Windows Vista Pocket Reference is the ideal guide to setting up and navigating the basics of this new operating system, from the new user interface to networking, multimedia, security, and mobility. This pocket reference offers four sections that will familiarize readers with Vista quickly:

• Getting Started gives a crash course in using Windows Vista, including the user interface, handling files, folders, drives and search, and working with hardware.

• Networking, the Internet and Wireless offers a tour of Internet Explorer 7, a wireless networking guide, and how to set up and maintain home networks.

• Multimedia shows how to use the Media Center, Windows Media Player, and how to handle graphics and photos, podcasts and MP3 players.

• Security, Mobility, and Troubleshooting visits the security features, shows how to tune up Vista, troubleshoot problems, and use Vista with mobile devices.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 6 Ratings

It fits in your pocket but is no replacement for experience. - 2007-03-12
Reviewer Rating:
Windows Vista Pocket Reference is just that, a small and light book that will easily fit into your pocket or into a laptop bag.

With just five chapters and 182 pages, this is definitely a lightweight guide. It contains a short introduction to Vista, several chapters focusing on the programs that ship with the operating system and the controls for Vista. A short guide to the registry and a listing of all keyboard/mouse shortcuts.

Chapter 1 - A Crash Course in the Basics. A brief introduction to Windows Vista. This covers moving around the operating system, files and disk basics and the hardware requirements.

Chapter 2 - Shortcuts. Here you can find every conceivable combination of keyboard and mouse shortcut. From the Windows key on your keyboard to moving files around with your mouse.

Chapter 3 - Windows Components, Features and Settings. Here's sixty some odd pages covering many of the programs that ship with Vista, networking, security, user and program management, graphics and multimedia.

Chapter 4 - Registry Tweaks. This is a crash course on the registry and a few useful tweaks.

Chapter 5 - The Command Prompt. Here's a quick but comprehensive guide to the Windows Vista command prompt.

This guide doesn't pretend to be a comprehensive look at Windows Vista. It is a great pocket reference. The shortcut guide alone is worth the price of this book.

This book is defiantly going into my laptop bag for the simple reason that it's much faster too look something up in it than to wander through the OS until I find what I'm looking for.

The crash course in windows is a bit abrupt, it's good enough if you're familiar with Windows XP. If you're new to the game however this short guide will not be enough for you. Better to dig into Vista yourself and skip this chapter.

The guide to components and features is a great reference. Good for looking up quick facts on how to use the various programs and what the various features and wizards are really for.

Pros: Slim, with an great guide to every and any shortcut you could ever want to know. This is a great guide for experienced Windows users.

Cons: While this book is short and to the point, sometimes it's a bit too short. If you're a computer beginner or new to Windows, this book is not for you.

Recommend: If you have other, more comprehensive books on Vista then you may not need this guide. If you're a tech or power user new to Vista, then you'll find this guide helpful. It doesn't make for great linear reading but serves as an excellent and small resource for finding quick facts or finding out just what a Vista feature is used for.

Yet another handy pocket guide from O'Reilly - 2007-03-16
Reviewer Rating:
This is a concise guide to most of the features in Vista and I've found it very helpful so far. Its brief nature keeps the book at a great size for leaving in one's travel bag, which is where I've got my copy.

The book makes great use of its small size. There's a nice grid comparing the different versions of Vista, and scads of little articles on features ranging from the control panel to User Account Control. The articles aren't very deep, but give you the necessary info to quickly get the gist of a topic. Where pertinent, there are also useful links to more detailed information on a given topic.

I particularly like that the book doesn't go too far around the bend with its coverage of the multi-media features of Vista. I'm also happy to see separate chapters on registry tweaks and use of the command prompt -- plus many of the articles give you the command prompt usage for features. Those two particular chapters aren't for everyone, but I'm sure many geeks like myself appreciate their inclusion.

Overall it's a great book for quickly finding bits you may not know about Vista, or refreshing yourself about bits you may have forgotten.

Ok book. - 2007-05-25
Reviewer Rating:
This book contains nothing that you cannot find for yourself. Nothing unique at all, and i don't recommend it unless you are not very good with the operation of windows. Save your money, and open some online articles that have the same information.

Windows Vista book - 2009-01-07
Reviewer Rating:
Exactly what I was looking for andat a great price besides! Amazon is the place to shop! Thanks so much for letting me save tons of dough!

A good reference for Vista - 2008-09-09
Reviewer Rating:
A decent Vista reference. It covers the basics. As a guide to toss in your brief case, it's okay. As an aid to troubleshooting a problem, not so much.

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