Windows® XP Simplified® takes you through tasks such as working with files to working with multimedia to optimizing your computer’s performance. Sound daunting? It’s not. Indeed, the teachers here at the Oasis agree that it is probably the most painless (and fun) way to learn XP there is.

The beauty of the Visual books is that each concept and set of directions is fully illustrated. A small amount of print accompanies the full-color, extraordinarily detailed graphics.

The text is written in a friendly, conversational tone. For example, do you have a program open that is no longer responding? Here are the directions for fixing the problem:

• To close a misbehaving program, press and hold down the “Ctrl” and the “Alt” key as you press the “Delete” key. The Windows Task Manager window appears. This area lists the programs that are currently running. The phrase Not Responding appears beside the name of a misbehaving program.
  
• Click the program that is misbehaving.
  
• Click End Task. The End Program dialog box appears, stating that the program is not responding.
  
• Click End Now to close the program.
  
• Click “X” to close the Windows Task Manager window.

These easy-to-follow directions are accompanied by graphics which illustrate each step, each window, each dialog box.

Even if you are familiar with XP you will probably still find tips in the book that can save you time. Did you know, for example, that in the “My Documents” window you can sort items to help you find what you are looking for more quickly? You simply click on “View” (on the menu bar), then “Arrange Icons by,” then choose how you want them arranged—either by date last modified, type, size, or name.  

The section titled “Using Windows Explorer” is especially helpful. From here you can move, rename, and delete files. Hint: The “Folders” icon toggles on and off, displaying a list of options to select, thus allowing you to work quickly, cleaning up scattered files, deleting old ones, and so on.

We found the chapter on how to work with files the most useful. Here you learn how to do just about anything you can think of with a file including restoring a deleted file, moving it, emailing it, publishing it to the web, copying it to a CD and more. Again, you will find handy tips that allow you to work more efficiently. You probably already know that if you want to select multiple files or folders you click on the first file then simply press down and hold the “Shift” key as you click on the last file. Voila! All of the files in between are then selected. But what if there is one file in the bunch you don’t want selected? Simply press down and hold the “Ctrl” key as you click the file you want to deselect.

After reading through these eleven easy-to-follow chapters you (or your students) will have a solid understanding of Windows XP. Highly recommended. Suitable for district-wide purchase.

Classroom Experience: We took the book into an 8th grade computer/technology class. The students were immediately attracted to the stunning visuals and found the book easy to follow. One student commented: "I just wish our history textbook was this easy to understand."

Reviewed by the Education Oasis staff.