By David A. Karp, Tim O'Reilly, Troy Mott
April 2002
Pages: 632
Series: In a Nutshell
ISBN 10: 0-596-00249-1 |
ISBN 13: 9780596002497
(Average of 5 Customer Reviews)
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This compact and comprehensive book systematically unveils what resolute users of the new Windows XP operating system will find interesting and useful, with little-known details, utility programs, and configuration settings all captured in a consistent reference format. Packed with numerous tips and tricks, while warning of potential pitfalls, Windows XP in a Nutshell enables anyone to get the most out of all the resources available in XP.
Full Description
- Detailed information on most of the commands and utilities available with Windows XP, including Start Menu accessories, command prompt tools, hidden system administration utilities such as the Registry Editor, Microsoft Management Console, and TweakUI.
- A comprehensive "Where to Find It?" section designed to give Windows 9x/Me and Windows NT/2000 users a guide to the XP counterparts to previously familiar features, plus information on installing and upgrading.
- The Task and Setting Index, which provides users with quick access to locations of the hundreds of settings in Windows XP, organized alphabetically.
- A complete reference to the command prompt-- not only covering the basics of the command line and the different ways to use it, but also the advanced commands and scripting features at Windows XP's disposal.
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Book details
First Edition: April 2002
Series:
In a Nutshell
ISBN: 0-596-00249-1
Pages: 632
Average Customer Reviews: (Based on 5 Reviews)
Featured customer reviews
Windows XP in a Nutshell Review, February 15 2004
This book does a great job of covering the middle ground between a book for novices and a techie's manual. It covers the basics briefly and moves on to the details useful to an experienced Windows user. It even goes into scripting and into the Registry, topics for expert users, but that's at the end of the book so it doesn't get in the way of the things the typical reader will want to know. It's exceptionally well organized and well-indexed. The typeface is crisp -- other computer books look they were mimeographed -- and the screen captures are reasonably clear, although color would make them better. The website lists errata and changes in the 3rd edition -- a nice feature. (I have the first edition.)
Windows XP in a Nutshell Review, June 02 2003
As an intermediate user who prefers O'Reilly's books over others because the coverage and depth they offer is perfect for me, I was one again pleased with the scope, coverage, and depth provided here.
I consistently recommend O'Reilly more general books to library patrons who are savvy intermediate users. I also recommend their books because of their unique size and superb layout.
As a lover of literature, writing, and logic, I was dismayed to see many more errors than I would have ever expected in a technical publication. The errors I came across in the first 65+ pages were primary typos, easy for an author to miss, outright embarrassing for an editor to overlook. More alarming is that some figures (read: screenshots referred in the text) were the wrong shots. There was a disconnect between what was being referred to in the text and what was shown in the corresponding figure. That's unforgivable.
When a second, revised edition appears, I'll gladly spend money on it. Until then, it's something I'll borrow from the library. Too bad, as I like the series very much.
(As a side note, I recently purchased Windows XP Annoyances, and found an error of logic in its opening pages. It's minor, but I would expect technical writers and editors to be even more discerning and logical than general book editors. I'm a bit disappointed that these errors don't get caught, and a bit worried at what other errors might exist if these made it past the editor's desk.)
Keep printing these books, but please put out revised editions with corrections!
Windows XP in a Nutshell Review, June 02 2002
David Karps ability as a writer parallels his knowledge and expertise of the Windows Operating System. When all the Other books about Windows XP are "Said & Done", Karp, O'Reilly & Motts "XP in a Nutshell" is the one I will consistently turn to on a daily basis.
Wayne A. Florek
Quarter Moon Technologies
Windows XP in a Nutshell Review, June 01 2002
An excellent reference on the Windows XP operating system. It's easy to read, concise, and easily referenced to answer whatever questions you may have regarding Windows XP. I discovered many new and interesting features of the OS in a very short period of time. I recommend this to all users of Windows XP.
Windows XP in a Nutshell Review, April 28 2002
Again: this is 1st, not 3rd, edition. And deleting my comments does not correct the error.
Media reviews
"Windows XP is the very latest means of interacting with PCs, and the O'Reilly Nutshell series take a very sensible approach to providing documentation for it...At the heart of the book there is a 200-plus-page reference section giving a detailed explanation of every feature, program, and tool--which is why these reference manuals are so thick! They are listed in alphabetical order, which makes everything easy to find. After all that, there's still more to come. The latter parts of the book cover advanced topics such as networking, executing scripts, Start Menu accessories, command prompt tools, and how to deal with hidden system administration utilities such as the Registry Editor...It will be useful as a guide for those who have just bought their new PC, or for experienced users who want to explore the detailed features of an operating system which everyone agrees is the best version of Windows to date. It's also amazingly good value--especially with Amazon's discount."--Roy Johnson, mantex.co.uk
"This book is an excellent, compact and comprehensive reference manual for a knowledgeable user of Windows...I plan to keep it next to the computer to use as the reference manual. If there is a more positive recommendation I am not aware of it."
--J. William (Bill) Marr, CCPCUG, Oct 2002
"This book has earned its place on my desktop...This book is a good investment for anyone using Windows XP in either the home or office environment. In-depth coverage like this is not likely to be outdated any time soon. At $29.95 it is a real bargain."
--Dave Gulkis, Tampa Bay Computer Society, Oct 2002
"This book is a masterful treatment of Windows XP, written in a direct and lively sytle, at a decent price. You will want to keep it at hand, as I do, since you can often find a screen capture in the book to see exactly what you need to do to perform a needed function. This is indeed the missing manual that should have come with Windows XP"
--Ed Laskowski, The VISTA PC Journal, Nov 2002
"This book is an essential addition to any XP enthusiast's library. Its aim is simple: to chronicle as many undocumented features as possible. It won?t tell you much about things that you already know or can find out easily, but it will reveal just how deep XP goes...If you're after an introduction to XP, look elsewhere. If you want a companion to Windows XP Inside Out, or something that will appeal to someone with at least six months' XP experience, then you?ve struck gold. If you want to delve deep into Windows XP, take this book with you,"
--Nick Peers, PC Answers, September 2002 (Platinum Award)
"Packed with numerous tips and tricks while warning of potential pitfalls, this book is, in a word, thorough...I would recommend it to you."--Bob Esch, Tha Databus, August 2002
"A comprehensive, compact reference book that documents everything serious users need to know about Windows XP...The back cover claims that this book contains more information about using Windows XP than any other book on the market--I just happen to own three other books on Windows XP--and this claim seems to be true...With its vast scope, this book might well be called 'The Windows XP Bible.' It is an indispensable tool for Windows users, web designers and authors at all levels of experience, written and organized so that answers can be found quickly. There is an extensive index and several appendixes."--Ed Laskowski, The Vista PC Journal, June 2002
"This is the latest jewel in the In a Nutshell Series from O'Reilly."
--Sam Gardner, PC News, August 2002
"An excellent, compact, and comprehensive reference manual for a knowledgeable user of Windows. This book however is what I plan to use to optimize my Windows XP configuration, and I plan to keep it next to the computer to use as the reference manual. If there is a more positive recommendation I am not aware of it."
--J. William (Bill) Marr, Charlotte Bytes, September 2002
"This book is an essential addition to any XP enthusiast's library...if you want to delve deep into Windows XP, take this book with you."
--Nick Peers, PC Answers, September 2002
"O'Reilly's 'Windows XP in a Nutshell' is an excellent resource for anyone who uses or supports Windows XP--whether at home or for business. Unlike other publishing houses that have geared publications for one or another variety of mental defective, O'Reilly's Nutshell series books do not attempt to 'dumb down' their content and do not talk down to their readers. They presume reasonable intelligence on the part of the reader and at least a baseline familiarity with the topic at hand. They pack a remarkable amount of useful and usable information into a single volume. 'Windows XP in a Nutshell' is an outstanding example of the genre."
--William F. Zachmann, Canopus Reasearch, July 2002
"This book has earned the right to become a part of my reference library. I recommend it for anyone interested in the Windows XP Operating System."
--Ray Jamroze, Southeastern Wisconsin Windows Users Group Wind-News, July 2002
"...it's packed with useful information, tips, tricks and screenshots, all clearly explained...An excellent resource."--Windows XP, August 2002
"This excellent reference on learning Windows XP is a highly valuable addition to the collections of any PC user, especially those with this version of Microsoft's OS on their machine...new computer systems purchased after the release of Windows XP will come with XP installed means that, as time goes by, end-users of older operating system software will eventually need to migrate to XP. This presents an additional challenge to these new users of Windows XP, as they strive to learn more about how Windows XP works. To their rescue comes this latest title in the super 'In A Nutshell' series of computer books from O'Reilly that focuses on the ins and outs of working with Windows XP."
--Dale Farris, Golden Triangle PC Club, May 2002
"...an indispensable tool for Windows users, web designers and authors at all levels of experience, written and organized so that answers can be found quickly."
--Ed Laskowski, Sierra Vista PC Users Group Newsletter, June 2002
