PC Help

On occasion, do you feel the need for additional technical reference information?  Following are two sources of hard-copy (and some online) information you may want to consider:

The Missing Manuals

Tired of having to go online to read about your new software? These days, most documentation is provided in electronic form and not the old-fashioned paper manuals of yesterday. However, many of our generation still prefer the tactile experience of thumbing through pages of a book. You may find just what you are looking for in The Missing Manual Series of guides to computer products. Published by O’Reilly Media, Missing Manuals are available for many subjects including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Photoshop Elements, Quicken, The Internet, and many other subjects of interest to OLLI SNUG members. To find out what’s available, go to www.missingmanuals.com . Sometimes, one can find used copies of these manuals for reduced prices on eBay or Amazon. However, be sure to check the version of the subject matter to insure that it matches the software you’re using.

The Secret Guide to Computers

For years, I have been recommending the book The Secret Guide to Computers to my SeniorNet students but only now have I come across its website. It promotes “the world’s top-rated computer book”, but in such an appealing way that I’ve no hesitation in including it among the few commercial sites that can be found in David’s Links. It’s in its 28th edition, which speaks for itself. You can also get free phone advice on your computer problem by calling the author, Russ Walter, any time day or night at 603-666-6644; it works, I know, I’ve tried it. (David Henry) In 2008 I once more visited this website, and it is as interesting as ever. The Secret Guide is now in its 30th edition, and you can read great chunks of it online for free. Just take a look at its Table of Contents for a taste of the depth of material covered here, now including Vista. It’s the only reference book you’ll ever need. – David.