Google Apps Deciphered: Compute in the Cloud to Streamline Your Desktop Review

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(More customer reviews)I needed to set up Google Calendar, Docs, Mail and Groups for a small NGO, then train the principals in their use. Because many of the services are free, Google Apps provides a very cost effective alternative to commercial programs if you can live with the idea of someone else storing all of your data.
I had a copy of Google Apps for Dummies to work from, which was pretty good but I always like to reference from a couple of sources. So I got this book. I really like how each program is covered in good depth, with excellent instructions. Common gotchas are pointed out and work arounds are given.
The book even offers some ways of using your existing desktop programs in conjunction with Google Apps, some of which hadn't occurred to me. Coverage is also given to backing up your online data, which probably too few people bother with. Google is good but not infallible.
I have only one small problem with the book and that's because the question of whether or not to even use Google Apps for sensitive information is a good idea or not isn't really addressed. If you're dealing with trade secrets of other sensitive information an online or cloud computing service may not be the best choice.

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Google Apps DecipheredCompute in the Cloud to Streamline Your DesktopUse Google Apps to Improve Productivity and Collaboration, Reduce Costs, and Eliminate Technology Hassles!Google Apps gives you virtually all the business and productivity software you need–all of it free, or available at extremely low cost. Because the suite of Google Apps runs on Google's network in the cloud, you avoid the hassles that go with desktop software. Getting started with Google Apps is easy–but if you want to make the most of it, you'll need expert guidance that Google's online help doesn't provide. Get all the help you need, right here.This is your start-to-finish guide to setting up Google Apps, migrating to it, customizing it, and using it to improve productivity, communications, and collaboration. Scott Granneman introduces every leading component individually, and shows exactly how to make them work together for you on the web or by integrating them with your favorite desktop apps. You'll find practical insights on Google Apps email, calendaring, contacts, wikis, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, video, and even Google's new web browser Chrome. And, drawing on his extensive experience helping companies move to Google Apps, Granneman presents tips and tricks you simply won't find anywhere else. Coverage includes• Choosing the right edition of Google Apps for you• Setting up Google Apps so it will be easier to use and manage• Migrating your email, contacts, and calendars to Google Apps• Administering and securing Google Apps• Integrating Google Apps with other software and services• Leveraging Google Sites to collaborate across teams, organizations, or the entire world• Making the most of Google Talk voice calls and instant messaging• Implementing Google's office productivity tools, including Docs, Spreadsheets, and Presentations• Using policy management and message recovery to control and secure your messaging• Customizing efficient Google Apps Start Pages for you and your colleagues• Sharing important and useful videos with your colleagues• Maximizing the innovative features of Google's new web browser, ChromeSCOTT GRANNEMAN is an author, teacher, and entrepreneur with extensive experience in Google Apps migration, setup, and training. As Adjunct Professor at Washington University, he teaches popular courses on technology, security, and the Internet. A monthly columnist for SecurityFocus and Linux Magazine, he has authored four books on open source technologies, including The Linux Phrasebook. As a principal at WebSanity, he manages the firm's UNIX server environment, and helps develop its Content Management System, which is used by educational, business, and non-profit clients nationwide.www.1and100zeroes.com

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My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition: 52 Simple Projects to Get You Started Review

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(More customer reviews)My New Mac Snow Snow Leopard Edition is a great book if you want to get more out of your Mac.
My first impression was, "This book is wonderful for a new user to get started, even one who has never owned a computer before." My second thought was that including Encrypting Your Data, and Configuring the Firewall was really not necessary for new users, but then new users often express concern about security at user group meetings.
As I read further, I found that My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition's projects are a wonderful way for me, or for any other user I know, to get started to use their Mac to do more things and to work in new ways. It is fun to do the projects and learn new stuff.
My New Mac, Snow Leopard Edition, begins with simple projects you need to get started, such as how to use your new mouse or track pad. Part 1 Basic Training even includes Conserving Energy which may be considered as basic for new laptop users.
An introduction to short cuts is just the beginning if the nine projects in Part 2 Making Life Easier with Shortcuts. Other projects include using the Dashboard, User Accounts, and Making Your Mac Easier to See, Hear, and Control. The projects are interesting, and clearly and accurately written to get you started to work better.
Parts 3, Putting Your Macintosh to Work, covers projects from Jotting Down Notes to Typing Foreign Languages with audio, visual, and other projects in between. You are sure to find some that will interest you in doing something new. Part 4, Touching the World Through the Internet, contains sets of projects to to keep you in touch with the wired world. These projects will get you started in doing new and interesting things and/or in learning new ways to do these things.
The are six projects in Part 5, Maintaining Your Macintosh, include three on maintenance and three on protecting your security.
As described in The Next Step, this book can only give you a solid foundation on which you can learn to use your Macintosh to do actual work. I hope that it also gets you interested in trying new things for the fun of it.

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So you finally took the plunge and bought a Mac. Whether it's a MacBook, Mac Pro, Mac mini, or iMac—it's still your Mac, and it runs the Macintosh operating system, OS X. But what do you do with your Mac after you turn it on? Do you even know how to turn it off and put it to sleep? Maybe you do. . . . But what about setting up an email account, or playing your favorite CDs and movies? You need a book like My New™ Mac to make everything easy.

In this new, Snow Leopard edition of the best-selling My New Mac, you'll find 52 simple projects that will have you doing useful things right away—like surfing the Internet, sending email, listening to music, taking notes, and playing with your digital photos. Fun stuff, if you know how to do it.

Wallace Wang, best-selling author of My New iPhone and several of those For Dummies® books, gives you step-by-step instructions for organizing your music with iTunes, tracking birthdays with iCal, and clipping and saving information from the Internet so you can find it again.

You'll also find simple projects that show you how to:

Organize your files and folders by color and keyword
Connect to the Internet, chat with your friends, and listen to online radio stations
Install and update your software—and get rid of programs you don't want anymore
Set up and manage parental controls to limit your children's computer and Internet access
Share songs, images, and documents with other computers wirelessly
Use your built-in firewall and keep your computer and information safe from intruders

Don't put off learning how to use your new computer. Let Wallace Wang show you the ropes with My New Mac.

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Droid X: The Missing Manual Review

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(More customer reviews)The Droid X is one of the latest smart phones to use Google's Android Operating System (OS). While I love Google's products, they're not the most user friendly, especially when it comes to super technical devices. This is where Droid X The Missing Manual comes in. It covers in detail all the major features of the phone including calling, texting, web, apps, maps, calendars and much more. Preston tells you what to press and when to press it, including what issues you may have along the way. Unless you are extremely tech savvy and happy to make mistakes, this book is a wise purchase and a time saver.
However, this book comes to market relatively late for a phone that has been out for 8 months. By now many people (including myself) have muddled their way through Droid's various features. If you've had the phone for more than 3-4 months then much of the information will be redundant to you. I found the most helpful sections to be the tip boxes, often finding quicker ways to perform day to day tasks, while the bulk of the text reaffirmed my experiences. I can highly recommend this book for new users, less so for the Droid initiated.

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Get the most from your Droid X right away with this entertaining Missing Manual. Veteran tech author Preston Gralla offers a guided tour of every feature, with lots of expert tips and tricks along the way. You'll learn how to use calling and texting features, take and share photos, enjoy streaming music and video, and much more.

Packed with full-color illustrations, this engaging book covers everything from getting started to advanced features and troubleshooting. Unleash the power of Motorola's hot new device with Droid X: The Missing Manual.

Get organized. Import your contacts and sync with Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange.
Go online. Get your phone to act as a portable hotspot or as a modem to get your laptop online.
Play music. Purchase music from Amazon and sync your Droid X with Windows Media Player and iTunes.
Shoot photos and video. Edit and share your photos, and use them as desktop or icon images. Record video and share it with your friends.
Connect to Google Maps. Use geotagging and get turn-by-turn directions.

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