Upgrading and Repairing PCs (18th Edition) by Scott Mueller
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Book Reviews of Upgrading and Repairing PCs (18th Edition)
Book Review: P C Compendium
Summary: 4 Stars
A most comprehensive treatment of computers from their beginning to present. the author has a long and extensive experience with the subject and offers critical insights and knowledge, especially for those building their own computer. At times the history is too much, but interesting, nonethless a good book for those so inclined to more fully understand the workings of the modern marvel known as the personal computer!! a bonus is the cd on networking setup!!Book Review: Very well done!
Summary: 4 Stars
I am not a computer technician so can not be very specific about the real nuts and bolts of the book from a technician's point of view. But as a person who just likes computers and is interested in how they work, I find this book quite informative and helpful. It is good for learning about what to look for when things go wrong, getting ideas for upgrading, maintenance, etc. And, you can't beat the Amazon.com price on this one. Recommended.Book Review: Your garden variety cut and paste edition
Summary: 3 Stars
When I first started reading the Upgrading and Repairing PCs series at 15th Edition, I thought it was an outstanding reference manual. While it's still quite an order of magnitude superior to other general PC architecture references out there, I no longer feel it is conforming to its own standards of in depth coverage.
The book claims to extensively review Core 2 micro architecture. If you expect a half page summary complete with marketing information you can already find on Intel's website, then this book is for you. I was hoping for better.
The book still does not cover PCI-Express in-depth. He points you to the PCI-SIG website. PCI-Express has been out long enough for Upgrading and Repairing PCs to provide detailed coverage. I would rather have more extensive PCI-Express coverage than say an extra ten pages of PC evolution and history. Also, there is virtually zero attention spent on Intel's new EFI ROM technology or the GUID Partition Table. There is very in-depth coverage provided in the Mac OS X Internals book, but Upgrading and Repairing PCs doesn't even so much as talk about them. Surely you can do better than the Macintosh book?
The included DVD video leads me to believe that networking is not Scott's area of expertise. It's OK for your typical neophyte, but I was previously led to believe that Scott places a lot of emphasis on accuracy and I cringed every time he said "Private Shared Key" in the video. It's "Pre-Shared Key" dude.
Book Review: Reference
Summary: 3 Stars
If you are building a new computer from scratch, this is a useful resource. Has a lot of basic information (goes back too far with historical information in my opinion). Publishing time makes it somewhat dated for leading edge technology, but that is the nature of a dynamic computer industry. Also, would be somewhat helpful in trouble shoothing an older system. Check the internet for very lastest info.Book Review: As someone else stated; this is another copy & paste edition
Summary: 2 Stars
Great for the beginner, but too much of the book is just a rehash from previous years. Scott is a 'Wintel fanboy' without a doubt, as it is clear he favors Intel products over AMD. Though he mentions AMD, most of the book is devoted to Intel processors, motherboards and chipets.
He wastes space explaining keyboard and mouse design which he has for the past 5+ editions along with the history of computers. Why waste space when it was only described in just about all of his previous editions.
Some areas he goes into great detail, others he brushes over the topic.
BTW; that DVD is a 'Networking" DVD as stated twice in the beginning of the book for those that complained about getting the wrong DVD.