Book Review

Windows 2000: The Complete Reference

By Mike Oliveira, Cyberwalker Media Syndicate

Weighing in at more than 1,000 pages, Windows 2000: The Complete Reference is thorough and covers all the bases. The question is, is it the right reference book for you?

As the book states in the introduction, this book is for network administrators, information technology professionals and power users, and assumes a level of familiarity with networking.

The book does an excellent job of covering Windows 2000 from installation to network maintenance, but it skims over basic information that the average user would look for. The first part of the book does cover the basics, but much of that material isn't new and goes over aspects of the Windows operating system that haven't changed since the release of Windows 95.

Having said that, even the most complicated sections are written in a concise and easy to understand way. But, as the book warns, there is no substitute for professional training and making changes to the Windows 2000 operating system without some know-how could have seriously negative effects.

Windows 2000 is essentially an upgrade for users of Windows NT, not for the average home user running Windows 95 or Windows 98. Microsoft is planning an operating system upgrade for the home user later this year.

If you were thinking of upgrading to Windows 2000, then this book can help you determine whether that's a good idea or not.
The very first chapter details the changes found in Windows 2000. The new features are listed and explained and many significant changes to existing sections of the operating system are outlined.

If you can read through all 1,000 pages without getting tripped up in jargon, then you may want to consider Windows 2000. If you don't get much farther than page 100 without scratching your head, then you should stick with Windows 98 until Microsoft's next operating system release. This book can help you work with Windows 2000, or prevent you from spending money on a operating system upgrade you don't need.

Reviewer's rating: 4 / 5
Comments: Windows 2000: The Complete Reference is a thorough resource for the power user or an IT professional. For the average home user, it's a long, complicated book that skims over the information that gets you started then moves forward at a breakneck pace that never lets you catch up.

Title: Windows 2000: The Complete Reference
Author: Kathy Ivens and Kathy Gardinier
Publisher: Osborne/McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 0072119209
Price: $39.99 US, $57.99 Canadian