Rating: 
Summary: Pulls no punches
Review: This is a very opinionated book and that's one of it's biggest strengths. There are all the facts, tables, and charts that you'd expect in a book about PC hardware but the book really shines because the authors aren't afraid to name names and give no nonsense advice about what to buy (and what not to buy). I'm building a new PC and was dithering between a fast Pentium III and a fast Athlon. After reading the chapter on processors I decided to buy a mid-range processor that isn't much slower than the top end ones and spend the $400 I saved on more memory, a faster hard disk, and better video. I bet Intel and AMD hate these guys.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding book on the 'innards' of a PC
Review: This is an excellent comprehensive guide to the insides of the PC. There's a chapter on each component (motherboards, memory, processors, hard drives, CD-drives, you name it). For each component the authors describe and explain in detail what it does, how it works, how to install/config, the different types, preferred models and much other relevant info. It's very well-written, too; no time spent wondering what the authors are trying to say. I'd been looking for a book like this for quite awhile: a comprehensive PC 'innards' book done in the O'Reilly Nutshell style. I've been poking thru it almost every day since I got it. And I am SO much smarter at work... :]
Rating:
Summary: Where has this book been?
Review: This is simply the best single volume reference for hardware I have discovered in nineteen years. I've been building and modifying PCs since my first 8088 Heath/Zenith 158 in 1986. I recommend it to anyone planning to go inside a computer case, if it is for the first time or the hundredth time. It will save you grief and the skin on your knuckles. The best beginners section is listing tools, necessary and desirable, by Sears Hardware number, I would have loved to have had that list in the 1980s. The clear explanation of memory types and characteristics I found the most personally useful. My next PC will not be a factory product, I'll be following the recommendations from PC Hardware in a Nutshell and hardwareguys.com.
Rating:
Summary: PC Hardware in a Nutshell
Review: When I found PC Hardware in a Nutshell, I was delighted. It is an incredibly interesting and easy to read book with genuine tips and real life experience built in. A MUST BUY for those wanting to learn and for dedicated techies.This book has enabled me to be confident in choosing and specifying the components to build my first PC. Well done to the Authors.
Rating:
Summary: The best PC book I¿ve ever read
Review: Written by a husband and wife team, PC Hardware in a Nutshell proves that technical books don't have to be dry. This book touches all the bases that you'd expect in a PC book but it goes much further. Beyond the purely technical stuff it focuses on what you need to know to make good purchase and upgrade decisions, and it's obvious that these people know what they're talking about. I bought this book intending to use it as a reference but this is a very easy book to get into as a straight-thru read. It's sometimes funny, at times outrageous, and never boring. It's refreshing to read something that ignores all the marketing hype. When a product is great, they say so. When a product sucks, they tell you that too.
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