Robert Bruce Thompson

All Lab, No Lecture

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

Building the perfect PC

Barbara Fritchman Thompson

Astronomy Hacks begins the space exploration by getting you set up with the right equipment for observing and admiring the stars in an urban setting. Along for the trip are first rate tips for making most of observations. The hacks show you how to: Dark-Adapt Your Notebook Computer. Choose the Best Binocular. Clean Your Eyepieces and Lenses Safely. Upgrade Your Optical Finder. Photograph the Stars with Basic Equipment.

Astronomy Hacks

A guide to building a custom PC provides information on planning the project, choosing the components, and constructing five different systems, including a mainstream PC and a home theater PC

Building the Perfect PC

Presents information on choosing and buying computer components along with recommendations on specific brands and models.

Choosing the Perfect Components

PC Hardware Buyer's Guide

Build a PC that will outperform any brand-name box on the market Yes, even if you’re not a total geek you can build your own PC -- and we guarantee it’s worth the effort. You’ll discover that the quality is better and the cost is much lower than any comparable off-the-shelf PC you can buy. Design the custom computer you want, and have fun doing it. Get high-quality PC hardware from local stores and online vendors Plan your computer project with a complete checklist Create the ideal PC that will run Windows 7 or Linux Take advantage of the latest multi-core CPUs Assemble, test, and configure your PC with ease Build a PC that meets your needs and fits your budget Written by hardware experts, this book delivers complete instructions for building your own dream machine with high-quality components, whether it’s a PC for general use, extreme gaming, a media center, or home server. Straightforward language, clear directions, and easy-to-follow illustrations make this guide a breeze for computer builders of any skill level, even those with no experience. Building the Perfect PC presents six in-depth custom PC projects: Mainstream PC -- Fast, flexible, quiet, and reliable at a reasonable price Extreme System -- A wicked fast PC for video editing, gaming, and more Media Center -- One PC to replace your TiVo, game console, DVD, and CD player Home Server -- Ideal home network hub to store, share, and secure data Appliance PC -- A tiny, quiet, inexpensive PC you can put anywhere Budget System -- Reliable and highly functional at a low, low price

PC Hardware in a Nutshell is the practical guide to buying, building, upgrading, and repairing Intel-based PCs. A longtime favorite among PC users, the third edition of the book now contains useful information for people running either Windows or Linux operating systems. Written for novices and seasoned professionals alike, the book is packed with useful and unbiased information, including how-to advice for specific components, ample reference material, and a comprehensive case study on building a PC.In addition to coverage of the fundamentals and general tips about working on PCs, the book includes chapters focusing on motherboards, processors, memory, floppies, hard drives, optical drives, tape devices, video devices, input devices, audio components, communications, power supplies, and maintenance. Special emphasis is given to upgrading and troubleshooting existing equipment so you can get the most from your existing investments.This new edition is expanded to include: Detailed information about the latest motherboards and chipsets from AMD, Intel, SiS, and VIA Extensive coverage of the Pentium 4 and the latest AMD processors, including the Athlon XP/MP Full details about new hard drive standards, including the latest SCSI standards, ATA/133, Serial ATA, and the new 48-bit "Big Drive" ATA interface Extended coverage of DVD drives, including DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, and DVD+R/RW Details about Flat Panel Displays, including how to choose one (and why you might not want to) New chapters on serial communications, parallel communications, and USB communications (including USB 2.0) Enhanced troubleshooting coverage PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition provides independent, useful and practical information in a no-nonsense manner with specific recommendations on components. Based on real-world testing over time, it will help you make intelligent, informed decisions about buying, building, upgrading, and repairing PCs in a cost effective manner that will help you maximize new or existing computer hardware systems. It's loaded with real-world advice presented in a concise style that clearly delivers just the information you want, without your having to hunt for it.

A Desktop Quick Reference

PC Hardware in a Nutshell

For students, DIY hobbyists, and science buffs, who can no longer get real chemistry sets, this one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry -- not just to make pretty colors and stinky smells, but to learn how to do real lab work: Purify alcohol by distillation Produce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysis Smelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourself Analyze the makeup of seawater, bone, and other common substances Synthesize oil of wintergreen from aspirin and rayon fiber from paper Perform forensics tests for fingerprints, blood, drugs, and poisons and much more From the 1930s through the 1970s, chemistry sets were among the most popular Christmas gifts, selling in the millions. But two decades ago, real chemistry sets began to disappear as manufacturers and retailers became concerned about liability. ,em>The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments steps up to the plate with lessons on how to equip your home chemistry lab, master laboratory skills, and work safely in your lab. The bulk of this book consists of 17 hands-on chapters that include multiple laboratory sessions on the following topics: Separating Mixtures Solubility and Solutions Colligative Properties of Solutions Introduction to Chemical Reactions & Stoichiometry Reduction-Oxidation (Redox) Reactions Acid-Base Chemistry Chemical Kinetics Chemical Equilibrium and Le Chatelier's Principle Gas Chemistry Thermochemistry and Calorimetry Electrochemistry Photochemistry Colloids and Suspensions Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis Synthesis of Useful Compounds Forensic Chemistry With plenty of full-color illustrations and photos, Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments offers introductory level sessions suitable for a middle school or first-year high school chemistry laboratory course, and more advanced sessions suitable for students who intend to take the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry exam. A student who completes all of the laboratories in this book will have done the equivalent of two full years of high school chemistry lab work or a first-year college general chemistry laboratory course. This hands-on introduction to real chemistry -- using real equipment, real chemicals, and real quantitative experiments -- is ideal for the many thousands of young people and adults who want to experience the magic of chemistry.

Craig Hunt

Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administrationis a complete guide to setting up and running a TCP/IP network on Windows NT. Windows NT and TCP/IP have long had a close association, and this is the first book to focus exclusively on NT networking with TCP/IP. It starts with the fundamentals--what the protocols do and how they work, how addresses and routing move data through the network, and how to set up your network connection. Beyond that, all the important networking services provided as part of Windows NT-- including IIS, RRAS, DNS, WINS, and DHCP--are presented in detail. This book is the NT administrator's indispensable guide. Contents include: Overview Delivering the data Network services Getting started Installing and configuring NT TCP/IP Using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Using Windows Internet Name Service Using Domain Name Service Configuring Email Service Using Microsoft routing Using Remote Access Service Troubleshooting TCP/IP Network Security Internet Information Server Appendixes on the TCP/IP commands, PPP script language reference, and DNS resource records

Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administration

Have you ever wondered whether the forensic science you’ve seen on TV is anything like the real thing? There’s no better way to find out than to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself. This full-color book offers advice for setting up an inexpensive home lab, and includes more than 50 hands-on lab sessions that deal with forensic science experiments in biology, chemistry, and physics. You’ll learn the practical skills and fundamental knowledge needed to pursue forensics as a lifelong hobby—or even a career. The forensic science procedures in this book are not merely educational, they’re the real deal. Each chapter includes one or more lab sessions devoted to a particular topic. You’ll find a complete list of equipment and chemicals you need for each session. Analyze soil, hair, and fibers Match glass and plastic specimens Develop latent fingerprints and reveal blood traces Conduct drug and toxicology tests Analyze gunshot and explosives residues Detect forgeries and fakes Analyze impressions, such as tool marks and footprints Match pollen and diatom samples Extract, isolate, and visualize DNA samples Through their company, The Home Scientist, LLC (thehomescientist.com/forensics), the authors also offer inexpensive custom kits that provide specialized equipment and supplies you’ll need to complete the experiments. Add a microscope and some common household items and you’re good to go.

Illustrated Guide to Home Forensic Science Experiments

Most computer users think that fiddling with the insides of their PC is taboo. They fear that by removing the screws that hold the case on, they're crossing into forbidden territory. And even for those who know they can open the box and fix or upgrade their PC, analysis paralysis often stops them in their tracks: Which upgrades offer the best bang for the buck? How do you pinpoint the faulty component that's making your system freeze? What about compatibility issues? Get ready to get unstuck and get your PC running fast and running right. Repairing and Upgrading Your PC delivers start-to-finish instructions, simple enough for even the most inexperienced PC owner, for troubleshooting, repairing, and upgrading your computer. Written by hardware experts Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson, this book covers it all: how to troubleshoot a troublesome PC, how to identify which components make sense for an upgrade, and how to tear it all down and put it back together. This book shows how to repair and upgrade all of your PC's essential components: Motherboard, CPU, and Memory. Choose the optimal match of these core components to keep your PC running at top speed Hard Drive, Optical Drive, and Removable Storage Give your computer what it needs for long-term and short-term storage Audio and Video. Enhance your computing experience with the right sound and graphics devices for your needs Input Devices. Pick the best keyboard and mouse to keep your hands happy and healthy Networking. Set up secure wireless networking to keep the bits flowing between your computers and the outside world Cases and Power Supplies. Keep everything running cool and reliably With its straightforward language, clear instructions, and extensive illustrations, this book makes it a breeze for PC owners of any skill level to work on their computer.

Repairing and Upgrading Your PC

Fully updated and expanded, this is a comprehensive guide to buying, building, upgrading, troubleshooting and repairing Intel-based PCs. The wide range of topics should appeal to a broad audience.

Robert Bruce Thompson

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