Rescued by DOS

COMPUTER BOOK REVIEW  

348 words

Title: Rescued by DOS;  Kris Jamsa;  ISBN: 0-9635851-6-9; 
paperback, 256 pages, US$19.95, CAN$25.95 

Reviewer: A. T. Connellan, "The Jamsa Press "Rescued" 
series work successfully because they aren't written for 
either computer literates or "DUMMIES," just you and me." 

The Wide Array Of Tools Available Under DOS

There are now over 120 million computers running on DOS, 
and the vast majority of the people who own them won't 
spend much time on spreadsheets, desk-top publishing, 
or programming. Like most of us they'll write or word 
process, maintain and manage their work in files, play 
games, and explore the universe on the Internet in search 
of knowledge, all on programs that are dependent on DOS. 
                   
My computer guru; that's the guy who has been providing 
soft and hardware since the days of my IBM PCJr, came 
by a while ago and quietly upgraded my machine to DOS 6.2. 
He's always doing that sort of thing. I don't question it 
because he knows what he's doing, and besides everyone 
should have a "guru" in their computer life. 

I had stopped caring about what DOS does or did when 
I acquired Windows. After that DOS just seemed to chug 
along invisibly in the background while I played in the 
fascinating new world of icons, that is until I read this 
book. It opened my eyes to the wide array of tools 
now available under DOS, and increased my 
understanding and appreciation of Windows. 

The Jamsa Press "Rescued" series work successfully 
because they aren't written for either computer literates 
or "DUMMIES," just intelligent folks like you and me, who 
are eager to learn. They even prequalify their books through 
a "skill level guide," labeling them for Beginner 
[as this one is], Intermediate, Advanced, and All Users.  

Rescued by DOS is organized into 58 brief, easily 
understood lessons, in eleven sections that are built 
sequentially upon each other in complexity. Each lesson 
is abetted by colorfully highlighted "how to" reminders, 
illustrations, and screen reproductions. The table of 
contents and index are so detailed that the reader can 
"surf," trying out all the wonderful things that DOS can do.