As noted in my letter, the following books are very helpful and make me want to upgrade to a PC! The books are: PCs In Easy Steps, WINDOWS 95 In Easy Steps, Web Page Design In Easy Steps, Internet Directory In Easy Steps and The PC Expert Collection.

There are more books in the 'Easy Steps' series (in fact, 68 titles) but these four are offered for just £4.99 each from The Book People by telephone order or at Hall Wood Avenue, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside WA11 9UR. The other book is available from The PC Information Centre, Hartslade, Lichfield WS14 9RH.

The Easy Steps books are well written, easy reading and well worth having as they explain everything very clearly. There is a general index and each chapter has a separate index too. An alphabetical index is also included at the end of the books so it is very easy to refer to the subject you wish to look up.

Each book is written in the same style and there are some helpful tips highlighted by three icons. These icons are followed by a short statement printed in bold type in the left margin indicating points to Remember, Beware or note as a Handy Tip.

The books are well illustrated though those screenshots are rather small and the printing on those small and difficult to read.

The first book covers just about everything PC including upgrading and the internet - although this last one rather briefly.

The book on Windows 95 seems to cover all aspects imaginable and the illustrations show the screens you show be seeing.

Web Page Design gives a lot of advice and help on this subject though a good part is for business use. It gives many examples throughout.

The Internet Directory, though obviously limited to some extent, does give brief details of many interesting sites and a good idea of what can be found on the net.

I found this series of books excellent value and very helpful.

They are published by Computer Step, Southfield Road, Southam, Warwickshire CV33 0FB. Their web site is at 'http://www.ineasysteps.com/'.

This is a ring-bound book similar to the Welcome Guides and can be kept bang up to date. It gives a step by step guide to building a PC, good advice on what to buy and what to avoid and there is information on setting up the PC with Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and 98, fault finding and fixing. It also includes some information on setting up your own web site.

The book is well laid out and written. It is a good guide for those who wish to build or upgrade a PC and for sorting out problems.

The publishers also produce a CD which is packed full of useful programs and information. It includes the equivalent of over 400 A4 pages of PC information and hundreds of pages of help and tips on Windows 95, programs, compilers, utilities, games, music programs and much more - there is a full A4 sheet included with the book describing it!

The CD is obtainable by sending a cheque for £12.95 payable to ACE Info Files, Dept CD, PO Box 7, Lichfield WS14 0NA. I shall certainly get one as soon as I am set up with a PC.

I hope these notes are of interest to those who have been recently upgrading or thinking of doing so. I am thinking hard about it.

Richard Dimond, EUG #44