PC Toys: 14 Cool Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment [Paperback]

Barry Press (Author), Marcia Press (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076454229X | ISBN-13: 978-0764542299 | Publication Date: November 7, 2003

Come on out and play

You can only surf the Net so long. You can only play so much video poker. So if you're a PC addict who's ready for some new fun, this book is your toybox. Each of the 14 projects inside includes a parts list, suggestions for finding the needed equipment, clues to the cost, helpful Web links, and complete directions. What's that? You have a few ideas of your own? Check out the suggestions in the final chapter, and start inventing your own PC toys.

The Toys

Each with a complete materials list and detailed, illustrated instructions
* TiVo-like video recorder
* MP3 or CD jukebox
* Coffeepot controller
* Telescope tracking station
* Workout monitor
* Home surveillance with Internet remote access
* Fridge and freezer monitor
* Fish tank monitor
* Auto diagnostic center
* In-car navigation system
* Weather station
* Robots
* Networked video games
* Model train controller


CD-ROM includes
* Trial version of Pinnacle Studio
* Visual GPS, freeware, and SocketWatch, shareware version
* Demo versions of GoldWave and Nero Burning ROM
* Unreal Tournament 2003 demo

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Come on out and play

You can only surf the Net so long. You can only play so much video poker. So if you’re a PC addict who’s ready for some new fun, this book is your toybox. Each of the 14 projects inside includes a parts list, suggestions for finding the needed equipment, clues to the cost, helpful Web links, and complete directions. What’s that? You have a few ideas of your own? Check out the suggestions in the final chapter, and start inventing your own PC toys.

The Toys

Each with a complete materials list and detailed, illustrated instructions

1. TiVo-like video recorder
2. MP3 or CD jukebox
3. Coffeepot controller
4. Telescope tracking station
5. Workout monitor
6. Home surveillance with Internet remote access
7. Fridge and freezer monitor
8. Fish tank monitor
9. Auto diagnostic center
10. In-car navigation system
11. Weather station
12. Robots
13. Networked video games
14. Model train controller

CD-ROM includes

• Trial version of Pinnacle Studio
• Visual GPS, freeware, and SocketWatch, shareware version
• Demo versions of GoldWave and Nero Burning ROM
• Unreal Tournament 2003 demo

About the Author

Barry and Marcia Press have been indulging their need to build PC toys for 25 years. Barry’s creations have included a unique cable TV modem, ATM networks, a desktop computer that can analyze drug interactions, and an artificial intelligence planning system. He and Marcia are also the authors of the PC Upgrade and Repair Bible as well as several other hot-selling computer books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (November 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076454229X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764542299
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,444,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing, May 17, 2005

By 

Charles Hall (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PC Toys: 14 Cool Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment (Paperback)

I was immediately disappointed after I received this book and first browsed through it. The authors' idea of a "project" is buying some off the shelf gadget and plugging it into your PC. I don't need a book to explain THAT.

Oh, and if you don't know what an MP3 file is, HERE ARE ALL THE DETAILS. What rubbish. Of the 14 "projects" maybe 3 or 4 are easier with this book, but the chances of you're being interested in one of those seems poor.

If you get the chance to look this thing over before buying you'll quickly know if it's for you. If you have any experience interfacing PC's at all, just skip this book.

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pass this book up, October 19, 2004

By 

D. Riggs - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PC Toys: 14 Cool Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment (Paperback)

It does give you step by step on how to complete these projects; but it will cost you. Example telescope tracker parts list runs about $900, then you can connect it to a PC. Build a PVR uses a P3933 with 512MB ram. I don't have one of those sitting on a shelf. This cook book shows you what software to buy, cables and plug and play modules, but does not teach anything. I guess I wanted to solder something. Please try to find a copy and flip through it before you buy it.

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good elementary text, November 8, 2003

By 

Thomas B. Gross (Winchester, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PC Toys: 14 Cool Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment (Paperback)

This is a good introduction to what you can do with your PC - it's rather elementary, which is good, and is suitable for even the most novice PC user. This would make an excellent gift for a 14-year-old who wants to know, for example, how to network PCs together to have a LAN party. There's even a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, which is a cute touch.

A number of the "projects" are really just good descriptions of accessories you can buy for you PC. If you didn't know that you can record television on your PC, this book gives you very specific directions for one inexpensive card you can buy, and is an excellent introduction to MPEG-2.

I would give the book 5 stars except that for some reason they intentionally printed a banner at the top of each page in a faded fashion that is I guess supposed to look cool but just makes each page look like the printer pressed his thumbs into the ink. If I hadn't seen other copies of the book I would have thought I had purchased a defective copy. It might be the worst art layout I have ever seen in a book produced by a major publisher.