Postoji izreka koja glasi nešto poput "Ljudski je griješiti. Za stvarno zabrljati potrebno je računalo." Mislim da se gotovo svatko tko je ikad koristio računalo povremeno osjećao kao, pa, lutka—pogotovo kada se suoči s nečim što ima smisla samo računalnim programerima ili hardverskim štreberima visoke razine. I zato je serija knjiga Za lutke tako popularna. ^{(For Dummies)}Ove knjige postoje iz jednog vrlo dobrog razloga: da objasne stvari na način koji gotovo svatko može razumjeti, bez pregovaranja s čitateljem ili pretjerivanja s tehnološkim stvarima visoke razine koje su izvan dosega prosječnog korisnika. Windows 7 za lutke^{(Windows 7 for Dummies)} čini upravo to, koristeći istu bezbrižnu formulu koja je postala standard za seriju. Da biste saznali više o ovoj knjizi,

Svi znamo da nije baš za^(Really) lutke

Nakon standardnog prvog odjeljka koji objašnjava konvencije o seriji knjiga For Dummies , Windows 7 za lutke^{(Windows 7 for Dummies)} dobro počinje pitanjem "Što je Windows 7 i zašto ga koristite?" ^{("What is Windows 7 and why are you using it?")}i odgovorom "Ako si kao većina ljudi, nisi imao puno izbora." ^{("If you're like most people, you didn't have much choice." )}Netko bi mogao pomisliti da bi s ovakvim početkom Windows 7 za lutke^{(Windows 7 for Dummies)} potrošio vrijeme na gašenje sustava Windows 7^{(Windows 7)} , ali zapravo radi upravo suprotno. Postoje vrlo dobri razlozi da budete impresionirani sustavom Windows 7 , a ova knjiga počinje odmah njihovim objašnjenjem, kao i specifičnim razlozima zbog kojih Windows Vista i Windows XPkorisnici će biti sretni što su napravili promjenu.

I sam sam relativno novajlija u sustavu Windows 7^{(Windows 7)} i bio sam oduševljen što sam već na stranici 16 pronašao koristan prijedlog za poboljšanje performansi na svom starom stolnom računalu. Svidio mi se jezički naslov odjeljka Windows 7 Stuff Everybody Thinks Već znaš. "Ovaj dio objašnjava kako je Windows 7 promijenio stvari na bolje"^{(Windows 7 Stuff Everybody Thinks You Already Know. "This part explains how Windows 7 has changed things for the better,")} , kaže se kao uvod, "i upozorava vas kada je Windows 7 potpuno zabrljao stvari."^{("and it warns you when Windows 7 has messed things up completely.")}

Poput većine knjiga o nečemu, Windows 7 za lutke^{(Windows 7 for Dummies)} može se čitati bilo kojim redoslijedom, a možete, ako želite, samo pročitati dijelove koji objašnjavaju ono što trebate znati. Međutim, knjiga je namijenjena novopridošlicama u sustavu Windows 7^{(Windows 7)} i strukturirana je na način na koji mislim da je logičan način za pridošlice. Svaki odjeljak počinje s osnovama i prelazi na naprednije teme, a svako je poglavlje krcato praktičnim savjetima i korisnim savjetima i savjetima. Budući da se Windows 7 osjetno razlikuje od svojih prethodnika, autor se brine da svaka nova značajka bude detaljno opisana, te u usporedbi s onim kako je bilo u prethodnim verzijama. Ovo pokazuje i prednosti sustava Windows 7 i značajke Microsofta^(Microsoft), iz bilo kojeg razloga, odlučio izostaviti. (Još se pitam zašto su izostavili Outlook !) Nikada nisam mario za Microsoftovu^(Microsoft) zadanu postavku, vraćajući se sve do Windowsa^(Windows) za radne grupe^(Workgroups) , i cijenio sam jasne upute za takve stvari kao što je prilagođavanje izbornika Start^{(customizing the Start Menu)} . Mogućnost postavljanja stvari na mjesta koja vam imaju smisla uvelike doprinosi upoznavanju novog sučelja iako definitivno nije ono na što ste navikli. Lagani Za lutke^{(For Dummies)}Stil pisanja serijala također uvelike olakšava stvari. Knjiga je puna ozbiljnih informacija, ali sama sebe ne shvaća ozbiljno. Niti autor troši više vremena pokušavajući biti pametan nego objašnjavajući stvari kako bi ih čitatelj mogao razumjeti, što je bio problem u nekim drugim sličnim knjigama koje sam nedavno pročitao. Svidjeli su mi se dijagrami koji su objašnjavali što znače sve nove ikone i jasne snimke zaslona koje su mi pokazivale kako će svaki zaslon izgledati, sa svim raznim komponentama označenim tako da sam lako mogao reći što je što. Sada radim na ekranu netbooka, a to što mogu vidjeti što je što na jasno označenom dijagramu u knjizi je veliki plus. (I to me spašava od kupovine jačih kompjuterskih naočala, ali to je druga priča!)

Internet, pojednostavljeno

Odjeljak pod nazivom "Obavljanje poslova na internetu"^{("Getting Things Done on the Internet")} najveći je, i to s pravom. Mnogi ljudi provode dobar dio svog vremena ispred računala koristeći internet na ovaj ili onaj način, a Windows 7 za lutke^{(Windows 7 for Dummies)} ima vrlo temeljit pristup postavljanju vašeg računala za surfanje webom, e-poštu i sigurnost. Budući da Windows 7 nema ugrađeni program za e-poštu, postoje jasne upute za preuzimanje i instalaciju Windows Live Mail -a, uključujući okvir koji objašnjava koje su sve ostale komponente sustava Windows Live Essentials (i bilješku koja kaže da ne morate morate instalirati bilo koji od njih koji ne želite). Tu su i upute za korištenje Windows Live Mail- a^{(Windows Live Mail)}s web-baziranim davateljima e-pošte ( Gmail , AOL , Yahoo! Mail Plus) , ali začudo, Microsoftov ^(Microsoft)Hotmail je izostavljen.

Prilagođavanje i mnogo, mnogo više

Kao što sam spomenuo, volim petljati po Windows sučelju, a meni je najzanimljiviji bio odjeljak pod nazivom "Prilagodba i nadogradnja Windowsa 7" . ^{("Customizing and Upgrading Windows 7")}To je više od onoga u što bi vas naslov odjeljka naveo da vjerujete - pokriva instalaciju i uklanjanje programa, čini vaše računalo dostupnim osobama s invaliditetom i osnovne mjere zdravog razuma kao što su postavljanje točaka vraćanja i pravljenje sigurnosnih kopija. Postoji opsežna i lako razumljiva rasprava o korisničkim računima^{(user accounts)} i dijeljenju datoteka. Umrežavanje^(Networking) dobiva svoje poglavlje u odjeljku "Prilagodba i nadogradnja sustava Windows 7"^{("Customizing and Upgrading Windows 7")} s uputama koje bi trebale uvelike olakšati ono što je često najfrustrirajući dio korištenja računala.

Pomoć gdje je potrebna

Knjigu se isplati kupiti samo za odjeljak pod naslovom "Help!"Nigdje drugdje nisam vidio tako dobar popis uobičajenih poruka o pogrešci, Windows 7 problema i rješenja. ^{(Windows 7)}Ovaj odjeljak će vas provesti kroz rješavanje gotovo svega što bi se moglo pojaviti, a njegov umirujući ton glasa i detaljne upute trebali bi brzo riješiti gotovo svaki problem. Svaki problem ilustriran je porukama koje ćete vjerojatno vidjeti, što olakšava reći da gledate ispravne upute za rješavanje problema. A budući da je knjiga namijenjena novim korisnicima sustava Windows 7^{(Windows 7)} , postoji dio koji vas vodi kroz premještanje informacija sa vašeg starog računala na novi Windows 7Računalo. Volio bih da sam ovo imao kada sam instalirao Windows 7 na svoju staru radnu površinu.

Ali čekajte, ima još!

Poglavlje "Dio desetke"^{("Part of Tens")} na kraju je poput glazura na torti , u kojem se ukratko, jednostavnim segmentima nalaze mnoge dobre informacije o smetnjama u sustavu Windows 7 i korisni savjeti za korisnike prijenosnih računala. ^{(Windows 7)}Ljudi koji su postavili format za seriju For Dummies jasno su znali što rade.

Presuda

Dugogodišnji sam obožavatelj serije Za lutke^{(For Dummies)} , jer — unatoč imenu — ne pretpostavljaju da je netko tko čita te knjige glup. Cijela ideja je pokazati čitateljima koliko su zapravo pametni i sposobni, nakon što pročitaju upute. Sve objašnjavaju korak po korak, i to s dozom dobrog humora i obiljem ilustracija. Ako želite dobar vodič za Windows 7 koji objašnjava sve što prosječni korisnik želi znati, nudi praktična rješenja za uobičajene smetnje i izmami osmijeh na lice dok čitate, Windows 7 za lutke^{(Windows 7 for Dummies)} je definitivno knjiga za vas.

Book Review - Windows 7 for Dummies

There's a saying that goes something like "To еrr iѕ human. To really mess things up requires a computer." I think just about anyone who's ever used a cоmputer has оccasionally felt like, well, a dummy—especially when confronted with something that only makes sense to computer programmers or high-level hardware geeks. And that's why the For Dummies series of books is so popular. These books exist for one very good reason: to explain things in a way nearly anyone can understand, without talking down to the reader or going overboard with high-level tech stuff that's outside the scope of the average user. Windows 7 for Dummies does exactly that, using the same lighthearted formula that's become a standard for the series. To find out more about this book, read the rest of this review.

We all Know it's Not Really for Dummies

After the standard first section that explains the For Dummies book series conventions, Windows 7 for Dummies gets off to a good start by asking "What is Windows 7 and why are you using it?" and answering "If you're like most people, you didn't have much choice." One might think that with a beginning like this, Windows 7 for Dummies would spend time putting Windows 7 down, but in fact, it does exactly the opposite. There are very good reasons to be impressed with Windows 7, and this book starts right off by explaining them, and the specific reasons that Windows Vista and Windows XP users will be happy they made the switch.

I'm a relative newcomer to Windows 7 myself, and was delighted to find a helpful suggestion for improving the performance on my wheezy old desktop computer as early as page 16. I loved the tongue-in-cheek section title Windows 7 Stuff Everybody Thinks You Already Know. "This part explains how Windows 7 has changed things for the better," it says by way of introduction, "and it warns you when Windows 7 has messed things up completely."

Like most all-about-something books, Windows 7 for Dummies can be read in any order, and you can, if you wish, just read the parts that explain what you need to know. However, the book is designed for newcomers to Windows 7, and it's structured in what I think is the logical way for a newcomer. Each section starts with the basics and moves on to more advanced topics, and every chapter is loaded with practical advice and helpful hints and tips. Since Windows 7 is noticeably different from its predecessors, the author makes sure that each new feature is described in detail, and compared to the way things were in previous versions. This shows off both the advantages of Windows 7 and the features that Microsoft, for whatever reason, chose to leave out. (I still wonder why they omitted Outlook!) I have never much cared for Microsoft's default setup, going all the way back to Windows for Workgroups, and I appreciated the clear instructions for such things as customizing the Start Menu. Being able to put things in places that make sense to you goes a long way toward making a new interface familiar even though it's definitely not what you're used to. The lighthearted For Dummies series writing style goes a long way toward making things easier as well. The book is filled with serious information, but it doesn't take itself seriously. Nor does the author spend more time trying to be clever than in explaining things so the reader can understand them, which has been a problem in some other similar books I've read recently. I liked the diagrams that explained what all the new icons mean, and the clear screenshots that showed me exactly what each screen would look like, with all the various components labeled so I could easily tell what was what. I'm working on a netbook screen now, and being able to see what's what on a clearly labeled diagram in a book is a big plus. (And it saves me from having to buy stronger computer glasses, but that's another story!)

The Internet, Simplified

The section called "Getting Things Done on the Internet" is the largest one, and quite rightly so. A lot of people spend a goodly portion of their time in front of a computer using the Internet in one way or another, and Windows 7 for Dummies takes a very thorough approach to setting up your computer for web surfing, email, and security. Since Windows 7 does not have a built-in email program, there are clear instructions for downloading and installing Windows Live Mail, including a box that explains what all the other components of Windows Live Essentials are (and a note that says you don't have to install any of them that you don't want). There are also instructions for using Windows Live Mail with web-based email providers (Gmail, AOL, Yahoo! Mail Plus) but oddly enough, Microsoft's Hotmail is omitted.

Customizing and Much, Much More

As I mentioned, I like to tinker with the Windows interface, and for me, the section called "Customizing and Upgrading Windows 7" was the most interesting. It's more than what the section title would lead you to believe—it covers program installation and removal, making your computer accessible for people with disabilities, and basic common-sense measures such as setting restore points and making backups. There's an extensive and easy-to-understand discussion of user accounts and file sharing. Networking gets its own chapter in the "Customizing and Upgrading Windows 7" section, with instructions that should make what is often the most frustrating part of using a computer a lot easier.

Help Where it's Needed

It's well worth buying the book just for the section titled "Help!" I haven't seen such a good list of common error messages, Windows 7 problems and solutions anywhere else. This section will walk you through dealing with just about anything that might come up, and its reassuring tone of voice and thorough instructions should have just about any problem solved in short order. Each problem is illustrated with the messages you're likely to see, which makes it easy to tell you're looking at the correct instructions for fixing the problem. And, since the book is aimed at new Windows 7 users, there's a section that walks you through moving information from your old computer to a new Windows 7 computer. I wish I'd had this when I installed Windows 7 on my old desktop.

But Wait, There's More!

The "Part of Tens" chapter at the end is kind of like frosting on the cake, wrapping up a lot of good information on Windows 7 annoyances and helpful hints for laptop users, in short, straightforward segments. The people who set up the format for the For Dummies series clearly knew what they were doing.

Verdict

I'm a long-time fan of the For Dummies series, because—despite the name—they don't assume anyone who reads those books is dumb. The whole idea is to show the readers how smart and capable they actually are, once they've read the directions. They explain everything step by step, and do it with a dash of good humor and plenty of illustrations. If you want a good guide to Windows 7 that explains everything the average user wants to know, offers practical solutions to common annoyances, and puts a smile on your face as you read, Windows 7 for Dummies is definitely the book for you.

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