Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

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

Average Customer Rating:

It's about time.

Customer Rating:

I'm a HUGE fan of "How stuff works" kinda books. This is THE book I have been looking for. It's written in such an interesting way. Personally, I feel pictures and diagrams are ESSENTIAL to understanding something thoroughly, and this book delivers and executes on that matter. If you are a visual, hands-on kinda person, then chose this book over others. It's second only to a real hands-on experience and live teacher.

Great book for beginners - High Level Overviews

Customer Rating:

I use this book whenever I am explaining to a class a general overview of computer technology. The artwork and graphics are a fantastic talk point to depict how things are working inside the machine. Secondly, the terminology is accurate and well organized / defined. I'm a big fan of "For Dummies" books when giving someone a first pass of any topic. These are just a step up in complexity, in my opinion.

Make your own call	Customer Rating:
Rather than add to endless "This sucks!" "No it doesn't!" arguments, my review is simple - if you need an understanding of how computers work, give this book a try. THEN, and only then, make your own decision. Other people's opinions are great, but only you can determine a book's worth to you.

Rife with typos, but helpful for a general understanding

Customer Rating:

(My copy did not come with a CD, so I can only comment on the book itself.) My edition (Ninth Edition) was clearly assembled and edited in a hurry. A couple of quick examples: the diagram on p. 12 shows a computer with numbered parts, and the accompanying text refers to the numbers and describes the respective parts. The diagram in my book has no #6 -- the text is there, but unless you already know where the part is, it's not helpful. Other little typos include the following text from p. 26: "See how a transistor works, p. XXX" (They forgot to replace the XXX with the actual page number). Neither of these errors is a deal-breaker, of course, but it makes me wonder if I am unwittingly being misinformed by other typos. Much of the book, though -- because of the illustrations and simply worded text -- is quite helpful to a beginner. Having said that, I would not pay full price for this. As I write this review, there is a used edition for $6.99, and that sounds about right.

How Computers Work Book Review	Customer Rating:
If you want to know the ins and outs of how computers work, beginning with the foundation, this is the book for you!