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How Computers Work
 
 
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How Computers Work [Paperback]

Ron White , Timothy Edward Downs
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: QUE; 9 edition (14 Nov 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0789736136
  • ISBN-13: 978-0789736130
  • Product Dimensions: 25.3 x 20.4 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 44,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Written by Ron White and superbly illustrated by Timothy Edward Downs and Stephen Adams, Que's How Computers Work, Millennium Edition is reminiscent of those books published in the 1980s for wannabe computer geeks, which have long since disappeared. But this millennium edition is one that should long have a place in every computer user's bookcase, to satisfy those moments of intense curiosity.

White does not shy away from the complexity of the technology behind the modern computer, its software and its hardware. The book deals almost exclusively with desktop boxes, rather than the other applications in which computers are used (car radios, dishwashers, mobile phones and the like).Ideas are explained skilfully and the text is cleverly integrated with graphics and diagrams, so that even hard-to-grasp ideas like compression and disk structures can be easily digested. Unlike its 1980s predecessors,How Computers Work covers the cutting edge of technology, with everything from DVD to CD-R and modems to multimedia. --Josh Smith --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Having sold more than 2 million copies over its lifetime, How Computers Work is the definitive illustrated guide to the world of PCs and technology. In this new edition, you’ll find detailed information not just about every last component of hardware found inside your PC, but also in-depth explanations about home networking, the Internet, PC security, and even how cell phone networks operate. Whether you’re interested in how the latest graphics cards power today’s most demanding games or how a digital camera turns light into data, you’ll find your answers right here.

 

Ron White is a former executive editor and columnist for PC Computing, where he developed the visual concept behind How Computers Work. Founder of one of the

earliest PC user groups, he has been writing about computers for 25 years and is known for building wildly extreme computers.

 

Timothy Edward Downs is an award-winning magazine designer, illustrator, and photographer. He has directed and designed several national consumer, business, technology, and

lifestyle magazines, always infusing a sense of “how it works” into every project.

 

A full-color, illustrated adventure into the wonders of TECHNOLOOGY

 

This full-color, fully illustrated guide to the world of technology assumes nothing and explains everything. Only the accomplished Ron White and award-winning Tim Downs have the unique ability to meld descriptive text with one-of-a-kind visuals to fully explain how the electronic gear we depend on every day is made possible. In addition to all the content you’ve come to expect from prior editions, this newly revised edition includes all-new coverage of topics such as:

 

•    How tablet PCs put the power of a PC quite literally in your hands

•    How Windows Vista makes your Windows desktop translucent and makes your PC more secure

•    How advances in optical disc technology such as dual-layer DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray discs continue to push the envelope

•    How Apple’s new iPhone is revolutionizing what cell phones can do

•    How BitTorrent technology enables anyone to share information with everyone

 

For a decade, How Computers Work has helped newbies understand new technology, while at the same time hackers and IT pros have treasured it for the depth of knowledge it contains. This is the perfect book about computing to capture your imagination, delight your eyes, and expand your mind, no matter what your technical level!

 

Category: General Computing

Covers:    PCs/Hardware

User Level:    Beginning–Intermediate

 


Inside This Book (Learn More)
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Jojo
Format:Paperback
This book is great for getting an overview of how PCs work. Pretty, colourful but very simplified illustrations. It's not suitable for a serious hardware enhusiast, but great for beginners, the curious etc.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Clear and concise 29 Jan 2001
Format:Paperback
Brilliant combination of clear thinking and excellent diagram support. An unbeatable way into the world of hardware and software. Too many books written by those who know plenty, but cannot communicate it effectively. Ron White does not appear to suffer from this problem.
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback

As a college student learning the fundamentals of computer workings, I cannot praise this book enough. It covers many, many aspects of computing, and all the explanations are clear, concise, and very very helpful, with extremely nice illustrations to boot. Although it doesn't go into as much detail as some knowledgable reviewers/computer bods would like, it IS classed as a Beginner - Intermediate book, and as such excels in almost every area. I would not hesitate to recommend this wonderful book to anyone who may wish to learn about 'how computers work'.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
excellent buy
bought how computers work for my grandson who is studying for his GCSE`S. He is studying computer science, and thinking of a future career within this field. Read more
Published 4 months ago by joy
Good delivery
Its very good book to start with in the computer field. Easy to read with picture and most important information of computing. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ali
How Computers Work
Great book for explaining how computers work.

Without going into great depths it certainly explains in a nice visual manner. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Bob
Well Done Ron
This book is absolutely brilliant....the scientific nitty gritties of those erstwhile mysterious components of your computer explained in really clear language... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Streetsweeper
Outstanding
This is an ideal book for a college beginner. I throws light upon every issue in copmuter components, how they work, how they are connected, how they inter-relate with each other... Read more
Published 21 months ago by bagaston
Excellent Purchase
This book is a wonderful learning tool. It visually stimulates the mind and gives clarity to what can be a confusing subject area. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Carmen Brown
old school type of computers
very old book in the series glad it was cheap
no much info that was useful
Published on 27 Oct 2009 by A. bridge
Excellent...so good it should be basic reading in schools !!!
I bought this book for my wife who had no clue whatsoever about computers. Although she didn't read it cover to cover (she had no desire to understand some of the printing... Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2007 by A. Cresswell
Cool book
The book i always wanted to have.
Nicely shows how PC is built. With lots of graphics, pictures, photograph, and diagrams, explanations, descriptions. Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2004
Excellent book
Very detailed book, it really does show ytou right down to the most graphic detail how different parts of your computer, the internet, networks and many other aspects of computing... Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2003
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