Think you can’t move faster around a computer? Think again. The Just the Tips series from NerdyBooks has tricks up its sleeve that you most likely haven’t seen. These tips include keyboard shortcuts to quickly move around a software program. Of course, the first shortcuts I’ve learned were CTRL-C and CTRL-V for copy and paste and ALT-TAB to move between open applications. The shortcuts have saved a lot of time and the series offered an opportunity to learn more timesavers.

Within days of receiving the books, I manage to learn new tricks, which I still use today. One of which is pressing ALT+M to minimize all open Windows. The book is set up like those desk calendars that stand up like an easel. Instead of ripping out pages, you flip ‘em over since it is nicely bound with a wire-o bound. They’re also available as an e-book. I’m working try to learn a few shortcuts per week so it will become a habit and not something to forget in two minutes.

The tips series characters are cartoons that make the references entertaining. Kenneth, the young kid, represents very easy tips. Shagg, the hippy, shows you some easy ones, dude. Guy Martini, Vegas-lounge singer wanna-be, shares the cool tips. Tomboy Shelli, who reminds me of me as a kid hooked on sports, passes you some funky tips. Grumpy Mr. Nester prepares for you the long and annoying tips. Finally, the Harvard School of Tipology graduate, Professor Lester, walks through the complicated tips.

This series is a great gift idea for those relatives who keep pestering you to help them use Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or Windows. Paul is a pro with Excel, but I have bought him the Excel tips because the shortcuts will help him get faster at it so he doesn’t have to drown in budget management longer than necessary. No fluff… Get nothing but tips, man.

You can get them from Lockergnome Tutorials.