All too often, we are called upon to assist someone who has just bought a machine. While this is not a problem in itself, frequently, the result of answering one or two simple questions can be the thin end of the wedge with the newbie just calling again instead of trying to resolve the problem themselves in the first instance.

Laptops All-In-One Desk Reference for Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-14092-5 This is described as ten books in one and best of all being for notebooks you could even sneak your notebook out with you to try a few of what it says while catching some sun. This takes you through the initial choices right through to getting help to solving those annoying problems.

Visual Basic 2008 Even for a speed reader this tome will take a while as this Programmer's Reference by Rod Stephens is - wait for it - 1262 pages long. Although it is published in the UK by the same company that produces the Dummies series this certainly is not a book for anyone who does not know a good deal about Visual Basic. To give you what I consider is a good example the first 908 pages (covering 40 chapters) are the meat of the book.

Recently I was involved in a three-way discussion as to whether traditional books or the electronic digital variety that could be viewed on various portable devices was the chosen reading method.  While one member of the group was a strong advocate of the digital format, the choice of the other two was for the more traditional format of paper books.  The impetus for this discussion was the imminent launch of a new approach to online book purchasing.

Windows Vista For Dummies This is 438 pages of information to help you get the best out of Microsoft Vista. However there is an extra as well as the book you also get a DVD that covers everything in the book and has some bonus features. The bonus features are ten aggravations about Windows Vista and more importantly how to fix them. Special tips for laptop owners and 'Printing your work'.

Build Your Own Computer ISBN 978 1 84425 457 6 The authors of this 168 offering are Kyle MacRae and Gary Marshall. I see this is the third edition. The whole book/manual is interspaced with numerous illustrations and relevant tables. You immediately feel that the authors know their subject. After the introduction you go straight into Section 1 Planning the Perfect PC.

Toastmate   I suspect most people will have at one time or other tried Bovril and or Marmite (it seems Paddington Bear is now a convert to the latter) well celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson has created a taste that is somewhere between the two. As it's name suggests it's great on toast but it can also make that great British meal essential, gravy. In fact it's superb in sandwiches and many other things.

It covers the various phases in laptop usage ranging from picking the right laptop, using it, and all the way through to upgrading it. From then onwards, it may be back to square one with having again to choose the right laptop etc. etc. However, by the time this occurs, there will probably be a new addition of the book to guide one through the process. When going into a High Street PC store one is faced with a confusing array of machines.

Haynes has just published the latest (3 ) edition of "Build Your Own Computer" with the sub-title "The complete step-by-step manual to constructing a PC that's right for you". It is not before time as, even though the 2 edition was only published in 2005, the world has moved on with Microsoft having released Vista, the latest version of Windows, and dual-core processors are now the norm from both Intel and AMD.

Photoshop CS3 Bible Certainly not a light read in fact you may need to build some muscle to pick it up as it is 1200 pages. As regular readers will know I enjoy a good read in the 'smallest room' this I made an exception as it needs to be adsorbed near a PC as a lot of what it says needs to be tried before the thought process goes. It comes with a companion CD-ROM containing tutorials.

Slippies from Gizoo To call these slippers is a slight misnomer. They fit on the feet but walking in them is not easy - nor encouraged - as they do not have non slip soles. The contents of the sole is a flaked substance and will often move to one end. However after a couple of minutes of wear it redistributes about the base. They are microwaveable and frezzeable dependant on the weather.

Windows Vista The first thing is that there is no manual with Vista - like a lot of other software packages today - help files and even PDF files are not manuals. This is described as a companion and not a crutch. I think this means that while it covers how to, it certainly will not tell you how to use a mouse so you need a working knowledge of Windows.

V-Moda VIBE earbuds I would be the first to admit I know very little about Apple but I am told these designer earbuds are the number one seller in Apple stores. These ultra stylish earbuds weigh only 12grams. Of course anyone who purchased an iPod was immediately targeted because of the white earbud leads. These are available in eight colours.

The price is £19.99 and is likely to be available from specialist bookshops or you could try Windows Vista For Dummies 204 sides of information on the next Windows operating system from Andy Rathbone. This paperback tome is produced from Beta 2 so there may be a few changes before Gold Code. It should still - we are told - be available to corporate customers this year with the likes of you and I being able to purchase it early in the New Year.