Alan Cooper

Advantages: An entertaining and enlightening read for the newcomer to UI design
Disadvantages: Self-contradictory in places and sometimes impractical

...I used to think Alan Cooper was a god, but time and experience have taught me otherwise. I still consider this book to be a good introduction to the topic of UI design in Windows(tm), but I am now able to spot its contradictory nature. While the ideas presented are based good solid UI design principles, all too often the examples given address only the issue currently under discussion and ignore or contradict advice given elsewhere in the book. Overall, though, if you've not read a book on UI design before, make this your first one. Especially if you're going to be programming in Windows. It's a good introduction, but be prepared to cast a critical eye over some of the examples. Then you can move onto reading something slightly more solid and practical - say, The Windows User Experience by Microsoft (another review of mine ;).... Read review

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Advantages: Well-presented, consistent, from-the-horse's-mouth wisdom
Disadvantages: Who knows when they'll next change their UI fashions?!

...The Windows User Experience, from Microsoft Press This book's subtitle, "Official Guidelines for User Interface Developers and Designers," hints at the way the subject is approached. The Windows User Experience looks at the subject of user interaction in Windows software from 2 different, but equally important, angles: human computer interaction (HCI); and interface implementation. The HCI parts of the book, aimed at the 'User Interface Designer', are sound. Unlike those presented by Alan Cooper in About Face, the principles here are presented consistently, without contradiction. Indeed, consistency is a watch-word throughout the book. It also makes a refreshing change to see Microsoft openly acknowledge flaws in the design of their own products. At least someone's big enough to admit they make mistakes. The rest of the book... Read review

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Advantages: Jilly Cooper is back with another outstanding novel following the adventures of the people of Rutshire
Disadvantages: There are none!

...Being a huge fan of JC, I rushed out to buy this as soon as I knew it was out. It's another brilliant novel by Jilly Cooper, about a head teacher brought in to turn around a failing comprehensive school. She joins forces with a local public school and the fun starts there! Some of the characters from Jilly Cooper's previous novels make an appearance, such as the utterly handsome Rupert Campbell-Black and his adorable second wife, Taggie and we finally get to know their two adopted children, Bianca and Xavier who are both now at posh Bagley Hall; the awful Hermione Harefield makes a return, as does her son Cosmo, who is now a very machevillian 14 year old and seems to take after his late father, the evil conductor Roberto Rannaldini. There are also some great new characters and Jilly Cooper manages to intertwine them effortlessly... Read review

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