The Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible provides a background on how things work, puts competing technologies, standards, and products in perspective, and serves as a reference that provides quick answers for common computer and technology questions. It functions as a buying guide, telling not only what to buy, but why. It also lays the foundation for upgrading or repairing a computer, but stops short of the step-by-step mechanics of the process. The chief purpose of the Hardware Bible remains educational. Some new features in this edition include rewritable DVD technology as well as Blu-ray Discs, wireless networking including 802.11a and 802.11b, Bluetooth wireless communications, and extended coverage of digital cameras, scanners, and telecommunications...and much more!

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 21 Ratings

For those looking for the overall Hardware book this is it. - 2003-05-23
Reviewer Rating:
In over 15 years of I work I am always looking for new material and books relating to the latest technology both hardware and software.

This is the first time I have looked at the Hardware Bible and as a Computer Technical Instructor this book has already come in handy for a couple of A+ classes I am teaching.

While the book is not written to any specific exam, I found that is would definitely help with the A+ and CST exams. The author's extensive hardware knowledge is evident throughout the book.

One thing that impressed me throughout the book was the author not only gives detailed information about the most current technology, but also gives you a firm background on older technologies as well.

While the book is the "Hardware" bible, there is far more than just hardware information, you'll also find TCP/IP and the internet, as well as memory management included in the overall coverage.

I found this to be a fairly complete text to work with. You can also register online and find both the 5th and 6th editions available. About the only thing that wasn't included was a cd with hardware utilities, but looking at what you do get this is a minor drawback. Overall this book is a certainly worth the look.

Could be much better with some editing. - 2005-01-01
Reviewer Rating:
I was hoping this book would be as good as "Upgrading and Repairing PC's", but it doesn't measure up. The depth of detail on certain topics is not well balanced.

For instance, the author refers to floppy discs as necessary to modern computers as an appendix, but spends a many pages detailing it as well and it's all but obsolete relatives like the Iomega Zipdisk. Granted the zipdisk was relevant in the 1990's but it is irrelevant today. OTOH hard disc construction and it's evolution, a far more interesting and relevant topic today is not written in such deep detail.

Many dated topics pertaining to only MS-DOS need to edited down to be more concise. A detailed breakdown of all the registers in a CMOS clock chip, and all the different frequencies produced by the system timer is not needed by the average computer programmer and system builder today. It almost seems the newer the technology, the fewer the pages devoted to it.

Some information is downright wrong. The author has a limited understanding of digital video and makes many inaccurate statements regarding that topic. For all pages in the book devoted to technical minutia, I wouldn't trust it to be entirely authoritative.

Although this book is giant sized and expensive, many pages are wasted. Seperating the interesting bits of information from all the long winded filler is a chore. I would recommend browsing "Upgrading and Repairing PC's" over this book.

Pretty Good, but There Are Better Alternatives - 2008-12-04
Reviewer Rating:
This book is quite interesting and it covers almost every aspect of computer and peripheral hardware. It's fun to read and almost reads like a novel. But, there are several bad points: many typos, some of which are very misleading (esp mixing up megabits (Mb) and megabytes (MB), for example); out-dated (was written in 2003, and lots has changed since then); and some sections are either very boring or very confusing, but this doesn't happen too often.

This book is probably not good for an absolute beginner because some sections do not provide enough background for what is being talked about, but someone with just a small amount of background info should do alright. I've heard of other books that are similar to this one but which are newer and better, so I'd recommend looking for a different book first. Technology changes quickly, so recently-published books are important.

Excellent! - 2007-10-10
Reviewer Rating:
I'm majoring in Computer Maintenance and this book is an excellent reference. I highly recommend it.

Great book! - 2006-06-30
Reviewer Rating:
I have been building, maintaining and upgrading my own computers since 1997, and I have had Wynn Rosch's Hardware Bible in my library as an invaluable reference during all that time. I know some people say that the Word of Rosch is not always completely up to date. It may not be, but neither am I. I've seen too many pioneers with arrows in their backs. I never jump at the latest and greatest in computer technology. I wait until new things prove themselves out in usage. This latest edition of the Word is now helping me in my double task of replacing an old, tired HDD and phasing out the cumbersome ZipDrive I have been using for backups. All I need to know is there in black and white just as it always has been. Great book!

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