How Computers Work
9th Edition
Published on 29. November 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-0-7897-3613-0 (ISBN)
Description
Having sold more than 2 million copies over its lifetime, How Computers Work is the definitive illustrated guide to the world of PCs and technology. In this new edition, you'll find detailed information not just about every last component of hardware found inside your PC, but also in-depth explanations about home networking, the Internet, PC security, and even how cell phone networks operate. Whether you're interested in how the latest graphics cards power today's most demanding games or how a digital camera turns light into data, you'll find your answers right here.
Ron White is a former executive editor and columnist for PC Computing, where he developed the visual concept behind How Computers Work. Founder of one of the
earliest PC user groups, he has been writing about computers for 25 years and is known for building wildly extreme computers.
Timothy Edward Downs is an award-winning magazine designer, illustrator, and photographer. He has directed and designed several national consumer, business, technology, and
lifestyle magazines, always infusing a sense of "how it works" into every project.
A full-color, illustrated adventure into the wonders of TECHNOLOOGY
This full-color, fully illustrated guide to the world of technology assumes nothing and explains everything. Only the accomplished Ron White and award-winning Tim Downs have the unique ability to meld descriptive text with one-of-a-kind visuals to fully explain how the electronic gear we depend on every day is made possible. In addition to all the content you've come to expect from prior editions, this newly revised edition includes all-new coverage of topics such as:
* How tablet PCs put the power of a PC quite literally in your hands
* How Windows Vista makes your Windows desktop translucent and makes your PC more secure
* How advances in optical disc technology such as dual-layer DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray discs continue to push the envelope
* How Apple's new iPhone is revolutionizing what cell phones can do
* How BitTorrent technology enables anyone to share information with everyone
For a decade, How Computers Work has helped newbies understand new technology, while at the same time hackers and IT pros have treasured it for the depth of knowledge it contains. This is the perfect book about computing to capture your imagination, delight your eyes, and expand your mind, no matter what your technical level!
Category: General Computing
Covers: PCs/Hardware
User Level: Beginning-Intermediate
Ron White is a former executive editor and columnist for PC Computing, where he developed the visual concept behind How Computers Work. Founder of one of the
earliest PC user groups, he has been writing about computers for 25 years and is known for building wildly extreme computers.
Timothy Edward Downs is an award-winning magazine designer, illustrator, and photographer. He has directed and designed several national consumer, business, technology, and
lifestyle magazines, always infusing a sense of "how it works" into every project.
A full-color, illustrated adventure into the wonders of TECHNOLOOGY
This full-color, fully illustrated guide to the world of technology assumes nothing and explains everything. Only the accomplished Ron White and award-winning Tim Downs have the unique ability to meld descriptive text with one-of-a-kind visuals to fully explain how the electronic gear we depend on every day is made possible. In addition to all the content you've come to expect from prior editions, this newly revised edition includes all-new coverage of topics such as:
* How tablet PCs put the power of a PC quite literally in your hands
* How Windows Vista makes your Windows desktop translucent and makes your PC more secure
* How advances in optical disc technology such as dual-layer DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray discs continue to push the envelope
* How Apple's new iPhone is revolutionizing what cell phones can do
* How BitTorrent technology enables anyone to share information with everyone
For a decade, How Computers Work has helped newbies understand new technology, while at the same time hackers and IT pros have treasured it for the depth of knowledge it contains. This is the perfect book about computing to capture your imagination, delight your eyes, and expand your mind, no matter what your technical level!
Category: General Computing
Covers: PCs/Hardware
User Level: Beginning-Intermediate
More details
Edition
9th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 253 mm
Width: 204 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
1086 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7897-3613-0 (9780789736130)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Ron White | Timothy Downs
How Computers Work
Book
12/2014
10th Edition
Que Corporation,U.S.
€46.00
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Previous edition
Ron White | Timothy Edward Downs
How Computers Work
Book
11/2005
8th Edition
Que Corporation,U.S.
€47.22
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
About the Author
RON WHITE
is the former executive editor of PC Computing magazine, where he developed the popular How It Works illustration to explain the new technologies that were emerging in computing at a prodigious rate. He is also the author of the best-selling How Digital Photography Works, and books on software, MP3, and digital cameras. His writing and photography have appeared in some of the leading magazines in the nation. He can be reached at ron@ronwhite.com.
About the Illustrator
TIMOTHY EDWARD DOWNS is the national award-winning illustrator of How Computers Work and How Digital Photography Works. Tim has been involved in all facets of graphic design in his illustrious career. From illustrator to creative director, Tim has led teams of artists and designers in advertising agencies, marketing communications firms, and consumer magazines to better tell their stories through illustration, photography, typography, and design. "Our job doesn't start when the writer hits Save. In order to effectively communicate the tone or the concept of the piece, we need to know and understand the story from the original brainstorm all the way through final execution," reminds Tim. Examples of Tim's design, illustration, and photographic work can be seen at http://www.timothyedwarddowns.com.
RON WHITE
is the former executive editor of PC Computing magazine, where he developed the popular How It Works illustration to explain the new technologies that were emerging in computing at a prodigious rate. He is also the author of the best-selling How Digital Photography Works, and books on software, MP3, and digital cameras. His writing and photography have appeared in some of the leading magazines in the nation. He can be reached at ron@ronwhite.com.
About the Illustrator
TIMOTHY EDWARD DOWNS is the national award-winning illustrator of How Computers Work and How Digital Photography Works. Tim has been involved in all facets of graphic design in his illustrious career. From illustrator to creative director, Tim has led teams of artists and designers in advertising agencies, marketing communications firms, and consumer magazines to better tell their stories through illustration, photography, typography, and design. "Our job doesn't start when the writer hits Save. In order to effectively communicate the tone or the concept of the piece, we need to know and understand the story from the original brainstorm all the way through final execution," reminds Tim. Examples of Tim's design, illustration, and photographic work can be seen at http://www.timothyedwarddowns.com.
Content
Introduction.....xii
Part 1: Boot-Up Process.....2
Chapter 1 Getting to Know the Hardware.....10
Chapter 2 How Circuits Juggle Data.....20
Chapter 3 How a PC Comes Alive.....30
Chapter 4 How an Operating System Controls Hardware.....36
Part 2: How Microchips are the PC's Brain.....46
Chapter 5 How Transistors Manipulate Data.....52
Chapter 6 How a Microprocessor Works.....62
Part 3: How Software Works.....80
Chapter 7 How Programming Languages Work.....94
Chapter 8 How Windows Works.....104
Chapter 9 How Software Applications Do Your Work.....118
Part 4: Data Storage.....146
Chapter 10 How a Computer's Long-Term Memory Works.....154
Chapter 11 How Disk Drives Save Information.....166
Chapter 12 How Little Things Make Drives Faster and Bigger.....176
Chapter 13 How PCs Use Light to Remember Data.....184
Part 5: Input/Output Devices.....194
Chapter 14 How Data Gets Into Your PC.....202
Chapter 15 How Scanners Capture Words and Images.....212
Chapter 16 How Computers Use Power.....220
Chapter 17 How Serial Ports Triumph.....228
Chapter 18 How a Computer Display Works.....242
Chapter 19 How Digital Photography Works.....252
Part 6: Games and Multimedia.....260
Chapter 20 How Multimedia Sound Works.....266
Chapter 21 How Multimedia Video Works.....278
Chapter 22 How Game Hardware Puts You In the Action.....286
Chapter 23 How Games Create 3D Worlds.....296
Part 7: How the Internet Works.....306
Chapter 24 How Local Area Networks Work.....314
Chapter 25 How PCs Connect to the Internet.....324
Chapter 26 How the Internet Moves Data.....332
Chapter 27 How We Reach Each Other Through the Net.....338
Chapter 28 How Wireless Sets PCs Free.....350
Chapter 29 How the Net Provides Video and Audio on Demand.....360
Chapter 30 How the World Wide Web Works.....366
Chapter 31 How Internet Security Fights Off PC Invaders.....378
Part 8: How Printers Work.....398
Chapter 32 How Black-and-White Printing Works.....404
Chapter 33 How Color Printing Works.....414
Index.....426
Part 1: Boot-Up Process.....2
Chapter 1 Getting to Know the Hardware.....10
Chapter 2 How Circuits Juggle Data.....20
Chapter 3 How a PC Comes Alive.....30
Chapter 4 How an Operating System Controls Hardware.....36
Part 2: How Microchips are the PC's Brain.....46
Chapter 5 How Transistors Manipulate Data.....52
Chapter 6 How a Microprocessor Works.....62
Part 3: How Software Works.....80
Chapter 7 How Programming Languages Work.....94
Chapter 8 How Windows Works.....104
Chapter 9 How Software Applications Do Your Work.....118
Part 4: Data Storage.....146
Chapter 10 How a Computer's Long-Term Memory Works.....154
Chapter 11 How Disk Drives Save Information.....166
Chapter 12 How Little Things Make Drives Faster and Bigger.....176
Chapter 13 How PCs Use Light to Remember Data.....184
Part 5: Input/Output Devices.....194
Chapter 14 How Data Gets Into Your PC.....202
Chapter 15 How Scanners Capture Words and Images.....212
Chapter 16 How Computers Use Power.....220
Chapter 17 How Serial Ports Triumph.....228
Chapter 18 How a Computer Display Works.....242
Chapter 19 How Digital Photography Works.....252
Part 6: Games and Multimedia.....260
Chapter 20 How Multimedia Sound Works.....266
Chapter 21 How Multimedia Video Works.....278
Chapter 22 How Game Hardware Puts You In the Action.....286
Chapter 23 How Games Create 3D Worlds.....296
Part 7: How the Internet Works.....306
Chapter 24 How Local Area Networks Work.....314
Chapter 25 How PCs Connect to the Internet.....324
Chapter 26 How the Internet Moves Data.....332
Chapter 27 How We Reach Each Other Through the Net.....338
Chapter 28 How Wireless Sets PCs Free.....350
Chapter 29 How the Net Provides Video and Audio on Demand.....360
Chapter 30 How the World Wide Web Works.....366
Chapter 31 How Internet Security Fights Off PC Invaders.....378
Part 8: How Printers Work.....398
Chapter 32 How Black-and-White Printing Works.....404
Chapter 33 How Color Printing Works.....414
Index.....426