Book Bytes Special Report: What’s New at Sams Publishing? Plenty!
I’m holding over 2500 pages of text and illustrations in my hands. Four recent titles from Sams Publishing represent a range of trends in computer books, and more subjects are on the way in their series: “in a Snap,” “in 24 Hours,” and “All in One.” These are thick, comprehensive volumes that are clearly-written with material presented for easy self-instruction.
But some methods of book concept and design are more effective than others, as we shall observe in my capsule comments on the four books under consideration:
Sams Teach Yourself Mac OS X Tiger in a Snap
by Brian Tiemann
Sams Publishing
ISBN 0-672-32706-6, 590 pages
$29.99 US, $41.99 CN, £21.99 UK
I read through this book cover to cover and was surprised at how similar Tiger is to many other Mac OS X editions. While Apple is parading a handful of blockbuster features in its Tiger advertising, most users most of the time will be doing most tasks not that differently than in the recent past.
Sams Teach Yourself Mac OS X Tiger in a Snap is a tour-de-force of quality content presented in an accessible format. Individual mini-subjects each receive a paragraph or two in rich, black ink, plus a tip in bold blue color. All topics are cross-referenced with “before you begin” and “see also” pointers to locations earlier or later in the text, which must have taken some sleepless editor a long time to construct. Illustrations are plentiful, big and bold, and marked with numbers and pointer lines. Again, the behind-the-scenes design and research really shine here.
This book is best-suited for switchers from Windows, upgraders from earlier Mac operating systems, and people who learn best in short bursts. I will use its lessons often with my tutorial and user group students. Having a minor gripe about lack of emphasis on Tiger’s top treats, Book Bytes applauds the diligent care that went into every page and tutorial in Sams Teach Yourself Mac OS X Tiger in a Snap. Rated at 4 out of 5, for appropriate purchasers.
Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 in a Snap
by Jennifer Fulton and Scott M. Fulton III
Sams Publishing
ISBN 0-672-32668-X, 759 pages
$29.99 US, $41.99 CN, £21.99 UK
This book on Elements 3 was the first example of Sams’ “in a Snap” series I received, and it is superb. The authors and their production team created one of the finest computer source books on any topic, and the most comprehensive beginner-intermediate one on Elements 3.
Page after page, chapter after chapter, screenshot after (Windows) screenshot, with countless notes and tips, you WILL LEARN to use Elements 3 by devouring this mighty monster of a tutorial text. With “contents at a glance” in the front inside endpages, and “key terms” inside the rear area, no opportunity was missed in giving readers ample access to Adobe’s application.
Macintosh version of Elements 3 is almost identical to Windows, with a major exception being the way photo catalogs are handled. Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Photoshop Elements 3 in a Snap, being Win-centric, has so much good stuff that your best bet is to give this book as a gift to a WinPal, and then borrow it until you have absorbed as much as you can. Even so, it’s a must-read for most Elements learners, worthy of a 4 out of 5 on our MyMac.com Book Bytes scale.
Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Photoshop CS2 in 24 Hours
by Carla Rose
Sams Publishing
ISBN 0-672-32755-4, 514 pages
$29.99 US, $41.99 CN, £21.99 UK
The slimmest in pages of the four Sams titles, this book still offers plenty of content for readers new or upgrading to Photoshop CS2. The “in 24 hours†concept refers to 24 one-hour lessons that take you from the basics and essentials of Photoshop through intermediate topics such as special effects, Photoshop and the Web, and color photo repair.
I’m a personal fan of lesson-based tutorials. Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Photoshop CS2 in 24 Hours uses them to advantage, with ample numbered directions, screenshots, brief and focused topics, and decent illustrations (including modest color gallery of images from the primary text).
If you are starting from scratch with the forbidding, full version of Photoshop CS2, at least 24 hours spent working through the author’s workshops and quizzes will prepare you many of the more demanding intermediate and advanced books and classes that Photoshop users embrace. Book Bytes applauds the chatty, friendly, easygoing way lesson and reference material are written, and we’re pleased to rate this title at 4 out of 5 for most introductory readers.
Sams Teach Yourself Digital Photography and Photoshop Elements 3 All in One
by Carla Rose
Sams Publishing
ISBN 0-672-32688-4, 742 pages
$34.99 US, $49.99 CN, £24.99 UK
This is the most conventional-content book, and series, with long chapters, limited illustrations of inferior quality, and a wealth of generalized information. Readers will learn everything from a brief history of photography through basic image editing and Photoshop Elements’ filters. The first 175 pages deal directly with photography and cameras, and the bulk of this volume covers, patiently, essential cross-platform beginner material on Elements 3. If Sams Teach Yourself Digital Photography and Photoshop Elements 3 All in One was the only book in existence on this topic, the world would still be a jolly fine place, but this publisher’s “All in One†presentation is long on linearity and short on innovation. How about a 3 out of 5 for our Book Bytes rating?
There you have it — our preferred Sams format rank is:
1. IN A SNAP
2. IN 24 HOURS
3. ALL IN ONE
So look them over at your friendly local bookstore and let us know if you agree with our overall high opinion of Sams Publishing and our divergent ratings for the different series.
Here is a full explanation of our Book Bytes rating system.