Teach Yourself Computers & the Internet Visually (Idg's 3-D Visual Series)

The graphic Teach Yourself method makes it FAST, EASY, and FUN to master everything from software and operating systems to surfing the Web. Clear, full-color, step-by-step illustrations on every page show you exactly what to do and how to do it, while easy-to-follow instructions explain every task in straightforward, jargon-free terms. Walking you through dozens of common home and office tasks -- from creating and sending documents and adding memory to your computer to communicating via e-mail and creating a Web page -- this is your quickest route to hands-on, real-world computer skills.

The creators of Teach Yourself Computers and the Internet Visually have done a service for the "people who know about computers" of the world. With lots of colorful pictures and just enough lucid prose, this book answers many of the questions computer newcomers traditionally have asked their coworkers or children.

Covering everything from how to click with a mouse to how to connect to an FTP site, this book tells pretty much everything you need to know to become a competent computer user. The authors don't restrict their coverage to the basics, either--the book includes plenty of information on scanners, removable disks, digital cameras, and other accessories that aren't found on every computer.

One of the great things about this book is that it provides information that other publications often leave out. For instance, many introductory Internet books describe electronic mailing lists, but few make the point (as this one does) that lists usually have an administrative address separate from the distribution address. That's the kind of important information that will save newbies from awkward moments.

A few details are misleading, but the mistakes are minor. As a whole, Teach Yourself Computers and the Internet Visually is dead-on accurate and fun to read. --David Wall