Absolute Beginners Guide to Tablet PCs - page 138

Books

There are several books that I recommend you read in order to get the most out of your Tablet PC. Each of these books goes more in-depth to the topics that I covered here at the 30,000- foot view.

Because your Tablet PC is based on Windows XP, you will want to know the tips and tricks to making your Windows experience most effective, if you don't already. I've also included a couple of books on programming and a couple more on networking and Office 2003. There are certainly many other books that can help you, but with the Tablet PC being so new and rapidly changing, I'd recommend hanging out at TabletGuru.com, where I will keep you abreast of the most important news and related products for the Tablet PC.

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Windows XP

Shelley O'Hara

O'Hara's book covers numerous aspects of the Tablet PC, including printing, file management, using the Internet, working with videos and photos, and many other ways to get the most out of Windows XP. The material in her book is covered in the same manner as I've covered the Tablet PC here, so it's a great companion book.

Special Edition Using Windows XP Professional, Bestseller Edition

Robert Cowart and Brian Knittel

If you want much deeper coverage of Windows XP, jump into this book. Probably the most complete treatment of Windows XP in one bound volume, this book covers every aspect of what you need to know about Windows XP, and then keeps going. If you're really interested in the details of the operating system and stumping your friends on esoteric facts about Windows XP, get this book.

Building Tablet PC Applications

Rob Jarrett and Philip Su

The authors of this book are developers in Microsoft's Tablet PC group , so they have some in-depth knowledge about how to develop Tablet PC applications. The book deals a lot with the API (if you don't know what an API is, this book's not for you), and with the Tablet PC Platform SDK. This book will help you understand how to make your applications Ink-aware and to really leverage the power of the Tablet PC.

Tablet PC Software Development With .NET

Ed Holloway and Karen Watterson

Another good source of development know-how, this book also helps the reader understand Ink programming and leveraging the Tablet PC interface to make programs more usable.

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Networking, Fourth Edition

Joe Habraken

Here's a great book if you want to know more about connecting computers using common network devices. The Tablet PC is a great tool for communication with others across digital networks. Understanding how to set up a network at home or the office to properly leverage the Tablet PC's capabilities will help you achieve the promise of the Tablet PC.

Jeff Duntemann's Drive-By Wi-Fi Guide

Jeff Duntemann

Here's a good book that can help you thoroughly understand Wi-Fi networking. While my coverage gave you the basics, Duntemann's book will help you understand deeper aspects of wireless networking, how to get it set up, and how to connect.

The Wi-Fi Experience: Everyone's Guide to 802.11b Wireless Networking

Harold Davis and Richard Mansfield

This is a good book that will help you understand and implement Wi-Fi wireless networking. This book delves deeper into antennae and broader-range wireless than Duntemann's.

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Office 2003

Jim Boyce

My coverage of Office 2003 dealt only with the Tablet PC-specific aspects of the applications in the suite, and did not touch on how to really leverage the tools outside the context of the Tablet PC. A book like this one that covers each application and the overall suite in more detail will help you if you're new to Office 2003. You've probably been using some version of Microsoft Office for some time, but Office 2003 has some great new features that you will probably want to know more about.