Pocket PC Handbook (How to Do Everything) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

In comes Dan with the new Pocket PC Handbook, commissioned by Hewlett-Packard. While this book may seem to be Jornada specific, it really isn't. All the chapters use Jornada illustrations, but the information applies to any Pocket PC. Dan has really hit the mark with this book!

The initial chapters give an overview of the hardware and software that comes with the Pocket PC. Some of the information here is Jornada specific, but you have to expect that. The next set of chapters cover getting the most from the built in applications on every Pocket PC. This is where this book really starts to shine. Dan covers hints and tricks that will help any user, regardless of their experience. The benefit of his having used the Pocket PC for a while shows, everything works as advertised and Dan has top-notch advice. The best part is that Dan offers great tips on how to customize each of the apps for your own needs, all the while explaining things. What a great approach!

In later chapters, he covers other applications that are available for the Pocket PC, including Avantgo and other well known freeware/shareware apps. He also covers different hardware available, but this is mostly for the Jornada user. The next section is all about customizing and personalizing your Pocket PC. Once again, the information here is useful and it works! These are must have chapters.

The last two sections cover items like how to interact with the Palm crowd and how to understand the limitations of your device (these aren't desktops :). Lastly, Dan covers the future of the Pocket PC platform. More good information here :) The appendixes list useful FAQ information and some great websites.

Generally, when I read a computer book, I can always find something I don't like. Not so with Dan's book. The information is timely, accurate and incredible useful. Dan's book gets 5 stars from me, an I highly recommend that you run, not walk, to your favorite book seller to buy it, no matter what Pocket PC platform you use!

What makes this book such a standout, in my opinion, is the way it covers real-world use of the Pocket PC, rather than being limited to just the Pocket PC itself. For example, one of the beginners' tips is to put your name on the outside of the case, not just in the settings (too many people learn that one the hard way). There's a whole chapter about how to exchange information with Palm handhelds and other PDAs, information about external keyboards and replacement styli, and detailed information about synching Pocket PC information with cell phones and other (non-Outlook) applications and even the atomic clock. Rather than "How to Use Pocket Streets" you'll find sections like "Finding Food, Transportation and ATMs". This book is solidly in touch with the reality -- not the theory -- of day-to-day Pocket PC use.

The book's cover has an HP logo, and all the actual photos (as opposed to screen shots) of Pocket PCs show the HP Jornada, but except for a few specific sections, the information in the book is every bit as useful to Compaq iPAQ and Casio Pocket PC users as it is to Jornada owners. It is very much a Pocket PC handbook, not a Jornada handbook.

This is an extremely useful, well-organized, readable book. I'd recommend it to anyone who has -- or is seriously considering buying -- any kind of Pocket PC.