Computing Recent Picks

June 2009

The underlined title links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Windows lockdown! : your XP and Vista guide against hacks, attacks, and other Internet mayhem, by Andy Walker. (2009)
"Today, if you own a Windows computer you need to understand the risks and the potential damage security threats pose. The mere act of turning on an Internet-connected computer can put you, your family, and even your personal finances at risk! This book defines all the threats an average household might face and provides strategies to turn novice and basic users into adept home security experts, making you safer and more secure from cyber criminals. We start off with plain English definitions for security mumbo jumbo, and then we dig in with step-by-step instructions to help you cut your exposure in less than 10 minutes! Finally, we provide steps for more involved security measures that you can do in a weekend." (Amazon)

Computing for the older and wiser : get up and running on your home PC!, by Adrian Arnold. (2008)
"Computing for the Older & Wiser is a simple-to-follow user friendly guide aimed at the older generation introducing the basics of mastering a computer.
Review: "The author is a computer trainer with Age Concern so he really knows his audience and what it needs." (The Bookseller, Friday 14th March 2008)
From the Author: "I have been teaching members of the Third Age how to use their home computers for the past ten years and it soon became apparent that much of what I taught during the lessons was quickly forgotten. To overcome this I created a number of revision notes for the benefit of my pupils and it was these notes that formed the original basis for this book." (Amazon)

Handbook of usability testing : how to plan, design, and conduct effective tests, by Jeff Rubin, Dana Chisnell. (2008)
"Whether it’s software, a cell phone, or a refrigerator, your customer wants no, expects your product to be easy to use. This fully revised handbook provides clear, step-by-step guidelines to help you test your product for usability. Completely updated with current industry best practices, it can give you that all - important marketplace advantage: products that perform the way users expect. You’ll learn to recognize factors that limit usability, decide where testing should occur, set up a test plan to assess goals for your product’s usability, and more." (Amazon)

How to cheat in Photoshop CS4 : the art of creating realistic photomontages, by Steve Caplin. (2009)
"'How to Cheat in Photoshop CS4' helps you "cheat in" (or take advantage of) Photoshop in two important ways. You learn how to make images look like photographs, when they're not so that you can create photographic work without a studio. And you find useful shortcuts to work more efficiently, economically, and with quick solutions to achieve the same superb results that come from long, complex operations that take forever. ... This fully updated new edition shows you how to get the most out of Photoshop CS4, including the Quick Selection and Cloning tools, and more. Yet it's backwards compatible with previous releases of Photoshop." (Amazon)

YouTube : an insider's guide to climbing the charts, by Alan Lastufka and Michael W. Dean. (2008)
"Want to make a splash on YouTube? Even go viral? You've come to the right place. This book is written by two veteran 'Tubers who live their art and know what they're talking about - especially Alan Lastufka, a.k.a. 'fallofautumndistro', whose videos get millions of views. He and co-author Michael W. Dean show you how to make a quality video, and how to optimize, encode, upload, and promote it. This book can't promise you'll be rich and famous, but it can tell you how to make great video art, and what you need to do to get your work seen. Join Alan, who makes part of his living from YouTube, and Michael, a successful filmmaker, author, and D.I.Y. art pioneer. They'll take you from the basics of gear to making it big on YouTube, with a focus on networking and interaction. You'll also sit in on informative interviews with YouTube stars LisaNova, Hank Green (vlogbrothers), WhatTheBuckShow, nalts, and liamkylesullivan." (Amazon)

Simply SQL, by Rudy Limeback.
"Packed with examples, Simply SQL is a step-by-step introduction to learning SQL"

Microsoft Windows Vista help desk, by Andy Walker.
"This book exposes the flaws and nuances of Vista and teaches you how to work with its quirky personality and fix the problems you have with it so you can get back to your regularly scheduled life." Amazon

Mobile Internet for dummies, John Wiley [distributor].

Joomla!, by Marni Derr and Tanya Symes.

Macs : portable genius, by Paul McFedries.

ASP.NET 3.5 : a beginner's guide, by William B. Sanders.

Read the latest computer articles online for free!

Here is a link to an article from Marketing Weekly News- from the PROQUEST database, part of mygateway.info. The link will take you to the full-text of the magazine, once you have entered your library card details.

McAfee, Inc.; McAfee Web Film Series on Cybercrime Tells Dramatic Story of One Victim's Loss Marketing Weekly News. Atlanta: Jun 13, 2009. p. 146.

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