Steve Bass has taken common computer irks and compiled them into a how-to guide for the less technophile. PC Annoyances, Second Edition, released by O’Reilly, covers everything from email to iTunes and hardware aggravants. Virtually nothing is left uncovered, and the only thing in question is how deep Bass will go into detail about a problem you may be having.
Traversing PC Annoyances is a lot like flipping through a good magazine. As so much is covered, you’re bound to find something applicable to your PC experience. A simple first run through cleared up some confusion I had with Windows Media Player and also dissected Service Pack 2, an upgrade I’ve been leery of, and made it seem as simple as Sunday brunch.
The breadth of information contained within the book is quite impressive, but what’s equally striking is the matter of fact, down to earth tone, Bass employs.
Here is a short passage on uncovering information about websites you visit.
Have you ever wondered when the web page you’re visiting was last updated? Here’s a neat Internet Explorer trick for finding out. Go to the site, type [omitted] into your browser’s address field, and press the Enter key. The time and date of the last update will appear in a pop-up window...
Most instruction in the book is uncomplicated and provided with an amusing, informal tone. Bass also offers his facts in the first person, lessening the blow of ignorance by making it seem the annoyance was an encounter of his own.
The author hasn’t strictly provided revelatory knowledge for his readers. Some of the fixes provided aren’t so much a fix as common information about a program. One of his Gmail tips explains that you can drag and drop files into the online folders to store files up to 10 megabytes. That’s Gmail: 101 for most users and could be discovered simply by looking through an online manual. Still, tidbits such as this really help add a polish to PC Annoyances and prove that Bass is up to par on some of the latest online developments.
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