Customer Reviews

Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks

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Contents
This is a fun guide to hardware hacking projects from beginners to gurus.

The book is divided into three parts:

Part 1 - Basic Hacks, Tools, And Techniques - How To Build A Portable Laptop Power Supply; How To Build An Aquarium Inside A Macintosh; How To Hack 802.11b Antennas; How To Build A PC Water-Cooling System; How To Hack A Furby (And Other Talking Toys); How To Hack A Video Periscope For Your Car

Part 2 - Advanced Hacks, Tools, And Techniques - How To Build A Digital Video Recorder; How To Hack A Building-Size Display; How To Build A Cubicle Intrusion Detection System; How To Build An Internet Toaster; How To Build A Home Arcade Machine; How To Build A Remote Object Tracker; How To Make RC Cars Play Laser Tag; How To Build A Wearable Computer; How To Build An Internet Coffeemaker

Part 3 - Appendixes - Schematic Capture Software; Communication; Easy-to-Use Microcontroller Boards; Power Sources; Resources; Index

Review
I'm a software guy, not a hardware nut. To me, plug and play has been a godsend. But every once in awhile, I wish I had the chance to play around with wires and such. I'd like to be able to hack together something cool just to say I could do it. And with this book, I now have the chance.

Scott Fullam has put together a fun volume of projects that span the range from rank beginners to people who read schematics on a daily basis. Each project is rated for cost, time requirements, and difficulty. Based on that, you can figure out whether or not the project is one you can reasonably expect to complete based on your skill level. There are some basic instructions on tools and reading schematics, but I think that you'd be better off if you come into the project with at least a little background knowledge beforehand. You could probably figure out the easier ones, but the advanced projects will be out of your reach. Where applicable, each project also lists a bill of material and schematic drawing that will make it easy for you to get the items you need to build your dream device. There are numerous illustrations and photos to keep you on track, so if you're a visual learner you're in luck.

What do I see myself doing from this book? The portable laptop power supply is a definite possibility, along with the hack for the 802.11b. I've got to imagine it's a geeky status symbol to have a soup can antenna attached to your laptop when you're sitting at the local Starbucks. I could also see the monitor aquarium being a fun project with the kids. I'm sure they can teach me something... J

Conclusion
If you're a true hardware hacker, you'll love this book. If you're a hardware hacker wannabe (like me), you'll still find projects you can do while being entertained by the possibilities.

This is a big, floppy paperback full of projects many geeks or would be geeks already know about. After all, the internet leaks this sort of information all over. However despite some of the projects being a little underwhelming for the geek about town, the fifteen projects would probably be the perfect introduction to hardware hacking for a youngster keen to get into electronics and computers.

Now that there are very few electronic hobbyist magazines around, it is hard to know how any except the most talented youngsters will get started on hacking gadgets, except via books like this. Having a talented toy designer write the book is a great ploy, as many of the best gadgets are derived from subverting toys and general consumer appliances.

Some of the introductory projects are a little wimpy. The author doesn't really make it sufficiently clear that an external battery pack for a notebook computer is unlikely to extend your working time much (alkaline batteries are ill suited to most high current drain computers). However there is an undeniable need for a very simple introduction to the tools and materials you need to use. This is one of six tasks teaching tools and materials. The last couple are hacking Furbys, and making a video periscope for a car.

The advanced section includes digital video recorders, building lighting control, a remote GPS object tracker (just like James Bond). There is a very nice one chapter introduction to making wearable computers.

The book would make a perfect gift for the potential hardware geek.

Are you an electronic enthusiastic with a lot of spare time and some extra cash laying around? Well, turn those resources of time and money into awe-inspiring hacker projects. Scott Fullam's latest book is the tool you need for that transformation. Inside you'll discover plans for your own cubicle intrusion detection system - cube warriors of the world unite! See what's causing the traffic jams with your homemade video periscope for your car. Go all out and build a gigantic (building-sized) low-resolution display, perfect for declaring your love for your girlfriend, or for mad games of pong.

The book is nicely laid out like a textbook and crammed full of illustrations and tables and schematics and photos. Page 270 (describing wearable computers) inspired me to hack my old camcorder's viewfinder for a handy head-mount display. Perhaps you'll be motivated to build your own home arcade machine (page 213) or customized TiVo from scratch. Whatever your hacking fancy, you'll find related projects within these pages. A must read for the experienced or up-and-coming hacker

It's easy to get a sense of what the book is about
by looking through the online table of contents, or
by reading through a sample chapter.

I was lucky enough to be asked to read the book prior to
release, and my initial impression was "WOW!". If I
were teaching any high school technology class, this
would be my text book. It not only teaches you about
each project, but provides the tools and insight to
help unleash your own creativity, or that of your students
or children.

Tim O'Reilly should send some sample copies to schools
and see what they think. It might prove to be their
foray into the textbook market.

Was it Peter Pan who said "never grow old"? Because this book is for a select few. The ceaseless tinkerers who never left their childhoods. The common theme thru all the projects Fullam describes is one of hands on experimentalism. Enthusiasm is a more important prerequisite than technical background or skill. Electronics naturally pervades more examples. But simple stuff, and he even has explanations of how to read the colour coding of resistors. There is a modicum of software, because these days, even for hardware purists, you can rarely totally ignore software.

Perhaps what Fullam should do is consider an advanced sequel to this book, if the latter is well received. Those who enjoy the projects here may appreciate something more challenging. There is a burgeoning field of people using mini ITX systems for all sorts of crazy off the wall stuff. These ITXs are full computer systems, reduced to the basics of motherboard with cpu, memory and disk, all for a few hundred dollars. Hobbyists are putting them into funky mobile applications. From Fullam's expertise shown in this book, he is well qualified to take your tinkering to the next level.

I bought this book for one reason: How to hack a furby (and other talking toys). The book is very thorough and I am very satisfied with the explanation. The rest are probably fun but who wants to build an aquarium inside a Mac :-) This is a very interesting book, though. Other topics of interest are How to Hack 80.11b Antennas, Build a PC water-Cooling system, Build an Internet Toaster, Build a Home arcade machine, build a remote Object tacker, build a wearable computer (hmm), build an internet coffeemaker and much, much more. And don't forget to look at Scott Fullam's photo at the back of the book. One look and I could tell its his kind of book. Smile. Cold Eyes

Short review: If you actually know who Forrest Mims is, then you (and/or one of your geeky friends) will absolutely love this book.

Slightly longer review: This is a fun and easy-to-read book for electronics enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels, geeky or otherwise. From classic projects like the Mac-quarium and the refurbished Furby to more practical hacks like building a backup laptop power supply, you're likely to find at least one or two projects that you'll enjoy reading about... and actually doing! Highly recommended, like most other O'Reilly books.

The point of this book is to encourage creative engagement with electro/mechanical technology - to go beyond typical uses - to rediscover the inner inventor and toymaker.
Each project teaches the builder fundamental technologies that can be applied in many situations. Most of the projects can be re-scaled to a range of budgets and available materials.
Well written, illustrated, and resourced. A fun read!

Useful, fun, or just plain strange projects abound in this book. Some of the unusual but useful projects include creating a portable laptop power supply using regular batteries, setting up a surplus Primestar dish antennae to be a 802.11b wireless system capable of almost ten miles, and creating an advanced digital video system. On the other end of the spectrum is making an aquarium inside a MacIntosh, building an 802.11b antenna from a can, hacking a Furby, and creating a car video periscope. And, of course, there are projects between those two extremes. Each project is classified by cost, time and difficulty level making it easy to determine which ones you might want to tackle. An interesting title for the geek who wants to have the unusual that their friends are not likely to have, Hardware Hacking Projects for Geeks is a fun and unusual read.

After making a few these hacks you learn a couple things about the book. Try to stay with the recommended materials list and you will do fine. It also gets you working on the basics of circuitry. However it is as labeled "projects" not really anything too much to learn from, but great if you just want to have some fun.