How to Do Everything with Your Pocket PC and Handheld PC explores the latest developments in the Microsoft Windows CE universe. Specifically, it takes a user-level look at the new Pocket PC specification and the somewhat older Handheld PC design. If you use an HP Jornada, Casio Cassiopeia, Compaq iPaq, or similar personal digital assistant (PDA) and feel sure you're not getting maximum utility from it, you'll appreciate this carefully paced and liberally illustrated explanation of Windows CE, the hardware it runs on, and the software that makes it productive and fun. Odds are good that no matter how long you've been using your Microsoft-based miniature computer, you'll learn something new here.

The approach of the book isn't fancy, but it does the job. Pocket PC and Handheld PC features are diligently explained one at a time. Users want to know how to do specific jobs, and the book was clearly written with that in mind. Conceptual explanations combined with procedures and illustrations help readers learn how to make their palm-size buddies do new tricks. Coverage is a bit short on applications other than those in the standard suite, but in-depth sections on multimedia management and Internet connectivity make up for that shortcoming. All together, this is a solid tutorial and reference manual for people who use PDAs based on Windows CE. --David Wall

Topics covered: Palm-size PCs that run Microsoft Windows CE and comply with the Pocket PC and Handheld PC specifications are explained for everyday users. There's documentation of the essential functions of the operating system and its most popular applications (especially Pocket Outlook, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, and Microsoft Money). Multimedia gets a lot of attention, as does Internet connectivity.

Learn to set up all the features and productivity applications on your Windows CE, connect and sync to your desktop PC, send and receive e-mail, download games, utilities, and MP3 files, and so much more. This book shows you how to do, well, EVERYTHING!

I found that this book was a great starter book when I first purchased my IPAQ. It was very useful and I still refer to it on a regular basis. It is more like the user's manual in print. I plan to buy another book to move me to the next level. But I would highly recommend this book as a reference book and keeper for anyone's library. Great job Mr. McPherson.

I was excited to get my hands on this book, hoping that it would shed further light on the potential of my already positive Pocket PC experience. This book did little to help me.

90% of it's content was pretty much common sense stuff that any person who has got a grasp of Windows and MS Office programs could figure out.

I wanted to know how to better manage memory. Do neat tricks with Pocket Word, Excel, and Outlook. All this book points you to is the basics that are in your owner's manual.

In comparision to other books on the subject, "Pocket PC Handbook" by Dan Hanttula, for example, this book was of little help. If you're looking to improve your knowledge of your Pocket PC go somewhere else. If you no nothing about computers, go someplace else. This book doesn't help unlease the pocket PC's potential. Go someplace else.

I bought the McPherson book shortly after buying my Jornada Pocket PC. This book is a must have for new handheld owners. It is very easy to understand and helps you become familiar with this incredible device. The book introduces you to functions that the owner's manual does not mention and in much greater detail. Illustrations are helpful. The book is well worth the money. I highly recommend the book and know that I will refer back to it in the months ahead. Before buying, I compared it to the Idiot's Guide and thought that this one was better, i.e., much more thorough.

The "How to Do Everything With Your..." series is a rather disappointing marketing gimmick. As with the other volumes, this book does not give you much information beyond the superficial. What irks me the most -- something I didn't realize when I purchased the book -- is that this book covers both Pocket PC and HandheldPC, which means you'll probably only need half of the book while paying for 300 pages of stuff you'll never use.

For the Pocket PC, the book walks you through how to set up your new toy and how to use the major applications: Pocket Outlook, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Money, and Pocket Internet Explorer. (Pocket Access and PowerPoint for HandheldPC are also covered.) It was able to answer some of the questions I had had about using the Pocket PC, so it did prove helpful. At the same time, a lot of information is left out. For example, is there an optimal way to adjust the memory settings? The book doesn't tell you. Are there any third-party application switchers that automatically stop an application a la the Palm? The book doesn't tell you.

Another annoying thing about this book is that it was obviously written in a hurry to include Pocket PC features. It might have been a Windows CE book, so you see WinCE references everywhere. As of today there's only one other good Pocket PC book (forget about "Pocket PC for Dummies" and save some money), "Unauthorized Guide to Pocket PC", and I recommend that one over this one.

As a new user I have recommended this book to everyone who shows interest in purchasing a palm handheld. It enabled me to do things that I would never have learned to do with the instruction book that came with my Palm. In order to get the most use from your Palm, this book is a must!!