Computer Book Prepub

Rachel Singer Gordon -- Library Journal, 10/1/2006

October-December 2006

Do you order computer books for your institution? Do you get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material available or frustrated by the dilemma of how to order material in a timely fashion? Why not let us help bridge that gap. Welcome to LJ's new quarterly Computer Book Prepub Alert column, where we offer a sampling of forthcoming hot titles and topics.

Game development and general programming titles remain strong this quarter, and medium-to-larger public libraries and academic institutions serving CS programs should invest; new certification exams also bring new guides, so libraries should update older editions. Other hot topics, especially given the recent furor over DOPA, include privacy and security online—especially for teens.

The big news, though, is the anticipated November 2006 (business) and January 2007 (consumer) release of Windows Vista. All libraries should expect demand for guides to the new OS. Microsoft is also projected to release Office 2007 in early 2007; look for a new crop of guides to appear in December and early next year, and find a couple listed here.

Also watch for the launch of the new online version of our ongoing Computer Media column, where we will continue to provide reviews and guidance for your collection development.

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Applications

Biafore, Bonnie. QuickBooks 2007: The Missing Manual. O'Reilly. Dec. 2006. 656p. ISBN 0-596-52815-9. pap. $29.99.
A guide to the critical tools and features in the popular small-business accounting software.

Grover, Chris. Word 2007: The Missing Manual. O'Reilly. Dec. 2006. 504p. ISBN 0-596-52739-X. pap. $29.99.
A guide to the features of upcoming Word 2007, from word processing and formatting basics through more advanced features such as macros and automate tasks.

MacDonald, Matthew. Access 2007: The Missing Manual. O'Reilly. Dec. 2006. 600p. ISBN 0-596-52760-8. pap. $34.99.
Coverage of the basics on up of the forthcoming 2007 version of Access, with attention paid to the new complex data features and new useful prebuilt databases.

MacDonald, Matthew. Excel 2007: The Missing Manual. O'Reilly. Dec. 2006. 800p. ISBN 0-596-52759-4. pap. $39.99.
Step-by-step instructions on using the forthcoming 2007 Excel. Topics range from building spreadsheets and creating charts and graphics to using basic formulas and functions.

Matthews, Marty & Bobbi Sandberg. Quicken 2007 QuickSteps. Osborne/McGraw-Hill. Nov. 2006. 240p. ISBN 0-07-226388-1. pap. $16.99.
Covers using the newest version of Quicken 2007 to do everything from balance a checkbook to use online banking, with plentiful screen shots and explanations.

Moore, Emily A. PowerPoint 2007: The Missing Manual. O'Reilly. Dec. 2006. 504p. ISBN 0-596-52738-1. pap. $29.99.
The basics of presentation creation with the upcoming PowerPoint 2007, but also more advanced features like multimedia, animation, interactivity, and using data from other programs.

Certification Guides

Brooks, Charles. A+ Certification Exam Prep (Exams 220–401, 220–402). QUE. Nov. 2006. 1100p. ISBN 0-7897-3565-2. pap. $59.99.
A comprehensive study guide for the new A+ certification exams, 220–602, 220–603, and 220–604. Replace older editions and all older A+ guides for coverage of the new exam.

Hucaby, David. CCNP BCMSN Official Exam Certification Guide. Cisco. Nov. 2006. 750p. ISBN 1-58720-171-2. $59.95.
This will help readers prepare for the latest edition of this qualifying exam for Cisco CCNP certification. Note that 2006 marks the tenth anniversary of Cisco Press, so throughout 2007 ciscopress.com is offering special discounts, giveaways, and polls, as well as feature interviews with authors and industry experts.

Meyers, Mike. A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide. Osborne/McGraw-Hill. Dec. 2006. 1184p. ISBN 0-07-226311-3. $59.99 with CD-ROM.
An updated version of the CompTIA-approved study guide; replace older editions (and all A+ guides) for coverage of the new exam.

Game Development

Goodwin, Steven. Game Developer's Open Source Handbook. Charles River. Oct. 2006. 464p. ISBN 1-58450-497-8. pap. $44.95 with CD-ROM.
Game developers can learn about where to get open-source code, how to incorporate it into projects, and how to interpret licensing agreements. More at www.charlesriver.com/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=149738.

Harbour, Jonathan S. Beginning Game Programming. 2d ed. Course Technology PTR. Nov. 2006. c.350p. ISBN 1-59863-288-4. pap. $29.99 with CD-ROM.
For beginners; addresses the terminology and basics of Windows DirectX programming and lets readers produce two working games (one in 2D and one in 3D).

Graphics, Design, & Layout

Chan, Ron & Barbara Obermeier. How To Wow with Illustrator CS2. Peachpit. Nov. 2006. 176p. ISBN 0-321-43454-4. pap. $39.99.
A step-by-step, real-world guide that teaches how to get the best designs out of Illustrator CS2, through example.

Rosenfeld, Louis & Peter Morville. Information Architecture for the World Wide Web. 3d ed. O'Reilly. Dec. 2006. 456p. ISBN 0-596-52734-9. $39.99.
This updated edition of a classic guide contains new examples, scenarios, and best practices for usable design.

Snell, Claudia. Building Web Sites All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies. Wiley. Dec. 2006. 768p. ISBN 0-470-00994-2. pap. $34.99.
Nine "minibooks" in one break a web development project into manageable steps and show readers ways to tackle each. Details: www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0470009942.html.

Teague, Jason Cranford. CSS, DHTML, and Ajax: Visual QuickStart Guide. 4th ed. Peachpit. Oct. 2006. 576p. ISBN 0-321-44325-X. pap. $24.99.
This updated edition covers new standards and new techniques, showing how to work with these tools step by step to create interactive and attractive sites. More at www.peachpit.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=032144325X&rl=1.

Weinmann, Elaine & Peter Lourekas. QuarkXPress 7 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide. Peachpit. Nov. 2006. 592p. ISBN 0-321-35827-9. pap. $24.99.
Step-by-step coverage, from creating basic layouts to exporting documents as web pages.

Operating Systems

Maran, Ruth. Maran Illustrated Vista. maranGraphics. Dec. 2006. c.304p. ISBN 1-59863-319-8. pap. $24.99.
A graphics-heavy beginners' guide to the new Microsoft OS.

Nemeth, Evi & others. Linux® Administration Handbook. 2d ed. Prentice Hall. Oct. 2006. 976p. ISBN 0-13-148004-9. pap. $49.99.
An updated edition of a real-world guide that focuses on administering Linux in actual production environments rather than ideal situations.

O'Hara, Shelley. Easy Microsoft Windows Vista. QUE. Dec. 2006. 352p. ISBN 0-7897-3577-6. pap. $19.99.
For beginners: full-color screen shots and step-by-step instructions introduce users to the latest version of Windows.

Rathbone, Andy. Windows Vista For Dummies. Wiley. Dec. 2006. 432p. ISBN 0-471-75421-8. pap. $21.99.
Windows for Dummies guides are always popular; this guide to the imminent Vista release should find demand as well.

Thomas, Keir. Beginning SUSE Linux: From Novice to Professional. 2d ed. Apress. Oct. 2006. 550p. ISBN 1-59059-674-9. pap. $44.99 with DVD.
SUSE is one of the more popular Linux distributions, and this updated guide reflects changes in the newest version (SUSE 10.1). The DVD contains the full SUSE 10 distribution. More at www.apress.com/book/bookDisplay.html?bID=10132.

Networking

Clemm, Alexander. Network Management Fundamentals. Cisco. Nov. 2006. 500p. ISBN 158720-137-2. pap. $55.
A guide to network management essentials.

Goleniewski, Lillian & Kitty Wilson Jarrett. Telecommunications Essentials. 2d ed. Addison-Wesley. Oct. 2006. 704p. ISBN 0-321-42761-0. pap. $49.99.
A revised reference providing an overview of the telecommunications industry; get the basics plus information on new technologies since the first edition. More at www.awprofessional.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=0321427610&rl=1.

Gralla, Preston & Michael Troller. How the Internet Works. 8th ed. QUE. Oct. 2006. 416p. ISBN 0-7897-3626-8. pap. $29.99.
The eighth edition of this popular guide covers all things Internet. Update older editions.

Privacy and Security

McCarthy, Linda. Own Your Space. Addison-Wesley. Nov. 2006. 336p. ISBN 0-321-42642-8. pap. $19.99.
Teaches teens to protect themselves, their PCs, their data, and their identity online.

Programming

DuBois, Paul. MySQL Cookbook. O'Reilly. Nov. 2006. 960p. ISBN 0-596-52708-X. pap. $49.99.
Provides common problems and "recipes"—short code for readers' use—to solve them. Includes explanations so that programmers can adapt the techniques for their own applications.

Gross, Christian. How To Code .NET: Tips and Tricks for Coding .NET 1.1 and .NET 2.0 Applications Effectively. Apress. Oct. 2006. 200p. ISBN 1-59059-744-3. $39.99.
Tips for writing "good" code, including solutions to common problems. More at www.apress.com/book/bookDisplay.html?bID=10184.

Hadlock, Kris. Ajax for Web Application Developers. SAMS. Oct. 2006. 448p. ISBN 0-672-32912-3. pap. $39.99.
A practical guide to developing web applications with Ajax, complete with directions for creating components for use across multiple projects and exchanging data with other technologies. Details at www.quepublishing.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=0672329123&rl=1.

Holzner, Steven. Beginning Ruby on Rails. Wrox. Dec. 2006. 400p. ISBN 0-470-06915-5. pap. $34.99.
This guide to the popular programming language moves from the basics on up. More at www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/productCd-0470069155.html.

Quigley, Ellie & Marko Gargenta. PHP and MySQL by Example. Prentice Hall. Dec. 2006. 752p. ISBN 0-13-187508-6. pap. $49.99 with CD-ROM.
For beginners through intermediate users, this shows how to use PHP and MySQL together to create dynamic, database-driven web sites.

Reiersol, Dagfinn & others. PHP in Action: Objects, Design, Agility. Manning. Dec. 2006. 600p. ISBN 1-932394-75-3. pap. & ebook $39.95; PDF $20.
Apply PHP to web programming challenges; more at www.manning.com/reiersol/.

thau! The Book of JavaScript: A Practical Guide to Interactive Web Pages. 2d ed. No Starch. Oct. 2006. 456p. ISBN 1-59327-106-9. pap. $39.95 with CD-ROM.
An antidote to lists of cut-and-paste scripts, this updated edition incorporates information on Ajax and shows how scripts used on real-world web sites can be adapted for readers' purposes. More details at www.nostarch.com/js2.htm.