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Rating: 
Summary: I love this book!!!!
Review: After a year of learning on my own reading "...for Dummies" books, I went looking for more advanced books. All I found was area spacific books( IT, graphics, alt-OS) until this one. This book had everything I wanted. Defined all the terms I wanted to know and gave me tips I could really use. Since reading this book I've built two computers, I have never had to call a tech line or call my personal computer guru. I'm fixing friends computers. I owe it mainly to this book. I have only one problem with the book and that is the CD's...it's not that they're not informative, it's just that they're dated. The guy talks about a few thing that haven't been used in 4-5 years. Why are you still reading? BUY IT!!!!
Rating:
Summary: I love this book!!!!
Review: After a year of learning on my own reading "...for Dummies" books, I went looking for more advanced books. All I found was area spacific books( IT, graphics, alt-OS) until this one. This book had everything I wanted. Defined all the terms I wanted to know and gave me tips I could really use. Since reading this book I've built two computers, I have never had to call a tech line or call my personal computer guru. I'm fixing friends computers. I owe it mainly to this book. I have only one problem with the book and that is the CD's...it's not that they're not informative, it's just that they're dated. The guy talks about a few thing that haven't been used in 4-5 years. Why are you still reading? BUY IT!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource material
Review: I lost all enthusiasm for this expansive tome when I cracked it open and realized that it was geared toward the basic user. The author does a good job of explaining how a particular piece of hardware works and even how to physically attach that piece of hardware to the system, but stops there. Absent are the in-depth troubleshooting or compatibility suggestions that one would expect out of a book this large. Far from "complete", I found as much information in a 1988 copy of Scott Mueller's "Upgrading and Repairing PCs" and my owner's manuals/instructions. The CD was also sorely disappointing. Every program on the CD is either shareware or a limited-use trial version. After shelling out $ for the book, I would have rather had one legitimate program than 7 different registry editors that I have to fool around with before purchasing. Finally, the section on making the ultimate PC was a joke. To summarize, buy all the parts, assemble, and if it doesn't work, check all your connections. This book is for beginners only.
Rating: 
Summary: BIG Disappoinment
Review: I lost all enthusiasm for this expansive tome when I cracked it open and realized that it was geared toward the basic user. The author does a good job of explaining how a particular piece of hardware works and even how to physically attach that piece of hardware to the system, but stops there. Absent are the in-depth troubleshooting or compatibility suggestions that one would expect out of a book this large. Far from "complete", I found as much information in a 1988 copy of Scott Mueller's "Upgrading and Repairing PCs" and my owner's manuals/instructions. The CD was also sorely disappointing. Every program on the CD is either shareware or a limited-use trial version. After shelling out $ for the book, I would have rather had one legitimate program than 7 different registry editors that I have to fool around with before purchasing. Finally, the section on making the ultimate PC was a joke. To summarize, buy all the parts, assemble, and if it doesn't work, check all your connections. This book is for beginners only.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource material
Review: I'm a huge fan of Minasi's books, see my review for his latest 12th ed. I Can't recommend this book enough to the novice and advanced.
Rating:
Summary: The best by far
Review: I've read several technical books on the subject of computers but this one was by far the best. The 1300 pages seem like a mountain at first, but Minasi makes it an easy read. Explanations are simple to follow, there's a ton of information and a few laughs here and there. A must-have for anyone who wants to further their knowledge beyond the basics.
Rating:
Summary: Hardcore Hardware Haven
Review: When eying the Computer books in my local library, my mouth watered when i saw the 11th edition of this literally holy book i dropped the Book i was browsing through and ran towards it....as i oppened it, light shon out of it and i heard the choral sound of "alaloooolya" fill the library..... ok...back to reality....this is the Ultimate book for the computer enthusiast, beginner, expert....because it contains detailed information about almost everything related to computer hardware. from Memory, to cpus, to simple but efective hints and tips about dismatelling, upgrading and building your own computer. The size of the book reminds you that the author couldnt have missed much in terms of content and trust me, he hasn't. the book can be used in many ways; to broaden your general knowledge of hardware or to tell you how to install certain peices of equipment without the need for creating the accociated problems that come with most upgrades. It can also be used as an encyclopedia of hardware, a refference for you to understand the lastest technology, tips on what the best kind of hardware available is, or simply to quench your thirst for the knowledge of computers (applies to me :) Improvments on the last edition have been made, such as coverage of the pc-100 ram and the latest hardware - 1(followed by a lot of zeros)MHZ chips and an ever increasing glossary of computer jargon. It also covers a lot of the old hardware which is good for all you computer 'freaks' ( i am using the term very lightly) who still have that 386 dx2/33Mhz (or less). My favourite part of the book is the Building your own computer section as Mark Minasi is, as u might have guessed somewhat of an expert on computers and he has given his treasured advice on the best possible components (in his opinion) for builging the PERFECT PC. Although this book is not thoroughly illustrated, it doesn't really need to be, as it is not a children's book, but a HARDCORE HARDWARE HAVEN :) (notice the alliteration) and it also comes bundeled with a couple of CDs containing valuble utilities for monitering the preformance of your pc. This is a book worth having and it stands clearly ahead of all competition in this catagory.
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