Equipment and Software Books

If you are an absolute beginner with no knowledge of online resources for tutorials and tips, then perhaps this book is for you. However, if you find yourself at an intermediate level, it is a waste of time and money. I was disappointed.

But buy this book - the concept is fun (sidebar book), it is well written and easily understood. Photoshop 7 is a monster of a program and unless you are one of those that was born knowing computers or are some kind of Photoshop Rainman, well, you need some help. This book is like having a friend to ask everytime you get stuck in Photoshop or wish you knew a shortcut for something. I don't need to know how everything works, I just want to do my work faster and better and this book helped!

I think Photoshop is a software that is best explained with tips and tutorials. And this book does exactly that. It gives you lots of screenshots and lots of tips. And that makes it different from other books. I think it is one of the must have books for photoshop user. New Riders have other Killer Tips series for other softwares, but I think among them Photoshop KillerTips is the best.

There aren't many things cooler than tips... and there is nothing cooler than photoshop. Put them together and you have this stroke of genius. Felix is a wizzard, Scott is an amazing teacher. If you want to pick up tips that will speed up your work and make you more money get this book.

All we can say for Photoshop 7 Killer Tips is... GET IT NOW! Do not hesitate, do not wait. Just go out and buy it now - PERIOD!

This book will teach you tips that will save time on your very next project. The book is for both beginners and advanced users, however advanced users will be heard frequently saying "DOH!" while reading, as the book covers things we now do the hard way (aka bad habits) every day in Photoshop.

A well designed book, not for the beginner but straight forward enough to clearly understand the process. The design of the book stimulates and enhances the creative juices with enough information to help you to move on to newer and bigger things. I would certainly recommend this book.

This was one of the rare books that really explain how to make art with Photoshop! I love that the images he uses are hi res on the CD that comes with the book!
Debbi

If your into Photoshop and are at the intermediate level or more, this book can help a lot. It is full of interesting techniques. I'm very glad I purchased it.

I found this book amazing, it teaches you some tricks and special effects you won't find anywhere else. Definitely for a more advanced user, however if you are knowledgeable about the basics you will learn a lot. My only complaint is within 3 days of use the book fell apart. I now have 3 sections that tore off from the book that I need to refer to. Perhaps it was just my luck to get one with a binding whose glue was missing; whatever for such a great book its sad it is in pieces on my bookshelf.


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I know photoshop fairly well (intermediate) and I find this book very advanced. The instructions are also difficult to follow, and what I got onscreen didn't follow what they got. You have to already have some understanding of masks and channels to begin with to grasp the concepts, and even then I found it hard. I would only buy this book if you want to learn advanced techniques that the average person will never use or remember.

The Adobe Photoshop CS2 A-Z etc, etc is a beautifull book. As a complement to other more accurate howtos is of a great help. The only complaint I found when I had on hands my actual copy was the so small point used on the summary tables at the beginning of each feature.

Easy to look for the subject you want, but the book was too succint and the character were so small that I had to use a magnifier lens. Where is the other author Peter Bargh who wrote the previous edition? I puchased both editions.

But not enough to explain any one process through. OSX users, be advised, most of the dialog boxes are Windows which you need a magnifying glass to see.

I'm new to CS2 and was having trouble weeding through all the possable ways of developing my photos. This book is a wouderful help with undrstanding some of the complicated tasks involved, the projects are simple to read and simpler to do, even if you are using your own photos instead of the ones that are included with the book on a CD. Having completing the projects in the book I reference it reguarly for my own projects.

Title: Photoshop CS2 A-Z
Author: Philip Andrews
Publisher: Focal Press
ISBN: 0240520025
Pages: 244 pages
Reviewer: Charles Renee
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


This Photoshop advice and teaching book by Phillip Andrews is a great find. It's not a sit by the fire and read book but, rather a wonderful ready reference.

Adobe keeps making great products and adding new features almost to the speed of "hold on I can't keep up.? This book offers some handholds on Photoshop. It is set up in dictionary style in which it describes every feature and action in Photoshop from A to Z with really nice color photos. In many cases it has multiple screenshots of features, filters and actions.

Even though the title describes itself as CS2 it has tips, tricks and shortcuts that apply to older versions of the program as well. It will tell you what versions each feature works with and highlights the CS2 only items. Photoshop CS2 A-Z might be the needed push for someone sitting on the fence about whether the program upgrade is worth it. This book is not a substitute for classroom type text books but a great companion for everyday use. My copy is already getting its share of daily abuse. Easy to use, easy to read, 5 star rating!

Art of Raw Conversion

reviewed by Dr. Eric Flescher, Olathe, KS: (dreric1kansas@aol.com

Strengths: Very complete set of readings and tutorials on the use of RAW format for digital photography. Breadth and depth of content is excellent. Exception information about commercial, free PC and Mac RAW format converter programs plus in-depth tutorials to learn how to use these applications. Well written and easy to understand.

Weaknesses: Since you might not use all the different software packages, you won't read some of the chapters. But they are handy to browse to gain a better idea what the different conversions do and don't do and their advantages and disadvantages, especially should you decide to upgrade. No cd

Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Rating: 5/5

More and more photographers are using RAW format for their photographic needs. With RAW format, the user has a lot more control with their photos and ultimately creating better final photos. But conversion from RAW needs to take place after RAW are made with your camera. The process then can begin concerning actually making your pictures better. More books being created that act as resources that tutorials type information to make this process easier. While you can search far and wide for books on the topic, try this book Art of Raw Conversion, for several reasons.
A book that will assist you with using RAW, needs to include both methods, procedures, tutorials and step-by-step instructions. Both authors, whom are active pioneers with the use of RAW digital processing and the use of digital cameras and workflow process have created a great book. Mr. Gulbins founded an online magazine and has focused on the using of RAW format , digital work and printing, Mr. Gulbins has written more then 25 books on a variety of computer and digital photographic topics. It is evident within this book, that they are able to communicate and convey a wide array of resources, tutorials and information concerning RAW format.

This 222 page packs much helpful information within its 14 Chapters.
The multitude of text makes for good reading but you have to watch carefully for certain ideas that are really important (as they are not in bold). The colorful screen shots are well done and help illustrate points the tutorials are focusing upon. Screenshots of the software tools and what these do in the process also help, but there are no extra guide pointers in the shots to highlight what the main intent of showing the photo is (you have to hunt around a little).

Each page has 2 or 3 sectioned columns which make for easy browsing, reading and understanding. The tutorials are well written and provide an exceptional understanding regarding the use of RAW. Mac and Windows platforms are reprepresented as both authors work on them so that the user with either platform won't get lost in the shuffle

What is exceptional about this book is that the authors have crafted a book, that is not only intuitively written but that highlights the commercial, free and camera bound software that can be used for convertion of RAW format for use by your editors. The pros and cons of each pieces of software are highlighted and his gives the user ideas of which converter might be better for their uses. Some of these converters work for MacOS, PC or even both platforms aqnd this is also highlighted. This information widens the appeal of the book. But it is the language by the author that makes it a real good read as well.

The authors' tone is personable and clear. They " speaks to you" and have great insight into the "little things" that are important, many that you might never know or think about. They don't just say "what to do" but they actively explain the " whys and how's" of the procedures by using short tutorial like paragraphs. The information is covered not in breadth but depth as well about RAW. You are immersed in the process and don't just a glimpse of the process.

Chapter 1, "intro to RAW " so the first time user can start from the beginning. Chapte 2, "basic color management "gives and insight into beginning work with light while the Chapter 3, "basic raw workflow" begins in ernest to convey the procedures that are needed. Chapter 4, explains and the rest of the chapters tell about adobe camera raw, Pixmantec raw shoote4r (RS), Apple `s Aperture program is covered as well as well other RAW converters. Adobe lighthouse, Perfecting images, and Batch processing. Metadata, color conversion techniques and
black & white techniques are also included. The Appendix A is a nice glossary while Appendix B section has information about the different converters.

I can't think of a better book to begin your "RAW journey."
I wish I had found this book a little sooner. My questions about RAW would have been answered much earlier. This is a great book from start to finish. The content is authoritative, very each easy to read and understand. It is a great one for novice RAW photographers to begin with but also intermediates. Advanced users might also learn a new trick or two. I recommend this book highly. I will use it to work with RAW photographs to see how I can make my photos better with RAW. So give it a try and see what RAW can do for you.

After studying this book, I now understand RAW and it's capabilities better than ever!! Highly Recommend!

Are you an amateur or a professional photographer? If you are, then this book is for you. Authors Juergen Gulbins and Uwe Steinmueller, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that shows you how to achieve art-quality results with your digital camera.

Gulbins and Steinmueller, begin by preparing you for implementing a RAW conversion workflow. Then, the authors focus on the RAW conversion process and the software you'll use to implement it. Next, they present the key features of four more converters. They also cover Adobe's new integrated digital photography application, Lightroom. Finally, the authors focus on more specialized topics.

This most excellent book deals with the conversion of images shot using RAW format into images in a standardized image format, such as TIFF or JPEG. Perhaps more importantly, this book focuses mostly on the process of RAW conversion: what you should consider when shooting RAW, how to prepare files for conversion, and how to set up an efficient conversion workflow as part of your total image workflow.

Many photographers surrender control over their images to their cameras' built-in converters: take back the art by understanding how to manipulate RAW files with THE ART OF RAW CONVERSION: HOW TO PRODUCE ART-QUALITY PHOTOS WITH ADOVE PHOTOSHOP CS2 AND LEADING RAW CONVERTERS. From calibrating a digital camera to work with RAW files and understanding differences between the leading RAW converters to manipulating both color and black and white images, this is for the neo-pro who wants to get the most out of his camera.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

With the plethora of image processing and editing tools available to today's digital photographers, making optimal choices from among those offerings has become daunting. Here to shed some light on the issue and help with the decision-making is a book from which every advanced digital darkroom practitioner should benefit.

When digital imaging really began to reach the consciousness level of consumers in the late 1990s, file capture was most often in JPEG format. As the public enthusiasm for digital accelerated, serious photographers loudly debated quality issues, especially as related to film. Then along came RAW -- a digital capture mode using minimal in-camera processing with much more post-capture flexibility and strong potential for higher quality results. Early RAW files could only be converted using the camera manufacturer's proprietary software which often lacked convenience and elegance. Then Adobe popularized RAW with distribution of their Camera Raw Photoshop plug-in which through reverse engineering enabled one program to convert RAW files from many different brands of cameras. This proved very convenient to many who were already using Photoshop as their primary image editor and opened the door to unprecedented control of the digital image development process, including post-capture adjustment of white balance, exposure, and other variables. Numerous third-party RAW converters quickly followed, making informed choices tough without trying them all.

But when there's a need, someone usually rises to fill it...hence this book. Uwe Steinmueller has written a number of books (some co-authored with Juergen Gulbins) in both print and e-book format. What this edition does exceedingly well is describe in detail the concepts of digital capture, color management, and the benefits of shooting in RAW file format, and then it lays out the choices among RAW conversion programs currently available. The authors follow with additional info on perfecting images, batch processing, the DNG format, profiling, and creating black and white images. I know of no other printed volume that provides as comprehensive a survey of current RAW tools with cogent comments on qualitative capability and appropriate application. Furthermore, the clear, concise discussions of often highly technical subjects are really excellent, and the order and manner in which this rather complex collection of topics is presented is logical and understandable - really well done.

A couple of caveats. This is not a beginner's book. While those who wish to learn digital photography thoroughly will benefit a great deal from it, the sheer weight of technical information might stymie someone relatively new to digital imaging. Secondly, technology has moved so rapidly that this book is already dated. There have been significant changes in the industry since the date of publication that alter the choices in RAW converters. Hopefully an updated version of the book will arrive soon to bring issues to a more current status. Nevertheless, as a whole, this collection of information is an important resource for serious digital imagers and is highly recommended.

This book is a rare gem on a topic near and dear to my heart (Since first laying my eyes on an Arp Odyssey), but often not expounded upon with enough detail. Simon Cann, however, has provided a very deep source book for Cakewalk users in general, as well as a detailed guide for comprehending wavetable and sampling synthesis.
I am still slogging through the almost infinite presets which come with Dimension Pro and Rapture, as well as drilling down into creating my own sounds. I highly recommend this book to anyone with the desire to get down and spend some serious time creating their own sounds with the VSTs and AUs of today! If the competition (NI - Arturia -IK) would only provide similar guides, the sonic world could be a greater and more creative place. These plug-ins have become complicated enough to warrant such manuals and I salute Mr. Cann for his efforts!

Great book. Although, could not down load the down loadable chapters. A must for, "Cakewalk Synths Users". Goes into good details about sound designing.

This book has a lot of useful information that is very hard to find elsewhere, from the basics of synthesis to descriptions of all the Cakewalk synthesizers. I especially liked the web material that accompanies the book - the extra chapters and pointers to download free tools like Triangle 2 (which I used to learn the basics). I am mostly a beginner at using Sonar and this book was a significant help. My only criticism is that the book is already out of date - e.g. the chapter on Session Drummer 2 says "at the time of this writing, it was so new that only a release candidate version was available" - but Session Drummer 2 has been available for a while (in both Sonar 7 and 6). Also some of the user interfaces to the programs have changed since the book was published.

Learning Sonar is tough (hey, Cakewalk - please have non-engineers review your tutorial material!) - this book is helping.

The book contains a great introduction to "virtual analog" synths which applies regardless of whether its a Cakewalk product or not. Each chapter dives into the depths of a specific Cakewalk synth, many of which are bundled with various Cakewalk products, so this book is like an addendum to the owner's manual. I don't consider myself a synth "tweakhead" so I found this book EXACTLY what I needed! For musicians who like to tweak their synths instead of simply playing the Presets, this is the book that explains what you're doing when you adjust those knobs, dials and sliders. Very nice!

All you need is a host program (Cakewalk's Sonar, Home Studio or Project5 will be fine) and you've already got some of these synths in your software arsenal. You can download some of these synths for free from Cakewalk! I recommend purchasing Dimension Pro. I've been playing around with Z3TA+ and am eyeballing Rapture as well. These are serious studio quality synths, each with a TON of power. This book details how to harness that power and put it to work in your music.

I have needed this book for years. Step by step, thorough instructions that have helped me to really explore the deep possibilities in Cakewalk synths. The accompanying downloads make the value of this book increase exponentially. The section on Z3TA+ is worth the price of admission and then some. Thanks!

In rereading this book after many years, I am still impressed with the quality of the material. It starts with an overview of the object-oriented paradigm and how valuable an approach it is to software development. The second section is an overview of modeling techniques, how object structures are modeled, sequential actions described, how objects interact, and the lifecycle of an object and how systems are modeled. Part three deals with the object-oriented development process, from initiative to the testing of the final product. The last section deals with learning how to think in an object-oriented manner.
While the material is good and the notation used to represent the concepts will be familiar, it all came before UML and therefore is outdated. Even small differences in notation can render diagrams difficult or impossible to understand, and that is the case here. Without the advantages of modern UML notation, this book could confuse you more than it could help you. However, if UML notation were used, it would be a very useful and valuable book.

I gave 4 stars to this book because of its quality.
Nevertheless I think it is obsolete because it was written before "UML" was defined.
I think they should write a new edition that is "UML compliant"

In this book the knowledge of a large group of experts is combined, to help the novice to understand what objects are and how to perform the different steps to reach the final desired application. Unfortunately the order is a bit strange, but in the different chapters requirements, checks and tips are provided how to handle the different activities. Besides this book also explains methodologies not developed by Yourdon or by Software AG (the company that sponsored the writing of this book) and clearly explains the benefits and disadvantages in an objective way.

I'm not sure who this book is aimed at. People who have no OO experience will struggle to come to terms with the concepts; people with a lot of OO experience will find the whole thing too simplistic. Probably it will work best for people who have some limited experience of one or maybe two OO projects and who are looking for input for their next project.

This is the actual book from which I learned some analysis and design. I read it once before the first project I managed and I was really bored. I managed the project and the result was not much that I'm proud of. I read it again and found that all the concepts in there were exactly what kept me from doing a good design. The next project went great - much because of this book.

The material in the book is good up to a point where the cd program inevitably crashes. This is not only frustrating but gets my computer locked up. In this context I would say that... spent on the book was largely wasted. This program hasn't just locked up once or twice but every time I have tried to use it. I'm running Windows ME with a Pentium 4 processor and 512 RAM

This book is another good book of Sybex. It`s language plain and explains step by step. Highly recommended.

Mastering Photoshop 6 allows you to learn all the new features of Photoshop through an easy-to-follow tutorial format. It is unique in that it integrates its format with real-world scenarios. This book is perfect for the graphics professional who is looking to enhance his or her skills and real-world expertise. The author is a certified Photoshop guru and knows every little Photoshop secret. I highly recommend this book.

I love it, I love it, I love it. This book is wonderful, in fact all sybex books are. Has just about everyting you could want to know about photoshop and it explains stuff very well.

Never used Photoshop before? Intimidated just by saying it? This book will rid you of all that. It starts off by giving a short tutorial using the tools Photoshop has to offer. After which, the tools of the interface are explained. As you progress through the chapters, you start to get an idea of how to properly employ Photoshop as you get more familiar with its tools. In short, you LEARN by doing. It even has a section on the blending effects and gives a good explanation on layers. I recommend this to the beginner and intermediate. Kudos to S. Romaniello.

I'm a complete novice when it comes to graphic design tools but I am an IT professional and I must say I found this book very heavy going and didn't help me get to grips with Photoshop. I searched the web today and found a free tutorial site which explains a lot of the functions I need and enabled me for the first time to do "simple" things like feathering, merging two images etc. The book has too much text and is very off putting to the beginner. I'm sure the information is in there somewhere but to me it's a chore to find it. I bought the book on the basis of some of the other reviews here and really had high hopes. Unfortunately, it will now be consigned to the bottom drawer and I will use the website I found to learn Photoshop instead.

The only wonderful thing about this book is that it is well written and the Author did a good job explaining Photoshop.On the other hand whoever put the CD-Rom together;Has totally screwed up.Chapters/File Folders 1,and 2 and missing almost every file that is supose to be on the CD-Rom.To keep it short and sweet.The Author did a perfict job on the book.But the CD-Rom Is defective.SO far I tried to contact the Publishing Company and both Authors about the CD-Rom and still no responce.If you want a book with a useful CD-Rom.Look for another book.But if your looking for the perfict book and can live without a CD-Rom to practice the lessions on.Then I say this is the book to buy.I give it For stars because the Author writes a great book.But the Production screwed up the CD-Rom.I will end by saying I am still awaiting a e-mail from the Authors and Publishing company reguarding the CD-ROM.

I can't say enough about this wonderful book. It's the best one on this subject in print, and I have a dozen of them....

Finally I got my new tutorial CD, thanks to Mr. Robert Clarfield from Corialis!

This is a "must-have" for any beginner like myself. In comparison with other books I have purchased to date, this is definitely the best! Although some of the earlier editions had a problem with the tutorial files, (I got one) the problem was corrected by sending me a new CD. I have a lot of respect in the way they were willing to solve my problem and for the quick service in which the replacement was sent. If anyone else needs any help in this regard, contact Mr. Robert Clarfield at Coriolis. robert.clarfield@coriolis.com

Very good book, full of clear explanations. If you do not have previous experience with Schematic Capture softwares, this book makes it easy to learn how to do it.

Fair price; quick delivery. Good communication from the vendor. Able to track the entire way

The item was sent very quickly. Excellent condition. Kudos to all who were involved.

During my undergraduate school, I used this book extensively. It gave me a solid advantage over other students. Other students would still be struggling, after a week of a lab, to do its related simulations, while I used to finish my work on the same day we had the lab. If you want to learn how to use PSpice, this is the book. Its style to teach by example and all the examples are on the CD along with a student version of the PSpice which is good enough for learning purposes.

Marc Herniter writes good clear PSpice books. I have three of his PSpice books (including this one).
The book is written in a clear straight forward manner. The program itself is not friendly and easy to use. Possibly, it appears unfriendly because it is complex, powerful and with many good features. The author describes and explains the complex concepts in a clear manner with good examples.
For users who are familiar with previous versions of PSpice that used Schematic to enter a circuit and start an analysis, the book provides direction on how to switch over and employ Capture.
The only reason for only 4 stars is that some of the graphics are poor quality. It is not uncommon to find black text on dark grey background which is difficul to read. Color graphics would be nice, but it may be too costly.
Anyone starting with Capture and PSpice will benefit from this book. It certainly is better than the documents provided by the program originator.

Are you a novice or a hardcore Skyper who wants to play with Skype's innards? If you are, then this book is for you! Author Andrew Sheppard, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that shows you how to save money by using Skype; and, how to remove boundaries imposed by having lived within the confines of your regular phone system for so long, a system that has been in stasis for decades--dumb, lifeless, and unmoving.

Sheppard, begins by explaining what Skype is and how it works, and introduces Skype's main features. Then, the author focuses on the economics of Skype and the ways of figuring potential savings. Next, he focuses on Skype configuration, by showing you how to improve performance, and customize Skype to meet your individual needs. The author then shows you how to improve and enhance your communication while on the move. He continues by showing you the fun and playful side of Skype. Then, the author shows you how to hack around with Skype's other major features; namely, instant messaging or chat, and voicemail. Next, he shows you how to have the visibility you require within the Skype community, and how you can be secure against some of the more common risks encountered by Skype users. The author continues by showing you how to deal with Skype limitations. Then, the author gives you a glimpse of Skype add-on products and tools that are currently available, and a sense of what is yet to come. Finally, he introduces you to the Skype API and how you can extend Skype's functionality and automate repetitive tasks using scripting methods: VBScript on Windows, Python on Linux, and AppleScript on Mac OS X.

This most excellent book aims to liberate your imagination and show, in a practical hands-on way, how Skype can do amazing new things--sometimes things that even its creators never envisioned. More importantly, this book shows you how to make Skype work for you.

Andrew Sheppard's Skype Hacks: Tips & Tools For Cheap, Fun, Innovative Phone Service tells how to make the Internet telephony Skype application work well. Haven't heard of Skype? It brings a range of new possibilities for those tired of the confusion of internet telephony options, and Skype Hacks covers all the basics; from how to set up a Skype server and put shortcuts on the computer to avoiding Skype problems and spammers. The program may be newer but the idea of money-saving internet telephony just went up a notch with the ease Skype Hacks Offers.

Skype is one of the most popular VOIP applications for the individual user and small office on the market today. If you have already installed it or are considering installing it then you will want this book so you can configure it to work the way you want it to work and head off any problems before they occur. The first thing I have to say about Skype is that it is so user friendly that many of the hacks in this book are unnecessary. It is easy enough to figure out how to make conference calls, transfer calls, forward calls and do various other common tasks. On the other hand, there are a lot of useful tips including how to claim your money back if something goes wrong, avoiding additional mobile phone charges, building a Skype server, working with routers, using Skype at work, working with privacy issues, and add-on products. Because Skype is a peer-to-peer network service it is very important to understand the privacy and security issues and the author does a great job of both explaining them as well as how to work with them. Skype Hacks is highly recommended for advanced computer users or anyone responsible for administering Skype in a business environment.

A generally well-written book, but offers few nifty insights to save more money or get more service. Look, download Skype and start using it; if you want to go beyond what's obvious from simple use, google will have what few insights are out there; no book will offer a wealth of tips because Skype isn't that kind of produce/service. Secret commands or "hacks" just don't exist for Skype.

And why does the author put that bizzare tip on how to physically cut your phone lines??

The one thing I really wanted to have more info on--how to integrate Skype long distance into your existing home phones with Skype's products under Shop->Accessories--the book barely mentioned as Option 1 of several. Very little help.

Given that I have a number of international colleagues, you'd think that Skype would be a must-have piece of software for me. But I downloaded it during the initial beta and it never really gained traction on my radar screen. All that may now change after reading Skype Hacks - Tips & Tools for Cheap, Fun, Innovative Phone Service by Andrew Sheppard.

Contents: Start Using Skype; Save Money with Skype; Configure Skype; Tweak and Tune Skype; Skype at Work; Mobile Skype; Skype Fun and Play; Skype Chat and Voicemail; Security and Privacy; Quirks, Gotchas, and Workarounds; Skype Add-Ons and Tools; Automate Skype; Index

Skype has become the path of least resistance for people starting to explore Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, because its easy and free. When I first downloaded Skype during the beta period, it seemed like an interesting concept. But I found that most of the people I'd want to talk with weren't on Skype. Now it's changed, and I think I'll be running Skype on a regular basis. Skype Hacks takes a pretty comprehensive tour through the software and covers 100 "hacks" (tips and tricks) you can do to get the most out of the software. For some, the first couple of chapters will be more than enough... how to get started on Skype, how to set the software up, and how you can use Skype to replace your regular phone (or at least reduce your monthly bills). But if you're already past that point, the rest of the chapters will allow you to venture into areas you may not have known about. For instance, the Automate Skype chapter shows a number of scripts you can use to interact with Skype programmatically. Great if you want to have an agent send you a chat message when something is completed. Or take the Skype Add-Ons chapter... There's a website called skyperunner.com that allows you to send a chat message to a Skype user without having to be logged on to the service. Great if you want to send a message to someone in an asynchronous fashion. And using Skype to practice your foreign language skills with willing Skype users around the world was something that never occurred to me...

So, if you've downloaded Skype and used the basic functionality, great. A copy of this book will take you to the next step and open up some interesting possibilities...