Microsoft Books

I used this book for the past three PowerPoint 97 classes which I taught at a local community college. It is clear, easy to follow, and definitely one of best book for learning PowerPoint 97 at the beginning and intermediate levels.

Coming from someone who only buys "Dummies" books, I decided to try this book instead, mainly because the easy-to-follow steps where much more colorful and simpler than the "Dummies" books. I was so glad I purchased "Easy Powerpoint!" I wish they had one for Corel!! I went through the entire book, using the authors examples and was a pro in less than 8 hours! It covered most of the material which is in "Creating Cool Powerpoints," but was much easier to read and follow along with. I wish this series was as widely distributed as the "Dummies, and Idiot's" titles.

I bought this book for my parents just after I helped them buy their first PC. With a couple of short lessons from me and this book, my mom is now happily creating folders and saving, copying, and moving files, etc. This book was a perfect introduction to the WinME operating system for them. Mom says it is a great reference tool too, for when she can't remember exactly how to do something (and can't get me on the phone). I would highly recommend it for all who are new to computers.

A word of warning to new computer users, however. This book is an introduction to the WinME operating system. It will NOT teach you to use your word processing or spreadsheet software. You will need a separate book for that. (Might I suggest _Microsoft_Works_Basics_ by Pasewark, if that's the software you have. Once again, this has Mom's and my stamps of approval.)

Also, if you're simply upgrading to WinME from an earlier operating system, this book will be too basic for you.

Once again Shelley O'Hara has written the best how to book available.

Easy to read. Easy to understand. Easy to apply.

I am an instructor for the Denver Public Library. I teach a class called "How to Buy a Computer" we have offered this class many times over the last two years and I have recommended the earlier "Easy Windows 98", now QUE has come through with the next upgrade with their best author. I will now suggest, as I have in the past, when you buy your computer you must also buy this book: "Easy Windows Millennium" it is as necessary as a surge protector.

I found the Effective Executive's Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2002 to be informative and useful. I really liked the tone, as I get irritated quickly with guides that hold your hand through each action, assuming you have no knowledge whatsoever. This guide offers interesting tips, has a nice layout, and is reasonably priced as well.

This book on Outlook 2002 is a good reference for anybody who's using Outlook 2002--and especially for corporate users. The book emphasizes the email applications of Outlook, as the list of chapters below show, but it also covers the other types of work you can do:

Chapter 1: Getting STarted with Outlook Chapter 2: Reading E-Mail Chapter 3: Sending E-Mail Chapter 4: Managing Your E-Mail Chapter 5: Using a Contacts List Chapter 6: Managing Your Time Chapter 7: Maintaining Outlook

Appendix A: Using Notes Appendix B: Outlook and Exchange Appendix C: Automatically Process Form Data Appendix D: Glossary

Most Outlook users will find this book supplies all the information they need. The two weak points (at least for some readers) of this book are that it doesn't provide enough information about Outlook for people who are Outlook administrators or developers. I.e., it's not like one of those 1000pp Outlook references that tell you everything there is to know about Outlook. Another weak point is that if someone really likes the hand-holding and slow pace of, for example, a Dummies book or a Complete Idiots Guide or a Step by Step book (where they tell you to click OK when you finish with some dialog box), this isn't the right book. It assumes you've got some basic computer skills.

I found this book to be very helpful with regards to Application Integration using the Microsft platform. The authors do a great job of walking the reader through the in's and out's of making disparate applications work and the potential and inevitable roadblocks that happen when undertaking these type of projects. This is a must read if you work in the Microsoft environment.

I am a EI developer/consultant for ERP solutions. Let me tell you. This is the best book for you to learn the big picture of enterprise integration on Microsoft side. It is well write and precise. A lot of useful codes. This is for Microsoft technology only. It is not for Java enterprise though. I consider it the best book in my collection.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and that is why I read. It was interesting from the beginning, had me wondering if some was fact not fiction at least until near the end. The book did not get bogged down anywhere. The kind of book I love to hate, one I can't stop reading.

In a word this book was terrific! You don't see the plot twists coming. It is a fast paced, action packed, entertaining book that you can't put down.

Good exam review for 70-216. Clear and precise.

Good exam review for 70-216. Clear and precise.

I got the idea to do this book (and the other "From A to Z" guides) when my longtime publisher Microsoft Press decided not to continue publishing my Field Guides and Pocket Guides series. Those books, which sold more than 1.5 million copies, were really popular... but didn't make the publisher as much money as other more expensive books. Redmond Technology Press, fortunately, was happy to publish new, updated, improved A to Z style references... and that's how the "From A to Z" series and the Excel 2002 From A to Z book come to be.
I should explain a couple of important points about the Excel A to Z book. First, it uses an alphabetical organization so you would not sit down and read this book like you might read a novel or a regular computer book. Rather, you look up an Excel task or term in the same way that you might look up a word's definition in a dictionary or an article in an encyclopedia. Second, these books are really targeted at the beginning and intermediate user. An A to Z guide, like the Excel From A to Z book, probably covers much of the same ground, for example, as a Dummies book, a Complete Idiots Guide, or a Step by Step book (except in that alphabetical format of course). But an A to Z guide can't cover as much information, obviously, as a 1000-page computer book. (Okay, you'll be surprised by how much ground I do cover in this book, but there is a limit as to what you can do in a 200pp book--even if one is extremely efficient.)

P.S. Amazon.com requires that I post a "star" rating of this book. I feel kind of sheepish about giving my own book a five-star review, but it really is a good book-better even than all those Field Guides and Pocket Guides I did for Microsoft Press for all those years.

Perhaps the most handy reference collection we have seen come through our ProCert Labs, Stephen L. Nelson's From A To Z collection of quick reference guides really hits the spot. If you are using a Microsoft Office product (and if you are not: its time you bought yourself a computer), this handy reference guide will prove indispensable.

Stephen L. Nelson has been writing quick reference guides for some time now, and it shows in this series. Organized alphabetically, each guide excludes an index because, after all, it is one. The navigation is easy and gets right to the point. I looked up "Selecting Text" and learned that there are six different ways to do so. I discovered each of the six ways in less than half a page; a testament to the concise and straightforward instruction in store for every reader.

And don't let me fool you; the information available in each guide addresses the complex as well as the mundane. You will find quick reference tidbits on everything from Autoformatting (a bane to every Word user) to managing Text Formulas in Excel (which most of us would use if we knew they existed.)

For you Access jockeys, having the Access 2002 From A To Z quick reference at hand will make Applying Filters as easy as cooking with Ron Popeil. The finer points of PowerPoint are described in understandable detail, and if you are looking to quell your questions about Outlook, you will find them the fastest in this quick reference.

Bonus Situation: MOUS

Aside from being a valuable desktop reference, each quick reference guide includes information about passing the Microsoft Office User Specialist exam, and promises that the guide includes all the information you will need to pass the test. Our quick review confirmed this, making these books an excellent choice for those of you who are working toward MOUS certification.

The current series of quick reference guides includes:

Word 2002 From A To Z
Excel 2002 From A To Z
PowerPoint 2002 From A To Z
Access 2002 From A To Z
Outlook 2002 From A To Z
Windows 2002 From A To Z
Each quick reference is about 200 pages, with the exception of the Windows XP quick reference, which tops out at 250. Under twelve bucks apiece, you can't miss with any one of the From A To Z quick references from Redmond Technologies Press. Each book individually provides excellent coverage of every function of its technology, and the entire collection represents a comprehensive must have for anyone who relies on the MS Office suite for advanced productivity.

Because I was not totally computer illiterate, I started using Excel, keeping extensive records. Then, when I wanted to do something other than just entering data into a cell, the "boom was lowered" and that is when I found out all the things I didn't know.

This book showed me all the things that this application can do. It did this in language and examples that were clear and that was easily understood. How refreshing that is when you pick up a manual for a new product.

Another gem by Pogue Press!! I just finished reviewing another one of the books from this line and then I am hard-pressed to come up with a lot of things to say other than "buy it" for this book as well. Excel is probably one of the most well-known applications on the planet, forget about the ones just developed by Microsoft. If you are new to spreadsheets and want to learn how to create workbooks, input data, work with formulas, sort, etc. save the time and money of driving to a class and just pick up 'Excel for Starters' by Matthew MacDonald and I guarantee you will NOT be disappointed!!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A novel look at the power of Excel. Great for people new to Excel2007, but also easily transferable to Excel2003. I had no idea it was this easy to develop amazing visual applications in Excel - The seamlessness of integration between Excel and other applications as well as the Internet was a new one for me as well.

I'm a Psychology Professor, and not in any way an "excel geek" and I found this book approachable, useful, and surprising! It's a relief to finally have something like this on my desk. Where have books like this been all this time?"

E. Christine Whitley

I had no idea what Excel could do for me before reading this book. I'm in the field of medicine. I was able to create a customizable interface for large research experiments. This allowed me to do repeated experiments with variable numbers of groups, subjects and variables.

I automatically generated worksheets for data entry, statistical analysis, and elegant methods to present this data (including color, legends, error bars, etc.).

This made my work so much more efficient and my life SO MUCH EASIER!

Thanks, Dr. Bendoly.

I never created charts and with the help of this book, I can create charts effortlessly. Once again, author Bluttman has made difficult computer concepts easy for everyone, including someone like me, who actually has a phobia when it comes to complicated computer applications. I plan to purchase all of the books by Author Bluttman, because he is a gifted, clear and helpful writer.
I highly recommend this book.

Excel Charts For Dummies is a great guide for making charts. All the different chart types are fully explained with instructions on how to make them. I wasn't too experienced with how to format charts, but now I am can apply great colors and schemes. The book has a bonus color insert with many examples of stylized charts. Well worth it!