Book Description
- SOA is the most important initiative facing IT today and is difficult to grasp; this book demystifies the complex topic of SOA and makes it accessible to all those people who hear the term but aren't really sure what it means
- This team of well-respected authors explains that SOA is a collection of applications that enables resources to be available to other participants in a network using any service-based technology
- Examines how SOA enables faster and cheaper application development and how it offers reusable code that can be used across various applications
- Covers what SOA is, why it matters, how it can impact businesses, and how to take steps to implement SOA in a corporate environment
Customer Reviews:
I'm no dummy, but this is good!.......2007-09-09
I have always been seriously put off by the "Dummies" series. I would like to buy books that assume some intelligence on the part of the reader. I don't like being talked down to.
But this book doesn't do that. Instead it explains concepts clearly, and has been a great help to me in understanding the clouds of jargon that surround this topic. The explanation of the components of SOA and how they hook together is excellent!
Because I am not yet directly involved, I cannot judge the accuracy of their details (and of course, they may change over time), but since the objective is to get the main concepts across, I believe the authors are successful.
I really wish, though, that the series were called "Achieving Buzzword Compliance in ...".
Disappoing Book.......2007-08-30
The one thing that most people agree upon for SOA is that there is a lot of confusion. This book unfortunately adds to that confusion.
If you want to know what is going on today in what is being called SOA, this book is fine. It takes a look at what is out there, and reverse engineers it and describes the pieces. Unfortunately what is being done in general and what SOA is supposed to be is quite different.
If you were interested in what SOA is SUPPOSED to be, this book is very far off the mark. If you look at Thomas Erl's definitive books on SOA, you will see a vast difference from SOA as described in this book. Some of the chapters are overviews, for those with little or no existing knowledge of SOA, which is probably what you really wanted.
This SOA for Dummies book might be summarized as:
* SOA is good
* Everybody will be doing it
* Lots of companies are working in that area to implement SOA
* Lots of companies are creating SOA related products
* If you don't go SOA, your company will fail
* There is confusion
* We are a consulting company to help you
But my guess is you already knew this.
One aspect that is missing is an emphasis on open source SOA products. This book focuses primarily on commercial products. Even the commercial sources are continuing to donate parts of their systems to open source, so what was commercial is now open source. That is the continuing trend.
I would say take this book as light reading (even though it's 350 pages), but don't try to remember too much of it. Don't presume the people implementing SOA really know what SOA is all about. I've seen SOA described formally in detailed all the way to the other extreme where some people call everything on the Web as part of SOA, which it isn't. So when you hear someone talk about SOA, be really skeptical.
This book tells you what is going on, not what should be going on. The question for you is just what to you want to implement. Because you want to do it right the first time. Calling anything that has a "service" as part of SOA, won't get you there.
Good Refresher.......2007-08-18
It has been a few years since I worked with Web Services so I was looking for a book that would get me started again. This book did the trick. In addition to the ramp up, I also appreciated the end material including chapters for each major SOA vendor and a good glossary.
Mostly theory.........2007-06-08
This is my first book in the dummies series.I being a technical guy, expected more working examples with explanation.But it is mostly theoretical. The case studies made interesting reading. This book will be suited for managers than technical persons.
Great for cutting through the hype.......2007-03-22
I have used this book and recommended to my staff to help clarify terms, get agreement on basic principles, and help everyone explain SOA better to those who need it explained. The authors have a wealth of experience and have really helped us cut through the jargon jungle which surrounds this area. I recommend it for pros and novices alike.
Book Description
In case you weren’t sure, a storage area network, or SAN, is a collection of computers and storage devices connected over a high-speed optical network and dedicated to the task of storing and protecting data. SANs solve many of the data storage and management problems that have long bedeviled enterprise networks, and they save companies who use them a bundle. Which is why SAN administration is one of the highest-paid jobs in IT today. Add storage area networking to your resume and your phone will ring off the hook with calls by head-hunters promising of six-figure salaries.
Bored with in your current IT job and looking for a change of pace—and bigger bucks? Then Storage Area Networks For Dummies is for you. Have you been tasked with designing, implementing, or troubleshooting your company’s SAN and need to play catch-up in a hurry? Look no further. In no time, this book gets you on track with the know-how and confidence you need to:
- Choose the right hardware for the job
- Design state-of-the-art SANs
- Implement a SAN and get it running like a well-oiled machine
- Configure, manage and troubleshoot SANs
- Seamlessly integrate two or more SANs
- Become a SAN sage and give your career a major boost
From the ABCs of SANs to making the most of advanced SAN features, Storage Area Networks For Dummies covers all the bases in plain English and with loads of real-life examples. Key topics covered include:
- What are SANs, how they work, and who needs them
- SAN protocols, components, and common problems
- Designing and building a SAN
- SANs and disaster recovery
- Networking SANs
- Understanding, choosing, and using SAN backup solutions
- Making the most of Point-in-Time technology
- Outsourcing SANs
- Managing and troubleshooting SANs
The solution to so many enterprise data storage problems, SANs equal heightened efficiency and productivity for organizations and greater prosperity for those who build and manage them. Let Storage Area Networks For Dummies help you get in on the ground floor of one of today’s hottest IT growth areas.
Customer Reviews:
This book delivers -- Big Time!.......2007-04-16
I'm a DBA and needed to understand a few technologies about SANs and I had no where to look, until I read the reviews about this book on Amazon and decided to trust most of the reviewers and boy were they right. Excellent, excellent material delivered in a way that non-storage Admins would understand. I wish it wasn't put under the 'Dummies' series though.
Chris Poelker is a storage god!.......2007-02-14
Talk about an awesome read. If there's anyone out there that wants to learn about SAN/NAS, this is the book for you!
I was very happy and so was my HP SAN teacher.......2007-02-13
I read this book just before taking an HP SAN training class and before this book I knew Zero about SAN; after I not only understood the class, I understood it well. I told my teacher I was going to try to take the snia exam and he looked through the book and said it was written well and covered most if not all of the important material.
Taught Us Enough to Decide We Didn't Want One.......2007-01-13
A very good book on SANs, but needs to be upgraded. For instance in one place it says that you shouldn't set up a SAN if you don't need more than 10 GB of storage. I don't think you can buy hard drives that small, this probably needs upgrading to something like a 1000 GB of storage. ==That sentence was one in a section that talks about reasons to not use a SAN. I found this section to have excellent advice. And by following their advice we made the decision to not put in a SAN at all. By making this decision, the twenty bucks or so that this book cost was saved many, many times over. ==We, like I suspect, a lot of companies had a problem with data storage and someone said, 'put in a SAN.' So we started talking to SAN salesmen who certainly agreed with that suggestion. After reading this book we knew a lot more about the technology, about SANs; we knew the questions to ask and eventually even the SAN salesmen had to agree that we didn't need one. ==If you want to learn about SANs, or if you've all of a sudden been charged with getting one up and running, I recommend you start with this book. It's clear, it is descriptive, it covers the area, except as stated above, it is a bit dated.
Great for storage concepts .......2007-01-10
I had very little experience with storage before reading this book. Now I feel that I've been properly armed with the basics such that I could dig into an environment and know pretty much what's going on and would be able to draw up an architecture diagram from what I'd be able to learn looking at switches and such. Definitely a good primer for those with little to no storage experience.
Average customer rating:
- Feng Shui for Dummies
- Lesson learned...
- Also Disappointed - THIS IS NOT THE FULL SIZE BOOK!
- Disappointing
- Feng Shui for Dummies
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Feng Shui for Dummies
David Daniel Kennedy
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui, Third Edition
ASIN: 0764552953 |
Book Description
Take a look around you. What do you see? Whether or not you’re aware of it, your environment profoundly affects your health, wealth, family life, relationships, and yes, even your destiny. Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway), which means wind water, is the ancient Chinese study of harmony and energy flow between you and your physical surroundings. You can enrich every aspect of your life by applying Feng Shui principles to your home (inside and out) and workplace (from window office to cubicle).
Feng Shui For Dummies is for anyone who seeks a better life. This clearly written, concise, and easy-to-understand guide can help anyone to
- Create harmony and happiness in your relationships
- Increase your prosperity
- Eliminate chronic patterns of failure, difficulty, and stress
- Energize your home or workplace
- Enjoy better health
This book shows you how to feel and access the energy of your environment (it’s easier than you may think!). Find out how your environment influences your life right now. Use the solutions in this book to overcome obstacles and enhance the positive. You'll be sure to feel the before-and-after differences.
Feng Shui For Dummies also covers the following topics and more:
- The meaning and history of Feng Shui
- Making the most of the space in your home, both inside and outside
- Tapping into the power of the five elements
- Boosting your career
- Jazzing up your bedroom for increased health, energy, and romance
- Performing blessing ceremonies
- Cleansing and curing with meditation
Within the past 10 years, Feng Shui has gained widespread popularity in the West. Today, more and more people from all walks of life are practicing Feng Shui and experiencing the positive benefits of auspicious placement. This book shows you everything you need to know to help improve the flow of harmony, creativity, and abundance in your life.
Customer Reviews:
Feng Shui for Dummies.......2007-05-15
I laughed out loud when I got this book in the mail. Lesson learned...from now on I will read ALL descriptions MUCH more carefully! I was FULLY expecting a FULL sized book but got this tiny thing. Felt like I was dooped but checked and it does clearly say Miniatue Edition. Live and lern.
Lesson learned..........2007-03-19
To say I was disappointed when I recieved this 3 inch by 3 inch book would be an understatement. I have purchased numerous other books in the Dummy line so was not expecting this miniature book. Had I read the reviews like I usually do, I would have known and not wasted my money.
Also Disappointed - THIS IS NOT THE FULL SIZE BOOK!.......2007-03-02
I wish I would have read the reviews closer before buying this book.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE FULL SIZE BOOK!!!
If take an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper and fold it into sixths, this book is still smaller than that. I think the description is very misleading. You have to search really hard through the description to discover that this is a miniature edition. I feel this should have been listed in the title. I'm very disappointed!!!
Disappointing.......2007-02-23
I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one "tricked" into thinking this was a full sized book. This book is ok for the principles and history, but I was looking for applying feng shui to my home, and out of 124 minature pages, there are very few pages on applying specific principles to your home.
Feng Shui for Dummies.......2007-01-19
I was completely blown away when I opened my "book." At 3" by 3" it is a mini book at best. No where was that stated in the discription. It has some interesting info in, but come on, when I was expecting a full sized book, I was greatly disappointed.
Book Description
Keep construction on track with helpful checklists
Turn your dream of a custom home into reality!
Thinking about building your own home? This easy-to-follow guide shows you how to plan and build a beautiful home on any budget. From acquiring land to finding the best architect to overseeing the construction, you get lots of savvy tips on managing your new investment wisely — and staying sane during the process!
Discover how to:
- Find the best homesite
- Navigate the plan approval process
- Obtain financing
- Hire the right contractor
- Cut design and construction costs
- Avoid common mistakes
Download Description
How to build a dream house - without breaking the bank Packed with useful information, tips, and checklists, this easy-to-follow guide shows people step by step how to build a unique, beautiful home on any budget. It covers all the must-know issues, from acquiring land, finding the best architect, and cutting design costs to putting together financing, hiring (or not hiring) a general contractor, and overseeing construction. Kevin Daum (Alameda, CA) has 20 years of experience in the real estate and mortgage industry and is founder and CEO of Stratford Financial Services. Janice Brewster (Arlington, VA), former editor of Log Home Living magazine, has been involved in the custom home industry for more than 10 years. Peter Economy (La Jolla, CA) is a veteran For Dummies author and the Associate Editor of the Drucker Foundation's Leader to Leader magazine.
Customer Reviews:
Don't waste money unless you are a dummy.......2007-01-23
I had never purchased a book from this series because I knew I wasn't a dummy and figured them to have little useful advice. But I decided to take a chance on this one since I know nothing about building a home. Big mistake.
This book is a waste of money for anyone who is seriously thinking about hiring a contractor to build a home. There is no useful advice, but rather obvious suggestions such as "you will pay a higher rate on a loan if you don't have a high down payment" etc. - information that any 12-year old could find by searching the web. Save you money and instead purchase one of the many other books written on this subject by architects, contractors, etc.. Trust me, a book like this which is written for a "dummy" isn't one that will be useful to anyone with half a brain.
It was so bad I'm doing something I've never done before - I'm returning it.
Building Your Own Home For Dummies.......2006-08-11
I have 3 degrees, but I did not know the 1st step about buying raw land, building a home, and getting a construction loan. I read this book from start to finish and could not imagine going through the process without using the guidelines in this book. I learned what questions to ask the broker about the loan and what questions to ask my contractor about the construction. It is so important to go into this kind of huge project knowing what check lists to take care of and have some kind of timeline. Nice to know what is around each new corner! I think this is a must have book if you're planning on building a home!
Should be titled "Financing" your own home for Dummies. .......2006-03-15
If you intend to be an Owner-Builder don't waste your time here. This is mainly about financing a project with the rest about using a General Contractor. You'd be better off saving your money to buy coffee for one of your crews than buying this book.
Good information source for the beginner.......2006-01-23
This book covered lots of detail and is bound to get the fire started in most.
Correction .......2005-11-15
UBuildIt is a residential construction consulting company that enables owner-builders to manage the building process for their new home or remodel. Clients gain control of their project and typically experience significant move-in equity of 15% to 20%.
UBuildIt is listed on Page 20 of this book in the tip section and there's one thing that needs to be corrected. UBuildIt does not markup services or products ever. Clients pay invoices directly to subcontractors and vendors. This is an important distinction.
Average customer rating:
- I'm a Dummie for buying this book
- Very nice starting point for a broad subject. Great bibliography
- Okay for the basic landscaper
- Landscaping For Dummies
- OKAY
|
Landscaping for Dummies
Phillip Giroux ,
Bob Beckstrom ,
Lance Walheim , and
The Editors of the National Gardening Association
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ASIN: 0764551280 |
Book Description
A beautiful landscape reflects well on your house, making it a welcome part of a neighborhood or native terrain. And it dramatically increases your home’s value. Landscaping also makes your house and yard more useful and better able to complement your family’s lifestyle. Trees shade your home to reduce energy use. Thorny shrubs deter prowlers. Lawns reduce dust from bare ground and give children the perfect play area. Patios and decks are great for entertaining. And a vegetable garden can yield fresh, delicious salads to eat on that patio or deck.
Landscaping for Dummies has everything you need to turn the little patch of earth you call your own into a personal paradise. Whether you’ve waited for the day to have property to landscape, you’d never given it a second thought until you had to, or you want to improve on an existing landscape, this book offers a clearly written wealth of knowledge on:
- Designs
- Fences, walls, gates, and paths
- Decks, patios, and outdoor rooms
- Trees
- Shrubs and vines
- Ground cover
From the basic principles of landscape design, to all the ins and outs of hillsides, balcony gardens, and water gardens, this book will show you how to:
- Think like a designer
- Dream up the right landscape for your family’s needs
- Increase your home’s resale value
- Conserve energy
- Deal with contractors, nurseries, and hardware suppliers
- Create an edible landscape
Full of helpful problem-solvers for all kinds of landscapes, Landscaping for Dummies also features sample plans, “theme” landscape ideas, and a brilliant color photo section to inspire the imagination. Accessible and informative to both beginner and expert landscapers, this is the complete guide to creating the yard you’ve always wanted.
Customer Reviews:
I'm a Dummie for buying this book.......2007-06-29
Did not tell me what I needed to know to pick plants for my yard. I found most of what I needed in Sunset's Western Garden Book (I'm in the western US).
Very nice starting point for a broad subject. Great bibliography.......2006-08-20
`Landscaping for Dummies' by Philip Giroux, Bob Beckstrom, Lance Walheim and a cast of thousands is a typically ironic example of what you will find in this huge `Dummies' series of books, which started out as a series of texts for PC subjects, where the PC had a knack of making us all feel like dummies. Since then, it has expanded to touch virtually every `practical' subject in the known universe. That is, I haven't seen any `Wittgenstein for Dummies' or `Quantum Thermodynamics for Dummies', as neither of these subjects are things the average intelligent, but uninformed person is likely to pick up to brief themselves for a weekend project of as a start to a new hobby.
The irony of this particular volume is that you really can't make full use of it if you don't have a good head on your shoulders and a fair amount of book learning under your belt, including such arcane High School subjects such as geometry and some building skills such as working with mortar, power saws, a level, and a full-sized shovel.
The first thing you discover is that landscaping is a really big subject. You probably didn't know this, or you would not be considering buying this book. In four `parts', the book breaks the subject down into Designing, Hardscaping, Planting, Planning, and Tips for putting Landscaping to good use. Since this book (and all books in this series) advertises itself as `A Reference for the Rest of Us', I can't complain too much about the odd order of these five subjects, but it does seem that `Objectives' and `Planning' should be Parts I and II respectively, rather than Parts V and IV. I confess that I even bought the book exclusively for its Hardscaping chapter, so I didn't care if that came before or after planning.
Regarding the Hardscaping material, I found it remarkably advanced for a `dummy'. The projects start with simple walkways, but quickly advance to retaining walls, brick walls, and fences. My biggest surprise was the depth to which one must build deep planning into so simple a job as a retaining wall that is installed to square off an annoying slope in your yard. Not only do you have to lay a deep foundation, you also need to worry about drainage and install a special drainage pipe to carry off rainwater. Who Knew!!!
In other Parts of the book, it devotes relatively short chapters to subjects to which one could easily dedicate a whole book. One example is in the selection of a tree or trees to plant in your landscaping project. I looked at the description for Japanese maple (since I happen to have one of these) and found the entry reasonable, but possibly not as detailed as one may want, since it glossed over the fact that the difference in growing speed and average height of the different varieties of Acer Palmatum are sizable, and one will be disappointed if they get the tall lanky variety, when they wanted the low, burly `weeping' variety.
But, if what you want is a first book on the subject, you could really do a lot worse. It has the one essential ingredient for an introductory book, a comprehensive bibliography, which includes not only books, but lots of magazines, professional organizations, and international web sites for getting more information.
I rarely resort to books in this series, but for those of you who want to venture into do it yourself landscaping, this is probably better, and possibly far better than, for example, the `Home Depot' manual on the subject.
Okay for the basic landscaper.......2006-02-13
I've been working in commercial landscaping off and on for nearly four years now. I borrowed this book from a friend just to check it out. I think if you are a new homeowner and don't have much experience in landscaping then this book will probably work. If you are familiar with planting tree's and shrubs, bricklaying, fencing, and bordering, then maybe you should try and find something a little more advance. I suppose it depends on how big the project is you are working on.
Landscaping For Dummies.......2005-08-04
A very informative tome, but I think its tries to achieve too much in what is a rather large and varied subject. Should focus on the basics.............but to be fair still an excellent guide
OKAY.......2004-05-19
This book is okay for homeowners wanting easy landscaping to-do them selfs. If you are looking at starting a landscaping business, this is not the book for you. Over all it is Okay.
Amazon.com
Beckstrom, a nationally known home-remodeling and improvement expert, has put together an A-to-Z book about pretty near everything one needs to know about planning and building decks and patios: the choices of materials, tools, finishes, and accessories like planters, decorative railings, and benches.
Covering all construction techniques literally from the ground up--from foundations, supports, and basic structural guidelines all the way to final finishes and maintenance--this book offers information on everything the do-it-yourselfer could want to know. Throughout, the book is highlighted with special tips and shortcuts, cost-saving tips and tricks, warnings about pitfalls and common mistakes, and a special emphasis on "learning the lingo": explaining the terminology of tools, hardware, and materials, as well as common building words and expressions. At 356 pages and with hundreds of useful illustrations, color photographs, and a detailed index for easy reference, this is the book you need if you are fantasizing about or planning a deck or patio for your home. --Mark A. Hetts
Book Description
Life is just so much sweeter when experienced from a good deck or patio. Breezes, sunlight, the smells of the garden, birdsongs…just a few minutes in your own backyard can enliven the senses and rejuvenate the spirit. Meals become relaxed affairs. Food tastes better. Conversations are richer. Time eases its hectic demands and drifts by at a more congenial pace. Whether for a neighborhood barbeque or just a quiet afternoon with a paperback, decks and patios offer us the perfect space to kick back and let the good times roll.
Decks and Patios for Dummies contains everything you need to know to design and build your dream deck or patio. Full of practical tips and clear, simple instructions, it shows the do-it-yourselfer how to solve problems in design and construction while avoiding pitfalls and unnecessary expenses. You’ll find useful information on:
- Choosing the location
- Sizing
- Choosing materials
- Preparing the site
- Building
- Adding barbeques, fireplaces, etc.
- Maintenance
This is a start-to-finish guide on all aspects of deck and patio construction – including when you should seek help from the professionals! Designed to make the most of your budget, it walks you through:
- Dealing with contractors, codes, and feasibility
- The building checklist
- Lighting, outlets, faucets, and other add-ons
- Decks – from frames to finishes
- Patios: concrete, flagstone, or brick?
- Steps, stairs, and benches
- Special details and decorations
Whether your project is a patio just big enough for two chaises-lounges or a screened-in, wraparound deck on the side of a mountain, Decks and Patios for Dummies makes building understandable and fun with illustrations, diagrams, helpful sidebars, and a color insert of photos to stir the imagination. Take advantage of this comprehensive guide and build your dream deck today.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for the weekend warrior.......2007-04-30
This is a great book for someone thinking about building a deck or patio cover. I'm pretty good around the house with tools and backyard projects, but there are some great tricks in this book that I didn't know. I would recommend this book for those who need a little added confidence to take on a deck or patio project.
Help for the rest of us!.......2000-07-05
My husband is a construction type but I'm not and the deck was my project to plan. This book was great! I looked at a couple of dozen deck books and this was the only one that explained how to build a deck in a way that my contruction-impaired mind could comprehend. Very specific, step by step building instructions, a thorough review of the planning process and wonderful ideas for extra features. My only wishes are more photograhs and more information on alternative decking materials.
Amazon.com
Loaded with solid advice in the fun style typical of this series, Upgrading & Fixing PCs for Dummies is an excellent introduction to what makes your computer go. If you're sure you can put your new modem or video card in by yourself (and you can), this book will provide you with the help you need.
Rathbone starts with an introduction to all the mysterious connections on the back of your computer's case, teaching you how to distinguish a game port from a serial port and an audio jack from a network connection. He then moves inside the case, using drawings and diagrams to illustrate processors, peripheral cards, memory modules, and other internal components. Troubleshooting occupies much of this book, and the author explains the basic "identify and isolate" strategy very well. He also points out what to look and listen for, describing, for example, the meaning of the beeps you hear when you turn your computer on.
Some of Rathbone's organizational decisions seem weird. He covers the procedure for replacing an internal modem in a chapter about all kinds of internal expansion cards, rather than in the modem chapter. But the information is there and it is well presented, so Upgrading & Fixing PCs for Dummies makes an excellent resource for hardware novices. --David Wall
Book Description
The average cost of desktop PCs has fallen steadily over the years while power and functionality have increased. Despite lower prices, however, you still may not feel like spending money on a new, faster PC. Instead, you can transform your balky PC into a glitch-free, turbocharged, multimedia machine with minimum cost.
If you want your PC to do more and crash less but don't know where to begin, then Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies, 6th Edition, is your answer. Don't let the fear of opening your computer’s case prevent you from do-it-yourself upgrades. Plenty of computer parts stay completely on the outside of the computer! So get ready to discover the ins and outs of today's hardware and software.
This book is for anyone who wants to
- Upgrade an older PC to run Windows XP
- Add a larger hard drive
- Upgrade a video card
- Set up a firewall
- Take advantage of low-priced memory chips from warehouse stores
This easy-to-understand guide shows you how to deal with the most common upgrading and repair problems and explains what to buy, where to plug it in, and how to make sure your computer knows what to do with it. This sixth edition of Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies contains several new chapters and sections:
- A visual appendix that explains how to use all the ports on your computer and install the ones you may be missing
- A network installation guide to help you configure a network with both wired and wireless devices
- The scoop on drivers: When you need them, where to find them, and how to install them successfully
- Detailed coverage on virus attacks – how to avoid them and to repair the damage if one hits your PC
- The facts on DVD burners – their odd format terminology and incompatibilities
Plus, this edition continues to include the information that hundreds of thousands of people have relied on for 10 years: information about upgrading and fixing video cards, hard drives, CD/DVD drives, memory chips, monitors, modems, printers, scanners, hard drives, and other popular computer parts.
Customer Reviews:
Upgrading, Fixing PCs for Dummies, 6th Edition.......2007-03-30
Gave lower rating because didn't have detailed info on replacing laptop harddrive. Other info OK. VMV
I'm paralyzed without my copy........2006-03-15
I just cannot find my copy of this book. With this book, I've been brave enough to pop open my computer and install things like a TV-tuner card, more powerful memory cards, cd-burners. People think I'm a computer whiz.
Without this book, my new hard drive sits on the shelf for six months. I open my cpu and say, "Looks like I need one of them ribbon thingees. What's that called?" I'm on Amazon today to buy another copy because I just cannot function otherwise.
Upgrading and Troubleshooting for Dummies 6th Edition.......2003-05-19
Really only for someone who knows nothing about computers. Very basic information.
Beautiful introduction- brilliant overview! 6th edition.......2003-03-03
Kind of a combination introduction/overview to the state of PC technology today, with an emphasis on helping readers new to the subject in maximizing any PCs performance. This is an excellent book! Covers all the latest in Windows XP configuration and upkeep, as well as buzzwords like DVD-RW, DVD+RW, CDRW/DVD, 802.11b, 802.11a, wireless access points, fast Ethernet, FireWire, USB 2.0, MP3s, WMAs, LCDs, DVI-I, DV camcorders, digital cameras, scanners, printers, modems, NTFS, ATX, AGP 3.0 8x, DDR SDRAM,... etc. EVERYTHING current to today's PCs is given a brief mention. I especially like the Appendix, "The Rathbone Reference of Fine Ports", which clearly explains the most common of today's PC connections, as well as the ones that are going out of style. Very helpful! This book strikes a great balance between being too simple and being too advanced. It's the perfect companion to the "Windows for Dummies" series, right along with another recent book, "Troubleshooting Your PC for Dummies", by Dan Gookin. Highly recommended!
Great book.......2002-09-01
The dummies books always tend to be good. This is a good book if you want some basic knowledge of computer support. I've used it as giveaways for my Tech Support Forums website. Everyone seemed to like it.
Amazon.com
By buying components and assembling them yourself, you can save a little money and gain a lifetime of free technical support. Building a PC for Dummies removes the intimidation factor from building your own Intel-based personal computer, explains what you need, and shows you how to put everything together. It's a fine place to start if you've never assembled your own machine before and want to give the process a try.
Author Mark L. Chambers describes what to look for when shopping for components, but he refrains from recommending any specific models or manufacturers. Building a PC for Dummies would be stronger if he had made such recommendations, the way Tom's Hardware Guide does. Even without a specific shopping list, this book makes it possible for a novice computer builder to make informed decisions about motherboards, processors, storage devices, expansion cards, and input devices.
Chambers presents the assembly process logically, explaining how to install a component or two at a time while performing incremental testing. He includes troubleshooting information in each component's section, but it's odd that he puts his discussion of operating systems in an appendix--most system builders will want to see their creations run as soon as possible. --David Wall
Topics covered: Buying and building a PC; selecting motherboards, processors, storage devices, expansion cards, and input devices.
Book Description
This book gives you step-by-step instructions to build your own PC, including what kind of computer you need, parts you will need, how to choose components, how to install them, which operating system you should use and much more. The 3rd Edition of this successful For Dummies title is updated to include the latest technologies making it the most up-to-date reference for new and old do-it-yourselfers.
Customer Reviews:
Informative Books.......2007-09-25
I am new to the computer world and have found the books for dummies to be extremly helpful and very entertaining. I would recomend these books to anyone with computer questions or just for an amusing read. Carol from Ohio.
Good enough for a beginner.......2006-06-03
I am the typical "dummy" when it comes to computer hardware. But, I managed to build my first PC with the guidance from this book. You will not become a professional but will gain sufficient knowledge for you to learn the mechanics of assembling your own computer. The book also includes a glossary that serves as a useful reference tool.
**Sufficient information explained in an easy-to-understand manner**
Superficial, dated.......2006-02-20
I found this on the "new books" shelf at the local library and took it home for a look-see.
I must say, I was disappointed. This book will not help anybody build a computer. The information is superficial and dated. There is a shortage of illustrations (NEED LOTS MORE PHOTOS!)
Now, I have indeed built my own computer, but that project would have been a disaster if this book had been my guide. Instead, I heartily recommend "Building the Perfect PC" by Thompson. (Interestingly, the blurb on the front cover of this Dummies book says "Build the perfect PC..." Coincidence? I think not). Less than a year ago, the Thompsons' book WAS my sole source, my cookbook for how to put together a computer, and it covered all the gotchas encountered in the process. It has abundant photos, and they're in color. With the rapid pace of computer development, even that is showing its age, and the authors aren't updating their web site as promised, but it's still leaps and bounds ahead of this "For Dummies" book.
Computer building for the hardware technophobe..........2005-11-04
(This is a review of the 5th edition)
I'll admit it... I buy my PCs when I upgrade. I'm getting more at ease with hardware since I've started doing all these book reviews, and I probably *could* build a PC now without too much angst, but I still buy. But if I were to decide that my next PC would be "home-built", I'd be comfortable with using the book Building a PC for Dummies by Mark L. Chambers.
Contents:
Part 1 - Can I Really Do This?: What's in a Computer, Anyway?; What Type of PC Should I Build?
Part 2 - Building Your PC: Building the Foundation - The Case and Motherboard; A Bag of Chips - Adding RAM and a CPU; The Three PC Senses - Ports, Mouse, and Keyboard; Images "R" Us - Adding Video and a Monitor; Make Room! Your Hard Drive and Other Storage Devices
Part 3 - Adding the Fun Stuff: Putting the Spin on CD-ROM and DVD; Let Your PC Rock!; Modems and the Call of the Internet
Part 4 - Adding the Advanced Stuff: Attack of the SCSI Monster; So You Want to Add a LAN?; Life in the Fast Lane with Broadband; Input and Output - Scanners, Cameras, Video Capture, and Printers; More Power User Toys
Part 5 - The Part of Tens: Ten Reasons Not to Buy a Retail PC; Ten Tools and Tasks for a Power User's PC; Ten Important Assembly Tips; Ten Ways to Speed Up Your PC; Ten Things to Avoid Like the Plague
Part 6 - Appendixes: Choosing Your Operating System; Glossary
Index
This book is most likely going to appeal to the hardware-phobic computer owner (like I was for quite awhile) or the first-time PC builder. Chambers has an amusing writing style which will make you smile as you figure out the next steps to take in your PC adventure. If you've already built a PC or you dwell in the land of needing to know every last technical spec of a device before you install it, there's probably not much here to offer you. Even I know most of the material *about* each device and what type of rationale you should apply (buying new vs. refurbished, why hard drive capacity is important, RAM is king, etc.). My downfall would be actually having all those devices spread out on a table with an empty computer case in front of me. But I'm pretty confident that I'd be able to stand a pretty good chance of getting everything to actually work the first time if I followed the information here. There's even a center section with color pictures to show you what to expect. It's a nice touch...
If you're looking for an approachable book on getting past your first computer build, this one would be a good choice. Easy to follow, fun to read, and the intimidation factor is nonexistent.
Great book, do the job yourself!.......2004-06-19
Even though it's a little harder to save money on a bare bones PC, this book will help you build a game player's dream PC for much less than those models you find in the back of PC Gamer. This book covered everything I needed with recommendations on what to buy. Pick this one up, you won't be disappointed.
Book Description
When is a building just a building and when is it art? This accessible guide cuts through the jargon and clearly explains the essentials of architecture, demystifying the incredible ways in which structures and spaces come alive. You'll gain a real appreciation for architecture and the confidence to talk about it—even to an architect.
- Just the essential information for readers on the go who want to understand architecture.
- Covers the highlights of architectural history, from the Great Pyramids to Frank Gehry's Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.
- Explains how to look at a building and appreciate it. Explains when a building's a building and when it's art.
- Part of Tens includes Ten Great Architectural Masterpieces, Ten Biggest Architectural and Engineering Failures, Ten of the Most Interesting Architects Working Today, and more.
Customer Reviews:
See Chapter 11.......2004-02-27
The pictures are tiny, grainy, black and white--the text is worse. Almost every paragraph is punctuated with brackets. (See chapter 3.)
Most of the (parenthesis) are unnecessary or allude to information, which is practically non-existent. (For more information see any chapter.)
The abundance of cross-referencing makes this book almost impossible to read. The most blatant example was the last sentence of chapter ten. (See chapter 11.)
Definitely and only for dummies.
Good information. Terrible editing........2003-01-03
"Architecture for Dummies" provides a solid overview of the development of buildings and structural philosophies from ancient times to the present. It doesn't really break any new ground; the examples presented are the same you'd get in any similar sort of publication or course (Gothic = Chartres, Art Deco = Chrysler Bldg, Wright = Fallingwater, Modern = Utrecht, etc.). The sense of humor is occasionally dorky, and feels like it's been forced into the text to meet the conventions of the Dummies series, but the information is still good and, for the most part, well organized.
Where the book seriously falls down, though, is in the editing. The text is riddled with typographical errors and irritating redundancies, the paragraph-label icons in the margin frequently seem randomly dispersed (especially the ones purporting to highlight "technical info," whose paragraphs often don't seem materially different from neighboring text), and there's at least one "take a look!" icon that falsely indicates the building being discussed is featured in the handful of color plates in the middle of the book.
Worst of all are the limited and oddly chosen illustrations, a very distressing problem for a subject that by its very nature demands visual representation for understanding. The vast majority of the photos are credited to "GreatBuildings.com," and show the structures at obscure angles or from a distance, appearing to be little better than tourist snapshots. This suggests to this reader a desire on the part of the Dummies editors to pinch pennies on the pictures, and sadly mars the book's effectiveness to a considerable degree.
Ms. Dietsch is an authority in the field, and if I were her, I'd be highly displeased with this barely professional treatment of my material. The shoddily edited text and the parsimonious imagery greatly undercut the value of the presentation, and reduce my rating from four stars to three. The book is adequately informative, but little more.
Book Description
Keep your laptop on top of its game!
Find out how to care for your laptop, what can go wrong, and what you can fix
A laptop is much more than a PC that shrank. It has unique needs, and this book shows you how to meet them. You'll discover how to diagnose and fix common problems, replace parts, add external upgrades, and develop workarounds. You'll even get the lowdown on networks, and find out when to repair and when to replace your laptop.
Discover how to
* Treat your laptop properly
* Identify common problems
* Know when repair may not make economic sense
* Install a new operating system
* Troubleshoot CD and DVD drives
* Add cool peripherals
Customer Reviews:
Helps.......2007-06-20
The organization and layout makes getting the information you want easy and quick. There's obviously no need to read this book from front-to-back (as with all dummy-series books). The introduction also gives the reader advice on how to use this book wisely.
There are six parts:
Part 1: Putting a Computer in Your Lap.
Part 2: Explaining What Could Possibly Go Wrong
Part 3: Laying Hand on the Major Parts
Part 4: Failing to Communicate
Part 5: The Software Side of Life
Part 6: The Part of Tens
If you have a laptop and want to maintain it, prevent future dilemmas, and correctly troubleshoot problems, "Upgrading and Fixing Laptops for Dummies" can help newbies and/or the computer illiterate.
Review.......2007-06-13
Easy to read, but does not have much factual information. Frequently
asks the reader to refer to instructions that came with the computer, but
maybe it does make it a little easier to read those instructions.
Could end up being money well spent..........2005-11-05
While I may be getting more comfortable with opening up my desktop machine, I'm still less-than-thrilled if the laptop starts acting up. Upgrading & Fixing Laptops for Dummies by Corey Sandler does a very nice job in covering the hardware components of laptops and how to make sure they keep working when you need them to...
Contents:
Part 1 - Putting a Computer in Your Lap: A Field Guide to the Common Laptop; How to Treat a Laptop
Part 2 - Explaining What Could Possibly Go Wrong: Things That Go Bump in the Night (or Day); When to Repair and When to Recycle; Surviving Basic Training; Brain Matters: Memory, Microprocessors, and BIOS
Part 3 - Laying Hands on the Major Parts: Easing In to Hard Disks; Floppy Drives: Relics and Memories; Going Round and Around: CD and DVD Drives; Tripping the Keyboard Fantastic; Putting Your Finger on Pointing Devices; Seeing the Light: LCDs and Video
Part 4 - Failing to Communicate: Networks, Gateways, and Routers; Feeling Up in the Air; Modems: The Essential Translators; Breaking Out of the Box: PC Cards, USB, and FireWire
Part 5 - The Software Side of Life: Installing a New Operating System or Migrating Upwards; Adding or Removing Software, for Better or for Worse; Essential Utilities for Laptop Users
Part 6 - The Part of Tens; Ten Quick Solutions; Ten Essential Dos and Dont's; Ten of My Favorite Things
Index
Many of my cohorts in the IT world are long-time laptop users. They're consultants, they're on the road a lot, and they live and die with their laptops. The vast majority of these people have probably done most of the things in this book at least once, and there might not be much new information for them. But take my dad. He's past retirement age, he travels around, and he got a laptop so he could "check email while they're on the road". For him, it's all a confusing jumble of technology that doesn't make a lot of sense. A book like this would allow him to understand the core parts of the laptop, know how they should be maintained, and more importantly know when things aren't working quite right. For instance, defragging a hard drive is second nature to me. For him, it's "de-what?". Clean the screen with Windex? No, Dad... Why can't you play a DVD? Because you have a CD reader... not a DVD reader. Things like that... :)
If you're more at ease with technology, you still might find some benefits here. I fortunately haven't had many issues with my laptop. But what if the screen started to fade? This book would give me a clue as to what was happening and what options I might want to pursue. Water spill on the keyboard... repairable? (The kids did it, and in this case it was.) While you might not find the exact answer you're looking for here, it will at least reduce your stress level as you figure things out.
Nice book, fun read, and the material just could prevent some problems down the road...
Books:
- Social Work and Health Care in an Aging Society: Education, Policy, Practice, and Research
- Soil Mechanics and Foundations
- Soils for Fine Wines
- Soils: Genesis and Geomorphology
- Structural Engineering Handbook
- Superimmunity for Kids : What to Feed Your Children to Keep Them Healthy Now, and Prevent Disease in Their Future
- Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (Thumb Index))
- The Analyst in the Inner City: Race, Class, and Culture Through a Psychonalytic Lens (Relational Perspectives Book Series, Vol 3)
- The Book of Questions: Love & Sex
- The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
Books Index
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