What computer books should we have on our bookshelves?

[SuperSparks]

The thread title says it all really. What are the really worthwhile computer books to have (and what are the ones to avoid)?

To start things off, for computer hardware Scott Mueller's "Upgrading and Repairing PC's" is my well thumbed bible:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

And for Windows XP I like Bott & Siechert's "Windows XP Inside Out" best of all:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...369647-5260852

[P3-450]

Yep, Upgrading and Repairing PC's is very hard to beat. Always been a fave of mine.


I have found Alan Simpson's Windows XP Bible to be helpful
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...722664-2712445

Other than that, if I could put the Internet on my bookshelf then I would

[ecross]

The Windows XP Inside Out Second Edition by Bott & Siechert's has been a great book so far. However, I haven't completed the book yet. I have a habit of starting a book and don't finish reading.

[greengoose1]

One of them is a little less than 1500 pages and the other mentioned above is 1600 plus. In addition the companion book of Muellers (and Soper) is another 640 pages. And that is just a couple of the good ones.

[bistro]

I've got several, but the ones I keep the most handy are:

Windows XP Professional Complete, published by Sybex. A most excellent reference source.
and
Windows XP Hacks by Preston Gralla, published by O'Reilly Media, Inc..
Has hundreds of tips and tools to tweak the OS.

Also on my bookshelf I keep the monthly editions of MaximumPC magazine....the best one on the market IMHO. Every one is a mini-education.....fun to read too.

[Søul]

Any recommendations for a good book(s) for beginers? For example, I'd like to learn a lot more on working with hardware, and all the basics to keep a computer running smoothly. Things like working with the registry, drivers, formating, bios, etc.

bistro - Is the MaximumPC magazine geared toward the more advanced user? The magazine I read and learn a lot from now is PC Magazine. My son says that only newbs read that one. (I beat him severely) lol

[user595212]

Don't forget:

1. Windows XP Secrets (98 Secrets, etc., depending on your OS). By Curt Simmons. Wiley & Sons, 2001.

2. Windows XP Annoyances (ditto 98, etc.). David A. Karp. See also Windows XP Annoyances. Lots of cool tips and forums.
Cheers
Wendy

[bistro]

bistro - Is the MaximumPC magazine geared toward the more advanced user? The magazine I read and learn a lot from now is PC Magazine. My son says that only newbs read that one. (I beat him severely) lol

Yes and no. I began reading MaximumPC when it was called boot magazine. I was a "beginner" then, but highly interested in learning about the same things you've mentioned. Some of the articles/material were way beyond me, but the bulk of the mag was terrific. Very few ads (as compared to other mags), lots of hardware reviews and they stuck to their motto "Minimum BS"...lots of humor too. Lots of good, solid articles that were interesting and educational. The staff there would, on occasion, even give a bad review of some hardware that was actually advertised somwhere in the mag...I liked that kind of honesty....showed more concern for their reader's welfare than the advertising bucks. They still stick to that same format and philosophy today. It's still my favorite. I would say that it is geared towards the "experienced PC enthusiast with plenty there for the more technically proficient to take interest in". But it also oftens comes with beginning "How To" articles. It usually comes with a CD that has some pretty good demos, a nice sprinkling of freeware utilities and almost always has the latest drivers for ATI and Nvidia graphics cards.

I occasionally pick up a copy of some of the other more popular PC magazines and they almost never fail to disappoint me. The "reviews" as far as I have observed seem to be nothing more than something the product's PR people wrote up. Usually there are 10 or more pages of equipment specification comparison spreadsheets that really don't tell you what you need to really know (i.e. I just want to know....Is the Nikon Super-Deluxe Whatchamathingy Version 5 better than the Ronco Whatchamathingy Version 6?? Why is it better? That spreadsheet doesn't really say).

I guess the big difference I see is that with most PC mags out there, IMHO they are staffed by writers who are interested in computering...and that's fine. But MaximumPC comes across as a magazine that is staffed by people who know how to write, but their first love is getting their hands dirty working inside a computer while munching on Skittles and Coke and who enjoy putting some software through the grinder to see what comes out the other end....just so people like you and me don't have to waste our time and money. I think you would enjoy the mag and pick up a lot of useful knowledge....just have Webopedia open on your computer in case you come across a term you aren't familiar with.

Wow...didn't mean to ramble on like this.... Uh....yes...it's a good magazine.

[Søul]

WOW! I'm convinced. You're on their sales staff aren't you bistro? lol

Thanks for all the information. I'll definately pick up a copy and check it out. And I'll make sure to buy some Skittles and Coke while I'm at it.

Søul

[bistro]

And I'll make sure to buy some Skittles and Coke while I'm at it. Søul

The snack of choice for the elite PC geek....

[greengoose1]

Trouble is Bistro does use them for snacks maybe if you read between the lines.

But one thing for sure that I agree on is it is the best out there for a pc magazine. And you better be right if you let them know you disagree on something.

[user595212]

I like PC World myself. PC Mag, although I subscribe to it (they practically gave it to me free when I subscribed to the PC Mag Utility Library), is pretty boring. Not a lot about computing, more lately on just stuff. A whole bunch of stuff, much of which I'm not really interested in (next thing you know, my refrigerator is gonna be dialing the Internet or something. Enough is enough!). We mostly have what we want -- 3 computers, an MP3 player, a digital camera, a scanner, a camcorder, home theater -- I draw the line. It only makes me curse the pall of rampant consumerism over our society.

By contrast, I really do feel PC World is useful not just for more information about computing versus just gadgets, but also for its consumer stance. At a time when I too was just beginning it seemed as if it took a very pro-consumer line and gave you information you really needed. Like a geek's Consumer Reports.

Cheers
Wendy

[Train]

Smart Computing puts out some quarterlies that on occasion that are good.

MaximumPC is MUCH cheaper, if you just get the magazine and let them keep the junk.

[SuperSparks]

On this side of the pond I like PC Pro magazine best of all of them:

www.pcpro.co.uk

It is firmly aimed at the professional/experienced computer user though, so probably isn't a good mag for the inexperienced user.

PC Plus is also an excellent mag (though outrageously expensive), with some great programming articles.

www.pcplus.co.uk

My old favourite, Computer Shopper, seems to have gone badly downhill ever since they brought the editor over from a mag that was aimed sqarely at people who couldn't work out how to even turn a PC on. It's gradually descending to that level now, which is a real shame as it used to be on a par with PC Pro

[greengoose1]

Two other books than can be very useful is "Creative HTML Design.2" by Lynda Weinman and William Weinman. The other "HTML" by Elizabeth Castro.