Acknowledgments

This book, as much as the product it covers, is the product of a team effort. We couldn’t have produced this without the great team at Que, the assistance of contributing writers, the patience and support of our friends, and so...

We feel privileged to be part of the consistently professional Special Edition Using family. Producing these highly technical, state-of-the art books requires a dedicated and knowledgeable staff, and once again the staff at Que did an amazing job. Executive editor Rick Kughen has provided unflagging, cheerful support and guidance through our four SE Using volumes. Also serving as development editor, Rick did double duty keeping us on schedule, as well as helping us to shape this tome. Rick pored over every word on every page of this new Vista edition, just as he has on numerous past editions, and offered invaluable direction and tuning. This is a much better book than it could have been without him.

We’d like to acknowledge the efforts of our technical editor, Mark Reddin. We also would like to thank the editorial, indexing, layout, art, proofing, and other production staff at Que—Patrick Kanouse, Seth Kerney, and Ken Johnson. You did a marvelous job.

We’d like to thank Everette Beatley, Eric Butow, Greg Dickinson, Diana Huggins, Arthur Knowles, Alex Morales, Mark Soper, Steve Suehring, Brent Thal, and Will Schmied for their expertise and hard work: Your contribution made this a better book and let it get to press on time (more or less!). You were a great writing team to work with. In addition to his writing skills, Everette Beatley deserves extra kudos for his always-available-by-IM invaluable backstage sleuthing of Vista issues and factoids. Special thanks to first-time authors but big-time computer pros Alex Morales and Brent Thal, and encouragement to keep writing! No book could make it to market without the real-world personal relationships developed between booksellers on the one hand, and the sales and marketing personnel back at the publishers. We’ve had the opportunity to meet sales and marketing folks in the computer publishing world and know what a difficult job selling and keeping up with the thousands of computer titles can be. Thanks to all of you for your pivotal role in helping us pay our mortgages!

Finally, we should acknowledge those who made it possible for us to get through the many months of writing. Bob first offers many thanks to Frank Banks, John Prendergast, and Dr. Steven Feig for keeping him ticking. Secondly, thanks to agent Carole McClendon of Waterside Productions for representing me in contractual matters. And finally, as always, thanks to friends and family who, even though used to seeing me disappear for months on end, let me back in the fold when it’s over, especially Diane Zaremba, Hilary Abell, Kathy Geisler, Heidi Page, Kirsten Spalding, Jack Hoggatt, Anne Buchbinder, and Carol Christopher.

Brian adds thanks to Dave, Bryce, Frank, Todd, Bubba, and Lucy.