Rating: 
Summary: Worth the price
Review: Overall, the book was worth the price. While much of the technical information about the hardware and architecture are available in other books, the case studies are unique to this book.One thing I did not like was the MS-Windows centric view in designing the systems. Many of the readers who are going to bother building their own PC are going to be GNU/Linux users (like me.) It is apparent from the first chapter that the author is NOT anti-Linux, nor is he ignorant about its potential. I just would have liked to see more OS-neutrality throughout the book. My approach to recycling PC hardware is just the opposite to the author's: When I build myself a 'bigger and better' PC, I load it with GNU/Linux and recycle the old one for my four-year-old son with MS-Windows 95. The only reason I do that is solely for the learning games that he has. Other than that one complaint, I say again, this book is well worth the price. Good job.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful book to start...
Review: SCSI, IDE, ATAPI, Northbridge and southbridge. Does these terms confuse you ? It was a big confusion to me. Before reading this book, I had a limited idea about my PC hardware. I was always shocked to see many PC hardware books as thick as a 10 bricks and i was a puppet in the marketing hype about performance, stability etc. Even for silly problems like display settings, CD/Harddisk device installation and upgrading i had to call "specialist". The main concepts and entire terminologies are introduced in a step by step manner and was quite well written. It has a natural style and simple language to explain about SCSI adapters and devices, specification and things which one has to look before we buy a PC etc.
This books serves the purpose for a broad range of readers from PC buyers, begineers to specialist. I can confidently order my upgrades and build a new system rather then being misguided by marketing hypes. A good point to start for earnest "build your PC" starters, who were searching for a good guides in PC 'dull' PC tome books and websites.
Thanks a lot Robert and Barbara.
Rating:
Summary: More common sense than a Thomas Paine anthology
Review: Short review: it's O'Reilly, buy it. Longer review: this is a fantastic book. It is concise, current, inexpensive (how often do these words apply to computer books?), enjoyable to read, and, above all, USEFUL. The authors mingle sound advice and dry humor with a casual writing style, keeping the reader engaged and entertained as s/he absorbs the most (by nature) boring technical details. Technicians who charge by the hour should buy this book immediately... it will pay for itself in a week or two. That said, this book is NOT "the only book you'll ever need". Though I agree with most of the authors' opinions, honest debate is always a good thing (for example, they write that, as of June 2000, Socket 7 is obsolete. I think now is the time to buy, as several of my clients are budget-conscious and still essentially happy with their 486s). Additionally, this book needs a chapter on modems, and more second-tier reviews would be nice, but I suppose that's what the website is for. Bottom line: get yourself a big thick "phone book" on PC repair (Bigelow and Mueller come to mind) and this book and you'll be equipped for most any upgrade or buying decision that comes your way. But without a strong technical background or a huge reference work nearby, don't open the case.
Rating:
Summary: A FINE PC HARDWARE BOOK, BUT...
Review: The PC HARDWARE IN A NUTSHELL is one computer book that tried to bridge the gap between a beginner's hardware knowledge and that of an advanced user or learner. It provided detailed information in a chronological 'nutshell' format. Every aspect of a typical Pentium and Windows-based system received luxurious dissection. There are also valuable purchasing and troubleshooting tips.
However, like most U.S. PC books, this one didn't come cheap. Less than expected information were apportioned to non-Intel and non-Microsoft items. Again, the fact that the authors advertised certain trademarks over and over again, in the course of providing shopping tips, made them a bit more self-serving (than the honest arbiters consumers expect them to be).
Rating:
Summary: Informative, well organized guide to hardware
Review: This book covers virtually every aspect of PC Hardware, for both AMD and Intel based PC systems. The Thompsons continue to update the information to stay current with the latest hardware available as well as throroughly covering older systems. It also includes entire sections on both upgrading your PC (and evaluating what/when to upgrade) and building your new PC from scratch.
Rating:
Summary: Informative, well organized guide to hardware
Review: This book covers virtually every aspect of PC Hardware, for both AMD and Intel based PC systems. The Thompsons continue to update the information to stay current with the latest hardware available as well as throroughly covering older systems. It also includes entire sections on both upgrading your PC (and evaluating what/when to upgrade) and building your new PC from scratch.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST
Review: This book is a great reference for computer owners out there and the best of all is that you don't have to be an IT know it all to understand it, it also tell's you wich brands are the best, in this book you will find all you need to know to upgrade and asemble your own computer, I love this book.
Rating:
Summary: All you need for PC hardware
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: You won't find a better book of its type
Review: This is a book that I devoured when I got it...finished it, cover-to-cover, in about two days of off-and-on reading. There is a tremendous amount of information contained in this book; before you purchase a new PC (or build your own), you should get this book and read it! I can't say I agree with all the recommendations the authors made, but their positions were well-considered and thoughtful. Do yourself a favor and GET THIS BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: A bit dated
Review: 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.
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