half of what you need to know, for dummies (Computing for Dummies)

Member Name: luke_

Product:	Computing for Dummies
Date:	12/08/01 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy reading, Some times humourous, Cheap

Disadvantages: Very basic, Lots of important information missed out

I currently own two books from the ‘for dummies’ series: windows 95 for dummies which I bought years ago when I got my first computer and Unix for dummies which I bought in the summer last year as I’d developed an interest in the Unix/Linux variants of computer operating systems. Both books were quite cheep compared to alot of others which was my main reason for buying aswell as them seeming to be quite popular.

When I started reading the Windows 95 book, my first impressions were that the book was indeed intended for dummies. Every thing is explained in simple, easy to understand language and this is great for any one who has never used a computer before as the book doesn’t assume that you already know about many different technical terms that you will eventually come across when you become more experienced in the use of computers. The book even starts off by telling you how to use the book!

Soon after I started reading I realised they had missed out the most important part of being able to use Windows 95. I mean, how are you supposed to use it if you can’t install it? I know that most computers come pre installed with the latest Windows operating system but not all and if you wanted to up grade from a previous version of the operating system, there is no guide telling you how to go about this either. This is the main flaw in all the ‘for dummies’ books that deal with computer operating systems. They give you the majority of information on how to generally use the operating system but there is hardly any information if any, about installing or configuring the damn thing to put to good use!

On to the second book I bought from the ‘for dummies’ series: Unix for Dummies. When I bought this book I had no experience in the use of the operating system what so ever. In effect I was a ‘dummy’ where this topic was concerned. Because this operating system is not widely used on deskto
p computers, mainly due to the fact it’s not very ‘user friendly.’ It doesn’t have the functionality that the windows operating system does for easy, every day, and efficient use. Unix requires a bit more effort to be put in to get the same functionality for a desktop user than the Windows operating system does. Due to this the Unix operating system does not come pre installed on many computers and so I had to install this for my self. Having no previous knowledge and hearing that this is a tricky task if you didn’t have any experience I bought this book. I got myself a copy of the Red Hat Linux operating system and I started to read the book. After the first few pages on a brief history of the operating system, the book moved on into using it. Yet again this book totally skipped out how to install the operating system and how to configure it for use on my computer. So far this book was of no use to me what so ever as I didn’t know how to go about installing so I couldn’t possibly learn how to use it. Luckily I got a friend to come around and help me install and configure it and he gave me some tips on how to use it. Definitely more useful than this damn book!

These books seem to be great for beginners if you already have what ever it is the book’s talking about installed and configured but if not then you really will struggle on your own. I would recommend you buy a different book, one a lot larger than the ‘for dummies’ one if you want to learn the Unix operating system because you cant fit every thing about it in 300 pages. They tend to give you the basics but don’t lead you anywhere and miss a lot of important things out that will help you develop more advanced skills. You will only gain a certain basic level of understanding with these books whilst others will give you all this information and take you higher. I recommend you check out some of the books from Que.

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