* Shows how to create special effects using Premiere and After Effects, Encore, and other software; how to integrate narration, music, and sound effects with moving images; and how to create digital video productions from movies shot on a camcorder
* Bonus CD-ROM is loaded with video-based tutorials, a library of usable video clips and sample effects, useful video filters and utilities, and software tryouts

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Review of Master VISUALLY Microsoft Office 2007 (Paperback)

Great Book, Pages were excellent. The instructions on it are easy to read and understand.

Product Description
Within this comprehensive, visual reference, succinctly captioned, step-by-step screen shots show you how to accomplish more than 300 Office tasks. You'll learn how to format text and apply styles in Word, work with Excel formulas and functions, add animation to PowerPoint slides, create an Access database, manage contacts with Outlook, collaborate with OneNote and Live Meeting, and create publications with Publisher. A bonus CD-ROM includes demo software, add-ins, sample files, and additional chapters.

From the Back Cover
"One picture is worth a thousand words." If you prefer instructions that show you how rather than tell you why, then this comprehensive reference is for you. Hundreds of succinctly captioned, step-by-step screen shots reveal how to accomplish more than 300 Office 2007 tasks, including:

• Formatting text and applying styles in Word

• Working with Excel® formulas and functions

• Adding animation to PowerPoint® slides

• Creating an Access database

• Managing contacts with Outlook®

• Collaborating with OneNote and Live Meeting

• Adding animation to a PowerPoint presentation

• Working with Excel formulas and functions

• Managing calendars and contacts with Outlook

• Collaborating with OneNote and System 2007

• Using the Access database wizard

• Creating publications with Publisher

Useful tools on CD-ROM!

• Anagram, PowerFrameworks, TechSmith Camtasia, demo versions, and other add-ins

• Author's sample files that illustrate many tasks shown in the book

• Three bonus chapters on creating publications with Publisher

• "Master It" sidebars answer questions and present shortcuts

• High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task

• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step

• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

System Requirements: Please see the "What's on the CD-ROM" appendix for details and complete system requirements.

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Review of Master Active Directory VISUALLY [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

I read Curt Simmons'Creating Active Directory Infrastructures book andbought this one as well. This book is very easy to read and covers AD in avisual way. The book crawls all over the AD tools and shows you how to andwhy to configure this or that. It also has info about design and planningas well as DNS, DHCP, and other networking services. It's kind of adifferent way to learn a high level topic, but I liked it, and it will be agreat reference book.

Product Description

• Step-by-Step Instructions
• 1200 Screenshots
• The Revolutionary Way to Learn

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Review of Master Visually 3ds Max 8 (Paperback)

This book is through and easy to use, organized throughout by individual tasks that you can do in max -- with numbered, illustrated steps for each solution. Never before have I seen 3ds Max operations made so simple -- and yet there is so much power to be tapped in just those few steps. I rate this as "Highly Recommended" for anyone working with 3ds max. It's the kind of book that you can keep by your side for instant answers. I've found this to be a real time-saver that makes me (and my work)look great.

Product Description
* Navigating within the interface
* Creating and editing 2D and 3D objects
* Controlling animation with function curves
* Integrating walls, doors and windows
* Simulating water surfaces and fluttering flags
* Adjusting color and brightness of lighting
* Rendering scenes with Quick Render

Valuable tools on CD-ROM!
* 3ds Max 8 evaluation version
* Project files from the book

System Requirements: Please see the "About the CD-ROM" Appendix for details and complete system requirements.
* "Master It" sidebars answer questions and present shortcuts
* High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
* Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
* Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

From the Back Cover

• Navigating within the interface
• Creating and editing 2D and 3D objects
• Controlling animation with function curves
• Integrating walls, doors and windows
• Simulating water surfaces and fluttering flags
• Adjusting color and brightness of lighting
• Rendering scenes with Quick Render

Valuable tools on CD-ROM!

• 3ds Max 8 evaluation version
• Project files from the book

System Requirements: Please see the "About the CD-ROM" Appendix for details and complete system requirements.

• "Master It" sidebars answer questions and present shortcuts
• High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

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Review of Visual C++.NET: Your Visual Blueprint for Programming on the .NET Platform (With CD-ROM) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

I have always wanted to learn c++ but never had the chance because of the constant changing technology and lack of time, but when I picked up this book and looked through the illustrations I knew I had no excuse. This was the only book I found in the market which removed most of the complexities of c++.net and left only the basics. It took me just 2 months on and off and typing every excersise and demo to understand and add c++.net to my skillset. Although this book is basic, I now have the ability to look at more advance books now which most C++.net books are written for.

There is however no database access code and no examples to show you how to distribute shared assemblies in the GAC. In addition no code to demonstrate interaction with web services.

Product Description
In this one-of-a-kind book, each step is displayed with callouts to show you exactly where the action takes place on the screen. You'll find complete coverage of C++, including basics, strings, structures, converting data types, classes, debugging, event handling, and the .NET conversion. The accompanying CD is loaded with all of the code examples. This is the only visual reference for C++!

From the Back Cover
Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you'll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 135 key C++ .NET tasks, including:

• Creating a local variable
• Initializing a structure
• Adding a nested class
• Adding a timer
• Comparing strings
• Creating a debugging executable
• Displaying a custom dialog box
• Converting data with C-style casts
• Responding to menu commands
• Using automatic clean up

Bonus CD-ROM!

• Complete source code for examples in the book
• Plus an e-version of the book

Extra Apply It

• "Apply It" and "Extra" sidebars highlight useful tips
• High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

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Review of Master VISUALLY FrontPage 2002 [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

This book is GREAT for newbies and AWFUL for the techie. It goes step by step visually on every task and I mean EVERY TASK. If you are familiar with Microsoft's suite of tools and menu item formats you will soon become bored. If you are a developer or web expert you'll find yourself flipping past pages and chapters to find what you want.
HOWEVER, if you are unfamiliar with the web and website development THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. Completely failsafe, each step is spelled out, easy to understand and easy to follow.
With this book ANYONE can build a full featured nice looking website.

Product Description
From planning a site, to designing it, building it and publishing it, Master VISUALLY® FrontPage® 2002 teaches you Web design concepts and procedures visually. This two-color tome conveys information in concise introductory text and practical step-by-step instructions and screen shots. Hands-on tips offer additional information to help the reader with real-life problems, troubleshooting secrets, and additional advice.

From the Back Cover
"One picture is worth a thousand words." If you prefer instructions that show you rather than tell you, then this comprehensive reference is for you. Hundreds of succinctly captioned, step-by-step screen shots reveal how to accomplish over 250 FrontPage 2002 tasks, including:

• Designing a Web page
• Formatting text
• Importing graphics
• Using hyperlinks
• Inserting video clips
• Building a navigation structure
• Creating a FrontPage task
• Adding banner ads
• Publishing your Web site
• Understanding cascading style sheets

• "Master It" tips answer questions and present shortcuts
• High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

Web development software on CD-ROM!

• Fireworks 4 trial version
• Paint Shop Pro 7 evaluation
• WS FTP Pro trial version
• Plus a fully searchable e-version of the book, and more!

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Review of Master Windows 98 VISUALLY [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

If you can read a cookbook or other simple instruction-type books, this is great. I learned so much about options that I didn't even know I had available. It is clear, concise and with all the illustrations, even acomplete novice can start to use it immediately. I've been able to organizemy files, manage disk space, customize my computer and customize my menuswith what I need. I'm no longer stuck with things I don't need orunderstand. This was one of the best purchases I ever made. It's incrediblyeasy to understand and instructions are super easy to follow - everythingis illustrated for you.



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Review of Excel Programming: Your visual blueprint for creating interactive spreadsheets (Paperback)

For some time, I have wanted to program in Visual Basic for Applications as a means to automate Excel 2000/2002.I have looked at many titles in the bookstore by various authors (experts in the field, unquestionably), but none seem targeted to the novice or intermediate user who simply wants to understand the VBA environment and how to benefit from its powerful capabilities.If other books were trying to target such an audience, then they suffered from poor readability and simply too much material. This book instills confidence in novice users as the reader is given very succinct explanations on variables, procedures, subroutines/functions, and, of course, the Excel Object Model.I have not been able to put the book down, practically speaking.

Extremely well organized, with generally very good and detailed graphics. It makes its point in roughly 325 pp. and features an excellent appendix dealing with constants, etc. I believe this book will forever relegate the more pricey books I have on the subject to a shelf in my technical library.The others are authoritative books, to be sure, but I never gained confidence with the format. Reading other sources proved exhausting when compared to this book.As an Excel user who wrote some macros in the Excel 95 version of the software, this book is a welcome addition.The book contains probably a few typos, and perhaps an illustration or two (screen shots of the Excel or VB Editor interface) is unclear or improperly rendered(such as in the section "Remove a Module"). Minor, minor details that won't matter in the overall scheme of things - this book rates very high in my opinion. Another plus: the CD ROM has the sample code used in many sections in the book as well as an "e-version" of the book itself.

Product Description
Excel(r) Programming 2nd Edition

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you'll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 120 key Excel programming techniques, including:
* Creating and launching keyboard shortcuts
* Setting macro security
* Assigning a digital signature
* Developing a function with VBA
* Displaying a built-in dialog box
* Converting a list into an array
* Using the msgbox function
* Processing a runtime error
* Saving a workbook in a specified format
* Finding the intersection of two ranges

From the Back Cover
Excel^® Programming 2nd Edition

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you'll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 120 key Excel programming techniques, including:

• Creating and launching keyboard shortcuts
• Setting macro security
• Assigning a digital signature
• Developing a function with VBA
• Displaying a built-in dialog box
• Converting a list into an array
• Using the msgbox function
• Processing a runtime error
• Saving a workbook in a specified format
• Finding the intersection of two ranges

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Review of Excel Data Analysis: Your Visual Blueprint for Analyzing Data, Charts, and PivotTables, 2nd Edition (Visual Blueprint) (Paperback)

First of all I have to confess that this book was acquired under the conditions that I probably know 90% of the materials covered in the book. Thus my interest is in the 10% I am not aware of and the other 10% if there are alternative ways to solve problems better than I am doing now.

In this regards, I am satisfied. However if you are looking for learning simple "how-to"s like conditional formula, creating a chart, you would be disappointed since this book covers too much depth for beginners and it becomes easy to get lost in the sea of information.

Product Description
Excel is a spreadsheet / data analysis tool attached to the Microsoft Office suite and is available in all Office offerings. Office holds 80-90% of the market share for productivity suites. Though many consumers know the basics of using Excel, they may not know the full power of the program. With Excel, you can harness the power of your data, manipulate it to suit your needs, and achieve more by doing less work. Charts are interactive, allowing the consumer to tweak results with the click of a mouse. Pivot tables allow you to fuse data from several sources into one document. Excel has an enhanced Find function, allowing users to easily search entire workbooks, and search worksheets by cell format. Excel supports XML as a file format for easy importing or exporting of XML data. Excel also includes enhancements for saving files as Web pages, and enhancements to Pivot Tables.

From the Back Cover
Excel Data Analysis 2nd Edition

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you'll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 100 key Excel data analysis techniques, including:

• Creating PivotTables and PivotCharts
• Importing and linking data
• Compiling data from various sources
• Filtering a list
• Creating an amortization table
• Manipulating data within a chart
• Editing external database tables
• Using an Excel function in a macro
• Building PivotTable formulas
• Using Analysis Toolpak add-ins

• High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules
• "Apply It" and "Extra" sidebars highlight useful tips

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Review of Master Visually Windows XP (With CD-ROM) [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

Here's an oddity.A computer book that's both comprehensive and easy to use.For anyone wanting to learn all about Windows XP without intimidation, look no further.The book is well organized, starting with elementary basics (such as general computer basics), then moving on to a wide range of topics:

Working with digital cameras
Setting up a home network
Web publishing
Creating/editing videos
Creating audio CDs
Customizing your computer
And much more.

Each task is explained in easy-to-read text and, of course, with visuals.Very helpful, but written primarily for beginners, NOT for XP or computer veterans.

CD-ROM contains an evaluation version of Paint Shop Pro, FreeAmp music player,
AbyssAudio Collection, and an e-version of the book.

621 pages

Product Description
Step-by-step instructions and hundred of screenshots provide you with ultimate topic coverage. Master VISUALLY Windows XP uses the VISUAL approach to cover new features of Windows XP including: the new interface, enhanced start menu, the My Pictures digital image organizer, the My Music digital music organizer; and Media Player 8, which plays video, DVD, and music.

From the Back Cover
"One picture is worth a thousand words."

If you prefer instructions that show you rather than tell you, then this comprehensive reference is for you. Hundreds of succinctly captioned, step-by-step screen shots reveal how to accomplish over 230 Windows XP tasks, including:

• Using the new Windows interface
• Setting up a home network
• Working with digital cameras
• Publishing files to the Web
• Restoring your computer
• Getting remote assistance
• Creating and editing videos
• Copying songs to your computer
• Using Windows Messenger
• Creating audio CDs

• "Master It" tips answer questions and present shortcuts
• High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

Bonus software on CD-ROM!

• Paint Shop Pro evaluation version
• FreeAmp music player
• AbyssAudio Collection and more
• AbyssAudio Collection and more
• Plus a fully searchable e-version of the book

System requirements: PC running Windows 9x/2000/Me/XP, Windows NT 4 or later. See the "What's on the CD-ROM" appendix for details and complete system requirements.

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Review of Flash ActionScript: Your Visual Blueprint for Creating Flash-enhanced Web Sites [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

I admit it uses an old version of flash. but all the examples work and I learned some new stuff.

Product Description
This great guide uses the VISUAL approach to cover features of ActionScript. Take in all the information in two-page spreads, so there is no flipping back and forth between topics. This book was created for the professional, advanced level visual learner.

Flash ActionScript: Your visual blueprint for creating Flash-enhanced Web sites covers how ActionScript works with Flash, actions, objects, properties and functions, operators and variables, Flash movies, and program debugging.

From the Back Cover
Your visual blueprint for creating Flash-enhanced Web sites
Plus sample graphics, a searchable e-version of the book, and more

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Open the book and you'll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 130 key Flash ActionScript

techniques, including:

• Assigning ActionScript to a frame
• Testing a movie
• Concatenating strings
• Using logical operators
• Creating arrays
• Setting volume and panning
• Creating a scrollable text box
• Working with multiple movies
• Creating smart clips
• Debugging your script

Web development tools on CD-ROM!

• Macromedia Flash, Director Shockwave Studio, Dreamweaver, Dreamweaver UltraDev, and FreeHand trial versions
• Photoshop tryout from Adobe
• Paint Shop Pro evaluation
• version from JASC Software
• Plus a searchable e-version of the book

• "Apply It" and "Extra" sidebars highlight useful tips
• High-resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Two-page lessons break big topics into bite-sized modules

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Review of Active Server Pages 3.0: Your visual blueprint for developing interactive Web sites [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

The great advantage to this book is that it's concise.I am a web professional, and I was looking for a book that would help me get up to speed quickly with ASPs.By following the examples, I was able to complete basic tasks, including retrieving data from forms, reading files, and accessing databases.It is clearly organized, and it was easy for me to skip around to the topics that interested me.

The main drawback of this book for me is that I will probably need another book to help me with more advanced topics.Also, it tends to rely on the examples to teach the reader so if you're looking for a more general explanation of ASP objects and architecture, look elsewhere.Finally, the first 100 pages were a waste for me becauseI was already familiar with Visual Basic and HTML.The book could also use a larger reference section.Still, I give the book 4 stars because for the target audience of beginning ASP designers I think it's an affordable, effective solution.

In short, I would recommend this to a beginner who wants to learn the basics of ASPs quickly, and doesn't want to do much reading.

Product Description
Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional-level computer topics. Inside you'll discover step-by-step screen shots that demonstrate over 100 key Active Server Pages tasks, including:

• Processing data from a form
• Creating a cookie
• Using query strings
• Encoding a URL
• Creating a custom component
• Locking application variables
• Using a Windows script component
• Connecting to a database
• Creating a custom error message
• Using the File Access component

The companion CD-ROM includes:

• Shareware versions of WEB-ED Page and Scripting Editor and ASP Express
• Evaluation versions of Edit 2000 and Visual InterDev 6
• Plus, all sample code and an e-version of the book.

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