Win copies of “Hacking Windows Vista” by Steve Sinchak

Hacking Windows Vista by Steve SinchakI’ve never been a big fan of computer books because if it’s in a book, it’s probably on the interweb. But relying on this ‘internet’ might not be as reliable as Senator Ted Stevens explains, the internet is made up of tubes and those tubes can be clogged. I’ll spare you the rest of the Senator’s scientific explanation, but basically it’s probably a good idea to still buy books.

Speaking of books, Steve Sinchak‘s latest masterpiece is “Hacking Windows Vista“. The book tells a story about a young man by the name of “Windows Vista”. The youngest sibling of the Windows family, Vista is much improved than his older brother, Eks-Pee, but he is still far from perfect.

In the first act, the story begins with Vista looking to change his appearance, especially his interface. Vista becomes a frequent in several plastic surgeries including the “Registry” and “Control Panel”. In the second act Vista is off to tone up his fitness for improved performance. He is able to achieve a few gains by turning off some unnecessary organs. In the third and last act, Vista is feeling a little insecure from the school bullies. He identifies his weaknesses and hires several protection services including “Defender”.

In all seriousness, “Hacking Windows Vista” is a great all-in-one collection of most Windows Vista tweaks known to date. It’s very easy to read and follow with clear instructions illustrated by bundles of screenshots. The variety of tweaks include the most basic like hiding icons in the task tray to the more advanced modifying resource files for the sidebar background.

I must admit though by having come across dozens of tweaking and hacking sites including Steve’s own TweakVista.com, this book didn’t contain much that hasn’t been documented before. So if you think you know all the tweaks out there, you’re probably right. This book is more catered towards the user who likes the idea of tinkering with his Windows with some confidence – not “this tweak may render your system inoperable”.

Due to an error, I’ve received two review copies of the book from Wiley Publishings. I tried reading two books at a time but that didn’t work out very well, so I’m going to give both away.

To be eligible to win, write a comment below with your name and email address. Bribes are accepted via PayPal. Winners will be announced on the 11th of September 2007.

Update: The winners have been drawn and notified by email.

117 insightful thoughts

  3. I would love to win this book as it would help me figure out all the crazy changes MS has made in Vista and to get the best performance out of it.

  4. I’m off to uni soon, and would love this book to try and help improve my sluggish and crash-prone new laptop running Vista. I’m contemplating downgrading it to Eks-Pee as it’s so unreliable, but your kind generosity could save me the time and effort. =P

  5. Great offer, Long! Sounds like a good read.
    I’m quite familiar with Vista (since Beta 2), but it’s certainly difficult to teach a friend or relative by word of mouth, so the book will be handy no doubt.
    Sept. 11 is my mum’s birthday so I think ‘Hacking Windows Vista’ would be a great present for her to figure out how to fully take advantage of all the features Vista has to offer, courtesy of you of course.
    Cheers!

  7. Winning this book will make my life spent in front of the computer so much more fullfilling.

    Greetings from Adelaide, btw.

  9. i wannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnt one! though i’m not using vista as of yet.. maybe till SP1 is officially released. 🙂

  13. cool a computer tips book with a sense of humor – now that would be fun to read LOL .. as for bribes I’m reminded by a line in a Popeye cartoon “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today”. Mind you I always wondered what would happen if wimpy had asked that on a Tuesday. 🙂

  14. I want this one ! I have heard about it months ago .. and it would be nice to have one.

    Thanks Long for sharing so many presents with your fans ^^ (yes that’s what some of we.. are !)

  15. I want one! 😀 😀 😀
    And to make this comment contain more than just that sentence:

    Once upon a time there was a cow who liked crowing at 4 AM so her owners gave her a book: Hacking Windows Vista and she was so busy trying out all the tweaks she never crowed again.
    The End

  16. “Bribes are accepted via PayPal.”
    I can never be sure if Long is being serious…

    Sounds like a good read, can’t be as good as this blog though… (Why bribe when flattery is free?)

  20. Well instead of drivling on about how much I need the book and all that, I’m not. So I’m going to say this instead.

    Time flies like an arrow… fruit flies like a banana.

  23. That does sound like a very interesting and humorous read, doesn’t get much better than that. I’m all in. 🙂

  46. I like my Windows’ Glass stained, thankyou very much! (or for that matter tinted so I don’t get blinded by all those bright applications with white pixels glaring back at me!)

  50. Normally I wouldn’t go for a free book, as you say, “…if it’s in a book, it’s probably on the interweb.” I can’t pass up this opportunity as it would save a fair bit of time trawling through the web as Steve has already done that for us!

    Ehhhhxcelleeent… 🙂

  63. Cool:) I love to have this:) I try to win something in this web-site for so long… maybe I will now;)

  68. Long, my friend, please count me into the drawing. Hacking Vista to bite sized chucks sounds awesome!

  69. Wow.. thats a great great offer …

    and u Rock Man …

    i am a Big Fan of U ..
    Please let me know by my email what are your activities and what u do ..
    i mean studying and other things ..
    i really love the way u keep your site updated
    i am from Pakistan and want to make a site like yours but for that i would have to be some thing like you

    please let me know what i can do ..

    thanks

    love you ZeeBee

    bye!

  70. I read the “Hacking Windows XP” book, it was alright I guess, but with all the Vista blogs and guides out there, this would have to be SOME BOOK!!!

  71. “Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.”
    – Rick Cook, The Wizardry Compiled

  78. Freaky my last comment never worked right?
    anyways…
    I would love this book, it looks like it is a real winner, I read Hacking Windows XP, it was lovely but already pretty old when I read it! Thank you for the oppurtunity, even though I probably wont win!

  82. In light of other items on your blog such as the Microsoft “Ohana” project and Jackson Fish Market, does any one else think that the cover of this book is hideous?

  85. i am computer engg student so this book will be very helpful for me !
    thank u very much for giving me one copy !

  88. hey Long i have been a long time fan of your site and regardless if i win or not. ill always come back….daily!

    dont get me wrong id still like to have the book though 🙂

    peas
    cityboy

  99. Two eyes = Two books.

    Are you sure it was a mistake?

    If I win I promise to keep one eye closed in deference to the books twin.

    Drew.

  102. This book would be a great addition indeed.
    @Rafael: do you really think you’ll win like that? ;/

  103. u can download the book from here
    —————————————

    Edit by Long: As much as I appreciate you sharing the book, I think Steve deserves something for his work.

  106. Now Now! Since there are so Many Comments in here already and Probability of getting any one of the 2 would definitely be very very bleak, So Let me just comment about the fact the The Book is an Amazing read. I read a couple of reviews of the same and some review chapters available on the site, and it does sound good.

    I would suggest that every one here should give the author what he deserves and go ahead and buy the darn book.

    P.S. Cruel Intentions in the Comment about going to buy the book, Maybe den I would have a better chance! 🙂

    \JCB
    \CI

  107. Nice book. I agree with what you say, if its in a book, its probably online (as far as computers are concerned). Still having a book to read when you are traveling or just sitting around at home is fun. This is certainly worth a read.
    Me wants 😀

  113. Harrumph. Didn’t win the Expressions web contest; prolly not a good chance that the random-number-automaton-picker will reward me this time, either. 🙂

    All goood though…and thanks for the informative insiderism on Forum 07.

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