How to Do Everything with your Pocket PC & Handheld PC

(Editor's note: Frank is a regular contributor to Pocket PC magazine. He has been reconized by Micosoft as a Most Valuable Professional for Windows CE and maintains the Windows CE Knowledge Center at www.fmcpherson.com/knowce.)

If you want to become an expert with your Windows Powered Pocket, Palm-size or Handheld PC, and want to save precious time doing so, check out Frank McPherson's new book, How to Do Everything with Your Pocket PC & Handheld PC.

Frank organizes his book with two tables of contents. The first, "Contents at a Glance," helps you get at the material quickly. It's organized to help you Getting Started, Getting Things Done, Going Online, and Customizing Your Pocket PC and Handheld PC. This is followed by a more traditional 10-page "Contents" section, which very thoroughly details the things you can do with a Windows Powered device.

Frank begins the book with a brief look at the history of handheld devices. The book then covers the various types of devices based on the Windows CE operating system and the terminology used to refer to them. He acquaints you with the general features of the devices, like input methods, file explorer, tool bars, settings, etc., and discusses exchanging information with a Desktop PC.

Windows Powered devices come with numerous built-in programs and the author covers them all and discusses their features in detail. I liked this part of the book because I learned a great deal about useful features in programs, features that I had overlooked while using my device.

Connecting your device to the Internet or a Local Area Network is supposed to be easy with a Windows Powered device. Well, it's a lot easier after reading this book. Frank also discusses the use of Windows Powered devices in a corporate environment, including how to access the corporate network and connect to the corporate email systems etc.

What would a portable device be without games? Frank takes a look at a number of commercial, freeware and shareware games and gives tips on where to get them and how to play them ­ including how to deal a perfect hand in Solitaire every time! He lists his choice for the top ten add-on applications for Windows CE devices, and where you can find them and more.

The final part of the book covers going online, customizing your Windows Powered device, and using peripherals with the Handheld, Palm-size and Pocket PC. Again, Frank provides a thorough and well-organized discussion of the subjects.

This book covers virtually all the aspects of the various Windows Powered devices in a thorough and easy-to-understand manner. How to do Everything with your Pocket PC and Handheld PC can help you to get started quickly and gives you a comprehensive reference for the future. It's a book you should have on your bookshelf.

How to Do Everything with Your Pocket PC & Handheld PC is priced at $24.99 and is available online at the Osborne/McGraw Hill Web site, www.osborne.com. You may be able to get a better price at www.Amazon.com.