Product Description
Carefully researched and written, PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition is packed with useful and unbiased information, including how-to advice for specific components, ample reference material, and a comprehensive case study on building a PC. To the point yet complete, this book provides an enormous amount of timeless information intended for anyone who buys, builds, upgrades, or repairs PCs in a corporate, small business, or home setting.In addition to coverage of the fundamentals and general tips about working on PCs, this book includes chapters focusing on motherboards, processors, memory, floppies, hard drives, optical drives, tape devices, video devices, input devices, audio components, communications, power supplies, and maintenance.Special emphasis is given to upgrading and troubleshooting existing equipment so you can get the most from your existing investments.Amazon.com Review
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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Pull-no-punches opinionated and highly detailed
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!
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
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
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!
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? ... Read more

Product Description
CD-ROM. Compact disc manufacturing, Optical disc drive, CD/DVD copy protection, Red Book (audio CD standard), DVD-Audio, Personal computer hardware, DVD, Optical disc authoring ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (76)

Perfect Supplement for Building a Perfect PC
Authors Robert & Barbara Thompson have written an amazing guide for anyone with intentions of building their own PC.We are the lucky ones since we are dedicated PC users.Such building is not possible for Apple Mac computers as far as I know.

This book is a great supplement for the usual motherboard User Guide but should not be considered a substitute.The authors do briefly suggest reading the user guides, but then turn around and say with their experience they do not even bother with the guides.That is not good advice since they can't possible cover all of the details for the different motherboards.

The most valuable part of the book is help in choosing and buying components, and how to design a perfect PC.There is also a general section re troubleshooting after assembly.Most helpful to me was a final checklist before "the Smoke Test" for the Gaming PC.That was the PC I was already building when I acquired the book.Each PC described has such a final check list.

Many color photos and detailed descriptions for all of the models are very thorough.There is something for almost everyone.This edition has 6 different PC's for your choice.Included are a Mainstream PC, SOHO Server, Gaming PC, Media Center PC, Small Form Factor PC, and a Budget PC.

By time of writing this book in 2006 the ultimate processor was the Intel Core 2 Duo.In mid 2010 I was already building my Gaming and all purpose PC using the new Intel Quad Core i5 processor.However, the book was very helpful in many ways except for helping to choose many of the newer components.With plans for building another all purpose PC early next year I am looking forward to the new 3rd edition of this book with estimated release In December 2010.

...just 1 thing missing
As a first-time builder, this book was invaluable at giving me confidence and direction. I won't reiterate the well-deserved praise given for this text. However, there was one thing missing from this and many other forums on PC building: what to do once you've put the components together. Do you just press the power button? What about BIOS set-up? This is absolutely essential info for anyone building their first PC and it's not in this book.Without this info, I was lacking 100% confidence."my super pc dot com /build/pc_first_boot.shtml" filled this void.

Building the Perfect PC, Second Edition
I found this book to be in as good or better than advertised.It is very informative and has a great amount of data to be used by the novice!

Unavoidably Outdated, but relevant...
Let's face it- any book written on PC technology will be outdated before it even goes to print.When it comes to assembling a PC, however, it matters very little (from an installation standpoint) what the technology is.Most motherboards install the same way; as do hard drives, video cards, and memory modules- regardless of the tech involved.This book thoroughly explains the essential functions of all of these important components, and how they are installed.If you need brand recommendations, they provide these as well. Each well written chapter contains excellent photos of all of the installations, too. Overall, this is an excellent place to start if you are thinking about building a new PC and never have done so before.New technology can easily be applied to what you learn from reading or referring to this book.

Useful if biased "anti microsoft" guide on building PCs.
The Thompsons give detailed steps on how to build 6 very different computers, froma SOHO server to a budget PC.

Of course hardware changes very fast, so anything more than a few months old is painfully outdated. But as the preface states: "The more things change the more they remain the same". You can replace a Pentium D for a Quad Core, the latest iteration for the video board, double the amount of memory and GBs of the HD, and what you read on the page matches what you should get from the shelves.

I would have liked advice on RAID, specially RAID 1 (mirroring, x data security) instead of just JBOD. I've bought my HDs from WD and Seagate, both with a 50% failure rate. Since data recovery shops here don't do the job properly, and are darn expensive of course, I guess RAID 1 is a more sensible advice than what they give: "The Media center PC will be connected to our internal network (...) we've got terabytes of disk spinning elsewhere, so it'd be easy enough to set up a cron job (...)" (p. 273). Ijust don't think this authors are serious! Not everybody's got a network at home, and the fact of loosing years of information is the closest thing to having your past gone.

The First chapters give enough reasons for the case in favour of building your own PC (versus buying it made). Having done so myself, I do believe it's not at all "for everybody". Yes, "a grandmother could do it", as theyquaintly quote, but when things don't go according to plan and not even the tech gurus know what to do, I wonder how a "non professional" would fare. Let alone my mum ...

What I found displeasing is that on the cover it ads: "perfect for Windows Vista" and inside, the few brief mentions of this OS are Microsoft bashings, pleas for Open Source Software, and outright fanaticism, like when they brag about their home as a: "Microsoft free area". Or when they explain why they had to make a PC with Windows for a specific program "that still doesn't run on Linux", but, prim and promptly add "as soon asRobert finishes, it, we'll donate it to the nearest charity". As if that were an asset! Don't get me wrong, most of my "Computer Engineering" friends do use Linux & co, but if you're writing a guide for the "average user" as this one purports, the least one expects is abundant coverage of yes, the most widely used Operating System in the world. Not insider's jokes on why they want such Linux distro (= distribution)...

I also thought the style was highly anecdotic, probably too much. Like when on a GAMING rig, they explain: "We had an old GF 6800 video board, so we used it. For our purposes, it works fine. When it breaks, we'll get another one" (p. 206). Or, to keep about the same PC, they chose an integrated sound adapter for "We don't care about EAX support". It's not about THEM, it's for a gamer! It's obvious the authors are now knowledgeable about anything that a 12 year old would ever play (let alone serious gamers). And not knowing about video board for games is not a matter of principles (like their anti MS bias).

I do like the inclusion of MANY pictures. And contrary to a reviewer, I find it funny and useful that they show their hands. I guess it makes it more humane, you feel identified when you get stuck...
I also like that they include all the extra steps they made when they did something wrong (it makes you feel less of a fool when you botch something, like "if these people, who have been making PCs for 20 years, make mistakes, why can't I? :)". Of course, they magnify them a bit so as one feels less miserable, but the overall result is one feels OK.

What they said about Dell power sources and their unusual cabling, that makes them suitable to blow themselves and the motherboard when you connect them, turned out to be RIGHT when I was about to use a spare PS when I thought our Dell 8400's didn't work. Morale? They do know what they're talking about!
Their checklist for the "smoke test" (the first time you power up the machine) is useful. It may sound silly, but I at least have forgotten to plug a power of one of several HD a few times :)!

I like when they write encouraging phrases like: "Congratulations! You're almost finished building the system". As a learner of English as a 2nd language, it's additionally useful.

Their 80/20 rule for NOT buying over expensive hardware, (specially video boards) is very useful. Coupled by the "law of diminishing returns" (Economics!) "Super-premium adapters are more often bought for bragging rights than for any perceptible performance benefit" (p.207). ... Read more

Product Description
The majority of the software today requires a hard disk to perform effectively. The current trend for programs to get larger and more powerful shows no sign of diminishing, so superior hard disks, both in terms of size and performance, are becoming more and more essential. This text is a guide to hard disks, covering every aspect from the disk manufacture, the drives and their components, organization, utilities and data safety. The utilities covered include disk manager, Norton utilities, PC tools, SpinRite II and XTree. The book also looks at CD-ROMS and their future as well as examining floppy disks by way of an introduction and then investigating what the future may hold for data storage. Also included is an extensive glossary with comprehensive definitions of the terms, acronyms and data associated with hard disks. ... Read more

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An insider's guide to curing hard disk problems before they start covers DOS 6 and SpinRite 3.1 and includes a disk full of hard disk tune-up software. Original. ... Read more

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Essential concepts are presented in highly readable discussions with a practical bent. Topics range from disc organization and backups to specific "crash recovery" techniques, and a look at major utilities, including Norton and PC Tools. ... Read more

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Explains how a hard disk works, shows how to increase any hard disk performance and how to minimize data loss. The text also covers formatting, backups, and networks. ... Read more

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Brant has compiled a source of practical advice on how to keep Mac hard disks healthy and happy; while maximizing their capabilities and storage capacity. Unlike most hard disk management books, this one does more than just explain how to manage files and applications. It also takes a close look at the hard disk itself - how it works, how to keep it running properly, and how to fix it if it breaks down. Brant answers questions Macintosh hard disk owners (or would-be owners) might have - what's the best hard disk to buy and where should I get it?; what does SCSI (pronounced "scuzzie") mean and why is it important?; should I use Macintosh System 7 or an earlier version?; how do I install programs on a hard disk?; how should I organize my hard disk?; how do I maintain and troubleshoot a hard disk?; how do I back up a hard disk?; what utilities should I use to manage my hard disk? These are just a few of the topics addressed in this volume. Readers learn everything they need to know about running a hard disk with all of the latest Mac models - including the LC, Ilsl, and Classic - and with System 7.Brant covers all kinds of Macintosh storage media, from standard 20 MB hard drives to high-capacity optical and tape devices, and a wide variety of hard disk software products on the market today - some of which are included on a disk. ... Read more

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This text concentrates on the reasons for using a hard disk, what is involved in installation, and the transfer of software from a floppy disk to a hard disk. The emphasis is then on the directory structure and maintenance of the hard disk and finally on utilities - all organized on a step-by-step pattern. This order is the time order in which a newcomer to a hard disk would approach the topics. ... Read more

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This guide offers practical hard disk management for the layman, and provides those with some expertise with new insights, problem-solving techniques, and efficiency tools. Chapters describe how to select and install hard disks, how to organize them efficiently, how to take proper precautions (such as backing up data and maintaining security), and how to use utility programs for maintenance and convenience. ... Read more

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A quick reference guide for every owner of an IBM PC, PS/2 or compatible who wants the efficiencies of a well-managed hard disk but who doesn't have time to read a full-length hard disk management book. Now updated to DOS 5, this book presents the core information needed to prepare, configure, organize, maintain and back up a hard disk. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Old is gold
Dark ages computer problem, but was so useful when I started making my own computer from scratch. ... Read more

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As the holidays approach, the annual search for the perfect gift begins. Deciding what to get for that computer nut in your life can be tough. Here are a few choice gifts that will warm the heart of any computerphile. ... Read more

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US Army, Technical Manual, TM 5-4310-380-13, COMPRESSOR UNIT, RECIPROCATING, 25 CFM; 175 PSI, ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN: MODEL 10HT8G, (NSN 4310-01-198-9365), military manauals, special forces
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US Army, Technical Manual, TM 5-4310-380-23P, COMPRESOR UNIT, RECIPROCATING, 25 CFM, 175 PSI, ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN MODEL 10HT8G, NSN: 4310-01-198-9365, military manauals, special forces
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