Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Did he really UPDATE the fourth edition?!, October 25, 2005
I started writing a review, and it ended up 3 pages long, I'll try to condense. 1) It's terribly outdated 2) He makes lots of inaccurate statements 3) Not clearly written 4) Definitely written for a British audience 5) It is written towards an audience that wants to build a PC, but the book is stuck somewhere between agreeing the reader has basic-to-advanced understandings and treating the reader as being completely inept.
1) outdated:
--"I find Word 2000 indispensable..."
-"Several suppliers are offering 19- to 21- inch CRT monitors."
--"The CRT monitor is still predominant in the lower price range desktop systems."
--"You should not put more than 512 Mbyte total into the motherboard..."
--"A more recent development is the dvd." Yeah, more recent than telephones or electricity...
--"The most recent standard [graphics cards] s AGP, which operates at a standard speed of 66MHz."
2) Arguable statements:
--"...Unless you live in a 'hotspot,' close to auser of what are called WiFi connections, you can forget about this possiblity." Why not BECOME a user and not hack your neighbors nwork?
--"...If you want a better keyboard, larger monitor,... main processing unit, then forget the idea of doing any construction yourself... Buy a package at the best combination of specification and price you can find." WHAT? Isn't that WHY people DIY?
--"If you intend to assemble the whole computer system [lists components]... you will pay much more for the priveledge of doing it yourself than you would if you bought a package from Dabs, Evesham, ..." Simply UNTRUE. My build cost pro'lly 30% LESS than if I got it pre-configured to match, compare to Alienware for example.
--"your planning should concentrate initially on constructing a no-frills machine with minimum of components that need drivers, and no software other than Windows..." NO WAY, you should plan your build to the finished product so all components are compatible throughout.
3) Unclear writing style:
--"Try using a card index to produce a list of all UNF-threaded bolts in size 6 with cadmium plating and hex heads..." Explaining why computers running databases are better than using typewritters. Great, thanks.
--"The assembly of a PC from scratch is, if anything, easier than making a working model from old-style Meccano..."
4) Across-the-Pond writing:
--He uses "British Pounds" for currency throughout the book. Hasn't the Euro been around since before this year? Yeah, that's my point.
--"A more recent development is pay-as-you-go broadband such as is offered by Metronet."
5)What audience is he writing for?
--"Many modern packages that are sold are intended for a user who has nothing or is replacing a very old system, and who needs a fast complete machine... If this applies to you, then such a package is your easiest route..."
--"...You will be better off keeping to older standards for some time to come." Referring to choosing newest released parts or not.
--"You might want a machine not so elaborately specified as the models that are on sale." WHY are you building again?
--Don't be tempted to build using second-hand drives." Well, if I HAD HDD or dvd drives in my last 'puter that were greatly reliable and I'm building a new, why not use them and recycle/save $/keep data intact?
He did not even mention the AMD Socket 939 which is what many/most builders are using now, since AMD is the builder's choice over Intel most times. DDR2 ram is not mentioned. He says dvd dual layer drives MIGHT be a thing in the future.
He says he's running a machine with 512 MB memory and a 200W power supply. Well, that's not what most builders (IMHO) are looking for.
Lucky I borrowed this from my local library, and it's returnable & free.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
This book is soooo last decade., April 17, 2005
Sorry, Mr. Sinclair. I peeked through this title today and must say, on one fact alone I was frustrated and dissapointed. On page 6 of the book you state
"Don't be tempted by alternatives to Windows. Building your own computer is not so very difficult, but installing it with software that is not a majority preference can triple your troubles, because you are very much on your own, despite the help on the net for users of systems such as Linux. The trouble with alternative operating systems is that they are designed for enthusiasts and professionals, and the help you can get is often couched in very technical terms."
While I agree that this may have been true years ago, it is simply factually UNTRUE in todays Linux communities. The idea that Windows is somehow easier to install and that everyone interested in building a new computer should use Microsoft products is beyond ridiculous. Using a free operating system, that is functionally compareable to Windows is ideal for folks looking to build there first machine. There are many reasons for this, and here's a few :
Cost. You will save money on your new computer. You can get linux free. Windows will cost you around $100 bucks.
Ability to install on more than one computer. You can install linux on every computer you build, customizing as you go. With Windows, you will need to purchase a new license for EACH box you want to install on. Additionally, if you have problems on your initial installs, you get the fun and joy of dealing with Microsoft technical support. And you have negative things to say about the linux technical support community!?! I've yet have a technical problem with linux that didn't have an answer posted on a support forum board like linuxnewbie.org. If the pay-for-support option is what you're after (some get comfort from the idea that they can pick up the phone and ask a question), then you might try a distrobution like Fedora, Mandrake, or Suse. Each of these companies offers some form of technical support.
Another benefit of using Linux versus Windows on a new computer is that right off the bat you have a fully functional computer workstation, including an office suite, multimedia players and editors, desktop publishing, web design, and on and on. If you go the way of windows, you will need to find and install most these things seperately, usually paying more money for them.
"enthusiasts and professionals"
Again, I think this line must have missed editing from your first edition. Maybe needs an update? This has not been true for years now. We use linux in a community center here, and many of the kids don't even realize that they aren't using windows. In fact, I get more people thinking we are using Macs than linux! They certainly don't have a hard time learning to use the system. No more difficult than using the unintuitive, unfriendly, and nonsensical contruct known as 'Windows'.
It blows me away that you make these statements considering the top three points on the back cover of your book :
--Save money by making your current PC last longer.
--Discover the practical techniques of upgrading a PC and avoid the pitfalls.
--Create the PC you really want, not just the off-the-shelf package from manufacturers.
Oddly enough, in my little circles, these things just scream "LINUX!"
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