Supplies Books


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Supplies Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Supplies
Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management
Published in Hardcover by Haestead Press (2003-01-24)
Authors: Haestad Methods, Thomas M. Walski, Donald V. Chase, Dragan A. Savic, Walter M. Grayman, Stephen Beckwith, and Edmundo Koelle
List price: $145.00
Used price: $86.98

Average review score:

An excellent textbook !!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-03-17
Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management is not only a complete and current reference for professionals involved in water distribution systems but also an essential textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses. In fact, what makes this book different is that it contains from basic hydraulic concepts up to the most recent researches and experiences in a comprehensive language.

Advanced Water Distribution Modeling and Management
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-03-05
Thank-You Haestad Mdthods for developing such a wonderful program. I use this book as a guide almost everyday.

Great reference for the professionals of water distribution
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-03-04
This texttbook, that I recently reviewed, was for me a great experience. This is a must have book for any Civil consultant involved in hydraulics. It is both a guide to water modeling and a practical reference to water distribution operation and management. Thanks Haestad Methods.

The Best "How To" Book on Modeling
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-03-03
This reference has given us an edge in satisfying client needs from the simplest capacity study to the most complex model. It has helped make our competent modelers more efficient and the up-and coming modeler function like a pro. Many common questions and problems are anticipated and clearly answered. Because the book so thoroughly covers system management issues, I believe many parts should be required reading for water resources engineers.

Great to have everything under one roof
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-03-03
I wish I knew of this book's existence years ago. For too many years, I have been using several other reference books to "answer" my never ending questions and doubts on modeling and related subjects.

It even has reference on non-concontinuous flow condition. A great book with lots of "weight." The price was right, too, I received this gem free as a bonus for signing up to attend a wwebcast sponsored by Haestad.

Supplies
The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists
Published in Paperback by TFH Publications (1997-05)
Author: Robert M. Fenner
List price: $39.95
New price: $26.37
Used price: $12.96

Average review score:

Great book!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-07
This is a great book, top-notch quality both on the text, pictures, quality of the paper used and information provided. In my opinion just one thing could make this book even better: a better organization/rating system for the fishes/invertebrates covered. The author put a lot of text for each fish/invertabrate without a simple to read classification on wheter a beginner like myself should buy or not that particular animal. For that I am using the excellent The Complete Book of the Marine Aquarium [Hardcover] By Vincent B. Hargreaves, which provides a rating from 1 thru 5 on each animal depending on the complexity of keeping it on a fish tank.

An outstanding library reference
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-04
Robert M. Fenner's THE CONSCIENTIOUS MARINE AQUARIST is an outstanding library reference. Revised and updated in a second edition, it provides saltwater hobbyists with a wealth of detail on keeping a successful saltwater aquarium. Chapters cover, in detail, everything from water health and saltwater species biology to discussions of setup options, maintenance, and more. Color photos abound and the information is detailed, not cursory. A top pick any saltwater hobbyist - and collections catering to them - must have.

Must read for aquarium owners
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-12
This is a very informative book for anyone who is starting up a new saltwater aquarium. The illustrations are great. It covers a lot of depth and provides practical tips to setting up and maintaining an aquarium.

Excellent Starting Point
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-19
This book provides a great overview of the hobby. This is really where most people should start off reading in the hobby to determine if they're going to create a reef in their living room. Perhaps some should start with Paletta's The New Marine Aquarium first as a quick 1 day read, but really those who plan on enjoying the hobby would be well served by skipping the superbasic and getting into this book. That's not to say this is the only book you'll ever need - but this is enough book for most people to be quite content with. (For those of you who are 'bitten' by the hobby, The Reef Aquarium series by Delbeek & Sprung is an excellent resource, but there are others.) Enjoy,

A good foundation.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-06
I have been keeping a marine tank for less than 1 year. I got tired of just using the internet for all my knowledge-base of marine aquariums; spending many hours digging through all the forums for whatever current problem/issue i had, reading so many conflicting opinions and answers from 'experts', and often ending up at least as confused as when i began.

So I bought this book, read it, and feel much better equipped for the hobby. I still refer heavily to internet sources for more granular knowledge, but at least I now have a solid, reliable source for a foundation on which to build.

This book gave me more confidence, and left me eager to learn and do more in this hobby. It is beautifully illustrated, well composed, and the author conveys his own passion of the hobby and eagerness to educate responsible marine hobbyists.

Supplies
A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species
Published in Paperback by TFH Publications (1999-11)
Author: Scott W. Michael
List price: $29.95
New price: $18.28
Used price: $14.35

Average review score:

Excellent Quick Guide
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-20
This is an excellent quick guide to help you learning more about salt water fishes. It not only helps you deciding what fishes you want next but is also a very helpful guide to carry when shopping for new fishes. You can easily identify fishes that you don't know, with a scale with 1 to 5 on how hard it is to have it at home and compatibility with other fishes and invertebrates.

The highlight of this book, in my opinion, is showing pictures of Angelfishes when they are both young and adults, as their pattern change completely.

Good quick reference
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-13
This book is great for when you want all the basic facts on a potential fish tankmate right there at your fingertips. Quick to find what you need, and very to-the-point. Great handy guide.

The real McCoy of Marine Fishes
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-14
If you have a salt water aquarium, this is the one book you must have.

Great Reference Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-02
If you need a quick, comprehensive marine fish reference book this is the one to get. It is small enough to bring with you to the fish store and get a quick rundown on behaviors, ease of keeping, etc.

If you ask the fish store about a fish, they are probably looking in this book for the answer.

Marine Fishes
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-29
This is a must have book for the novice to choose which fish are right for your tank

Supplies
State Series Quarters Collector Map (State Series)
Published in Hardcover by Whitman Pub Llc (2006-09-30)
Author:
List price: $7.99
New price: $5.50
Used price: $5.33

Average review score:

Absolutely Wonderful Product
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-04
I cannot say enough good about this product. I have been reading reviews on others quarter collecting albums and had settled on buying this one, then they ran out of them. I was really upset, but because of my procrastination, they got in a new shipment by the time I was ready to order something else. I am so glad I chose these. I have 3 children ages 13, 10 and 6. Each one of them loves these albums (I bought one for each of them and got mine free with amazon's special offer). My 10 year old is really enjoying the geography of it. The 13 year old loves that she has her own album and has a great head start on filling it. The six year old is thrilled to be collecting her own quarters and can easily "load" the quarters into their spots all by herself. Mom (me) is thrilled to get such a wonderful album for such a great price. Check out the measurements on this, it's really a nice big book. It has the state seal in each quarter placement spot and has additional information about each state on the outer pages. It also has spots for the not-yet-issued 2009 coins. Please know that after much research, I really found this to be the best one out there. Enjoy!

Great for kids!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-23
This collector map is great - short desciptions of each state including District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Nortern Mariana Islands - all U.S. territories. When my son took it for show and tell, the velcro closure didn't hold up with all the kids handling it, but was easy to glue. Overall great for kids to learn about the U.S. as well as having a worthwhile collection.

fantastic!!!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-21
I love this quarter map at the first sight when my friend showed me hers. I kept collecting the 50 state quarters last year, and I thought it would be fantastic if they have a holder. The map looks very nice with the quarters. And it had introduction to each of the states, which makes it even better.
And it was cheap to buy 4 products for only $24 + free shipping. I will buy more if there's any. It should be a good gift.

light and convenience
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-20
Good,easy to keep all the 50+6 quarters on an US map.It's useful for remebering the position of every states.
But my orders had been canceled twice,so I feel so depressed about the amazon and the seller.

Gift for grandchildren
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-19
My grandchildren will receive these State Quarters Collector Maps for a gift after the series has ended.

Supplies
PC Annoyances
Published in Paperback by O'Reilly (2003-10-14)
Author: Steve Bass
List price: $19.95
New price: $0.61
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $27.74

Average review score:

Ok, I got an older book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-30
Since my book is older, it was a used version, the hints are for older things. It does have some helpful tools, but lots of the annoyances, I already knew about.

Worth Every Penny
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-17
This book is written in a very easy to understand language. The hints are pratical and should help everyone in some way. Microsoft will not tell you much of how to make your operating system work the way YOU want it to. Steve Bass takes care of that. It is a valuable resource for anyone who has a PC, novice or experienced. I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about computers and I even learned a few new tricks.

A sanity saver
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-23
I am still pretty much a neophite where computers are concerned, so I bought this book hoping that it could get me out of the "messes" I'm always getting into. It really DOES help! Thank you!!! Steve Bass, I'm now searching for other books you have written.

A readable computer book!
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-04
This is the first computer book I actually said down and read, cover to cover. It holds your interest, and each tip gets you excited for the one to follow. I call it my AHA book. All the time you read it, you go "Aha! That's the problem!" or "Aha! That's how to get rid of that!". Can't recommend it highly enough.

Concise, excellent, usable tips
Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-14
I've read many computer books, and I have to say this is one of the most informative. More important, Steve provides hundreds of tips to overcome the small (and large) problems of Windows. It's nice to konw that even a well-known computer columnist experiences the same frustrations we ordinary users do. Happily, he willing to share the solutions he's found.

In my first reading, I discovered the answers to at least 7 windows annoyances I've encountered.

And instead of including a cost-raising CD, the publisher has made 100 utility programs available online, a better solution that including them on a quickly outdated disk.

A useful, and often amusing book.

You need it!

Supplies
A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning
Published in Paperback by Charlotte Mason Research & Supply Company (1998-01-01)
Author: Karen Andreola
List price: $19.99
New price: $12.35
Used price: $10.50

Average review score:

Makes Charlotte Mason Very Manageable
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-07
This is a wonderful book for anyone wanting to know more about Charlotte Mason's educational philosophies. This book breaks it all down into manageable pieces that are very easy to follow and understand. This should be on every CM fans "must-read" list. An excellent book!

My favorite book regarding Charlotte Mason
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-18
This book was my favorite (as written by a homeschool mom) to describe the Charlotte Mason philosophy and how one can use it in a practical way to teach their own children at home.

It is not only easy to read but a charming book. I have passed it on to my oldest child, who has begun homeschooling her daughter and son.

Charlotte Mason Handbook
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-09
A book that makes the ideal childhood including education feasible and practical to implement. It shows that education does not have to take place in a chair and behind a desk. It shows that learning takes place all the time and the most important lessons are taught outside of textbooks.

Full of direction and inspiration!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-12
This book gave me more inspiration, enthusiasm and direction for homeschooling than I ever expected to have with my oldest child still just two years old. Written by Karen Andreola, an intelligent, well-written and passionate mother who has homeschooled three children Charlotte Mason-style, the thrust of the book is not how to mold intellectually superior children (though that may be a natural result :) but rather how to nurture their natural curiosities and cultivate in them a love of learning. Reading "whole" or "living" books is foundational to this method, that is, books written by authors who have a personal passion for the subject, an enthusiasm that the reader may catch. Charlotte Mason is critical of most textbooks as they are over-stuffed with information compiled by committees aiming to meet generalized standards of what a child should learn in a particular grade. Charlotte felt that to know about something was not the same as knowing it personally. "Children are educated by their intimacies," was an oft-repeated theme which Charlotte was convinced of. A necessary partner to the reading of whole books is the "narration" of them, when a child is asked to re-tell what they have learned in their own words. Naturally the child will begin to incorporate the words of their authors into their own vocabularies. As they get older, they may narrate in both written and oral forms. In a child's early years (the first 6), no formal schooling is recommended but rather abundant play and exploration in nature, that they might experience the world through the five senses, as well as songs and books and practice at helpfulness in the home. Most importantly, Charlotte Mason recognizes Christ in her theories, placing spiritual formation as central to the child's education "...because knowledge without virtue is nothing to God."
A perfect compliment to this book in its emphasis on spiritual formation in the home: "Family Driven Faith," by Voddie Baucher.

Am I the only one who hates this book???
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-01
If you've read the Charlotte Mason 6 volume set, there is no need for this companion book. My hope in reading this book was to get a modernized take on Miss Mason's educational theories. I was sadly disappointed. I find this book to be just about as victorian as the original. I do believe that the CM method will work in today's homeschools, but let's be honest, my children (and my home for that matter) look nothing like the rosy picture painted by Karen Andreola. I was hoping this book would break down the meat of CM's philosophy into what works for the modern home. I guess I'll have to do that myself.

Supplies
Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living
Published in Paperback by Three Rivers Press (1999-06-01)
Author: Annie Berthold-Bond
List price: $18.95
New price: $11.52
Used price: $10.52
Collectible price: $21.95

Average review score:

Practical Recipes
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-30
This book is full of practical recipes for almost anything you need, and safe for the environment as well. I use it like a recipe book, whenever I need to mix a cleaner or make a product, I look up the thing that I need, and the variations of it, and make it with the basic supplies that I bought. I am really enjoying it, and feel like I'm making a small difference for the environment, and a big difference for detoxifying my home.

Great Book!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-28
This is an absolutely great book for anyone interested in "greening" their home. Their recommendations are great for the enviornment, for your health, home and save you money!

less toxic living
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-01
It's amazing all the products you can clean with that are already in your kitchen and, more importantly, not toxic.

Informative and useful!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-19
This is a great book. I got it not really thinking I would use it as much as I have. I use it for body creams, cleansers and moisturizers AND I use if for household cleaning, furniture polish, sachets, and more. And her explanations of how different ingredients work is also very helpful. I now buy very few commercial cleaners (Bon Ami, Ecover laundry detergent) mostly because I can't find washing soda anywhere locally.

Terrific better Basics
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-10
This book is filled with natural and non-toxic cleaning products, personal care products and more. I have made a number of cleaning potions from Better Basics and am loving the way my house smells when I clean it! Meaning...instead of the old days using harsh chemicals, my home smells like almost nothing--just clean!

I was going to post a review for Annie Bond's Home Enlightenment: Practical, Earth-Friendly Advice for Creating a Nurturing, Healthy, and Toxin-Free Home and Lifestyle, but noticed it is no longer in print. Too bad, because it was good. However, if you want similar information, check out Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your PlanetBoth of these books deal with the next steps to take once your home is non-toxic, including ways to make your home your sanctuary.

Supplies
Sew Fast Sew Easy: All You Need to Know When You Start to Sew
Published in Paperback by St. Martin's Griffin (2002-08-20)
Author: Elissa K. Meyrich
List price: $23.95
New price: $13.17
Used price: $13.00

Average review score:

wonderful book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-10
This is a great learn how to sew book for first time sewers, very easy to understand.

Classic Beginner and Reference Sewing Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-02
This is a classic beginner sewing book. I think people will learn to sew from this book generations to come. The patterns are very simple with easy to follow instructions. The illustrations are clear and helpful. I bought the new "Sew On" book to learn additional sewing skills with more advanced patterns.

Great Beginner Sewing Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-21
I ordered the "Sew On" book and was really impressed with the written instructions and included patterns. My daughter wants to learn to sew and I ordered her this book. When she gets a little comfortable, I'll pass along the Sew On book. This Sew Fast Sew Easy book has simple, easy to use patterns and projects that will get true beginners sewing. I highly recommend this book for true beginners. If your looking for a more intermediate book, find the "Sew On" book.

A little TOO basic
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-09-27
The book is probably best for true novices. I was never much of a sewer and it has been 30 years since I've sewn anything more than a button or hem. I thought I'd need to review the basics, but this book was too basic for me. i was hoping that it would refresh the basics, but lead me a few steps beyond. I can see where it would be helpful for those who are just starting out, so I can't find much fault with the book itself. It was just not what I need.

Delivers as recommended!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-18
I purchased this book based on its recommendations, and I'm not sorry I did. It's been 25+ years since I touched a sewing machine, and this book definitely helped take the fright away. Perfect for new seamstresses of all ages.

Supplies
Make a Quilt in a Day : Log Cabin Pattern (Quilt in a Day) (Quilt in a Day)
Published in Paperback by Quilt In A Day (1998-05-01)
Author: Eleanor Burns
List price: $18.95
New price: $9.90
Used price: $8.04

Average review score:

Innovative method
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-10-01
I am not an experienced quilter, but I have made several quilts. When I came across this book and thumbed through the pages, I was fascinated by her method. When I last made a king-sized quilt, it took me 3-4 years, mostly because I was discouraged by how long it was taking me to assemble it. I started with this pattern recently to make a king-sized quilt as a gift, and I am astounded with how fast I am progressing. With this method, you can work on it in short bursts if you want, but if you have an entire day, you can get a lot done! I highly recommend it! I look forward to using this method to make quick baby quilts in the future!

Great place to start or wonderful for a traditional quilt
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-14
Great book with step by step instructions, this would be my pick for the first time quilter. It shows at least 100 different layouts for you log cabin blocks. It is wonderful.

Great instructions, perfect for beginners
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-05
I have had this book for about 6 months now and am very happy with it. I bought it to help me make my first quilt on my own.
It gives very clear step-by-step instructions and also a list of all general supplies one needs, such as a rotary cutter, cutting mat, different types of batting, pins etc. I did not feel the need to buy all of it, but it does give a good starting list. I probably spent $50-75 to get started, excluding fabrics and a sewing machine of course.
What I also love is that it gives very exact amounts of the fabrics you need. I found they are highly accurate, leaving just enough room for a mistake but without having a pile of scraps left.
The book offers many different sizes and patterns, showing clearly which patterns go with which size.
I highly recommend this book, because it guides you through every step from cutting, assembly, layout, sewing, batting, with text and many helpful images.
The only thing I found slightly misleading is the title. Except for the smallest quilts, I don't think many people could finish a quilt in a day.

Quilt in three days
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-20
No way one day!. But... in three days I made a 60x60 lap quilt over New Years. With an unfamiliar sewing machine on a dining room table. I think it could be done in two in my own studio.

What this did was give me confidence to go home and finish my QS Triple Irish Chain.

I recommend this book highly for beginner quilters. Sometimes you read instructions and wonder what the quilter was smoking. Not Ms. Burns.

If a guy like me can do it, anyone can.

t in san jose

In the Begining...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-03
If you are a quilter and you haven't made this quilt, what are you waiting for? You have to make this quilt pattern at least once in your life. If you are thinking about quilting and can sew a straight line, this is where you want to begin.

It's easy, simple, the results are beautiful. I've made many of these as gifts; I've given the book and fabric as the gift.

This book taught me to be a stripper over 20 years ago. (Read the book you'll understand "stripper".)


Supplies
PC Hardware in a Nutshell (Nutshell Handbook)
Published in Paperback by O'Reilly (2000-10-01)
Authors: Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson
List price: $29.95
New price: $0.73
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

A Gem of a PC primer!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-21
O'Reilly's an up and coming publisher of computer related books. Maybe a kingpin already. This selection is a true quick reference guide. Written by the Thompsons, this selection gives you a thorough look into buying, assembling and operating computers. You do need a basic understanding to get anything out of this book, but if this is the case, you won't be disappointed. I have a first edition copy, and it's still current. That says a lot, a first edition published four years ago is still not too outdated! Think about it. How many computer related books can you think of that's relatively current after four years? Huh?

All you need for PC hardware
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-13
This book is amazingly concise and thorough, yet also very easy to read. It contains many helpful photographs, and the authors maintain a great website that is tremendously useful and is a great addition to the book. I am not a big fan of the "In a Nutshell" computer books published by O'Reilly, but this book is definitely an exception. It's great for both beginners and experts.

Pull-no-punches opinionated and highly detailed
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-23
Robert Thompson is a man who doesn't hold back from giving his opinion on why something is good or bad, either on his website or in his books. In _PC Hardware in a Nutshell_, he tells you just what he thinks of what's good and bad about PC components in just about any category you can think of, and backs it up with all the facts, figures and personal experiences you could ever ask for. Every chapter includes historical information on the components under discussion, detailed reviews of what they do and how they do it, and recommendations on what to use (and what not to use). The final chapter walks you through building your own machine step-by-step, though, this being an omnibus book, the chapter is necessarily slightly skimpy in comparison to _Building The Perfect PC_. The writing style is clear and lively, in fact the book is well worth reading as a book even if you don't need any specific information at the time. The only real complaint I have is something the author has no control over - the fact that new PC hardware comes out so fast that it's just impossible to review every single new thing in a paper edition. (Well, that and the fact that Thompson doesn't like Western Digital because he's had bad experiences with their hard drives, whereas I've been using WD exclusively for years and never yet have had one go out on me. I think that can be chalked up, though, more to the fact that there's just so much PC hardware out there that different people are just going to end up having completely different experiences with components from a particular manufacturer. That, or I just got lucky with WD hard drives.) All in all, this book is truly indispensable.

A bit dated
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-15
This is a great book that covers every aspect of building a PC. However, as of August 2004, the 3rd edition of this book is a bit dated. For example PC3200 memory is considered the newest memory and both Pentium 4 Prescott processors and Athlon 64 processors were not out when this book was published. If you are buying this book, you may want to wait for a 4th edition, unless you are looking to assemble an old computer.

I would not accept the author's hardware recommendations as the final word. For one thing, the components they review are in many cases no longer manufactured. Magazine reviews and PC hardware Web sites are going to have different opinions on what the best components are.

Power to the People!
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-03
Let me start out with a huge thanks to O'Reilly. I'm not a big fan of large corporations or publishers - but I have come to trust O'Reilly implicitly wherever technical issues are concerned. Although I'm certain that they are not the "perfect" publisher, nor in the business for wholly (ha!) altruistic reasons, I AM amazed by the remarkable originality, diversity, range, quality, accuracy, and honorable business practices of this publisher. Oftentimes I wonder how they manage to maintain such a level, when their current library is so chock-full of tough-to-follow acts.

That said, PC Hardware in a Nutshell does not fail to meet up to these high expectations. Let me get the review portion of my review out of the way - simply put, this is the book I have been hunting for a couple years. That I did not immediately search the O'Reilly library only shows that I am a bit silly. I should have known better. End of review.

But I would like to carry this a bit further, and go out on a limb to discuss the only complaint prior reviewers have voiced: that the book is too "Microsoft-centric."

Rather than a weakness, I believe that this is actually a strength. Let me offer big kudos to the authors and publisher for realizing that a serious, yet accessible, compendium of computer hardware knowledge was necessary. The folks who register such complaints are those least in need of an in-depth introduction to PC hardware. These are the high priests of hi-tech, who rule the roost by virtue of their knowledge-monopoly on all issues technical. They would have you believe that if it was not hand-crafted from spare parts, duct tape, and copious amounts of solder and configured with the most obscure version of Linux, then it's only fit for a 4-year-old. They are, quite simply, dead wrong. Let them compile their own "PC Hardware for Only the Most Serious Tech Gurus", I say!

Thompson's very first point is that he intended the book to be of the most practical usability possible. The practical reality is that the people who desperately need such a compendium are poor fools, like Yours Truly, who are too technical to be satisfied with tutorials on how to use Microsoft Office, yet are not quite knowledgeable enough to get right under the hood of their PCs (never mind build a Linux box from spare hatpins and Reynolds Wrap). We, the "psuedo-techies", often do not come equipped with enough experience, knowledge, or confidence to take ourselves to the next level. We are the crowd who are using Microsoft products, yet would love to learn enough to understand exactly WHY Microsoft means "mush-mind" and Linux is God - but will never get there without a guide. This book is the guide, and to me it says, "Psuedo-techies unite! Power to the people!"


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