How to Expand and Upgrade PCs (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Preston Gralla (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789727692 | ISBN-13: 978-0789727695 | Publication Date: August 31, 2002 | Edition: 3

How to Expand and Upgrade PCs is a richly illustrated, full-color book focusing on upgrades and add-ons that any consumer level user can make to their PC. Instead of simply reading like a manual, this book brings together all of the pre-purchase, installation, and usage issues a user faces. Each chapter looks at determining the type of upgrade needed, the tools and other requirements for installation, and using the hardware once it's installed.. Coverage includes DVDs, digital cameras, scanners, removable drives, USB scanners, firewall devices, palmtop devices, home wireless networks and more.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Upgrading and repairing personal computers isn't hard, since most of the pieces comply with standard specifications and can be made to fit together with a little fiddling. Reading books on the subject, however, can be mightily confusing. That's because hardware books usually have grainy, dark, amateur photographs that show whatever specific component models the authors have on hand, which can make understanding your own components difficult.

How to Expand & Upgrade PCs is different in that it uses high-quality, full-color perspective drawings to show how the pieces of an IBM-compatible personal computer fit together. The drawings illustrate the parts in a generic way, so you're not tripped up by the details of any particular product. Preston Gralla--an accomplished and respected author--backs them up with labels and text. In the case of spreads that explain procedures (like how to change out a hard disk) the text is numbered, step by step.

Some of the drawings show whangingly simple operations--plugging in a keyboard, for example--but most of the illustrations are really valuable. Operations that most people will want to do--such as install a DVD drive or add memory--are emphasized. Make sure you use the Internet to find out about your specific components. --David Wall

Topics covered: Replacing and supplementing the components that make up an IBM-compatible personal computer, and how to add memory, add or replace a hard drive, add a DVD drive, do basic troubleshooting, and lots more. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

This best-selling guide, which includes full-color instructions, is a useful tool for novice to intermediate computer users who want to increase their computing speed, memory, or hard drive. Not only does Gralla address how, she also explains why. Readers can skip from chapter to chapter to learn how to perform a specific task (e.g., installing a scanner), but they should start with Chapter 1, which lists needed tools and diagrams the PC. New items covered include the installation of cable modems, web cams, MP3 players, and other technologies. Even for libraries owning the first edition (1999), this is a high-priority purchase.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Que; 3 edition (August 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789727692
• ISBN-13: 978-0789727695
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,150,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes Computer Learning Much More Fun And Easy!, March 27, 2001

By 

Jim Moran - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Expand & Upgrade PCs (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Preston Gralla and Que Publishing have done a great job updating and expanding "How to Expand & Upgrade PCs." This second edition provides a more comprehensive look at how average computer users with little technical know-how can perform major upgrades to their computers and expand the use of them by installing new memory chips, hardware, and a variety of peripheral accessories.

In keeping with Que's fine tradition of using high-quality printed graphics, this new edition is beautifully illustrated and designed to make learning much more fun and easier to accomplish. The book explains in simple terms how major computer components and technologies work, how to handle computer equipment, what the latest technological advances are, and how everything works together to make computing happen!

Readers will learn what the basic computer components are, how to open up computers with the right tools, how to connect cables and set switches, how to install jumpers, power supplies, hard drives, CPU and memory chips, a variety of circuit boards, floppy drives, CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, Zip drives, tape drives, and modems. Readers will also learn how to hook-up USB port devices such as printers, digital cameras, scanners, other accessories, and improve over all system performance within the Windows Operating System environment.

This fully illustrated book is perfect for small businesses, classroom use in public and private schools, colleges, adult education courses, for beginners, and will also make a fine gift for the first-time computer buyer!