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People who fear their hardware (and there are many) seem to be under the impression that only ordained techies with fancy ritual implements can enter a computer's interior. Sure you need basic mechanical skills and a desire to fiddle with gadgets, but the truth--the truth that the tech lords don't want you to know--is that most common repairs and upgrades are fairly simple and straightforward. The biggest stumbling blocks are having decent troubleshooting info, clear repair instructions and the specs on the system you're trying to work on.
Upgrading and Repairing PCs, now in its sixth edition, is an attempt at providing the lion's share of that information. Its 1,432 pages are encyclopedic, covering 286s to Pentium Pros (no Pentium II). The author/publishers have made a noble attempt at organizing the book so that it's usable, but the breadth of the subject-matter is so vast, it's still difficult to use. Here's just some of what the book covers:
Besides the hernia-inducing size of Upgrading and Repairing PCs, book's diagrams are far too few and far too minimal. This is no Reader's Digest home repair manual with detailed and "drool-proof" illustrations. These are illustrations that only a hardcore gearhead could love (and decipher). Call me a sucker for a pretty graphic, but I like to know exactly what I'm doing before I start prying things outta my two thousand dollar machines. The repair and upgrading information is also not step-by-step. The text covers the major details of, say, replacing a hard drive, but it leaves figuring out the procedure to you. The book's "User Level" indicator on the cover is between "Casual" and "Accomplished," but I'm afraid that's a little overly-optimistic about PC users and their computer aptitude. I'd say, if you're someone that's fairly accomplished in PC use and wants to move on to the next level of delving into the world of computers, this book can take you places you never dreamed you'd go and save you big bucks in the process. If you already wear a geek propeller beanie with pride, and especially if you need to regularly maintain and upgrade several different PC systems, this book needs a prominent space on your bookshelf. One of the nice additions to the sixth edition is the inclusion of URLs that link you to online technical resources and manufacturers of the parts and tools discussed in the text. There's also a fairly large vendor directory and a very nice glossary. Since the computer world moves at the speed of light, the books in the Upgrading and Repairing line (I've also made great use of Upgrading and Repairing Macs over the years) are quickly outdated. At $40 bucks a pop, it can get expensive upgrading the book along with your hardware. If you're interested in the book for periodic upgrades only (rather than on-going servicing and repair) get your local library to spring for a current copy.
- Gareth Branwyn [9/9/97] |
