Peter Norton's Inside The PC, Seventh Edition - Softcover

Norton, Peter; Goodman, John; Fernandez, Judy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0672310414 ISBN 13: 9780672310416

Publisher: Sams, 1997

Synopsis

With over 1 million copies in print, Peter Norton's Inside the PC, Seventh Edition addresses the needs of all users- novices to business professionals to power-users. Fully rewritten with new highly informative illustrations, this edition takes you far beyond a mere recounting of a PC's insides. Chapters on understanding bits, nybbles, and bytes, clarify the basics. Other chapters detail key enabling technologies and hot new developments, including IDE, ATAPI, SCSI, Firewire, and USB for peripheral connectivity. With Norton, you'll: understand what's inside your PC and why it's needed; find out how people are able to make PCs do the things they do; see what's special about mobile PCs; get an insider's view of how PCs were created; learn how the Internet, Java, and related developments are changing what you expect from your PC; understand the special hardware needs for intense multimedia experiences; and witness the birth of the "conversational" PC that understands and responds to you.

About this title

Review

This latest version of Peter Norton's explication of the mysterious world of PCs is a fascinating read as well as a seminal reference book. It's not an ideal title for someone who just wants to learn how to use their computer, or for those looking for the specifications of the latest standards--but it's suitable for all those who fall into the vast expanse between.

Norton and his co-author John Goodman take a theoretical approach, giving particular emphasis to technologies and operating systems which you might have thought were made redundant along with those obsolete along with those dusty old 286s hidden away in the loft. The discussion of DOS is extremely nostalgic (ever get sudden cravings for the joys of the command line prompt?) but also surprisingly relevant when put in the context of cutting edge releases like Windows 2000. And as one would expect from someone who has made as significant a contribution to the development of PCs as Peter Norton (his collection of anti-virus and maintaince utilities were owned by almost every serious PC user before they were integrated into the operating system in the early 1990s), few titles give a better history of the PC's development. --Josh Smith

About the Author

Peter Norton: Computer software entrepreneur and writer Peter Norton established his technical expertise and accessible style from the earliest days of the PC. His Norton Utilities was the first product of its kind, giving early computer owners control over their hardware and protection against myriad problems. His flagship title Peter Norton's Inside the PC has provided the same insight and education to over 1 million computer users worldwide. His recent new titles including Peter Norton's Guide to Upgrading and Repairing PCs have instantly solidified their standing as expert books on each topic. John Goodman: Designer, writer, teacher, and consultant, John Goodman has been explaining computers to lay people since 1977. Former president of one of the country¿s largest PC users groups, he is the best-selling author of computers books including Memory Management for All of Us. His long-term study of PCs provides a valuable perspective that he shares with his readers.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sams
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0672310414
• ISBN 13: 9780672310416
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 721