The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide, 16th Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Minasi's earlier editions were good (and hardcover - what happened to that?). This one was apparently rushed out without any proofreading just to keep up with the Joneses (Mueller). There are so many errors in the first two chapters, it's unbelievable... Maybe the rest of the book actually got re-written and proofed, but the first part is very disappointing and makes me unlikely to grab this volume when I need an accurate answer.
E.G.
p.17 figure 1.5 shows connectors on back of PC, points to a Centronics 36 connector, labeling it a 25-pin parallel port. Same figure labels a DB-25 port (male? female?) as "External SCSI". (Could be, if a VERY old scsi card is in there... )
p.17 "... be the expert on how many millions of polygons a particular sound card can render per second." Huh?? Since when did sound cards start rendering geometric shapes?
p.22 "Quick Steps: Installing a CPU" gives 6 steps. No mention of heatsinks/fans. Just pop it in, button up the case, and get the marshmallows ready!

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Clear, Expert Advice for PC Users of Every StripeNo matter how you use your PC--as a business tool, an entertainment center, or an Internet on-ramp--this latest edition of The Complete PC Upgrade & Maintenance Guide has you covered. Inside, you'll find the clear, expert advice on maintaining, upgrading, and troubleshooting for which this book is famous. It's all updated to cover the latest technologies and guaranteed to help you extend the life and power of your PC. You also get targeted instruction on a wide range of entertainment upgrades--ways to enhance your enjoyment of music, photo, movies, and more. Coverage includes:* Preventing hardware disasters* Upgrading memory* Replacing power supplies* Partitioning drives using NTFS and FAT32* Solving data backup challenges* Protecting your PC from viruses, worms, and spyware* Adding SCSI cards and drives* Installing DVDs, CD-ROMs, and EIDE and Serial ATA hard drives* Troubleshooting printers and scanners* Installing communications devices* Resolving mouse and keyboard problems* Installing video and sound cards* Tackling networking issues, both wired and wireless* Troubleshooting Internet connectivity* Solving laptop problems* Capturing and editing video* Managing music and image files* Watching movies on DVD* Getting the most out of new storage and networking technologies

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The Laptop Repair Workbook: An Introduction to Troubleshooting and Repairing Laptop Computers Review

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(More customer reviews)I just finished reading this book, cover to cover. Just couldn't stop reading it, as Morris keeps it interesting. Moreover, it's an amazing resource for laptop troubleshooting and repair. In fact, the best I've ever read. Much better then Mueller's in terms of troubleshooting and the depth and scope of repairs - and it only has 191 pages. Armed with this book and the laptop's service manual, you are set to attack most of the problems you'll run into with laptops. Like Morris says in the front of the book, you'll notice we don't talk about the razzle-dazzle technology of computer components in this book." It's about fixing them and getting them back into working order. I highly recommend this book.

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This book will help you troubleshoot your laptop problem and take the most cost effective approach to repairing it, getting it repaired, or replacing it. But the troubleshooting process depends on your observations of the symptoms and your willingness to keep your mind open to solutions other than your first impression, or those suggested by friends who say they had "exactly the same problem." If the laptop is still usable but acts up, pay close attention to when and where it acts up, whether the problem always occurs after the laptop has been moved, or shut-down for the night, or running all day. Even the weather plays a part in troubleshooting some problems, so try to read through all of the general troubleshooting sections, just to get a feel for the things that go wrong with different components. If it doesn't make you into a laptop hypochondriac, it will make you a stronger diagnostician.You may notice we don't talk about the razzle-dazzle technology of computer components in this book. The reason is simple. You can't upgrade or repair your laptop by using the latest technology available, nor can you save money by repairing it with older technology rescued from a random laptop at the recycling center. You have to use the exact parts your laptop was engineered to work with. Hard drives and memory are the only replaceable parts that are often compatible between models of a similar vintage. For some readers, the lack of an illustrated discussion on how hard drives store data bits will take some fun out of the book, but that knowledge can't help you when it comes to troubleshooting. There are plenty of books with beautiful color illustrations that try to explain basic computer technology, but they do so at the expense of helping you solve real laptop problems.Two final notes about using this workbook. First, if your laptop is in warranty, it doesn't make any sense to take it apart in hopes of fixing something yourself. This book can still help you troubleshoot the problem to determine if it's a software setting or incorrect use, which may save you sending the laptop out for repair. Second, feel free to cut out the twelve flowcharts in the second half of the book and staple them together. This will save on page flipping as you read the expanded explanations of the decision symbols. It's a workbook, not English literature.The Laptop Repair Workbook includes twelve full page troubleshooting flowcharts for laptop hardware troubleshooting and explanatory text for every decision point. The book begins with an introduction to basic laptop terminology, troubleshooting procedures, and cost decisions. Supplementary illustrated tests and procedures are available on the publisher's website and an ebook version is also available direct from the publisher.

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Mobile Home Wealth: How to Make Money Buying, Selling and Renting Mobile Homes Review

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(More customer reviews)This book has everything but the kitchen sink! I have been to two seminars costing over $350 each and they didn't cover half the stuff this book does. The home work he gives you at the end of every chapter goes a long way in getting you started. I read the book cover to cover the first time. Then I help a friend who went chapter by chapter doing the home work the second. By the time he was done with the book the second time (5 months ago), he had everything in place and have been purchasing one mobile home a month ever since to great success, with a positive cash flow after expenses of $1,500 a month so far and plans to keep going.

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For years, mobile homes have been the butt of jokes-and definitely under the radar of most real estate investors. Yet for a small but growing group of savvy investors, they have become a tremendous asset. Written by one of the top professionals in the business, Mobile Home Wealth is an easy-to-understand book that can guide you to one of the most lucrative investments in real estate.

The author begins by presenting the basic principles and practices of real estate investing. He then applies these principles to mobile homes, covering every step of the investment process from choosing a home to financing the purchase, negotiating the price, improving the property, and selling or renting for maximum gains. Whether you are looking for a smart addition to your portfolio or searching for a new and different business, this book will forever change the way you view mobile homes.

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