Windows Vista Ultimate Bible (eBook)

Joel Durham, Jr.I hate writing about myself in the third person for theseauthor blurbs, so I'm going to put a stop to it right now.I'm Joel Durham Jr., and I'm one of your hosts for thisadventure. I've been a computer and video game nerd all mylife, and I've been writing professionally about computers,games, operating systems, consoles, and all that kind of stuffsince 1997 -- when Matt Firme gave me my big break by hiringme as PC Gamer's first Technical Editor. After a yearin that blissful atmosphere I left that job, mainly to escape theSan Francisco Bay area (having to get an interestonly ARM mortgagefor a $750,000 2-bedroom house on a lot the size of a sheet ofstandard copier paper, and somehow survive on an editor'ssalary).I moved back to upstate New York to be near family. Since then,I've been freelance writing for such markets as GameSpy,Gamecenter (I spent time as the Senior Technical Editor therebefore CNET closed the site down), 1UP, Computer GamingWorld, ExtremeTech, PC Magazine, Computer Source, and abunch more. I live with my wife (who defies logic by being toogorgeous to be interested in a geek like me, and yet she is), andthe two smartest, cutest children in the world.Derek TorresI, too, hate writing about myself in the third person; knowingthat Joel hated this odd phenomenon as much as I do was the realreason that I chose to write a few chapters for this book.Technical writer by trade, I've been into computers for avery long time and getting paid to do it since 1998 or so. Mycareer as a tech writer took off in Paris, France, around the turnof the century where I worked for several software shops.After returning to the U.S. a few years ago, I decided to focusmore on writing for software and small business issues. Some of thepeople nice enough to publish my work include Microsoft (WorkEssentials and the Vista Expert Zone), RedmondChannel Partner magazine, and STC's Intercommagazine. I also write a column for the Information in Focus Website and regularly present at technical communication conferencesin the U.S. and in Europe. Additionally, I've had theprivilege of writing or co-writing several books on Windowsoperating systems.

Preface.Acknowledgments.Introduction.Part I: Getting Started with Windows Vista Ultimate.Chapter 1: Introducing the New Windows Operating System.Chapter 2: Installing Windows Vista Ultimate.Chapter 3: Navigating Windows Vista Ultimate.Chapter 4: Basic Settings You Can't Overlook.Chapter 5: Customizing Vista's Look and Feel.Chapter 6: Games and Programs Included with Windows VistaUltimate.Part II: The Windows Vista Interface.Chapter 7: Choosing an Interface.Chapter 8: Exploring Interface Features.Part III: Support, Stability, and Security.Chapter 9: Getting Help.Chapter 10: Keeping Windows Vista Stable.Chapter 11: Keeping Windows Vista Secure.Part IV: Networking and the Internet.Chapter 12: Building a Home Network.Chapter 13: Internet Applications.Part V: Gaming and Multimedia Enhancements.Chapter 14: Gaming and Audio Enhancements.Chapter 15: The New DirectX.Chapter 16: Windows Media Center.Chapter 17: Windows Media Player 11.Part VI: Music, Movies, Video, and Audio.Chapter 18: Digital Music Guide.Chapter 19: Watching Video Through Vista.Chapter 20: Editing Video with Windows Movie Maker.Part VII: Gaming on Windows Vista Ultimate.Chapter 21: Introduction to Windows Vista Gaming.Chapter 22: Installing Games (and Other Programs).Chapter 23: Optimizing Games for Performance and Visuals.Chapter 24: Game Options, Conventions, Controllers, andUpdates.Chapter 25: Game Compatibility Issues.Chapter 26: Integrating Windows Vista with the Xbox 360.Part VIII: Under the Hood: Tweaking Windows Vista.Chapter 27: Optimizing for Gaming and Multimedia.Chapter 28: Tweaking Windows Vista Ultimate for PeakPerformance.Appendix: Maintaining Windows Vista Ultimate.Index.