Computer Book Reviews
Don't Make Me Think! A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug
Que, October 2000.Trade Paperback, 195 pages.
ISBN: 0789723107
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
One thing many websites lack is clear navigation.
Futhermore, many websites offer
too much Flash, animated graphics or other
multimedia that website users are not
expecting and don't appreciate. Many website
retailers could increase their sales by simply
fixing these problems. The concept is called
website usability and it helps web developers look
at their website from a user's point of view. It
helps you realize how users browse
and search your website and what you need to
have on your website to meet their navigational
needs. Don't Make Me Think acts as an
introduction to the subject of website usability,
with clear explanations and examples. Concepts introduced and covered
in the book include how people use the Web,
billboard design, tabs, writing for the Web,
homepage design and usability testing. Many examples
from real web problems and solutions are provided.
Author Steve Krug is a web consultant who uses the concept of usability to help his clients. In this book, he offers much of the same advice he offers his clients. Although this book is relatively short for a computer book (under 200 pages), it contains a great deal of well-explained, practical information. If you are a professional web developer or designer, this should be on your desk or easily accessible in your bookshelf. It is probably ten times more important than all your Java programming books, web graphic tools and Flash web design books combined. Highly recommended.
JavaScript Unleashed 3rd Edition by R. Allen Wyke, Richard Wagner
Sams, July 2000.Trade Paperback, 996 pages.
ISBN: 067231763X
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
The use of JavaScript has quickly become
more and more commonplace on
the Internet. JavaScript is
useful because it can be implemented on
the client-side and plugged directly into
your HTML code. Many webmasters
just plug in already existing JavaScript code, which
sometimes works, but it does not help you
when things go wrong. If
you want a better understand of JavaScript
and you would like to learn some useful JavaScript code, then
this reference does the job. This book is an up-to-date
JavaScript guide, which provides complete
coverage of the latest JavaScript language
editions, including the JavaScript 1.4 and JScript 5 languages.
JavaScript coverage in the reference includes
writing scripts, fundamentals, objects, the
Document Object Model (DOM), Dynamic HTML,
browser compatibility, creating special effects,
forms and data validation, error handling, debugging and security.
A CD-ROM is also included which provides source
code from the book and third party software and tools.
The book also acts an excellent introduction for beginning JavaScript coders with informative sections like, "Ten JavaScript Facts Every Scripter Should Know." Overall, JavaScript Unleashed is a great reference for both beginners and experts, with full coverage of the language and syntax, example JavaScript code and links to online JavaScript resources. Some prior knowledge of programming and some experience coding with HTML is helpful.
Practical Windows ME by Faithe Wempen
Que, August 2000.Trade Paperback, 575 pages.
ISBN: 0789724057
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
This is an introductory reference to the Windows
Millennium Edition (Windows ME), which was
recently released from Microsoft.
Windows ME topics covered in the book
include installing Windows ME, running programs,
managing files, networking, connecting to the
Internet, troubleshooting device problems,
customizing the desktop, installing hardware,
printers, email, web publishing, optimizing
your computer, security and finding Windows
help online. To ensure that each Windows ME procedure
or concept is easily understand the book
includes screen shots, outlines, tips and step-by-step
instructions. The reference also includes a section
with links to online Windows ME resources
and a glossary defining technical terms.
The book can be used by beginners to Windows and by users familiar with Windows, but want to learn more about how to use the Windows ME edition. The book's design also makes it simple to quickly find an answer to a specific problem. Practical Windows ME is a helpful problem solving tool and reference that users of Windows ME will want to have near their computers.
Return to the December-January 2001 issue of The IWJ.
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