Customer Reviews

Build Your Own PC Pocket Reference

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm building my first computer and had already made some hardware choices based on internet reviews and tutorials. This book gives a very comprehensive, though somewhat dated, step by step procedure for building a PC, that starts with the selection of all the components. Very helpful to beginners. Although the book covers all the basics, be prepared to do some serious research on the net to supplement the data found in the book and needed in the areas of current hard drives and there setup, with particular regard to size vs cluster allocations. The book is not really good in addressing the new Fat 32 partitioning formats, or in dealing with Windows 98 issues in general. If your going to build a system with a moderate size hard drive, and install Windows 95 as your OS, this book will get you there in great shape. At the end of each construction segment you test your system and if it doesn't respond properly, the book is very good about outlining possible causes and cures. This feature saved me on a couple of occasions. I would like to see the author put out a supplement based on current hardware, setup(Fat32)and OS software now available. I'd buy it in flash!

When I built my own PC back in the summer of 1999, I relied upon this book as my primary resource. Certainly, it is somewhat out-of-date now (but what computer book isn't by the time it reaches the shelves), but the fact remains that the primary steps and considerations in building a computer are basically unchanged. You have to choose a CPU, a hard drive, a case, a floppy drive, a CD/DVD drive, a modem, a video card, a sound card, speakers, and a mouse. Bigelow walks you through the process of making these individual decisions within the context of your primary objective. He then walks you through assembling the parts into your very own new computer. In terms of covering the basics, I would still rank this book among the best, especially for non-technical readers. Certainly, the information on installing an operating system deals mainly with Windows 95 but I had no trouble installing Windows 98. Anyone installing Windows NT/2000/XP will need to refer to other reference material, but this book strikes me as being intended mainly for home users looking to build or update a system of their own--even now, most such users will be looking at installing 98 or ME. Also, I would consider the installation of an OS as somewhat separate from actually building a system, and it is the latter pursuit toward which this book is geared.

I believe that anyone, including those with little or no computer experience, can build a computer with the help of this book. Furthermore, one can learn what to look for in deciding between different hardware options in terms of a PC's basic components. I would not depend solely on this book for my reference material, but anyone wishing to build a PC or to decide whether or not they want to attempt such a rewarding endeavor would benefit from the guidance Mr. Bigelow provides here. I am writing this review and submitting it on a computer I built myself, with a lot of help and guidance from this book.

Book is updated for Pentium II computers which makes it perfect for any builder. This book not only teaches you how to build a computer step-by-step, but it also teaches you how to choose parts. It explains what each part of the computer is and what it is used for. The best part about this book is that Bigelow explains what to do in case of errors. There aren't many illustrations but the few that the book has are very helpful.

I thought this book would be current on hardware, but the coverage of many important parts like 100mhz motherboards, the AMDK62, AGP, and DVD were inadequate. Instructions were skimpy and the lack of figures and graphics left me guessing alot. The author supplies very little background material for any part of the PC. I guess he thinks you are supposed to know it already. This book is not for the beginner and I am sure the experts don't need it. I'm looking for a better book.

If your're a first time computer builder probably this book is of some help. But most of more advanced material in this book is outdated. There's no reference to Windows 98 or NT specific installation troubleshouting. Many topics are more then shallow.

Many, if not all, of the reviews listed here for this title refer to older editions and readers should take note of that. This is the edition that should satisfy previous reviewers who wanted to see this book brought up-to-date in 2000.