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Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual

July 5, 2009 by Roy Johnson

basic hands-on techniques for beginners

Missing Manuals are a series of technical help books which have come along to fill the space left by software developers who can’t be bothered to explain how their programs work. This one covers lots of software, because it deals with the entire process of creating and running your own web site. Matthew MacDonald starts off by explaining how web sites work and how to decide which is the best type for you. Then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and learn the details of HTML code and how to create a sample site. First he talks you through the basics of page layout, then he takes a big step forward technically to show you how to choose and register a domain name and how to upload files via FTP.

Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual(My advice for beginners would be to skip this chapter and come back to it later when you are ready to launch.) Following this he looks at HTML editors such as Front Page and Dreamweaver and talks you through their features. I was glad to see however that he also includes free downloadable editors such as Nvu and CoffeCup. Next he talks you through all the most common formatting devices you will need to make your pages look good. Then it’s on to style sheets, which is the correct and the best way to arrange the appearance of what appears on screen.

Next comes adding graphics, which most people want to do, once they’ve started creating text. Some of the techniques he demonstrates involve quite a sophisticated knowledge of style sheets and graphics, but fortunately he spells out the required coding and gives illustrated examples of the results. The same is true of his chapter on tables and layout using styles.

He gives excellent advice on promoting your site to search engines and directories, as well as straightforward explanations of some of the arcane technicalities of search engines.

There’s also a chapter I didn’t really expect – on how to make money with your site by signing up to the Google Ads and Amazon affiliate programs. These really do allow you to “make money whilst you are asleep” – so long as you can attract enough visitors to your site.

He ends with some fairly advanced tips and tricks: using JavaScripts and Dynamic HTML; creating fancy buttons and dropdown menus; and adding multimedia audio and video files. But for those people who want to have a presence on the Web but can’t cope with all the technicalities of building and maintaining pages, he concludes with a chapter on blogging. This really is the quickest and easiest solution.

I have been tinkering with web sites and reviewing web design manuals for years, and all I can say is that this is the best beginners manual I have come across.

© Roy Johnson 2005

Buy the book at Amazon UK

Buy the book at Amazon US


Matthew MacDonald, Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual, Sebastopol: CA, O’Reilly, 2005, pp.548, ISBN 0596008422


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Filed Under: Web design Tagged With: Creating Web Sites, The Missing Manual, Web design

Netbooks – The Missing Manual

October 3, 2009 by Roy Johnson

small, portable, light, and cheap

I bought my first netbook just after the first Asus EeePCs were launched. At that time they were in short supply. Now the shops are full of them. You’re spoilt for choice. But what’s the difference between a netbook and a notebook (you might ask)? Well, netbooks are smaller, cheaper, and many of them use open source software such as Linux operating systems and the Open Office suite which does away with the need for (expensive) Microsoft programs.

Netbooks The Missing ManualThey are also designed to be low on power consumption, and they don’t come with floppy or CD drives: you use USB ports instead. They have automatic Internet connection, and assume that you’ll be emailing, downloading software, and maybe even storing your work on the Web.

But one thing’s for certain: they won’t come with any user manual. That’s why this best-selling series from O’Reilly exists – to plug the gap left by equipment manufacturers who can’t keep up with support for their own product development.

Because netbooks have been such a huge success, versions using Windows have rapidly appeared, to cater for people who don’t want to tangle with new software. Fortunately, Jude Biersdorf’s book takes both Windows and Linux versions of netbooks into account. She shows you how to choose a netbook that will deliver what you require, then how to set it up using either of the most popular operating systems.

Even experienced computer users may not be comfortable in dealing with all these novelties all at once. She’s quite right – you’ve got to consider any shortcomings against the big advantages these devices offer. The keyboard might be a bit cramped, but the whole thing weighs just three pounds! Mine fits comfortably in my overcoat pocket.

If you’re new to Linux (she uses the popular Ubuntu version) there are full instructions on finding your way around. It’s very simple, because everything is based on big, clickable icons. The fact is that, even though open source software is completely free, it looks very much like Windows and Apple Mac when viewed on screen. All these interfaces are eventually starting to look the same.

She then deals with connecting peripherals. Your netbook won’t even have a mouse – so there are full instructions, and tips for downloading the latest drivers and software.

That’s where netbooks are really good : they update themselves all the time, and two clicks takes you to the latest version of whatever you want.

There’s a section on connecting to the Internet. You might not even need this. Mine recognised my home broadband as soon as I switched it on, and it’s never been a problem since.

But just in case you’re a first time user, she shows you how to set up an email account, how to make it secure, and how to navigate the web using a browser – Firefox and Google Chrome are recommended.

When it comes to standard use of computer software, most users will require a word-processor, spreadsheet, PowerPoint-type presentation – and so on – which are collectively called an office suite. She shows you how to deal with the stripped down version of the Microsoft Office Suite – which costs between $100and $150. I don’t know why she bothered, because she then goes on to deal with Open Office and Google Docs – both of which are free. You can even store your information on line with Google, which is a cost-free form of back-up.

[Why are all these services free? Because storage space price is plummeting, and these companies want you as a potential customer on their books.]

If you haven’t already got one, she shows you how to set up an email address and make full use of your browser to download extra tools – with the emphasis very much on free I was glad to note.

She also covers all the instant messaging software options and the social networking services, free phone calls, and picture-sharing. In fact there’s a whole section on how to edit and enhance your pictures – plus the same thing for MP3 and other sound files.

There’s also plenty on security, maintenance, upgrading, troubleshooting, and a really handy selection of online resources. So if your’re planning to buy or use a netbook, or if you want a user-manual to keep handy – this one will do the trick very nicely.

Buy the book at Amazon UK

Buy the book at Amazon US

© Roy Johnson 2009


J.D.Biersdorfer, Netbooks: the missing manual. Sebastopol (CA) O’Reilly, 2009, pp.320, ISBN 0596802234


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Filed Under: Computers Tagged With: Computers, Netbooks, OSS, Technology, The Missing Manual

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