Book Description
In every PC user's life, there's a point when desperate measures must be taken. Some push their PC off a pier or chuck it into a landfill. Others turn their former computing ally into a planter box. But don't give up on your PC yet--help is at hand. This easy to read, accessible book from PC World expert Steve Bass covers the waterfront of PC gripes and gremlins, with fixes for everything from Windows glitches to browsers that won't browse. Each fix is served up in bite-sized portions for quick reading--and even quicker fixing. A revised version of its best-selling predecessor, the 2nd edition offers 50 additional pages and over 120 new fixed annoyances. This reader-friendly book tackles problems related to a wide-ranging number of topics:
- Windows--King of Annoyances! learn how to kick Windows in the rear, overcome glitches, take charge of the interface, live with the dreaded Service Pack 2
- Hardware--wake up your DSL, tame your notebook, silence your PC's fan, work wonders with your scanner, and save paper
- Email--from Outlook to Eudora! Defeat spam, avoid mailing list hassles, send big files, manage folders
- Microsoft Office--learn workarounds for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that help you back up the unbackable and automate data entry
- Internet--shake up IE, stop Flash, outsmart defaults, control Favorites, add the Google toolbar to Netscape
Plus, you get access to more than one hundred utilities that will help you squash bugs, enhance your email, untangle a system snarl, and much more. If your PC has ever annoyed you (do we see several billion raised hands?), PC Annoyances is for you. With the flip of a page or two, you can fix that faux pas and have your PC purring again.
Customer Reviews:
Worth the money.......2007-02-25
I was so impressed by this book when I checked it out from the library I realized I had to have a copy of my own for those times when problems crop up that drive me toward the deep end. This book does what it claims. Though it won't answer all of your problems (what book would), it's easy to understand and can provide simple solutions to what seem like complex problems. It also gives the reader various references and free helpful programs on-line. I highly recommend it.
Not a technical manual.......2007-02-03
OK for the nontechnical XP users. Most of these hints have been published elsewhere but it is a nice collection.
Would recommend this book.......2006-08-15
I love the format Steve Bass uses while writing
about computer annoyances. Many of the tips and solutions
can save you frustrations that are always there even in
a minor way because you may not know how to fix them.
Very Practical,Funny,To the Point........2006-07-17
After slogging through books on W2KPro/XPPro that are painful to read and no help unless your running 100+ PC's this book was a welcome relief in it's smarts,humor,and direct approach to fixing many of the challenges presented by the above mentioned OS's. Having one of my usual sleepless nights I started tallying up all the money I spent trying to keep MS software running,protected from hackers,bots,spyware,virii worms and it's own predisposition to fail and I realize that with an entire industry built around sloppy software as the norm and a gov't asleep at the antitrust wheel we're not likely to see a real improvement any time soon. When you hear words like regulation stifles innovation reach down and make sure you still have your wallet because it's about to be plundered. It's always about the money. If I had to spend another $25 to have this book included in the box that MS/OS came in then I would've saved hundreds on books that did'nt meet my needs and priceless amounts of lost time.
PC Annoyances.......2006-02-28
This is not the usual boring computer book. Just the opposite.
I'm reading it the second time with a felt tip marker. After reading a chapter I go to my computer, explore, and make changes. I've learned more reading this book than any other computer book I've purchased. And it's written so the average computer user like me can understand.
Book Description
The mechanical engineer's handbook of choice for over 70 years--includes the complete text of Mark's Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers, Tenth Edition.
Customer Reviews:
If you're a mechanical engineer, save your money.......2007-09-13
I purchased this, along with Lineburg's Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam when I took my PE Exam. I cracked it open a few times while studying and once during the exam. I didn't find what I was looking for and I almost NEVER use it during my work. I am in the process field, pumps, pipe, etc. I use Lindeburg's manual at least twice a week. Skip this book and buy something more specific to your specialty. It's far to generic to be useful to me.
A Must Have for Engineers.......2007-08-20
This belongs on my desk. Katrina took my previous copy. I feel better having it within arms reach.
I loved this book.......2006-08-18
I think its very useful handbook. A must have for all fresh graduates.
Hardcover-CD?.......2005-09-27
IT seems this book is a CD for use of a Wireless Area Network (WAN), so how can it possibly be hardcover? And why is is three times more expensive than the normal edition, but still looks like it is the same 10th edition material on CD ONLY?
Overrated.......2005-09-12
"Mark's Handbook" is one of those books you hear other students in college talk about like it's a must have that you'll use for the rest of your life. But it's not. I bought this book, and six years out of college I barely ever crack it open. It's packed with information, but it's so general that you can't get any real-world specific information out of it. It's like a restaurant reviewer who can tell you that "New York has some great Italian restaurants" but doesn't give you the name of any of them. You're much better off skipping this book and buying one that's more specific to your particular field. As an example, the mechanical engineer is much better off with Shigley's "Mechanical Engineering Design".
Amazon.com
Digital cameras for still pictures have become pretty commonplace, but digital video remains less widely adopted. This must be purely because of equipment cost, because everyone with a recent-model personal computer has access to excellent editing software, and has all the required data ports. PC Magazine Guide to Digital Video shows how to capture, edit, and publish digital movies with the tools available for the Microsoft Windows operating system. This is a fairly comprehensive guide meant for someone who's never had training in videography, doesn't really know about the multimedia file formats Windows uses, and doesn't want to invest a lot of money in professional-grade software for editing and publishing. It's all you need to take some digital home movies, edit them so they're not too boring, and burn them to DVD for distribution to the remote parts of the family.
Jan Olzer explains how to shoot video properly in the first place, offering advice on lighting, composition, and action. Then, focusing on Windows Movie Maker and (to a lesser degree) Pinnacle Studio, he walks the reader through techniques for chopping up the raw footage, disposing of the dull parts, and reassembling the rest into a coherent storyline. Titling and other production techniques get attention, too. His style is highly example driven, and easy to follow. --David Wall
Topics covered: How to capture, edit, and publish (to DVD) home videos and amateur movies. There's coverage of composition, lighting, and sound for when you're filming, and explanations of how to use popular editing suites when you're back home assembling a final product.
Book Description
What does it take to make great digital video? The right equipment, the right skills, and Jan Ozer's advice.
PC Magazine's digital video authority delivers the details that will help you make videos you can be proud of. Here's the lowdown on which camera to choose (and why), how to shoot the best footage, how to capture the best sound, how to get your video from the camera to your computer, what to do when you get it there, and how to produce a showstopper from start to finish.
Author Jan Ozer offers expert advice on:
- Deciding what you do and don't need in a digital camcorder
- Selecting a DV or analog capture solution
- Picking the perfect video editor
- Getting the right DVD-authoring package and recorder
- Shooting terrific footage and capturing sound that's just right
- Outputting your project in various formats
- And producing professional-quality DVDs
The book's CD-ROM includes audio and video files comparing consumer and prosumer camcorders and demonstrating techniques like noise removal; MyDV D, Pinnacle Studio, Ulead Video Studio, RealONE Player, muvee auto Producer trial versions, and more.
Customer Reviews:
A Practical Guide.......2007-03-31
If you are wanting to learn about digital video, get this book. The book is written lightly and personably--as if you are sitting there talking to the author. The most valuable part of the book is the section on creating DVDs. The author takes you through every aspect of creating a professional DVD with a menu, background music, and advanced authoring.
The author also has provided information on video editing and shooting techniques. I love his approach and the layout of the book. The book is appropriately written for the audience it addresses (beginner to intermediate videographer).
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that the CD that is included only has trial versions of commercial software on it. I would have liked for him to discuss and provide some free software for video capture and editing. No disappointments though. This is a good book and has been quite valuable to me.
Gosh, what a great book .......2007-02-11
Having already struggled with a little bit of filming and editing, I found many of my prior frustrations described and clarified in this wonderful book.
Jan Ozer, the author, is blessed with an ability to explain technical concepts clearly. (Where was he when I was studying physics in high school?)
The chief virtues of this book are:
1) superb graphics -- of equipment, of software screenshots, and of Mr Ozer's beautiful models (his small daughters)
2) explanations written clearly and concisely, and with a fine dry wit, as if Mr Ozer were at your home talking us through the process.
At this writing (early 2007), this book may appear a bit dated. However, the concepts Mr Ozer explains so well will be with us for years to come. I can't imagine there's a better introduction to amateur video than this book.
Nice introduction, for a general audience.......2004-08-23
This is a field that spans both hardware and software. Unlike, for example, Photoshop, which is a pure software construct. If you're going into digital video, the hardware issues alone can be daunting. Important things like choosing an internal analog capture card. Who are the main vendors? What are the salient features to compare? Ozer gives you these data.
In software, you have to pick some video editor. These run the gamut from the entry level Microsoft Movie Maker 2 to more powerful and expensive alternatives like Pinnacle Edition, Sonic Foundry Vegas or Adobe Premiere Pro.
Many other issues are shown in the book. Along with simple editing techniques. Enough to get you started. Ozer's writing style should be clear enough to many. And he gives you a lot of material to digest. Including various utility programs on the accompanying CD.
Worth the money even if not perfect.......2004-08-13
My impressions of the book:
(1) It was better than I expected. A lot of beginner material but he does cover some key concepts. I agree that his tone is not too novice-targetted, nor is it too technical. He uses Microsoft Movie Maker 2, Pinnacle Studio 8 and Ulead VideoStudio 7 for most of his illustrations. Unfortunately, although the book came out this year, as is common with software, Pinnacle is up to Version 9 and Ulead up to version 8. He does cover other prosumer editors like Vegas, Liquid Edition, and Premier, but the book is primarily focused on users of consumer editors and equipment, not the professionals. That was Ok with me.
His advise on equipment and technique was interesting to read although, in my opinion, he did not spend enough time on accessories. This is not the best book for advice on accessories. Most of his time is spent on video editing software. As is also unfortunately common, he did not talk about set-top stand-alone DVD recorders, which some people use for archiving. I found his advise on "The Basics of Shooting" to be quite helpful.
(2) The book can be a bit wordy and he overuses the adjective "lovely" to describe software features, effects, pictures, etc. It sounds a little odd sometimes.
(3) For equipment and software, his focus on Sony camcorders sound unnecessarily. Similarly, he sometimes sound like a salesman for Pinnacle Studio. Now, I happen to like Sony camcorders (I am on my third) and Pinnacle Studio (warts and all) but I would have preferred more balanced descriptions. So, if you do not have Pinnacle or Ulead VideoStudio (both of which I have) you may feel a little put out.
Overall, a useful book. It could be better, but for $20.39 on Amazon, I think anyone relatively new to digital video would find the book helpful and worth the money.
Excellent Book!.......2004-08-13
This book is a must-read for anyone trying to create DVDs from analog videotape! His chapters on cameras, capturing video, working with audio, choosing software, and creating DVDs are indispensable!
Book Description
Most computer users think that fiddling with the insides of their PC is taboo. They fear that by removing the screws that hold the case on, they're crossing into forbidden territory. And even for those who know they can open the box and fix or upgrade their PC, analysis paralysis often stops them in their tracks:
Which upgrades offer the best bang for the buck? How do you pinpoint the faulty component that's making your system freeze? What about compatibility issues?
Get ready to get unstuck and get your PC running fast and running right. Repairing and Upgrading Your PC delivers start-to-finish instructions, simple enough for even the most inexperienced PC owner, for troubleshooting, repairing, and upgrading your computer. Written by hardware experts Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson, this book covers it all: how to troubleshoot a troublesome PC, how to identify which components make sense for an upgrade, and how to tear it all down and put it back together. This book shows how to repair and upgrade all of your PC's essential components:
- Motherboard, CPU, and Memory. Choose the optimal match of these core components to keep your PC running at top speed
- Hard Drive, Optical Drive, and Removable Storage
- Give your computer what it needs for long-term and short-term storage
- Audio and Video. Enhance your computing experience with the right sound and graphics devices for your needs
- Input Devices. Pick the best keyboard and mouse to keep your hands happy and healthy
- Networking. Set up secure wireless networking to keep the bits flowing between your computers and the outside world
- Cases and Power Supplies. Keep everything running cool and reliably
With its straightforward language, clear instructions, and extensive illustrations, this book makes it a breeze for PC owners of any skill level to work on their computer.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent and simple to follow book.......2007-07-27
Excellent book for understanding basic PC hardware. The book is well written and has many useful "hints". I highly recommand this book to anyone who wants a comprehensive book about PC hardware, upgrading and basic repairs.
Great book.......2007-05-01
Great book. Most repair books are just focused on the A+ exam. This one is wonderful for learning or improving your repair skills. It's not an exam cram its a how to book.
Excellent guide.......2007-04-24
I bought this book about a year ago when I was contemplating stretching the life of my 4+ year old PC. The book proved very useful for me to zero in on the biggest bang-for-the-buck upgrades, and which ones were best to avoid because they yield low performance for the dollar.
About a month ago, I decided to build my own PC. This book again proved useful in helping guide me in making decisions on what equipment to choose.
It's rare that I spend over twenty bucks for a book. This book has paid for itself a few times over in helping me save money by not spending unnecessarily, or spending unwisely.
The instructions are written clearly. There are many photographs illustrating the steps being described, sometimes a few different photos of variations of different types of components. There is plenty of "theory of operation" on how various components work and how different standards compare (IDE vs SATA, for example). There are specific brand recommendations. There are specific techology type of recommendations. And there is just the right amount of humor throughout the book.
You may think this sort of book is only for guy geeks. Well, I'm a woman who's just about to pass the mid-century mark, and I found it to be a valuable reference for building, repairing, and upgrading PCs. You can pay the Geek squad lots of money to fix your stuff, or you can pay a bit over $20 and learn how to fix it yourself. That's a great feeling.
Repairing and Upgrading Your PC .......2007-04-01
very good reference guide. Each chapter has some bit of information even for an expert.
"One of the Best".......2006-11-22
Repairing, upgrading and troubleshooting PCs has been my business for almost 20 years. I buy all such newly published books each year from mainstream authors Minasi, Mueller, Bigelow, etc. While my collection of those books (20) do have their own merits in technical specifications and documentation value, my purchase of this book by Robert & Barbara Thompson was by far the most pleasing. Why?
In just the first 2-hours of scanning subjects, I highlighted dozens of gems of advice or insights from the Thompson's long experience that I have NOT seen in any of the other books. I couldn't stop reading. The Thompson's book will not replace the other books mentioned, but it is the first one I consult for superb hardware insights and advice -- a GREAT supplement to the other books. Don't miss this one!
Average customer rating:
- I don't recommend it
- Get the book, you will NOT regret it!
- Fantastic
- Very Disappointing
- Concise, useful, and it fits in a toolbox
|
PC Technician's Troubleshooting Pocket Reference
Stephen J. Bigelow
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media
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ASIN: 007212945X |
Amazon.com
I don't know where the folks at Osborne buy their clothes, but on my planet a pocket is only slightly larger than a hand. I can put my wallet in my pocket. I can carry three or so Zip disks. But I've tried and tried, and I just can't jam in all 600+ pages of Bigelow's PC Technician's Troubleshooting Pocket Reference into any pocket I have. The thing is an inch and a half thick--definitely not pocket-sized. It's satchel-sized. It's put-it-under-the-tire-to-keep-the-trailer-from-rolling-downhill-sized.
Form factors aside, Bigelow's book lives up to its title; it's all troubleshooting information. Wonderful! This book assuredly was not meant to be read front to back. It works like this: start with a problem, and then look up the solution. Bigelow divided the book into sections for various parts of the PC or devices that are connected to it. You look up the device, read about it, heed some general maintenance wisdom, and then peruse the various "symptoms" and cures. Very nice, and just about the best information on troubleshooting that I've seen.
There are two problems. The first (again) is the book's size. Simply put, it's not a pocket-sized book. Osborne should forget that aspect, and publish the book in a size that easily lies flat. Trust me, the information is valuable enough to sell the book; don't get cute with the size. The second is that I'd like to see the symptoms summarized before they're presented. That would make finding specific information easier, and I wouldn't have to thumb through several dozen symptoms/solutions before finding what I want.
On the key subject of disk partitioning, this book fits the bill--but only in troubleshooting partitioning problems. On that subject, Bigelow does a fine job, and even suggests third-party solutions. In fact, the book does contain many third-party solutions, as well as advice on what to do in Windows for troubleshooting.
This book is not for everyone. Most of the introduction is aimed at computer technicians or troubleshooting professionals. But at $19.99 it's a good investment. At the very least, it'll make you the hero on your block, when it comes to troubleshooting PCs. --Dan Gookin
Book Description
*Fully revised updated edition. first edition was strong seller - over 30,000 sold. *Ties into the booming A+ Certification market. A+ technicians specialize in PC hardware troubleshooting. *Follows success of Pocket Reference Series by Bigelow, which has sold over 70,000 copies. *Handy format - designed for technicians, in a convenient, portable, pocket-sized edition. *Leading author - Bigelow's last three books have sold well over 250,000 copies.
Customer Reviews:
I don't recommend it.......2003-09-03
Poorly organized. Useful neither as a field reference nor study manual. Don't waste your money. Much better investments are: (1) Upgrading And Repairing PCs, Field Guide, by Scott Mueller, and (2) Pocket PCRef, by Thomas J. Glover & Millie M. Young.
If you're studying for the A+ Exam, check out 'A+ Certification', by Michael Meyers. Another excellent book which goes into greater depth, is 'Upgrading And Repairing PCs', by Scott Mueller.
Get the book, you will NOT regret it!.......2003-06-20
This book is amazing. I repair and troubleshoot PC's professionally, this book is one of my most valuable tools. I always take it with when I am out in the field. I cannot even begin to guess how many times this book has help me find a solution to a problem quicker than I would have found it on my own. I own many pc repair and troubleshooting books. If I were made to give them all up but one; I would not even have to consider which one I would keep. I would keep Bigelow's PC Technician's Troubleshooting Pocket Reference without hesitation. Get the book, you will not regret it. It is a must have tool for your repair kit, absolutely incredible!
Fantastic.......2001-12-26
I must say that before I got this book I though i knew it all. Then when I got it, I was BLOWN AWAY by all the usefull information and tips in this book. This is not a book for beginners. It dosent spend time explaining useless tutorials. It gives the information you need so you can use it for yourself. I reccomend this book to anyone interested in learning more about how your system works
Very Disappointing.......2001-07-21
I purchased this book because of the several glowing reviews of it on Amazon. Now that I have a copy (which I will be returning shortly) I can only guess that those reviews were written by friends of the author. This book is little more but a long and rambling antidotal collection of PC repair stories roughly organized into general failing areas. No symptom analysis, no error code explanations, no organized flowcharts of logical procedures, no tables of settings and types. Just paragraph after paragraph of "if you notice this, try that". In my mind this should be called something like the "Jeff Foxworthy you might be a redneck PC repair tech manual". However, if you are new to PC repair and have no idea where to start looking for the resolution of a problem, this MIGHT be just the book you need - because you can sit and thumb through it and look like you are doing something useful while you await the arrival of the guy who knows what he's doing. You might even stumble on an antidote that actually applies to the problem you are currently experiencing.
Concise, useful, and it fits in a toolbox.......2000-05-20
Stephen Bigelow's book on Troubleshooting PCs is a personal favorite, containing (literally) pounds of practical advice and information. Alas, that great work is far too bulky to fit inside my toolkit... which is why I own this book.
There are no frivilous details here, only the "meat and potatoes" a technician needs to do his or her job correctly. It is loaded with lists of facts (POST codes, AT and DOS commands, connector pinouts, and so forth), as well as instructions on diagnosing and resolving many hardware problems. My only complaint is that not all the page numbers in the index are correct, but the book is so well-organized that I seldom need the index.
When troubleshooting a PC, I use this book almost as often as my screwdriver. It is a tool that few technicians should be without.
Book Description
Discover how easy it can be to get the most out of your PC! High-quality color photographs and extremely easy-to-follow text make this an ideal resource for upgrading, repairing and building your own computer. This informative visual guide will show you how to improve the performance of your current system and use peripherals including DVDs, scanners, digital cameras, scanners, and much more.
Customer Reviews:
Outdated, bad advice, nice pictures however.......2003-11-14
I bought this book thinking it might make a good companion text for an Adult-ed course I am developing. The technical advice it contains is out-of-date and I'm not sure it ever made sense in the first place. It has beautiful illustrations for things like "how to upgrade your monitor" (answer: "buy a new one"). I give the book two stars because the pictures are so pretty, but if you have a Pentium II with 32 Meg of RAM running Windows ME you don't want to upgrade, you want to replace it with a new computer. A nicely illustrated book with sensible advice like "donate your old computer to charity" or "take it the dump" wouldn't be worth the price of this book, but at least it would correct.
A Great Instructional Guide On Upgrading And Reparing PCs !.......2002-04-08
All i can say about this book is it is a wonderful guide. It is filled with large pictures and easy step by step instructions. Great for a beginner or a experienced person. I recommend this book to everyone. A good first book for people interested in upgrading or building their own PC.
Book Description
The full text of the authoritative, classic chemical engineering bestseller.
Customer Reviews:
An unbeatable resource.......2006-11-08
Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook handbook is really a mixed bag, and how useful it turns out to be is really a matter of what kind of information you are looking for. I've always felt that this is the definitive book if you want raw facts and numbers. The entire volume is crammed with technical data that, for some, can't be found elsewhere. All the groundwork is covered; conversion factors, symbols, kinetics, interdisciplinary studies (several), thermodynamics, and just about anything else that coincides with the field of engineering. On a personal level, I've used it on several occasions when collecting field data, but its uses go well beyond that. For the sheer amount of information covered, the volume remains fairly well organized, and never veers too far from what you are researching.
The downside is that it can often seem overwhelming to students or those with passing involvement or interest. Despite the dependable presentation, it can be difficult to understand for people who haven't been brought up to speed on the variation of the topic they wish to examine. Even though the all the data is present, understanding it won't be easy until you've familiarized yourself and comprehend the tables and usage. Some claim that the book was written primarily for academics, though I don't see that as true. Anyone can use the book effectively once they get the hang of it.
Even though it might have some drawbacks, I truly can't see how anyone in the field of Chemical Engineering could not have this book on their shelf. It is the ultimate source of chemical data and interdisciplinary studies. If you don't yet own this one, I really can't see how you can go wrong in purchasing it.
This is so funny.......2006-04-21
Check out what that kid wrote on October 25, 1999. He gave the book one star. Someone find him and tell him how much of an idiot he is. He wrote the dumbest thing I have ever seen. Who the hell reads Perry's cover to cover. Is he really that dumb just go buy a book about making bombs if you want to "make bombs". Another thing any normal person would realize after the first million pages is that Chemical Engineers don't learn how to make bombs. what a retard. Oh yeah, good book
Good service.......2006-02-02
I got the book in a very short time and the process was also quick. 2 years ago, I had a problem with an Amazon affiliated store and took me such a long time to get my money refunded but this time, Amazon did a great job.
Thank you for shipping in time!
Practicing Professional Feedback.......2005-12-28
Well, I have used it a couple of times for / during many of our field assignments, where we needed authentic information. The charts & tables contained in it are highly useful
Great Professional Handbook on CD.......2005-10-07
To receive the CD in such a short time from the US to Belgium was already a surprise.
For our consultancy job in safety risk analysis this CD of the handbook is a Must to have it always available for look-up.
Thanks
Customer Reviews:
All you need to know manual.......2006-07-19
I really love this manual. It covers both Windows and Mac with step-by-step instructions. This is the latest manual in its class which covers old to latest ipods and itunes. This is the only manual you need to have for your old and latest ipods. Great buy.
Simply Amazing.......2006-05-27
This is a How-to-do-it book. A latest piece of research work on iPod at very reasonable price. You can also download its e-book version at unbelievably low price of $2.99. E-book is listed with hundreds of active links that are full of information. So you can defeat any top notch writer/researcher of iPod. Now I know what I can do with my iPod. I found following in this book:
How to share your playlists
How to add songs from a CD
How to convert WMA Files to ACC
How to copy songs between playlists
How to make your own CDs and print CD inserts
How to Watch iPod videos on Your TV
How to convert DVDs for your iPod with free third party tools
How to convert videos for your iPod from other vinyl media
How to create your own video for iPod
How to record internet Radio
How to make ebooks for your iPod
How to turn your iPod into a PDA
How to export PowerPoint presentation for iPod photo
How to use iPod as firewire drive or an external drive
Find the latest iPod accessories including iPod sex toy
How to install and run Mac OS X and Linux on your iPod
How to create invisible partition to hide your important data
How to use Windows and Mac versions of iTunes to the limits
How to troubleshoot and maximize your iPod battery life
Commonly used iTunes script editing commands
Commonly used iTunes objects
Shortcuts for iPod and iTunes
Find free legal and illegal places to get iPod videos
Take your desktop, email, Internet Explorer Favorites, and other documents along in your iPod by using shareware
Amazon.com
PC Hardware in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference relies on an eternal truth of the computer industry: legacy systems never die. This book focuses on the technologies that have provided Wintel personal computers with various capabilities over the years. Like most of its competitors, this book addresses the PC on a subsystem level, and deals with video cards, hard-disk interfaces, memory, and other pieces of the componentry puzzle that hardware integrators need to figure out. The authors do a great job of explaining the differences between (and relative merits of) IDE and SCSI hard-drive interfaces, various video buses, competing processors, and other technologies. They also prove themselves adept at explaining general assembly procedures and troubleshooting strategies.
This book distinguishes itself from its most popular competitors by emphasizing the authors' opinions on hardware products. It's refreshing to see authors recommend Product A for high-performance systems in which price is not an issue, Product B for economical home systems, and Product C for organizational workstations. On the other hand, the recommendations, prices, and similar values will change over time. The authors maintain a great Web site, at which you can find their current recommendations. (The Web site, on the other hand, doesn't include the book's high-quality tutorial on designing and assembling a system from zero.) Even the photographs that appear in this book--traditionally a weak point among hardware books--are clear. --David Wall
Topics covered: Personal computers that comply with Microsoft Windows and Intel compatibility requirements. The authors address processors, memory, hard disks, optical media, removable magnetic disks, video cards, power supplies, and more. Also, there are instructions for assembling a machine from scratch, and some coverage of troubleshooting problems.
Book Description
PC Hardware in a Nutshell is a comprehensive guide to buying, building, upgrading, and repairing Intel-based PCs, presented in O'Reilly's concise "In a Nutshell" format. The three major thrusts of the book are:
- Buying guidelines. In supplying advice on how to choose optimum systems and components, the book focuses on teaching the reader how to evaluate alternatives rather than on recommending specific products.
- How-to advice. The book is loaded with practical, hands-on information about how to install, configure, and troubleshoot specific components.
- Reference. Numerous tables and the topical organization let novices and professionals alike consult the book for the specifications and steps they need in order to perform discrete tasks.
In addition to covering the fundamentals and general tips about working on PCs, the book includes chapters focusing on motherboards, processors, memory, disks (floppies, hard drives, and optical drives), tape devices, video devices, input devices, audio components, communications, power supplies, and maintenance. The last chapter is a complete case study in building a PC from components.
PC Hardware in a Nutshell is supported by a web site that provides:
- A depository of obsolescent or arcane material that didn't make the book but may still be useful to some
- New and updated material that will appear in updated editions
- Errata
- A Mail drop for reader feedback and suggestions
PC Hardware in a Nutshell is a compact guide, accessible to the ordinary reader and invaluable for the seasoned professional.
Customer Reviews:
Pull-no-punches opinionated and highly detailed.......2005-05-23
Robert Thompson is a man who doesn't hold back from giving his opinion on why something is good or bad, either on his website or in his books. In _PC Hardware in a Nutshell_, he tells you just what he thinks of what's good and bad about PC components in just about any category you can think of, and backs it up with all the facts, figures and personal experiences you could ever ask for. Every chapter includes historical information on the components under discussion, detailed reviews of what they do and how they do it, and recommendations on what to use (and what not to use). The final chapter walks you through building your own machine step-by-step, though, this being an omnibus book, the chapter is necessarily slightly skimpy in comparison to _Building The Perfect PC_. The writing style is clear and lively, in fact the book is well worth reading as a book even if you don't need any specific information at the time. The only real complaint I have is something the author has no control over - the fact that new PC hardware comes out so fast that it's just impossible to review every single new thing in a paper edition. (Well, that and the fact that Thompson doesn't like Western Digital because he's had bad experiences with their hard drives, whereas I've been using WD exclusively for years and never yet have had one go out on me. I think that can be chalked up, though, more to the fact that there's just so much PC hardware out there that different people are just going to end up having completely different experiences with components from a particular manufacturer. That, or I just got lucky with WD hard drives.) All in all, this book is truly indispensable.
Power to the People!.......2005-02-03
Let me start out with a huge thanks to O'Reilly. I'm not a big fan of large corporations or publishers - but I have come to trust O'Reilly implicitly wherever technical issues are concerned. Although I'm certain that they are not the "perfect" publisher, nor in the business for wholly (ha!) altruistic reasons, I AM amazed by the remarkable originality, diversity, range, quality, accuracy, and honorable business practices of this publisher. Oftentimes I wonder how they manage to maintain such a level, when their current library is so chock-full of tough-to-follow acts.
That said, PC Hardware in a Nutshell does not fail to meet up to these high expectations. Let me get the review portion of my review out of the way - simply put, this is the book I have been hunting for a couple years. That I did not immediately search the O'Reilly library only shows that I am a bit silly. I should have known better. End of review.
But I would like to carry this a bit further, and go out on a limb to discuss the only complaint prior reviewers have voiced: that the book is too "Microsoft-centric."
Rather than a weakness, I believe that this is actually a strength. Let me offer big kudos to the authors and publisher for realizing that a serious, yet accessible, compendium of computer hardware knowledge was necessary. The folks who register such complaints are those least in need of an in-depth introduction to PC hardware. These are the high priests of hi-tech, who rule the roost by virtue of their knowledge-monopoly on all issues technical. They would have you believe that if it was not hand-crafted from spare parts, duct tape, and copious amounts of solder and configured with the most obscure version of Linux, then it's only fit for a 4-year-old. They are, quite simply, dead wrong. Let them compile their own "PC Hardware for Only the Most Serious Tech Gurus", I say!
Thompson's very first point is that he intended the book to be of the most practical usability possible. The practical reality is that the people who desperately need such a compendium are poor fools, like Yours Truly, who are too technical to be satisfied with tutorials on how to use Microsoft Office, yet are not quite knowledgeable enough to get right under the hood of their PCs (never mind build a Linux box from spare hatpins and Reynolds Wrap). We, the "psuedo-techies", often do not come equipped with enough experience, knowledge, or confidence to take ourselves to the next level. We are the crowd who are using Microsoft products, yet would love to learn enough to understand exactly WHY Microsoft means "mush-mind" and Linux is God - but will never get there without a guide. This book is the guide, and to me it says, "Psuedo-techies unite! Power to the people!"
A bit dated.......2004-08-16
This is a great book that covers every aspect of building a PC. However, as of August 2004, the 3rd edition of this book is a bit dated. For example PC3200 memory is considered the newest memory and both Pentium 4 Prescott processors and Athlon 64 processors were not out when this book was published. If you are buying this book, you may want to wait for a 4th edition, unless you are looking to assemble an old computer.
I would not accept the author's hardware recommendations as the final word. For one thing, the components they review are in many cases no longer manufactured. Magazine reviews and PC hardware Web sites are going to have different opinions on what the best components are.
All you need for PC hardware.......2004-07-13
This book is amazingly concise and thorough, yet also very easy to read. It contains many helpful photographs, and the authors maintain a great website that is tremendously useful and is a great addition to the book. I am not a big fan of the "In a Nutshell" computer books published by O'Reilly, but this book is definitely an exception. It's great for both beginners and experts.
A Gem of a PC primer!.......2004-06-21
O'Reilly's an up and coming publisher of computer related books. Maybe a kingpin already. This selection is a true quick reference guide. Written by the Thompsons, this selection gives you a thorough look into buying, assembling and operating computers. You do need a basic understanding to get anything out of this book, but if this is the case, you won't be disappointed. I have a first edition copy, and it's still current. That says a lot, a first edition published four years ago is still not too outdated! Think about it. How many computer related books can you think of that's relatively current after four years? Huh?
Book Description
Cut straight to the must-know information, real-world techniques, and industry-savvy advice you need about upgrading, troubleshooting, and maintaining your PC#151;and even prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exam! This expertly organized, ultra-practical guide delivers essential details on PC components#151;from core hardware to operating systems#151;how they work together, and how to buy, install, troubleshoot, and repair them. If you're studying for the latest A+ exam, you'll also find step-by-step labs and exam tips to help you demonstrate that you have industry-standard skills for an entry-level computer technician. So whether you're looking to purchase or install new hardware, pump up your system, or fine-tune your preparation for the A+ exam, this handbook delivers the focused reference and guidance you need.
Customer Reviews:
Complete text... for hardware........2007-04-26
Similar to another review, the title of the book is sort of deceiving. This book intensively covers hardware. Although, it doesn't cover anything dealing with operating systems or configuration.
As for the actual content of the book, it is great. Very complete, well written, and simple step by step directions. It covers many aspects of hardware. The book is primarily written for (mostly) modern computers (from 2000+). It barely covers older machines, but old machines aren't really an issue anymore.
In terms of technical manuals, the author makes it pretty interesting while providing additional information about certain memory, graphics cards, sound cards, etc. that may otherwise be difficult to obtain. It was a great supplimentary book for my A+ certification.
This book helped me get back in step with hardware.......2006-02-28
I came back to an IT and deployment division with my hardware skills a tad rusty (sorry to say floppies were dominant last time I worked with hardware). I bought four different books and was not happy with any of them when I happened upon the Chase MSPress book in a colleague's book shelf.
This book quickly helped me get back up to speed and was enough to make me get two of her others (Excel 2003 from O'Reilly and her FrontPage 2003 Savvy? from Sybex). Particularly looking forward to the XP Encyclopedia from Wiley&Sons I just saw listed for the first time tonight because my enterprise workplace is only now making the move from NT4.51 and 2000 into XP (almost in time for Vista's release, don't you know?). Jim Boyce's name is also on it and I've also liked his work.
Careful, looks good, but...........2005-02-12
...But this book may not live up to the product descriptions claim that it will "-and even prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exam! ".
No, I have not purchased this book. I am a student in pursuit of A+ certification and am researching texts to accomplish that goal. I know that the A+ cert requires two tests for completion, Core Hardware and OS Technologies and currently sets the objectives at 2003 standards and that now the test designations are 220-301 & -302. The 2004 publiction date is a good sign that it meets the new requirements. Upon examining the "Inside this Book" section and a careful study of the Table of Contents for this book I noticed that it covers Core Hardware well, but has only one 50 page section on OS's. Careful, my understanding so far indicates that the OS exam is just as detailed as the Core exam if not more so and those 50 slim pages on the subject probably are not enough for that aspect of the cert exam. Notice the title.. "PC Hardware and A+ Handbook".
The product description could be more accurate by probably saying "-and even prepare for the CompTIA A+ -CORE HARDWARE- certification exam! ".
Also examining the T of C showed that it is extensive on the Hardware side, but many subject matters are treated in just one or two pages, so depth in the topic matter may be lacking in relation to preparing for the test. All supposition on my part, as again I have not read the book.
It is not my intent here to "Rake" the book as bad. As a matter of fact I'm interested in some of the topic matters outlined in the T of C and the books specific chapters, such as Ch. 2 OS's info looks intriguing and Ch. 3's insights on a "Toolkit". As well as others.
But even though I am a knowledge junkie and enjoy Oh! thats where that came from mysteries, my ultimate goal here is to have a book which will accomplish my objective. Educate me upon the subject matter I will be required and expected to know for COMPTIA's exam questions. If the book does that then it will also train me to be a fine PC Technician because COMPTIAS exam objectives and questions are tailored toward troubleshooting and resolving daily in house PC physical problems and OS glitches.
Yet, here's the rub! MOST training textbooks do a wonderful job of compiling facts and history about Hardware or OS specifications and how all of the standards and engineering come come together to make lets say a hard drive, but then fail to make the connection to the the real world of how to implement those facts about HD's into practicle skills and knowledge of the common malfunctions of the HD itself when one or more of those specs or standards stops functioning.
Comptia wants you to know that when you have a "data error reading on drive C:" that that problem indicates you've got bad sectors on the hard drive, (actually clusters of verticle sectors on the cylinders of tracks on the platters of the HD) and that you would use ScanDisk to scan for them and have that "Utility" software do its magic in fixing the formatting error or physically damaged area of the HD if possible and/or marking them as bad. The textbooks usually just explain what a cluster of a HD is and how to determine what clusters are (if your book is so thurough) and then somewhere else in the text it talks about utility software, such as scandisk, that are included in the OS's system software, but never links the two in a practicle way to resolve an error code or typical result of the error condition. I'm affraid thats exactly whats in store with this text and would have to purchase something else to accomplish my goal. Wasting time and money.
Thats what I've come to know in this Certification game that is being played out. I am deeply appreciative of all those who have taken the time to post reviews because, through them, I've been able to piece together some common pitfalls between textbooks and what Comptia tests on. I've learned what I need in the way of prep material and what generally to expect on the exam. That I need both facts and some history, but be keenly aware that the book must link that knowledge to practicle TROUBLESHOOTING and problem resolutions which ultimately leads to passing the Comptia exams and trains me to be the answer guru for my customers.
You are going to shell out money for an education no matter what. Don't let marketing get in between you and your pocketbook and the goal. Most of all know what is required to obtain the goal and look for books and prep material that fulfills those requirements. Remember, tech certification info is perishable over time. Test objectives, hardware and software change with time requiring constant upgrading in the texts themselves. Be publication date aware in relation to your certs current requirments.
Heres my path. Comptias web site. Get the objectives and read all their site info on certification. Take the time to read the A+ book reviews posted on amazon by individuals, lots and lots of them on different texts. Get a feel for their disappointments and successes and their pointers. Go to about.com and review the a+ section info. Brave it out and buy at least one textbook and make sure it comes with practice exams and questions. It probably isn't going to be "the be all and end all" book to your certification, but it's the start. My research has narrowed down my choices to:
The A+ Certification and PC Repair Handbook (Networking Series) by Christopher A. Crayton ,
A+ Training Guide, Fifth Edition by Charles J. Brooks,
A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide (5th ed.) by Michael Meyers, Scott Jernigan
These are the tomes, 800 plus page reference manuals. Your going to need at least one tome. They are listed in my order of preference.
The A+ Exams Guide: (Exam 220-301), (Exam 220-302) by Christopher A. Crayton;
Practice tests and questions are essential. This is my choice (probably Chris's book tome as well). These are what will make or break your abilities to link tome knowledge and troubleshooting competentcy in passing the exam. They force you to learn to link the facts and practicle skills implementation. It's just the way its done in certs. I'll have to say I have a personal bias against Exam Cram books and practice ?'s.
I hope this helps. I'll post a review about the texts I buy out of the above list and give my apprasial as to there worth when I get through them and something concerning the testing process as well.
Enough of a book to go into detail........2004-10-31
Most of the books you find on PC hardware are so simple that they really don't provide you with the information you are seeking. Finally this book has come out with sufficient detail that it will indeed help you find problems with your computer, tell you what features to look for in your next one, or provide the background to understand the older system that you may be working on.
This is a full sized - 656 page - computer book that is quite up to date. It is quite up to date, including information on things like the new Serial ATA disk drives and the AMD Opteron that is changing Intel's thoughts on how to do their next CPU's.
The book is intended to help with installing, upgrading, fine-tuning and troubleshooting your PC. It also provide a bit of information to help pass the CompTIA A+ certification. Notice I said a bit of information, this is not a cram guide to the test. This book presumes that you really want to know how the PC hardware works, is configured, or what to do if it doesn't.
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