Windows 2000 Professional for Dummies

The popular Dummies series returns to tackle the complexities of Windows 2000 Professional. Windows 2000 Professional for Dummies does a fine job while not breaking away from Dummies' style of injecting, in the publishers' own words, "a dash of humour and fun". Anyone with IT-phobia has nothing to fear as the book never strays into potentially scary technical alleys.

The Dummies' formula was certainly ground-breaking when it first arrived, and still satisfies a huge market of readers who just want the basic facts to get them working without delving into unnecessary complexities. It may, however, be slightly too elementary. It begins by explaining the most basic concepts behind Windows and icons, which is overkill since complete beginners are unlikely to find themselves confronted by Windows 2000. The run-on style makes the book less than useful for casual research: it's hard to dip in and find what you're looking for. (Teach Yourself Windows 2000 Professional is better for casual dippers.) Also, you can't help but think the authors are trying that bit too hard to get another gag in at the expense of network administrators.

Apart from incorrectly saying there's a version of Win2K for the Alpha platform (Microsoft sadly abandoned this during the test program), Windows 2000 for Dummies still delivers the goods. If you can stand--or better still, enjoy--the style, then you'll find plenty of useful information. Even so-called experts will discover something new here.--Gordon Laing

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