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Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000 10:29:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Lisa Mann <lisam@oreilly.com>
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: PC Hardware in a Nutshell Published

For immediate release
For more information, a review copy, cover art, or interview with the
author, contact:  Lisa Mann (707) 829-0515 ext 230 or lisam@oreilly.com




O'Reilly Releases "a good opinionated reference work" on PC Hardware


Sebastopol, CA--O'Reilly's newest release, "PC Hardware in a Nutshell," is a
comprehensive--and concise--guide to buying, building, upgrading, and
repairing Intel-based PCs, for novices and seasoned professionals
alike, presented in O'Reilly's practical, no-fluff "In a Nutshell"
format.

"PC Hardware in a Nutshell" features buying guidelines, how-to advice
on installing, configuring, and troubleshooting specific components,
plus ample reference material and a complete case study on building a
PC from components. In addition to coverage of the fundamentals and
general tips about working on PCs, the book includes chapters focusing
on motherboards, processors, memory, disks (floppies, hard drives, and
optical drives), tape devices, video devices, input devices, audio
components, communications, power supplies, and maintenance. The last
chapter is a complete case study in building a PC from components.

"This is the only PC hardware book we know of that takes a practical
approach to the tasks of buying, building, upgrading, and repairing
PCs," says coauthor Robert Bruce Thompson, "Throughout the book, we
focus on providing useful information rather than merely interesting
information. If you want to buy a PC, this book tells you what to look
forand what to look out for. If you want to build a PC, this book
explains, component- by-component, the key parts of a PC, describes the
important characteristics of each, provides buying guidelines, lists
recommended products (by brand name and model), and takes you
step-by-step through building the PC. If you have an older PC, this
book tells you what you need to know to upgrade itif it makes sense to
do soas well as when it makes more sense simply to retire it to less
demanding duties. Finally, if your PC breaks, this book tells you what
you need to know to troubleshoot the problem and then choose and
install replacement parts."

"PC Hardware in a Nutshell" is a compact guide, accessible to the
ordinary reader and invaluable for the seasoned professional.

"I have to read books like this for a living, and this is the first one
I've come across which is actually enjoyable. It contains the right
amount of sensible advice and information on relevant topics without
going over the top into useless detail and is, I'm sure, going to
become indispensable. Highly recommended to both beginners - whom it
won't bamboozle  and experienced hands, whether they're looking for
information on what to buy or more detailed reference material." Chris
Ward-Johnson, The Times (of London)

"There's not another book like this, and if you do much with computers
you need a good reference work on hardware. Of course there are
massively larger books on the subject, but that's just the point: most
of the time you're not looking for a long essay on the subject, you
need information, and reliable judgment, both of which Robert Bruce
Thompson is highly  I am tempted to say uniquely qualified to giveSo.
You have here a well written book by someone who understands the
subject. It's about computer hardware and nearly everyone needs a good
opinionated reference work on that subject, provided the opinions are
sound, which in Thompson's case they certainly are. It's published by
O'Reilly, which means it's well edited by editors who resist the
temptation to become unacknowledged collaborators. It's really the best
book you'll find on this subject. And if that doesn't persuade you to
buy this book, I doubt anything else I can say would." Jerry Pournelle,
Chaos Manor


Chapter 25, Designing a PC, is available free online at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/pchardnut/chapter/ch25.html

For more information about the book, including Table of Contents,
index, author bio, and samples, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/pchardnut/

For a cover graphic in jpeg format, go to:
ftp://ftp.ora.com/pub/graphics/book_covers/hi-res/1565925998.jpg

PC Hardware in a Nutshell
By Robert Bruce Thompson & Barbara Fritchman Thompson
October 2000
1-56592-599-8, 526 pages, $29.95
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
http://www.oreilly.com