PC Hardware in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (Paperback)

PC Hardware in a Nutshell is a comprehensive guide to buying, building, upgrading, and repairing Intel-based PCs, presented in O'Reilly's concise "In a Nutshell" format. The three major thrusts of the book are:

• Buying guidelines. In supplying advice on how to choose optimum systems and components, the book focuses on teaching the reader how to evaluate alternatives rather than on recommending specific products.


• How-to advice. The book is loaded with practical, hands-on information about how to install, configure, and troubleshoot specific components.


• Reference. Numerous tables and the topical organization let novices and professionals alike consult the book for the specifications and steps they need in order to perform discrete tasks.

In addition to covering the fundamentals and general tips about working on PCs, the book includes chapters focusing on motherboards, processors, memory, disks (floppies, hard drives, and optical drives), tape devices, video devices, input devices, audio components, communications, power supplies, and maintenance. The last chapter is a complete case study in building a PC from components.

PC Hardware in a Nutshell is supported by a web site that provides:

• A depository of obsolescent or arcane material that didn't make the book but may still be useful to some


• New and updated material that will appear in updated editions


• Errata


• A Mail drop for reader feedback and suggestions

PC Hardware in a Nutshell is a compact guide, accessible to the ordinary reader and invaluable for the seasoned professional.

《PC硬體入門指南》是一本以O'Reilly簡潔的「In a Nutshell」格式呈現的全面指南，介紹了購買、組裝、升級和維修基於Intel的個人電腦。本書的三大重點如下：
- 購買指南。在提供如何選擇最佳系統和零件的建議時，本書著重教讀者如何評估不同選擇，而不是推薦特定產品。
- 操作指南。本書充滿了實用的、實際操作的信息，介紹了如何安裝、配置和疑難排解特定零件。
- 參考資料。大量的表格和主題組織讓初學者和專業人士都可以查閱本書以獲取執行特定任務所需的規格和步驟。

除了涵蓋基礎知識和一般的PC操作技巧外，本書還包括關於主機板、處理器、記憶體、磁盤（軟盤、硬盤和光盤驅動器）、磁帶設備、視頻設備、輸入設備、音頻組件、通信、電源供應器和維護的章節。最後一章是一個完整的案例研究，介紹了如何從零件組裝一台個人電腦。

《PC硬體入門指南》還有一個支持網站，提供以下內容：
- 一個存放過時或冷門材料的資料庫，這些材料未收錄在書中，但對某些讀者仍然有用。
- 新的和更新的材料，將出現在更新的版本中。
- 勘誤表。
- 讀者反饋和建議的郵件收件箱。

《PC硬體入門指南》是一本簡潔的指南，適合普通讀者閱讀，對於經驗豐富的專業人士來說更是寶貴的資源。