[.ca] How to do Everything with Your Palm (TM) Handheld, Third ... (ISBN 0072225289)

Too much time telling you the obvious:
It's my belief that about 90% of what's written in computer books is excessive and unnecessary: there are a ridiculous number of them, they're overpriced, and they spend too much time telling you the obvious. Given that context, this is a good book by computer book standards, though clearly that's not much of a compliment. What I found most interesting were the reviews and suggestions regarding third-party software (and where to get same). Most of the rest consisted of rather obvious tips on how to use the existing software, of which I found about two to be of use. In other words, the useful parts of this 600-page book was about 50 pages or less. So if you're really at a loss on how to use your Palm Pilot, go ahead and get this book, or if you can buy it and deduct it on your taxes. Otherwise you're probably just about as well off doing a Web search as forking over ($) for a marginally useful book.

Great resource for the novice user.:
Great resource for the novice user but offers little for the advanced user. If I were a new user this would be an indespensible book to help me get kick started into the world of Palm computing. It covers the basic built in applications very well, giving practical examples and thourough explanations. It also points you to many, many different ways to use your Palm and gives helpful examples as well as points you to the sites that sell various software and hardware enhancements. The only problem is that I have used mine for over 2 years and consider myself to be an expert. Most of what was covered in the book I have already figured out long ago or do not have any real need to use the feature, such as a Network Hotsync. I was looking for more advanced topics such as how conduits work or what other system commands are available to use with the shortcut in additon to the Date and time stamp. I rated this a 4 from a new user perspective, but for more advanced users I would only give it about a 1.5

Chris Seibold MyMac.com Book Review:
...How to Do Everything with Your Palm Handheld is pretty much what it says: a book all about the Palm OS (not just Palm Pilots but any PDA that runs the palm operating system). The authors, Dave Johnson and Rick Broida, clearly love the Palm OS...in the same way a lot of Mac users love the Mac. In this book you'll find a nice defense of the Palm OS and all the instructions for using said miracle of miniaturization. The first two thirds of How to Do Everything with Your Palm Handheld are pretty standard fair. Mostly how to do this and that with your Palm PDA...How to Do Everything with Your Palm Handheld really comes into it's own around chapter fourteen. The chapter is entitled "How to use you Palm as a laptop Replacement"...you'd be surprised with just how close you can come...other niftiness abounds system hacks for avoiding the capital letter stroke, hacks to use that leftover flash memory and methods to print to just about any printer with an IrDA port. Those are just a few of the enclosed tips that make the book worth having for the...power Palm users. The style of the book is perhaps it's most appealing feature. Sure it's full of pictures and useful instructions...This keeps the book light and enjoyable instead of devolving into a monotone how to manual. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and the reasons to try something or the reasons to not try something are presented with equal weight with the consequences noted. All factors noted How to Everything with Your Palm Handheld is an engaging (for an instruction manual) and useful read. Bottom Line: This is not a ground breaking book (perhaps it was three editions ago) and most if not all of the information is available elsewhere. Yet owing to the writing style and advanced user tips How to Do Everything with Your Palm Handheld would be a useful addition to any Palm user's library from novice to just short of Palm OS programmer. MacMice Rating: 4 out of 5

Best Tome Available Now:
Finally, a Palm reference which addresses the new models released this year! Johnson and Broida have a funny, irreverent style which makes reading through a computer book really helpful. The coverage of Mac issues is superb, as are the specialized chapters on Games, Office, and Finance. Chapters are a bit too short for my taste - I'd love 20 pages per chapter instead of 15 -- just a little more please! That's how much I liked it. The book lacks a CD and coverage of models not produced by Palm Inc. is weak -- too weak in my opinion (I even own a Palm model). That said, this is a pretty good book. If you love your Palm, you'll love this book. If you hate your Palm, you'll probably end up loving it after reading this book.

A Neccessity.:
I owned a Palm V a few years ago and haven't had a Palm since, until buying one last week (M500). Although I consider myself Palm literate, I am very glad that I bought this book. I would recommend that every Palm user / owner have a copy. Even topics that I thought I could gloss over, I eventually found a tip, trick or pearl of wisdom contained within. A most useful book, get it and read it cover to cover, a chapter a day.