The Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible

Winn L. Rosch has written about personal computers since 1981 and has penned nearly 1,500 articles about them¿a mixture of reviews, how-to guides, and background pieces explaining new technologies¿published in newspapers, magazines, and on the Web. He holds three patents on computer technologies and has won two awards for his writing. He has served as a contributing editor to more than half a dozen computer magazines (including PC Magazine) and as a technology reporter (now columnist) for the Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio's largest newspaper. His books and articles have been reprinted in several languages (among them French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish). Besides writing, Rosch is an attorney licensed to practice in Ohio and holds a Juris Doctor degree. A member of the Ohio State Bar Association, he has served on the association's computer law committee. In other lifetimes, Rosch has worked as a photojournalist, electronic journalist, and broadcast engineer. When deadlines don't loom too close, Rosch has been known to ambush people to collect their images on photographic film, some of whose faces result in oil paintings. Although Rosch has abandoned his efforts at creating a perpetual motion machine (it kept him up at night), he is now putting the finishing touches on his latest creation, the world's first perpetual stillness machine.

I. INTRODUCTION.

1. Computers.


Computers in History. Computers in Today's World. Computer Intelligence. So What Is a Computer?

2. Functions and Components.


Processing. Communicating. Remembering. Listening and Monitoring. Infrastructure.

3. Software.


Definitions. Applications. Operating Systems. Programming Languages. Hardware Interfaces.

II. PROCESSING.

4. Digital Electronics.


Electronic Design. Logic Design.

5. Microprocessors.


Background. Performance-Enhancing Architectures. Electrical Characteristics. History. Current Products.

6. Chipsets.


Background. Functions. Memory Control. System Control. Peripheral Control.

7. BIOS.


Background. Initialization Functions. Interface Functions. Storage Functions. Upgrades.

III. COMMUNICATIONS.

8. Channels and Coding.


Signal Characteristics.

9. Expansion Buses.


Background. Peripheral Component Interconnect. InfiniBand. HyperTransport. PCMCIA.

10. Interfaces.


AT Attachment. Serial ATA. SCSI Parallel Interface. Fibre Channel. Floppy Disk Interface.

11. Ports.


Universal Serial Bus. FireWire. IrDA. Bluetooth. RS-232C Serial Ports. Parallel Ports.

12. Local Area Networking.


Concepts. Architecture. Standards. Hardware.

13. Telecommunications.


Analog Services. Digital Services.

14. Internet.


History. Addressing. Domain Name System. Routing. Web Pages. Service Providers.

IV. STORAGE.

15. Principles: Freezing Time.


Defining Memory. Solid-State Memory. Errors. Mass Storage Systems. Magnetic Storage. Optical Storage. Virtual Memory. Data Compression

16. Memory.


Requirements. Logical Organization. Technologies. Packaging. Installation. Memory Cards.

17. Magnetic Storage.


Hard Disks. Floppy Disks. Tape.

18. Optical Storage (CD and DVD).


History. Physical Format. Drives. Standards. DVD-Audio.

V. HUMAN INTERFACE.

19. Principles: Connecting to You.


Teletypes. Output.

20. Keyboards.


Technologies. Touch. Legends. Layouts. Electrical Function. Wireless.

21. Pointing Devices.


Mice. Trackballs. TouchPads. TrackPoint. Game Controllers. Interfaces. Protocols and Drivers.

22. Scanners.


Types. Features. Application Interfacing.

23. Digital Cameras.


The Big Three. Imaging Sensors. Lenses. Zoom. Shutters. Exposure. Flash. Focusing. White Balance. Image Storage. Viewfinders. View Panels. Connections. Analog Video Output. Power.

24. Display Systems.


Video Technology. Video Integration. Image Compression. Computer Display Standards. Display Adapters. Displays.

25. Audio Systems.


Sound. Analog Audio. Digital Audio. Hardware.

26. Printers.


Print Engines. Characteristics. Consumables. Interfacing

27. Fax.


Technology. Hardware. Group Standards. Interface Classes.

VI. INFRASTRUCTURE.

28. Principles: Hardware.


Design Approaches. Nomenclature. Expansion Boards. Power. Cases.

29. Motherboards.


Physical Requirements. Standards.

30. Expansion Boards.


PCI Boards. Accelerated Graphics Port. Riser Boards. PCMCIA Cards.

31. Power.


Power Supplies. Batteries. Power Management. Power Protection.

32. Cases.


Mechanical Construction. Cooling. Radiation.

Index.