The Essential Guide to Computer Hardware (Essential Guide Series) - Softcover

Keogh, James Edward

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130620130 ISBN 13: 9780130620132

Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr, 2001

Synopsis

Don't understand computers (or all the powerful technologies that go with them)? You're not alone. Here's your solution: The Essential Guide to Computer Hardware. It's a 100% non-technical, math-free introduction to every type of computer and communications hardware, from PCs to Palms, digital cameras to cell phones. Jim Keogh starts with the elementary-school science you need to understand how computers and networks work. From there, you'll follow a clear, straight path that leads you through the technology behind cell phones, PCs, personal digital assistants, mobile devices, digital cameras, CD-ROMs, hard disks, speech recognition, WebCams, networks, computer audio, computer video, and more. The final chapters focus on the business side of computer hardware. Keogh takes you on a tour of the movers and shakers who drive the business: companies you'll recognize from Wall Street, as well as exciting new companies that aren't yet household names -- but will be. An ideal resource for anyo

About this title

About the Author

JAMES KEOGH was among the first to introduce PC programming nationally, in his Programmer's Notebook column in Popular Electronics magazine, starting in 1982—only a few years after the Apple II was created in a garage. His Prentice Hall PTR books include Windows Programmer's Notebook and C++ Programmer's Notebook, Second Edition. Keogh chaired the e-Commerce track at Columbia University and is on the graduate school faculty at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City, NJ, where he teaches in the MIS/MBA program.

From the Back Cover

The easy, 100% non-technical introduction to computers and networks!

Don't understand computers? Or Palms, or wireless phones, or digital cameras, or all those other new technologies? You're not alone! Here's your solution: Jim Keogh's easy, math-free, up-to-the-minute introduction to computers and communications. Jim Keogh starts with the elementary school science you need to understand how computers and networks work. From there, you'll follow a clear, easy path to understanding all of today's most important new computer and network technologies—and tomorrow's!

• How we got here: a brief, easy history of computer hardware
• A tour of the inside of your PC
• Computer hardware components: processors, memory, storage, and more
• Printers: how they work, and which one's right for you
• Connecting to modems and the Internet
• Input: from mice and keyboards to graphics tablets and speech recognition
• All you need to know about audio: sound cards, speakers, headphones, and more
• Capturing images: digital cameras, Webcams, digital video, and scanners
• Wireless: cell phones, messaging, PDAs, and notebook PC solutions
• The computer and Internet business: movers and shakers
• What's on the horizon: tomorrow's technologies, tomorrow's players

Whether you need to use technology, buy technology, manage technology, or simply understand technology, The Essential Guide to Computer Hardware is your perfect quick-start briefing!

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Preface

Were you ever part of a conversation discussing digital cameras, cell phones, and computer hardware—and you didn't know what everyone else was talking about? Don't feel embarrassed, because you're in the majority, at least until you finish reading this book. Then you'll be in the minority of those who fully understand how computer hardware works and are able to translate technical jargon into English for the majority of your friends.

Computer hardware technology is a paradox in that the technology is build on chips, circuits, and other components that are difficult to appreciate unless you are an engineer. And yet all computer technology is based on performing simple arithmetic using two digits—zero and one.

I've written this book for anyone who has the drive to learn about computer hardware, but who seems to develop a mental block when it comes to understanding computer technology.

Let's say that someone asks you how a cell phone transmits your voice to another cell phone. Since you haven't yet read this book, I'm going to assume that you're baffled. Would you still be baffled if I told you that a cell phone uses basically the same technology as you use to make waves in a bathtub? Probably not, because you've jumped into the tub and seen waves form. For now I'll simply say that a cell phone also generates waves but at a much faster rate than waves in the tub.

I've taken the complexity of computer technology and translated it into plain, simple, and easy to read and understand language. And as you read through this book and develop your own understanding of how computer hardware works, I think that you'll find I've met my goal.

I begin with basic science that you learned in grammar school that illustrates how an electronic signal is generated. Don't worry. I purposely left out any math problems. If you can turn a light switch on and off, then you'll do fine.

From there you'll follow a clear, straight path that leads you through the technology behind cell phones, ADPs, mobile devices, digital cameras, CD-ROM, hard disks, speech recognition, WebCams, networks, computer audio, computer video, workstations, and a rare look inside your computer. Your journey will be peppered with a few humorous stories that I picked up while I was writing this book.

The last few chapters are devoted to the business side of computer hardware, where I take you on a tour of the movers and shakers who decide how networks operate. You'll recognize a few of the companies as being those which are the pride of tech stock traders. However, many are not household names, yet have a dramatic role in computer hardware technologies. I'm sure anyone who has remotely followed tech stocks will enjoy this look at the computer hardware industry.

If you're a nontechnical person interested in learning more about computer hardware, then buy this book because it's the best way to learn about computer hardware without having to sift through technical stuff you don't need to know.

This book is perfect for anyone who is responsible for the administration of computer hardware for their organization or sales people, law firms, research organizations, marketing personnel, human resources professionals, project managers, networking managers, and high-level administrators.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0130620130
• ISBN 13: 9780130620132
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 442