Features

I believe if everyone had one of those “beat up your computer” dolls for taking out your computer problem aggravation on the doll instead of your computer, then they’d all look like they were hit by a truck. After calming down and finding your center, PC Annoyances is the nice tech support technician that s ready and willing to help resolve those @#*$ problems without giving you backtalk or the runaround.

Before getting this book, I had wondered if it was going to focus on Microsoft products such as Outlook for e-mail, Word, and Windows. It does, but not as much as I originally thought. The e-mail section starts with a chapter of general e-mail annoyances for different e-mail clients followed by Outlook, AOL, Eudora, and Hotmail with their own chapters. Section two is Windows and it refers to Windows XP more than anything else, but there is help for other versions.

The Internet earns its own section with Internet Explorer appearing often along with references to a couple of other browsers, Google, and Instant Messaging. The Microsoft Office section helps squash Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Outlook Express annoyances. No Access or FrontPage annoyances are included, but that’s OK. I find most of my problems are not with the latter two. Get faster and more effective with Bass’ Windows Explorer tips including how to delete a file it refuses to delete and speeding up file search.

I benefit the most from the Music, Videos, and CDs section since it’s an area I barely touch. Not only does it advise on dealing with multimedia, but also it discusses CD and DVD questions and concerns. I’ve thought about the CD nudging issue, which is when you gently push the CD tray to close it, but I never researched it. Bass answers the big question on whether to nudge or not to nudge.

PC Annoyances is not only about the problems you cross, but also things you may have never even considered. Those with a notebook computer who wish it came with a docking station can still make it dockable even if it’s a standalone notebook.

A couple of issues with the otherwise fine book; it has a ton of links (with most pages having more than two links). This is risky because URLs change faster than military personnel mailing addresses. It also provides links to ” for the fun of it” sites, a common source of complaints based on my writing experience. These resources take up a tiny space on the side of the page.

Some references are to paid products, which to some is annoying. However, I’ve never been one to knock recommendations for non-free products because I believe if we like something, it’s good to let others know about it. If it’s in print, it durn well better be a good recommendation.

You’re a geek asking if you can find the answers on your own. Probably. But do you have the time it takes to find it? Probably not. Between the spouse and me (hardware and software geeks), we are learning a few good tricks from the book.

The book’s format lends itself to quick and easy scanning with side notes in the light red shaded area on the sides of the pages, useful screen shots, and boxes with tidbits. The book is just 177 pages, enough for you to find the tips you need without the needle in the haystack problem.

VITAL STATISTICS:
TITLE: PC Annoyances
AUTHOR: Steve Bass
PUBLISHER: O’Reilly & Associates
PUBLICATION DATE: October 2003
ISBN: 0596005938
FORMAT: Paperback
PAGES: 176
PRICE: US$19.95