operating systems

Peter Norton's Complete Guide To Windows XP will introduce and discuss all of the new XP features in a style that is both conceptual and informative. Topics include why and when to upgrade to XP and if so, how to do it, understanding services and their configurations, explanation of the new internet options, such as third party cookie alert, firewalls, and web publishing wizard. Value information included on registry configurations and why the configurations work as they do, networking topics and integration ideas for home networks as well as explanations about using the networking wizards and understanding how XP works with software and hardware.

Some books aspire to being everything to everyone and fail miserably. With this book you know that you're getting an outstanding guide to how things work for most people. The authors rightfully spend a lot of time explaining how the features that most people will use work. All of the explanation are well written--you really can understand what the author is trying to say.

The authors go on to discuss methods for configuring and troubleshooting these areas. For example, I've found a number of great security tips in this book. I was also pleased to find information that seems to elude other authors, such as how to configure my mouse. Yes, it's a small thing until you're trying to do something and your mouse fails. The authors told me about the difference between FAT and NTFS file systems and why I would want to choose a particular file system for a particular need.

No, this book won't tell you everything. You'll miss out on some topics that only a few people need such as remote computing. However, if you're looking for a great book that covers the issues that you'll normally need to think about, this is the one to choose.

I have used this book as my only XP reference for the past year and it is absolutely terrible. I bought it because of the Peter Norton name and remembering the "Inside the PC" book in the late 80s. I found myself constantly supplementing it's information with extended sessions in the bookstore and on the web. There are even some subjects that this "complete guide" does not even touch on (e..g remote desktop). Get another book, probably any book, for an XP reference.

That said, there are about 200 pages in the middle of the book that make the purchase worthwhile. Part IV: Anatomy gives an excellent presentation of XP architecture, the Registry and file system. Buy it for this section.