Helping Canadians beat computing fears
by Alan Zisman
(c) 1999. First
published in Vancouver Computes,
March
1999
Canadian Computer Handbook
By David Rosen & Caryn Mladen
Media Access Publishing
ISBN: 1-894108-04-3
$19.95
How can I honestly review a book when one of its
co-authors is a Canada
Computes contributing editor, and when the Thanks page at the front of
the book mentions such notables on this publication?s masthead as Mara
Gulens, Jim Buchkok, and Lara King?
Despite the tremendous pressure from the top to give
this book a rave
review, I have to admit that this newly updated for 1999 second edition
is a nicely written volume, covering all bases needed for its intended
target audience?new computer buyers and users. (A big market?3 million
Canadians bought computers last year).
And with a Canadian slant?most evident in prices that,
being expressed
in Canadian dollars, look higher than what you?d see in a book targeted
primarily at Americans.
The book is well organized and clearly written,
covering all the bases,
while not snowing a neophyte under with too much detail or techtalk.
It?s
broken down into four main sections?hardware, software, the Internet,
and
?living with your computer?. The last section is perhaps the most
important,
since it gets down to the nitty-gritty day-to-day experience?from
buying
a new or used computer and software, to upgrading, to financing the
purchase,
to setting up the computer.
It ends up with the day to day upkeep, and a brief but
helpful section
on handling the inevitable problems. The book gets extra points in my
score
card for reminding new users to hang onto all those boxes?necessary if
you have to return the computer under warranty, but also handy when
moving.
Easy to read, it will help take away much of the
fright factor involved
for so many people in selecting, purchasing, and learning to live with
a new computer.