Sams Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours (3rd Edition)

Teach Yourself Computer Basics in 24 Hours uses a friendly tone to introduce its readers to home computing. Author Jill Freeze does her readers a favor by acknowledging that most of them don't care about the electronic inner workings of their computer equipment, and really just want to make the blasted box do something useful. That means learning to use the operating system--Freeze uses Microsoft Windows 98, Second Edition, in her examples. She walks the reader through basic mouse maneuvers and the fundamentals of launching programs and using files (and even customizing the appearance of Windows) before explaining hardware terminology. Multimedia and three of the programs in Microsoft Office 2000 (Word, Excel, and Access) also receive valuable attention.

Internet connectivity gets adequate coverage, with emphasis on using Internet Explorer and Outlook Express to view Web pages and communicate via electronic mail, respectively. Future editions of this book ought to take into account the fact that networking isn't just for businesses anymore. Home networks are becoming increasingly popular, and Windows makes it rather easy to set them up. A few chapters on setting up a network--including the use of Windows Internet Connection Sharing feature--would really appeal to Freeze's target audience. Regardless, this book makes good reading for Windows newcomers. --David Wall

Topics covered: Microsoft Windows 98, Second Edition, and its related hardware and software, tailored for absolute novices. Coverage includes basic mouse skills, launching programs, managing files, using Microsoft Office 2000, connecting to the Internet via a modem, and using Internet software.