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A Computer Concepts Text Focused on Today’s Student! Technology in Action engages students by combining a unique teaching approach with rich companion media.

History of the personal computer, virtual computer tour, blogging, file compression and management, installing RAM, installing a computer network and firewall, PDA’s, computer architecture, creating and improving an Access database, and constructing a simple Web page.

For professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge of computer concepts and literacy.

Average Customer Rating:

Technology In Action review	Customer Rating:
Too technical; I was expecting a manual to lead me "by the hand" through basic nd often elementary computer programs such as "Word." Ecellent for Geeks" but not fo beginners. Disappointed

At times this text reads like marketing materials

Customer Rating:

At times this book reads like Microsoft marketing materials. Occasionally it borders on the ridiculous when the topics covered are the names of the latest Microsoft products and software packages (competitors are rarely mentioned). Quite alot of ink is expended pushing Microsoft, repeating the names of Microsoft products, and mentioning how great Microsoft products are. Nothing against Microsoft, but save it for the sales brochures. This book is not an academic textbook and has many errors. The accompanying online exercises and quizzes have many, many errors; our teacher finally gave up on them. The interesting topics are not covered in any depth. The book is really at the high school level, but I would not recommend it.

My choice for an "Introduction to Computers" text

Customer Rating:

There are many books that could be used in the introduction to computers level of classes. They tend to be very similar, in topics, order and structure. While this book is more of the same, there is one feature that stands out, the coverage of ethics in the context of computing. Ethics and the proper usage of computers is a significant aspect of the computing culture for all of us, but it is more significant for the college student. The advent of the Internet has made it much easier to obtain information and harder to filter it for accuracy. It is now much easier to plagiarize; all you have to do is copy and paste. Fortunately, it is also easier for instructors to identify an act of plagiarism; there are websites that will do it for you. The digitization of music makes it easy to download and play music on MP3 players. This list could continue for some time. There are several places in the book where ethical principles are related to the topic. It is to the credit of the authors that this coverage is not just a spouting of facts; the questions are designed to have the students think about the situation and reach their own ethical conclusions. This book is superior to the companion introductory volume with the same name. It contains more material than the introductory volume and all other things being equal I prefer to skip rather to supplement. It is most unlikely that I will ever teach an introductory course in computing again. However, if I was to do so, I would take a hard look at this book, it is suitable for the course and I would most certainly adopt it.

Fantastic Introduction to Computers

Customer Rating:

Technology in Action is a great book for college-level computer concepts classes. I have taught with Technology in Action at a community college for 4 years now. The book is written to engage today's students with a very useful question and answer format. I find my students are reading again since using Technology in Action! My students also love the multimedia that comes on the CD (packaged with the text) which they describe as entertaining, informative and fun! Wow, students who think learning is fun...what a concept! I highly recommend this text for freshman and sophomore computer concepts classes. This is a book your students will read and enjoy!

Didn't even crack it open.	Customer Rating:
Don't you hate it when teachers have you buy these expensive books and then don't use them at all in class?? That happened to me with this book. Just following his notes got me a B in the class. Guess I didn't need it anyway.