| PC Toys: 14 Cool Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment | 
| Authors: Barry Press, Marcia Press
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $1.80
You Save: $28.19 (94%)
Buy New/Used from $1.24
Avg. Customer Rating:   (12 reviews)
Sales Rank: 617494
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 7.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 076454229X
Dewey Decimal Number: 004.16
UPC: 785555872998
EAN: 9780764542299
ASIN: 076454229X
Publication Date: November 7, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Come on out and play
You can only surf the Net so long. You can only play so much video poker. So if you're a PC addict who's ready for some new fun, this book is your toybox. Each of the 14 projects inside includes a parts list, suggestions for finding the needed equipment, clues to the cost, helpful Web links, and complete directions. What's that? You have a few ideas of your own? Check out the suggestions in the final chapter, and start inventing your own PC toys.
The Toys
Each with a complete materials list and detailed, illustrated instructions
* TiVo-like video recorder
* MP3 or CD jukebox
* Coffeepot controller
* Telescope tracking station
* Workout monitor
* Home surveillance with Internet remote access
* Fridge and freezer monitor
* Fish tank monitor
* Auto diagnostic center
* In-car navigation system
* Weather station
* Robots
* Networked video games
* Model train controller
CD-ROM includes
* Trial version of Pinnacle Studio
* Visual GPS, freeware, and SocketWatch, shareware version
* Demo versions of GoldWave and Nero Burning ROM
* Unreal Tournament 2003 demo
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 For people with more dollars than sense December 31, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been building computers (soldering parts on circuit boards - not just plugging in a couple of cards and a power supply like people who say they "build" computers these days), but I thought some of the ideas mentioned in the description of this book sounded cool. Alas, as another reviewer pointed out, it basically directs you to go out and buy a bunch of pre-made stuff, plug it together, and turn it on. Expensive, inflexible, and not very educational. I mean... "Telescope Tracking Station": first, buy an expensive Meade telescope. Then, buy an expensive telescope tracking controller from the same company. Finally, plug it in and turn it on. Please. And the author seems to be hung up on Microsoft products and/or commercial software. There are _lots_ of pieces of free software available on the Internet that will let you do the things he talks about in the book - without spending a bundle with Microsoft or some other big company. And you'll learn something in the process. Skip this book, unless you've got lots of money and know little to nothing about PCs and software.
All of it can be found on the web for free February 14, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is just a repackaging of info freely available on the web.
 Very disappointing May 18, 2005
24 out of 25 found this review helpful
I was immediately disappointed after I received this book and first browsed through it. The authors' idea of a "project" is buying some off the shelf gadget and plugging it into your PC. I don't need a book to explain THAT.
Oh, and if you don't know what an MP3 file is, HERE ARE ALL THE DETAILS. What rubbish. Of the 14 "projects" maybe 3 or 4 are easier with this book, but the chances of you're being interested in one of those seems poor.
If you get the chance to look this thing over before buying you'll quickly know if it's for you. If you have any experience interfacing PC's at all, just skip this book.
Pass this book up October 20, 2004
26 out of 31 found this review helpful
It does give you step by step on how to complete these projects; but it will cost you. Example telescope tracker parts list runs about $900, then you can connect it to a PC. Build a PVR uses a P3933 with 512MB ram. I don't have one of those sitting on a shelf. This cook book shows you what software to buy, cables and plug and play modules, but does not teach anything. I guess I wanted to solder something. Please try to find a copy and flip through it before you buy it.
 Very "old school" retro flavour August 25, 2004
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
Ever wonder what fun things you could do with your PC, aside from playing games? Barry and Marcia Press offer some suggestions. These involve integrating your PC in some ingenious fashion to your surroundings. Quite distinct from running games or surfing the web.
Actually, while they deal with the latest PCs, there is a definite retro flavour to this book. You see, before the web arose, most PCs were standalone, or perhaps connected to a LAN if the PCs were in a workplace. But home PCs were usually on their own lonesome selves. Plus, the games of that era lacked the intensive graphics and complexity of logic of today's offerings. So quite often, PCs were used by hobbyists who were hardware buffs. This goes all the way back to the Homebrew Computer Club of San Francisco in the 1970s.
So if you try some of the book's projects, like monitoring your fish tank or your fridge or freezer, or making a control centre for model trains, you are actually indulging in an "old school" ethos.
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