If you're one of the many who has decided to build your own personal computer system, you know that doing so can be quite a challenge. The information can be overwhelming--and so can the number of choices.

It's true, whether you're perusing online sites, or wandering the aisles of your favorite retail store, shopping for PC components is no easy task. Until now. Thanks to "PC Hardware Buyer's Guide," the experience of building your own PC system has never been easier.

This handy pocket guide is the ideal shopping companion for do-it-yourself types. Loaded with valuable information, it starts off by providing a piece-by-piece overview of all the components that comprise a standard desktop computer. Then it sinks its teeth into the crux of the issue: how to choose the right parts for you, based on your particular profile (gamer, mainstream user, etc.). It does so by helping you identify which parts are:

Compatible to each other

Regarded as the best performing

Closest in line with your budget

For quick-lookup purposes, the "PC Hardware Buyer's Guide" even includes a simple reference chart with recommended brands and models. Just refer to the chart and the guesswork is gone. And don't worry about the shelf-life of the information, either. The "PC Hardware Buyer's Guide" features several rules of thumb for choosing components that endure past the latest models, so you don't need to buy a new guide with each passing year.

In a market where very little written information exists, this is the only pocket guide that covers PC hardware.

If you're taking a basic course in classical physics, or have a healthy curiosity for the way things work in the physical world, the Illustrated Guide to Home Physics Experiments provides an ideal hands-on introduction to physics lab techniques and data analysis. With this book and a few simple (and inexpensive) tools and materials, you'll learn to conduct experiments that answer questions about our world, make demonstrations to show off physical principles, and do theoretical lab work to discover how the world works. Perfect for do-it-yourselfers, home-schooled high school students, and college students, this book will help you: Learn everything from the basics of motion all the way to particle physics - including energy, thermodynamics, magnetic fields, optics, and much more Take careful measurements of physical phenomena and conduct data analysis Build and perform physics demonstrations that are fascinating and fun Construct computer models to represent aspects of the physical world It's easy to get started. You can build most of the experiments and demonstrations in this book with ordinary household tools, using materials that you can scrounge, borrow, or get free. The most important thing is your willingness to enter the door of discovery that awaits you. The Illustrated Guide to Home Physics Experiments is your key.

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. 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.

Experience the magic of biology in your own home lab. This hands-on introduction includes dozens of educational (and fun) experiments that let you explore this fascinating field on your own. Perfect for middle- and high-school students and DIY enthusiasts, this full-color guide teaches you the basics of biology lab work and shows you how to set up a safe lab at home. The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments is written with the needs of home-schoolers firmly in mind, as well as those of adults who are eager to explore the science of nature as a life-long hobby. * Investigate the chemistry of life from simple acids, bases, and buffers to complex carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes, and DNA * Explore photosynthesis, fermentation, osmosis, nitrogen fixation, and other life processes * Observe populations and ecosystems and do air and water pollution tests * Investigate genetics and inheritance * Do hands-on microbiology, from simple culturing to micro-evolution of bacteria by forced selection * Gain the hands-on experience you need to pass the AP Biology exam * And much, much more Through their company, The Home Scientist, LLC, 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.