Book Description
The new Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential proves that you have the skills to successfully support end users and successfully troubleshoot desktop environments running on Windows XP. MCDST candidates must pass two core exams (70-271 and 70-272). The 70-271 exam, when combined with the 70-272 (the application exam for desktop support technicians), validates that a candidate can successfully answer (or escalate) all calls from end users. Co-written by best-selling author Dan Balter, the MCDST 70-271 Exam Cram 2 gives readers the essential information they need to know to pass this exam, focusing on exactly what they need to know. This book can be used as a sole study guide for those experienced with Windows XP or it is the perfect supplement guide for more comprehensive training materials, instructor-led classes, and/or computer-based training.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty Good.......2007-05-08
I passed the test so I guess that means the book worked. It was actually supplemental material. My first choice is always Sybex. This is a decent book, it went too much into the Remote Installation for what I had on the test but the test may be different for you.
Good, but problematic...........2006-09-23
I just passed my 70-271 exam and I do believe this book was an important factor in my score. However this book is problematic.
1.) The MeasureUp practice exam questions are 50 of the same questions found in the Microsoft Press book for the same exam. But that book has 261 more questions than this one.
2.) The questions in the book are far more difficult than necessary and many are more appropriate for the MCSA/MCSE exam 70-270.
3.) There are too many typographic errors to name. The major ones have been mentioned by other reviewers.
4.) There is no information on service pack 2.
I intend on using my MCDST credentials as an elective exam for the MCSA, so I appreciate the difficulty of the questions but by attempting to attain an 85% to 90% on the practice exams in the back of this book I had thoroughly convinced myself that I would fail the test and was very close to rescheduling it. I did not, and I passed my test with more than 200 point over the minimum score.
To this books credit I have found the information very useful in my job. I have received several calls from users with processor affinity problems or with 16 bit program errors that I know how to solve immediately because of the high standards set by the questions in this book. I am, therefore, very satisfied with my purchase.
Don't use this book as a primary study guide.......2006-07-30
There's a lot of unnecessary info in this book that you won't even see on the exam. The practice questions in the book are way too wordy and confusing. Exam Cram has helped me in the past, but not this time.
Don't buy this book, it's awful........2005-12-12
I believe my email to the editor explains it all. I have copied and pasted it below.
Mr. Tittel,
I have been a huge fan of your Exam Cram books for the last few years and they have helped me pass my A+, Network+, and CCNA certifications. Currently I am working of my MCDST certification and bought your books expecting the same standards your other books hold. Unfortunately, your Exam 70-271 Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Windows XP operating System is not only a disgrace to your line of books, but to you as the editor. I have to ask; did you even read the book or edit it? There are too many spelling and grammatical errors to even list in this book. Many times it should say drive, and instead it says driver or vice versa. You have many of the wizards name's wrong, such as on page 200 first line under Migrating User Settings with the File Settings and Transfer Wizard it says "The File Settings and Transfer (FAST) Wizard." The funny thing is it's the File and Settings Transfer Wizard, otherwise FAST makes no sense the way it is printed and if that's not bad enough on page 201 you have a screenshot of the wizard showing it's correct name. The questions you ask in this book also are horrendous because they contradict what is true or just make no sense. Here is an example of a contradiction. Earlier in the book it says Windows XP can't be upgraded from Windows 95, this is true, but then in question 6 on page 213 it says "After upgrading a group of computers running Windows 95 to Windows XP Professional." See something wrong there? Here is an example of a question making no sense. Look at question 23 on page 336. The question asks for the Power User group and the Administrator group, so logically and correctly the answer should be A, but no you have it as answer C which is the same exact thing as A but leaves out the Administrator group so it would be wrong. In conclusion I must say this was one of the most poorly written and poorly edited books I have ever read. So please, revise this book immediately and get any remaining ones of the shelves because most people are furious about this, you should check out the reviews on Amazon.com and elsewhere.
Good book, relevant material.......2005-09-15
Overall it was a good book withs lots of relevant material. I actually learned some things about XP that I was not already aware of. I haven't taken the test yet, but with the included Cheat Sheet and CDROM, I think I will be well prepared.
Book Description
Williams provides a dynamic step-by-step guide to creating everything from tourism books and niche market magazines to specialty tabloids, using your home computer.
Customer Reviews:
Misleading at best and in dire need of a new titled.......2007-08-23
This should be titled, How to Make Money Producing Free Junk Magazines. Most of the folks I know in the publishing industry would love to see a down to basics intro to publishing, ie, the printing lingo, developing relationships with authors, editing tips, detailed layout advice, etc. This book is about producing, not publishing. Moving units of advertising, not creating something worthwhile to read or engage the public. This is a get-rich-quick book that belongs in the business section and has not place near publishing/literature reference.
Good, but...........2007-03-20
This book has a lot of great information in it and will be useful for anyone who wants to start publishing.
HOWEVER, this book is by far the most poorly edited book I have ever read. Punctuation mistakes ABOUND and it is obvious that standards were not very high for publication of this book.
Buy it for the education and look at it as what NOT to do when publishing a book or magazine.
Tons of Great Information.......2007-03-09
This is a great asset if you are thinking about publishing your own magazine. There is a wealth of information for the publishing novice. A little advice - buy this book some time before you plan to publish your magazine so that you can digest the information.
Covers circulation, readership, proposal writing, optional publication formats, niche markets and more........2006-10-07
If you're thinking of starting a home-based publishing business, you can't be without Publish Your Own Magazine, Guidebook or Weekly Newspaper: it tells how to not just publish a winning title, but how to make it profitable - with no money up front. All kinds of successful periodicals and what made them tops are reviewed in a title which covers circulation, readership, proposal writing, optional publication formats, niche markets and more.
Bang for your Buck.......2006-03-02
Of the many books that I have purchased on self-publishing, this is one of the better ones. Even though I myself was mostly interested in book publishing rather than mangazines or guidebooks, this book still served me well. It gave a lot of useful tips and pointers as well as information I never thought about. I checked the book out of the library initially, but I want my own copy.
This book gives you step by step details on how to enter the publishing field on a tight budget. It gives you an abundance of resources. Some of those include:
* Starting out with little cash (and how he did it)
* Trade secrets necessary to pick winning publications
* How to hire the people you need (at a price you can afford)
* How to save money on printing
* Reproducible Business Forms
This is a great book to include in your self-publishing library. It does cover alot of areas, but I don't usually complain when someone gives me more bang for my buck.
Book Description
The new Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential proves that you have the skills to successfully support end users and successfully troubleshoot desktop environments running on Windows XP. MCDST candidates must pass two core exams (70-271 and 70-272). The 70-272 exam, when combined with the 70-271 (the operating system exam for desktop support technicians), validates that a candidate can successfully answer (or escalate) all calls from end users. The MCDST 70-272 Exam Cram 2 gives readers the essential information they need to know to pass the 70-272 exam, which includes configuring and troubleshooting applications (Internet Exporer, Outlook Express), resolving issues related to usability, resolving issues related to application customization, configuring and troubleshooting connectivity for applications, and configuring application security. This book can be used as a sole study guide for those experienced with Windows XP or it is the perfect supplement guide for more comprehensive training materials, instructor-led classes, and/or computer-based training.
Customer Reviews:
Deeply insufficient.......2005-12-28
My IT background: ten years as a Unix admin, pursuing a Master's degree in Telecom. Extensive familiarity with desktop OS's and apps both as a user and LAN admin.
Newcomers to IT hoping to use this book as a primary study source will be disappointed.
I scored a 754 on 70-272 (700 is passing). The Exam Cram helped a bit in focusing which aspects of the Office, Outlook, and IE GUIs with which to become familiar. However, entire topics on the exam were completely unaddressed by this book ("Security Center", GPOs). Moreover, The book was apparently written before XP SP2 was released; the test requires knowledge of SP2 features.
Use As Back Up to Your Other Study Guide "ONLY".......2005-04-08
I will say that I am a fan of ExamCram2 Series of Study Guides, and that is what they are: "Study Guides". I was disappointed about the lack of material in this guide, do not rely on this book to pass the 70-272 Exam. If you pass the test just by reading this book you may have all ready had enough knowledge to pass. This book does not cover all the material in the exam by any means. The MeasureUp testing software is nice to get you use to the way some of the exam questions are. I would use this book to just go over questions and answers before you do a final write. I highly suggest to get Microsoft 70-272 Training Kit if you are new to alot of the material covered by this exam.
Needs a little more meat........2004-07-24
I recently became involved in a project to setup a course for the 2 new MCDST exam, 70-271 and 70-272. These new exams appear to give you an entry in the Microsoft arena with out requiring a full blown MCSE track. The book takes the finer points of the objectives and breaks it down in to 9 chapters.
The 70-272 exam is focused on the application side of XP and with that this book shows you a lot of customizing, optimizing, configuration and troubleshooting. You'll cover XP, email, Office and the internet and the book includes 2 complete practice exams.
The book has a cd rom with the Measure UP testing engine, but there should be more questions included. Overall this should be on the list of material to use in the study process.
Not enough depth.......2004-07-11
This book provides a good high level overview of the material. The main shortcoming is that it makes statements like "make sure you know this or that" but doesn't explain or provide examples. I took the test and passed, but don't think this book contributed a lot to my success. This book is worth a read, but don't rely on it.
Not Enough.......2004-07-01
The book had a lot of useful information, however it did not really go indepth on any of the subjects. I wish the book had given more examples or details on the topic. It provided only 145 questions, compared to other books for the test that provided over 300. I gave the book 3 stars because it is a useful study guide that can fit into my purse so I can take it everywhere. I would suggest reading something more in depth first.
Book Description
There is no doubt that the digital photography revolution has opened up a world of wonderful possibilities for photographers of all levels. However, the issue of processing workflow can present a true challenge. The number of photographs that a photographer shoots with a digital camera increases tremendously over what might be shot using standard film. After the shoot is over, each of these images must be processed and edited on a computer monitor--and this can be a daunting task. Adobe Lightroom Photographers' Guide offers a solution to this challenge, providing photographers with a hands-on guide to Adobe's Lightroom product. Using the features offered by Lightroom, it tackles the issue of workflow, providing photographers with a helping hand through the complexities of digital and RAW format workflow.
Customer Reviews:
OK, If You Know Photoshop.......2007-05-30
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is a piece of image processing software the basic functions of which are fairly easy to intuit, which is a good thing given the insubstantial written instructions that come with Lightroom. However users who expect to get the most out of Lightroom will probably benefit from reading a book to learn some of the more advanced features of the program.
John G. Blair's guide covers almost all of the additional functions that are possible to squeeze out of the software and individuals familiar with Photoshop itself will not have any problem visualizing how to apply these functions to their images. The book is profusely illustrated and the pictures are just big enough to see what sliders and buttons have been used for a particular result. On the other hand photographers coming to Lightroom without Photoshop experience may be at a loss because the author rarely puts the functions into the context of image processing. For example in discussing the Develop Module, he accurately tells the reader that adjusting the Exposure slider mainly affects the upper part of the histogram and is roughly equivalent to changing exposure. Users familiar with the levels function of Photoshop or with Adobe Camera Raw will see the similarity and know how to use the function. But image processing beginners probably will require a little more information.
Similarly, in discussing Lightroom's export function, Blair tells the user that one can automatically send a picture to Photoshop and run an action by creating a droplet in Photoshop. There are even experienced users of Photoshop who have never created a droplet, so this kind of instruction requires more detail.
Blair also ignores one of the greatest weaknesses of version 1.0 of Lightroom, i.e., the sharpening function (although Adobe has promised improvements in this regard in version 1.1). The way experienced photographers are dealing with this is by transferring the image file to Photoshop for sharpening, but the author generally ignores Lightroom and Photoshop integration, in this and other regards.
As one gets closer to the end of the book, the chapters on outputs like the Slideshow, Print and Web Modules seem to grow sparer and sparer. In part this reflects the fact that these modules contain fewer options than the Library and Develop modules, but it also seemed as if the author were running out of steam.
Readers experienced in Photoshop, who are interested in a bare bones explanation of Lightroom, will find that this book contains all they need. Readers wishing to put the capabilities of Lightroom into a broader context will be happier with a book like Scott Kelby's thorough "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers" (providing they can take Kelby's broad sense of humor).
Book Description
This certification exam measures the ability to develop and implement Windows-based applications with Web forms, ASP.NET, and the Microsoft .NET Framework. This exam counts as a core credit toward the new MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer) certification as well as a core credit toward the MCSD .NET certification. This book is not intended to teach new material. Instead it assumes that you have a solid foundation of knowledge but can use a refresher on important concepts as well as a guide to exam topics and objectives. This book focuses exactly on what you need to pass the exam - it features test-taking strategies, time-saving study tips, and a special Cram Sheet that includes tips, acronyms, and memory joggers not available anywhere else. The series is supported online at several Web sites: examcram.com, informit.com, and cramsession.com.
The accompanying CD features PrepLogic™ Practice Tests, Preview Edition. This product includes one complete PrepLogic Practice Test with approximately the same number of questions found on the actual vendor exam. Each question contains full, detailed explanations of the correct and incorrect answers. The engine offers two study modes, Practice Test and Flash Review, full exam customization, and a detailed score report.
Download Description
This certification exam measures the ability to develop and implement Windows-based applications with Web forms, ASP.NET, and the Microsoft .NET Framework. This exam counts as a core credit toward the new MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer) certification as well as a core credit toward the MCSD .NET certification. This book is not intended to teach new material. Instead it assumes that you have a solid foundation of knowledge but can use a refresher on important concepts as well as a guide to exam topics and objectives. This book focuses exactly on what you need to pass the exam - it features test-taking strategies, time-saving study tips, and a special Cram Sheet that includes tips, acronyms, and memory joggers not available anywhere else. The series is supported online at several Web sites: examcram.com, informit.com, and cramsession.com. The accompanying CD features PrepLogic
Customer Reviews:
Bom.......2007-02-07
O produto é bom, é fácil de comprar, mas como a compra é internacional levou aproximadamente um mês para ser entregue. De qualquer forma valeu a pena.
Very good book, i can't criticise it........2007-01-08
This book is just the perfect learning resource for studying for the 70-316 exam. I also bought Microsoft's MCAD book but i realised by now that buying only this book allows one to prepare for the exam. You simply code up the lesson examples whenever you are not sure and you will score above 90% on the practice tests. Considering that 70% is the pass mark, it is not too bad.
It is also a compact book, so you do make progress in it too that cheers you up since time is limited for all of us i guess. The book also has 2 sample exams. The CDROM too, has practice exams and the complete book is in pdf as well on the book so once you sell the book, you will still have a perfectly organized pdf version of it too. All this for 34.99USD is way better then buying Microsoft's MCAD/70-316 book.
A very Good Study Guide for Exam 70-315.......2006-10-16
This certification study-resource from Author Amit Kalani, served as a rather indispensable part of the revision portfolio for Exam 70-315 (Web-based Application Development with C#.NET).
like the 70-320 Exam Cram book -(also by Amit Kalani), it is a very useful & sound comprehensive reference for Exam 70-315.
It served greatly in gaining both an overview of all the elements that would appear on the 315 exam,but also served well in my overall review and revision endeavours for the 70-315 Exam.
using this resource got me to the place where i felt i had covered the core objectives for the exam and was ready to move on to the next phase ie: having a go at tackling past question scenarios.
Indeed , i was glad i bought it.
what i liked about this book :
- it is a comprehensive read at slightly over 400 pages -ie:[404pages],the 2 Testing chapters non factored)
- there are exam questions after every chapter, relating to that chapter
- Answers with explanations are provided with every question featured in the book.
- The book comes with a CD which offers a .pdf, e-version of the book.
I purchased the book in question as a pair with the 70-315 Exam Training guide counterpart -(equally written by the same authors: Amit Kalani + Priti Kalani) from Que press ISBN: 0789728222.
the two books complement each other very well and provide a very fine balance between the need to train & equip the reader with the strong hands-on .NET web-application development skills he/she will require in order to thrive as a C#.NET web developper; whilst at the same time fully framing these necessary hands-on expertise , in the context & framework of the exam the reader probably seeks to take at the end of working/ploughing his/her way through the book.
Afterall...studying the material and arriving at a place where one is confident of ones capacity to develop a really functional web application is most desired, just as much as passing the exam & obtaining the certification validates this acheivement & know-how.
In addition to this 70-315 Exam Cram book, those starting out with C# may need a pure C# language reference book, in order to learn about how things are done in the C# language ie: about OO programming ie :Classes & Constructors,Abstraction & abstract data types, Structures, Casting, Encapsulation & Delegation, Inheritance,Polymorphism, Namespaces, Methods & flow control, Events & delegates, Enumerations, Interfaces,Attributes et cetera.
these are the C# language basics and need reviewing in order to understand the how & where of everything working,fitting & sitting together in C#. otherwise, things can get rather confusing come Visual C#.NET development time. (# see review for Exam Cram:70-320; ISBN: 0789728974)
Checking to verify that the .NET developper possesses this knowledge has also become a requirement at Microsoft, especially with the new .NET series of exams for Framework 2.0 ; while versions of what is essentially the Framework 3.0 Beta is already being used & embraced by lots of companies already.
the featured Exam 70-315 Exam Cram book and the 70-315 exam training guide from Que go quite some way in equipping one with this C# background knowledge, but one might still need a separate text or reference for good measure.
After working through the 70-315 ExamCram resource and using the Training guide i felt set for the next phase ie: going on to tackle past exam questions.
using Transcender and Testking more than sufficed to ensure & assure success at the exam;
Take & Ace the exam with ease: 150minutes & 43 questions.
The passing mark is 700 ie: 70%. i sat the exam on monday (10th October 2006); scored 91% ie: 910.
Good luck.
cheers :-)
Great as a Refresher.......2006-02-27
This is an excellent reference if you want to quickly brush up the topics for the exam. If you do not have hands-on experience in ASP.NET, I would suggest the Training Guide by the same author. I used the training guide initially and then used this as a quick refresher. The practice exams were excellent. They had a few questions on ADO.NET, XML and Security which were not covered in either book. I used MSDN/www.codeclinic.com (esp. for ADO.NET, Security and XML) as a supplement. Transcender was very helpful too. Overall a great CRAM book for 70-315.
Exactly what you need, not an iota more.......2005-11-09
This book provides excellent preparation for 70-315. It's a very fast read because it only covers exactly what you need to pass the exam.
Each chapter is oriented around one of the stated exam objectives. Illustrative, simple examples are included in many of the chapters. The examples are particularly useful when covering a topic that requires more space than is available in an Exam Cram book.
I highly recommend answering the "test prep" questions at the end of every chapter as well as taking at least one of the two included exams. The questions were great preparation for the questions on the real exam.
Except for the occasional reference to MSDN this book is the only one I used to study for the exam and passed it within 3 weeks of starting the book. I highly recommend it.
Book Description
This certification exam measures the ability to develop and implement Web-based applications with Web forms, ASP.NET, and the Microsoft .NET Framework. This exam counts as an core credit toward the new MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer) certification as well as a core credit toward the existing MCSD .NET certification. This book is not intended to teach new material. Instead it assumes that you have a solid foundation of knowledge but can use a refresher on important concepts as well as a guide to exam topics and objectives. This book focuses exactly on what you need to pass the exam - it features test-taking strategies, time-saving study tips, and a special Cram Sheet that includes tips, acronyms, and memory joggers not available anywhere else. The series is supported online at several Web sites: examcram.com, informit.com, and cramsession.com.
The accompanying CD features PrepLogic™ Practice Tests, Preview Edition. This product includes one complete PrepLogic Practice Test with approximately the same number of questions found on the actual vendor exam. Each question contains full, detailed explanations of the correct and incorrect answers. The engine offers two study modes, Practice Test and Flash Review, full exam customization, and a detailed score report.
Download Description
This certification exam measures the ability to develop and implement Web-based applications with Web forms, ASP.NET, and the Microsoft .NET Framework. This exam counts as an core credit toward the new MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer) certification as well as a core credit toward the existing MCSD .NET certification. This book is not intended to teach new material. Instead it assumes that you have a solid foundation of knowledge but can use a refresher on important concepts as well as a guide to exam topics and objectives. This book focuses exactly on what you need to pass the exam - it features test-taking strategies, time-saving study tips, and a special Cram Sheet that includes tips, acronyms, and memory joggers not available anywhere else. The series is supported online at several Web sites: examcram.com, informit.com, and cramsession.com. The accompanying CD features PrepLogic
Customer Reviews:
Understand MS' thinking.......2005-05-15
I agree with some of the feedback here. This is not a book for learning ASP.NET. But then the book does state this early on. By all means read my review, even if for an experience, but I wouldn't until you have had an experience with ASP.NET and Visual Studio. To appreciate this book for any benefit you can find from it, go on a course first.
This book is intended only for exam preparation and in places, it serves it's purpose well here. The official Microsoft textbook for the course is just as thick and goes into tremendous detail and manages to use simple language in places. It doesn't convey the exam experience, but then it's not designed to! I made essential notes for the first 10 chapters and, typed up, I have 5 pages. The first 10 chapters comprise 200! The MS textbook has demonstrations, practices, and explanations, which explains why it is so thick.
From what I can tell, in sitting the exam Microsoft don't expect you to be a world class ASP.NET developer. Microsoft appear mainly concerned with ensuring you can concentrate in intricate detail (trying not to scare you: the difference between some understandings is just one word), think according to the understandings and concepts associated with the task at hand (and remember them), and that you are virtually fluent with the tools and the technologies. I wouldn't sit the exam if you haven't played with Visual Studio and made at least a simple Web application. Judging by some of the sample questions, Microsoft assume you have done so and because you gain knowledge in the process, such as realising that a button doesn't have to be coded for other parts of a Web form to work. Programming skill comes with time and Microsoft are kind enough to understand this.
One lesson I drew from a sample question is that I need to read the exam question *very carefully* and study the provided answers with the same care. The exam is multiple choice so the real test is making a judgement call. This is just one of the daily skills involved with programming.
If you know the ASP.NET technology to the dot (at least to the knowledge requirement of the official course book), can read code and follow what its doing (whether correct or not), think programmatically (the science of writing a program), applying all applicable knowledge in the process, and devise a solution provided it solves the problem, you should pass the exam with flying colours.
That's quite a read I know, but then so is this book and only attempt it if you have done a course on ASP.NET. And, in my opinion, only read it to test yourself for readiness; to get a feeler.
Frustratingly Incomplete.......2004-03-22
It looks like the book was rushed out the door. While there seems to be some good information in it, I was repeatedly frustrated with the end of the chapter tests asking questions that were covered nowhere in the book! Then when I did the first of the included Prep Logic tests, some of the answers were opposite of what was stated in the book. If you can't be consistent within the scope of the book it really throws it's reliably into question. Don't plan on using this as your sole resource.
Passed using this book but stay away from prep logic.......2003-12-24
I passed the exam using this book. I use .Net at work and read one intro book before this one. This is a good book and good practice tests at the end of the book tested skills that the exam tested. I actually saw very similar questions on the test. Some of the sample questions did not come from the text of the chapters, which I see a lot of people complain about, but I was OK with that. They do explain in the opening chapter that this should not be used to learn the basics of the language.
One thing to note is that the Prep Logic exams included on the CD are awful. I've tried the ones that came with the 70-305, 70-306 and 70-310 books. All of them had blatant errors. For the 306 Prep Logic I did the first 5 questions and every one of the answers was blatantly wrong. Que really should dump those guys as the Prep Logic quality reflects poorly on their excellent books.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO PASS.......2003-11-03
I have passed some Microsoft exams using Exam Cram 2 books as my sole study resource--that will always be the standard by which these books are judged. This book falls far short.
This book introduces you to the various topics on the 70-305 test, but does not cover a single topic in enough depth to be worthwhile. The review questions and practice exams are weak, also.
Excellent for the exam.......2003-07-29
If your goal is to pass the exam then this book is for you. This is not a book to learn ASP.NET. So you should not expect any basic stuff. Read other books to learn ASP.NET then use this to pass the exam. I highly recommend it. I read it and gave the tests at the end and passed in the first attempt.
Customer Reviews:
Grossly Overpriced .......2005-12-30
Yes, this book contain some very useful information but it's relatively basic. I'm giving the book only two stars based mostly on price. This book sold for $14.95 in 1994 and yet some of the lowest selling prices are around $95. In all the years of buying books through Amazon this is hands-down the poorest value for the money. A more reasonable price might be between $30 and $40.
Ideal for Small Business and Home Office Use!.......2000-06-29
Producing a First-Class Newsletter written by Barbara Fanson is a helpful guide to assist people to plan, design, write, edit, and produce newsletters. The contents of this book can be effectively adapted to produce online newsletters as well!
Fanson assists her readers to plan their own newsletters. She highlights the different kinds of newsletters in use today so that her readers can determine for themselves what kind of publication they need. She helps them to identify their audiences, to determine their objectives, and to name their newsletters. An impressive listing of popular words associated with newsletter titles is provided to help her readers come up with a title that will work for them!
Important design considerations are covered in the book. Readers will pick up on the use of the grid system and the use of margins, allies, columns, headers, footers, paragraph styles, type faces, colors, graphics, and photographs. Sample newsletter designs provided in the book offer some great layout possibilities. With some solid HTML programming readers will be able to adapt these ideas for Website and online newsletter use!
Fanson offers a concise newsletter writing course to further guide her readers along. They will learn how to write effective headlines, how to develop and write good content, and use good grammar in the process. Other considerations associated with publishing newsletters such as the legalities of copyrights, trademarks, and citing other works are covered.
Fanson offers her readers valuable assistance. Every stage from planning to managing newsletters is covered in adequate detail. Anyone who can master the contents of this book can manage to produce a first-class newsletter. It's ideal for small business and home office use!
Excellent Source of Information for Beginners.......1998-08-23
With this book plus "Newsletter Design: A Step By Step Guide to Creative Publications" By Edward A. Hamilton, I learned everything I needed to know to redesign my company's monthly newsletter for customers.
Best of the newsletter books I bought.......1998-06-24
This book gave the best advice and discussions about newsletters that I have read (two other NL books). I am making a NL for a local organization I belong to, and I keep referring back to it for ideas. Don't waste your money on the other books out there!
Book Description
Tough motion-graphics and effects production challenges require bold solutions, and Adobe's completely overhauled After Effects 6.0 ($699, Standard Edition; $999, Professional Edition) has a bushel of them! Here to get you up to speed on it--perhaps in time to meet your next deadline!--is everyone's favorite task-based guide. Employing the same concise instructions and visual approach as Peachpit's popular Visual QuickStart Guides but geared toward more advanced users, this Visual QuickPro Guide covers all the improvements that make this version of Adobe's motion-graphics and effects program such a boon to video pros of all stripes: a revolutionary text engine, support for OpenGL (which greatly accelerates 2D and 3D graphics rendering), new vector paint tools (which allow painting on layers), a faster and more accurate motion tracker, advanced keying tools, and more. Through step-by-step instructions, enhanced by plenty of tips and sidebars, veteran video editor Antony Bolante will have you effectively and efficiently importing and managing footage, viewing and editing layers, applying effects, animating type, and more in no time.
Customer Reviews:
Easy to use reference for a Novice-Intermediate After Effects Student.......2006-03-08
I found this book to be a very easy to navigate reference for my attempt at learning and using After Effects. I recommend it as an excellent cross-reference resource, especially if you are attending an After Effects classroom. I'm not sure, however, whether a nubie or novice would be able to learn easily just from reading this book alone. Nevertheless, I give this book and the way it is structured, two-thumbs up as far as adding it to anyone's Visual Media Library.
typical.......2005-10-21
I wasn't expecting anything less and the only reason I got the book was because it was cheaper on amazon then at my college's bookstore. Now what I didn't realize was the fact that Creating Motion Graphics with After Effects volumes 1 and 2 are far superior to any other book out there. So I recommend those instead. This book is just as dull and boring as most informational software books with little explanation about how to do things, little picture representation and only explaining the basics oh in say 700 pages.... if you know how to use adobe illustator or photoshop which u clearly should if you intend on using aftereffects, I suggest whether you are a beginner intermediate or advanced animator to get the creating motion graphics books instead. Ya 10$ more but the learning experience and education you'll get from those books compared to this one is uncomparable.
Overall in 700 pages i really just skimmed through like i do with most books exactly written like this one. not very good at keeping my attention with black and white dull text with boring material.
Good Basic Book for After Effects.......2004-11-04
It says the books in the Visual QuickPro series are similar to the Visual QuickStart series, but QuickPro is for more advanced users. After Effects is, by its very nature, a more advanced application for creating video than, say iMovie. That's because After Effects is a "motion graphics" program with far more features than basic video editing. I think of it as Photoshop with motion and a timeline.
However, if you are a beginner at After Effects, this book can still work for you if you start with the early chapters first.
Bolante does a good job of giving you an overview of After Effects' interface, palettes, and the workflow. He moves on to how to create, open and close projects, including how to choose your settings and change them.
Next is importing files, how to import still images, image sequences, files with alpha channels, footage, etc. He also tells you how to loop footage and remove film pulldown. If you don't know what that is, look at page 60 for a few pages of good explanation.
The chapter on Managing Footage does a nice job of helping you organize your footage and understand how to view it. (Do you know about action-safe and title-safe areas?)
Like Photoshop, After Effects works in layers (with the addition of audio layers), and Bolante gives you the skinny on creating, naming, hiding, showing and rasterizing them. Editing is all about manipulating the layers by trimming, moving, sequencing, overlapping, splitting, changing the layer's speed, etc.
Motion Graphics is all about adding images, motion, changes in size, transparency, blending modes and more. Most of it is done with keyframes. Chapter 7 gives the ins and outs of keyframing. There is a big chapter on masking. Like Photoshop, you use masks to bled various images together. But, you begin, end, rotate, change, scale, show and hide them over time. He covers it all.
Special effects are the "magic" part of After Effects, so Bolante devotes a couple of chapters to their intricacies. There are also chapters on creating and animating text, painting on layers, keyframe interpolation (advanced layer techniques), integrating 3D layers, managing complex projects, and, of course, outputting your movies. All-in-all, it is a very thorough book for both Mac and PC users.
many special effects.......2004-10-18
Adobe is striving mightily to make After Effects the dominant tool for editing animated images, much like Photoshop is the pre-eminent program for editing static images. Bolante shows here why AE has a far more challenging task.
Even leaving aside competing tools, AE must handle video editing and audio editing. Here, it needs to synchronise two such tracks, in such ways as the ending of one triggering the start of another.
The audio editing is somewhat rudimentary. Other programs that specialise in this have more sophisticated options. But, unsurprisingly,the video editing forms the major part of AE. Several chapters are devoted to it. Many video special effects come right out of the box. Like texturing surfaces, or applying a gradient wipe.
Of course, many films will need text to be shown in the video. As expected, you get a panoply of font families to choose from. Along with effects like showing text along a contour that you define. Quite familiar to Photoshop users. But now redone in a broader context.
To be sure, this is not a simple book. The complexity of film editing necessitates this. But you should find that most tasks described here are straightforward to do. Though realistically, if you're trying a technique for the first time, many iterations may be needed before you're satisfied.
Book Description
Written by a performance and training expert, this powerful, distance learning designerÕs toolkit shows you step-by-step how to create professional quality self-directed learning programs. New technology has expanded the possibilities for distance learningÑbut it hasn't affected the need for clear objectives, good planning, well-constructed programs, and measurable training gains. Whether your medium is workbooks or Web pages, Nigel Harrison's methods will show you how to achieve excellent results. Even if you're new to training, this book will help you deliver professional-level self-directed and distance trainingÑtraining that delivers the results that organizations need.
Customer Reviews:
Look Elsewhere, and Save Your Money.......1999-10-18
Here is the entire book, quickly summed up:
* Fill in these many, many "worksheet pages" * Work with experienced persons to get experience * Fill out some more checklist worksheets * Thanks for your money
PLEASE do yourself a favor, and get a WBT book in which the author acutally is a Subject Matter Expert, and not someone out to take your money and provide obvious advice.
Should be Titled "Evaluating the need for Training".......1999-09-30
This 300+ page book could easily have been 150 pages. Furthermore, he spends entirely too much time in the evaluation process. If you're looking to jump into web-based training design, this book's not for you. Too much preliminary analysis chocked full of theory from basic educational classes. The first 200 pages are a repeat of what I learned in educational classes for a degree in training and technological education. If you're a beginner, then this book could give you an overview of the complete thought process of deciding whether or not you need training. In fact, he almost tries to talk you out of training, but instead to try other alternatives first. If you've already made your mind up and need an expert book on the subject, this book is NOT for you. He readily admits that he has never done WBT!?! Designed more for academia and as a student workbook. I was looking more for a book that would detail the pro's and con's of WBT and distance learning from an expert doing it. It isn't until page 252 of 350+ that he begins talking about WBT (never mind he hasn't done it). He then spends less than 50 pages on it. Disregard all of the Web-based hype that you read on the back cover and in the book synthesis from the publisher.
A Big Disappointment.......1999-04-29
Too fluffy - Not enough meaningful conten
Useful as a supplemental workbook, but not on its' own.......1999-03-24
This book may be useful as a workbook for those who need to thoroughly outline a project they're doing(if they already know something about Web-Based Training). Better yet, teachers of WBT/CBT or Instructional Design might use it as a workbook for student projects. It is not, however, a good place to learn about WBT--not on its' own. A more comprehensive primary text is a necessity.
Less useful than most books on this subject.......1998-12-12
This book is a disappointment. The actual content is slim. The book has lots of white space, lots of self tests for readers, lots of blank charts for the reader to fill in as he or she plans a course, lots of bulleted "to do" lists. But it provides virtually no supporting information for any of its points or suggestions and offers no sense that Dl is actually a pretty complicated subject. In addition, it offers no references, bibliographical material, or any other support for the readers' continued learning.
Average customer rating:
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