Hi,
I have the ProShow Visual Quick Start Guide by Jon Canfield, and it is just that, pretty much of a Quick Start manual. It lacks depth in my opinion, but I'm using Producer. It has good information, but nothing that you can't get from the Photodex manual that comes in PDF format.
My suggestion would be to save the Photodex PDF file to a flash drive, then take it to OfficeMax or similar and have them print it and put it in a protective cover
with a spiral binding. I've done this before with other software and it makes it really easy to read and follow while you're working on something on the computer. It will probably cost you about the same as one of the books mentioned (approx. $25), but the new Photodex manual has more information (at least I found this to be the case with Producer), and will be easier to follow along with while working in the program.
Now, as I'm writing this I just checked out Amazon.com to see their prices on the books mentioned, and I see that there's a new book about to be released on March 23, 2010 called "Secrets of Proshow Experts: The Official Guide to Creating Your Best Slide Shows with ProShow Gold and Producer by Paul Schmidt (Paperback - Mar. 23, 2010)". Paul Schmidt is founder and president of Photodex. You might want to check it out as well:
http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Proshow-E ... 654&sr=1-2Then just play, practice and read as much on this forum as you can.
ginger