Hacking Windows Vista: ExtremeTech

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 316 pages
• Published by: Wiley May 29, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0470046872
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0470046876
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 1 pounds

Product Description
Vista is the most radical revamping of Windows since 1995. However, along with all the fantastic improvements, there are a couple of things that likely drive you up the wall. Don’t worry, though—just join forces with author Steve Sinchak and you’ll end up feeling as though Microsoft designed Vista just for you! He shows you how to tweak logon screen settings, build custom Sidebar gadgets, personalize Aero Glass with themes and visual styles, turn your PC into an HDTV media center, fine-tune your firewall, and more.

Back Cover Copy
"Why didn't they ask me before they did that?"

Vista is the most radical revamping of Windows since 1995. But along with all the fantastic improvements, there are a couple of things that drive you up the wall. Maybe you're not seeing the performance you expect. Security is better, but boy, is it annoying. And what's with that interface thing that's just in the way? Well, you can fix all that. When you and Steve Sinchak are finished, you'll think Microsoft designed Vista just for you.

How to improve the view

A few of the things you'll learn to do

1. Tweak logon screen settings
2. 
   
   Build custom Sidebar gadgets
3. 
   
   Personalize Aero Glass with themes and visual styles
4. 
   
   Customize Internet Explorer® 7
5. 
   
   Configure BIOS for maximum boot speed
6. 
   
   Crank up Windows® Explorer
7. 
   
   Turn your PC into an HDTV Media Center
8. 
   
   Fine-tune your firewall

Reader Reviews
Hacking Windows Vista: ExtremeTech Did I read the same book? For those who are completely unfamiliar with Windows Vista, this book does hold some useful instructions on how to change basic settings. However, this book is grossly over-titled. Nothing in this book rises to the description of "Hacking." Indeed, if you are technically experienced, you will find, as I did, that many basics are missing from this text. Pros + Nice writing style and seems well edited with usable visual aids + Well organized sections with a useful index + A few useful tips and tricks + Good for beginners Cons - Focuses more on basic settings than anything really in-depth - Misses many basic settings altogether and glosses over many more areas - A lot of XP knowledge is included, not all tips are new to Vista - Title is a gross exaggeration - Not useful for experienced tech professionals All one has to do is review the list of topics from the description to see that this book is one of basic settings at best. - Logon screen settings - window dressing at best, very similar to XP configuration - Build custom Sidebar gadgets - Was out in beta before Vista, but Vista is the first version to include this. Still, the help files included in Vista walk you through this. Nothing special. - Personalize Aero Glass with themes and visual styles - more look and feel stuff - Customize Internet Explorer® 7 - Actually has some useful tips, yet once again, not too different from XP - Configure BIOS for maximum boot speed - Ok, anybody with basic A+ knowledge should know this. Once again, not that different from XP - Crank up Windows® Explorer - Somewhat useful - Turn your PC into an HDTV Media Center - Also available with XP. Once again, Vista Premium and Ultimate include software pre-installed, but there's nothing too technical here - Fine-tune your firewall - There are some nice improvements here, but once again, if you knew how to set it up on your XP box, nothing that different here. I was surprised that some basic things were excluded or glossed over in a book with the title "Hacking Windows Vista." For example, how do you get beyond the stripped down version of Disk Manager included here to make changes to your boot partitions? What are the different types of partitions that can and can not be changed? A very fundamental topic. No real discussion here. How do you adjust UAC settings and why should you or should you not? Once again, big issue discussed with Vista, with a very light treatment here. How do you combine Vista security with other anti-virus products that have overlapping features? Why is the system configuration manager needed to perform administrative tasks? The list of lightly treated topics goes on. No book can cover everything, I understand. And I go out of my way to give authors the benefit of the doubt. But when you have a book titled like this one that only covers basic configurations, it's clear that they were trying to cash in on the buzz around Vista and the need for some to feel they are "hacking." And I normally wouldn't mind them cashing in, but they provide much less value in return to a large part of the audience. Like I said, great book for beginners. If you have any experience with Windows Technology or work in the tech industry, you should really already know this stuff. Enjoy.