Windows XP from a Macintosh User

I have a confession to make... I go both ways. That's right, I'm bi-directional. I bat for both teams. I use Windows just as much as I use a Mac. The dirty little secret is that I'm not that unusual; there are a lot of Mac users that have to work with Windows (my involvement is voluntary, which might be an oddity.)

A few weeks ago, I was handed a copy of Windows XP in a Nutshell. What the heck would a Mac user do with a book about Windows? Like I said, there are more than a few Mac users who have to work with Windows on occasion, and many of them won't use Windows enough to get fully comfortable with it. A book like this may be helpful for those kinds of people.

Part 1 (The Big Picture)
This section is the smallest of the book (beside the preface). It covers a bit of the history of Windows, some of the features of Windows XP and finishes with a brief walk through of the Windows' desktop. This part lays the groundwork for the rest of the book, which is more of a reference book than tutorial.

Part 2 (Alphabetical Reference)
This is the heart of the book and the largest section. It's an encyclopedic listing of the programs and features of Windows XP. It's broken up into four parts (the user interface, applications and tools, task and setting index and a list of commands for the command prompt.) This section is definitely not intended for reading from end to end. However, it is a good section to graze through (just flip though the pages, stopping on anything that catches you eye.) and, of course, good for when you're trying to find a specific topic.

Part 3 (Advance Topics)
This is a semi-tutorial on some of the more arcane aspects of Windows XP; networking, the registry and Windows Scripting. The chapter on networking is especially useful for people who haven't had the joy of setting up a Windows machine for a network. The chapter on the Windows Scripting Host, however,
isn't very useful for someone who is tangentially familiar with Windows.

Part 4 (Appendices)
This part has a mix of some very useful info, such as the chapters on installing and upgrading Windows, to the extremely arcane, like the listing of Windows Services. It's worth going through, at least until your eyes glaze over.

Dislikes
There are a couple things that turned me off, about the book, both as a reader and a Windows user.
The book is poorly organized, alternating throughout the book from tutorial to reference. I think that it would have been better if the material to be read were kept to the front of the book with all of the reference material in the back (appendix.)

I would have also liked it if the alphabetical reference were broken up and grouped (i.e. control panels would have their own section as would games.) One of the biggest things this book lacks is a discussion of Windows security. Any comprehensive discussion of Windows needs to include security, especially if the book is targeted (such as this one) toward neophyte users. While the authors to talk some about security, it's broken up and spread throughout the book.

Likes
One of the things that I really like about the book is that the authors seem to have followed the idea that "Brevity is the soul of wit" and give each of their topics just enough coverage and not get bogged down in the minutiae. While the book covers some topics, such as Internet Explorer, more than others, it doesn't go overboard (they cover IE in about six pages, half of which is the changes that came with Service Hack, er I mean Pack, 2.)
The other thing I like is that they continually write about the command line. The command line is an integral part of the Windows' OS (as much as it is with the Mac OS,) yet it's regularly regarded as some mysterious artifact, or else they deal exclusively with the command prompt, and end up in a game of one upmanship with the GUI. Seeing someone deal with the command prompt as just another part of the OS is quite refreshing.

What do I think?
If the book were better organized, I would heartily recommend the book to any Mac user who occasionally needs to use a Windows machine, but the book is a little too confusing for the kind of people who need confusing the least. Still the book has a good deal of useful information, especially the networking and Windows installation guide, and is worth considering if you're looking for a Windows reference

K. Burby - Michigan Apple User Group

Other Reviews

• Really good book, really good transaction
• Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition
• Windows XP in a Nutshell
• Five starts for a well done book
• Windows XP from a Macintosh User