BKLTTLPC.RVW   950714
 
%A   Lawrence J. Magid
%C   2414 6th St., Berkeley, CA   94710
%D   1993
%G   0-938151-54-1
%I   Peachpit Press
%O   U$17.95/C$24.95 510-548-4393 fax: 510-548-5991 800-283-9444 markj@aw.com
%O   trish@peachpit.com gary@peachpit.com 416-447-5101 fax: 416-443-0948
%P   376
%T   "The Little PC Book"
"The Little PC Book", Lawrence J. Magid, 1993, 0-938151-54-1, U$17.95/C$24.95
 
The cover blurb describes this book as a "gentle introduction to personal
computers."  Indeed, the introduction is so gentle, that it would be a wonder
if any information got exchanged at all.  Part one (barely more than a "hello")
has indications that Magid is more comfortable with the Mac.  Part two is
supposed to advise you on buying a PC, but it gives you little more than the
terminology that you need in order to talk to salescritters.  (Although an ad
for a PC is featured in one cartoon, there is no "how to read ads" guidance, as
there is in other such books.)
 
The "Rules of the Road" in part three are definitely *not* enough to get you
started running programs.  The DOS and Windows "Cookbooks" at the back of the
book are probably intended to fill the gap.  If so, the back of the book is an
odd place for them.  In addition, the DOS command examples (both in the
cookbook and other places) contain numerous errors.  None are major ("dir/s"
does find files in subdirectories--but it doesn't search the whole disk unless
you specify that the search should start in the root), but there are enough to
make this guide frustrating, to say the least.
 
For those looking to get an MS-DOS computer, there are enough concepts and
terminology here to start your study.  But before you purchase, you'd better
get some additional help.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995   BKLTTLPC.RVW   950714

======================
DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters
Editor and/or reviewer        ROBERTS@decus.ca         rslade@vanisl.decus.ca
DECUS Symposium '96, Vancouver, BC, Feb 26-Mar 1, 1996, contact: rulag@decus.ca