15 Free Guides That Really Teach You USEFUL Stuff
Over the past months, we’ve written quite a few PDF manuals for you, on all kinds of diverging subjects, including BitTorrent, iTunes, iPhone, Twitter, Mac, Linux, Photoshop and several other topics.
Initially available only for subscribers, there are now multiple manuals released every month, for everyone to enjoy. After releasing 15 manuals and nearly half a million downloads we thought it was about time to look back and review what has been published so far.
Enjoy! No sign up need, downloads are free, no strings attached.
Do us a favor by sharing those manuals friends!
1 – Internet Guide for the Movie Addict
Written by Saikat Basu, this entirely free PDF production will show you anything you’ve ever dreamed about knowing related to movies on the web. Whether you want a quick heads-up, are looking for download and streaming possibilities, or even want to fix broken AVI’s — you’ll find it in there!
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online.
2 – Internet Guidebook for An Audiophile
In fourty pages, Will Mueller from tells you all you need to know about free internet listening to music, streaming audio to your computer, and free download music sites to get all your favorite songs and albums in a whim. Learn how to share music with others and track a band’s performance and album releases!
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
3 – The Incredible Free Manual for Every Mac User
Jackson Chung, devoted Mac writer and Assistant Editor on MakeUseOf wrote this slick, sixty-odd paged monster; based on Snow Leopard – the latest release of the Mac OS X operating system. In it, he tells you everything you need to know about Mac. Jackson supplies you with numerous tips, tricks and free applications. Get the hang of the interface and discover what your Mac is really capable of.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
4 – The Underground Guide to the iPhone
Written by Stefan Neagu. Read about the basic user interface and a ton of incredible iPhone features you would’ve otherwise missed. Stefan explains in detail how to perform both the very simple and the most tedious tasks. Find out how to get your hands on fresh applications, how to keep your device synchronized and even how to jailbreak your iPhone!
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
5 – Twitter: Best Practices & Tips
In this massive guide, our very own publishing editor Mark O’Neill, tackles every Twitter feature and tips and tricks you can think of. Learn to work the interface, to Tweet from your desktop, cool Twitter bots and funniest people to follow. With this free manual, Mark will make sure you get your black belt in Twitter.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
6 – The Ultimate Guide to your Windows Mobile Phone
If you have a Windows Mobile phone, you will know that stuff can occasionally get pretty difficult. These devices, which are basically mini-computers, have endless possibilities — and thus endless possible difficulties as well.
This is where we come in. Whether you want to (re)discover the most basic features and applications of your device, extend it with new applications and tools, or even flash a custom ROM, the Windows Mobile Guide comes to the rescue.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
7 – A Computer Geek’s Smart Productivity Guide
In this free twenty-paged PDF, Stefan Neagu (yes, he wrote quite a lot of manuals back then) will show you the most common productivity mistakes, as well as a number of applications to improve your touch typing, your time organization, and your global workflow.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
8 – Building a Media Center for your Home
Active MakeUseOf contributor and eBook writer Stefan Neagu, will walk you through all the steps of understanding and creating your own media center.
Read all about the different hardware components, software candidates and media extenders, in this manual for geek to techno-deprived.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
9 – The Only Easy Guide To Computer Networks
To help you set up your networks, as well as with all that comes after, MakeUseOf proudly presents the MakeUseOf Network Manual.
In 33 illustrated pages, Stefan Neagu familiarizes us with the networking knowhow, from Adapters to Zimbabwe-proxies. It’s a great place to start off as a newbie, or to pick up as an already more advanced user.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
10 – The Big Book of BitTorrent
BitTorrent, is a great, perhaps even the best way to download files, both in concept as in use – that is, once you’ve got the hang of it. Saikat Basu takes newcomers by the hand and guides them in their first steps. Initiates, but also the more experienced users get their fair share of information.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
11 – A Newbie’s Getting Started Guide to Linux
In this free ebook you’ll be introduced to the basics of the Linux operating systems. Get to know what it is all about, and familiarize yourself with the practical side. Basically, if you’re a complete Linux newbie and looking for a quick and easy guide to get you started – this is it.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
12 – The Idiot’s Guide To Photoshop
An Idiot’s Guide To Photoshop is the starter’s manual for every Photoshop initiate to carry! This guide starts right at the very bottom, assuming no knowledge at all, and walks you through all basic aspects of the application. The guide even comes with three full pages of shortcuts, cheat sheets covering all the application’s possibilities!
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
13 – The Big Book of iTunes
50+ pages of great iTunes tips and tricks along with illustrative screenshots, written by our very own Mac writer Jackson Chung. The iTunes book has got plenty of cool iTunes tips and tricks for you, some were published on MakeUseOf before and others were collected from different parts of web.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
14 – The Idiot’s Guide to Building Your Own PC
With the complete amateur in mind who has no technical knowledge whatsoever, we show you how to build your own PC! This is a guide where we literally ‘hold your hand’ every step of the way.
MakeUseOf has teamed up with our very own Karl Gechlik to bring you nearly 50 pages full of screenshots, links to video demos and easy how-to instructions for every step involved. The result? The Idiot’s Guide to Building Your Own PC.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
15 – Laptop Buying Guide for 2009
MakeUseOf teamed up with Laptopical.com to give you a Laptop Buying Guide for 2009. It’s a quick 20 page guide with an abundance of screenshots and links to video reviews. This guide is intended to help buyers make an informed choice regardless of previous computer knowledge.
Original Post | Instant Download | Read Online
(BONUS) PSP Up- and Downgrading Guide
Learn how all about up- and downgrading your PSP. We discuss the older software methods, as well as the newer, hardware tricks. With this guide in hand, you can put a modded firmware on nearly any available PSP. Explained to accommodate the absolute novice.
Guys. Lots of work went into those manuals. Every manuals went through several people to make sure that it offers the best tips and tricks on topics. Please, help us, spread the word! Download, digg, stumble, retweet, and share them on Facebook!
Image credit: Daz*
(By) Simon is a student and tech enthusiast from Belgium. On MakeUseOf, he's the primary gaming writer and eBook editor. Check Simon out @ http://meme.yahoo.com/slangen/
I have downloaded 8 of these great guides before! Now I’ll download the rest!
Thanks!
Fantastic Compilation! I like the Laptop Guide the best, Very useful YES! thank you Simon.
Wow. This is a superb list. Bookmarked and will definitely use this, thanks!
JH
Thats some of the best tips I have seen in years. Well done.
Jess
Wow, this is wonderful… best single page on the internet.
An amazing sum of work, transmission of knowledge. Thank you very much.
I’ve downloaded all 15 of them (plus the Bonus), some immediately for myself, others for friends I know will be delighted. This is the WWW : knowledge when the only barrier is to read and learn. Fantastic.
this was really great and i saved a few of these to be helpful in the future.
thanks for the files!!
I’m most appreciative of your work.They are useful!
Though I’m a foreigner,it will took me some time to understand the whole article, I still have to express my heartfelt thanks.
Thanks for this great collection.
Wow these are as useless as this website
Hehe… just my thoughts! You’re comments gave me good laugh though. Looks shiny, is totally useless.
Thank for all the guide ebook.
This is a great guide, certainly worth a Digg! thanks
well, the “how to build your own PC” one is pretty out of date. Nothing about SATA vs PATA, no PCI-E, and very little about system tasking…and what about slotted processors, there’s no need unless you’re scrounging something old and building it into a server…
Great article. Thanks for posting these guides.
You guys are freakin fantastic! This is awesome. Thank you!
Grammar errors:
“In fourty pages, Will Mueller from tells you all you need to know about free internet listening to music” = (from) and (free internet listening to music)
“Jackson Chung, devoted Mac writer and Assistant Editor on MakeUseOf wrote this slick, ” = Comma in the wrong place.
“both in concept as in use ” = Use “and” instead of “as”.
There may be more of them but I don’t have the time to correct all of your mistakes. Please take more time to create error free articles.
“Grammar errors:” = Grammatical Errors
…
good one!
(Comments wont nest below this level)what a tool!
Thank you very much for posting all these guides. I’ve already downloaded all the ones that are relevent to me.
u r so sweet………………
THANKS A LOT FOR THIS !!! BIG HELP
thanx. very usefull resource…i Love this post…
Bob, u made me laugh….anyway great collection, thanx
@Bob. hahaha ur funny
great content, thanks for sharing!
Amazing
awesome!
wow, thanks for this superb resource, shame I didn’t discover this earlier, I needed a laptop buying guide
>>> THANK YOU FOR CARING ENUF TO POST THESE GUIDES !!!
This is straightup EPIC.
Love the post! Super helpful!
I’d also like to throw in my free guide: “Learn To Speed Read”.
It’s a 366-page, six-week coursebook, a culmination of years of research, with a bibliography to match. Anyway, you can read it on GoogleBooks or through my website.
Enjoy,
-Kris Madden
AWESOMENESS!!!
excellent reading
I read the one about productivity, which was a good way to spend 20 ‘wasted’ minutes in work 
Regarding the PSP hacking one – it IS possible to hack PSP 3000’s .. not sure how old that document is, but 3000 hacking has been possible since May 2009. 3000 users with OFW v5.03 (and higher) can use ChickHEN R2 .tiff exploit to patch the memory, to then (temporarily) install CFW 5.03 (and higher) GEN-A / GEN-B. The 3000 series cannot install CFW permanently though – so after a hard reset, the patching needs to be reinitiated.
awesome stuff!
keep it up!!
Awesome guides. Thank you so much. These guides rocks!!
Something I’m sure every geek (like me) dreams of finding.
Files unavailable now:
This file is unavailable until Dec. 6, 2009 because the uploader’s account has reached its download limit. You can access it immediately with a DivShare Personal account!
does any body know where there is a newer psp guide???
Thank you! My father wants a media center for his home and keeps bothering me about it. I’ll show him this instead
Good guides, pity that hardly any of the links it them work, at least not for me they don’t
What a great selection. Well done and thanks for taking the time to put it together.
Love it! Book quality materials, all for free!
it would be lovely if it’s in video format instead of ebook.
nice article, though.
Thanks! I just read the 15th now. Really helpful. A million thanks to you!
Spiffy!
very nice collections thanks:D
Really cool site!! loved it
That is an absolutely awesome collection. I will call back to see such updates because I really love such stuffs. Thanks for sharing.
WOW I WISH I WAS AN IDIOT SO I COULD FIND THESE GUIDES USEFUL 10
Only an idiot would make this comment
This realy wonderfull collection. Thanks a lot.
Good.Thank.
asoskay
This is a great article. Thanks for posting these, really useful
I download three of them…great,,thanks!!
Thanks for sharing these guides and to the authors of the guides
Very helpful information
as all commnets above. Excellent compilation. Thanks
Interesting Stuff!
thanks!
This is a good collection.
Thanks.
Thank you very much. This stuff is important. Feeling good about knowing a sufficent amount about what is “out there” on the Web means I (and I imagine other users will feel the same)don’t have to worry about missing out. You can do so much with this kind of information/knowledge/advice that it does change people’s approach to life. Thank you for caring enough for the stranger others to have worked on this and shared it. much tech love
This is a really useful collection. I plan to start Linux so will certainly be downloading that one.
Here’s a guide that EVERY man should utilize. http://artofmanliness.com/