Desktop Publishing Books

The Non-Designer's Design Book: Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice

Robin Williams

List Price: $14.95 By: Pearson Education Amazon Marketplace: 90 new & used starting at $0.01

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> Graphic Design -> Books

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 215 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

great intro to designTurned the 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Turned the light on for me as to why my fliers, brochures and business cards were so hard to really "get." Because I'm a visual artist I hadn't thot I needed any help. How wrong I was! This book is great for beginners, it's short and sweet, and great bathroom reading!

Great for the non-designer 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I read some of the other reviews in preparing to write this. I am definitely a non-designer but have found a need to learn some design principles. I thought the book was great for its intended audience and probably for more experienced people as well. I have already applied the design principles in my work, web site development, and I re-did my letterhead based on what I learned here. Is it the best that could be done by an experienced designer? No. Is it a lot better than it was before? YES! I tested some of my small web page improvements on a few people and got confirmation that I have learned some very useful tools to improve my work.

I got a chuckle from some of the negative reviews, things like "I am a designer and it didn't help me." Duh! It is not aimed at them, and I thank the author for that as it might have gone over my head if it were.

I am excited enough about what I learned that I plan to take a few college courses to go even further. Thanks for the inspiration!

Editorial Review:

Outlines the essentials of page layout, emphasizing the four concrete principles of design--proximity, alignment, repetition, and contrast--in an illustrated volume that features before and after examples of page design. Original. (All Users).

MCDST Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-272): Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System (Pro - Certification)

Walter Glenn

List Price: $59.99 By: Microsoft Press - Model: 0-7356-2088-1 Amazon Marketplace: 15 new & used starting at $15.40

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Eighteen days 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

A little background history:
I am 48 yo and I am italian, so I am not really fluent in english language, however I can read it (although with some difficulties).
I am in search of a new job so I needed to get a recent qualification in the IT field.
I worked almost 5 years as a Desktop Support Technician before leaving my old firm (due to my pay dissatisfaction) in search for best opportunities.
Unfortunately the new job I got (although ways better payed) was physically too hard for me and I got injured (it ways a factory worker job) so I needed to turn back into the IT field.
So I had the idea to get a Microsoft Certification to raise my job chances.

Back to the present:
When I worked as a DST I handled mostly Windows 2000 and NT 4 workstations, with very little theoretical background. So I knew that a lot of background knowledge was missing to me. This fact, along with the english language based study and exam, was scaring me.

But I took this book, I read it (with some difficulties) from the first to the last page, I did the tests in the enclosed CD, I practiced with my own pc and after 18 days of intense study I passed the 70-271 exam first try with 783.

I also had the Exam Cram 2 book, which I read only in part, doing all the tests enclosed with it.

Sure my previous practical experience helped a lot, but I knew I had big holes in my theoretical background, and this book helped me a lot to integrate my knowledge (I.E. until I read this book I really didn't know that the ipconfig /flushdns command was able to flush the dns cache of a workstation).

When I booked for the exam I was exitant to take it, because the "Certification simulation" mode of the tests enclosed with the CDs of these books had me often failing to pass.

After the exam I can say that the real Microsoft questions are ways more clear and understandable that those presented in the simulation tests.

In fact - beside learning unknown and valuable troubleshooting tricks and methodologies - the real problem for a foreign language speaker like me was to correctly understand the english-formulated questions, that often can be very devious.

But the learning tests enclosed with the books are a though (maybe frustrating) way to improve your reasoning skills about Desktop assistance.

Now I am studying for the 70-272 exam in order to get the MCDST certification and I am really more relaxed about it.

Editorial Review:

- New--Readiness Review Suite featuring 425 questions and multiple testing options - New--In-depth coverage of Exam 70-272 objectives written by an exam-certified author--plus instructive case studies and troubleshooting scenarios - New--180-day evaluation version of Windows XP - New--eBook in PDF format; Pocket PC--ready - New--Microsoft Computer Dictionary, Fifth Edition, eBook

MCDST Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-272): Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on Microsoft® Windows® XP, Second Edition (Pro-Certification)

Walter Glenn, Tony Northrup

Amazon Price: $37.79 List Price: $59.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Microsoft Press - Model: 9780735622210 Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $25.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Help maximize your performance on Exam 70-272, one of two required exams for the Microsoft Desktop Support Technician Certification (MCDST), with this all-in-one training kit. Fully updated for Windows XP Service Pack 2, this kit packs the tools and features exam candidates want most—including in-depth, self-paced training based on final exam content; rigorous, objective-by-objective review; exam tips from an expert, exam-certified author; and a robust testing suite. It also provides real-world scenarios, case studies, and troubleshooting labs for the skills and expertise you can apply to the job.

Focusing on building your ability to resolve end-user incident requests about applications running on the Microsoft Windows XP operating system in the corporate or home environment, this official study guide covers configuring and troubleshooting applications, including Microsoft Office programs and Microsoft Internet Explorer; resolving issues related to usability and application customization; configuring and troubleshooting connectivity for applications; and configuring application security features.

Ace your exam preparation by working at your own pace through the lessons, hands-on exercises, and practice tests. The flexible, best-of-class test engine on CD-ROM features 425 practice questions. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests or focus on discrete objectives or chapters, and get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get a 120-day evaluation version of Windows XP software and other resources on the CD—making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.

InDesign CS3 for Macintosh and Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Sandee Cohen

Amazon Price: $17.99 List Price: $29.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peachpit Press Amazon Marketplace: 75 new & used starting at $16.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Visual QuickStart Guide—the quick and easy way to learn!

Users of Adobe InDesign will be impressed with the power, ease of use, and integration found in the new InDesign CS3, Adobe's page-design component of Creative Suite 3. Users will also find more robust file-placing capabilities, new Find features, and great new text and transparency effects, among other exciting features. Adobe InDesign CS3 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide will highlight the important new features, as well as covering the ones readers have relied on in previous versions of InDesign. Using the task-based, visual approach that readers count on in the Visual QuickStart Guides, this volume introduces readers to all aspects of InDesign CS3. Users will learn how to create and automate documents, import and style text and objects, manage long documents, export files for a wide variety of purposes, and

• Easy visual approach uses pictures to guide you through InDesign and show you what to do.
• Concise steps and explanations let you get up and running in no time.
• Page for page, the best content and value around.much more.

 

MCDST: Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician Study Guide: Exams 70 - 271 and 70 - 272

Bill Ferguson, Brad Causey

Amazon Price: $37.79 List Price: $59.99 Usually ships in 9 to 12 days By: Sybex Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $28.84

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

If you're seeking MCDST certification, here's the book you need to prepare for Exam 70-271, Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft XP Operating System, and Exam 70-272, Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System. This revised and updated Deluxe Edition features over 200 pages of new content-including the very latest updates to the exams as well as case studies-and provides complete instruction to meet the exacting requirements of each exam. Prepare for your certification and career with this two-in-one, value-packed guide.

Inside you'll find:

• Practical information on how to analyze problems and provide support to end users
• Hundreds of challenging review questions
• Bonus CD loaded with exam prep software, four bonus exams, Sybex test engine, and 300 electronic flashcards

Authoritative coverage of all exam objectives, including:

Exam 70-271

• Installing a Windows Desktop Operating System
• Managing and Troubleshooting Access to Resources
• Configuring and Troubleshooting Hardware Devices and Drivers
• Configuring and Troubleshooting the Desktop and User Environments
• Troubleshooting Network Protocols and Services

Exam 70-272

• Configuring and Troubleshooting Applications
• Resolving Issues Related to Usability
• Resolving Issues Related to Application Customization
• Configuring and Troubleshooting Connectivity for Applications
• Configuring Application Security

SYBEX TEST ENGINE: Test your knowledge with advanced testing software. Includes all chapter review questions plus bonus exams.

ELECTRONIC FLASHCARDS: Reinforce your understanding with flashcards that can run on your PC, Pocket PC, or Palm device.

Also on the CD you'll find the entire book in searchable and printable PDF. Study anywhere, any time, and approach the exam with confidence.

Visit www.sybex.com for all of your Microsoft certification needs

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

QuarkXPress 7 for Windows & Macintosh (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas

Amazon Price: $19.79 List Price: $29.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peachpit Press Amazon Marketplace: 69 new & used starting at $11.97

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

QuarkXPress 7 Visual QuickStart Guide 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

QuickStart Guide books have always been my first choice for learning software. They leave out all the conversation and get right to the point. Usually, I don't have time for a chat, I just want to find out how to accomplish something. If you need quick info, the QuickStart Guides are the books for you.

Although I am leaning more toward InDesign for layout now, this book is good for jumping from QuarkXPress 6.5 to version 7, One thing I particularly like and use often is the keyboard shortcut list. I wish I could say I like the application as much as I like the book.

Editorial Review:

This handy Visual QuickStart Guide offers the quickest way to begin working with QuarkXPress 7, including all the new graphic effects, Job Jackets, expanded output options, and other great workflow enhancements. In these pages, best-selling authors and veteran educators Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas use task-based, step-by-step instruction and loads of visual aids to provide a solid base of skills in QuarkXPress 7. Progressing from the basics of planning and designing layouts, working with text, and creating and importing graphics to more advanced topics like exporting documents as Web pages, this indispensable reference covers it all.

The Pc is Not a Typewriter

Robin Williams

Amazon Price: $11.55 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peachpit Press Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $0.25

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I say the emperor has no clothes 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 9 people found this review helpful.

I'm surprised so many people have bought into Robin Williams's edict that two spaces after the end of a sentence (and after a colon) is somehow no longer necessary. In fact, a single space in a proportionally spaced font is quite narrow, compared to a single space in a monospaced font where every character is the same width.

Typing with proportionally spaced fonts started with the advent of the IBM Executive typewriter back in the 1950's. Though the machines used individual type bars and not a unified font "element," characters came in varying widths. The machines had a split space bar giving either a wide or a narrow space. The wide space (left thumb)was used after a sentence or after a colon. The narrow space (right thumb) was used between words in a sentence, after a comma or semicolon.

I really don't care what typesetters do or don't do. I'm a secretary. When I see MSWord documents printed out where the typist has used a single space between sentences, it looks crowded and is more difficult to read, and I always infer the typist never learned the rules of typing.

I also note that I am a constant reader. I just got through reading the latest Sue Grafton mystery novel "T is for Trespass," in hard binding. So I grabbed the book to check the spacing between sentences and, lo and behold, the spacing between sentences (after a period, question mark, exclamation point or closing quotation mark) is double the spacing between words within the sentence, and it looks exactly right that way. Typesetters do, in fact, use more space between sentences than between words within a sentence, which is why properly trained typists have done it forever and still do, Ms. Williams revisionist rules notwithstanding.

The PC may not be a typewriter, but the vast majority of the rules typists have always followed still apply. What's changed is those things you couldn't do on typewriters. Underscoring replaced italicizing things such as titles of books, because typewriters couldn't shift into italics. Now, when using a word processing program, we can italicize, so we should no longer be using underscoring instead. Typewriters had hyphens, but not dashes, so, once upon a time, when typing, we had to use a double hyphen for a dash with no spacing around it, or, alternatively, a hyphen with a space on either side of it. Now we can actually use n-dashes and m-dashes as appropriate. (Though, unfortunately, nowadays I sometimes see dashes used when a hyphen is called for, such as in the middle of a local phone number.)

I admit, I'm old school. I still spell "restaurateur" without an "n" in it when almost everyone is using "restauranteur," which didn't used to be a word. I don't think "alright" is all right. Strange as it has always been, I still spell "supersede" without a "c" in it. And I still put two spaces between sentences when typing, because a single space isn't enough, and I don't like this book for suggesting otherwise.

Editorial Review:

From the author of The Little Mac Book and The Mac Is Not a Typewriter, here at last is the PC version of the classic Mac book. The entertaining, informative style that made Robin Williams' other books classics is now available in this book PC users have been waiting for. 20 line drawings.

InDesign CS2 for Macintosh and Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Sandee Cohen

Amazon Price: $23.09 List Price: $34.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peachpit Press Amazon Marketplace: 72 new & used starting at $5.81

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

You already know why it makes sense for you to learn Adobe InDesign: because major magazines, newspapers, book publishers, ad agencies, graphic-design firms, and corporate creative groups worldwide use it to increase productivity and refine creative results. And you need to get up to speed on the very newest version--Adobe InDesign CS2--today! Enter Adobe InDesign CS2 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide. Using the task-based, visual approach that has become the hallmark of Peachpit's popular Visual QuickStart Guides, this volume provides a fast, easy, comprehensive introduction to everything InDesign. You'll learn about all aspects of the InDesign interface, including its tools and palettes, as well as how to create documents and master pages, import and style text and objects, automate your work, manage long documents, use the Bezier pen tools,create interactive PDF elements, and work with color.  You'll also learn how to use the new Adobe Bridge file browser to locate, manage, and drag and drop assets easily into your InDesign layouts. You’ll find a new chapter on working with InCopy, complete coverage of more advanced topics (like preflighting and advanced text control) and a thorough introduction to all of InDesign's productivity-enhancing features and tools.

Photoshop CS2 for Windows & Macintosh (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Elaine Weinmann, Peter Lourekas

Amazon Price: $21.11 List Price: $31.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peachpit Press Amazon Marketplace: 131 new & used starting at $3.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

If you're interested in weaving multiple images into a seamless panorama, placing text on paths and shapes, or any of the countless other things you can do with Photoshop CS2's myriad new features, this is the place to get up to speed on them fast! In these pages best-selling authors and Photoshop masters Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas use task-based instruction and strong visual aids to teach you all of the Photoshop essentials: from basic color manipulation and image correction to painting, masking, using filters, importing and editing digital photos, and more. Incisive text, crystal-clear screen shots, and step-by-step instructions bring the art of digital image manipulation to your desktop. Now you can take the ball and run with it, creating your own composite masterpieces that take full advantage of Photoshop's tight integration with the other products in Adobe's Creative Suite. Armed with the tips and techniques Elaine and Peter share here, you'll be ready for any Photoshop CS2 project.

InDesign CS for Macintosh and Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)

Sandee Cohen

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Peachpit Press Amazon Marketplace: 74 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Now that you've finally figured out that InDesign's increasingly tight integration with the rest of Adobe's creative products will enable you to work more creatively and efficiently, all you want to do is get up to speed on it--yesterday, if possible! Enter InDesign CS for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide. Using the task-based, visual approach that has become the hallmark Peachpit's popular Visual QuickStart Guides, this volume provides a fast, easy, comprehensive introduction to everything InDesign. You'll learn about all aspects of the InDesign interface, including its tools and palettes, as well as how to create and navigate documents, import and style text and objects, automate your work, manage long documents, use the Bezier pen tools, and work with color. You'll also find complete coverage of more advanced topics (like preflighting and advanced text control) and a thorough introduction to all of InDesign CS' new features: an updated Story Editor, nested styles, separation previews, and the Package for GoLive command.