Today's home computers offer processing power that far outstrips their predecessors from even just a few years ago, and many users are taking advantage of the increased capabilities to unleash their creative sides.

"There's been a blurring of the line between creative professionals and serious hobbyists," says Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel, v-p and publisher of Peachpit Press, who compares the movement to the boom in desktop publishing when the Mac first arrived in the mid-1980s. "More and more, hobbyists are buying programs like Final Cut Pro and Photoshop, wanting to do professional-looking movies and digital photographs."

Scott Kelby, one of Peachpit's most prolific authors (11 books last year, 28 since 2003), identifies these "prosumers"—amateur photographers and videographers who do professional-quality work—as one of the fasting-growing segments in the computer market. "My daughter's pediatrician lives, eats and breathes Photoshop," he marvels. "The guy who sold me my car has $9,000 worth of camera lenses. These people have disposable incomes, and money to spend on the really good gear. A lot of amateurs have better gear than the people who do this for a living. The pros can't afford to jump on every single new camera that comes out. But the doctors can."

Along with the high-tech gear and software packages such as Adobe's Creative Suite (which includes Photoshop, Illustrator and other programs), users are turning to third-party guidebooks to familiarize themselves with what the programs can do. That's led to a significant increase in sales of computer graphics books. While Bookscan rates books about Photoshop CS as the #3 top-selling category and the recently upgraded CS2 at #6, says Aldrich-Ruenzel, sales of both books combined easily outrank guides to the Windows XP operating system, currently ranked at #1. And Kelby's prolific writing on graphics software, among other computer categories, has made him the bestselling computer author in the U.S. for both 2004 and 2005, according to Bookscan. Last year, for example, Peachpit reports shipping some 358,000 copies of Kelby's titles.

That makes him a standout figure in an increasingly cluttered market. "At any time, you've got an average of 100 Photoshop titles to choose from online or at any of the bricks-and-mortars," says Steve Weiss, an executive editor for O'Reilly, who credits digital photography books with keeping computer book publishing afloat after the dotcom bust at the beginning of the decade. When the market is that saturated, Weiss says, publishers can no longer rely on software training guides. "It's important to do what you can to get creative and innovative," he says. "You don't just sit there in your cube space and try to track trends. You turn to people who are out there in the trenches and ask them what kind of resources need to be produced."

Thus, when O'Reilly approached photographer Stephen Johnson about a new project, "I said point-blank I didn't have any interest in doing a book on Photoshop," Johnson recalls. "I wanted to do a book that encompassed the subject of photography in the digital age in a very holistic way." He envisions Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography (May) as the type of book that could be used in college humanities courses rather than as a technical handbook. "You really don't make much progress in the medium when you talk about the tools," he observes. "The tools are only empowerment for the vision."

Julieanne Kost, who joined Adobe in 1993 to provide technical support for Photoshop and is currently the software company's "digital imaging evangelist," agrees. "You have to master the technical side to be able to create the images you want," she notes, "but if all you are is technical, you'll make a lot of really boring images." Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography & Creative Thinking (O'Reilly, Mar.) came into being because of the travel demands of Kost's position. "I'm really terrified of flying, and putting a camera in front of me removed me from being in the scene, made me more of a spectator," she explains. "I got a few images that I liked and thought maybe I could put them up in my office. I got more, and then I thought I could have a show. Three thousand images later, I had a body of work that I really wanted to share with people."

There is still room for expansion in the software guide market, though. Late last year Apple introduced Aperture, a new application aimed at professional photographers, while Microsoft's Expression package, released in a beta version, includes a program called, simply, Graphic Designer. (Similarly, the new version of Windows due later this year will come bundled with Photo Gallery.) The first handbooks on Aperture will appear later this season, and look for the Expression turf wars to heat up this fall.

Ron Hogan writes and edits the literary blog Beatrice. He is also the author ofThe Stewardess Is Flying the Plane (Bulfinch).

&SUBHEAD>

Computer Books, March—August

&/SUBHEAD>

Compiled by Ron Hogan

All titles are paperback unless otherwise noted. For an expanded version of this list, see www.publishersweekly.com/springcomputer.

ADAMS-HALL

Teach Your Computer to Dance: Make Your Computer, MobileDevices and the Internet Perform for You (Apr., $24.95) by Don and Susan Silver offers tips and advice on products and programs for efficient and secure Internet browsing.

AK PETERS

Video Games & Interactive Media: A Glimpse at New Digital Entertainment (Apr., $19.95) by Stéphane Natkin suggests that the immersive, stimulation-rich environments of contemporary video games offer a new model for the future of interactive media.

Ray Tracing from the Ground Up (June, $75 cloth) by Kevin Suffern explains how to build your own rendering software from scratch using C++, and includes a CD with a basic tracer and sample code.

Collada: Sailing the Gulf of 3D Digital Content Creation (Aug., $49 cloth) by Remi Arnaud and Mark Barnes explains a cooperative effort to develop 3D design tools for video games and other electronic platforms.

AK PETERS/GARAGEGAMES PRESS

The Game Programmer's Guide to Torque: Under the Hood of the Torque Game Engine (Apr., $59) by Edward F. Maurina III details how developers can use GarageGames' Torque software core to create source code for their own video games.

A-LIST

(dist. by IPG)

MS SQL Server 2005: Developing Client/Server Applications (Apr., $39.95) by Vlad Pirogov is an overview of Microsoft's popular relational database management system.

PHP Security & Cracking Puzzles(June, $39.95) by Maxim Kuznetsov and Igor Simdyanov advises on protecting Web applications from hackers.

Hackish C++ Games & Demos (July, $34.95) by Michael Flenov discusses C++ programming techniques that can be used for computer games or software pranks.

APRESS

Pro VB 2005 and the .NET 2.0 Platform, Second Edition (Mar., $59.99) by Andrew Troelsen is updated and revised to cover VB .NET 2005.

Pro Ajax and PHP: Building Highly Interactive Applications(June, $44.99) by Lee Babin is the first book to explore how AJAX and PHP can work together in Web app development.

Foundation of Atlas: Rapid Ajax Development with ASP.NET 2.0 (June, $39.99) by Laurence Moroney explains how Atlas can be used to create faster and more powerful code.

APRESS/FRIENDS OF ED

Web Accessibility: Web Standards and Regulatory Compliance (Apr., $44.99) by Michael R. Burks et al. discusses how to ensure that Web sites are accessible to users with disabilities, including visual or aural impairment.

Foundation Flash 8 Video (June, $44.99) by Jordan L. Chilcott & Tom Green explains how to create interactive video content for Web sites using Flash.

AdvancED Flash Interface Design (Mar., $44.99) by Chris Dick et al. takes Flash design past the introductory stage to explain how many cool visual effects are created.

APRESS/TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION

Programming Sudoku (Mar., $24.99) by Wei-Ming Lee explains how computers can be used to create (or solve) the popular number puzzles.

The Hacker's Hardware Guide to the Mac Mini(July, $29.99) by John Biggs is a true gearhead's guide to modifying Apple's tiniest Macintosh for all sorts of purposes.

The Game Maker's Apprentice: Game Development for Beginners (June, $39.99) by Jacob Habgood and Mark Overmars shows how to create computer games using Game Maker's drag-and-drop interface.

BARRONS

Digital Manga Techniques (Mar., $21.99) by Hayden Scott-Baron explains how to use computer graphics software to create Japanese-style comics.

Webcomics (Mar, $29.99) by Steven Withrow and John Barber offers detailed advice on creating and publishing comic strips online.

Creating 3D Worlds (Mar., $29.99) by Simon Danaher comes with a CD-ROM to help explain how 3D models of virtual worlds are constructed to aid film and TV production design.

BLUE LINE PRESS

(dist. by IPG)

Coding: The Handbook for Information Technology (Apr., $44.95) by Knute Axelson et al. is a reference guide covering 20 key elements of IT, from programming and database languages to server platforms and operating systems.

BRAINY SOFTWARE

(dist. by IPG)

How Tomcat Works: A Guide to Developing Your Own Java Servlet Container (Apr., $49.95) by Budi Kurniawan and Paul Deck is a guide to the open source Web programming environment for Java developers.

Java 5: A Beginner's Tutorial (Apr., $39.95) and Struts Design and Programming (Apr., $49.95) by Budi Kurniawan provide tips on two significant tools for Java application development.

Flash Development with OpenLaszlo (Apr., $44.95) by Chris Coremans is a beginner's guide to using a new open source tool for creating Flash applications.

CISCO PRESS

Firewall Fundamentals (Apr., $50) by Wes Noonan and Ido Dubrawsky explains how firewalls can be used to protect the data on your personal computer or network from outside intruders.

Internet Phone Services Simplified(Apr., $19.99), Wireless Home Networking Simplified (June, $19.99) and Home Network Security Simplified (July, $19.99) by Jim Doherty and Neil Anderson are three new volumes in a series of illustrated reference books.

CMP BOOKS

Newton's Telecom Dictionary, 22nd Edition (Mar., $39.95) by Harry Newton explains the terminology of telecommunications and IT in simple, nontechnical language.

After Effects @ Work (Apr., $44.95) contains 11 tutorials on using Adobe's visual effects software to spice up office presentations.

The Church Tech Handbook (May, $29.95) by Anthony D. Coppedge shows how to incorporate audio, video and lighting technology into church media programs.

CYBERAGE BOOKS

(dist. by IPG)

Teach Beyond Your Reach: An Instructor's Guide to Developing and Running Successful Distance Learning Classes, Workshops, Training Sessions and More (May, $29.95) by Robin Neidorf is a practical guide to setting up and running a distance education program for teachers and administrators.

The Visible Employee: Using Workplace Monitoring and Surveillance to Protect Information Assets—Without Compromising Employee Privacy or Trust (June, $24.95) by Jeffrey M. Stanton and Kathryn R. Stam reveals how to keep your company network safe from employee error or malfeasance.

ELSEVIER

Understanding Macromedia Flash 8 ActionScript 2: Basic Techniques for Creatives, 2nd edition (Mar., $32.95)by Andrew Rapo and Alex Michael is a guide to Flash programming for design-oriented users.

Avid Editing: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users, Third Edition (Mar., $49.95) by Sam Kauffmann includes a DVD full of raw narrative footage for practicing with the Avid digital video editor.

Paint Shop Pro X for Photographers (Mar., $29.95) by Ken McMahon and Robin Nichols is an introductory guide to manipulating digital photographs for maximum effect.

Data Model Patterns: A Metadata Map (Apr., $59.95 cloth) by David C. Hay explains how to design a model of a company's systems and functions that best utilizes the corporate data.

ESRI PRESS

(dist. by IPG)

GIS, Spatial Analysis, and Modeling (Apr., $59.95), edited by David Maguire et al., is a software-focused approach to the current resources available for geographic information systems.

Spatial Portals (Apr., $29.95) by Winnie Tang and Jan Selwood explains new methods for locating and managing geographic knowledge with computers.

Mapping Global Cities: GIS Methods in Urban Analysis (Apr., $49.95) by Ayse Pamuk is a guide to using geographic information systems for community and urban planning.

HOLY MACRO!

(dist. by IPG)

From VBA to VSTO (Apr., $29.95) by Gerard M. Verschuuren is a guide to creating business solutions using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.

Excel for the CEO(July, $24.95) by P.J. Hari offers tips for managers on using the popular spreadsheet software.

Excel for Auditors (Aug., $24.95) by Richard B. Lanza is a guide to correcting errors and detecting fraud in Excel spreadsheets.

IDEA GROUP

(dist. by IPG)

Cyber Terrorism: Political and Economic Implications (Mar., $84.95 cloth) by Andrew M. Colarik outlines how terrorists may strike at computer systems and what can be done to prevent their attacks or minimize the effects.

Privacy Protection for E-Services (Mar., $94.95 cloth) by George Yee covers recent developments in online privacy issues from a technological standpoint.

Digital Crime and Forensic Science in Cyberspace (Apr., $94.95 cloth) by Panagiotis Kanellis et al. explains how criminals can attack computer systems and what tools are available to catch them.

KHAN BOOKS

(dist. by IPG)

SAP Simplified (Apr., $24.95) and SAP BW Simplified (Apr., $49.95) are entry-level books covering the initial implementation of SAP and functions associated with data warehousing.

LIMELIGHT MEDIA

(dist. by IPG)

F1: Get the Most out of Excel Formulas and Functions (Apr., $39.95) by Joseph Rubin explains how to write formulas for Excel spreadsheets.

MANNING PUBLICATIONS

Ruby for Rails:Ruby Techniques for Rails Developers (May, $44.95) by David A. Black. One of the computer language's core developers offers a guide to programming for the Web with Ruby.

Windows Forms in Action:Second Edition of Windows Forms Programming with C# (Apr., $49.95) by Eric Brown instructs programmers on creating Windows applications using the object-oriented C# language.

RSS and Atom in Action:Building Applications with Blog Technologies (Mar., $39.95) by Dave Johnson dicusses how online content syndication technologies can be put to use by software developers.

wxPython in Action (Mar., $49.95) by Noel Rappin and Robin Dunn shows how the Python programming language and wxWidgets toolkit can be used to create interactive applications with graphic interfaces.

MAXIMUM PRESS

(dist. by IPG)

101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site(June, $29.95) by Susan Sweeney has been revised for a sixth edition.

101 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home (Aug., $29.95) by Susan Sweeney is an updated edition of the 2001 guide to e-commerce ventures.

MC PRESS

(dist. by IPG)

BYTE-ing Satire: A Light-Hearted Poke in Technology's Eye (Apr., $14.95) by Joel Klebanoff treats computers humorously for the non-technically inclined.

WebSphere Application Server Express (May, $64.95) by Rama Turaga et al. describes how to install and operate IBM's application server software.

MCGRAW-HILL DATABASES

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Stored Procedure Programming in T-SQL & .NET(June, $59.99) by Dejan Sunderic introduces developers to various operations that are stored on the SQL database servers.

Hands-on Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Integration Services (Aug., $49.99) by Ashwani Nanda uses practical exercises to explain the various components of SSIS software's data collection and analysis capabilities.

MCGRAW-HILL/ORACLE PRESS

Oracle Database 10g Express Edition for Linux Starter Kit and Oracle Database 10g Express Edition for Windows Starter Kit (July, $49.99 each) by Steve Bobrowski explain how to install the relational database software for two major operating systems; both kits include full distribution of the Express Edition software on CD-ROM.

Oracle E-Business Suite Security(June, $65) by John Abel describes how to configure the applications that comprise the E-Business Suite so that they work together in a maximally secure environment.

Oracle Discoverer 10g Handbook (Apr., $69.99) by Michael Armstrong-Smith and Darlene Armstrong-Smith has been fully revised to cover Release 2 of this data analysis software, with guidelines for both end users and system administrators.

MCGRAW-HILL/OSBORNE/CERTIFICATION

PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide, Second Edition (Mar., $49.99) by Joseph Phillips revises its overview of the PMP exam, with a CD-ROM that includes two full practice exams.

Wireless# Certification Official Study Guide (May, $59.99) by Tom Carpenter is a full guide to the basic wireless technologies currently available, from Wi-Fi to RFID.

MCGRAW-HILL/OSBORNE/DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

George DeWolfe's Digital Photography Fine Print Workshop (Apr., $39.99), based on the author's workshops, covers the fundamentals of digital photography.

MCGRAW-HILL/OSBORNE/HACKING EXPOSED

Hacking Exposed Web Security Secrets & Solutions, 2nd edition (July, $49.99) by Joel Scambray et al. is a fully revised guide to computer security issues affecting online business platforms.

Hacking Exposed Wireless Security Secrets & Solutions (Aug., $49.99) by Bruce Potter et al. shows how to defend your wireless system against potential security breaches.

MCGRAW-HILL/OSBORNE/HOW TO DO EVERYTHING

How to Do Everything with Your Windows Mobile Device (May, $24.99) and How to Do Everything with Your Treo, 2nd Edition(Aug., $24.99) provide advanced tips on using hand-held devices.

MCGRAW-HILL/OSBORNE SECURITY

Hacker's Challenge 3 (July, $49.99) by David Polinno et al. uses 20 real-life case studies to test your familiarity with computer forensic techniques.

MCGRAW-HILL/OSBORNE/THE COMPLETE REFERENCE

Business Objects XI: The Complete Reference(May, $69.99) by Cindi Howson explains how to use the business intelligence software to make complex data queries and create reports.

Visual Basic 2005: The Complete Reference (June, $49.99) by Ron Petrusha is a comprehensive guide to the core programming language.

JavaServer Faces: The Complete Reference (Aug., $49.99) by Chris Schalk and Ed Burns is a quick tutorial to Sun's new Web application architecture.

MCGRAW-HILL/OSBORNE/THE OFFICIAL GUIDE

Citrix Access Suite 4.0 for Windows Server 2003: The Official Guide, 3rd Edition(June, $64.99) by Steve Kaplan et al. shows how the suite's components can be deployed for secure access to applications and data across a variety of networks.

MCGRAW-HILL TELECOM

IMS Crash Course (Mar., $39.95) and WiMAX Crash Course (May, $39.95) by Steven Shepard deal with multimedia communications networks and wireless broadband services, respectively.

MIMOSA BOOKS

(dist. by IPG)

Mac OS X Tiger (Apr., $34.95) by David S. Long provides advice on all the latest features in Apple's new operating system.

Adobe Illustrator CS 2: The No Nonsense Guide! (Apr., $29.95) by Stephanae A. Baker and Adobe Photoshop CS 2: The No Nonsense Guide! (Apr., $34.95) by David Rivers allow readers to learn how to use the popular image-editing software applications at their own pace with self-guided tutorials.

Doctoring Photos with Adobe Photoshop Elements (Apr, $34.95) by Eric Grebler explains how to alter digital photographs.

MIT PRESS

Hertzian Tales: Electronic Products, Aesthetic Experience, and Critical Design (Mar., $29.95 cloth) by Anthony Dunne explores how designers are creating products that interact with the invisible electromagnetic environment around us.

Technology Matters: Questions to Live With(Apr, $27.95 cloth) by David E. Nye discusses 10 key issues concerning modern technology in plain language.

Democratizing Innovation (Apr., $16.95) by Eric von Hippel explains how user-centered innovations can change the way businesses and public institutions model their practices.

MIKE MURACH ASSOCIATES

ASP.NET 2.0 Web Programming with C# 2005 (Apr., $54.50) by Joel Murach and Anne Boehm is a guide to creating professional-grade Web applications such as databases and e-commerce.

C# 2005 (May, $52.50) by Joel Murach is a beginner's guide to developing a variety of applications with Microsoft's object-oriented programming language.

OREILLY

Repairing and Upgrading Your PC (Mar., $34.99) by Robert Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson is a step-by-step troubleshooting manual designed for even the most technically challenged computer owner.

OREILLY MEDIA

Active Directory Cookbook, 2nd Edition (May, $49.99) by Robbie Allen addresses more than 450 situations that system administrators might encounter using Microsoft's Active Directory.

Programming PHP, 2nd Edition (Apr., $39.99) by Rasmus Lerdorf with Kevin Tatroe. The PHP creator offers insights on how to best use the Web development programming language.

Programming Rails (Apr., $39.99) by Robby Russell teaches Web developers how to use Ruby on Rails, an open source Web application framework.

OREILLY/DIGITAL STUDIO

Photoshop CS2/RAW (Mar., $34.99) by Mikkel Aaland is a guide to editing the uncompressed (and unprocessed) data files stored in digital cameras.

Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking(Mar., $39.99) by Julieanne Kostis a creative manifesto and art portfolio in one, along with some technical advice.

Photoshop Fine Art Effects Cookbook (Mar., $29.99) by John Beardsworth shows how to transform digital photographs into images that mirror the visual styles of artists from Vermeer to Warhol.

Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography (May, $39.99) by Stephen Johnson incorporates technical and other professional advice into an overview of the photographer's career.

OREILLY/HACKS

Ajax Hacks (Mar., $29.99) by Bruce Perry has 100 suggestions for using Javascript and XML to create faster Web applications.

OREILLY/HEAD FIRST

Head Rush Ajax (Mar., $34.99) by Brett D. McLaughlin is an experienced developer's guide to using the Ajax technologies for powerful Web applications.

Head First Objects (May, $44.99) by David Wood et al. explains object-oriented programming with a mix of text and graphics designed to engage programmers at all levels of experience.

OREILLY/IN A NUTSHELL

Web Design in a Nutshell, Third Edition (Mar., $34.99) by Jennifer Niederst revises the author's guide to creating Web pages, from basic formatting to multimedia content.

OREILLY/MISSING MANUALS

Flash 8: The Missing Manual (Apr., $34.99) by Emily A. Moore is a hands-on guide to the popular Web animation design tool.

Google: The Missing Manual, Second Edition (Apr., $29.99) by Sarah Milstein, Rael Dornfest and J.D. Biersdorfer shows how to get the most out of the Internet's most popular search engine.

OXFORD UNIV. PRESS

Who Controls the Internet? Illusions of a Borderless World (Apr., $28 cloth) by Jack Goldsmith and Tim Wu explains how major dotcom companies have dealt with government attempts to regulate and monitor the flow of information online.

PARAGON HOUSE

Don't Bother Me, Mom—I'm Learning: How Computer and Video Games Are Preparing Your Kids for 21st Century Success and How You Can Help (Mar., $20 cloth) by Marc Prensky offers parents an upside to their children's gaming habits.

PEARSON TECHNOLOGY GROUP/ADDISON-WESLEY

A Developer's Guide to SQL Server 2005 (May, $59.99) by Bob Beauchemin and Dan Sullivan is a comprehensive guide to Microsoft's database management system.

ASP.NET 2.0 Illustrated (June, $54.99) by Alex Homer and Dave Sussman includes online tools to help unleash the capabilities of Microsoft's Web development package.

Implementation Patterns (Aug., $49.99) by Kent Beck offers tips on implementing standardized solutions to software design problems.

PTG/IBM PRESS

Can Two Rights Make a Wrong?: Insights from IBM's Tangible Culture Approach (Mar., $24.99 cloth) by Sara J. Moulton Reger explains how to adapt to changes in today's business culture.

Implementing Rational ClearQuest: An End-to-End Deployment Guide (May, $34.99) by Christian D. Buckley et al. is the first book to cover IBM's new change tracking system for software developers.

Lotus Notes Developer's Toolbox: Tricks and Tips for Rapid and Successful Deployment (July, $54.99) by Mark Elliott advises on Lotus Notes Development.

PTG/PEACHPIT

Creating Rich Internet Media Publications (May, $50) by Bob Connolly explains how to embed animation, video or audio into interactive PDF files.

How to Wow with Flash (May, $39.99) by Colin Smith includes a CD that makes creating animation for Web sites easier than ever.

HTML for the World Wide Web, Tenth Anniversary Edition: Visual QuickStart Guide (July, $35 cloth) by Elizabeth Castro is updated with a reference poster listing the most common HTML tags.

PTG/PEACHPIT/ADOBE PRESS

Adobe InDesign CS2 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques (Mar., $19.99) by Kelly Kordes Anton and John Cruise is a desktop publishing guide that enables users to focus on the specific features they need.

InDesign Type: Professional Typography with Adobe InDesign CS2 (Mar., $29.99) by Nigel French discusses the basic principles of good typography and the type features of InDesign that can implement them.

Working Smart in Adobe Creative Suite 2 (Apr., $35) taps into CS2's productivity features for a more streamlined work process.

Working Smart in Adobe Photoshop CS2(Mar., $35) by Al Ward explains the productivity-enhancing features in Photoshop.

Macromedia Flash 8: Rich Application Development (Mar., $39.99) by Tom Green and Charles E. Brown is a hands-on guide to creating Web applications with Flash 8.

Macromedia Flash Video: Training from the Source (June, $44.99) by Robert Reinhardt explains how to create videos using the Web's most widely viewed video format.

PTG/PEACHPIT/NEW RIDERS

Dispatches from Blogistan: A Travel Guide for the Modern Blogger (Mar., $24.99) by Suzanne Stefanac introduces readers to the world of blogging with practical insights and advice.

Photoshop CS2 Down & Dirty Tricks(May, $39.95) by Scott Kelby is a step-by-step tutorial for replicating the sorts of visual effects achieved by professionals in print and online.

Codin' for the Web (June, $34.99) by Charles Wyke-Smith is a guide to the programming principles underlying good Web design.

Designing with Web Standards, Second Edition (July, $39.99) by Jeffrey Zeldman revises the guidebook that changed the face of Web design.

PTG/PRENTICE HALL PROFESSIONAL

Agile Principles, Patterns, and Practices in C# (May, $59.99) by Robert C. Martin and Micah Martin is a pragmatic guide to the Agile school of programming co-written by one of its founding advocates.

C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4 (June, $59.99) by Jasmin Blanchette and Mark Summerfield targets Windows and Linux developers working on desktops and other graphic interfaces.

Core Servlets and JavaServer Pages, Volume II, 2nd Edition (May, $49.99) by Marty Hall et al. features integrated coverage of servlets and JSP.

PTG/QUE

Upgrading and Repairing PCs (Mar., $59.99) by Scott Mueller provides up-to-the-minute assistance with hardware maintenance.

eBay Auction Templates Starter Kit (Apr., $29.99) by Michael Miller enables eBay sellers to create more effective auction listings.

Launching Your Yahoo! Business (Apr., $21.99) and Succeeding at Your Yahoo! Business (June, $24.99) by Frank Fiore and Linh Tang cover the basics of running a Yahoo! Store.

PTG/SAMS

ASP.NET 2.0 Unleashed by Stephen Walther (Apr., $59.99) covers virtually all features of ASP 2005

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Unleashed (May, $59.99) by Ray Rankins and Paul Bertucci is a premium guide to Microsoft's latest version of its database management system.

Sams Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL and Apache All in One (May, $34.99) by Julie Meloni covers three major open-source development tools in one basic package.

RAMPANT TECHPRESS

(dist. by IPG)

Oracle Best Practices (Apr., $27.95) by Kent Crotty describes the best methodology for coping with common situations involving Oracle's database management.

Oracle PL/SQL Tuning (Apr., $27.95) by Timothy Hall offers advanced tips of getting the most out of the PL/SQL database language.

Easy Oracle Data Warehousing (May, $27.95) by Donald K. Burleson and Mike Ault is a guide to using the popular database system for analysis and reports.

Oracle Data Mining (June, $27.95) by Carolyn Hamm shows database administrators how to search for patterns in large data packages.

ROUGH GUIDES

The Rough Guide to Blogging (June, $9.99) by Jonathan Yang offers a history and a roadmap to the blogosphere and also teaches readers how to start their own blogs.

SAS PUBLISHING

The Complete Guide to SAS Indices (Mar., $54.95) by Michael A. Raithel explains how to create software that can swiftly process large SAS data sets and extract needed data with minimal response time.

SAS for Mixed Models, Second Edition (Apr., $89.95) by Ramon Littell et al. revises the authors' original guide to SAS/STAT software applications; includes CD-ROM with SAS sample code.

SPRINGER

What Every Programmer Needs to Know About Security(Mar., $59.95 cloth) by Neil Daswani and Anita Kesavan is an introduction to security techniques for software programmers at every level of expertise.

Essential Software Architecture (Mar., $59.95 cloth) by Ian Gorton covers the fundamental principles of aligning a software system's components to work together most elegantly and efficiently.

VELOCITEACH PRESS

(dist. by IPG)

The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try (Apr., $79.95) by Andy Crowe offers guidance to those seeking project management certification through the PMP or CAPM tests.

VISUAL STEPS PUBLISHING

(dist. by IPG)

MS Word 2002/2003 for Seniors (Apr., $19.95) by Addo Stuur is an illustrated guide to word processing designed especially for older users.

WATSON-GUPTILL/AMPHOTO BOOKS

The Art of Digital Wedding Photography: Professional Techniques with Style (May, $29.95) by Bambi Cantrell and Skip Cohen covers both the technical and professional sides of photographing weddings using digital cameras.

WILEY

Create Your Own Photo Blog (Apr., $24.99) by Catherine Jamieson explains how to set up a Web log to spotlight your digital photography.

Defeating the Hacker: A Non-Technical Guide to IT Security (May, $35 cloth) is a guide to stopping electronic invasions by former hacker Robert Schifreen.

PC Magazine Digital SLR Photography Solutions (May, $29.99) by Daniel Grotta and Sally Wiener Grotta is the consumer technology magazine's full-color guide to learning digital photography.

Outdoor Photographer's Landscape and Nature Photography with Photoshop CS2 (May, $34.99) by Rob Sheppard shows how to apply classic nature photography techniques with modern digital equipment.

WILEY/EXTREMETECH

Hacking Google Maps and Google Earth (May, $29.99) by Martin Brown explores Google's extensive database of maps and satellite photography.

Hacking BlackBerry(May, $24.99) by Glenn Bachmann shows how to get the most out of the handheld computing device.

Video Blogging (June, $29.99) by Jay Dedman and Joshua Paul is a guide to distributing video content online in the Weblog format.

WILEY/FOR DUMMIES

eBay Listings That Sell for Dummies (Apr., $21.99) by Marsha Collier and Patti Ruby demonstrates how to attract bidders with attractive auction listings.

Ajax for Dummies (May, $29.99) by Steve Holzner offers first-time users a guide to the fast new Web development platform.

Laptops for Dummies: Quick Reference (May, $16.99) by Corey Sandler. Smaller in trim size than the typical Dummies book, this volume is designed for mobile users.

Videoblogging for Dummies (July, $24.99) by Stephanie Bryant teaches novices how to integrate video with blogs.

WILEY/SYBEX

Mastering Maya 7(Mar., $49.99) by John Kundert-Gibbs et al. is the official guide to the Maya 3D graphics package; includes a CD-ROM with tutorials.

40 iPod Techniques(Apr., $16.99) is Youngjin.com's guide to getting Apple's MP3 player to do much more than just play music.

Color Confidence: The Digital Photographer's Guide to Color Management, Second Edition (Apr., $39.99) by Tim Grey updates the digital imaging expert's guide to making sure the colors in your pictures accurately reflect what you photographed.

The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements 4(Apr., $29.99) by Richard Lynch comes with a CD-ROM to help "unlock" little-known features in the image editing application.

WILEY/VISUAL

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Digital Photography, 3rd Edition(Mar., $24.99) by Dave Huss and Lynette Kent covers every step of digital photography, from buying a camera to showing photos online.

Master VISUALLY Dreamweaver 8 and Flash 8(Apr., $34.99) by Denise Etheridge and Janet Valade is a handbook for creating interactive Web sites with Macromedia's development and multimedia applications.

Windows XP Visual Encyclopedia(May, $34.99) by Kate J. Chase and Jim Boyce explains the tools and commands available in Microsoft's new operating system for personal computers.

eBay: Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks, Third Edition(June, $19.99) by Julia Wilkinson includes new information on eBay subsidiaries PayPal and Skype in addition to its previous online auction tips.

WILEY/WROX

ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results (Mar., $34.99) by Paul Wilton and Imar Spaanjaars shows programmers how to build Web sites with Microsoft's latest development technologies.

Debugging Programmer's Reference (July, $39.99) by John Chirillo is a handbook for programmers and hackers on creating bug-free applications.

Beginning Xcode (Apr., $39.99) by James Bucanekexplains the basic steps of creating Mac applications to run on the OS X system.

Professional XML (May, $49.99) by Bill Evjen and Kent Sharkey discusses using the XML markup language, with insights from a Microsoft insider.