Editorial Review

This is a new book, modeled after the long-running and widely used Short Course in Photography, which presents the medium entirely in its current, electronic form. In additional to covering the basic techniques of photography, this text covers the impact of computers on this important art form. Including information on how to transfer your pictures to a computer and make sure they are organized and safe from loss and how to best use computer software to make your photographs look their best. ... Read more

Reviews

The Only Digital Photography book I need, January 29, 2010
I first came upon this book at my local library. Having perused the insides, I decided to get my own copy. Clear and concise, tons of visuals and clarification for some of us no-brainers who relate to graphics and diagrams over pages of mind-boggling dry text. This is basically a text book I guess, the reason for the high price. Anything to improve my art, hence, well worth the expense, and I do love my photography. I have a half dozen digital photography books on my shelf, but this will be my go-to book. Overall, an excellent first guide for digital photographers.

Excellent Information, Well Presented, April 27, 2009
Barbara London (et. al.) have produced an easy to digest book of 'how to's' for digital photography. The text is well-written. It's not too wordy and is laid out in bite size chunks that make scanning a breeze. Content covers everything from image capture, to digital workflow (editing), to printing and presenting your shots. The illustrations that accompany the text are relevant and useful. Some of the material obviously got carried over from her film-oriented books and could probably be jettisoned - but not much (her editor may have fallen asleep at the wheel a bit). I'd actually recommend any of the Barbara London and company books - they all use a similar style and - for the most part - cover different aspects of photography. This book was the most on target for digital exclusively - her other books touch on it. Pearson/Prentice Hall have a great catalog of photography books!

Useful resource for serious instruction, January 31, 2010
The London-Stone book A Short Course in Digital Photography is an excellent example of a seriously refined book for the beginning photographer. In an age when so many photography books attempt to avoid obvious and critical links to analog photography precedents, the authors safely navigate the student from the crucial examples of the past into contemporary practice. The references to traditional photography, or whatever one may wish to call film, are valuable for students of any age and any background. Also, by introducing Lightroom and Aperture, but not trying the impossible task to cover them completely, the authors encourage further research into more advanced program guides. Indeed, this is an excellent all-around short course book.

Basic guide for beginner, September 29, 2010
This is a basic guide for anyone starting out. The camera manuals leave many people out in the dark about their camera and wishing to know more about photography. If you have questions why or what are all thoses dials and buttons for. Then this can be a great book for you. Even if you think you know the contents it never hurts to revisit the basics with new eyes. If you can understand these basic concepts you will find you are not having to delete images or miss shooting the images that will impress your friends and family. A very easy read compared to your camera manuals. Several colleges use this book to help students understand the camera basics and enjoy their cameras more.

Wonderful Textbook/Book For Beginners, March 23, 2010
I used this book for my intro to Digital Photography class and love it. You learn basic techniques using a DSLR, the way that a camera works and finish the book knowing which settings to choose and WHY. The text also gives an mini-lesson on how to mat and frame.

Clear and very Informative, February 22, 2010
I have been working on teaching myself how to better utilize my DSLR camera and this book has come in very handy. Lots of comparative pictures and clear writing.

Too Basic For Most, February 18, 2010
I bought this book because it was recommended for a class I am taking. I don't know why a book like this was recommended to experienced photographers. If you're new to DSLR and have a need to learn the basics including aperture, shutter speed, exposure than this book is for you but for any photographer with at least a basic knowledge of DSLR photography this book is a waste of time. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Presentation designer and internationally acclaimed communications expert Garr Reynolds, creator of the most popular Web site on presentation design and delivery on the net — presentationzen.com — shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, and guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote. Presentation Zen challenges the conventional wisdom of making "slide presentations" in today’s world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. Garr shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this book will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations.

Reviews

This should be required reading for all presenters..., January 1, 2008
This is everything that I want my presentations to be when I'm up on stage... Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds. This will make you rethink everything you've known (and likely done) about how a presentation should be designed.

Contents:
Introduction: Presenting in Today's World
Preparation: Creativity, Limitations, and Constraints; Planning Analog; Crafting the Story
Design: Simplicity - Why It Matters; Presentation Design - Principles and Techniques; Sample Slides
Delivery: The Art of Being Completely Present; Connecting With an Audience
The Next Step: The Journey Begins
Photo Credits; Index

There's so much good stuff here that it's hard to figure out where to begin. Reynolds advocates for a departure from the ordinary style of presentation involving PowerPoint. You've all sat through those (or given them)... Pages of slides, chock full of text, gratuitous use of special effects, etc. Presentation Zen is more about simplicity and storytelling. Your slides should support *you*, the speaker. If someone can get all the information from your slides, why do they need you? Your slides should not overwhelm the audience, but should draw their attention to the point that you are making in your talk. Couple this approach with the ability to tell stories rather than recite facts, and you can put together presentations that will be appreciated, remembered, and best of all, acted upon.

He also gets into how best to design appealing and arresting slides. Reynolds uses sites like iStockPhoto to avoid the overused and cheesy clipart that comes part and parcel with PowerPoint. And rather than just pasting a graphic on the screen under some text, the graphic *becomes* the slide, and the minimal text is positioned on the graphic in such a way that the slide becomes a work of art. Since I do technical presentations, my first objection was that this doesn't give the listener anything to take away in terms of content. But rather than make your slides the take-away, Reynolds suggests that you put together a separate "handout" document that can be given out after the talk (or downloaded). That document can contain the details and facts that you present, without overwhelming the listener during the actual talk. It's a simple concept, but not one that I've seen done often.

The bad thing about a book like this is it points out just how bad I actually am at presenting. The good thing is that it challenges me (as well as shows me) to get a whole lot better. This should be required reading for anyone before they start to put together anything in PowerPoint...

Useful but disappointing, February 26, 2008
I found Presentation Zen disappointing. It seemed to violate in writing style many of the principles it seeks to correct in slide design, reading more like a meandering conversation over drinks than a well-laid-out, step-by-step primer. For example, the book was frustratingly repetitive, with even the simplest points restated through multiple chapters (really, how many times do you have to suggest using post-it notes?). Some central points came and went quietly in sidebars, and others completely lacked explanation or justification (i.e. the rule for using six words maximum per slide). Every time I thought I was about to discover a new and enlightening concrete principle of visual design with valid reasoning, it seemed the point from the previous chapter was repeated instead. Moreover, exceptions or alternate approaches also weren't considered, such as times when using a whopping seven words on a slide might be useful, or when more complex slide builds and transitions could help an audience grasp a concept. In addition, many of the points made in the book, such as the value of "taking risks," seemed obvious and trite.

Overall, like many tedious slide shows I've endured, I felt the book could have been half as long and made its points with the same clarity, and would have showed more respect for the reader's time. To its credit, it does offer some useful ideas on slide design, and some excellent graphic examples. It's also visually appealing, with beautiful slide reprints, tons of "good" and "bad" examples to learn from, and cleanly-designed pages. Still, I'd trade the appealing design for tighter, more solid, more useful content.

Lacking Gravitas, January 18, 2008
Like many others, I have grown (very) weary of the so-called "death by PowerPoint" culture which saturates the IT sector in which I work. I would gladly substitute every minute of mindless suffering sitting through too many presentations by sales persons and various "engineers" with 150% more time at the Dentist's. Much as I hate visiting my Dentist, at least I'll be healthier afterwards.

Also like many others, I wager, I found out about Presentation Zen the book from Presentation Zen the blog of which I am a fan. I am sorry to report that I am a bigger fan of the blog than I am of the book. First, the good.

The book itself is pleasing with good binding and great color. It's easy to read with clear type and an attractive layout. Chapter heading and sub-headings are clear and the flow of the book's content is harmonious. The reader can tell that good quality work went into the typesetting and publishing--kudos to New Riders.

How about content? Well here a few shortcomings appear and although not enough to dismiss the book outright are enough to cause me wonder. At 230 odd pages, the first impression as I flipped through is how "light" it is, literally and metaphorically. There is a surprising amount of white space and while that's understandable from a design perspective, from a reader's however, it falls short of fulfilling the promise of content a similarly priced book should deliver on.

Focused reading reveals surprisingly little that is original. I stopped counting at 12 the number of books by other authors referenced and quoted from; and while that isn't a crime per se, it's certainly a shortcoming. At best, it looks like Reynolds did a great job of editing, creating a pastiche of content from other authors and the reader might as well do the same thing: amass a large enough library and perform the acquisition of knowledge himself. That, at least, comes with the advantage that reader will be getting it wholesale from the source instead of the Presentation Zen pr�cis.

There is some practical and usable advice (start with analog brainstorming then proceed to the digital, keep the lights on, use a remote) but it's inadequately fleshed out. This information is better presented and with a heightened emphasis on practicality in other books--Beyond Bullet Points by Cliff Atkinson comes to mind, one of the many cited as reference for further instruction.

A possible defense to the accusation of being light is that Reynolds' wrote the book, as the subtitle hints, as more of a philosophical treatise on presentation design. Fine, but even then, it's still light on those points as well. Reynolds is content to regurgitate some Japanese aphorisms and quotes from various personages that, while certainly inspirational, possess little value beyond that. The book ends up reading like a "pop psychology" cheer leading tome than what it means to be: a book instructing on presenting information to an audience.

Some of the subtext I noticed from reading is that Reynolds is a dye in the wool fan of Apple products with little if any regard for PC and PC software (from Windows to PowerPoint) including them as an afterthought, perhaps to sell more books. There is also a subtle but discernable thread of condescension toward American society--the number of "fat" Americans appearing in example slides started getting a little tired after a while. I don't know if this was purposeful and I doubt it, but nevertheless it's there.

The latter section of the book truly runs out of steam replete as it is with examples (with little to no analysis of them) filling page after page of slideware. It peters out with some feel-good advice from the author about creativity, etc. in what felt like padding.

In summary, Presentation Zen owes its existence (with apologies to Isaac Newton) to standing on the shoulders of giants on which it stands. Amazon has it for sale at a great price so definitely get it from here. Otherwise, there's no way I see of plunking down full price for this book at your local bookstore.

Don't buy this book (Unless you want to know all the inside secrets of presentations!), February 8, 2008
There's a reason that none of the country's best presentation coaches and presenters want you to purchase this book: that's because it will put the former out of business, and make you as good as the latter. Seriously!

Garr Reynolds has done what everyone else (at least among the presentation cognoscente) has been talking about for years. He has created what is truly THE book that is an absolute, positive must-read for everyone who is even thinking about presenting. I coach hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs each year for their fundraising road shows, and Garr has written and illustrated with stunning clarity the essence of what I and others have been preaching for years: visual clarity, simplicity, presence, planning and more.

If you are even *thinking* about buying a book on presentation skills, this is it. After you devour it cover to cover, you can then go on to the two other books I recommend: "Presenting to Win" by Jerry Weissman, and "The Articulate Executive" by Granville Toogood (the top presentation coaches on their respective sides of the country.) But start here, heed the lessons in this instant classic, and your audiences will be guaranteed to be putty in your hands.

David S. Rose (Described by BusinessWeek as "The Pitch Coach")

And another designer's book . . ., August 23, 2009
I have to rain on the parade of Nancy's book and Garr Reynold's book (and other ones). This is based on the review I gave Duarte's "Slideology."

The message is "I'm one of the best slide designers in the world (which is true) and I'm going to show you WHY."

The message should be "I'm one of the best slide designers in the world and I'm going to show you HOW."

You'll see plenty to interest you, but unless you're a full-fledged graphic designer you'll never recreate these slides. Imagine putting this book (and Duarte's book) into a room with some of your worst slide creators, or even yourself. Would you see an improvement in their skills? I doubt it.

You might as well become a painter by reading books that have the world's greatest pictures in them. Even though there is explanatory text here it isn't enough to bridge the gap.

To see a book written for its audience, try the "Before and After" books by Jon McWade which deal with desktop publishing. Unfortunately John has not yet tackled slides, but you can see an page layout idea and make it yourself in minutes.

So, sorry about this, because both this and Duarte's book are "nice" books. The energy has gone into the book's design and production rather than the content. But that makes them coffee-table books, and unless you have a coffee table in your office I'd advise that you give both of them a miss.

Recommendable only for beginners, January 7, 2009
I had high expectations on this book. And I found it interesting only for beginners. Too much text saying basically the same, and few visuals. I would had expected more, considering that it's a book on presentations.

Design 101, Zen Philosophy 301, December 13, 2008
"Presentation Zen" is written for people tasked to create powerpoint presentations despite the fact that they have no creative talent, no design training, and no money or desire to hire a real designer. It's an all too common fact of business life today.

If this describes you, you'll find the book very helpful. Garr offers good insights on overarching graphic design principles and a Zen philosophy of communicating visually. The reader looking to help develop a mind-set to improve their presentations will find food for thought and action. Taking a holistic approach to presentations, not just the medium of powerpoint, Garr offers well-considered advice that is enough to recommend the book to its target audience.

Further, if you're interested in Zen philosophy, this provides insight into Zen and its relationship to visual design. The mantra of simplicity espoused here is one that can be traced back to art movements of the 1880's, and more specifically the Bauhaus movement in Germany in the 1920's.

However, you may still be hungry after reading Garr's book. Especially if you desire to continue to develop whatever design skills you've discovered while creating powerpoint's. Also, if you are a trained graphic designer, you shouldn't need this book. It reiterates what you should have learned in the first semester of any competent design program. K.I.S.S.

For those wishing to take their design skills to the next level, I would recommend "slide:ology" by Nancy Duarte. This essentially provides a masters' level course in creative design as related to powerpoint presentations.

Replace Bullet Points with Dental Posters That Evoke Positive Feelings, Tell Stories, and Be Mentally Present, October 21, 2008
Long before there was PowerPoint, most presentations contained more columns of numbers and bullet points than pictures. PowerPoint seemed designed to capture the essence of those transparencies and make it faster to create them . . . while adding color. Compared to those ugly transparencies, PowerPoint seemed like an improvement.

By comparison, my dentist has always covered his walls with beautiful bleed images of gorgeous places combined with intriguing sayings about life. Those posters are the only uplifting thing about my trips to the dentist's office. He doesn't tell me any entertaining stories.

In presentationzen, Garr Reynolds shares with us that today's audiences like a standard PowerPoint presentation about as much as I like going to the dentist (I doubt if you are surprised by that). His prescription is to turn the typical presentation into a series of stories aided by exhibits that remind me of those dental posters while being very responsive (present . . . in his terminology) to the audience.

The book's main strength, and one that makes it well worth reading and following, is in describing a process that can be used to create a presentation that will be compelling. Even when I see a presentation that I like, I don't learn much from the example because the presenter doesn't share the process behind the result.

The examples almost all showed someone in a black turtle neck, black pants, and black shoes who looked like a Steve Jobs acolyte. As a result, there's an Apple versus Microsoft tone to the book that didn't match any environment where I ever see or give presentations (usually board rooms and senior corporate conference rooms).

Most presentations should be much shorter, should have a lot less material, and should be much easier to grasp. This book will help you if that's the way you want to go. Beware, however, that you don't go over the edge into becoming an "artiste" in your presentations. This book will probably push you a little too far in that direction.

For those who cannot imagine how an image might fit into a presentation, this book will be a great breath of fresh air. To those who want to copy the advice closely, keep your audience in mind. You might try to take them places where they don't want to go.

In my 30-plus years of presentation experience, I find that the story is the key to success. One good story will more than carry the day. You can draw on a chalk board with your fingernails for graphics and a good story will still work just fine. To me, the weakness of this book is that it doesn't pay enough to the story telling aspect of successful presentations.

I recommend Stephen Denning's books on story telling to help you with that aspect of presentations.

Good concepts; ironically, book misses its own ideals, July 12, 2009
I like the design principles and process tools that are provided in Presentation Zen: those are definitely usable and useful, and if I were rating on the book only on the learnings I came away with, I'd give it higher marks.

But I felt I really had to dock marks because of my experience with the book: I found it quite ironic that, for me, the book really failed in the very goals the author says we should have for our presentations: content that is engaging and is clear.

I was quite surprised to find this book non-engaging: for me, it has been a slog to work through. Typically I can read only part of a chapter before I wanted to put it down. I don't normally read like that, and I can usually get through a book like this within a few days, but it has taken me weeks to endure just the first half!

At first, that left me puzzled: The book has visual appeal; the chapters aren't overly long and there are only ten of them; why can't just get through them? The probable reason came to me in reading the chapter "Simplicity: Why it matters": the author really fails at his own ideals of simplicity. Not in the visual design; the visual design of the book is good in this respect. Rather, he fails to keep the written content simple. That very chapter on simplicity made this apparent to me. Let me explain.

He starts with two pages introducing the topic: simplicity really means clarity: getting the essense of the message and presenting that in a way that's clear for the intended audience -- and a key to that is eliminating the non-essential (simplicity). So far, so good.

Then he spends two pages using a comparison of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates as illustration. Now, I'm not convinced that the stereotypes of these two are fully valid, and maybe that was a factor, but overall these two pages really added nothing to my understanding of the author's message. In other words, for me that was two pages of non-essential content that only distracted and detracted from the author's message.

The next sub-section is six pages long. The last page is well done and simply has a quotation that is relevant to the author's message: "By stripping an image to essential meaning, the artist can amplify that meaning..." (Scott McCloud). But that was preceded by five redundant and somewhat-tedious pages:

The sub-section starts with a discussion of three Japanese concepts: kanso (simplicity), shizen (naturalness) and shibumi (elegance). But the discussion of shizen really just re-iterates the need for simplicity: the recurring theme in that portion is restraint; naturalness is never mentioned after the opening sentence. (Along the way, he introduces another Japanese term "miegakure" without explaining it -- more distracting content that added nothing meaningful for me.) After that is a full-page discussion of elegance, and that was just more elaboration on simplicity (good taste can be attained in restraint). Then there are two more pages ("Wabi-Sabi Simplicity") in which the author further reiterates the less-is-more idea.

That's followed by a page with a side-bar anecdote that I found pretty silly: it leads to a nonsensical conclusion that a fish shop doesn't need any sign to advertise and identify itself. (More useful would have been a discussion of pros and cons for different signs.)

So, six pages on "kanso", "shizen" and "shibumi" that I found highly redundant with many paragraphs of text that added nothing new to the message. I think that has been typical of my experience in the book so far, and the reason I've found it a slog: there's been a lot of content that adds nothing to the message.

Like the bullets of text on slides that the author wants to steer us away from.

How ironic!

In part, I think the author's obvious interest in Zen and in Japanese culture may be contributing to this problem in the book. He wants to include elements of Zen and Japanese throughout the book because they interest his and because they relate to _his_ understanding of simplicity, clarity and elegance. But it seems to me that he failed to apply his own recommendations of going through a process to understand the audience and to tailor the presentation in a way that will get across his core message to them -- including elminating non-essentials. His core message is not about Zen or about Japanese culture (and if those are topics you want to read about, you can find much better books than this). His core message is about something else, and excessive incorporation of these other themes is, at least for me, a distraction.

In summary, then, I found the book to have some really useful ideas on creating presentations, but that they are presented in a way that really misses the mark in the very goals it strives for. I can readily imagine that Reynolds does live presentations on the same topic that are excellent and highly effective, but for me this written presentation is neither of those things. I'd give a buy rating for the usefulness of the ideas but with this strong caveat for the written presentation. (It's the first book on the topic I've read, so I don't have better alternate suggestions.)

Not up to expectations, February 17, 2009
I was really disappointed with this book, perhaps because of the expectations I built after reading the positive reviews. The book lacks originality as many of the key concepts are based on other books.

The author assumes that slides in a presentation should remain very simple with one chart perhaps and/or very few bullet points in each, which I agree is more elegant in the case of live presentations. Often however, business reports come in "power point" formats and are meant to be read without the presence of a presenter, and therefore have to be more comprehensive.

The samples of slides displayed in the book are very well designed and inspiring, which I thought was perhaps the strong point of this book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

What exactly is a slope? What's the difference between a tile and a plate? Why is it bad to simply stack bricks in columns to make a wall? The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide is here to answer your questions.Focusing on building actual models with real bricks, The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide comes with complete instructions to build several cool models but also encourages you to use your imagination to create your own fantastic creations.Inside, you'll learn:

• The best ways to connect bricks and creative uses for those patterns
• Tricks for calculating and using scale (it's not as hard as you think)
• The step-by-step plans to create a train station on the scale of LEGO people (a.k.a. "minifigs")
• How to build spheres, jumbo-sized LEGO bricks, micro-scaled models, and a mini space shuttle
• Tips for sorting and storing all of your LEGO pieces

Reviews

One of the most interesting books I've read all year--seriously!, December 4, 2005
I have to admit, this is one of the most interesting books I've read all year! Expecting simply a discussion on the best way to build a wall, I was surprised at the amount of awe the author is able to instill in the reader regarding those little plastic bricks. LEGO's are actually quite amazing. As the author points out, the LEGO company adheres to some of the strictest quality control measures. Releasing a brick that is too tall or two short is unacceptable, as your creations simply wouldn't fit together.

The author takes almost a Zen-like approach toward LEGOs. To truly build, you must first understand the brick. So he helps you understand the brick. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's truly fascinating stuff. After discussing the brick and basic building techniques (you would be disappointed if there wasn't a discussion on how to build the best wall, wouldn't you?), the author shows how to build for different perspectives. Sure you can build things the same size as those little LEGO people, but you can also build things that are much bigger. The challenges and tips for doing just that are outlined.

I always wondered how some people were able to create something amazing from scratch out of their LEGO collections. Well, I still may not be able to create something out of thin air, but the author does show how to plan your creation. In fact, he shows how he designed and built a model of the space shuttle-and it all looks so easy. It simply comes down to careful planning, having the right LEGO parts, and a little bit of time.

One thing I thought was really cool about this book was the appendix. Here the author shows every single LEGO piece, its part number, and a description of what it's good for.

This is really an amazing book. You can feel the great respect the author has for LEGOs, and when you're done, you feel the same way. I also really enjoyed the author's approach to LEGO building, as it was something I've never seen before. This is a great gift for that LEGO builder in your life.

An amazing book for Lego enthusiasts of ALL ages!, December 28, 2005
Like many kids I had a few Lego sets as a kid. And like a lot of kids I stopped playing with them at some point and eventually gave away the sets I had. So when a friend recently gave me a copy of The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide to check out, it was a real surprise at how quickly all those great memories came flooding back of building with Lego. One look at the retro-looking cover on this book and I knew there had to be some cool stuff inside. Indeed, there is!

This book isn't just a set of instructions for a bunch of models or a price guide for collecting sets. It's an overview of the entire Lego system and takes you from knowing what a brick is, right up to designing your own model. Inbetween, there are discussions about scale, building Miniland-sized characters, how to build a sphere and how to build 'jumbo' bricks which look like a blast to make. The pictures are in black and white. At first I thought this would make it difficult to follow along with the examples but it was no problem at all. The images are crisp and clean and with no color it allows you to focus on the bricks being used in the technique without worrying about which color they should be. If I'm gonna' build my own models I'm gonna' use my own colors anyway!

What surprised me the most was, even though I hadn't touched a Lego set in years I found myself wanting to build some of the examples in the book (especially the sphere!!) and went out and bought a couple of those big tubs of assorted parts. The book has helped me rediscover a fond hobby from my past. I'm hooked - again. The author's easy-to-grasp explanations of the various concepts have really helped me feel like I can build some of the ideas that must have been in my head since I was a kid.

One of the coolest parts in the book is the Brick-O-Pedia. This is a big section at the back that shows pictures and descriptions of hundreds of lego pieces. It's worth the price alone! I found it interesting to see when some of the parts were released and Bedford also suggests different uses for many of them.

If you are a kid or a kid at heart who loves Lego then you need this book. If you're an adult who wants to get back into the hobby or help out a child or younger relative then you'll also find this book extremely useful. In my case it's allowing me an easy return to a simpler time. I'll probably sit down with my nephew the next time he visits and share this very cool book with him. I know he''ll enjoy it as much as I have.

Both a how-to and a reference, September 29, 2005
This is a really interesting book. It's a best practices guide for Lego. It teaches how to plan and sculpt Lego like nothing I have read before. It's definitely not the type of book that you get with a Lego kit.

There is also a reference section at the end of the book which covers all of the different types of Lego pieces, which is really handy.

My reservation is that the book could have been larger. The author could have presented more examples to illustrate different types of Lego techniques. So if anything my four star rating is just my way of saying; more, more!

Fantastic book for future master builders, November 1, 2005
I've visited Lego Land several times and am constantly impressed by the creativity of the models on display, and have always come away wondering how I could go about designing a model from scratch like the professional builders do.

The LEGO Builders Guide gives you a step by step guide from starting at the very beginning with choosing your subject, planning using handy templates, building techniques, and presentation.

This book will help you
- Build super size models
- Build micro scale models
- Build Lego Mosaics
- Build Building and people at Mini-Land scale
- Build Geometric shapes (e.g. Lego sphere)
- Organise you Lego bricks

I purchased this book with one specific project in mind, but reading it has given me a hundred more ideas

Great Lego Book and a very good price!

Must have book for any skill level, September 9, 2005
I've been fortunate enough to be able to review this book before it went to press. I loved it, and said as much to the publisher. When I recieved my review copy of the final book last night, I was even MORE impressed.

This book is packed for a great content for any age and/or skill level. Been a LEGO builder for decades? Want to start building as an adult? As a kid? Then this book is for you.

Great work to the author!

The ultimate book for the ultimate building toy!, January 12, 2007
Lego may be the most versatile and beautifully designed construction toy of all time. It's an ingenious blend of engineering, art and fun. Read Allan Bedford's book and you'll probably agree!

I've been a Lego fan for over 40 years, but most of the time I've just been reliving childhood memories from the mid-1960s - occasionally building houses out of red and white bricks, then putting them back into storage. Allan Bedford's book has changed all that. It has shown me what I've been missing all these years!

The creative - and yes, artistic! - potential of Lego is absolutely mind-boggling. Bedford's book explores areas most people couldn't even imagine. There's something for everyone: mosaics and sculptures for artistic types, buildings and vehicles for aspiring architects and engineers, microscale projects for those who prefer or need to keep things really small (note: it's the best way to build things at work without attracting too much attention!), and even sorting and storage tips for serious builders and collectors. And be warned: after you read this book, you won't be able to resist buying a LOT more Lego!

A special feature of Bedford's book is the Brickopedia - an appendix illustrating hundreds of Lego pieces, including the year each was introduced. It alone is worth the price of the book. It made me appreciate the truly brilliant design of the Lego elements that have appeared since the 1960s.

Once you're familiar with the newer Lego bits in the Brickopedia, you'll be delighted with the way they can be used in different Lego constructions. Just recognizing them is half the fun: the front of Santa's sleigh can show up as part of an automobile spoiler; a shark's tooth can morph into the visor of a traffic light; and a snowman's nose can be used as a fire hose nozzle.

One of Picasso's most loved and whimsical sculptures is a bull's head fashioned from a bicycle seat and a pair of handle bars (T�te de taureau,1942). It took artistic vision and a playful creativity to put these components together. Lego opens the door to the vision and creativity that reside within us. Allan Bedford's book is the long-awaited key!

This book is not "LEGO for Dummies.", January 12, 2007
Rather, this book is for those who are interested in the characteristics, the proportions, the considerations, and the general techniques involved in building with one of the best inventions of all time, LEGO. This is the book for the person who understands the old saying: "Give a man a fish--feed him for a day, teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime." This book is for those who want to "learn to fish" so to speak. I purchased this book in December 2005 for my then 8-year-old daughter as she had recently begun so show extended interest in building her own designs from LEGO elements. Subsequent to receiving, and reading, the book her models began to take on a more sophisticated construction as her understanding of the the LEGO system deepened. I do not believe that this book is too technical for a child as some other reviewers have mentioned. It is also not overtly simplistic either and can provide a lot of help to the adult LEGO enthusiast as well. Buy the book, read it, follow the examples, learn the techniques and then let you imagination go and build what you want with confidence-that is what LEGO is all about.

Grandparents' Helper!, February 22, 2006
There are not many toys at Grandma and Grandpa's for our grandchildren to play with so when we came across a LEGO set that used to belong to our son we hoped that it would be a good way for the grandchildren to develop their creative skills. However, we are definitely what you would call "LEGO illiterate". We didn't know where to begin until someone recommended Allan Bedford's book, `The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide'. We purchased it last fall and now look, at least to our grandchildren, like we know all there is to know about LEGO. The Brickopedia is especially helpful and although our projects will be small for awhile with the help of this well written and well organized book we will move on to bigger and better things in the future. LEGO is a great way to spend quality time with grandchildren and can become addictive thanks to the help found in Allan's book.

Everything I'd hoped!, September 26, 2005
Finally! Great instructions for making a generic sphere, and suggestions on how to use some of those mysterious bricks that show up in odd lots. Fun to browse and a good reference tool.

Way to go, Allan!, November 10, 2005
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only for myself, but for my 7-year-old girl. I love the depth of it and the simplicity of it. I liked the trade size, because I could take it with me to continue reading. It was great to get more info and still have some pics to view.

As a former bookseller, I relish good reference books. This is one of them.

Okay, enough with the review; I gotta go get my LEGO bricks sorted. And, with Allan's Brickopedia portion of the book, I can do it in style. Thank you, Allan! When's your next one? ... Read more

Editorial Review

Slip beneath the veil of the Cold War to carry out secret actions and deniable operations with this essential Signature Series guide!

Complete Campaign Walkthrough - We lead you step-by-step through the entire game from start to finish - locate every Enemy Intel!
Highly Detailed Single-Player and Multiplayer Maps! Our maps pinpoint critical locations in every SP and MP level. Custom versions reveal items and objectives specific to each game mode!
Comprehensive Multiplayer Coverage - Expert tactics for Solo and Team-Based Play, every Game Mode, Ranking Up, all the Weapons, Attachments, Perks, Challenges, Killstreaks, and much more!
Analysis of All-New Gameplay Features: COD Point Currency, Expanded Player Customization, Theater Mode, Contracts, Wager Matches, and more!
That s Not All!
Achievements and Trophies
Secrets and Unlockables ... Read more

Reviews

detailed and amazing, December 8, 2010
First off,this guide is definetly(sorry if I spelled it wrong)worth the money.It's very informative and guides you step by step through the campaign and tells you everything you need to complete it on veteran.The zombie coverage is superb and tells you how to get into the double digit rounds.It also tells you how to get every piece of intel and all the achivements.On the multiplayer it describes all the gun's pros and cons.This guide also gives you the details of all the perks and attachments.Also if you've never played the multiplayer it describes all the different kinds of matches and updates you on the maps.It also describes how to play on offense and defense and even has suggested custom classes for every map!One more thing about multiplayer is that it has recommended routes to use on the maps.I would recommended this guide to anyone who has the game and wants to be excellent at multiplayer and get every piece of intel and all the achivements or just to a person who wants to read the book!

Helpful for old guys..., December 16, 2010
My stepson is into PS3 games and got "Black Ops" for his birthday. I like the game too but I'm well over thirty and needed some help figuring it out. This book really helps explain the importance of strategy as well as offering a selection of different strategies for the different game options. There's lots of good info about weapons, accessories and other options. This is a very helpful resource if you're going to play the game a lot and don't want to be pegged as a complete dork. Even if it's too late, it may help speed up the redemption curve.

Worst Game Guide Ever!, December 25, 2010
The text of this guide Call of Duty: Black Ops Signature Series (Bradygames Signature Series Guides) is quite good throughout 80% of the guide but there are a few critical errors. The most unacceptable problem is that when assistance is most needed, it is not provided. I'm not asking for specific step by step instructions, but a little guidance in many areas is just not there. For instance, in the campaign 'PAYBACK' one part of the mission is to 'Destroy Soviet Hinds'. This ends up being a tough and very frustrating task, but the authors help is very minimal and this is just one example of many. There are dozens of other examples but I will not go into them here. Call me crazy but I thought the purpose of this guide was to assist gamers in playing the game! Now-----the images. These are the worst images I have encountered in any guide and I have many. A large percentage of the images are out of focus or very low resolution. Most of the other images are either generally unhelpful or are of areas other than what is being described. How any editor could have allowed this mess to be sent off for production is beyond my comprehension. As I stated before, I have many game guides and I can state unequivocally that the PRIMA guides are far superior to this disaster of a publication. And no, I don't work for PRIMA or any other similar industry. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Get complete coverage of the latest release of the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam inside this comprehensive, fully updated resource. Written by the leading expert in IT security certification and training, this authoritative guide covers all 10 CISSP exam domains developed by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC2). You'll find learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter, exam tips, practice exam questions, and in-depth explanations. Designed to help you pass the CISSP exam with ease, this definitive volume also serves as an essential on-the-job reference.

COVERS ALL 10 CISSP DOMAINS:

• Information security and risk management
• Access control
• Security architecture and design
• Physical and environmental security
• Telecommunications and network security
• Cryptography
• Business continuity and disaster recovery planning
• Legal regulations, compliance, and investigations
• Application security
• Operations security

THE CD-ROM FEATURES:

• Hundreds of practice exam questions
• Video training excerpt from the author
• E-book

Shon Harris, CISSP, is a security consultant, a former member of the Information Warfare unit in the Air Force, and a contributing writer to Information Security Magazine and Windows 2000 Magazine. She is the author of the previous editions of this book. ... Read more

Reviews

I passed the CISSP using only this book and a TON of preparation, May 30, 2010
There is no simple formula to prepare for the CISSP certification, and no single resource which can guarantee success on the certification exam since every applicant's background is unique. However, this book (fifth edition) was my only resource in preparing for the exam and I passed on my first attempt (April 24, 2010).

I spent 60+ hours in preparation for the exam... that's 60+ hours of DEDICATED individual study using this book and CD, not 60+ hours spent web surfing during lunch hours or commercial breaks. My recent background is in middle management, with 20 years experience in network architecture and data security, so I already had a firm technical foundation for the test areas dealing with protocols and encryption variations. I also have an MS in Computer Science. Nonetheless, the exam was so broad, with topics covering general principles and concepts, that I could have prepared twice as long and still left the exam with questions about the outcome.

My personal opinion is that formal classroom instruction, through one of the many organizations offering CISSP preparation courses, is a worthwhile companion to Shon Harris' book. A study group is also a good idea. You will not obtain CISSP certification if you take the exam without preparation. This book (fifth edition) was sufficient, but not 100% comprehensive, to prepare me for passing the CISSP test.

Note: Some reviewers do not appreciate Shon's frequent analogies and humor. Most of her analogies helped me internalize the complex topics, but that's my personal learning style. The efforts at humor were generally awful, but every once in a while she was subtle and brilliant enough to make me laugh out loud. Working through Shon's unique writing style was not a problem for me... I actually found it refreshing.

Useful, but hardly a technical book, March 26, 2010
From a perspective of preparation for the CISSP examination this book is one of the standard places to start from. In that respect, I would give it a 4-start simply because it follows the core notion of the exam itself in that it is a mile wide and an inch deep.

However, do not expect this book to provide technical details or even technical language consistently. There's a lot of verbiage, needless attempts at humor - which really degrades the overall standing of the book - and just the right amount of information, but no more.

Also, do not make this book the sole resource for preparation. You *may* pass the exam but will be none the wiser for most of what the book covers.

Given that this is a technical examination after all, I would have much appreciated if the author did not try and frame the same statement in multiple ways in the same paragraph, stuck to using consistent technical language and provided more links to resources for additional information. It would also have been nicer if the key technical points, definitions, important values were better highlighted - or even repeated in a prominent tip - after every section so that a second reading becomes a lot less demanding. The exam is challenging in itself and the book and author can do a lot more to make preparation a less demanding experience.

It is difficult to come across books that are worthy of technical appreciation and I am afraid the above points make this a middle of the road effort.

I have no particular affinity to either the author or publication but would recommend giving the Mike Chapple book a shot. You will be a lot less frustrated reading technical matter for a technical examination than with the narrative-style of the Shon Harris book.

Edition comparison, February 24, 2010
I bought the third edition of this book in October 2009 to prepare for the exam. The reason for buying that instead of this fifth edition is obvious. It cost me only $2.95 plus $4.00 shipping. I was a little worry at the beginning because of the new material that was added since 2005. However, I though I can supplement with material in the internet. At the end, I don't have the time because the exam was on January 16, 2010 which gave me less than 4 months. During the exam, I did not see anything that I have not seen in the third edition. If you know something about the exam, you know they are not going to ask you directly about a concept or technology. So, you really have to understand the material. Since CISSP is more about principle and concept and less about specific technology, using a third or fifth edition is not going to make a big different. I passed the exam in one shot. Don't get me wrong. Getting the latest and the greatest is always good and I will consider getting the fifth in the near future when I need to brush up the knowledge. But if you want to save a little of money, consider getting the fourth or the third.

The Gold Standard for CISSP, January 30, 2010
This is the absolute gold standard, the one-stop shopping reference for CISSP certification! The price is economical enough to highlight its passages and put notes in its margins. It is the fifty-dollar solution to the horrifically expensive test.

Every IT professional I met, who passed the CISSP test the FIRST time, credits the Shon Harris CISSP manual.

It is the preferred reference for corporations to hand out free to thier employees.

Shon Harris, CISSP AIO 5th Edition - Great Buy!, January 30, 2010
I find this book to be very well written and contains alot of updated materials. I was getting a bit upset that I couldnt find a updated reference material until I found out about this edition. I would recommend this book to anyone who is attempting to get their CISSP. I've just started reading the book today and managed to get to Chapter 3. This book is very well written, and the cd contains multiple PDF's, that I use to read on my cell phone. I also like how the PDF's are broken down into chapters. It helps set small goals and allows you to feel accomplished after reading a 100+ page chapter!

CISSP All in one Exam Guide, July 6, 2010
I cannot say enough good things about this book. I used this and Exam Cram as my sole sources to prepare for this exam and I passed on my first try. I don't have a very technical background so this book prepared me thoroughly for the exam and also helped a great deal in my work as an IT Security Specialist.

Best written resource to study for your CISSP, March 26, 2010
Shon's fluid writing style is enjoyable to read, and communicates effectively, much better than what I've seen from any other CISSP book. However, it takes some time to get through. I only gave myself a month to read it before the exam and I was CRAZY. I think two months would be more reasonable, but to get it done you really need to come up with a schedule and track your progress. If you don't have time for that, I'd recommend attending a bootcamp.

Superb Domain Coverage, June 10, 2010
I've had the pleasure to attend a CCISP class conducted by Shon Harris. She is an exceptional instructor and her All in One book translates the classroom discussions well to the written form.
Great coverage of all the required domains. Highly recommended!

Provides complete coverage of the latest release of the CISSP exam, May 18, 2010
The fifth updated edition of All-in-One CISSP Exam Guide provides complete coverage of the latest release of the CISSP exam, is written by a leading expert in IT security certification, and offers a course text accompanied by a CD-ROM of hundreds of practice exam questions and a video training excerpt by the author. Both students practicing for the exam and workers on the job need this detailed, in-depth course, jam packed with information and tests to be certain of comprehension.

The Bible for CISSP Certification, April 4, 2010
This Study Guide is the one for CISSP Certification. Almost everyone I've know who has the CISSP certification has this book on their shelf. Shon has struck a homerun with CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide. Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP author of: ISP Certification-The Industrial Security Professional Exam Manual or How to Prepare for and Pass the Industrial Security Professional Certification Exam;
National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) ... Read more

Editorial Review

Puzux's Assorted Sudoku for Kindle, Vol.1, allows you to play interactive Sudoku puzzles directly on your Kindle!Save puzzles, add notes and get hints.

Puzux is the first company to bring quality interactive content to Amazon's Kindle. From crosswords to Sudoku, our aim is to deliver the best in mind-games to your Kindle whenever and wherever you are.

Assorted Sudoku for Kindle includes twenty Sudokus at all levels of difficulty.

For moreinteractive Sudoku and crossword books on your Kindle, search for Puzux in the Amazon store.

Please note: These puzzles are for the Amazon Kindle device, and will not work on Kindle software for other devices.In some countries the Kindle is shipped without an internet browser, which is required to play the puzzles in this book. To check whether the browser is available in your location please visit Amazon's Kindle Website and follow the "Live outside the US?" link.

Due to the Kindle 3's lack of numbers on its keyboard, this product is currently not compatible with that device. ... Read more

Reviews

This is not a book. It is a web page., November 7, 2010
If you are expecting a book or a program that runs on the Kindle do not buy this. This so-called "book" is really a web site with pages running Javascript.

Because this is a web page it is not practical to use this on airplanes unless you have wifi and pay to use it on the plane. The game allows you to play a single game without being connected but there are constant nags to turn it back on every time you enter a note or access other game functions.

The gameplay is really not that good either. Accessing any game function other than entering a number into a square means waiting a few seconds for the scripts to run. Pressing the delete key on a number doesn't delete the number. it puts the cursor into the box and then you have to move cursor to the right of the number before the delete key will actually delete the number. It is very annoying.

I know it didnt cost much but I still regret buying it.

Great interactive Sudoku puzzles for the Kindle, December 22, 2009
I had my doubts that the Kindle would be able to work well with an interactive puzzle like Sudoku but the people at Puzux nailed it! I really enjoyed these challenging puzzles and it does allow for number notes to help you solve them. If you really get stuck you can get a hint or see the solved puzzle. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Need to learn HTML fast? This best-selling reference's visual formatand step-by-step, task-based instructions will have you up and runningwith HTML in no time. In this completely updated edition of ourbest-selling guide to HTML, Web expert and best-selling authorElizabeth Castro uses crystal-clear instructions and friendly prose tointroduce you to all of today's HTML and XHTML essentials. You’ll learnhow to design, structure, and format your Web site. You'll create anduse images, links, styles, lists, tables, frames, and forms, and you'lladd sound and movies to your site. Finally, you will test and debugyour site, and publish it to the Web. Along the way, you'll findextensive coverage of CSS techniques, current browsers (Opera, Safari,Firefox), creating pages for the mobile Web, and more.

Visual QuickStart Guide--the quick and easy way to learn!

• Easy visual approach uses pictures to guide you through HTML and show you what to do.
• Concise steps and explanations get you up and running in no time.
• Page for page, the best content and value around.
• Companion Web site at www.cookwood.com/html offers examples, a lively question-and-answer area, updates, and more.

Reviews

The way web design should be taught., March 8, 2008
Ok... this book is the last thing I would've bought if I had just browsed around the web (that's the I-already-know-everything talking).

My roomate bought it and the second I started turning the pages I actually told my students to get a copy for class. I got one for myself and even though I have 8 flaming years of experience in web design (note the sarcasm please) I really found every single bit of information extremely valuable.

Elizabeth restructured the way I work in the web and the I-already-know-everything guy recieved his lesson as in the old days.

Simply get a copy. I can't say much more.

Easy and Surefire Way to Create a Great Website, July 17, 2007
As a man of 70 years with no clue as to how to create a web page, I purchased this book along with its primer, "Creating a Web Page with HTML" by the same author, and in no time I was able to structure a web page for an architect friend of mine which received rave reviews. Castro's ability to walk you through the process of the protocols with ease made the project a cakewalk. I had previously purchased Dreamweaver thinking it would be easier to not have to learn the html language. However, I got frustrated with the software which is what precipitated my going out to try to find a simple, easy but complete book on how to build a site. After building my first website, I now feel quite comfortable with the html language and with the ability to create more sites.

Not for the beginner, January 7, 2008
It staggers me that this book has received high ratings from so many people. Good luck if you're a beginner trying to learn HTML and CSS from this book. Before you even see so much as one HTML tag, the author leaps in to talking about the W3C, cross browser issues, HTML extensions, the web standards project, CSS workarounds, XML, markup languages, is XHTML dangerous, the difference between serving a page as XML or XHTML, text content, the identical properties of XHTML and HTML (just in case you're wondering, no, we still haven't seen a working example of a HTML tag yet, and we are now on page 27), elements, attributes, values, elements containing other elements, empty elements, tags, hex colors...

OK! Now we have seen our first few tags. But oops.. rather than receiving a proper introduction, the tags shown are merely displayed in side columns, to assist in making points about "attribute pair values" and layout.

And so on we go hearing about Uniform Resource Locators, block vs inline, parents and children (still no proper introduction to our first tag), plug ins, helper applications, file names, absolute and relative urls, web accessibility... and on to page 40 which gives theory about DOCTYPES, standards and quirks mode.. now here's some theory about building web pages for an intended audience, saving web pages, creating default pages, editing and organisng files (page 52, still haven't seen our first tag), how to get web design inspiration, more on DOCTYPEs, character encoding, the HTML and HEAD tags.. what's this?! Oh my gosh! Page 58 and finally the HTML tags start getting introduced!

I'm sorry, but this is garbage. If I don't have a solid, working understanding of HTML (which I don't, hence why I bought this so called guide to "learn" XHTML and CSS), then there is NO WAY I am going to have the *FAINTEST CLUE* what the author is talking about in those first 58 pages. NONE.

Here is something along the lines of what I was hoping to see, perhaps no later than about page 3:

Type this in to your text editor, and save it as myfirstpage.html:

Hey! This is my first web page!

Now view it in your web browser. Now put some

tags around it (explain what a tag is, and what h1 means), now save again, and view in your web browser. See how the text has now become more enlarged and prominent? That's because the web browser can see the

tags around your text, so is now displaying your text as a heading.

THAT is how you introduce someone to HTML.

In summary:

If you're a beginner, stay as far away as you possibly can from this book. It will probably turn you off trying to learn HTML and CSS.

For the intermediates, the best this book will do is act as an occasional reference for ideas you already have some knowledge of. It is only for this reason that the book was saved from receiving a 1 star rating from me.

A great book for beginners, March 8, 2007
This book is a great book for beginners. I am graphic designer who has succumbed to the overwhelming need of web design and I bought this book to guide me from start to finish. It is a guide that helps you through the whole process. From HTML/XHTML to CSS and some JavaScript.

Great book for HTML and CSS beginner, March 26, 2008
I have been a fan of peachpit press for years, and this book has a lot going for it. As a beginner, I was quickly able to establish a foundation that I am building on. I strongly recommend this book to anyone BEFORE they buy a Dreamweaver book. In other words, get comfortable with handcoding html and css before you even think about dreamweaver. There are also excellent sections on organizing a website, attracting visitors, etc.

WARNING: The binding has fallen apart on my book making it a hassle to use. This is an issue that is evidently common with peachpit books. I am in touch with the publisher to get another, and hopefully they will come through.

Great book for a professional!, July 25, 2007
Being a professional web designer you can never know too much and theres always new information that you have to learn because website standards and techniques change almost overnight. What use to work yesterday will no longer work today. But being a professional designer, you don't have time to read through tons of useless and boring information. You need clear and concise imformation that gets to the point and explains in detail without getting too complicated to get the job done.

I bought the original 5th edition when it came out and I learned so much from it. [...]

That's why when the 6th edition came out I couldn't wait to buy it. The 6th edition is in full color and has even more imformation, which is surprising because I didn't think that anything could get better then the 5th edition, but I was sure surprised.

If you want to learn some very valuable skills that will eventually make you money, BUY THIS BOOK!
[...]

Slightly over a beginner, but excellent for a novice, March 8, 2007
I purchased this book after using the previous (5th) edition which was borrowed from the library. The fifth edition was so excellent for a beginner that I wanted a permanent copy. I find the 6th edition excellently written with well-thought-out examples. The accompanying website to the book is a powerful resource. The only downside I found is that this edition started at a slightly higher level than the previous edition and I couldn't reference some of the simpler concepts. The book instructs you to go to the website, but afterall, this is a BOOK--to be read away from a computer--so I had to have internet nearby to get the complete experience I found in the earlier edition. My advice? Add back some very-beginner material and keep the excellent material added and this will be a great resource from beginner through novice. Still--it's a five star resource.

Let your fingers do the walking ---- and then some!!, August 29, 2007
The book is obviously for beginners and does have a lot of information that can be useful. The author uses a contradictory style of presentation in the book - easy to read with visual examples; however nearly every page I read had references to other pages in the book. This is a real nightmare having to flip all around the book and try to stay with the flow of learning.

Because the author's "style" is to write on half the page and show examples on the other half - each page has half the content. Yet, in that reduced page content there are many references to other parts of the book. As only one example, look at page 105.

On this page you'll find references to page 151, page 69, page 114, pages 106-107, page 108, page 112 and page 113. Again, this is only one page and example because nearly every page is filled with these types of references that make the "Yellow Pages" look tame.

I got through the first six chapters and couldn't deal with it any longer. In those 118 pages that I went through, there had to be several hundred (if not 1000+) references to other pages. Considering there are 436 pages in the book (not counting the index) I didn't feel it worth my time or effort to continue.

Working in the IT industry for more than 25 years, I can only thank my lucky stars that the author was never a part of our planning committees or programming departments. Flow charts, logic, etc would have been all over the place with connectors out of control.....and then try to get staff to follow/understand that flow. Yeah, right!!!

I gave the book to a co-worker with cautionary remarks about how difficult it might be to follow along. I'll give my co-worker credit - she got nearly 200 pages into the book before giving up on it for the same reasons I did.

Continuity!
Fluidity!

You won't find it in this book!
So if you're willing to put up with paging through the book that often, and you can keep track of the "train of thought", then more power to you. There are other books available and they have got to be presented better than this one.....I continue to search Amazon for such a book and will order immediately!

Author hampered by VQS design, March 20, 2010
There are several reasons I couldn't bring myself to give this book five stars, although I would have liked to. The author writes well and covers a lot of ground, but the pace is uneven and I feel it comes up short on the treatment of some important topics.

I first learned (X)HTML by studying the fourth edition of Thomas Powell's "HTML & XHTML: The Complete Reference" HTML & CSS: The Complete Reference, Fifth Edition (Complete Reference Series)." That book was more than twice the size of Castro's book and a much more thorough and better illustrated treatment of the markup languages. However, Powell's volume was copyright 2003, and the theory and practice of "proper" web design are fast moving targets, especially considering the evolution and increasing adoption of CSS, DHTML, JavaScript and the DOM over the last decade, as well as the growing emphasis on standards and the separation of structure and presentation. I bought and read Castro's book primarily as a refresher course. I'm glad I already had a good background in the subject.

I suspect the author was handicapped by the publishing style used in the "Visual Quickstart Guide" titles. That style divides each page into two columns. The outside column is used for the main explanatory text, while the gutter column displays examples--typically screen captures and/or code snippets--that illustrate the concepts discussed in the accompanying text. When I first encountered this format in one of their books on XML, I rather liked it, but the enchantment quickly faded. Structuring content such that each topic should fit in the limited space of a single column on a page just doesn't work for me. Some topics in Castro's book deserved more space; e.g., divs, forms, float, position. Limiting the code to snippets short and small enough to fit in a narrow gutter column also restricts the author's ability to properly display relevant code. The Murach books use a similar design, but it works much better; their books are a larger format and they use facing pages instead of hamstringing the authors by dividing each page into two narrow columns.

I was also disappointed in not being able to find any way to post errata on the book's website; there were several I found that were not listed in the official posted errata. I enjoyed the treatment of podcasts and rss feeds at the end of the book, although those subjects seemed a bit off-topic. The last quarter of the book is devoted to a reasonably good HTML reference but, since that kind of information is readily available online, I think the space could have been used more profitably by expanding the coverage of HTML core concepts.

Because of the uneven pace of instruction, the cramped presentation, and limited coverage of important layout techniques, I think this book would not be one I would recommend to someone new to HTML markup. However, I attribute the shortcomings more to the publisher than the author.

Excellent! Very well written, very simple and organized. I highly recommend this book!, May 11, 2008
I'm a reasonably computer savvy person. However, I've been wanting to develop more marketable skills in design... so, recently I've started taking classes in FLASH, ILLUSTRATOR, etc. Then I was told that it would be very beneficial for me to learn HTML and CSS, so, after reading many reviews on Amazon, I bought this book. In a matter of hours, I was designing an XHTML website for myself. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to entry-level web designers. It is extremely well written and clear. It gives some good foundational background for web design, the differences and purposes of HTML, XHTML, and CSS, and it's a great resource for all aspects of designing web pages! If you want to break into web design, BUY THIS BOOK! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Laminated quick reference guide showing step-by-step instructions and shortcuts for how to use Microsoft Windows 7. Covers the following topics: Starting a Program, Accessories (Calculator, Note Pad), Using the Shortcut Menu, Properties, Pinning a Program to the Start Menu, Opening Files or Folders, Using Jump Lists (Recently Used Files, Pinned Files, Common Tasks), Pinning Files to Jump Lists, Switching Among Open Windows, Manipulating Windows: Moving, Enlarging, Restoring, Hiding or Minimizing, Restoring a Minimized Window, Showing the Desktop. Exiting a Program/Closing a Window, Adding Gadgets to the Desktop, Using the Notification Area (Printing, Security, Sound), What to Try if a Program Freezes, Using the Control Panel, Saving a Document, Getting Help. File Management with Windows Explorer: Changing Views, Show/Hide Menu Bar, Show/Hide Navigation Pane, Arrange Group or Sort Files and Folders, Navigating Folders in Explorer, Working with Libraries, Selecting Multiple Items, Moving or Copying Files or Folders, Creating a Folder, Creating a Shortcut to a Document Folder or Other Item, Renaming Files or Folders, Zipping Files or Folders, Deleting Files or Folders, Restoring Items from the Recycle Bin, Emptying the Recycle Bin, Burning to a CD/DVD, Searching for a File Folder or Program, Ending your Windows Sessions, and Changing Login Password. Also includes a list of keyboard shortcuts. This guide is suitable as a training handout, or simply an easy to use reference guide, for any type of user. ... Read more

Reviews

Very handy item, February 25, 2010
You can make one of these of your own and laminate it but who has the time? This is a very useful, handy thing to use while learning Windows 7. It is the nuts and bolts of what you need to do. It is a definite must for those who are using W7 for the first time. It has your basics as well as keyboard shortcuts, how to use the aero features, file management, zipping and compressing files, changing login and password. It is perfect for new computer users and helpful to those of us who use several operating systems and forget which is which.

Windows7 ref. Guide, July 13, 2010
I found this chart to be totally useless. do not recommend to anyone. Very small print if you can even read it.

Very very basic, January 30, 2010
This card is for someone who is new to computers otherwise is of little help.

Useful quick reference, October 1, 2010
Having just transferred from Windows XP to Windows 7, I knew most of what I needed to know. But within a few days I'd gotten stuck - and there was the remedy in this plasticized cheat sheet, much like the punctuation/grammar cheat sheets of yore. Thanks!

Modestly Helpful but Laminated., September 6, 2010
My expectations were far more exaggerated than my actual experiences. Had the publisher suggested that this is a perfect for a novice Windows 7 user beyond saying Windows 7 Introduction I probably would not have bought this aide. Many of the helps are carry overs from previous iterations of Windows including 3.1. But and this is important to those of us who need assistance. This product is far better than nothing and if you do not have a readily available F1 location for Windows 7 then this Reference Guide will be of assistance. Keep in mind, however, that F1 is not universal for Windows 7. I believe it is browser directed and that is critical to some degree. In short: handy if new to Windows and makes a nice sheet when you know that you need help and where to go to get it.

waste of money, September 18, 2010
cannot make any sense out of this card. maybe i am too much a beginner to computers. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Give your students a comprehensive, hands-on, and engaging learning experience with the NEW PERSPECTIVES ON MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007, FIRST COURSE, PREMIUM VIDEO EDITION. This Premium Video Edition includes a Video Companion containing 75 videos of challenging skills, 10 Capstone Projects and SAM Projects instruction files to help "Bring Learning To Life"The New Perspectives Series challenges students to apply what they are learning to real-life tasks, preparing them to easily transfer skills to new situations. With the New Perspectives Series' case-based, critical thinking approach, students understand why they're learning what they're learning, and are better situated to retain skills and concepts beyond the classroom.Note: Autograding requires purchase of SAM pincode. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A study guide for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam, this book provides all the information project managers need to�thoroughly prepare for the test. Review materials cover all the processes, inputs, tools, and outputs that will be tested, and extra help is offered with insider secrets, test tricks and tips, hundreds of sample questions, and exercises designed to strengthen mastery of key concepts�and help�candidates pass the�exam on the first attempt.

Reviews

One-Stop Shop for PMP Certification, May 28, 2003
PASS. First time out. Any questions?

Seriously, I read the PMBOK cover to cover. DENSE. All the information is there, but it lacks several things that are crucial to a successful PMP exam preparation: intuitive organization, practice questions, and real-world applications.

Andy Crowe's book fills the gap. It presents the information in a structured, easy-to-understand format that guides you through the 39 discrete processes, their interaction, and most importantly, what you need to know about each one to pass the exam.

The final exam takes the concepts presented in the book and makes you think about them from yet another angle, and the fact that all the answers are there provides the last step in cementing the information in your head. My score on Andy's final and my score on the PMP exam were within 5 points of each other, so he obviously got it right.

The PMP exam is extremely situational. Some questions have four correct answers! What they want from you is the BEST answer. Many others focus on order of operations and ask what you, as the project manager, should do FIRST. These real-world situations are covered clinically in the PMBOK, but stressed in detail in this book.

Buy it. Read it. And Pass the PMP. I did.

This is what a PMP Prep Book Should Be!, June 30, 2006
After studying Rita Mulcahy's "PMP Exam Prep" book for months, I found myself so frustrated and confused that I started looking for other material. I went online and found the positive reviews of Andy Crowe's "The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try" and bought the book, and I am SO glad I did!

What took months to understand reading the overly-complex RMC book became crystal clear when I read Crowe's book. Crowe organizes his material well, and at the beginning of each chapter he conveniently defines the material's difficulty, memorization level and importance on the exam in terms of "High, Medium or Low". Each page has a tab on the edge that identifies what process you are in, so if you find yourself deep in concentration and suddenly wondering, "Hey am I reading about Quality Assurance or Quality Control?" there's a large indicator right in front of you to help.

On a purely mechanical level, Crowe went out of his way to make sure this book was organized to help you study. I really appreciated that.

The material itself is excellent. As some have pointed out, it is a little slim in some areas, but the book's purpose is to help you pass the exam and in this regard, Crowe admits that he glosses over some items that tend to appear less than others. I recommend you read this book and refer back to the PMBOK and one additional study guide whenever you are confused or need additional detail.

I did find that PTA (Point of Total Assumption) was covered here, where it wasn't covered in the other material I used. I didn't find any major shortcomings in the coverage of the book.

I have read criticisms of the book's grammar and spelling. I did find a few (under 5) spelling errors, but I honestly appreciated the "big print" type and simplistic words. The material covered on the PMP Exam is pretty complex and tough. And too many PMP education providers seem to think they have to mimic that complexity and difficulty to teach the material. It was incredibly refreshing to find a book that actually went out of its way to make the material simple.

The book was also an easy and fast read, unlike all of the other materials I found. I read the first half of the book (up through the end of the "Time" chapter) in one day, and the second half in another day. I then went through the book with a highlighter and re-read it, in 2 days time again, highlighting all the key points. During each of these passes, I took the questions at the end of each chapter. Finally I skimmed the material several times, only glossing over the highlighted points. Doing this I could flip through the entire book in a day. I did that twice. Finally, two days before the exam I took the entire 200 question test at the end of the book, scoring 90%.

The only suggestion I have to improve this book would be to make the exam questions more difficult, so that they more closely mimic the tough, brutal questions I encountered on the PMP exam.

The free material at the Velociteach website was great. I signed up for the online site two weeks prior to sitting for the exam. The online quizzes were good, but limited. The real benefit for me was the classroom slides which presented the material very well. Even though it was mostly a rehash of what was found in the book, it was slightly different material, presented very well, using repetitive images and phrases that really helped key concepts stick in my head. (After going online, I easily memorized word for word the definition of a "Baseline" as they always referred back to the same images and the same words on certain key points. I found this GREAT for learning!)

I took the PMP Exam a few days ago and passed fairly well, thanks completely to Andy Crowe's book. Crowe explains early on in the book how much weight each process group carries on the exam. Calculating my scores in each process group (Initiation, Planning, Executing, M+C, Closing and Professional Responsibility) x the weight each group carries on the exam, I arrived at an estimate of 75% for my score on the overall exam, passing is approximately 61%. My weakest area was in Initiating by the way, which surprised me. Note that I took the final exam in the book shortly before the exam and scored 90%. I would recommend that you get to an 85% or 95% level on this particular book's questions prior to taking the exam.

I am very pleased with my score on the exam and with this book and Velociteach in general. This is my PMP preparation book of choice and I highly recommend it to anyone who is studying for their PMP credential.

This book really delivers, July 26, 2004
Until you have actually sat for the PMP examination (a grueling 4 hour 200 question computer administered examination), it is really not possible to gauge the value of this book. After taking the test, I can say categorically, that it would not be possible for even the most experienced project manager to pass the test without having read Andy Crowe's book. The Project Management Institute (PMI) has defined a very robust set of processes and knowledge that comprises their view of project management. Often, however, this view is different than the experiences of many long time project managers.

Andy's book logically lays open PMI's view of project management and provides the reader with the understanding of PMI's approach and how it also relates to many of our actual real world experiences. In a carefully planned order, the book covers each process group explaining the key elements and important items that the reader must remember in order to do their very best on the examination. The reader learns the why of PMI's approach so that they (the reader) can apply the "why" to answering the test questions. So, instead of having to memorize answers, the reader understands the underlying philosophy and, therefore, can deduce the correct answer by applying the PMI approach to each question. Although titled as a how to pass book, it really provides a useful guide to applying the PMI processes to any project. Andy gives the reader more than a guide to passing the test - this book is a great reference that will be useful long after the reader takes and passes the PMP examination.

To help the reader with test preparation, the each chapter has review questions as well as a final examination. These questions are very similar to the kinds of questions and subject matter found in the examination that they really help to both assess the reader's readiness for the test as well as to provide an excellent practice tool. The book also provides insight as to the level of difficulty and approximate percentages of coverage each process group will represent in the actual exam. This helps the reader to focus their study time in order to maximize their study effectiveness.

Having never used a "pass the test" book in the past, I was a bit skeptical. This book certainly demonstrated that it is possible to create a book that can actually come through a promise to pass on the first try. I have and will recommend this book as a must to anyone that is planning on taking the PMP examination.

Fantastic book for passing the PMP, January 10, 2005
I passed the PMP exam this morning on my first try. Thanks to this book and Rita Mulcahy's Exam Prep, I passed it with a wide margin. This is my favorite of the two as it gets to the point and really focuses on the key concepts in each knowlege area. I would recommend that you start out with this book as it gives you a good foundation without drowning you with minutia! Then switch to Rita's book to add the polish and finer details.

The questions at the end of each chapter and the Final Exam in the book was a good representation of the actual exam. I really like the fact that Andy added a totally different final exam and didn't reuse any questions from the chapters. In this regard, this book was far above Rita's book.

Summary: No regrets at all about buying this book. Will keep it as a quick reference at work.

One of the Top Three PMP Exam Guides, April 19, 2006
have recently read a few PMP books cover to cover, and I thought I should share my experience with other readers with an intention to help them to find the right books. A brief review of what I think are the top three PMP books follows:

1. This Book: The PMP Exam.
This is a great book and relatively self contained. You can study this book and pass the PMP exam. There are a only a few topics, which are not covered in adequate depth. The material coverage, however, is organized around the knowledge areas while the exam objectives are organized in order of the process groups. That breaks the exam objective coverage into pieces, and may cause confusion. I consider the book price un-reasonably high.
I recommend this book if you are looking for a self contained book to pass the PMP exam.

2. PMP In Depth by Paul Sanghera, Thomson Course Technology.
This book has just hit the market and is relatively unknown. But I found this a rock solid book. Almost all the topics are covered with adequate depth. The material is presented in a logical learning sequence and the presentation is very cohesive: no hopping from topic to topic. It's an easy and interesting read. All concepts are clearly defined and expalined. This makes it a great book for both the PMP and the CAPM exams. I feel that the communication management could have more coverage. Although for the exams, the current coverage is enough.
The material is organized in order of the project lifecycle (the process groups) consistent with the way the exam objectives are organized. Furthermore, exam objectives covered in a chapter are explained in the beginning of the chapter. This makes the exam preparation easier and confusion-free. The book is very reasonably proced.
I recommend this book for the PMP and the CAPM exams, and also if you just want to build a good understanding of the project management basics.

3. The PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy, RMC Publications.
It is a very good book if you are either taking a course from the author or from an instructor who is using this book as a text book. There are lots of exercises. Unfortunately, this is not a self contained book. Topics are not covered with enough depth. Also there is a poor flow and a lots of hopping from topic to topic. The coverage of topics is organized around the knowledge areas while the exam objectives are organized in order of the process groups. That breaks the exam objective coverage into pieces, and may cause confusion.Moreover, it's outrageously high priced. Too many cross references and over-hyped.
Overall I recommend this book of you are using it in a course.

critical success factor to pass the exam, February 15, 2005
I cleared my pmp exam on my first try yesterday. As you know, PMBOK is a reference instead of a textbook. It is very useful, but definitely not a good starting point to learn about the PMI methodology. I knew I have to turn to other sources, which eventually lead to a procurement process. My requirement is very clear, I need some materials which can enable me to clear the exam ASAP (i.e. a short payback period). The specifications of the materials are as follows:

1. Explain everything straight-forward, so that I can capture the key points immediately
2. Light in weight, so that I can carry it around
3. Without lengthy-case to confuse me, so that I can focus on PMI methodology and principles, not the background information of other companies

According to the comments (expert judgements) here, I "procured" two text books, one by Andy Crowe and another by Rita Mulcahy, the two most popular reference books about PMP. Two books were studied instead of one as I'm not sure whether one book is adequate or not, two books can mitigate the risk, the "unknown-unknown".

I finished both within one month and was fully satisfied with their contents. Their only drawback is, the exercises provided are much easier than the actual exam. But I don't blame on the authors because the objective of these questions is let you verify your understanding (inspection). I checked the questions I missed and clarified my misunderstandings steadily (progressive elaboration). PMBOK is helpful in this stage to provide the official definition of key items. We all know that PMP means Project Management Professional, but it also means Practice Make Perfect. I passed my PMP exam (objectives achieved) as promised by Andy :) Based on the score sheet, I understand that I have some weak areas where I need "continuous improvement". Unlike PMI methodology, there is no closing process in learning. We have many similar idioms in Chinese.

I've cleared the PMP exam on first try with both books. But I still believe that, the critical success factor to pass the exam does not lie on the tools only, but also the methodology how you prepared the exam. There should be many other textbooks available which can help. I am just lucky enough to use some of them.

I passed the PMP using only this book!, May 19, 2003
This valuable guide is worth its weight in gold! This was the only reference I used to study for the PMP exam and like the title says, I passed it on my first try in March 2003 - by a wide margin I might add.

The book reads as if the author were right by your side guiding you through the critical information needed to pass the exam. Instead of simply presenting a large volume of information as other reference guides do, Andy Crowe has ranked and rated all of the information he presents. He has organized the book in such a logical format that not only did I pass the PMP exam, but I really understand PMI's processes and why PMI does things the way they do. That's the real purpose of the PMP certification in the first place, right.

I can't recommend this book enough. If you are interested in passing the PMP the first time and shaving months off your study time, (who isn't) you have to read this book.

Great book to begin with, but..., February 4, 2007
This is the first book I read to study for my exam and I passed today!!! I think it's time for me to contribute and provide comments to the other people. This book is very easy to read; however, YOU CAN'T JUST RELY ON THIS BOOK! I brought the "PMP In depth by Paul Sangher" and it is also a good book to read. In conclusion, please please read the PMBOK after you read this book since you don't want to be like me -- I got very low score and I thought I couldn't pass!! Hope this helps and good luck ;-)

If you want to pass the PMP this will do it, May 30, 2003
If your concern is to pass the PMP exam, as quickly and easily as possible, this is an excellent book. I've spent over a decade as a PM and had just come off a 4.5yr contract. I also spent two years teaching principals of Project Management in the professional certification program at Columbia using the PMBOK as the basis of my curriculum. I was comfortable with my understanding of the basic methodology and the knowledge areas.

My goal was to pass the PMP with the least amount of hassle. I didn't want to learn more about project management, additional theories or examples of excellent new approaches to the different knowledge areas, at least not as part of this process. I didn't want to spend the next six months attending a study group. I wanted to know the mindset of the PMI test developers. I wanted to know their prejudices and attitudes and how these very subjective positions were expressed through the answers they expected and the questions they designed. And since these attitudes and positions tend to change with time, I needed to know what was current right now.

For instance, I tend to solicit team feedback concerning major policy decisions. For the most part PMI doesn't consider that the team should be consulted outside of the estimation exercises. Just knowing this fact allowed me to correctly answer a number of questions on the exam. The issue here is not what approach is best or to debate the question. The issue is what is PMI's position and how does it show up in the test. This is the type of information "The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try" provided along with the foundation concepts of the PMI methodology.

The book provides the material in an efficient, easy to understand presentation. In addition the book's graphics and memorization aids are both attractive and effective. More importantly they are organized by knowledge area. I read the book in the context of the class Andy teaches. I took a sample PMP test at the beginning of the class and scored in the 50 percentile. When I took the official exam a short time after the class, I scored 81%. The class is great but the book contains the class material and stands on its own.

Very Helpful book, December 21, 2003
Hi all, I just took and passed the PMP test this weekend. I used a few different sources to study. PMBOK, Mr. Crowe's book and another book by Michael Newell. The best source was Mr. Crowe's book. I would have liked a cd with the questions and some of the questions were a bit too easy but on the whole it was a great resource and the one that I recommend the most. I also found a good website that had some sample questions called www.pmboulevard.com.
The book focused on the knowledge you really need and I followed his instructions on what too do when you take the test too a tee. But don't be fooled you must put in some serious study time to pass the test, its not easy and there is a lot too know but this book could be used as a guide.

Good luck everyone. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Ansel Adams (1902-1984) was a pioneer of landscape photography, whose imagery-especially his iconic views of the American National Parks--is widely published and instantly recognizable. While he is undoubtedly one of the best-loved and best-known visionaries of American art, photographers also recognize him as a pioneer of technique, a theoretician, and as one of the great teachers of the craft of photography.

His zone system has been widely adapted, but Adams unique imagery also relied on his determination and application at every stage of the photographic process; he spent years in his darkroom, as well as out in the open air. For decades, this kind of attention to detail required the kind of equipment, time, and facilities that were out of the reach of most photographers--but now, in the digital age, technology has finally made his techniques accessible.

This book will show you what can be learned from Adams working process, and how these lessons can be applied today. The craft of Adams photography is discussed, and the ZONE SYSTEM is related to the digital age. Sections on light, composition, mood, and the darkroom all show what can be achieved today using and understanding his thinking. Michael Frye's own photography provides many stunning examples of the results that can be achieved and, as one of Adams' natural successors in the field, he is well placed to analyze the inspirational shots which open each chapter.

* Demystifies the art behind the iconic shots* Contains a number of breathtaking works by Ansel Adams and other landscape masters such as Edward Weston and Elliot Porter * Written by one of the most reputable fine landscape photographers, who (like Ansel Adams) uses Yosemite National Park most frequently as his subject* Breaks the zone systems (famous to Adams) down in a way that digital photographers can use

Reviews

Lessons from the Masters, January 31, 2010
Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Eliot Porter were amongst the greatest landscape photographers of the twentieth century. Unlike many of today's photographers, they used film. The book "In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters: Digital Landscape Photography" tries to translate their techniques into the language of modern digital photography.

The first part of the book, called "Technical Foundations" deals with the basic techniques of digital photography with emphasis on how those techniques might be applied to landscape photography. Experienced users may find little new here, although the explanation of the zone system may introduce people who have mastered the histogram to another method of calculating exposure. At the same time, the explanations of the fundamentals may prove much too pithy for beginners. Perhaps the section will most help those already familiar with the basics to understand how to apply these techniques like the masters.

The second part of the book, entitled "Light, Composition and the Art of Seeing" evokes the masters, mostly by quoting their words. The images presented are primarily those of Frye, but those familiar with the masters will recognize that much of his work is clearly derived from their style, except for being captured digitally and usually in color. Although this aspect of photography is the most amorphous to describe in writing, Frye does a good job, and his lovely pictures, taken mostly in Yosemite and other favorite locations of Adams, are well worth studying.

The final part deals with "The Digital Darkroom: Editing, Processing and Printing" and it is here that Frye shows how I imagine the masters would use modern image processing software and hardware rather than the chemical darkroom. Although quite extensive, it is certainly not a Photoshop primer. Instead those who already know how to use such software will see examples of how Frye uses it to emulate the style of the masters. Since most Photoshop manuals do not show many examples of actual applications, this can be quite useful.

My only complaint with the book is that I would have liked a few more photographs by the masters included, with some deeper analysis of the images to reveal the techniques they used to fulfill their vision. There is still plenty of room for the photographer to view and analyze their works in other books.

No photographers should expect (or fear) that after reading this book they will take pictures like the masters. Instead, they should expect that some of the techniques, if adopted, will be incorporated into their own style and add to the quality of their images.

Not for novices, but also not beyond mid-level amateurs, January 26, 2010

Editorial Review

Bestselling author Stephen Nelson returns with big help for small businesses

Offering expert advice, bestselling author Stephen Nelson returns with updated coverage of the latest revisions and enhancements to the leading small business accounting software package: QuickBooks. After a quick review of bookkeeping basics, you’ll discover how QuickBooks can help you build the perfect budget, process payroll, simplify your tax return prep work, create invoices, manage inventory, generate income statements, balance accounts, and much more.

• Veteran author Stephen Nelson updates his perennial bestseller and offers you easy-to-understand coverage of the newest release of QuickBooks
• Encourages you to take control of managing your own business accounting and financial management tasks so you can avoid having to hire expensive outside help
• Provides expert advice for building the perfect budget, processing payroll, creating invoices, managing inventory, tracking job costs, generating income statements, balancing accounts, creating financial reports, and more

QuickBooks 2011 For Dummies helps you handle your financial management tasks more effectively so that you can effectively manage your business! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Perfect your photos and images with this “focused” guide to the latest version of Photoshop Elements

For most of us, the professional-level Photoshop is overkill for our needs. Amateur photographers and photo enthusiasts turn to Photoshop Elements for a powerful but simpler way to edit and retouch their snapshots. Photoshop Elements 9 For Dummies, fully updated and revised for the latest release of this software product, helps you navigate Elements to create, edit, fix, share, and organize the high-quality images you desire. Full color pages bring the techniques to life and make taking great photos fun and easy.

• Introduces you to the work area
• Shows you how to upload images to your computer
• Reviews ways to view, find, organize, and manage your photos
• Details how to modify your photos to your specifications
• Distills working with layers, contrast, color, clarity, filter, effects, styles, and type
• Explains how to print your creations, create a slide show, and optimize images for the Web

Written by veteran digital imaging and print authors Barbara Obermeier and Ted Padova, this handy reference is a highly readable and enjoyable way to learn this powerful image editing application. ... Read more

Reviews

poorly illustrated and disorganized, December 4, 2010
For a book about visual editing, this one is woefully lacking in helpful illustrations. The few screenshots reproduced are of such poor quality that the names on the taskbars and menus can hardly be read. The more abundant but still too few photos used to illustrate features of the software are almost useless since they fail to show the element of the feature. For example, in the section on selecting parts of the photo to edit, the lines to mark the section of the photo selected are almost invisible and things like the lasso cursor are about the size of a pinprick. Other reviewers had mentioned these shortcomings but I thought the book would be worthwhile at a discounted price since I had liked the "For Dummies" books purchased in the past. I was wrong wrong wrong. Even the text proved to be too frustrating to be of much help. The instructions were constantly referring the reader to an earlier or later section of the book to explain something or other. If this is where the Dummies series is headed, then they really are for dummies like me who waste their money on poorly illustrated, poorly organized and generally useless manuals.

Excellent for beginners to digital photography!, November 19, 2010
I had never done any more with photography than automatic point and shoot cameras, both film and digital. I had no idea what f stops and ISOs were. This book introduced me to the concept of exposure and what the factors affecting exposure are. Then it got into more detail, all with great reference to the digital camera's buttons and bells have on them. The organization of the book was extremely well done, beginning with basics and then going on to more complicated issues. It is one of the best Dummies books that I have read.

Good Purchase!, December 16, 2010
Unless you are already familiar with the details of digital photography, and I'm talking about pixels, bits, file types, etc, you will need a guide to steer through this complex software. Although I haven't read the entire guide yet, it is laid out very logically and the first few chapters give you the basics of what you have to know. From there, you can skip around and get creative. Recommended!

not for photoshop elements 9, November 29, 2010
I am a longtime used of photoshop elements I know that Adobe does not have a manual for the additions to the new release, This is not that book It spend hundred of pages to get to a few of the new additions, It has yons of scripe on general photography I already have over 15 books in that use, I wanted a manual to use the new items in elements not general info, This is mislabeled as to what it covers I am going to have to order the missing manual for what I want I hope ... Read more

Editorial Review

Creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn InDesign CS5 choose Adobe InDesign CS5 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press. The 14 project-based lessons show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working with InDesign CS5. Readers learn what they need to know to create engaging page layouts using InDesign CS5.

This completely revised CS5 edition covers the new tools for interactive documents, simplified object selection, multiple page sizes, track text changes, new layers panel, production enhancements, and print to digital capability. The companion CD includes all the lesson files that readers need to work along with the book. This thorough, self-paced guide to Adobe InDesign CS5 is ideal for beginning users who want to master the key features of this program. Readers who already have some experience with InDesign can improve their skills and learn InDesign's newest features. ... Read more

Reviews

Classroom in a book does it again., June 28, 2010
As usual Adobe's Classroom in a book series is the best. If you are new to Adobe, this series of books will take you from being a beginner to havein experience using most of the software's functions. If you then follow this book's training and use the skills presented within the book you will most likely develope the skills of an intermediate user. There are 14 lessons included in the book and one bonus lesson on the disk for a total of 15 lessons. The book is virtually the same as the CS4 version except it was updated to include the new tools that come with CS5. Therefore, if you are familiar with Indesign CS4 you could simply go to the Adobe website and pick up the skills for CS5. We have both versions and did not mind getting the new book because we like the lessons having the CS5 features already built in for our new people that need to learn the software. The bottom line: the Adobe Classroom in a book series is the best training series of manuals we have ever seen and we have been in the business of computer aided development for over 30 years.

If you have time, this is a great tool, October 27, 2010
I purchased Adobe Indesign CIB with the hopes of teaching myself the software. I have never used any Adobe software, and I am also learning on a Mac, which is new to me as well. With the book as a guide, and a lot of dedication, I have taught myself how to design basic brochures, ads and posters. This is not an intuitive program (for me anyway), but if you take the time and go slow, the CIB can literally teach a novice how to use the program. I would recommend to someone who is serious about taking the time to learn the software.

A 'classroom at home' for program owners who would do it themselves or supplement a course, August 13, 2010
Owners of InDesign CS5 have a winner in ADOBE INDESIGN CS5 CLASSROOM IN A BOOK. It's also the official training workbook, so lends well to at-home study as it covers all the basics of InDesign with the intention of offering a 'classroom at home' for program owners who would do it themselves or supplement a course.

disappointed, October 9, 2010
I am in the first chapter of this book and have been lost multiple times. So far the pictures, which are not enough, are of apple shots not windows so they don't help as much for me as they should. I bought it because I started a new job which requires my use of InDesign and this had such high marks. I have spent more than 1/2 my time finding what they are talking about rather than learning anything, sometimes giving up and just going on to the next section. I have another Indesign book by Lynda the HOT series for CS2 that I have gone through the first 2 chapters while waiting for this book to arrive which was so easy to go through, so many pictures you can't get lost following it. I bought this one because the Lynda book was outdated but I will use that one and just refer to this one for updates to the program. I normally love classroom in a book but after this one I am going to think twice. Such a shame, try other series, this one is not great.

Beware -- no CD-ROM with Kindle edition, November 11, 2010
Someone goofed! This should never have been issued in Kindle because without the digital files that come with the paperback edition it's useless. Amazon was good about refunding my money and I immediately ordered the paperback with companion CD-ROM, which is what I should have done in the first place.

Kindle edition has a big problem - you cannot have a companion CD, October 26, 2010
I do not know how to get the companion CD for the Kindle edition of the book. What is the point of selling a book for Kindle, if the book always reffers to a companion CD and the CD is not available?
Very frustrating!

Very Pleased!, September 26, 2010
It is my pleasure to have received this book. It is teaching us a great deal about the program. I received the book on time and was very pleased! I will purchase other items from the seller!

CS5 Classroom in a Book, August 23, 2010
This is an excellent book, even for beginners. There's so much a person can learn from this book.

Worthy resource, August 25, 2010
Classroom in a book for InDesign is the best source I've found for learning the program. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Based on Big Nerd Ranch’s popular iPhone Bootcamp class, iPhone Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide leads you through the essential tools and techniques for developing applications for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. In each chapter, you will learn programming concepts and apply them immediately as you build an application or enhance one from a previous chapter. These applications have been carefully designed and tested to teach the associated concepts and to provide practice working with the standard development tools Xcode, Interface Builder, and Instruments. The guide’s learn-while-doing approach delivers the practical knowledge and experience you need to design and build real-world applications. Here are some of the topics covered:

• Dynamic interfaces with animation
• Using the camera and photo library
• User location and mapping services
• Accessing accelerometer data
• Handling multi-touch gestures
• Navigation and tabbed applications
• Tables and creating custom rows
• Multiple ways of storing and loading data: archiving, Core Data, SQLite
• Communicating with web services
• ALocalization/Internationalization

Reviews

Love it. I can't stop reading it, April 21, 2010
I love this book. I like the style and honesty of the author. Go right to the point. Is not boring. This is my 3rd iPhone Programming book. I love Jeff LaMarche too (It is also, a great intro to iPhone development). But, I think this one is less cluttered. I got the book yesterday (April 20, 2010). In two hours I read up to chapter 4 (I liked chapter 3 - Memory Management). Good introduction. The combination of XCode screen shots and UML charts are excellent complements to the text. I recommend this book (and Kochan, Objective-C programing book, latest edition) to anyone who wants learn how to program the iPhone. It is sad, that they don't have a chapter on OpenGL-ES, but it looks like the authors are planning to put together a book alone on this subject. I can't wait!. IMHO, Mr. Hillegas and his group, have (or has) mastered the art of communicating knowledge to the masses.

Top of the Heap, April 27, 2010
If you plan on picking up a book about iPhone programming, you've found the right one.

I have a *ton* of iPhone books (and programming books, in general), and this sits at the top of the heap. The book is easy to read and understand, and the code provided is reusable (bonus!). It's obvious the material is derived from an experienced team.

Ultimately I've found that I can "trust" the problems/solutions laid out in the book, since it's coming from The Big Nerd Ranch (search for it if you're not familiar).

5+ stars.

My 3 book recommendation for iPhone:
1) iPhone Programming (this book)
2) Programming in Objective-C (Kochan)
3) Cocoa Design Patterns (Buck, Yacktman)

One of the best programming books I've ever read, May 4, 2010
I move from software technologies almost yearly, starting with PHP to ASP.NET and now starting iPhone development, so each year is basically another library of books I have to buy to teach myself the language. I've read a ridiculous amount of computer books, ranging from the terrible (super boring, dense) to the insultingly easy ones (that basically treat you like a 4th grader learning programming.)

This, thankfully, is a fantastic mix of being incredibly easy to pick up and read, and also super informative. As far as iPhone development goes, this will be my 4th introductory book I've picked up, trying to get a handle on developing for the platform. The other books all typically tend to throw you into immediately coding, and never really actually explain why you're doing what you're doing, or make sense of any of it. Yes, this book does start off with an example chapter that you basically just copy word for word, but that's mostly to get your feet wet before actually digging through all the details and building your foundation.

In the first 3-4 chapters of this book, I already feel like I have a complete grasp on subjects that I did not yet understand from the 3 previous books I've read. I sort of had an idea why I typed '*' in front of names, or what @property (retain) statements meant, but I never fully understood what I was doing--it was mostly just "well, I read it, so it must be the way to do it." Basically, the other books got me about 75-80% there, but this one is 100%. The last 20 I feel is the most important, because that's when you finally begin to understand the concepts of the language, which let you move onto the more complex stuff with confidence.

Another reason I feel this makes a great coding book is the layout of each page. I can't tell you how important it is to present all that text + code in a meaningful, organized way. I've read some books where they just hit you over the head with instructions, with almost no visual clues and with fragmented code samples. But the pages in this book have plenty of white space per page, have plenty of illustrations and each code sample is commented (an appropriate amount) to give you hints as you're typing code as to what you're doing.

Finally, and thank goodness for this, the first example in this book that you write is NOT a Hello, World app :)

In summation, if you're like me and have started to read a few books (or maybe you haven't, I wish I could have started with this one) and are looking for a way to really feel confident with iPhone core concepts, then pick this book up and give it a read. I can't wait to get started on the many project ideas I have!

Misleading on OpenGL ES., May 26, 2010
The book promises "Dive into animation and effects, using Core Animation and OpenGL ES" but there is no OpenGL ES in the book. The authors state that they wrote a chapter for it, then rewrote it, then rewrote it, then decided to leave it out and put the information into another book.

The rest of the book seems like it is well written and gets to the point without a lot of fluff, but seeing as I specifically ordered the book for the OpenGL ES information then had to go through a return process because I was mislead by the publishers I cannot rate this any higher than a three star.

Beginners must buy and read and code, code, code!!!!, August 8, 2010
I picked this up as my first iPhone (Apple) Development book and I was able to get through it in less than a week (working only nights). It's a very easy, straight-to-the-point read and the samples are simple and really drive home the basics. After reading this book, you will want to delve into Apple's documentation more heavily before you start building apps or maybe pick up a more advance book, but this is a great start nonetheless.

I'm currently reading LaMarche's Beginning iPhone 3 Development and I can already tell in chapter 4 that it'll take me a while to get through this book. I enjoy it so far, but it's just a little more dragged out that BNRG's book.

Also, Hillegass is a bit of a purist, setting up non-templated projects and doing a lot of coding, almost avoiding Interface Builder, so you'll get to see how things really work and connect in MVC in Cocoa Touch. I think that's a great approach to teaching. After you learn the inner-workings of a programming language, you will be more comfortable using templates and code gens, then tweaking your code to make things work properly.

Bottom line, as a beginner, you can't go wrong with this book.

Cheers.

Decent IPhone Book, July 6, 2010
This is a good introduction on iPhone programming. It doesn't cover as depth as some of the other books on the market, but it doesn't waste pages on useless things. Overall, it is a good buy.

Great book, September 14, 2010
I'm going to start off with the fact that I NEVER write reviews unless I feel ripped off or deceived. But in this case I have nothing but good things to say about the guys at Big Nerd Ranch.

I'm not a programmer. I'm honestly have only the most basic tenets of computer science and programming. I took AP Computer Science in High school which gives me my amateur C++ background and an introductory Java class in undergrad which armed me with a basic understanding of the concepts behind object oriented programming. Beyond that I've never programmed much less even seen objective-C or interacted with the iPhone SDK.

But with only that, this book has been able to make me incredibly proficient at learning how to program the iPhone(so much so I feel confident enough to teach it to someone else). It's well structured, taking you from the basics and introductory projects to more complex ones. They do very well in explaining everything and when you're at a loss, one of the BIGGEST assets I find is the forums they have online in which the authors are very active in, fielding questions and giving hints. What's also really nice is that in addition to teaching, they also help you go that extra step by providing small extra credit problems to make sure the concepts and material are understood. But it's not a pure regurgitation of the material in the chapter. It requires digging through the developer documentation and a little independent thinking, helping you to learn to investigate the tools that you'll need to successfully write your own programs and helping you to think in a certain way to tackle the problems you'll come across.

I've tried at least half a dozen other books and they'be either been so rudimentary and poor at explaining that you feel like you're just blindly copying code or so haughty that half the time you know nothing about what's going on.

This book will get you confident enough to encourage you to go ahead and start programming your own projects, even if you're not a CS guy like me.

Best iPhone programming book for the slightly knowledgable, July 14, 2010
I've been casting about for the past year or so to learn Objective-C for Mac and iPhone programming, and to be honest I've gone through quite a few books. I've found almost all of them to be one of two sorts: those that think the reader is an absolute beginner (and do way too much hand-holding like screenshots that include arrows pointing to the right button to press-- that kind of thing), and those that assume I have already learned Objective-C in some form, and don't explain enough. So far none of the other books available have made iPhone programming 'click' for me.

Then there is this excellent book. The authors, who are also originators of an Objective-C training program, take you step by step through each project, not just showing what needs to be done, but going into just enough detail. In some cases, they ask you to enter code, explaining that some of it may not make sense YET, but that it will be explained later. In almost every chapter, you're given not just the regular project, but also a series of 'challenge' assignments that apply what has been learned so far (but that also push the reader beyond the regular book projects), as well as a 'for the more curious' section that explains various concepts in more detail.

The end result is an extremely satisfying learning experience. Without fail I have given the challenge assignments my all, to great positive result. I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to learn iPhone programming, as long as you have some concept of programming to start with.

A more excellent iPhone Development book!, June 28, 2010
As I've attempted to learn my way around iPhone and iPad development, I've purchase a few books (as likely many others have). Many of the books are informative, and will walk you through creating some interesting iPhone applications, but in many cases, some things are just 'assumed', and aren't explained. A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Aaron Hillegass at a conference where he was presenting a session on Cocoa, and then, had a chance to sit with him over breakfast. His teaching style and ability to capture the audience were amazing, humorous, and above all, informative. It was therefore with high hopes that I awaited the Big Nerd Ranch Guide to iPhone Programming, and I have not been disappointed . From the beginning, the authors inject just enough humor to keep reader interest, and lay solid building blocks to ensure a good understanding of what is going on in the process. Very little is taken for granted, and the result is an easy to read, easy to understand, and extremely useful guide.

While I would personally LOVE to be able to attend one of the Big Nerd Ranch training classes (ah... that $$ thing...), this guide is serving as a reasonable alternative.

You want to write iPhone apps? Buy this book., August 6, 2010
This is one of the best programming books I've ever read; in 30+ years of programming, that's quite a statement. This takes you step-by-step through all things iPhone, explains them thoroughly before going on to the next thing. You will not only be able to write an iPhone app when you're done with this book, you will understand how you got there. That's the whole ballgame. Thanks, Big Nerds! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Humanity has reached the stars, joining the vast galactic community of alien species. But beyond the fringes of explored space lurk the Reapers, a race of sentient starships bent on “harvesting” the galaxy’s organic species for their own dark purpose.

The Illusive Man, leader of the pro-human black ops group Cerberus, is one of the few who know the truth about the Reapers. To ensure humanity’s survival, he launches a desperate plan to uncover the enemy’s strengths—and weaknesses—by studying someone implanted with modified Reaper technology. He knows the perfect subject for his horrific experiments: former Cerberus operative Paul Grayson, who wrested his daughter from the cabal’s control with the help of Ascension project director Kahlee Sanders.

But when Kahlee learns that Grayson is missing, she turns to the only person she can trust: Alliance war hero Captain David Anderson. Together they set out to find the secret Cerberus facility where Grayson is being held. But they aren’t the only ones after him. And time is running out.

As the experiments continue, the sinister Reaper technology twists Grayson’s mind. The insidious whispers grow ever stronger in his head, threatening to take over his very identity and unleash the Reapers on an unsuspecting galaxy.
 
This novel is based on a Mature-rated video game.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Reviews

Good addition to the ME universe., July 28, 2010
I hadn't read Revelation and Ascension until after I had completed ME and ME2 (the latter being, in my opinion, the best game I have ever played) and I loved the opportunity to learn more about the ME universe and its inhabitants.

Retribution is, in that respect, more like Revelation than Ascension. There is a bit more development of characters who played a major role in both games, such as David Anderson and the Illusive Man. Karpyshyn didn't waste time re-explaining any of the concepts from the games or other books after providing the exposition to this story. After the first few chapters, the action (and the stakes) ramps up exponentially until an ultimately exciting conclusion, with the action sure to affect the storyline of ME3 in the future.

I probably don't need to say it, but if you're a Mass Effect fan, you'll probably appreciate this exciting addition to the series.

Must Read if You've read the Revelation and Ascension, July 28, 2010
Retribution builds on the characters introduced in the previous books and video games (especially Paul Grayson, Kahlee Sanders, David Anderson, and Aria T'Loak)and introduces a few new ones too. If you enjoyed the story of the first two games, the books are worthwhile, and this new edition is up to par with the first two. Retribution is fast-paced and entertaining, but would be difficult for someone who hasn't read the first two in the series. Drew Karpyshyn also wrote the Star Wars: Darth Bane trilogy and read similarly.

Great book, July 30, 2010
I've read Ascension and Revelation and was very excited for this book, and it delivered on everything I expected. Gives great character insight to the Illusive Man and Aria T'Loak. The changes that Grayson experiences are described quite well and it makes me more excited than ever for Mass Effect 3. It does a really good job of immersing you into the world of mass effect, making it easy for the reader to relate to characters living 150 years in the future. Although every time Anderson talks, I can hear him speaking in his voice. All in all a great book and a must read for all mass effect fans.

The story continues!, August 2, 2010
I've been following Mass Effect relatively closely since it was released, playing through the original Mass Effect's campaign several times, and then through all of Mass Effect 2 in its entirety.

So of course, when I found out that there were books to go along with the games, I was all over it.

Revelation and Ascension were outstanding books, also by the one and only Drew Karphyshyn, the lead writer on the Mass Effect franchise. Revelation was a pre-story, leading up to the events of Mass Effect, filling in more of the origins of some of the main characters of the franchise. Ascension fell shortly after Mass Effect, opening up some more subplots within the story and adding more characters, including the biotic child prodigy, Gillian, and her father, Paul Grayson. To be honest, their introduction left me wanting more, and I was pleasantly surprised (and thankful) that that particular subplot made a return in Retribution in a rather big way.

What's more, we get to revisit Omega, a quest hub that players become intimately familiar with after playing Mass Effect 2, and learn more about the Pirate Queen, Aria T'Loak, a few other minor characters, and of course the Illusive Man, himself.

All in all, Retribution brings everything up to speed, answers a lot of the questions that I had after finishing the ME2 campaign, and leaves me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment in an already epic tale.

So glad to be back, November 3, 2010
First off it is great to be back in this universe. The Mass Effect universe is one of the greatest ever made.

Not only is Drew Karpyshyn the author of the books but he is one of the lead writers on the game too. This keeps the narration style of the books in line with the game and vice-versa. It was nice to see nods to the last book in Mass Effect 2 and it's even better to have nods to Mass Effect 2 in this book, considering the events of ME2 took place before this book. I am about 75% through this addition to the ME universe and I am salivating over the possibility of ME3 where I hope they will give nod to or incorporate this book in.

If you loved Mass Effect then you need to read these books!

Please make more!!!

Amazing book that adds to the series already rich universe, October 1, 2010
*Caution, some spoilers will be contained below*

First off let me say if you haven't read Mass Effect: Revelation and Mass Effect: Ascension, you probably should do so now. The books are both a great addition to the Mass Effect Universe and help to flesh out things for players of the game, making the experience all the better. And Retribution is no exception to this.

Retribution is essentially a non-Shepard based sequel to Mass Effect 2 wherein we learn some of the things that occured in the aftermath of the assault on the Collector base, and it helps establish some canon for the series as well provided BioWare sticks to what's stated in the book, which hopefully they will as it would make choosing a canon Shepard in Mass Effect 3 feel much better than choosing one for Mass Effect 2 (if you've done so you know what I mean and I won't delve much into why). In it, we find out that while Shepard did destroy the Collector base and not turn it over to Cerberus, The Illusive Man was able to recover some of the technology within anyways. Paul Grayson, the semi-protagonist (especially towards the end) of Ascension is captured and has the technology tested on him, becoming what is akin to a stronger version of a husk (think Saren at the end of ME1).

Kahlee Sanders; who readers of the other books will recognize as the Co-Protagonist of book one along with Anderson, and the Protagonist of book two, returns in this installment as well. She requires the aid of Anderson who has left his post as an ambassador (not much of a surprise to anyone who played ME2) to help her figure out just what is wrong with Paul and to protect her from Cerberus. At a few points Aria T'loak is involved, though I won't specify too much into how. It's interesting to see a slightly more personal side to her though, with the death of her hush-hush daughter (whose relation to her she'd been keeping secret). But by the books end the fact that she decides to assist the Illusive Man a second time despite his backstabbing, most will likely lose their liking of the character and wish to see her killed alongside her "ally" of sorts...

All in all I found the book an interesting read both for what it adds to the series and for the interesting viewpoint it provides via Grayson and his struggle and eventual succumbing to the Reapers. We don't get to see what runs through their minds in the game so the book is a perfect means of doing so. The Illusive man is shown in a similar manner, although he's admittedly almost as hard to read emotionally in print as he is in the game. On a related note: With the upcoming prequel novel that delves into the Illusive Man's origins, let us hope BioWares continuing success with the series is maintained, as that should also provide an interesting read.

AWESOME!!, August 3, 2010
Great book! I love the ME universe. I have played ME multiple times with paragon and renegade characters and imported these characters to ME2...and finished ME2 multiple times with different scenerios. Revelation and Ascension are wonderful books, enriching the Mass Effect universe and adding depth to the characters. I love how each book sets up the next game and Retribution does not dissapoint. I could not put this book down. I cant wait for ME3!!!

On a side note. BIOWARE... PLEASE PLEASE dont let this movie suck!! So much can go wrong. Dont let Hollywood screw up an amazing story. I can almost see the fail train now. "Samuel Jackson" as Captain Anderson, Lady GAGA as Tali... If anything I better see Seth Green play "Joker". ... Read more

Editorial Review

Written by best-selling PC repair author and educator Jean Andrews, the seventh edition of A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC maps fully to CompTIA's 2009 A+ Exam objectives. This full-color guide is the most complete, step-by-step book available for learning the fundamentals of supporting and troubleshooting computer hardware and software. At the same time, it prepares readers to successfully pass the A+ 220-701 and 220-702 exams. The new edition is formatted to support any learning style and course format, featuring an essentials-to-practical organization within each chapter. Tabs distinguishing exam content provide easy reference. Further content and live demonstrations with Jean Andrews are available on the accompanying CD, making this new edition a total solution for PC repair. ... Read more

Reviews

A+ Guide to Managing & maintainging Your PC - 7th Edition, June 21, 2010
I have been in the PC and compatible hardware and software industry since 1983. I basically trained mnyself and now thought it would be important to (1) verify what I have learned and (2) get the A+ Cerification for later use in a college atmosphere, as in insturctor. The book is an excellent visual source of past and present technology providing great color photos with detailed explanations on each. Considering the technology area changes daily, it is one of the most updated books I have found so far out there. The local college uses the 4th edition as referenece in their continuing edition classes.
Appendix A covers A+ Acronyms normally used in the trade, while Appendix B covers Windows shortcut key combinations that are very useful when a mouse is not available. With the additon of the detailed Glossary and the CD add-on, you have an excellent reference source of what's required for the A+ Certification exams.

A+ review, March 27, 2010
The book is quite detailed and comprehensive. I also have the previous version as well and was happy to see the updates.

Excellent IT book., February 20, 2010
I purchased this book for my ECT 372 class for my IT major. I already have my A+ certification but my major says i had to take this class. This book is one of the best textbooks ive ever used. Its going on my shelf along with my Grobbs Electronic books. The information in there is fairly recent (thus only a 4 star rating). Theres not much stuff in there about windows 7. The only other complaint I have with this book is the weight. Its the heaviest textbook I have ever used. Its 7 pounds and you can feel the weight. Though it has plenty of pictures and info in it so its worth the weight. Even if your not in college and are interested in computers, get this book, youll be able to fix most problems that arise with computers.

As advertised - Very happy with it :), March 13, 2010
Very quick shipping. Item was exactly what I thought. Very happy with my purchase.

Best Source For Computer Repair, February 15, 2010
When I went to college I was using the 3rd edition of this same book about 2003, and let me tell you that they have done a lot of improvement on this one, I know its kind of expensive, but it is worth it, they have done a good job, much better than 3rd edition a lot of color pictures, tips and much more and if you are planing to be an A+ certified this is the book. It is missing windows 7, windows 7 came after the book was published, it covers some because windows 7 was already released as trial, but not to intense. Thank You Very Much keep the good work. JLuis

Amazing book for A+ prep, January 30, 2010
I had previous edition, and as soon as this one was published I got it. Love it so far. Will recommend.

This covers it all and has excellent CD content!, March 21, 2010
I am really enjoying this book and all that it has to offer. I have been an IS tech for years, but with this industry, you cannot know it all...This book is answering many of the questions I wanted answered. It has explanations and reliable resources. I have not taken my A+ exam yet, but am confident I'll pass; and have a wealth of information for my employmant! Very nice! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The full-color guide to the exciting new iPad, written specifically with the needs of seniors in mind!

The iPad is the perfect device for the senior market, combining the Web, e-mail, photos, video, and book reading into an intuitive, portable device. Written by veteran Dummies author Nancy Muir, this fun and friendly guide shows you how to use the many features and capabilities of the iPad to make life easier! You'll learn how to use the multitouch screen to zoom in and out on Web pages and choose a font and size that makes reading comfortable so that you can get directions, plan vacations, enjoy photos, keep in touch with family, obtain financial and legal information, and much more.

• Assumes no prior information or experience and begins with the basics of getting acquainted with your iPad and its features
• Introduces the intuitive touch methodology for interacting, zooming, and scrolling
• Walks you through organizing your calendar, finding and browsing sites, sending e-mails, sharing photos, buying and playing music, and more
• Focuses on subjects that are particularly helpful to seniors, such as getting directions, protecting personal information, setting passwords, maintaining and troubleshooting the iPad, and more

You'll quickly discover that the iPad and iPad for Seniors For Dummies are the perfect combinations to get connected and stay connected! ... Read more

Reviews

Good for seniors, September 19, 2010
Bought for 87 yr old my father-in-law. Rapidly losing all his hearing. Hoping to communicate with iPad rather than telephone. Book assumes zero previous technical knowledge. This is the key distinction and key selling point. He seems to be grasping the basics so far. Very helpful. Works better when I go over the chapters with him and demonstrate on the iPad right there.

iPad for Seniors, December 7, 2010
I got an iPad to keep in touch with family and friends. The iPad is great and this book is the perfect complement to it. Easy to understand, geared towards Seniors and the types of activities and features they're likely to use. The book covers built-in apps and how to navigate around. Very helpful!

Ipad for senior Dummies, November 9, 2010
I have not received my ipad yet but I have perused some of this book and I do think it will be helpful when I can apply it.
I like most of the Dummy books I bought...
Thank you,
Marcia ... Read more