Customer Reviews

The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide (Complete PC Upgrade & Maintenance Guide)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have both Mueller's 14th edition and Minasi's 3rd edition and consider them to be superb. If you are going for an engineering degree in computers and like thick technical explanations interspersed with great useable information get Mueller. But, with Mueller don't expect an enjoyable, easy read. But, if you want an enjoyable easy read with great information, get Minasi.

Some complain that Minasi's information is not up-to-date. Well, neither is Mueller's. (In all fairness, Mueller is more current than Minasi.) If you want cutting edge information in any technology field, you are not going to get it in a static book. For that go online to Tom's Hardware and the like. So, bottom line, if you need highly technical information about computer systems (i.e., pin outs, electrical diagrams, etc.) get Mueller. But, if you just want to learn how to upgrade and repair computer systems or get (and maintain) the background necessary for your A+ certification, get Minasi. Better yet, do like I did and get both!

Although I hadn't read all of the review on this particular book, I've read enough to post my opinion. I see that there is a lot of complaints on this book because it provides a lot of information on older PCs.

From my experience at tech support, I can say that knowing your way around legacy systems is still a very important. If you can understand memory management from back in the 8086 CPU days, then you have enough knowlege to apply to todays computers. Maybe you will never run into an ISA bus in your life, but at least you'll know the origins of todays expansion buses. The PC is a total integrated system comprised of seperate entities which act as one. Knowing how they all co-operate is integral in understanding the complexities of hardware support.

An excellant analogy to this reasoning is this. If you are not mechanically inclined, would you want to go out there and start doing engine work on todays high-tech autos? How about if you first learned how to work on a simple two-stroke, or an old four-cylindar engine. Afterwards, you would then have the confidense to apply your knowledge on the newer technologies, meanwhile you'd be adapting to the new stuff. Similarly, understanding older computer technologies and seeing how it in many ways is still applicable to todays systems is prudent.

If you don't like this book, then get Upgrading and Repairing PCs (14th Edition) by Scott Mueller. I understand that Mark Minasi does make his book easy reading, but Mueller's book is definately for the tech who wants a dependable bench-top reference.

This book is marred by the fact that the author did a very uneven job of the revision and updating of previous editions. Most of the time the narrative is obviously dated. Other authors also to the 8th edition of their books revised the text to reflect the current states of computers. Too freqnently, Minasi talks as if the average system "today" is a 486. In one place he even has left in the text his remarks of years ago about preparing the book on an IBM-XT computer. I think people learning from this book are going to be confused by the excessive details on MFM hard drives and 286 and earlier computers. I would like to suggest that when the next revision (edition) is prepared, that most of the material dealing with computers prior to 1991 be removed and included on the CD-ROM. One method to do this would be to include the 8th edition on the CD-ROM. There is no sufficient details on new concepts such as why/when one wants use IEEE 1284 printer cables, the differences to be found in motherboards for classic Pentium, Pentium Pro, Pentium MMX, and Pentium II. The chips sets VX, TX, and FX should be discussed. The various voltage requirements for the newer processors, etc. There is no warning in the book about the fact that there are at least 2 wirings used for the ribbon cables that connect the motherboard serial ports to the 9-pin and 25-pin D-connectors. I get the definite impression that the author had a great deal of hands-on bench work up until perhaps 6 years ago and that in the years since he was been too busy lecturing and revising the various editions. I teach people to recycle older computers for K-12 classroom use. But, even here, most schools will not permit teachers to accept donations that are older than 486. I have taught people how to find $5 used 386 and $20 used 486 boards and insert these in IBM XT-cases. Nowhere does Minasi touch on the vital point that the original IBM-PC cases have different cut-out for keyboard and slots that are at spacing that were changed with the introduction of the IBM-XT. Therefore, IBM-PC cases are only good for the junk-pile, whereas IBM-XT cases can even hold a Pentium motherboard.

Minasi has done it again. This was a treat to read and as in previous editions skillfully walks the reader through the minefield of modern technology. Mark makes it seem easy and reading his work it is. The index is also very thorough which is essential when your on a new project and trying to piece together where you are., For us non techie types its easy to get lost in the middle of a problem. The index helps you find your way back. A great piece of work overall. F.C. Wendell

We used the book for a course in system support specialist program. The book give a lot of history about the evolution of the parts of the PC. The abundance of information about "older stuff" was little bit to long. Information of legacy equipment is not to relevant for today equipment.

I just finished reading the book for a computer repair class that I was taking. The book does not talk about the new computers to any degree. I did like the fact that it included a history of computers but thought that the book could have been written in a style that was easier to understand or more exciting to read. I am looking forward to reading "The Complete Computer Repair Textbook" by Cheryl Schmidt and comparing it with the Minasi book. The book was highly overpriced at the $60 I had to pay for it.

While the book contains a lot of great information, there are many parts of it that are outdated. The newest processor covered is the Pentium Pro. The Pentium MMX is barely mentioned, and the Pentium II is unheard of.

Mark Minasi has a great writing style. It's easy to understand and not at all boring.

With the help of this book I went for my A+ certification test. I got 80% on the Core(65% is passing) and 84% on the Dos/Windows test (66% is passing).

The software side was also a little lacking. I mostly relied on other materials for that section.

All in all I would have to say that the information that is provides is top-notch. It just needs to be updated by 2 years or so.

.. I felt I should counter the gloomy write-ups I've found here. One frequent complaint is that there's too much old info.

Hmm ... how does this aspect ("current-ness") compare with other books on the same subject? i.e. how quickly can the writers/publishers of computer books include current facts and get their books to market before those facts are outdated?

In '98, I'd bought the text by Michael Meyers (and bought the Minasi one a year or two later). I remember Michael Meyers saying that it was necessary (or at least useful) to know how PCs came to be the way they are today .. what bits & pieces in them they once had, and how those have been improved to make for a more & more capable PC. Other texts on PC Hardware also see fit to start out with such a development time-line.

If complaints about the oldness of the info go beyond the need for a historical base, then I offer no defense. No doubt, the smart buyer will browse & compare with other books.

But be sure to note Mark Minasi's easy writing style. It makes for relaxed (if not enjoyable) reading, without short-changing on some really usable stuff you might learn.

And one good answer to the outdated info we tend to find in even the latest computer texts is to subscribe to a good magazine.

I have so far bought two editions of this book, the 7th and the 2003 edition. Both books were and are very helpful in the areas that I need them for. A beginner can't ask for a better book to learn about computers, than this line of books. I have no complaints about Marks books, because a person who isn't a computer technician or an IT professional wouldn't want anything that's extremely complicated to start learning about their computer.

Marks' books teach you in a way that they not only capture your interest they give excellent examples of the subject at hand. I will continue to buy his books because when I needed help, when I first started out dubbing into computers'and information on how to upgrade and repair them his book at the time was the best information for what I wanted and needed. Any one who's in a more advanced stage of computer repair, would go for the expert information without the Laymens terms. That type of book would defeat the purpose for a beginner or intermediate student.

I feel that Mark did exactly what he set out to do, and that was to allow the reader to come away with more information than they started with, each time they read and study his books without feeling intimidated. And that is exactly what his books does. Not to mention the extras' on the CDs', which I thought to be very considerate of him to include them!

Save your money. Well written but contains info on lots of old hardware, practically nothing on recent developments.