Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible (5th Edition) [Paperback]

Winn L Rosch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0789717433 | ISBN-13: 978-0789717436 | Edition: 5

In order to remain current with the latest developments in computer technology, the Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible, Fifth Edition, has been revised to include information relating to Intel's MMX and SSE technologies, new compatible microprocessors, and the latest in storage devices--including new hard disk interfaces and high-capacity floppies and new port designs like IrDA and USB. More than just an overview of today's technology, this guide provides you with a thorough understanding of all aspects of computer hardware. This book supplies you with the background to further understand today's technological innovations by detailing the evolution of computer hardware.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible is a handy guide to the components that make up IBM-standard personal computers, but it is beginning to show its age in its new fifth edition. As Rosch's fans have come to expect, the book includes lots of lists and tables that present troubleshooting information in an easily referenced format. Rosch knows his subject well. Unlike many of its competitors, this book devotes a fair amount of ink to discussions of software phenomena, such as image compression technologies.

Some of the material seems a bit outdated, such as the section on "proprietary mice" that describes dedicated mouse ports as if they're something unusual. In the same vein, coverage of CD-ROM formats neglects any mention of the Joliet and El Torito standards, as if Yellow Book is new stuff. There's no mention of PC-100 RAM either, and the book gives almost as much space to monochrome cathode ray tubes as to emerging flat-screen technologies. The point: you'll appreciate the information on older technologies if you're involved in maintaining or repairing older machines. Folks working on more modern hardware may want to look at Scott Mueller's Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 11th Edition. --David Wall

Topics covered: Central processing units (CPUs), random-access memory (RAM), mass-storage devices (hard disks and CD-ROM drives), video cards, input devices, expansion buses, and modem connectivity.

From the Publisher

Updated and revised edition of a bestseller, this comprehensive tome provides the most up-to-date information on the latest developments in PC technology. Written by industry expert, Winn Rosch, this guide covers everything users need to know about PC components and peripherals-from purchasing, setting up, and repairing a computer system to explaining technology and upgrading information. Using an easy-to-understand, well-written style, this is an invaluable resource of information! - Saves users time and money by helping them make the right decisions when purchasing a computer

- Explores mass storage, the display system, printers, networking, plug and play, memory types, input devices, parallel and serial ports, modems, IRDA, and more

- Provides jargon-free explanations of PC design and technology --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1416 pages
• Publisher: Que; 5 edition (August 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789717433
• ISBN-13: 978-0789717436
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,183,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hardware matters, April 3, 1998

By 

Rose Vines - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible: Premier Edition (Hardcover)

There are two types of drivers: those who look under the hood and those who haven't yet discovered the hood catch.

The same goes for computer users. Some folk will use their computer for years in happy ignorance of its inner workings - and failings. Then there are those of us for whom ignorance and bliss never equate.

If you belong to the latter group, you'll want Winn L. Rosch's Hardware Bible at your side. For a decade, the Hardware Bible has been the definitive hardware resource for anyone wanting to understand what happens under the hood of their PC and its outlying equipment.

Surprisingly, this is not a handbook for techheads, although techheads will love it. Rosch's approachable style makes it perfect for adventurous beginners as well as intermediate and advanced computer users bent on extending their understanding of the PC's inner workings.

Rosch covers just about everything you can think of: microprocessors, motherboards, memory, busses, the BIOS, support circuitry, the power supply, input devices, the display system, monitors, audio, ports, printers, hard drives, modems, networking, and on and on.

This recently revised edition is right up to date with the latest hardware and includes a CD-ROM with diagnostic and troubleshooting software, plus a couple of megs of additional reference material thrown in for good measure.

If you want to know your LIFO from your FIFO or why your hard disk growls when it should be purring, Winn L. Rosch's Hardware Bible is for you.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those looking for the overall Hardware book this is it., May 23, 2003

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible, 6th Edition (Paperback)

In over 15 years of I work I am always looking for new material and books relating to the latest technology both hardware and software.

This is the first time I have looked at the Hardware Bible and as a Computer Technical Instructor this book has already come in handy for a couple of A+ classes I am teaching.

While the book is not written to any specific exam, I found that is would definitely help with the A+ and CST exams. The author's extensive hardware knowledge is evident throughout the book.

One thing that impressed me throughout the book was the author not only gives detailed information about the most current technology, but also gives you a firm background on older technologies as well.

While the book is the "Hardware" bible, there is far more than just hardware information, you'll also find TCP/IP and the internet, as well as memory management included in the overall coverage.

I found this to be a fairly complete text to work with. You can also register online and find both the 5th and 6th editions available. About the only thing that wasn't included was a cd with hardware utilities, but looking at what you do get this is a minor drawback. Overall this book is a certainly worth the look.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could be much better with some editing., January 1, 2005

By 

Eric (Holland, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible, 6th Edition (Paperback)

I was hoping this book would be as good as "Upgrading and Repairing PC's", but it doesn't measure up. The depth of detail on certain topics is not well balanced.

For instance, the author refers to floppy discs as necessary to modern computers as an appendix, but spends a many pages detailing it as well and it's all but obsolete relatives like the Iomega Zipdisk. Granted the zipdisk was relevant in the 1990's but it is irrelevant today. OTOH hard disc construction and it's evolution, a far more interesting and relevant topic today is not written in such deep detail.

Many dated topics pertaining to only MS-DOS need to edited down to be more concise. A detailed breakdown of all the registers in a CMOS clock chip, and all the different frequencies produced by the system timer is not needed by the average computer programmer and system builder today. It almost seems the newer the technology, the fewer the pages devoted to it.

Some information is downright wrong. The author has a limited understanding of digital video and makes many inaccurate statements regarding that topic. For all pages in the book devoted to technical minutia, I wouldn't trust it to be entirely authoritative.

Although this book is giant sized and expensive, many pages are wasted. Seperating the interesting bits of information from all the long winded filler is a chore. I would recommend browsing "Upgrading and Repairing PC's" over this book.