Windows Vista in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference

by Preston Gralla

Book Overview

This unique reference thoroughly documents every important setting and feature in Microsoft's new operating system, with alphabetical listings for hundreds of commands, windows, menus, listboxes, buttons, scrollbars and other elements of Windows Vista. With this book's simple organization, you'll easily find any setting, tool, or feature for the task you want to accomplish.

Along with a system overview that highlights major changes, and a tour...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0596527071
• ISBN13: 9780596527075
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media
• Length: 750 Pages
• Weight: 1.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

O'Reilly Strikes again

Why doesn't Microsoft just turn over the instructional responsibility to O'Reilly? Does a better job of explaing what is going on and why than the vast majority of Tech. writers Bill Gates hires.

Outstanding Overview Of Windows Vista

'Windows Vista in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference' by Preston Gralla is one of the best "in a Nutshell" books that I have seen. Covering every square inch of Windows Vista in a concise, compact manner, this guide is more like a 'teaching reference' about the ins and outs of Microsoft' newest operating system. Packed full of 720 pages of Vista goodness, this book will take you quickly from the basics to the deepest crevices of what Vista has lurking around every corner. Vista administrators would be wise to pick up this book yesterday and start cramming their brains full of the content here. If you are an IT professional and want to get Vista'd the best wasy possible you owe it to yourself to pick up this uber guide NOW. ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

An increasingly valuable reference

Every important setting and feature in Microsoft's new operating system is covered in a guide which packs in listings for hundreds of commands, windows, menus, and other Windows Vista elements. From the new operating system's basic user interface and differences between Vista and other operating systems to tips in installation, keyboard shortcuts and more, this should be a basic reference for quite some time, offering essential keys to understanding and streamlining Vista's capabilities. Libraries will find it an increasingly valuable reference as Vista products permeate the stores and replace older systems in the next year or two.

VERY VERY HIGHLY REOMMENDED!!

Are you a network administrator or application developer? If you are, then this book is for you. Author Preston Gralla, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that focuses on users and their networks and applications, not on large enterprise or corporate systems or network administration. Gralla, begins with a brief guided tour of Windows Vista. Then, the author covers the basics of using windows, such as starting applications, manipulating files, and getting around the interface. Next, he provides a thorough examination of the elements that make up the Windows Vista graphical user interface. The author also covers all aspects of files and the file system, including the myriad of new features of Windows Explorer. He continues by detailing all aspects of the revamped browser in Windows. Then, the author puts the spotlight on the e-mail program formerly known as Outlook Express. Next, he covers wired and wireless networks, as well as laptops and mobile computing. The author then covers the myriad of new security tools built into Vista, with an emphasis on Internet security. He continues by covering everything about setting up, maintaining , and troubleshooting hardware, including keyboards, mice, monitors, USB devices, input devices, scanners, cameras, sound devices, and printers. Then, he covers how user accounts work on Windows Vista, and how to make use of them. Next, he covers all of the performance and troubleshooting tools in Windows. In addition, the author covers music and video playing and production, as well as new features that make it easier to connect a variety of multimedia devices to a PC. He continues by describing the organization o the Windows XP Registry, the central configuration database upon which Windows and all of your applications rely to function and remember your settings. Finally, the author provides complete documentation of the Command Prompt--which is often the overlooked and underestimated part of the operating system. This most excellent book offers you a basic understanding of the deeper levels of network configuration available in large, enterprise-level networks. Perhaps more importantly, this book has tried to speak universal truths about Windows Vista.