Computer Book Reviews
Microsoft Access 2002 10 Minute Guide by Joe Hazbraken
Que, August, 2001Trade Paperback, 211 pages
ISBN: 0789726319
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
This concise guide helps readers quickly learn fast tips and tricks for using Microsoft Access 2002. Each chapter in the book is actually a quick lesson which teaches the reader how to perform a specific task in Access 2002, complete with screen shots and samples illustrating some of the steps involved. Lessons helping readers create new databases, creating and formatting tables, creating forms, sorting data, using queries and printing objects are just a few of the lessons provided. More in-depth Access textbooks and courses can sometimes over-complicate the instruction and be extremely time consuming. Quick learners can save time by using this Access guide. A handy book for those looking for a quick introduction or refresher for Access 2002 tasks, this book is also useful for those upgrading from an earlier Access edition who want a quick and cheap book about Access 2002.
MySQL: Building User Interfaces by Matthew Stucky
New Riders, July, 2001.Trade Paperback, 632 pages.
ISBN: 073571049X
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
This specialty MySQL book provides instruction and sample code for programmers seeking to develop GUI database applications using MySQL and GTK+. The first part of the book, called Quick and Dirty, teaches readers the development tools MySQL, GTK+ and Glade. The book also includes instructions on developing code that can be compiled on Linux or Windows platforms. The rest of the book walks the developer through several sample ecommerce GUI applications with explanations of the code and functions involved.
MySQL: Building User Interfaces focuses primarily on using GTK, C and MySQL to build GUI database applications, and is an effective tool for developers using these tools. The book is also excellent for developers switching from a Windows to Linux platform. The book is very specialized and developers using Perl or PHP for MySQL applications will want to seek a different MySQL title. Prior experience using VB or SQL Server and web databases is recommended.
Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller
Que, August, 2001.Trade Paperback, 1556 pages.
ISBN: 0789725428
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Some people actually love to tinker with the inside of their PCs. Others will do it only when necessary, e.g., if they need to install new hardware or could do some quick maintenance that might save them money. This book will appeal to both types of people. The enormous book (1556 pages) contains a wealth of information about upgrading and repairing PCs. There are chapters covering everything from internet connections to upgrading your computer's memory. This latest edition also includes coverage of the new Pentium 4, Itanium, Athlon and Duran processors. The book covers older hardware as well as the brand new stuff, so even if you own an old PC you can find relevant instruction. An information-packed CD-ROM that comes with the book includes a two hour video showing step-by-step upgrading and repairing procedures, hundreds of pages of technical documentation, a searchable vendor database, searchable hard drive specifications and entire previous editions of the book. There is also more information and updates on the author's website.
This is an extremely useful book for PC users who are interested in upgrading or repairing their own computers. The book is also quite user-friendly. There are plenty of technical diagrams, specs and charts, but the text is written so laymen as well as experts can implement the procedures. Highly recommended.
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