MTU Library Catalogue

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How computers work / Ron White ; illustrated by Timothy Edward Downs and Stephen Adams.

By: White, Ron.
Contributor(s): Downs, Timothy Edward.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Indianapolis, IN : Que, 1999Description: xi, 421 p. : ill. ; 26 cm. + pbk.ISBN: 0789721120; 9780789721129.Subject(s): Microcomputers | Computers and IT | Computer science | Personal computers | Digital LifestyleDDC classification: 004.16 | 004 WHI
Contents:
Part 1: Boot-Up Process -- Part 2: How software works -- Part 3: Microchips -- Part 4: Data storage -- Part 5: Input/Output Devices -- Part 6: Multimedia -- Part 7: How the Internet works -- Part 8: How Printers work.
Summary: Illustrated throughout, this text makes even the most complex subjects easy to understand. Follow the author as he highlights the cutting edge technologies, including the Internet, DirectX, virtual memory, digital video discs, joysticks, and more.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Barcode
General lending MTU Kerry North Campus Library Ground Floor Main 004 WHI (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 38888000051189
General lending MTU Kerry North Campus Library Ground Floor Main 004 WHI (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 38888000051254
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

How Computers Work, Millenium Edition, shows you how chips, software, memory, and hardware work using detailed four-color drawings. An animated, full-color CD-ROM takes you directly inside your computer. This book is completely updated and revised to include the latest technology developments including the Internet, multimedia sound and video, Pentium III/ Xeon// Celeron processors, DVD drives, digital cameras, color printing, Y2K, and ebooks.

Millennium edition.

Previous ed.: 1998.

Part 1: Boot-Up Process -- Part 2: How software works -- Part 3: Microchips -- Part 4: Data storage -- Part 5: Input/Output Devices -- Part 6: Multimedia -- Part 7: How the Internet works -- Part 8: How Printers work.

Illustrated throughout, this text makes even the most complex subjects easy to understand. Follow the author as he highlights the cutting edge technologies, including the Internet, DirectX, virtual memory, digital video discs, joysticks, and more.

Includes CD-ROM.

CIT Module ELEC 6002 - Core reading

CIT Module MMED 6004 - Supplementary reading

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Introduction
  • Part 1 Boot-Up Process (p. 2)
  • Chapter 1 Getting to Know the Hardware (p. 10)
  • Chapter 2 How a Computer Wakes Up (p. 16)
  • Chapter 3 How a Disk Boot Works (p. 20)
  • Chapter 4 How an Operating System Controls Hardware (p. 26)
  • Chapter 5 Computers of the Next Millennium (p. 38)
  • Part 2 How Software Works (p. 42)
  • Chapter 6 How Programming Languages Work (p. 56)
  • Chapter 7 How Windows Works (p. 64)
  • Chapter 8 How Software Applications Work (p. 76)
  • Chapter 9 How Software Will Work (p. 102)
  • Part 3 Microchips (p. 106)
  • Chapter 10 How a Transistor Works (p. 112)
  • Chapter 11 How RAM Works (p. 116)
  • Chapter 12 How a Microprocessor Works (p. 122)
  • Chapter 13 How Microchips Will Work (p. 130)
  • Part 4 Data Storage (p. 134)
  • Chapter 14 How Disk Storage Works (p. 140)
  • Chapter 15 How a Floppy Drive Works (p. 152)
  • Chapter 16 How a Hard Drive Works (p. 156)
  • Chapter 17 How Disk Drives Increase Speed and Storage (p. 160)
  • Chapter 18 How Removable Storage Works (p. 168)
  • Chapter 19 How Storage Will Work (p. 180)
  • Part 5 Input/Output Devices (p. 184)
  • Chapter 20 How Energy Turns Into Data (p. 192)
  • Chapter 21 How a Bus Works (p. 200)
  • Chapter 22 How Computer Ports Work (p. 208)
  • Chapter 23 How a Keyboard Works (p. 220)
  • Chapter 24 How a Computer Display Works (p. 224)
  • Chapter 25 How Pointing Devices Work (p. 232)
  • Chapter 26 How Game Controllers Work (p. 238)
  • Chapter 27 How a Modem Works (p. 244)
  • Chapter 28 How Scanners and Optical Character Recognition Work (p. 252)
  • Chapter 29 How Portable Computers Work (p. 258)
  • Chapter 30 How High-Tech Input/Output Works (p. 266)
  • Chapter 31 How Input/Output Will Work (p. 276)
  • Part 6 Multimedia (p. 280)
  • Chapter 32 How CD-ROM and DVD Work (p. 286)
  • Chapter 33 How Multimedia Sound Works (p. 296)
  • Chapter 34 How Multimedia Video Works (p. 306)
  • Chapter 35 How Virtual Reality Works (p. 310)
  • Chapter 36 How Multimedia Will Work (p. 320)
  • Part 7 How the Internet Works (p. 324)
  • Chapter 37 How Local Area Networks Work (p. 330)
  • Chapter 38 How a PC Connects to the Internet (p. 340)
  • Chapter 39 How Email Works (p. 350)
  • Chapter 40 How Internet Video and Audio Work (p. 354)
  • Chapter 41 How the World Wide Web Works (p. 360)
  • Chapter 42 How the Internet Will Work (p. 368)
  • Part 8 How Printers Work (p. 372)
  • Chapter 43 How Basic Printing Works (p. 376)
  • Chapter 44 How Color Printing Works (p. 386)
  • Chapter 45 How Printers Will Work (p. 396)
  • Index (p. 398)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Ron White is a senior editor at PC Computing, where he writes the How It Works features and the Freeloader column. Founder of one of the earliest PC user groups, he has been writing about computers for 20 years. The second edition of How Computers Work won an award for best non-fiction computer book from the Computer Press Association.
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