How Computers Work (How It Works Series) [Paperback]

Ron White (Author)

Book Description

Series: How It Works | Publication Date: September 1998

How Computers Work is the premier four-color guide to PCs. Using hundreds of pages of detailed, color drawings, How Computers Work, not only tells, but shows readers everything from how a signal travels through a circuit to why your game c -With more than 600,000 copies sold, How Computers Work is the classic graphic reference with four color explanations of how computers really work -Features the best graphics, drawings and details of all past editions for readers of all levels in one complete visual package -Features an all new, updated CD-ROM with animated footage of the inside of your PC. See in full motion how the inside of your computer really works

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Have you ever wondered if you should buy a 3-D video card or a computer with a RISC (reduced instruction set computing) processor, only to face the bald fact that you had no idea why it could possibly be worth the $200 to $5,000 you were about to spend? If you have (and who can honestly say that he or she has never bought something just because it sounded "cool"), the fourth edition of this award-winning guide to PCs is sure to demystify the workings of your computer and its peripherals. Focusing on Wintels--particularly Windows 98 machines in this edition--White's style is a perfect balance of the technical and the miraculously simple; yet this is not a book just for beginners. Working your way through each chapter step by step, you're certain to be more knowledgeable about some facets of your desktop machine than even the "expert" who set it up for you.

White begins each section of the book with an overview of his subject (e.g., "How the Internet Works" or "Input/Output Devices") followed by a glossary of key concepts. In the subsequent chapters, his short explanations then elucidate those concepts: "As intelligent and swift as a computer's memory may be, RAM has one fatal flaw. It is a will-o'-the wisp. With few exceptions, all memory chips lose the information stored in them once you turn off the computer." The real success of the book, though, is the cut-away illustrations and the CD-ROM animations that take you inside microchips, joysticks, scanners, DVD drives, and even e-mail systems. With the accelerating pace of information technology, one only hopes that Ron White will keep updating his book for the rest of us. --Patrick O'Kelley

From the Back Cover

How Computers Work shows you how chips, software, memory, and hardware work using detailed four-color drawings. An interactive game-like CD-ROM takes you directly inside your computer. This book is completely updated and revised to include the latest technology developments.

An updated introduction to the workings of the computer explores the basics of microchips, hardware, software, and computer memory, providing an entertaining and informative tour of every part of the computer, from hard drive and processor to mouse, monitor, and keyboard. Also takes you through the workings of digital cameras, ebooks, Bluetooth, and much more. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Que Pub; 4th edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078971728X
• ISBN-13: 978-0789717283
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,663,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Completely Updated and Expanded Edition!, November 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How Computers Work with CDROM (How Computers Work, 5th ed) (Paperback)

Ron White has written an expanded of edition How Computers Work. The Millennium Edition offers readers a totally updated and refreshing view of computer technology that will take them into the next century. Readers are treated to new graphics, new insight into computer operations, new developments in the computer industry, and new technology to incorporate into their personal and business computing!

This new edition of How Computers Work is a beautifully illustrated and designed book that clearly and concisely explains the overall operation of computers. Readers will learn how individual computer components work, how the Windows operating system and a number of software applications work, how various audio, graphics, and video technologies work, and how a number of essential peripheral accessories work. Readers will also pick up on some helpful information about the Y2K phenomenon.

Readers are taken on a breath-taking journey through the operation of the bios, cache, chips, memory, ports, hard drives, CD's, diskettes, zip drives, graphics boards, sound boards, modems, monitors, mouses, joysticks, printers, surge protectors, back-up power supplies, digital cameras, scanners, and much more. White includes discussion of cutting-edge Pentium technologies and how Web browsers, e-mail, networks, virtual reality, multimedia, and data compression work.

This book is perfect for company employees, for students who may be using computers for the first time, and beginners starting out with just an interest in computers. This book is great for classroom use and will also make a fine gift for the first-time computer buyer! It is must reading for anyone wanting to learn more about the computing scene. The CD included with the book offers a cool multimedia interactive tour no one should miss out on!

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful overview of internal Computer components, et al, November 9, 2002

By 

Frater V "The Truth is Absolutely Not Absolut... (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: How Computers Work (6th Edition) (Paperback)

I work in the IT / Computer Repair industry, and I personally feel that this book is very helpful to most individuals, especially those who have little familiarity with computer systems, internal structures, gadgets and whatnots.
I found the detailed and heavily-illustrated sections regarding chipsets, processors, memory buffers, etc. to be very helpful. Most computer manuals are very technical and assume you know a computer inside and out, already (despite constant development in the industry and the fact that by the time a computer hits the shelves it is out-dated).
These "How Computers / Internet," etc. books are wonderful manuals for those who just want to know "how the heck does this crazy thing work, anyway ?!?!"
You won't be able to pass your A+ Certifications with this series of books, but you will understand much of the jargon people throw-around in the office, and you will see flow charts of "How Computers Work."
I sincerely appreciated the diagrams of a Techtronix Printer!
Suffice to Say, if "a picture is worth a thousand words," this book is pricesless for the novice and very helpful for the beginning (uncertified) Techs in the computer repair field. The usual Black & White Illustrations in computer manuals aren't exactly condusive to really getting a feel for the stuff you might be yanking out and replacing. However, this book is full of numerous full-color, full-page illustrations.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Book WILL Answer Your Questions, July 6, 2000

By 

Shawn Weil - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Computers Work with CDROM (How Computers Work, 5th ed) (Paperback)

Some people are content to spend their lives not knowing or caring what is under the hood of their car, inside their watch, or in their TV sets. To them, the end product is all that matters. Other people are not content with that - they want to know how things work. What magic is taking place that allows them to watch events thousands of miles away or toast their bagel.

There are few inventions as imposing as the personal computer to understand. Integrated Circuits, ISA connections, Hexadecimal code, and many other seemingly complex words float around in descriptions of hardware and software. This book demystifies the PC - with flare.

Each component of the PC - CPU, drives, printers, mouse - is described with a down to earth, step by step description and exceptional illustrations. It is just technical enough to allow the power user to be satisfied, but easy enough to understand so us non-Computer Science majors can gain some knowledge.

My only criticism involves the CD - the layout was good, but it only included some of the information in the book. Had it been more comprehensive, I would have enjoyed it more.

This is similar in quality to "The Way Things Work" by David Macaulay. "How Computers Work" will answer the questions you've had about computers, and many that you haven't thought of. It is the perfect mix of information and illustration. Highly recommended.