The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
Books On Hardware
Major Keary

There seems to be a change in the number and nature of PC hardware books being published. Building a computer from scratch used to be regarded as something that could be undertaken by only the cognoscenti, but now there are texts that show novices how to go about it; an appreciation of some technical issues is required, but books like Build & Upgrade Your own PC provide all the basic information.

At the same time there seem to be less general hardware books in print - the kind that contain detailed information and pages of tabulated specifications and other data. I suspect there are two factors. Keeping abreast of new standards, versions, models, and even new equipment confronts authors and publishers with a monumental task that makes it difficult and expensive to maintain regular new editions of classic hardware titles; and the advent of certification courses seems to have changed the focus of publishers. Hardware as a subject is being picked up by books for A+ certification.

Certification has become quite an industry, with people-especially authors of titles to do with certification-sporting strings of initials after their names, like A+, MCSE, MCSD, MCT, and CIWCI.

A+ Certification Bible

The A+ Certification Bible is a text suitable for those who want to follow a self-teach path of study. It comes with a companion CD that contains the book's contents in PDF format (which makes for easy searching), lab files, an examination simulation program, sample examination questions, and access to Web-based self-test material.

The certification requirements cover six hardware 'domains':
  • Installation, configuration, and upgrading;
  • Diagnosing and troubleshooting;
  • Preventive maintenance;
  • Motherboard/processors/memory;
  • Printers; and
  • Basic Networking
and four operating system 'domains':
  • Fundamentals;
  • Installation, configuration, and upgrading;
  • Diagnosing and troubleshooting; and
  • Networks.
This title impresses as being well presented and well organised with plenty of sample exam questions and general exam advice.
It is also suitable for anyone looking for a hardware guide that does not include the technical detail found in advanced hardware titles that contain tabulated data covering a very wide range of hardware. That is their purpose because they are designed for technicians and users who want in-depth technical discussions. If you want a general, Wintel-centric coverage of hardware, operating systems, and networking along the lines covered by the A+ certification, this is well worth examining.

It is well illustrated and the technical material is presented in plain language. Scenarios are used to illustrate the kind of problems posed in exam questions; those scenarios also represent many of the problems encountered by ordinary users who run Wintel systems and are interested in being able to fix things for themselves.

The book is also a good lead-in for those who want to move on to advanced technical aspects of computer hardware and peripherals.

PC Hardware in a Nutshell

The second edition of O'Reilly's PC Hardware in a Nutshell has been expanded (with an extra 280 pages) to keep up with new hardware developments. It is an essential reference for any user who has the confidence to open a PC, which is the watershed between those who won't touch anything-other than the on/off switch, keyboard, or mouse - and those who are at least interested in a PC's innards.

If you have some knowledge of hardware and would like to expand your understanding of how the various components work, this is a valuable resource. Unlike some hardware texts, this is a book that can be read or browsed; the authors don't attempt to avoid or gloss over technical detail, but informed lay readers should have no difficulty in understanding the discussions. However, the information is presented in a concise format that assumes a reasonable level of knowledge - it is, after all, designed to be a "desktop quick reference".

Given that 'reasonable level of knowledge', anyone who has ideas of building a PC should have PC Hardware in a Nutshell as a prime reference. A chapter deals with the subject of building a system, walking the reader through the assembly sequence.

For users who want to maintain or upgrade, the information is exceptionally practical, with plenty of handy advice. Of particular note is that the book is not confined to Wintel systems.

Even though it is easy to read and the technical information is presented in clear language, don't assume this is an introduction for novices. Far from it; the scope and depth of technical detail is remarkable for a book of this size. The compact format makes it a particularly useful technical reference for technicians and those who are hardware-savvy. It is especially for anyone manning a help desk or running courses on hardware.

A feature that impressed me is the discussion of topics that are peripheral to hardware, such as contained in the chapter on tape drives. Apart from tape backup strategies there is a warning about the problems caused by long filenames, "It is impossible to make a reliable file-by-file backup under Windows if the volume uses long filenames", which is accompanied by a very good technical discussion of why that is so.

A useful inclusion is best buy recommendations, backed up with discussion of relevant issues; these offer good, independent advice on components and peripherals.

The book provides information about the latest motherboards, processors, and new hard drive standards (SCSI, ATA/133, serial ATA, and the 48-bit ATA interface). It also catches up with DVD developments, flat panel displays, and USB 2.0.

Robert Thompson and Barbara Thompson: 
PC Hardware in a Nutshell 2/e
ISBN 0-596-00353-6
Published by O'Reilly, 
780 pp., RRP $89.95 incl. GST

Build & Upgrade Your Own PC

Build & Upgrade Your Own PC is designed to help prospective DIY builders and upgraders. It also fills the role of a manual for those who have discovered the shortcomings of documentation (if there was any at all) that came with a new machine. Ian Sinclair's name is more usually seen on titles such as Passive Components for Circuit Design, but this foray into a text for lay users is an example of technical communication at its best. He strikes a very good balance, maintaining a generous level of technical information without overwhelming the lay reader. The text is supported with excellent illustrations.
If you want a sound, practical introduction to the PC with just enough technical detail, this is highly recommended. However, the focus is on current hardware, with little discussion of older systems.
The information is quite sufficient for the lay user who wants to build a PC from scratch, or upgrade an existing one. The book assumes the operating system will be Windows, and offers some good advice for prospective XP users - such as the need to ensure components are XP-compatible, and that any hardware changes should be carried out before installing XP.
Apart from the intended audience - novice PC builders and upgraders - this title should be helpful to anyone running hardware courses for new users; the clear explanations lend themselves as models for presentations.

Ian Sinclair: Build & Upgrade Your Own PC 3/e
ISBN 0-7506-5758-8
Published by Newnes, 
324 pp., RRP $72.05 incl. GST

Reprinted from the December 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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