This is e-mail I have sent to the editor of this book:

This is a book for the people who like puzzles. I have just started to read it and even in the beginning I've found a lot of controversy. On page 10 in paragraph 5 (considering Note as a paragraph) you read: "With Windows NT 4, Microsoft moved the GDI, or Graphics Device Interface (the display part of NT), to the Kernel. Previous versions of Windows 2000 had these services in User mode".

But on page 40 the first paragraph under the "Why the lost legacy?" section you can read:"Keep in mind that Windows 2000 follows Windows NT in having the Graphics Device interface (GDI) in User instead of Kernel as in previous Windows NT versions".

So, where GDI is actually located??? I was not awared that we have had previous versions of Windows 2000. What are they? Or did the author mean Win95, Win98, WinNT as previous versions? In that case they are not version of Windows 2000, just versions of Windows. Or may be I have missed information about previous versions of Windows 2000?

I have to find now a different source of Windows 2000 information, because after the problems I've encountered in this book it is a waste of my time to read it at all.

This book covers everything I needed to know to work with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional. It covers the issues how to install IIS 5, setting up Websites, and management issues. There are loads of step through exercises, and plenty of screen captures to walk you through the tasks you need to know to manage a Web. A very complete book.

Despite this books 600+ pages, it's probably the most non-technical computer book I've ever read. It's clearly geared towards the "just opened the box" set, but, lets face it, not many people fall into that category with Win 98 nowadays. Anytime there's ever any mention of anything that seems technical, such as the Windows registery, the author simply says "this is technical, don't mess with it."

If you have absolutely no computing experience whatsoever, consider this book. If you want something with any real meat, look elsewhere.

This book is terrible. In the first three chapters, they emphasize "plan twice but develop once" as an approach for DB development, which is good. Unfortunately, they don't seem to follow their own advice. The authors walk you through examples on a provided CD, but the instructions don't even match what's on the CD. Also, days 1 and 2 were completely OMITTED on my CD. This is my first and last SAMS book.

While this book *teaches* very well, it has a number of small printing mistakes and mislabels which could be confusing to those not following along very closely. I recommend it if you're willing to work with it.

All in all it was decent. The first 14 chapters were fine. The two chapters on Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) were fair at best. The Chapter on Objects and Collections should not have been there. I actually went out and got another book for these topics. They had a nice little section on DAO in the end however it was coarse. Keep in mind, the VBA sections were not very good at all. I question why they even put VBA in a entry level book.

For the user who want to get more out of Access 2002 or the user who wants to prepare for a MOUS certification, this book is fine. Keep in mind it is not Microsoft MOUS Official Cirriculum so the Certification Objectives are not identified in the text.

SAMS Publishing drops the ball once again in the editing area. Please note that you will have to go to the website to get the Chapter 2 exercises. The omission of the Chapter Two files can almost be forgiven due to the fact that the files are small in size and easily downloadable.

I have about 5-6 of their books and they are all buggy, lots of typographical errors. This one falls about average for SAMS in that area, not their worst, not their best. I would have given 4 stars if they didn't have so may typos, otherwise the non-VBA content was good.

I usually buy the "Sams 21 days" books and am very satisfied with the overall content that they deliver. Usually...

This book on Access 2000 is not a good book. It skims on everything and nothing, the examples are not interesting and you don't learn from it. Unless you are really clueless on Access and want to have a very very general picture without knowing why it works, don't buy that book.

I will now stop buying Sams' book with my eyes closed. The fact that I had to buy another book (Alison Balter's, great book) angries me even more than the mere fact that I spent 25$ on the Sams' book.

I just started using Access and I was suffering my way through a huge book on Access and not getting anywhere. Then I purchased SAMs Teach Yourself Microsoft Access in 21 Days and I felt like I had the world in my hands. This book is fabulous and it's so well written that you can actually cover three days in the book in one day. It starts out giving you excellent examples of what Access can do and then breaking down the steps. It shows you the logic behind good table technique and gives you great examples of logical thinking and heads-up development. I'm very happy with this book and thankful that I found it. Toni

I was a little shocked to see the average review for this was a 2...

I am an aspiring database designer. One has to start somewhere, so I set off to learn Access. I had already tried the O'Reilly books (too much) and the Dummies books (too little). I found the Sam's book to be a good middle ground for someone who knows a little about computers, but mostly knows that they need to learn a lot more. The Sam's gives a good general overview about Access queries, forms and reports. It walks you through the program in a logical order, in a realistic length of time. It has a good introduction to Access SQL and VBA. It remains one of my primary resources for Access.

If there is a failing to the Sam's Access, it's that it needs more real world examples (it has some, but it could use more). For that, buy the O'Reilly Access Cookbook.

Holy [moly] this book is mind numbing. Not having had anyexperience with Access i decided to pick up this book in order tolearn it real quick like. Now i may not have had any experience with Access but i have heard of a computer before in fact i may have even seen one at one point, but this book assumed that i had no idea that civilization had advanced beyond the dark ages. What i'm trying to say is, that this book teaches the obvious. Even if you've never used access ever you'll still find 400 of this books 600 pages totaly remedial. This book could have been reduced to ten pages and still have been as informative. After reading this book i wish i had spent my money on fork so i could stick it in my head, yes that definately would have been more fun, and it probably would have taught me more about access.

I strongly disagree with all of the other reviews... I am not a beginning PC user (MCSE & CNA), but I've never had any experience with Access. Yeah, there are typos, but if you understand the exercise, you should be able to figure out what to do. I have recommended this book to several of the people that I work with in IT. The author does remind you to open the program way too many times, and the author does change at day 18 (for the worse) - I now have a very good understanding of Access, all thanks to this book.

Yes, the errors are annoying, yes the repetition of basic information is at times annoying but come on, deal with it you babies. The main reason I bought this book is because of the step by step walkthroughs. I am perfectly familiar with a computer and this allows me the benefit of skimming, which perhaps is essential to use this book to it's potential. Who cares about the typos as long as the steps are valid, and I have found them to be. This book surpasses all the available free tutorials out there on the web and I am honestly happy I got it. One caveat, you do have to be able to think imaginatively and read between the lines. If you are unable to do this, as many people are, don't buy this book. Take a class where someone can walk you through it and answer your questions. Also, the book clearly states in the beginning that it is not for beginners, but for those already familiar with basic concepts. Like so many other books out there this one is sink or swim, personally I like it. I can't believe someone wrote a negative review because it was difficult to remove the CD without damaging the back cover, how ridiculous.

I am a fan of the outdoors and nature literature. I bought this audio book hoping it would make for interesting listening during my commute.This tape comprises some very cheesy stories that mostly revolve around stupid men shooting things (with lame sound-effects to boot). One particularly assinine adventure involves a man who is a "photographer" awed by a majestic moose. He brilliantly decides me MUST have a close up photo of the animal, no matter the cost (including the cost of the mooses' life!)The jackass sneaks up on the moose, and the moose charges at him, and then he shoots it to death.
"Ah, yes.. that was quite and adventure, and I got the most spectacular picture as the moose charged. Thankfully, I had a second to grab my rifle." the narrator reads in wise, gravely sounding voice, oblivious to the fact that he just DESTROYED the animal that captivated him. But it'll live on forever in a photo! Ya right.
Avoid this tape if you value intelligent nature stories. If corny sounds and hunting are a passion, then go for it.

previous book, "Sams teach yourself mcse windows nt workstation 4" was very helpful and written very well but had about 2 mistakes obvious to those knowledgeble in nt. i hope they fixed thos mistakes in this newer edition

Appendix E mentions a file TYA14.exe allegedly to be found on typing go sams and then searching Library $, databases. A beginners is supposed to work all this out at a glance! And spend time and money hunting for and downloading the mysterious file.

This book is fine to begin with, but it gives the appearance that the original title was "Teach Yourself Access In 21 Days". For example, everything is cruising right along very smoothly when, suddenly, additional tables are part of the database. Data for filling the tables are supplied in the appendix; however, no reference for linking or establishing keys is provided. This seems to me to be a serious shortcoming for a purportedly beginner's book. With some additional text filling gaps like these, the book would be very good, as what IS in the book is explained quite well. As it is, a reader needs some outside assistance to complete the projects; i.e., you cannot truly "Teach Yourself" using this book alone