你有没有走过书店或公共图书馆，想知道为什么有这么多试图解释软件和硬件(software and hardware)的书？这肯定是有原因的。在大多数情况下，印刷手册已绝迹。人们仍然想知道事情是如何运作的。多年前，微软(Microsoft)推出了一些业内最好的用户手册。矛盾的是，随着他们的软件不断发展并包含越来越多的功能，手册却越来越少，直到今天您有幸获得了快速入门指南(Quick Start Guide)。O'Reilly Media的“Windows 7，缺失的手册”('Windows 7, The Missing Manual')有助于填补Microsoft为(Microsoft)Windows 7提供的内容与人们真正需要了解的内容之间的空白。
手册不见了
这本书一开始就向那些从Windows XP迁移到Windows 7的人保证会有很多可用的帮助（而且确实有）。对Windows 7(Windows 7)的各个版本进行了简要介绍，并有一个部分说明了Windows 7中添加的内容以及以前版本中的哪些应用程序已被删除。然后通过七个部分、无数节和四个附录来探索Windows 7 。
这本书列出了它
“Windows 7, The Missing Manual” 的('Windows 7, The Missing Manual')每一部分都清楚地描述了从Windows XP 和 Windows Vista(Windows XP and Windows Vista)过渡的过程中发生了什么变化，并且每个部分的标题都注明了Windows 7的版本(Windows 7)该信息适用的对象。整本书有很多侧边栏——从对人们可能不知道的术语的简短解释（“up to speed”）到关于人们可能还不熟悉的重要功能的注释（“gem in the rough”） . 其他侧边栏可帮助喜欢过去事物方式的人恢复一些经典功能（“怀旧角”）或回答常见问题。与许多技术书籍一样，侧边栏是读者可以跳过的内容，但几乎每一本都包含有趣的内容，因此非常值得一读。
缺失手册的许多部分
第一部分是桌面(Desktop)。它的部分是“入门(Getting Started)、桌面和开始菜单(Desktop and Start Menu)”、“资源管理器(Explorer)、Windows和任务栏(Taskbar)”、“搜索和组织文件(Searching and Organizing Your Files)”、“室内装饰窗户(Interior Decorating Windows)”和“获得帮助(Getting Help)”。第二部分(Part Two)是Windows 7 软件(Windows 7 Software)。它的部分是“程序(Programs)、文档和小工具(Documents & Gadgets)”、“免费赠品应用程序(Freebie Apps)”和“控制面板(Control Panel)”。第三部分(Part Three)是Windows 7 Online。Internet、“ Internet 安全(Internet Security)”、“ Internet Explorer 8 ”、“ Windows Live Mail ”和“ Windows Live 服务(Services)”。第四部分(Part Four)是图片、音乐和电视(Pictures, Music and TV)。它的部分是“ Windows Live 照片库(Windows Live Photo Gallery)”、“ Windows Media Player ” 和 “ Windows Media Center ” 。第五 部分(Part Five)是硬件 和 外围 设备(Hardware & Peripherals). 它 的 部分 是 “打印(Print),传真 和 扫描(Fax & Scan)” , “硬件(Hardware)” 和 “笔记本电脑(Laptops),平板电脑 和(Tablets & Touchscreens)触摸屏。”第六部分(Part Six)是电脑健康(PC Health)。它的部分是“维护和速度调整(Maintenance & Speed Tweaks)”、“磁盘章节(Disk Chapter)”和“备份(Backups)、系统还原和故障排除(System Restore & Troubleshooting)”。第七部分(Part Seven)是网络和家庭组(Networking & Homegroups)。它的部分是“帐户和登录(Accounts & Logging)”、“设置工作组(Workgroup)”、“网络域(Network Domains)、“在网络上(Network)共享文件(Sharing Files)”和“远程控制(Remote Control)Windows ”。附录(Appendices)是“安装和升级(Installing & Upgrading)到Windows 7 ”，(Fun)(Registry)、“它去哪儿(Where)了？”和“主键盘快捷键列表(Master Keyboard Shortcut List)”。如您所见，这本书中的信息量惊人。逐节阅读会使这篇评论几乎和它的一样长所以我将笼统地谈论“Windows 7，缺失的手册”('Windows 7, The Missing Manual')，它的优点和缺点。
从积极的一面
当然，主要的优点是它是由全能专家大卫波格(David Pogue)编写的。波格先生(Mr. Pogue)是一位清晰而有趣的作家，他绝对了解他的主题。他创建了Missing Manuals系列正是因为他知道现在有多少软件没有提供。由于“Windows 7，缺失的手册”('Windows 7, The Missing Manual')包含曾经包含在操作系统(operating system)附带的大型印刷手册中的信息，因此不会忽略任何功能或命令。(feature or command)每个部分都包含屏幕截图，向读者展示正在讨论的内容。为从Windows XP(Windows XP)升级的人提供的帮助非常广泛，而且这些更改微软(Microsoft)已经对以前版本的Windows 和 Windows(Windows and Windows) 7 之间做出了详细的解释。每个部分都包含足够的信息来教育初学者并使专家满意。像我这样有时更喜欢以前版本的Windows做事方式的人并没有被忽视。侧边栏提请注意许多非常有用的信息。作为Windows 7的新手，几乎使用过所有以前的Microsoft 操作系统(Microsoft operating)，我几乎在每个部分都学到了一些新东西，并且在阅读本书后，我对Windows 7的新功能肯定更加放心。(Windows 7)本书布局合理，描述了Windows 7一步一步，就像许多人会从他们的第一个视图发展到网络和故障排除(networking and troubleshooting)的更精细点一样，因此很容易跟随。
不利的一面
然而，这就是一本 850 页的书，索引长达 30 页。对于很多人来说，这很可能是信息(Information)过多。虽然波格先生(Mr. Pogue)的写作风格(writing style)清晰而有趣，但很多时候他似乎专注于娱乐而不是信息。我认为这本书很容易被删减三分之一而不会在此过程中丢失任何内容。“Windows 7, The Missing Manual”是一个很好的参考，但在试图解释一切并适应所有技能水平时，它可能不会让任何人完全满意。也许它可以分成两本书，一本面向初级到中级用户，另一本面向中级到高级用户。
判决
这绝对是一个“先试后买”的情况。由于这本书相当昂贵，而且电子书版的成本也不低，因此有必要在当地的公共图书馆查看这本书并仔细阅读它，看看它是否是你想要保留的参考资料。如果您想要一本详细介绍 Windows 7 的每一个功能的书，(Windows 7)那么“Windows 7，缺失的手册”('Windows 7, The Missing Manual')值得在您的书架上占据一席之地。
Book Review - Windows 7, The Missing Manual
Have you ever walked through a bookstore or a рublic library and wondered why there are so many books that try to explain software and hаrdware? There's defіnitely a reason for that. Τhe printed manual іs, for the most part, extinct. And people still want to know how things work. Years ago, Microsоft put out some of the best user manuаls in the business. Paradoxically, as thеir software grew and included more and more feаtures, the manuals dwindled away, until today you're lucky to get a Quick Start Guide. O'Rеilly Media's 'Windows 7, The Missing Manual' helps fill the gap between what Microsoft supplies with Windows 7 and what people really need to know.
The Manuals are Missing
The book starts off by reassuring those who are moving from Windows XP to Windows 7 that there will be plenty of help available (and there is). There's a quick rundown of the various versions of Windows 7, and a section that notes what's been added to Windows 7 and which applications from previous versions have been deleted. And then it's off to explore Windows 7, through seven parts, myriad sections and four appendices.
The book lays it out
Each part of 'Windows 7, The Missing Manual' clearly describes what has changed in the transition from Windows XP and Windows Vista, and each section heading notes the versions of Windows 7 to which the information applies. There are plenty of sidebars throughout the book - from short explanations of terms that people might not know ("up to speed,") to the note about great features that people might not yet be familiar with ("gem in the rough,"). Other sidebars help people who liked the way things used to be get some of the classic features back ("nostalgia corner") or answer frequently asked questions. As with many technical books, the sidebars are something the reader can skip over, but nearly every one contains something of interest, so they are well worth reading.
The many parts of a Missing Manual
Part One is Desktop. Its sections are "Getting Started, Desktop and Start Menu," "Explorer, Windows and the Taskbar," "Searching and Organizing Your Files," "Interior Decorating Windows," and "Getting Help." Part Two is Windows 7 Software. Its sections are "Programs, Documents & Gadgets," "The Freebie Apps," and "The Control Panel." Part Three is Windows 7 Online. Its sections are "Hooking Up to the Internet," "Internet Security," "Internet Explorer 8," "Windows Live Mail," and "Windows Live Services." Part Four is Pictures, Music and TV. Its sections are "Windows Live Photo Gallery," "Windows Media Player," and "Windows Media Center." Part Five is Hardware & Peripherals. Its sections are "Print, Fax & Scan," "Hardware," and "Laptops, Tablets & Touchscreens." Part Six is PC Health. Its sections are "Maintenance & Speed Tweaks,"The Disk Chapter," and "Backups, System Restore & Troubleshooting." Part Seven is Networking & Homegroups. Its sections are "Accounts & Logging On," "Setting Up a Workgroup," "Network Domains," "Sharing Files on the Network," and "Windows by Remote Control." The Appendices are "Installing & Upgrading to Windows 7,"Fun with the Registry," "Where'd It Go?" and "The Master Keyboard Shortcut List." As you can see, there's a staggering amount of information in this book. To go through it section by section would make this review nearly as long as its subject. So I will talk in general terms about 'Windows 7, The Missing Manual', its pluses and minuses.
On the plus side
The major plus, of course, is that it was written by all-around expert David Pogue. Mr. Pogue is a clear and entertaining writer, and he definitely knows his subject inside and out. He created the Missing Manuals series precisely because he knows how much is not supplied with software these days. Since 'Windows 7, The Missing Manual' contains the information that once would have been in a big fat printed manual included with the operating system, no feature or command is overlooked. Each section contains screen shots to show the reader what's under discussion. The help offered to people upgrading from Windows XP is extensive, and the changes Microsoft has made between previous versions of Windows and Windows 7 are explained in detail. Each section contains enough information to educate the beginner and satisfy the expert. People like me who sometimes prefer the way previous versions of Windows did things aren't slighted. The sidebars draw attention to a lot of really useful information. As a relative newcomer to Windows 7 who's used just about every previous Microsoft operating system, I learned something new in just about every section and I'm definitely more at ease with the new features of Windows 7 after reading the book. The book is laid out logically and describes Windows 7 one step at a time, in the way many people would progress from their first view of it to the finer points of networking and troubleshooting, so it's easy to follow along.
On the minus side
That said, however, this is an 850-page book with an index that is 30 pages long. For many people, this may well be Too Much Information. While Mr. Pogue's writing style is clear and entertaining, many times it seemed that he focused on entertainment rather than information. I think the book could easily have been edited down by a third without losing anything in the process. 'Windows 7, The Missing Manual' is an excellent reference, but in trying to explain everything and accommodate all skill levels it may not be wholly satisfying to anyone. Perhaps it could have been split into two books, one for beginner-to-intermediate users and another one for intermediate-to-advanced users.
Verdict
This is definitely a case where "try before you buy" is warranted. Since the book is fairly expensive and the e-book edition doesn't cost much less, it makes sense to check this book out at your local public library and go through it to see if it's a reference you want to keep on hand. If you want a book that goes into detail about every single feature of Windows 7, then 'Windows 7, The Missing Manual' deserves a space on your bookshelf.
