Complete Idiot's Guide to Microsoft Office 2000

Rating:
Summary: Very basic instructions
Review: I have to admit that I'm becoming addicted to the idiot's guides. Contrary to their title, they help experts and idiots alike. For the novice, most of this material may be new, but even the expert can pick up some great tips. The book is divided into the major office programs: Word, Outlook, Access, Powerpoint and Excel. Though individual books focus in more detail on each of these programs, there is certainly enough information here to do the majority of projects that most people would be inclined to do. The great thing about these guides is that you will suddenly find yourself unable to unlock a much higher potential of these powerful programs, particularly in Excel. The chapter on Excel is very easy to follow and teaches you how to do the most common formulas like autosum. Even regular Word users will perfect the art of making tables, even for such common items as resumes. The format is extremely readable and easy to follow. I find that these guides only take a few hours to read, but the effects last for months. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a quick refresher course on the most common features of these office programs.

Rating:
Summary: a fantastic overview of all the major office programs
Review: I have to admit that I'm becoming addicted to the idiot's guides. Contrary to their title, they help experts and idiots alike. For the novice, most of this material may be new, but even the expert can pick up some great tips. The book is divided into the major office programs: Word, Outlook, Access, Powerpoint and Excel. Though individual books focus in more detail on each of these programs, there is certainly enough information here to do the majority of projects that most people would be inclined to do. The great thing about these guides is that you will suddenly find yourself unable to unlock a much higher potential of these powerful programs, particularly in Excel. The chapter on Excel is very easy to follow and teaches you how to do the most common formulas like autosum. Even regular Word users will perfect the art of making tables, even for such common items as resumes. The format is extremely readable and easy to follow. I find that these guides only take a few hours to read, but the effects last for months. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a quick refresher course on the most common features of these office programs.

Rating:
Summary: Very basic instructions
Review: This book is really only for those who wouldn't have a clue about computers in general, and about MS Office. Even then, it has some amusing errors, for example it states that "by default, MS Office saves and looks for its files in My Computer". Everybody and their dog, I should think, knows that My Documents is the default document folder under Windows 95/98/ME etc. It appears that this error was probably made in a hurry to publish the book before good old Micro$oft gets a new Office version ready (we're almost there). Only for the very beginners.