Product Description

Short, concise, and easily-accessible, this book uses the 8085A microprocessor and 8051 microcontroller to explain the fundamentals of microprocessor architecture, programming, and hardware. It features only practical, workable designs so that readers can develop a complete understanding of the application with no frustrating gaps in the explanations. An abundance of real-life hardware, software, and schematic interpretation problems prepare readers to troubleshoot and trace signals through situations they will likely encounter on the job.

Customer Reviews (3)

text
This was purchased for a college course as a text, and I found it to be an excellent reference book as well.

Good fundamentals
The book is beginner to intermediate level. It does a good job of descibing how the processor process information, decribes memory mapping vs I/O mapping with some good hardware examples to cover both. I use it a lot for reference. Covers the no-man land between soft and hardware well. All software is in assembly (off course).

wan systems
wan system ... Read more

Product Description
Software and Hardware Engineering: Assembly and C Programming for the Freescale HCS12 Microcontroller, Second Edition, provides a general-purpose view of software and hardware engineering in microcontroller systems and a comprehensive technical reference for the Freescale HCS12 microcontroller. It is ideal for a first undergraduate course in microcontrollers, microprocessors, or microcomputers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent book
I've used this text for the past three years in my undergraduate Microprocessors course (lecture plus lab) and I highly recommend it. As a previous reviewer noted, there are a few mistakes, but these are quite minor and in no way detract from the usability of this text. The chapters are organized well, flow nicely from topic to topic, and keep the reader's attention without being wordy or repetitive. There are lots of examples and many of them include both an assembly and a C solution for the reader. This text is especially good if you're using CodeWarrior and any of the HC12-based boards from Axiom, but would work well with other HC12 boards or student learning kits.

Goodpractical but a few mistakes
I am an engineering major at Florida State this text book gives good information about how the microcontroller works, how fast it is, where the memory is at, basically the memorization and put on a piece of paper and pass a test class; however, as for practical the examples it gives I find are not very good, The book has examples that are incomplete and in lab it is hard to follow along.


Update, after review other books about this I actually have to give it another star, yes there are some mistakes but it is a 2nd edition and of course there will be mistakes because we are only human. It take a little bit of reading and actual reading not skimming through it like a novel to find out who killed who because it will be used later on so you may want to actually pay attention. I actually enjoyed the last class that I had even though I only made a C. I am about to hopefully take another class using this book so hopefully I will remake another update after this one.
07/28/2010 just to be up to date.

... Read more

Product Description
Carefully researched and written, PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition 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. To the point yet complete, this book provides an enormous amount of timeless information intended for anyone who buys, builds, upgrades, or repairs PCs in a corporate, small business, or home setting.In addition to coverage of the fundamentals and general tips about working on PCs, this 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.Amazon.com Review
PC Hardware in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference relies on an eternal truth of the computer industry: legacy systems never die. This book focuses on the technologies that have provided Wintel personal computers with various capabilities over the years. Like most of its competitors, this book addresses the PC on a subsystem level, and deals with video cards, hard-disk interfaces, memory, and other pieces of the componentry puzzle that hardware integrators need to figure out. The authors do a great job of explaining the differences between (and relative merits of) IDE and SCSI hard-drive interfaces, various video buses, competing processors, and other technologies. They also prove themselves adept at explaining general assembly procedures and troubleshooting strategies.

This book distinguishes itself from its most popular competitors by emphasizing the authors' opinions on hardware products. It's refreshing to see authors recommend Product A for high-performance systems in which price is not an issue, Product B for economical home systems, and Product C for organizational workstations. On the other hand, the recommendations, prices, and similar values will change over time. The authors maintain a great Web site, at which you can find their current recommendations. (The Web site, on the other hand, doesn't include the book's high-quality tutorial on designing and assembling a system from zero.) Even the photographs that appear in this book--traditionally a weak point among hardware books--are clear. --David Wall

Topics covered: Personal computers that comply with Microsoft Windows and Intel compatibility requirements. The authors address processors, memory, hard disks, optical media, removable magnetic disks, video cards, power supplies, and more. Also, there are instructions for assembling a machine from scratch, and some coverage of troubleshooting problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Pull-no-punches opinionated and highly detailed
Robert Thompson is a man who doesn't hold back from giving his opinion on why something is good or bad, either on his website or in his books.In _PC Hardware in a Nutshell_, he tells you just what he thinks of what's good and bad about PC components in just about any category you can think of, and backs it up with all the facts, figures and personal experiences you could ever ask for.Every chapter includes historical information on the components under discussion, detailed reviews of what they do and how they do it, and recommendations on what to use (and what not to use).The final chapter walks you through building your own machine step-by-step, though, this being an omnibus book, the chapter is necessarily slightly skimpy in comparison to _Building The Perfect PC_.The writing style is clear and lively, in fact the book is well worth reading as a book even if you don't need any specific information at the time.The only real complaint I have is something the author has no control over - the fact that new PC hardware comes out so fast that it's just impossible to review every single new thing in a paper edition. (Well, that and the fact that Thompson doesn't like Western Digital because he's had bad experiences with their hard drives, whereas I've been using WD exclusively for years and never yet have had one go out on me.I think that can be chalked up, though, more to the fact that there's just so much PC hardware out there that different people are just going to end up having completely different experiences with components from a particular manufacturer.That, or I just got lucky with WD hard drives.)All in all, this book is truly indispensable.

Power to the People!
Let me start out with a huge thanks to O'Reilly. I'm not a big fan of large corporations or publishers - but I have come to trust O'Reilly implicitly wherever technical issues are concerned. Although I'm certain that they are not the "perfect" publisher, nor in the business for wholly (ha!) altruistic reasons, I AM amazed by the remarkable originality, diversity, range, quality, accuracy, and honorable business practices of this publisher. Oftentimes I wonder how they manage to maintain such a level, when their current library is so chock-full of tough-to-follow acts.

That said, PC Hardware in a Nutshell does not fail to meet up to these high expectations. Let me get the review portion of my review out of the way - simply put, this is the book I have been hunting for a couple years. That I did not immediately search the O'Reilly library only shows that I am a bit silly. I should have known better. End of review.

But I would like to carry this a bit further, and go out on a limb to discuss the only complaint prior reviewers have voiced: that the book is too "Microsoft-centric."

Rather than a weakness, I believe that this is actually a strength. Let me offer big kudos to the authors and publisher for realizing that a serious, yet accessible, compendium of computer hardware knowledge was necessary. The folks who register such complaints are those least in need of an in-depth introduction to PC hardware. These are the high priests of hi-tech, who rule the roost by virtue of their knowledge-monopoly on all issues technical. They would have you believe that if it was not hand-crafted from spare parts, duct tape, and copious amounts of solder and configured with the most obscure version of Linux, then it's only fit for a 4-year-old. They are, quite simply, dead wrong. Let them compile their own "PC Hardware for Only the Most Serious Tech Gurus", I say!

Thompson's very first point is that he intended the book to be of the most practical usability possible. The practical reality is that the people who desperately need such a compendium are poor fools, like Yours Truly, who are too technical to be satisfied with tutorials on how to use Microsoft Office, yet are not quite knowledgeable enough to get right under the hood of their PCs (never mind build a Linux box from spare hatpins and Reynolds Wrap). We, the "psuedo-techies", often do not come equipped with enough experience, knowledge, or confidence to take ourselves to the next level. We are the crowd who are using Microsoft products, yet would love to learn enough to understand exactly WHY Microsoft means "mush-mind" and Linux is God - but will never get there without a guide. This book is the guide, and to me it says, "Psuedo-techies unite! Power to the people!"

A bit dated
This is a great book that covers every aspect of building a PC. However, as of August 2004, the 3rd edition of this book is a bit dated. For example PC3200 memory is considered the newest memory and both Pentium 4 Prescott processors and Athlon 64 processors were not out when this book was published. If you are buying this book, you may want to wait for a 4th edition, unless you are looking to assemble an old computer.

I would not accept the author's hardware recommendations as the final word. For one thing, the components they review are in many cases no longer manufactured. Magazine reviews and PC hardware Web sites are going to have different opinions on what the best components are.

All you need for PC hardware
This book is amazingly concise and thorough, yet also very easy to read. It contains many helpful photographs, and the authors maintain a great website that is tremendously useful and is a great addition to the book. I am not a big fan of the "In a Nutshell" computer books published by O'Reilly, but this book is definitely an exception. It's great for both beginners and experts.

A Gem of a PC primer!
O'Reilly's an up and coming publisher of computer related books. Maybe a kingpin already. This selection is a true quick reference guide. Written by the Thompsons, this selection gives you a thorough look into buying, assembling and operating computers. You do need a basic understanding to get anything out of this book, but if this is the case, you won't be disappointed. I have a first edition copy, and it's still current. That says a lot, a first edition published four years ago is still not too outdated! Think about it. How many computer related books can you think of that's relatively current after four years? Huh? ... Read more

Product Description
This work sets out to simplfy the process of selecting the right microcontroller that will fit the needs of a given system, so paving the way for efficient and cost-effective design. Information is given on which 4 bit microcontrollers are available from which manufacturers, and the strengths and limitations of each supplier are covered. "Choosing a 4 Bit Microcontroller": examines how 4 bit microcontrollers are used, detailing a case study that illustrates the methods employed to manage peculiarities of a particular chip; outlines which products and systems are suitable with 4 bit microcontrollers, covering medical, industrial, educational and entertainment devices; and explains how a variety of commonly-required system features can be implemented, considering hardware and software aspects of the design process. ... Read more

Product Description

WHIP UP SOME FIENDISHLY FUN PICAXE MICROCONTROLLER DEVICES

"Ron has worked hard to explain how the PICAXE system operates through simple examples, and I'm sure his easy-to-read style will help many people progress with their PICAXE projects."

This wickedly inventive guide shows you how to program, build, and debug a variety of PICAXE microcontroller projects. PICAXE Microcontroller Projects for the Evil Genius gets you started with programming and I/O interfacing right away, and then shows you how to develop a master processor circuit.

From "Hello, World!" to "Hail, Octavius!"
All the projects in Part I can be accomplished using either an M or M2 class PICAXE processor, and Part II adds 20X2-based master processor projects to the mix. Part III culminates in the creation of Octavius--a sophisticated robotics experimentation platform featuring a 40X2 master processor and eight breadboard stations which allow you to develop intelligent peripherals to augment Octavius' functioning. The only limit is your imagination!

PICAXE Microcontroller Projects for the Evil Genius:

• Features step-by-step instructions and helpful photos and illustrations
• Allows you to customize each project for your purposes
• Offers all the programs in the book free for download
• Removes the frustration factor--all required parts are listed, along with sources

Build these and other devious devices:

• Simple mini-stereo jack adapter
• USBS-PA3 PICAXE programming adapter
• Power supply
• Three-state digital logic probe
• 20X2 master processor circuit
• TV-R input module
• 8-bit parallel 16X2 LCD board
• Serialized 16X2 LCD
• Serialized 4X4 matrix keypad
• SPI 4-digit LED display
• Countdown timer
• Programmable, multi-function peripheral device and operating system
• Octavius--advanced robotics experimentation platform
• L298 dual DC motor controller board

Visit www.JRHackett.net to learn more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Major Aid
What a useful book!. While I started with the Basic Stamp, I stumbled across Picaxe in its early years and found it superior in many ways. First it is cheap and the programming support forum was terrific. Most of all, it can handle many small and useful tasks such as light and water detection, sound and motor handling, really many things.

But to take advantage of what it can do, you need a book like Ron's. It helps you on so many levels. One of my favorite discoveries was the use of stripboards - this allows the user to create small linkages in a variety of ways. The boards are easy to cut, the long running copper lines are ideal for connecting common connections like power and ground, and they are flexible - unlike preconfigured PC boards you find at radio shack. Actually, they are very common in Europe and they sell them by the boat load.

So aside from being guided in how to physically make the circuits, Ron does a great job in educating the person about programming issues and circuit design. And best of all, he speaks to the lay person. I love the progression of tasks and projects. Each of them more advanced, each of them building on the previous knowledge. It truly could be used by any community college, vocational or high school as a laboratory work book. While the photographs are poorly defined, Ron has made them available on his web site for easy download - together with all of the programming code. This is great for those who mistype or who want to get the "correct" code version.

Lastly, it is a great resource if you need to remember how to hook-up lcds, leds with a display chip, a keyboard or interfacing with things like a tv remote. Each chapter provides a high level overview, or background if you will. Not too much and not in a pedantic manner. Just enough to set your head straight and thinking about the next task at hand.

So if you needed to buy a few good books to get started in electronics, I would put this near the top of the list. You can't go wrong. It's a great reference.

Disregard the biased rating, but please read the info!
Since I'm the author of the book, this isn't really a review, but I wanted to include some information that may be helpful.

I certainly agree that many of the photos could be lighter. Hopefully, this situation will be corrected in the next printing, but in the meantime all the original full-color, full-size photos are available on my website ([...]) for downloading. In addition, as I mention in the book, all the programs are also available for downloading.

Very nice, glad I bought it
I'll be honest here.I was purchasing a completely unrelated book, and I needed to spend a few more bucks to get free shipping at Amazon.Having just ordered a PICAXE development board and a few PICAXE chips to play with, I did a quick search and found this book.I have already bought and studied "Programming and Customizing the PICAXE Microcontroller" book by David Lincoln (also highly recommend) so I didn't think I needed another PICAXE book.But I bought it anyway.

And I'm glad I did.

Mr. Hackett did a fine job on this book.It is well written, very illustrative (although the publisher could have lightened a number of the illustrations, many were very dark and you had to squint), and follows a very nice outline.

What impresses me the most, besides the thoroughness of the programming information, is the design suggestions that he made.I have, since I was 10 years old (I still have that first breadboard 25 years later), been a breadboarder.I have built and modified many circuits on breadboards.It is a valuable skill, one that can only come from experience... but it can also get tedious.That's why I really like the development boards that are available.I have been using a PICAXE development board (google AXE091) for a few days and really enjoy it, and highly recommend it.It's also why I REALLY like the Arduino with the associated shields for it.But what impresses me with this book is Mr. Hackett's stripboard techniques.First you breadboard a peripheral (LED display, switch, etc) and then, since it is something you will likely use again and again, you can save time in the future by making a stripboard version that plugs into your breadboard.Very nice.But even that can get tedious after a while... so guess what?When you have developed that particular skill, and want to save time, you can actually purchase professionally etched PC boards from his website to make some of these peripherals.

I also really liked his logic probe in a test tube project.I intend to make one myself.It reminds me of our high school electronics class when we all made voltage testers, put them in a glass test tube, filled it with clear epoxy, and then broke the glass off... although Mr. Hackett's design simply encloses the probe in a plastic test tube... nice design.

I recently wrote a poor review of "PIC Programming for Beginners" by Mark Spencer and published by the American Radio Relay League.I stated that the book was not for beginners and I suggested that the ARRL publish a three volume set, the first being a book about digital electronics (TTL/CMOS logic, etc, which I find an essential prerequisite to micros... then Volume 2 would be a book about the PICAXE, and Volume 3 would be the book introducing the PIC and assembly code."PICAXE Microcontroller Projects for the Evil Genius" would be my Volume 2 of this set.

Nice work Mr. Hackett! ... Read more

Product Description
Appropriate for upper-level undergraduate courses on Microcontrollers in Electrical or Computer Engineering.Focuses on the use of Microchip Technology's "PIC" microcontroller chips to integrate the features of a digital design. The book introduces program writing with a series of code templates that helps readers learn by doing rather that start their own code writing from scratch. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Embedded Systems
So Far I have been using it alot to figure out how to program the assembly for a pic, very useful

It is not ment to be a "PIC for dummies" Book
I took Dr. Peatman's class in college with this book, and I think this book would have done better if he had bundled the Class Lab book. The class lab book and actually having the hardware in front of you made the book make a whole lot more sense. I can see how some of the other readers may have been disappointed because with out the hardware in front of you its a bit difficult to really understand whats going on. I think this book is great as a reference if you have a PIC controller to play around with, but I would not recommend this book to some one who is looking for a "PIC microprocessors for Dummies" type book.

Not Much Bang for the Buck!
This book is basically an over-priced college text. ... On the other hand, there are a few good practical applications illustrated.The author choose to place a special emphasis on timing issues.

not for beginners
This might be a suitable reference for someone who is already intimately familiar with PIC microcontrollers but it way too advanced for beginners. From the first page the author assumes you already know alot about microprocessors including the lingo.
The writing style is just dreadful, with sentences that run on and on in a prose that would leave Yoda confused. This is not a fun read about what should be a fun subject.
Beginners will find the book too obtuse and advanced users need nothing more than the device datasheets so the book is pointless.

has its use
This was the first book I used when starting out with PICs. I found that it was not the smoothest reading book out there, but it got me up and running. The first program in the book to make an LED blink on and off looks like the source code to a 3D modeling program, that aside I found myself thumbing through this book constantly to learn how to use the onboard periferals of a mid range PIC. I give it a fair rating for learning and a good rating for reference. ... Read more

Product Description
Program functional tools--or wacky inventions--with the basic stamp. Here's a roll-up-your-sleeves guide to programming the BASIC Stamp microcontroller--and implanting it in virtually anything your fertile imagination can come up with. Programming and Customizing the BASIC Stamp Computer, by J. Scott Edwards, shows you how to get started with essential programming fundamentals and electronic assembly techniques. Then it delivers step-by-step instructions for building and customizing projects ranging from a magic message display, mobile robot with sensor whiskers and a sonar rangefinder to a wireless household remote controller, desktop time/temperature display, data logger and a network communication terminal. If you thought the fun had gone out of desktop PCs, this hands-on book of eye-opening projects will set you straight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Reccomended
Well writen, easy to follow intor to the basic stamp. I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it to others like myself who wanted an easy intro to the stamps.

I don't recommend it
I bought this book because it says it explains both the BS1 and BS2.Only a couple of pages at the beginning are dedicated to explain the Most Basic commands of both BS1 & 2.Almost the rest of the book are complex example programs (projects) with a LOT of commands which were not explained before.I don't recommend this book, specially if you're planning to use other than the BS1.
It would have been a much better book if the author dedicated more time explaining all the commands and what they do, instead of putting so many examples which are hard to understand without this knowledge.

this book was so bad i think i got aids from it
this is the worth book i have ever had the pleasure to put in the trash (the only place where it belongs) 3 pages showing a photo of a potentiometer and the constant nagging of buying things from to person who wrote the book (he calls himself an "AUTHOR") he should call himself a salesperson. the book is aimed at the mentally challanged, it has such a slow pace , i felt i was in a movie with slow playback, and most of the crap was not complete.Do your self a favor dont waste your money if you want a sales catalog, just call any electronics vendor and you will get one for free (including shipping)

The worst book I have ever read
The worse book I have ever read. I cannot believe how some "authors" throw anything on paper".
First the CD does not include anything really new you can download free and better stuff from Parallax or the internet.
The book starts with the first sevens chapters explaining some basic electronics that even an elementary school kid will know like how potentiometers and solder-less breadboards work also some very basic programs, after a few mistakes no major problems even though most programs are loops and LED blinkers. But after what the author call the" boot camp chapters" (2) ,the book gets really crazy right away after you finish the "boot camp", which onlyincluded some easy basic 4 to 8 lines programs it gets you to 3 pages programs on the next chapter a big leap I think ,also all the projects are practically impossible to build as you will need to spend a fortune in parts available from different vendors and from the author himself, like the $50 (2X16) serial LCD from Mr. Edwards (I got a parallel (4X20) for $10 and a serial kit for $5 from Ebay and made my own) a real headache it is harder to get the parts than to do the projects, then in some of them the author does not give you enough information like with one device (X-10) he uses from Radio Shack that connect the BS2 to a modem and then he provides a phone number for you to call to get the info.

A good starter book
This is really good starter book. I liked the way Scottexplained the variables and other memory structure stuff. However, there are some mistakes. THis program line for Basic Stamp 2 reads: debug "Go!", cr and there is no explanation what is the purpose of cr. Another line reads: debug DEC dogAge, " dog years" and no explanation on what DEC stands for. Small things like this can be big obstacle for novice. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (23)

Good beginners guide
You know, I didn't end up using this as much as I expected but that is just because I ended up moving more into 3D and gaming art. This is a great book. I keep it on my close shelf even after 2 years.

Not as good as "Physical Computing"
This book isn't as good as "Physical Computing: sensing and controlling the physical world with computers" by the same author.
Making Things Talk isn't as informative and complete. The bluetooth section isn't worth the buy, I regret buying this after the Physical Computing book.

good resource for Audrino experiments
If you are planning to go any further beyond the blink program,this book is for you.

Great second book on microcontoller projects
I bought this book with one of the Arduino kits online thinking it would be a really great way to get my feet wet with microcontroller programming.While the book does give some very basic starting points, as stated in the preface, it is not a first book in microcontrollers, as some of the marketing might suggest. For me it just took getting up to some speed using the Arduino online tutorials, so if it is your first foray into microcontrollers you will definitely need some supplemental materials.Also the point about making things talk is not about sound but rather about networking, i.e. talking to your computer or a web server.

With that said the book is really well laid out and the projects are applied enough to be useful and fun enough to keep going.The projects have a good ordering to them.You learn about serial and slowly move up to network modules finally getting to wireless and RFID components.You have fun creating things that play games, clap when triggered by events, or automate the home.While some may call the project not very useful, they are really the building blocks for your imagination with the basic to complex, a very nice addition to the simple tutorials you find online.

One note while the book has some neat projects the price tags can really start to add up.Flex sensor here for $25, XBee module there for another $30 and so forth.I have been able to do a lot with switching out some of the more expensive parts but if you are someone thinking about a course or summer study with this book make sure you get it in advance and do some pricing of the projects.

I give it 5 stars for a great combination of items even though the book requires supplemental knowledge.The simple networking tutorials are great though, a subject that is normally a complete bore.

Not a book on speech chips
The description of this book fooled me into thinking that it was about speech chips that "make things talk".You know, like talking toys you buy for your kids.Doesn't that monkey on the cover look like one of those?But the book is actually about simple ways to get wired and wireless communication onto hobby projects.Interesting, but not what I needed. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Federal Computer Market Report, published by Millin Publishing, Inc. on October 27, 2003. The length of the article is 725 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Cisco and IBM collaborate on network-hosted storage virtualization.
Publication: Federal Computer Market Report (Newsletter)
Date: October 27, 2003
Publisher: Millin Publishing, Inc.
Volume: 27Issue: 20Page: 8

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description

30 Ways to Have Some Computer-Controlled Evil Fun!

This wickedly inventive guide shows you how to program and build a variety of projects with the Arduino microcontroller development system. Covering Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, 30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genius gets you up to speed with the simplified C programming you need to know--no prior programming experience necessary.

Using easy-to-find components and equipment, this do-it-yourself book explains how to attach an Arduino board to your computer, program it, and connect electronics to it to create fiendishly fun projects. The only limit is your imagination!

30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genius:

• Features step-by-step instructions and helpful illustrations
• Provides full schematic and construction details for every project
• Covers the scientific principles behind the projects
• Removes the frustration factor--all required parts are listed along with sources

Build these and other devious devices:

• Morse code translator
• High-powered strobe light
• Seasonal affective disorder light
• LED dice
• Keypad security code
• Pulse rate monitor
• USB temperature logger
• Oscilloscope
• Light harp
• LCD thermostat
• Computer-controlled fan
• Hypnotizer
• Servo-controlled laser
• Lie detector
• Magnetic door lock
• Infrared remote

Customer Reviews (3)

Best Arduino intro by far
Simon Monk provides Arduino newbies a guide that goes way beyond "Getting Started With Arduino", yet deals with the subject in an easy to read, accessible format. His projects are also far more practical eg he deals with flashing a simple led (like every other Arduino text) but then scales this up to high power Luxeon leds in various different applications but based on similar circuitry. This lead me to adapting one of his circuits to a real-world interest of mine, involving led lamps.

I look forward to a sequel where he might take us into the (so far) murky world of timers and interrupts, an area not covered very well (yet) in the Arduino world.

Excellent intro to the Arduino world.
Great book with lots of interesting projects (especially the sensing type). The projects use inexpensive parts and some of the first projects don't really require the purchase of any parts at all. Some supplemental code explanations on the Evil Genius web site would add to this already great educational tool.

A good way into electronics
I had never even heard of Arduino boards but was lead here by the "Evil Genius" bit of the title whilst looking to improve my electronics knowledge. I have now bought the Arduino kit (clone because it is cheaper) and have had a go at a couple of the simpler projects which worked well. I was initially worried about the programming side given that it is C, but the Ardunio environment and clear explanation (and code listing) for each project made it a breeze. When I get time I will try more ambitious projects (particularly looking forward to the servo controlled lazer). Highly recommended.

Stephen ... Read more

Product Description
Crash Course in PC and Microcontroller Technology teaches the basics of microprocessor architecture and applications in an easy-to-understand format.Each chapter includes learning objectives, clear explanations and examples, and an end-of-chapter self-quiz. The drill-and-review software included with the book allows learners to test themselves on the contents of each chapter, providing a second reinforcement of the material.

With the two other Crash Course books, Electronics Technology and Digital Technology, this book forms a complete course in electronics and microcomputer technology appropriate for technical schools, industrial training, and hobbyists.

Programmed instruction format for efficient and effective self study
Accompanying disk with self-test exams
Up-to-date coverage of PCs and embedded micros ... Read more

Product Description
Kapitel: Cyber, Cbm-Diskettenlaufwerke, Agnus, Apple Isight, Ne2000, Adwin, Action Replay, Ibm 3850, Catweasel-Controller, Ay-3-8910, Amstrad Pcw, Clearpath, Spc700, Amd Quad Fx, Yamaha Ym3812, Apple Ii Language Card, Ricoh 5a22, Altivec, Covox Speech Thing, Ricoh 2a03, Mak/supergun, Atari Pokey, Hifd, Hardsid. Aus Wikipedia. Nicht dargestellt. Auszug: AltiVec is a floating point and integer SIMD instruction set designed and owned by Apple, IBM and Freescale Semiconductor, formerly the Semiconductor Products Sector of Motorola, (the AIM alliance), and implemented on versions of the PowerPC including Motorola's G4, IBM's G5 and POWER6 processors, and P.A. Semi's PWRficient PA6T. AltiVec is a trademark owned solely by Freescale, so the system is also referred to as Velocity Engine by Apple and VMX by IBM and P.A. Semi, although IBM has recently begun using AltiVec as well. While AltiVec refers to an instruction set, the implementations in CPUs produced by IBM and Motorola are separate in terms of logic design. To date, no IBM core has included an AltiVec logic design licensed from Motorola or vice-versa. AltiVec is a standard part of the new Power ISA v.2.03 specification. It was never formally a part of the PowerPC architecture until this specification although it used PowerPC instruction formats and syntax and occupied the opcode space expressly allocated for such purposes. Both AltiVec and SSE feature 128-bit vector registers that can represent sixteen 8-bit signed or unsigned chars, eight 16-bit signed or unsigned shorts, four 32-bit ints or four 32-bit floating point variables. Both provide cache-control instructions intended to minimize cache pollution when working on streams of data. They also exhibit important differences. Unlike SSE2, AltiVec supports a special RGB "pixel" data type, but it does not operate on 64-bit double precision floats, and there is no way to move data directly between scalar and vector registers. ...http://booksllc.net/?l=de ... Read more

Product Description
PIC Microcontrollers are a favorite in industry and with hobbyists. These microcontrollers are versatile, simple, and low cost making them perfect for many different applications. The 8-bit PIC is widely used in consumer electronic goods, office automation, and personal projects. Author, Dogan Ibrahim, author of several PIC books has now written a book using the PIC18 family of microcontrollers to create projects with SD cards.

This book is ideal for those practicing engineers, advanced students, and PIC enthusiasts that want to incorporate SD Cards into their devices. SD cards are cheap, fast, and small, used in many MP3 players, digital and video cameras, and perfect for microcontroller applications.

Complete with Microchip's C18 student compiler and using the C language this book brings the reader up to speed on the PIC 18 and SD cards, knowledge which can then be harnessed for hands-on work with the eighteen projects included within. Two great technologies are brought together in this one practical, real-world, hands-on cookbook perfect for a wide range of PIC fans.


*Eighteen fully worked SD projects in the C programming language
*Details memory cards usage with the PIC18 family
*Companion Web site with project code listings to run on Microchip's C18 student compiler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just enough about sd cards
This book is OK and I would still recommend it if you wanted to get more out of your sd card. But there is lots about programming other parts ofan embedded system also - UART for example. What was also a bit dissapointing was all projects used the MPLAB compiler from microchip. In his previous book he has used the compiler from MiKroelektronika (MiKroC for PIC). which I have purchased and consequently I got alot more out of reading his other books. ... Read more

Product Description
Offers a systematic approach to PIC programming and interfacing using Assembly and C languages.  Offering numerous examples and a step-by-step approach, it covers both the Assembly and C programming languages and devotes separate chapters to interfacing with peripherals such as Timers, LCD, Serial Ports, Interrupts, Motors and more.  A unique chapter on hardware design of the PIC system and the PIC trainer round out coverage. Systematic coverage of the PIC18 family of Microcontrollers. Assembly language and C language programming and interfacing techniques. Thorough coverage of Architectures and Assembly language programming of the PIC18. Thorough coverage of C language programming of the PIC18. Separate chapters on programming and interfacing the PIC with peripherals - Includes information on how to interface the PIC with LCD, keyboard, ADC, DAC, Sensors, Serial Ports, Timers, DC and Stepper Motors, Optoisolators, and RTC. Covers how to program each peripheral, first using the Assembly language and then using the C language. Those involved with PIC programming and interfacing using Assembly and C languages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

PIC Microcontroller and Embedded Systems
Warning! This book contains many inaccuracies. I've only finished the first two chapters but I already have serious concerns about using this book. As someone who has worked with PIC microcontrollers for over twelve years, I was taken aback by the fictitious history presented. About the only things that are accurate here are the dates.
Terminology is sometimes inaccurate (the term file register references each eight bit RAM location within the data memory). I have never seen any Microchip document that refers to built-in EEPROM data memory as RAM.
I'll reserve final judgment until I've finished reading (I'll submit and update), however I thought persons with less experience should be warned.

Very Useful Sample Programs
As an embedded programmer, I bought this book for the sample programs to show me different, and possibly better, ways of programming the PIC microcontrollers.I was not disappointed; the book contains dozens and dozens of sample programs, in Assembly and C, for almost all of the peripherals available for the PIC18 series.However, there was no information on programming for the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus.

While this book appears to be aimed at beginners, I think you must be somewhat familiar with the PIC18 series in order separate out the many errors and mistakes from the wealth of truly useful information. ... Read more

Product Description
This book provides a comprehensive look into the architecture, programming, and interfacing of the microcontroller. Using the Microchip PIC18 family as a reference, it explains the architecture of the computer and the PIC18 microcontroller, discusses how to program in both assembly and in C-language, and then provides a solid discussion of interfacing, complete with a diverse set of examples. Unique to the book is its goal to introduce and explain as many devices as possible and show many complete system applications. All programs from the book are included on the accompanying CD-ROM and problems and examples further one’s proficiency in microcontroller interfacing, programming, and system design. Uses the newest 8-bit microcontroller available from Microchip because of its universality (i.e. what is learned about this family is applicable to the earlier families of microcontrollers from PIC as well as other microcontrollers from other manufacturers). Provides a complete look at microcontroller programming in both assembly language and in C-language. Covers more devices and interfacing examples than other books. Includes timing and details of interfacing to common electronic components. Offers examples of interfaces such as display devices, switches and keypads, motors, solenoids, relays, sensors, interrupts, infra-red remote controls, bar code readers and more.  Includes coverage of interfacing with the USB and the CAN and illustrated example applications.  Valuable to the experienced practitioner as a reference and to the hobbyist interested in learning about microcontrollers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great book, lot of examples
I am fairly new to the world of PICs and about couple of months back was looking for a starting point. I picked this book because i had used a couple of other books by the same author on intel processors and i liked them quite a bit- i wasnt disappointed this time either.
There arent a thousand pages to this book- its handy. The subject matter is precise, to the point. The keyword is "Applying...". There are a lot of good working examples dealing with the commonly used interfaces- barcode scanners, keypads, LCDs, solenoids, relays etc. It even goes into USB at the end- and, like me, if someone is not familiar with the USB protocols, they might need some other references.
It gives an intro to assembly language and then goes onto C programming with the microchip C18 compiler, which is perhaps the most widely used compiler out there. The commenting on the programs is not extensive so anybody who's looking to be spoon-fed will be disappointed. I did have a couple of problems initially following the code in the book- I emailed the author and got a response within 48hrs.
... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Electro Manufacturing, published by Worldwide Videotex on February 1, 2000. The length of the article is 547 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR UNVEILS HIGH CURRENT/LOW VOLTAGE CMOS.(Product Announcement)
Publication: Electro Manufacturing (Newsletter)
Date: February 1, 2000
Publisher: Worldwide Videotex
Volume: 13Issue: 2Page: NA

Article Type: Product Announcement

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Microcontroller-Based Temperature Monitoring and Control is an essential and practical guide for all engineers involved in the use of microcontrollers in measurement and control systems. The book provides design principles and application case studies backed up with sufficient control theory and electronics to develop your own systems. It will also prove invaluable for students and experimenters seeking real-world project work involving the use of a microcontroller.

Techniques for the application of microcontroller-based control systems are backed up with the basic theory and mathematics used in these designs, and various digital control techniques are discussed with reference to digital sample theory.
The first part of the book covers temperature sensors and their use in measurement, and includes the latest non-invasive and digital sensor types. The second part covers sampling procedures, control systems and the application of digital control algorithms using a microcontroller. The final chapter describes a complete microcontroller-based temperature control system, including a full software listing for the programming of the controller.

*Provides practical guidance and essential theory making it ideal for engineers facing a design challenge or students devising a project
*Includes real-world design guides for implementing a microcontroller-based control systems
*Requires only basic mathematical and engineering background as the use of microcontrollers is introduced from first principles ... Read more

Product Description
Unique in its broad perspective, this book provides complete coverage of the fundamentals of embedded microcontrollers. Its focus is wider reaching than most, placing an emphasis on the general concepts behind the microcontroller, not on teaching software programming for a specific device. There is coverage of key concepts, including DSP, Fuzzy Logic, and Analog to Digital Conversion so students get a better understanding of real world design. With an emphasis on microcontroller processor architecture and technology it is appropriate for a variety of real world situations. A broader introduction to microcontroller processor architecture and technology. Discussion of how to balance three technologies: the processor, memory and software. Those working with microcontrollers. ... Read more