BKHTABNC.RVW   980108

"How to Avoid Buying a New Computer", Myles White, 1997,
0-7710-8830-2, C$19.99
%A   Myles White myles@idirect.com
%C   481 University Avenue, Toronto, ON   M5G 2E9
%D   1997
%G   0-7710-8830-2
%I   McClelland and Stewart Inc.
%O   C$19.99 416-598-1114, fax: 416-598-4002 tlyon@mcclelland.com
%P   296 p.
%T   "How to Avoid Buying a New Computer"

In "How to Buy a Computer" (cf. BKHWBYCM.RVW), White did a bang up job
of tackling the oft attempted task of specifying what is helpful and
what is hype when it comes time to walk into a computer store.  This
time out, he takes on the equally crowded field of computer upgrading
(plus a little troubleshooting and repair) and does an even better
job.

As White points out, adding bits and pieces to your computer is not
rocket science.  With a multi-tip screwdriver and some care about
static electricity, in most cases it is a heck of a lot easier than
changing the oil in your car (as well as a lot cleaner).  You may have
to twiddle software until you are ready to scream in order to get the
new hardware to work, but the actual physical installation is nothing
to be frightened of.  Most of the fear that computer novices have
stems from the fact that they have never seen the inside of a
computer.  White recognizes this fact, and has more illustrations, and
particularly more photographs, than any book I've ever seen, including
a number of the "illustrated" variety.  The only suggestion that I
would make would be to the publisher: colour plates may be expensive,
but they would definitely be worth it in the case of this type of
work.

White covers the basic innards in chapter one, including the important
CMOS memory and equally important CMOS battery.  Chapter two looks at
the internal cards and boards, with pictures of the different bus
slots.  Replacing or adding drives is a common response to software
bloat and chapter three deals with it well, including the cabling
needs.  Chapter four discusses memory and the CPU (central processing
unit), which may sound logically distinct, but physically offers much
the same challenges.  After his usual (but, as usual, highly apposite)
rants in chapter five, White concludes with possibly the most useful
vendor list of the many I have seen over the past few years.

If you are thinking of upgrading your computer at all, or even ever,
this book is worth many times its cover price.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998   BKHTABNC.RVW   980108