How Computers Work
by Ron White
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Description
Take a trip through the neural pathways and vital organs of your personal computer with the newest edition of this long-standing bestseller. Glorious full color illustrations make even the most complex subjects easy to understand. Follow PC/Computing senior editor and computer expert Ron White as he shows you the cutting edge technologies, including the Internet, multimedia sound and video, Pentium processors, local bus architecture, Plug and Play, CD-ROM, digital cameras, color printing, show more and more in new chapters on the hottest, and coolest, PC components. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
How Computers Work is a compendium of all things related to computers and their peripherals. This places it into a very wide subject matter. It doesn’t cover everything that possesses a computer chip, but it does talk about things like Video Game Systems. It focuses more on how the component works rather than the history, but there are occasions where the history is all the component has. For example, the book might talk about ancient connection ports like the RS-232 port or pretty much anything before the USB port. The book discusses the underlying physics behind the computer components. In that vein, it talks about how magnetic fields are used, what electromagnetism is, how they produce semiconductors and so much more.
This book is show more ridiculously thorough; it even has descriptions of UPC and QR Codes and how the computer ‘reads’ them. The book combines descriptive imagery and text to great effect. It is difficult to summarize, so I will just say that if your Desktop, Laptop, or Smartphone has it, this book discusses it.
If you were curious about the history of Operating Systems, Computer Parts, the Internet, and other major components of computers then this book is a good place to start. show less
This book is show more ridiculously thorough; it even has descriptions of UPC and QR Codes and how the computer ‘reads’ them. The book combines descriptive imagery and text to great effect. It is difficult to summarize, so I will just say that if your Desktop, Laptop, or Smartphone has it, this book discusses it.
If you were curious about the history of Operating Systems, Computer Parts, the Internet, and other major components of computers then this book is a good place to start. show less
A good guide for the novice. But technology books suffer from short shelf lives. This one is no exception. A 1993 computer is practically an antique in that ephemeral world.
[2021-11-19]
QA76 .W551993 (IP)
A highly visual guide that explains the inner workings of computers, from hardware components like processors and memory to software, networking, and the internet. Using clear diagrams and accessible language, it helps readers understand complex technology concepts in an easy and engaging way.
Sep 16, 2025English (UK)
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Author Information
8 Works 864 Members
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.
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- How Computers Work
Classifications
- Genres
- Technology, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Science & Nature
- DDC/MDS
- 004.16 — Computer science, information & general works Computer science, knowledge & systems Computer science General works on specific types of computers Personal Computers
- LCC
- QA76.5 .W488 — Science Mathematics Mathematics Instruments and machines Calculating machines Electronic computers. Computer science
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 747
- Popularity
- 37,109
- Reviews
- 8
- Rating
- (3.74)
- Languages
- 6 — English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 36
- UPCs
- 5
- ASINs
- 6





























































