Windows XP for Dummies does a good job in its role as the flagship of the Dummies line, providing Windows novices with a guided introduction to Microsoft's latest and most feature-rich operating system for everyday computer users. Its treatment of computer, Windows and Internet fundamentals is among the best on the market, and author Andy Rathbone has an appealing way of writing that's simultaneously fun and detail-rich. If you're a Windows novice--meaning you don't know how to undelete a file that's been sent to the Recycle Bin, or what a Web browser is, or what it means to "cut and paste" text--you will get a lot out of Rathbone's work.

Some aspects of this book could be better, such as the part of the networking chapter that calls for an Ethernet hub without noting that a switch, though possibly more expensive, would do the job better, without any additional hassle. The networking coverage also does an inadequate job of explaining how to share a cable modem or DSL connection among several computers. This is a serious shortcoming, and we're getting to the point in our evolution as a society of computer users at which we can assume that everyone knows what the "Cancel" button does and would rather read about the newer, more exciting things that Windows XP can do. Even the dummies aren't that dumb anymore.

But, that said--and Rathbone does confine a lot of the really elementary stuff to a skinny introductory chapter--this book is a boon to people who aren't familiar with Windows XP or its immediate predecessors (including Windows 95, Windows98, and Windows Me). It's also great for people who have learned a little about Windows on the job or from their kids, and want to expand on what they know. --David Wall

Topics covered: Microsoft Windows XP for people completely unfamiliar with the operating system and other recent versions of Windows. Coverage includes how to run programs, move and delete files, connecting to the Internet and using applications like electronic mail programs, Web browsers and multimedia players.

Windows XP, 14 Mar 2004
Not much to say really.. this is a great book for somebody who has no experience of using a computer or wants a refresher of the basics. A great place to start off but probably a little too basic if you have some computing experience.

Thank You, 20 Jun 2003
Thank you Mr Andy Rathbone. You've saved me £££'s on helpline charges and added years to my life as I don't have to converse with IT types (who usually take three hours to tell me to switch it off and then switch it back on again!)

A clearly written'how to' book for non-specialist readers., 15 Jan 2002
If you are confused as to how to achieve something with your computer or are seeking a solution to a computer hardware/software problem then it will probably be easier to look for the answer in Windows XP for Dummies than to use the help menu in the programme. Andy Rathbone writes clearly for the non-computing specialist and whilst his quirky humour will not get everyone in stitches his wit does not distract from the task of supplying the reader with the information that they require. Like a good teacher he keeps it simple and straightforward and is never boring.

Windows XP, 14 Mar 2004
Not much to say really.. this is a great book for somebody who has no experience of using a computer or wants a refresher of the basics. A great place to start off but probably a little too basic if you have some computing experience.

Thank You, 20 Jun 2003
Thank you Mr Andy Rathbone. You've saved me £££'s on helpline charges and added years to my life as I don't have to converse with IT types (who usually take three hours to tell me to switch it off and then switch it back on again!)

A clearly written'how to' book for non-specialist readers., 15 Jan 2002
If you are confused as to how to achieve something with your computer or are seeking a solution to a computer hardware/software problem then it will probably be easier to look for the answer in Windows XP for Dummies than to use the help menu in the programme. Andy Rathbone writes clearly for the non-computing specialist and whilst his quirky humour will not get everyone in stitches his wit does not distract from the task of supplying the reader with the information that they require. Like a good teacher he keeps it simple and straightforward and is never boring.

The Truth is in Here, 03 Jan 2009
The first reviewer is spot on. This large hardback volume, whose correct subtitle is "Behind the Series, the Myths and the Movies", weighs almost 4lb (1.8kg) and has a small typeface for the main text. In its 248 pages there are a dozen photographs that span two pages and more than 700 smaller photographs. Many delightful pictures evoke memories of the series and include Mulder and Scully's kiss in I Want to Believe (IWTB). There are more than 40 pictures from IWTB and good coverage of this movie and those in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to two pages of index there are five pages of thumbnail images whose captions include details of the episode title, directors and first broadcast date for the episode. This is followed by a page listing the awards the series won during its nine years.

There are some typographical errors and a few words omitted. On page 209 the reference to Scully and Mulder kissing with baby William appears, incorrectly, in the text for season nine. This memorable scene appears in Existence, the last episode of season eight. Despite these slight blemishes this is a splendid book.

The details from behind the series reveal the many tens of thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that went into the episodes and the movies. Understanding the huge effort involved in the episodes of just one season can leave the reader feeling exhausted!

The last paragraph of the introduction by Frank Spotnitz says much about the X Files and this book: "The fact that people are still watching these episodes (and now writing about them) is a dream come true. I don't need to feel nostalgic about the past. I can simply turn on the television, just about anywhere in the world, and celebrate the achievement that The X-Files was, and is."

Highly recommended.


A must have for all X-philes !, 26 Nov 2008
This book is an absolute must have for any & all X- Files fans out there. It is a complete guide to the show, from the very first episode right through to the new film. Its packed with hundreds of full colour pictures and tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the show and its 15 year history. Also, hidden away in the books cover are 3 poster, Chris Carters hand written note cards & a copy of The Lone Gunmen newspaper. What are you waiting for ? Buy it now !

Unix in a Nutshell is the standard desktop reference, without question (Manpages come in a close second). With clean layout and superior command tables available at a glance, O'Reilly's third edition of Nutshell is an essential to own.

Like a dictionary, Unix in a Nutshell helps you find what you need, even if you're not exactly sure what it is you're looking for (or how to spell it!) With that in mind, this book is for intermediate to advanced users only--those new to the Unix operating system would be better off with Learning the Unix Operating System or Unix: Visual Quickstart Guide.

The last full revision of the book was in 1992, and the new edition covers Solaris 7, as well as newer versions of shells (ksh, in particular), RCS and GNU emacs. Topping off at over 500 pages, Unix in a Nutshell contains--literally--everything you could want to know about the various commands, shells and functions. Fifty new commands have been added to the already sizable lists, and even the most seasoned user is likely to find a timesaving command not previously known. --Jennifer Buckendorff

Windows XP, 14 Mar 2004
Not much to say really.. this is a great book for somebody who has no experience of using a computer or wants a refresher of the basics. A great place to start off but probably a little too basic if you have some computing experience.

Thank You, 20 Jun 2003
Thank you Mr Andy Rathbone. You've saved me £££'s on helpline charges and added years to my life as I don't have to converse with IT types (who usually take three hours to tell me to switch it off and then switch it back on again!)

A clearly written'how to' book for non-specialist readers., 15 Jan 2002
If you are confused as to how to achieve something with your computer or are seeking a solution to a computer hardware/software problem then it will probably be easier to look for the answer in Windows XP for Dummies than to use the help menu in the programme. Andy Rathbone writes clearly for the non-computing specialist and whilst his quirky humour will not get everyone in stitches his wit does not distract from the task of supplying the reader with the information that they require. Like a good teacher he keeps it simple and straightforward and is never boring.

The Truth is in Here, 03 Jan 2009
The first reviewer is spot on. This large hardback volume, whose correct subtitle is "Behind the Series, the Myths and the Movies", weighs almost 4lb (1.8kg) and has a small typeface for the main text. In its 248 pages there are a dozen photographs that span two pages and more than 700 smaller photographs. Many delightful pictures evoke memories of the series and include Mulder and Scully's kiss in I Want to Believe (IWTB). There are more than 40 pictures from IWTB and good coverage of this movie and those in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to two pages of index there are five pages of thumbnail images whose captions include details of the episode title, directors and first broadcast date for the episode. This is followed by a page listing the awards the series won during its nine years.

There are some typographical errors and a few words omitted. On page 209 the reference to Scully and Mulder kissing with baby William appears, incorrectly, in the text for season nine. This memorable scene appears in Existence, the last episode of season eight. Despite these slight blemishes this is a splendid book.

The details from behind the series reveal the many tens of thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that went into the episodes and the movies. Understanding the huge effort involved in the episodes of just one season can leave the reader feeling exhausted!

The last paragraph of the introduction by Frank Spotnitz says much about the X Files and this book: "The fact that people are still watching these episodes (and now writing about them) is a dream come true. I don't need to feel nostalgic about the past. I can simply turn on the television, just about anywhere in the world, and celebrate the achievement that The X-Files was, and is."

Highly recommended.


A must have for all X-philes !, 26 Nov 2008
This book is an absolute must have for any & all X- Files fans out there. It is a complete guide to the show, from the very first episode right through to the new film. Its packed with hundreds of full colour pictures and tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the show and its 15 year history. Also, hidden away in the books cover are 3 poster, Chris Carters hand written note cards & a copy of The Lone Gunmen newspaper. What are you waiting for ? Buy it now !

This is one of those books that you wear out...., 04 Oct 2006
Find a group of Unix System Admins and somewhere nearby will be this book. What's more they will probably all admit to using from time to time. It covers just about everything you need to the depth you need everyday, from scripting to awk and sed to 'how do you get vi to do this'. A purchase I've never regretted.

Very insightful UNIX introduction, 22 Feb 2006
Well, once I have started with this book and it had been helpful and well guiding book. In is not the "only" book you will need. I have followed someone review's advice and paired this book with a "UNIX Essentials" DVD and they made a very effective couple. I found this DVD on Amazon.com but since they do not ship outside US I ordered it directly from CustomFlix.com
One way or another those people who pick book of this sort usually had no opportunity to attend some UNIX classes and the DVD alleviates this problem. May be it's just me,but when I pick a book and go through it I'm still no really confident. It does not matter how book is good, I'm never sure is it enough to make a claim that "I know UNIX". And this book along with the DVD had solved this issue to me. Book is easy to read and pleasure to follow. The examples and the explanations are very clear. So I liked this book very much.

Windows XP, 14 Mar 2004
Not much to say really.. this is a great book for somebody who has no experience of using a computer or wants a refresher of the basics. A great place to start off but probably a little too basic if you have some computing experience.

Thank You, 20 Jun 2003
Thank you Mr Andy Rathbone. You've saved me £££'s on helpline charges and added years to my life as I don't have to converse with IT types (who usually take three hours to tell me to switch it off and then switch it back on again!)

A clearly written'how to' book for non-specialist readers., 15 Jan 2002
If you are confused as to how to achieve something with your computer or are seeking a solution to a computer hardware/software problem then it will probably be easier to look for the answer in Windows XP for Dummies than to use the help menu in the programme. Andy Rathbone writes clearly for the non-computing specialist and whilst his quirky humour will not get everyone in stitches his wit does not distract from the task of supplying the reader with the information that they require. Like a good teacher he keeps it simple and straightforward and is never boring.

The Truth is in Here, 03 Jan 2009
The first reviewer is spot on. This large hardback volume, whose correct subtitle is "Behind the Series, the Myths and the Movies", weighs almost 4lb (1.8kg) and has a small typeface for the main text. In its 248 pages there are a dozen photographs that span two pages and more than 700 smaller photographs. Many delightful pictures evoke memories of the series and include Mulder and Scully's kiss in I Want to Believe (IWTB). There are more than 40 pictures from IWTB and good coverage of this movie and those in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to two pages of index there are five pages of thumbnail images whose captions include details of the episode title, directors and first broadcast date for the episode. This is followed by a page listing the awards the series won during its nine years.

There are some typographical errors and a few words omitted. On page 209 the reference to Scully and Mulder kissing with baby William appears, incorrectly, in the text for season nine. This memorable scene appears in Existence, the last episode of season eight. Despite these slight blemishes this is a splendid book.

The details from behind the series reveal the many tens of thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that went into the episodes and the movies. Understanding the huge effort involved in the episodes of just one season can leave the reader feeling exhausted!

The last paragraph of the introduction by Frank Spotnitz says much about the X Files and this book: "The fact that people are still watching these episodes (and now writing about them) is a dream come true. I don't need to feel nostalgic about the past. I can simply turn on the television, just about anywhere in the world, and celebrate the achievement that The X-Files was, and is."

Highly recommended.


A must have for all X-philes !, 26 Nov 2008
This book is an absolute must have for any & all X- Files fans out there. It is a complete guide to the show, from the very first episode right through to the new film. Its packed with hundreds of full colour pictures and tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the show and its 15 year history. Also, hidden away in the books cover are 3 poster, Chris Carters hand written note cards & a copy of The Lone Gunmen newspaper. What are you waiting for ? Buy it now !

This is one of those books that you wear out...., 04 Oct 2006
Find a group of Unix System Admins and somewhere nearby will be this book. What's more they will probably all admit to using from time to time. It covers just about everything you need to the depth you need everyday, from scripting to awk and sed to 'how do you get vi to do this'. A purchase I've never regretted.

Very insightful UNIX introduction, 22 Feb 2006
Well, once I have started with this book and it had been helpful and well guiding book. In is not the "only" book you will need. I have followed someone review's advice and paired this book with a "UNIX Essentials" DVD and they made a very effective couple. I found this DVD on Amazon.com but since they do not ship outside US I ordered it directly from CustomFlix.com
One way or another those people who pick book of this sort usually had no opportunity to attend some UNIX classes and the DVD alleviates this problem. May be it's just me,but when I pick a book and go through it I'm still no really confident. It does not matter how book is good, I'm never sure is it enough to make a claim that "I know UNIX". And this book along with the DVD had solved this issue to me. Book is easy to read and pleasure to follow. The examples and the explanations are very clear. So I liked this book very much.

Fantastic for new coders or intermediates new to XNA, 06 Sep 2008
I bought this book, as I'd done odd bits of programming, but never on a Windows platform, or for games development - and I knew nothing about XNA. The book is superb. It guides you through the concepts with a friendly narrative, no patronisation, and with enough detail to understand the examples.

The fact it has no CD attached is not a problem. You'll need the internet to download XNA anyway, and if you have that, then you can easily access code examples from the author's website.

The book helps you build simple 2D games. It gives you a broad enough experience you can go and build any simple 2D game yourself. It doesn't set out to explain XNA - but to let you know enough of the basics to make basic games - and this is the best approach to start with. Even if you dream of larger, 3D games, if you don't know XNA or any C/C++/C# - start here, it is a very good foundation.

If you're already very competent with coding or game development, this is probably below you, or just a skim-through book.

Highly Recommended Book., 18 Mar 2008
"Learn Programming Now" is a great book which, not only introduces XNA, but also introduces programming and can be picked up by people who have no programming experience whatsoever. The downside to introducing programming concepts whilst explaining XNA is that more experienced readers may find certain parts too slow. However, these parts can easily be skipped and the reader can focus on the XNA and game development aspects. Although the book does not come with a CD, it does have a website where you can download the code samples. Personally, I didn't find the lack of CD a problem as the best way to learn what you read is by typing the code anyway, and with the clear explanations and code displayed in the book, it was a straightforward process. If you are new to programming, then I wouldn't rely on this book to teach you how to program and you are better off with a book dedicated to programming, but it's a very nice introduction.

As an XNA book, it has great analogies and explanations to give a good understanding as to how XNA works and how the developer can start making use of it. As an introductory book, advance concepts of XNA and game development are not discussed, which is by no means a bad thing as it ensures the author can focus on what the book sets out to do. If you are new to XNA or game development, this is a highly recommended book regardless of whether or not you have any programming experience.

Amazing XNA Book, 29 Feb 2008
'Learn Programming Now' is a brilliant introductory book to programming, XNA and game development. It introduces many of the complex ideas and concepts in programming through game development, and teaches the XNA framework in an easy to understand manner, introducing themes gradually, expecting no previous knowledge of programming.
It is well presented, and as well as being interesting and informative, it is a humorous and entertaining read with many analogies and funny stories.
It also makes you aware of not just XNA, but programming in a broader sense, making you think about how to approach a problem, and work out a way to solve it.

It is the perfect book for anyone interested in making games, and learning about Programming. I own many, many books on programming, and four on XNA, and I definitely recommend this to anyone starting out in programming or game development

The cover of Windows XP All-In-One Desk Reference for Dummies boasts that it's "nine books in one". That's a stretch--it's really a book about Microsoft Windows XP for novices, with supplementary information about America Online and MSN--but cover claims aside, this book represents good value for someone new to computing. Woody Leonhard--a respected Windows authority who writes with enough humour to keep things light but not so much as to obscure the facts--begins with how to use a mouse and works all the way through installing printers and setting up a little network in a home or small office. Granted, if you've found this page on the Internet you probably don't need Leonhard's "how-to-click" tutorial, but you may be shopping for someone unfamiliar with Windows. This book is good for such people.

While the nine separate indexes (one at the end of each included "book") will annoy you--the unified one at the back of this book is much easier to find and use--Leonhard's style will compensate. He's very good at explaining how to do what Windows XP was meant to do, up to a certain level. Want to add a music file to a Windows Media Player playlist? There's a procedure for that. Want to cancel AOL because you can't stand it? He explains how. He does not, however, provide detail on more complicated jobs like setting up a cable modem or dealing with the specific security risk posed by Universal Plug and Play. Overall, this is a nicely written, friendly book that covers Windows XP well, but to a limited depth. --David Wall

Topics covered: Microsoft Windows XP for home users, particularly novices. Windows XP fundamentals (like windows and the mouse pointer), customisation, Internet tools (including Outlook Express and Internet Explorer), America Online (AOL), Microsoft Network (MSN), printers, small networks, and Internet connectivity are all addressed.

Windows XP, 14 Mar 2004
Not much to say really.. this is a great book for somebody who has no experience of using a computer or wants a refresher of the basics. A great place to start off but probably a little too basic if you have some computing experience.

Thank You, 20 Jun 2003
Thank you Mr Andy Rathbone. You've saved me £££'s on helpline charges and added years to my life as I don't have to converse with IT types (who usually take three hours to tell me to switch it off and then switch it back on again!)

A clearly written'how to' book for non-specialist readers., 15 Jan 2002
If you are confused as to how to achieve something with your computer or are seeking a solution to a computer hardware/software problem then it will probably be easier to look for the answer in Windows XP for Dummies than to use the help menu in the programme. Andy Rathbone writes clearly for the non-computing specialist and whilst his quirky humour will not get everyone in stitches his wit does not distract from the task of supplying the reader with the information that they require. Like a good teacher he keeps it simple and straightforward and is never boring.

The Truth is in Here, 03 Jan 2009
The first reviewer is spot on. This large hardback volume, whose correct subtitle is "Behind the Series, the Myths and the Movies", weighs almost 4lb (1.8kg) and has a small typeface for the main text. In its 248 pages there are a dozen photographs that span two pages and more than 700 smaller photographs. Many delightful pictures evoke memories of the series and include Mulder and Scully's kiss in I Want to Believe (IWTB). There are more than 40 pictures from IWTB and good coverage of this movie and those in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to two pages of index there are five pages of thumbnail images whose captions include details of the episode title, directors and first broadcast date for the episode. This is followed by a page listing the awards the series won during its nine years.

There are some typographical errors and a few words omitted. On page 209 the reference to Scully and Mulder kissing with baby William appears, incorrectly, in the text for season nine. This memorable scene appears in Existence, the last episode of season eight. Despite these slight blemishes this is a splendid book.

The details from behind the series reveal the many tens of thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that went into the episodes and the movies. Understanding the huge effort involved in the episodes of just one season can leave the reader feeling exhausted!

The last paragraph of the introduction by Frank Spotnitz says much about the X Files and this book: "The fact that people are still watching these episodes (and now writing about them) is a dream come true. I don't need to feel nostalgic about the past. I can simply turn on the television, just about anywhere in the world, and celebrate the achievement that The X-Files was, and is."

Highly recommended.


A must have for all X-philes !, 26 Nov 2008
This book is an absolute must have for any & all X- Files fans out there. It is a complete guide to the show, from the very first episode right through to the new film. Its packed with hundreds of full colour pictures and tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the show and its 15 year history. Also, hidden away in the books cover are 3 poster, Chris Carters hand written note cards & a copy of The Lone Gunmen newspaper. What are you waiting for ? Buy it now !

This is one of those books that you wear out...., 04 Oct 2006
Find a group of Unix System Admins and somewhere nearby will be this book. What's more they will probably all admit to using from time to time. It covers just about everything you need to the depth you need everyday, from scripting to awk and sed to 'how do you get vi to do this'. A purchase I've never regretted.

Very insightful UNIX introduction, 22 Feb 2006
Well, once I have started with this book and it had been helpful and well guiding book. In is not the "only" book you will need. I have followed someone review's advice and paired this book with a "UNIX Essentials" DVD and they made a very effective couple. I found this DVD on Amazon.com but since they do not ship outside US I ordered it directly from CustomFlix.com
One way or another those people who pick book of this sort usually had no opportunity to attend some UNIX classes and the DVD alleviates this problem. May be it's just me,but when I pick a book and go through it I'm still no really confident. It does not matter how book is good, I'm never sure is it enough to make a claim that "I know UNIX". And this book along with the DVD had solved this issue to me. Book is easy to read and pleasure to follow. The examples and the explanations are very clear. So I liked this book very much.

Fantastic for new coders or intermediates new to XNA, 06 Sep 2008
I bought this book, as I'd done odd bits of programming, but never on a Windows platform, or for games development - and I knew nothing about XNA. The book is superb. It guides you through the concepts with a friendly narrative, no patronisation, and with enough detail to understand the examples.

The fact it has no CD attached is not a problem. You'll need the internet to download XNA anyway, and if you have that, then you can easily access code examples from the author's website.

The book helps you build simple 2D games. It gives you a broad enough experience you can go and build any simple 2D game yourself. It doesn't set out to explain XNA - but to let you know enough of the basics to make basic games - and this is the best approach to start with. Even if you dream of larger, 3D games, if you don't know XNA or any C/C++/C# - start here, it is a very good foundation.

If you're already very competent with coding or game development, this is probably below you, or just a skim-through book.

Highly Recommended Book., 18 Mar 2008
"Learn Programming Now" is a great book which, not only introduces XNA, but also introduces programming and can be picked up by people who have no programming experience whatsoever. The downside to introducing programming concepts whilst explaining XNA is that more experienced readers may find certain parts too slow. However, these parts can easily be skipped and the reader can focus on the XNA and game development aspects. Although the book does not come with a CD, it does have a website where you can download the code samples. Personally, I didn't find the lack of CD a problem as the best way to learn what you read is by typing the code anyway, and with the clear explanations and code displayed in the book, it was a straightforward process. If you are new to programming, then I wouldn't rely on this book to teach you how to program and you are better off with a book dedicated to programming, but it's a very nice introduction.

As an XNA book, it has great analogies and explanations to give a good understanding as to how XNA works and how the developer can start making use of it. As an introductory book, advance concepts of XNA and game development are not discussed, which is by no means a bad thing as it ensures the author can focus on what the book sets out to do. If you are new to XNA or game development, this is a highly recommended book regardless of whether or not you have any programming experience.

Amazing XNA Book, 29 Feb 2008
'Learn Programming Now' is a brilliant introductory book to programming, XNA and game development. It introduces many of the complex ideas and concepts in programming through game development, and teaches the XNA framework in an easy to understand manner, introducing themes gradually, expecting no previous knowledge of programming.
It is well presented, and as well as being interesting and informative, it is a humorous and entertaining read with many analogies and funny stories.
It also makes you aware of not just XNA, but programming in a broader sense, making you think about how to approach a problem, and work out a way to solve it.

It is the perfect book for anyone interested in making games, and learning about Programming. I own many, many books on programming, and four on XNA, and I definitely recommend this to anyone starting out in programming or game development


Excellent for its intended market - beginners., 20 Feb 2002
To be honest, I felt disappointed at first that this book didn't go beyond the simple aspects. I know it's a Dummies book, but it has a lot of content & it is from Woody. Hence my expectations were higher. Unfortunately a lot of it is non O/S related - e.g. MSN, IE6, AOL.
Then I realised how much I didn't know about XP!
Great for beginners, and it turns out even the more experienced of us can pick-up something if we haven't yet used XP.

Windows XP, 14 Mar 2004
Not much to say really.. this is a great book for somebody who has no experience of using a computer or wants a refresher of the basics. A great place to start off but probably a little too basic if you have some computing experience.

Thank You, 20 Jun 2003
Thank you Mr Andy Rathbone. You've saved me £££'s on helpline charges and added years to my life as I don't have to converse with IT types (who usually take three hours to tell me to switch it off and then switch it back on again!)

A clearly written'how to' book for non-specialist readers., 15 Jan 2002
If you are confused as to how to achieve something with your computer or are seeking a solution to a computer hardware/software problem then it will probably be easier to look for the answer in Windows XP for Dummies than to use the help menu in the programme. Andy Rathbone writes clearly for the non-computing specialist and whilst his quirky humour will not get everyone in stitches his wit does not distract from the task of supplying the reader with the information that they require. Like a good teacher he keeps it simple and straightforward and is never boring.

The Truth is in Here, 03 Jan 2009
The first reviewer is spot on. This large hardback volume, whose correct subtitle is "Behind the Series, the Myths and the Movies", weighs almost 4lb (1.8kg) and has a small typeface for the main text. In its 248 pages there are a dozen photographs that span two pages and more than 700 smaller photographs. Many delightful pictures evoke memories of the series and include Mulder and Scully's kiss in I Want to Believe (IWTB). There are more than 40 pictures from IWTB and good coverage of this movie and those in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to two pages of index there are five pages of thumbnail images whose captions include details of the episode title, directors and first broadcast date for the episode. This is followed by a page listing the awards the series won during its nine years.

There are some typographical errors and a few words omitted. On page 209 the reference to Scully and Mulder kissing with baby William appears, incorrectly, in the text for season nine. This memorable scene appears in Existence, the last episode of season eight. Despite these slight blemishes this is a splendid book.

The details from behind the series reveal the many tens of thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that went into the episodes and the movies. Understanding the huge effort involved in the episodes of just one season can leave the reader feeling exhausted!

The last paragraph of the introduction by Frank Spotnitz says much about the X Files and this book: "The fact that people are still watching these episodes (and now writing about them) is a dream come true. I don't need to feel nostalgic about the past. I can simply turn on the television, just about anywhere in the world, and celebrate the achievement that The X-Files was, and is."

Highly recommended.


A must have for all X-philes !, 26 Nov 2008
This book is an absolute must have for any & all X- Files fans out there. It is a complete guide to the show, from the very first episode right through to the new film. Its packed with hundreds of full colour pictures and tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the show and its 15 year history. Also, hidden away in the books cover are 3 poster, Chris Carters hand written note cards & a copy of The Lone Gunmen newspaper. What are you waiting for ? Buy it now !

This is one of those books that you wear out...., 04 Oct 2006
Find a group of Unix System Admins and somewhere nearby will be this book. What's more they will probably all admit to using from time to time. It covers just about everything you need to the depth you need everyday, from scripting to awk and sed to 'how do you get vi to do this'. A purchase I've never regretted.

Very insightful UNIX introduction, 22 Feb 2006
Well, once I have started with this book and it had been helpful and well guiding book. In is not the "only" book you will need. I have followed someone review's advice and paired this book with a "UNIX Essentials" DVD and they made a very effective couple. I found this DVD on Amazon.com but since they do not ship outside US I ordered it directly from CustomFlix.com
One way or another those people who pick book of this sort usually had no opportunity to attend some UNIX classes and the DVD alleviates this problem. May be it's just me,but when I pick a book and go through it I'm still no really confident. It does not matter how book is good, I'm never sure is it enough to make a claim that "I know UNIX". And this book along with the DVD had solved this issue to me. Book is easy to read and pleasure to follow. The examples and the explanations are very clear. So I liked this book very much.

Fantastic for new coders or intermediates new to XNA, 06 Sep 2008
I bought this book, as I'd done odd bits of programming, but never on a Windows platform, or for games development - and I knew nothing about XNA. The book is superb. It guides you through the concepts with a friendly narrative, no patronisation, and with enough detail to understand the examples.

The fact it has no CD attached is not a problem. You'll need the internet to download XNA anyway, and if you have that, then you can easily access code examples from the author's website.

The book helps you build simple 2D games. It gives you a broad enough experience you can go and build any simple 2D game yourself. It doesn't set out to explain XNA - but to let you know enough of the basics to make basic games - and this is the best approach to start with. Even if you dream of larger, 3D games, if you don't know XNA or any C/C++/C# - start here, it is a very good foundation.

If you're already very competent with coding or game development, this is probably below you, or just a skim-through book.

Highly Recommended Book., 18 Mar 2008
"Learn Programming Now" is a great book which, not only introduces XNA, but also introduces programming and can be picked up by people who have no programming experience whatsoever. The downside to introducing programming concepts whilst explaining XNA is that more experienced readers may find certain parts too slow. However, these parts can easily be skipped and the reader can focus on the XNA and game development aspects. Although the book does not come with a CD, it does have a website where you can download the code samples. Personally, I didn't find the lack of CD a problem as the best way to learn what you read is by typing the code anyway, and with the clear explanations and code displayed in the book, it was a straightforward process. If you are new to programming, then I wouldn't rely on this book to teach you how to program and you are better off with a book dedicated to programming, but it's a very nice introduction.

As an XNA book, it has great analogies and explanations to give a good understanding as to how XNA works and how the developer can start making use of it. As an introductory book, advance concepts of XNA and game development are not discussed, which is by no means a bad thing as it ensures the author can focus on what the book sets out to do. If you are new to XNA or game development, this is a highly recommended book regardless of whether or not you have any programming experience.

Amazing XNA Book, 29 Feb 2008
'Learn Programming Now' is a brilliant introductory book to programming, XNA and game development. It introduces many of the complex ideas and concepts in programming through game development, and teaches the XNA framework in an easy to understand manner, introducing themes gradually, expecting no previous knowledge of programming.
It is well presented, and as well as being interesting and informative, it is a humorous and entertaining read with many analogies and funny stories.
It also makes you aware of not just XNA, but programming in a broader sense, making you think about how to approach a problem, and work out a way to solve it.

It is the perfect book for anyone interested in making games, and learning about Programming. I own many, many books on programming, and four on XNA, and I definitely recommend this to anyone starting out in programming or game development


Excellent for its intended market - beginners., 20 Feb 2002
To be honest, I felt disappointed at first that this book didn't go beyond the simple aspects. I know it's a Dummies book, but it has a lot of content & it is from Woody. Hence my expectations were higher. Unfortunately a lot of it is non O/S related - e.g. MSN, IE6, AOL.
Then I realised how much I didn't know about XP!
Great for beginners, and it turns out even the more experienced of us can pick-up something if we haven't yet used XP.

good book and hard to read, 23 Apr 2008
Before you buy this book you should have good knowledge of UNIX/Linux system. I am new to bash programming and before I read this book, I wouldn't know the difference between bash and shell however I have used mac ox tiger as well as I have been using Ubuntu Linux for more than two years I had done some basic Perl programming for the web which helped me while reading this book. The book starts with basic bash and then goes into the deep. I found it hard to read not because the writer hasn't done a good job, but because the subject is very complex. unfortunately the book is not for beginners as the writer will show you the command and will explain its logic and that's it. don't assume the writer will tell you for example open the terminal and type the following , etc. the book is straight forward bashing bash.it is very rich in contents. it fluently made me understand how piping works. When you come from the windows world to Linux how painful it is to do things in Linux that only takes a click of a button in windows. However I have used the command line to install, remove and do basic shell scripting without realizing that what i was doing is a shell programming yet I realized how much I am missing . I will be studying this book for a year or so, having read all of it, the book gave me two very important scripts that i will be using very often and they are:
1- parsing HTML files and 2-creating a web album automatically from a directory that contains hundreds of images. I can't imagine myself creating web albums manually nor using ide tools such as dream weaver (windows) bluefish(Linux) any more. The script is by far more powerful than any GUI tools (targeting programmer), in relation to speed or even layout(with a few modification to the original script) The book is full of tips, the question is can you understand them all(it will take time depends on how much you already know). also the book helped me to understand compressing and decompressing files (tarbal, gz zip etc). I am glad I bought this book however I will have to do some googling in order to get the most out of this book.This book has extended its usability by providing a appendix at the back that can be used as a quick reference. If you know your way around Linux command then this book will give a clear idea of what those commands mean and how to use them. If you are an advanced user this book is full of tips and it is very logical. If you haven't used the command line before then this book is not a good start.

Note
Because I don't know much about C so the most useful language I found is Perl in relation to bash. Bash has borrowed lots from C and bash is the default shell in Ubuntu hardy the operating system I currently use. Also bash can be integrated into windows system via cygwin. Good luck

Bashscripts.org - Review of "bash Cookbook" , 02 Jul 2007
I had been waiting "im"-patiently for this book to show up. Ever since I noticed it was going to be written, I had been looking forward to reading it. I must say, I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed the book and definitely learned a few new things along the way.

This book is designed for intermediate to advanced bash users. The book states in the preface that it is for "new" users as well as those more experienced. I think that they give too much credit to someone new too bash. If you don't know what bash scripting is, this book ISN'T for you. Try the book "Learning the Bash Shell", it would be much better to learn from. I'll say it one more time -- This book isn't for those new to shell scripting. In my opinion, it kind of picks up where "Learning the Bash Shell" and "Classic Shell Scripting" from O'reilly left off. It compliments both books pretty well. Where "Learning the Bash Shell" teaches you the basics, and "Classic Shell Scripting" builds on the concepts and materials covered in the chapter before, so it's a book that is best read front to back and not just used as a reference, this book is truly more of a reference that you can use to find solutions to different problems. Hence the "cookbook" in the title.

As an intermediate to advanced user, you will find many of the solutions very simple and straightforward, but I dare say, you will find a few new twists and solutions that you might not have thought of otherwise. When used a reference, it provides a nice Table of Contents with good descriptions that allow you to quickly find answers to many common problems. Examples are clear, concise, and well documented, making it fairly easy to follow along, even if you didn't understand the syntax of the code at first. I liked the fact they included many examples of sed,awk, and even ed, which are frequently used in shell scripting, but many books barely mention those programs.

The Appendix sections (A-E) take up 83 pages of the book, several of these could very well have just been additional chapters of the book. Appendix E "Building bash from Source" could have been chapter 1. However, each chapter/section is a "recipe" so I suppose it wouldn't have been in line with the rest of the chapters at that point. All in all, a very interesting book that I read front to back. It will be a valuable reference tool, that's easy to navigate and use. The chapters I enjoyed the most were Chapter 14 "Writing Secure Shell Scripts", where they included a template for quick reference. Several of the techniques I already knew about, a few I did not. I also liked Chapter 11 "Working with Dates and Times". Many good ideas there, and some very interesting code for the "date -d" command.

There are 3 great books for shell scripters from O'reilly, this is one of them.

For the beginner "Learning the Bash Shell". It teaches you the basics.
For the intermediate user "Classic Shell Scripting". It builds on the basics, step by step.
For the intermeidate to advanced users "bash Cookbook". A reference guide for common problems.

I would probably recommend reading them in that order as well. "bash Cookbook" is definitely going to be easier to read and get use of if you already know basic shell scripting. All 3 books have that "tattered" look and a permanent place on my bookshelf. I would say, "bash Cookbook" is absolutely a book worth owning if you enjoy shell scripting. I don't think I've ever seen a more complete set of solutions in a shell scripting book. In the preface, one thing that caught my eye ..... But perhaps most importantly, we hope that when you have a question about how to do something or you need a hint, you will be able to easily find the right answer--or something close enough-- and save time and effort. ------ I think they accomplished their goal ! 5 out of 5. Excellent book...excellent.

Dave Crouse
Bashscripts.org http://bashscripts.org
USA Linux Users Group http://usalug.org

Windows XP, 14 Mar 2004
Not much to say really.. this is a great book for somebody who has no experience of using a computer or wants a refresher of the basics. A great place to start off but probably a little too basic if you have some computing experience.

Thank You, 20 Jun 2003
Thank you Mr Andy Rathbone. You've saved me £££'s on helpline charges and added years to my life as I don't have to converse with IT types (who usually take three hours to tell me to switch it off and then switch it back on again!)

A clearly written'how to' book for non-specialist readers., 15 Jan 2002
If you are confused as to how to achieve something with your computer or are seeking a solution to a computer hardware/software problem then it will probably be easier to look for the answer in Windows XP for Dummies than to use the help menu in the programme. Andy Rathbone writes clearly for the non-computing specialist and whilst his quirky humour will not get everyone in stitches his wit does not distract from the task of supplying the reader with the information that they require. Like a good teacher he keeps it simple and straightforward and is never boring.

The Truth is in Here, 03 Jan 2009
The first reviewer is spot on. This large hardback volume, whose correct subtitle is "Behind the Series, the Myths and the Movies", weighs almost 4lb (1.8kg) and has a small typeface for the main text. In its 248 pages there are a dozen photographs that span two pages and more than 700 smaller photographs. Many delightful pictures evoke memories of the series and include Mulder and Scully's kiss in I Want to Believe (IWTB). There are more than 40 pictures from IWTB and good coverage of this movie and those in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to two pages of index there are five pages of thumbnail images whose captions include details of the episode title, directors and first broadcast date for the episode. This is followed by a page listing the awards the series won during its nine years.

There are some typographical errors and a few words omitted. On page 209 the reference to Scully and Mulder kissing with baby William appears, incorrectly, in the text for season nine. This memorable scene appears in Existence, the last episode of season eight. Despite these slight blemishes this is a splendid book.

The details from behind the series reveal the many tens of thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that went into the episodes and the movies. Understanding the huge effort involved in the episodes of just one season can leave the reader feeling exhausted!

The last paragraph of the introduction by Frank Spotnitz says much about the X Files and this book: "The fact that people are still watching these episodes (and now writing about them) is a dream come true. I don't need to feel nostalgic about the past. I can simply turn on the television, just about anywhere in the world, and celebrate the achievement that The X-Files was, and is."

Highly recommended.


A must have for all X-philes !, 26 Nov 2008
This book is an absolute must have for any & all X- Files fans out there. It is a complete guide to the show, from the very first episode right through to the new film. Its packed with hundreds of full colour pictures and tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the show and its 15 year history. Also, hidden away in the books cover are 3 poster, Chris Carters hand written note cards & a copy of The Lone Gunmen newspaper. What are you waiting for ? Buy it now !

This is one of those books that you wear out...., 04 Oct 2006
Find a group of Unix System Admins and somewhere nearby will be this book. What's more they will probably all admit to using from time to time. It covers just about everything you need to the depth you need everyday, from scripting to awk and sed to 'how do you get vi to do this'. A purchase I've never regretted.

Very insightful UNIX introduction, 22 Feb 2006
Well, once I have started with this book and it had been helpful and well guiding book. In is not the "only" book you will need. I have followed someone review's advice and paired this book with a "UNIX Essentials" DVD and they made a very effective couple. I found this DVD on Amazon.com but since they do not ship outside US I ordered it directly from CustomFlix.com
One way or another those people who pick book of this sort usually had no opportunity to attend some UNIX classes and the DVD alleviates this problem. May be it's just me,but when I pick a book and go through it I'm still no really confident. It does not matter how book is good, I'm never sure is it enough to make a claim that "I know UNIX". And this book along with the DVD had solved this issue to me. Book is easy to read and pleasure to follow. The examples and the explanations are very clear. So I liked this book very much.

Fantastic for new coders or intermediates new to XNA, 06 Sep 2008
I bought this book, as I'd done odd bits of programming, but never on a Windows platform, or for games development - and I knew nothing about XNA. The book is superb. It guides you through the concepts with a friendly narrative, no patronisation, and with enough detail to understand the examples.

The fact it has no CD attached is not a problem. You'll need the internet to download XNA anyway, and if you have that, then you can easily access code examples from the author's website.

The book helps you build simple 2D games. It gives you a broad enough experience you can go and build any simple 2D game yourself. It doesn't set out to explain XNA - but to let you know enough of the basics to make basic games - and this is the best approach to start with. Even if you dream of larger, 3D games, if you don't know XNA or any C/C++/C# - start here, it is a very good foundation.

If you're already very competent with coding or game development, this is probably below you, or just a skim-through book.

Highly Recommended Book., 18 Mar 2008
"Learn Programming Now" is a great book which, not only introduces XNA, but also introduces programming and can be picked up by people who have no programming experience whatsoever. The downside to introducing programming concepts whilst explaining XNA is that more experienced readers may find certain parts too slow. However, these parts can easily be skipped and the reader can focus on the XNA and game development aspects. Although the book does not come with a CD, it does have a website where you can download the code samples. Personally, I didn't find the lack of CD a problem as the best way to learn what you read is by typing the code anyway, and with the clear explanations and code displayed in the book, it was a straightforward process. If you are new to programming, then I wouldn't rely on this book to teach you how to program and you are better off with a book dedicated to programming, but it's a very nice introduction.

As an XNA book, it has great analogies and explanations to give a good understanding as to how XNA works and how the developer can start making use of it. As an introductory book, advance concepts of XNA and game development are not discussed, which is by no means a bad thing as it ensures the author can focus on what the book sets out to do. If you are new to XNA or game development, this is a highly recommended book regardless of whether or not you have any programming experience.

Amazing XNA Book, 29 Feb 2008
'Learn Programming Now' is a brilliant introductory book to programming, XNA and game development. It introduces many of the complex ideas and concepts in programming through game development, and teaches the XNA framework in an easy to understand manner, introducing themes gradually, expecting no previous knowledge of programming.
It is well presented, and as well as being interesting and informative, it is a humorous and entertaining read with many analogies and funny stories.
It also makes you aware of not just XNA, but programming in a broader sense, making you think about how to approach a problem, and work out a way to solve it.

It is the perfect book for anyone interested in making games, and learning about Programming. I own many, many books on programming, and four on XNA, and I definitely recommend this to anyone starting out in programming or game development


Excellent for its intended market - beginners., 20 Feb 2002
To be honest, I felt disappointed at first that this book didn't go beyond the simple aspects. I know it's a Dummies book, but it has a lot of content & it is from Woody. Hence my expectations were higher. Unfortunately a lot of it is non O/S related - e.g. MSN, IE6, AOL.
Then I realised how much I didn't know about XP!
Great for beginners, and it turns out even the more experienced of us can pick-up something if we haven't yet used XP.

good book and hard to read, 23 Apr 2008
Before you buy this book you should have good knowledge of UNIX/Linux system. I am new to bash programming and before I read this book, I wouldn't know the difference between bash and shell however I have used mac ox tiger as well as I have been using Ubuntu Linux for more than two years I had done some basic Perl programming for the web which helped me while reading this book. The book starts with basic bash and then goes into the deep. I found it hard to read not because the writer hasn't done a good job, but because the subject is very complex. unfortunately the book is not for beginners as the writer will show you the command and will explain its logic and that's it. don't assume the writer will tell you for example open the terminal and type the following , etc. the book is straight forward bashing bash.it is very rich in contents. it fluently made me understand how piping works. When you come from the windows world to Linux how painful it is to do things in Linux that only takes a click of a button in windows. However I have used the command line to install, remove and do basic shell scripting without realizing that what i was doing is a shell programming yet I realized how much I am missing . I will be studying this book for a year or so, having read all of it, the book gave me two very important scripts that i will be using very often and they are:
1- parsing HTML files and 2-creating a web album automatically from a directory that contains hundreds of images. I can't imagine myself creating web albums manually nor using ide tools such as dream weaver (windows) bluefish(Linux) any more. The script is by far more powerful than any GUI tools (targeting programmer), in relation to speed or even layout(with a few modification to the original script) The book is full of tips, the question is can you understand them all(it will take time depends on how much you already know). also the book helped me to understand compressing and decompressing files (tarbal, gz zip etc). I am glad I bought this book however I will have to do some googling in order to get the most out of this book.This book has extended its usability by providing a appendix at the back that can be used as a quick reference. If you know your way around Linux command then this book will give a clear idea of what those commands mean and how to use them. If you are an advanced user this book is full of tips and it is very logical. If you haven't used the command line before then this book is not a good start.

Note
Because I don't know much about C so the most useful language I found is Perl in relation to bash. Bash has borrowed lots from C and bash is the default shell in Ubuntu hardy the operating system I currently use. Also bash can be integrated into windows system via cygwin. Good luck

Bashscripts.org - Review of "bash Cookbook" , 02 Jul 2007
I had been waiting "im"-patiently for this book to show up. Ever since I noticed it was going to be written, I had been looking forward to reading it. I must say, I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed the book and definitely learned a few new things along the way.

This book is designed for intermediate to advanced bash users. The book states in the preface that it is for "new" users as well as those more experienced. I think that they give too much credit to someone new too bash. If you don't know what bash scripting is, this book ISN'T for you. Try the book "Learning the Bash Shell", it would be much better to learn from. I'll say it one more time -- This book isn't for those new to shell scripting. In my opinion, it kind of picks up where "Learning the Bash Shell" and "Classic Shell Scripting" from O'reilly left off. It compliments both books pretty well. Where "Learning the Bash Shell" teaches you the basics, and "Classic Shell Scripting" builds on the concepts and materials covered in the chapter before, so it's a book that is best read front to back and not just used as a reference, this book is truly more of a reference that you can use to find solutions to different problems. Hence the "cookbook" in the title.

As an intermediate to advanced user, you will find many of the solutions very simple and straightforward, but I dare say, you will find a few new twists and solutions that you might not have thought of otherwise. When used a reference, it provides a nice Table of Contents with good descriptions that allow you to quickly find answers to many common problems. Examples are clear, concise, and well documented, making it fairly easy to follow along, even if you didn't understand the syntax of the code at first. I liked the fact they included many examples of sed,awk, and even ed, which are frequently used in shell scripting, but many books barely mention those programs.

The Appendix sections (A-E) take up 83 pages of the book, several of these could very well have just been additional chapters of the book. Appendix E "Building bash from Source" could have been chapter 1. However, each chapter/section is a "recipe" so I suppose it wouldn't have been in line with the rest of the chapters at that point. All in all, a very interesting book that I read front to back. It will be a valuable reference tool, that's easy to navigate and use. The chapters I enjoyed the most were Chapter 14 "Writing Secure Shell Scripts", where they included a template for quick reference. Several of the techniques I already knew about, a few I did not. I also liked Chapter 11 "Working with Dates and Times". Many good ideas there, and some very interesting code for the "date -d" command.

There are 3 great books for shell scripters from O'reilly, this is one of them.

For the beginner "Learning the Bash Shell". It teaches you the basics.
For the intermediate user "Classic Shell Scripting". It builds on the basics, step by step.
For the intermeidate to advanced users "bash Cookbook". A reference guide for common problems.

I would probably recommend reading them in that order as well. "bash Cookbook" is definitely going to be easier to read and get use of if you already know basic shell scripting. All 3 books have that "tattered" look and a permanent place on my bookshelf. I would say, "bash Cookbook" is absolutely a book worth owning if you enjoy shell scripting. I don't think I've ever seen a more complete set of solutions in a shell scripting book. In the preface, one thing that caught my eye ..... But perhaps most importantly, we hope that when you have a question about how to do something or you need a hint, you will be able to easily find the right answer--or something close enough-- and save time and effort. ------ I think they accomplished their goal ! 5 out of 5. Excellent book...excellent.

Dave Crouse
Bashscripts.org http://bashscripts.org
USA Linux Users Group http://usalug.org

For beginners..., 05 Jun 2002
Traditional shell scripts are horrible. They are not nice languages with orthogonal instruction sets: they have grown organically, and inconsistently. Quotes, double-quotes, and escaped characters are often needed to slip something past one parsing layer to get it to another one.
Chapter one starts off describing what a terminal session actually is, so this is aimed at real beginners.

If you are a beginner, and you are able to chose your scripting language for your job, you might want to look at some of the more recent languages, such as 'python'. They are more regular, and easier to learn and maintain.

Anyway, back to the book. There are things you shouldn't do in a book that may be uses as an introduction and a reference. You should not give examples of code with bugs in, that you explain in the following chapter (ta-daa, aren't I clever?!). You should not give tables of functions or commands unless you list all the commands. If there is an exception to a rule, then you should at least mention it even if you haven't covered that case yet, or, better still, re-arrange the book so the exceptions are explicable. You must resist the urge to surprise the reader: this is shell scripts, and the reader will probably have had their fill of surprises. Last of all, and a personal one this, lay off the Lewis Carroll, please?

You need to be ultra-careful about quotes. When "@" appears in the text, does this mean a string of one character or three? Can you see whether the quotes are in heavy type?

You need to be really careful to distinguish what is 'in' the shell, and what commands and variables are outside it. Pattern matching is a key part of the shell, so regexps ought to be explained in some detail. The simple demo scripts should not have 'ed' and 'sed' commands stuck in without saying where they came from.And why not mention the debug flag before chapter 9?

There are some dubious comments about programming style. Is it really bad to use the 'break' statement in a loop? Is ' && ' really an obscure and unnecessary way of doing command2 if command1 fails? - I find it neat and compact.

This is a pity, because there are some good bits. The flow diagram on p178 and the attendant text about how command lines are processed is good (well, right up to the "-and it's not the whole story!", but you get the idea). But, for completeness, I reckon if there is something I want to look up about the bash shell, I am going to use my old Korn shell book rather than this book.

A useful aid to understanding the Bash Linux/ Unix shell., 27 Oct 1999
This book provides a useful text on the capabilities of the Bash shell for Linux / Unix. The concept of the Unix shell is very much bigger than just the command prompt that it may resemble if you are a "recovering" DOS user. Understanding of the role and capabilities of the shell is an essential prerequisite for effectively harnessing the power of Linux/ Unix and certainly justifies a book to itself. The Bash shell is a particularly powerful and modern shell program which has the advantage of being freely distributable as part of the GNU project, and as such is probably the most widely used shell program in the Linux world. As such if you have no prior loyalties to another flavour shell - I suggest you learn this one. The book will certainly help you achieve this .

Install configure and support Windows XP Professional withdefinitive technical guidance from the Microsoft Windows team andtwo industry veterans. This official RESOURCE KIT has been fullyupdated and revised—with coverage of Windows XP Service

Windows XP, 14 Mar 2004
Not much to say really.. this is a great book for somebody who has no experience of using a computer or wants a refresher of the basics. A great place to start off but probably a little too basic if you have some computing experience.

Thank You, 20 Jun 2003
Thank you Mr Andy Rathbone. You've saved me £££'s on helpline charges and added years to my life as I don't have to converse with IT types (who usually take three hours to tell me to switch it off and then switch it back on again!)

A clearly written'how to' book for non-specialist readers., 15 Jan 2002
If you are confused as to how to achieve something with your computer or are seeking a solution to a computer hardware/software problem then it will probably be easier to look for the answer in Windows XP for Dummies than to use the help menu in the programme. Andy Rathbone writes clearly for the non-computing specialist and whilst his quirky humour will not get everyone in stitches his wit does not distract from the task of supplying the reader with the information that they require. Like a good teacher he keeps it simple and straightforward and is never boring.

The Truth is in Here, 03 Jan 2009
The first reviewer is spot on. This large hardback volume, whose correct subtitle is "Behind the Series, the Myths and the Movies", weighs almost 4lb (1.8kg) and has a small typeface for the main text. In its 248 pages there are a dozen photographs that span two pages and more than 700 smaller photographs. Many delightful pictures evoke memories of the series and include Mulder and Scully's kiss in I Want to Believe (IWTB). There are more than 40 pictures from IWTB and good coverage of this movie and those in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to two pages of index there are five pages of thumbnail images whose captions include details of the episode title, directors and first broadcast date for the episode. This is followed by a page listing the awards the series won during its nine years.

There are some typographical errors and a few words omitted. On page 209 the reference to Scully and Mulder kissing with baby William appears, incorrectly, in the text for season nine. This memorable scene appears in Existence, the last episode of season eight. Despite these slight blemishes this is a splendid book.

The details from behind the series reveal the many tens of thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that went into the episodes and the movies. Understanding the huge effort involved in the episodes of just one season can leave the reader feeling exhausted!

The last paragraph of the introduction by Frank Spotnitz says much about the X Files and this book: "The fact that people are still watching these episodes (and now writing about them) is a dream come true. I don't need to feel nostalgic about the past. I can simply turn on the television, just about anywhere in the world, and celebrate the achievement that The X-Files was, and is."

Highly recommended.


A must have for all X-philes !, 26 Nov 2008
This book is an absolute must have for any & all X- Files fans out there. It is a complete guide to the show, from the very first episode right through to the new film. Its packed with hundreds of full colour pictures and tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the show and its 15 year history. Also, hidden away in the books cover are 3 poster, Chris Carters hand written note cards & a copy of The Lone Gunmen newspaper. What are you waiting for ? Buy it now !

This is one of those books that you wear out...., 04 Oct 2006
Find a group of Unix System Admins and somewhere nearby will be this book. What's more they will probably all admit to using from time to time. It covers just about everything you need to the depth you need everyday, from scripting to awk and sed to 'how do you get vi to do this'. A purchase I've never regretted.

Very insightful UNIX introduction, 22 Feb 2006
Well, once I have started with this book and it had been helpful and well guiding book. In is not the "only" book you will need. I have followed someone review's advice and paired this book with a "UNIX Essentials" DVD and they made a very effective couple. I found this DVD on Amazon.com but since they do not ship outside US I ordered it directly from CustomFlix.com
One way or another those people who pick book of this sort usually had no opportunity to attend some UNIX classes and the DVD alleviates this problem. May be it's just me,but when I pick a book and go through it I'm still no really confident. It does not matter how book is good, I'm never sure is it enough to make a claim that "I know UNIX". And this book along with the DVD had solved this issue to me. Book is easy to read and pleasure to follow. The examples and the explanations are very clear. So I liked this book very much.

Fantastic for new coders or intermediates new to XNA, 06 Sep 2008
I bought this book, as I'd done odd bits of programming, but never on a Windows platform, or for games development - and I knew nothing about XNA. The book is superb. It guides you through the concepts with a friendly narrative, no patronisation, and with enough detail to understand the examples.

The fact it has no CD attached is not a problem. You'll need the internet to download XNA anyway, and if you have that, then you can easily access code examples from the author's website.

The book helps you build simple 2D games. It gives you a broad enough experience you can go and build any simple 2D game yourself. It doesn't set out to explain XNA - but to let you know enough of the basics to make basic games - and this is the best approach to start with. Even if you dream of larger, 3D games, if you don't know XNA or any C/C++/C# - start here, it is a very good foundation.

If you're already very competent with coding or game development, this is probably below you, or just a skim-through book.

Highly Recommended Book., 18 Mar 2008
"Learn Programming Now" is a great book which, not only introduces XNA, but also introduces programming and can be picked up by people who have no programming experience whatsoever. The downside to introducing programming concepts whilst explaining XNA is that more experienced readers may find certain parts too slow. However, these parts can easily be skipped and the reader can focus on the XNA and game development aspects. Although the book does not come with a CD, it does have a website where you can download the code samples. Personally, I didn't find the lack of CD a problem as the best way to learn what you read is by typing the code anyway, and with the clear explanations and code displayed in the book, it was a straightforward process. If you are new to programming, then I wouldn't rely on this book to teach you how to program and you are better off with a book dedicated to programming, but it's a very nice introduction.

As an XNA book, it has great analogies and explanations to give a good understanding as to how XNA works and how the developer can start making use of it. As an introductory book, advance concepts of XNA and game development are not discussed, which is by no means a bad thing as it ensures the author can focus on what the book sets out to do. If you are new to XNA or game development, this is a highly recommended book regardless of whether or not you have any programming experience.

Amazing XNA Book, 29 Feb 2008
'Learn Programming Now' is a brilliant introductory book to programming, XNA and game development. It introduces many of the complex ideas and concepts in programming through game development, and teaches the XNA framework in an easy to understand manner, introducing themes gradually, expecting no previous knowledge of programming.
It is well presented, and as well as being interesting and informative, it is a humorous and entertaining read with many analogies and funny stories.
It also makes you aware of not just XNA, but programming in a broader sense, making you think about how to approach a problem, and work out a way to solve it.

It is the perfect book for anyone interested in making games, and learning about Programming. I own many, many books on programming, and four on XNA, and I definitely recommend this to anyone starting out in programming or game development


Excellent for its intended market - beginners., 20 Feb 2002
To be honest, I felt disappointed at first that this book didn't go beyond the simple aspects. I know it's a Dummies book, but it has a lot of content & it is from Woody. Hence my expectations were higher. Unfortunately a lot of it is non O/S related - e.g. MSN, IE6, AOL.
Then I realised how much I didn't know about XP!
Great for beginners, and it turns out even the more experienced of us can pick-up something if we haven't yet used XP.

good book and hard to read, 23 Apr 2008
Before you buy this book you should have good knowledge of UNIX/Linux system. I am new to bash programming and before I read this book, I wouldn't know the difference between bash and shell however I have used mac ox tiger as well as I have been using Ubuntu Linux for more than two years I had done some basic Perl programming for the web which helped me while reading this book. The book starts with basic bash and then goes into the deep. I found it hard to read not because the writer hasn't done a good job, but because the subject is very complex. unfortunately the book is not for beginners as the writer will show you the command and will explain its logic and that's it. don't assume the writer will tell you for example open the terminal and type the following , etc. the book is straight forward bashing bash.it is very rich in contents. it fluently made me understand how piping works. When you come from the windows world to Linux how painful it is to do things in Linux that only takes a click of a button in windows. However I have used the command line to install, remove and do basic shell scripting without realizing that what i was doing is a shell programming yet I realized how much I am missing . I will be studying this book for a year or so, having read all of it, the book gave me two very important scripts that i will be using very often and they are:
1- parsing HTML files and 2-creating a web album automatically from a directory that contains hundreds of images. I can't imagine myself creating web albums manually nor using ide tools such as dream weaver (windows) bluefish(Linux) any more. The script is by far more powerful than any GUI tools (targeting programmer), in relation to speed or even layout(with a few modification to the original script) The book is full of tips, the question is can you understand them all(it will take time depends on how much you already know). also the book helped me to understand compressing and decompressing files (tarbal, gz zip etc). I am glad I bought this book however I will have to do some googling in order to get the most out of this book.This book has extended its usability by providing a appendix at the back that can be used as a quick reference. If you know your way around Linux command then this book will give a clear idea of what those commands mean and how to use them. If you are an advanced user this book is full of tips and it is very logical. If you haven't used the command line before then this book is not a good start.

Note
Because I don't know much about C so the most useful language I found is Perl in relation to bash. Bash has borrowed lots from C and bash is the default shell in Ubuntu hardy the operating system I currently use. Also bash can be integrated into windows system via cygwin. Good luck

Bashscripts.org - Review of "bash Cookbook" , 02 Jul 2007
I had been waiting "im"-patiently for this book to show up. Ever since I noticed it was going to be written, I had been looking forward to reading it. I must say, I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed the book and definitely learned a few new things along the way.

This book is designed for intermediate to advanced bash users. The book states in the preface that it is for "new" users as well as those more experienced. I think that they give too much credit to someone new too bash. If you don't know what bash scripting is, this book ISN'T for you. Try the book "Learning the Bash Shell", it would be much better to learn from. I'll say it one more time -- This book isn't for those new to shell scripting. In my opinion, it kind of picks up where "Learning the Bash Shell" and "Classic Shell Scripting" from O'reilly left off. It compliments both books pretty well. Where "Learning the Bash Shell" teaches you the basics, and "Classic Shell Scripting" builds on the concepts and materials covered in the chapter before, so it's a book that is best read front to back and not just used as a reference, this book is truly more of a reference that you can use to find solutions to different problems. Hence the "cookbook" in the title.

As an intermediate to advanced user, you will find many of the solutions very simple and straightforward, but I dare say, you will find a few new twists and solutions that you might not have thought of otherwise. When used a reference, it provides a nice Table of Contents with good descriptions that allow you to quickly find answers to many common problems. Examples are clear, concise, and well documented, making it fairly easy to follow along, even if you didn't understand the syntax of the code at first. I liked the fact they included many examples of sed,awk, and even ed, which are frequently used in shell scripting, but many books barely mention those programs.

The Appendix sections (A-E) take up 83 pages of the book, several of these could very well have just been additional chapters of the book. Appendix E "Building bash from Source" could have been chapter 1. However, each chapter/section is a "recipe" so I suppose it wouldn't have been in line with the rest of the chapters at that point. All in all, a very interesting book that I read front to back. It will be a valuable reference tool, that's easy to navigate and use. The chapters I enjoyed the most were Chapter 14 "Writing Secure Shell Scripts", where they included a template for quick reference. Several of the techniques I already knew about, a few I did not. I also liked Chapter 11 "Working with Dates and Times". Many good ideas there, and some very interesting code for the "date -d" command.

There are 3 great books for shell scripters from O'reilly, this is one of them.

For the beginner "Learning the Bash Shell". It teaches you the basics.
For the intermediate user "Classic Shell Scripting". It builds on the basics, step by step.
For the intermeidate to advanced users "bash Cookbook". A reference guide for common problems.

I would probably recommend reading them in that order as well. "bash Cookbook" is definitely going to be easier to read and get use of if you already know basic shell scripting. All 3 books have that "tattered" look and a permanent place on my bookshelf. I would say, "bash Cookbook" is absolutely a book worth owning if you enjoy shell scripting. I don't think I've ever seen a more complete set of solutions in a shell scripting book. In the preface, one thing that caught my eye ..... But perhaps most importantly, we hope that when you have a question about how to do something or you need a hint, you will be able to easily find the right answer--or something close enough-- and save time and effort. ------ I think they accomplished their goal ! 5 out of 5. Excellent book...excellent.

Dave Crouse
Bashscripts.org http://bashscripts.org
USA Linux Users Group http://usalug.org

For beginners..., 05 Jun 2002
Traditional shell scripts are horrible. They are not nice languages with orthogonal instruction sets: they have grown organically, and inconsistently. Quotes, double-quotes, and escaped characters are often needed to slip something past one parsing layer to get it to another one.
Chapter one starts off describing what a terminal session actually is, so this is aimed at real beginners.

If you are a beginner, and you are able to chose your scripting language for your job, you might want to look at some of the more recent languages, such as 'python'. They are more regular, and easier to learn and maintain.

Anyway, back to the book. There are things you shouldn't do in a book that may be uses as an introduction and a reference. You should not give examples of code with bugs in, that you explain in the following chapter (ta-daa, aren't I clever?!). You should not give tables of functions or commands unless you list all the commands. If there is an exception to a rule, then you should at least mention it even if you haven't covered that case yet, or, better still, re-arrange the book so the exceptions are explicable. You must resist the urge to surprise the reader: this is shell scripts, and the reader will probably have had their fill of surprises. Last of all, and a personal one this, lay off the Lewis Carroll, please?

You need to be ultra-careful about quotes. When "@" appears in the text, does this mean a string of one character or three? Can you see whether the quotes are in heavy type?

You need to be really careful to distinguish what is 'in' the shell, and what commands and variables are outside it. Pattern matching is a key part of the shell, so regexps ought to be explained in some detail. The simple demo scripts should not have 'ed' and 'sed' commands stuck in without saying where they came from.And why not mention the debug flag before chapter 9?

There are some dubious comments about programming style. Is it really bad to use the 'break' statement in a loop? Is ' && ' really an obscure and unnecessary way of doing command2 if command1 fails? - I find it neat and compact.

This is a pity, because there are some good bits. The flow diagram on p178 and the attendant text about how command lines are processed is good (well, right up to the "-and it's not the whole story!", but you get the idea). But, for completeness, I reckon if there is something I want to look up about the bash shell, I am going to use my old Korn shell book rather than this book.

A useful aid to understanding the Bash Linux/ Unix shell., 27 Oct 1999
This book provides a useful text on the capabilities of the Bash shell for Linux / Unix. The concept of the Unix shell is very much bigger than just the command prompt that it may resemble if you are a "recovering" DOS user. Understanding of the role and capabilities of the shell is an essential prerequisite for effectively harnessing the power of Linux/ Unix and certainly justifies a book to itself. The Bash shell is a particularly powerful and modern shell program which has the advantage of being freely distributable as part of the GNU project, and as such is probably the most widely used shell program in the Linux world. As such if you have no prior loyalties to another flavour shell - I suggest you learn this one. The book will certainly help you achieve this .

A MUST FOR WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL USERS!!!, 11 Aug 2004
Maximise the performance of your business desktops - with tools and