Customer Reviews

Mike Meyers' A+ Guide to Managing and Troubleshooting PCs, Second Edition

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I thought I knew a lot about computers before reading this book. Turns out I really only knew a lot about Windows. However, this book has taught me a great deal about computers and I feel that, because of Mike Meyers, I am off on the path to the career I want. This book is very well written, using lively, active language to keep the book interesting. Unlike most textbooks, this one is written as if the author is speaking to you, and is very thorough and informative. The book goes in-depth into several areas of computer technology, devoting chapters to specific components such as processors, memory, input/output, etc...
I read this book one time all the way through, and passed the CompTIA A+ Certification exam because of it. I'd shake the authors hand if I had a chance to meet the guy. I definitely recommend this book to anybody who is interested in becoming CompTIA A+ Certified.

Good book, gives you a lot of information but a bit chatty. I don't need the dialog just the facts. But at least now I know how to take a computer apart and put it together. This did the trick. Down side is the software section is constantly changing so that could be a problem. However the hardware part - a computer is a computer is a computer. They all pretty much come apart and go back together the same.

I needed the book for school and it served its purpose and it is helping me with school. Thanks.

I needed this book for my A+ Hardwear Class the college book store were selling the used book twice of what i payed here....I pucrchesed the book from an amazon seller and i recieved the book in a week . The book is in a great condition and i am very satisfied....

Bought this book to use in a computer class that I was going to take at the local
technical college. The school uses the 6th edition hard cover and this is the 2nd edition soft cover. Bought the one the school uses and have been comparing the two books. So far they are word for word. Except this book has a reveiw of the chapter at the end of each chapter and review questions for the chapter. The 6th edition just has reveiw questions. This was a used book with software pack unopened and the book was in as new condition as the book store told me. Would by from them again.

I purchased this product as a textbook for a class that I am taking. The product is exactly what I needed. The ability to search by ISBN number was crucial and the ability to take a look at the actual pages of the book was what sold me on the purchase. I would definitely use Amazon again in the future.

Had this book for a computer class I took and its just a great text. Its basically aimed at the complete novice with absolutely no experience what-so-ever with computers. The analogies used are great and you leave having a really good firm understanding of computers. The "A+" title is a little misleading in my own opinion for it will not prepare you for the A+ exam and it doesn't completely give your a full "guide" on "managing and troubleshooting" computers. But if your looking for a good starting point in understanding computer hardware, this is your book. The newer update version is even better! It covers newer operating systems and hardware

i mainly bought this book for my college class that I needed. that was the only reason stopping me from buying the third edition one. overall, another book book from mike meyers.

This is a book required at a local college where I attend. I've been dealing with computers for about 13 years, now, and can unequivically state that while the text may have some things I didn't know, it is completely off it's rocker. It tells would-be techs to do things that they would NEVER do because they aren't trained to do it safely.

For instance, Mr. Meyers tells techs to open up power supplies and check things inside. For one, there are capacitors that store enough electricity that if you touch them, you could seriously injur yourself. Another case in point is that Mr. Meyers tells techs to "short" the jumpers of of the "On" switch to see if the case switch is working or "needs replaced." Absolutely no tech would do that due to the chance of crossing the wrong the pins; this would destroy the motherboard and possibly any component connected to it--pretty much any component inside the case. Not to mention that the "On" switch in a case is afixed to the case, itself, and can't be replaced.

These are just a few of the problems with this text. When it comes to the networking component, they get even worse. (I'm A+, Network+, CCNA, and CCNA-Wireless certified. Trust me when I say that there are some serious issues with his networking chapter.)

Mr. Meyers does have a knack when it comes to making the reading easy, however. There are much better books that have a very hard time presenting the material in an easy-to-read format because of the technical information necessary to get the job done. A case-in-point that I can think of is "Upgrading and Repairing PCs." I believe they are up to the 13th edition, now, and is a monstrous book at 1000+ pages. Not an easy read but INCREDIBLY better than this book.

My over-all review of the book is that an experienced tech would be okay with it because s/he could weed out the stuff that is just plain wrong to get at the gems that most books I've read don't touch on, such as Soft Power in the ATX12V 2.0 standard of power supplies. Anyone else could concievably be making more problems for him/herself.