maintenance repair and upgrading

This is a great book for general computer information, as are all his books. Its low score is based on the linux content, this book is just a quick re-write of the ordinary book, for Linux users, especially new Linux users, it fails to provide enough info. It needs to discuss compatible hardware more and Linux specific setup set out in easy to follow points.
A disapointing effort.

Scott Mueller has been an authority on PC hardware for well over a decade, so it should come as no surprise that this book (like its predecessors) is a fantastic resource on PC hardware. Unfortunately, I bought it to learn more about the server-building side of Linux, and found it lacking. Owners of any relatively current version of Mueller's book (say, 8th Ed. or later) have no real need for this edition... with that book, a few HOW-TO print-outs, scissors, and glue, they could make their own!

Never the less, this book is still a great guide to hardware. The non-Windows perspective makes it an excellent complement to Minasi's or Bigelow's book, and it is fairly current (with coverage of RDRAM, DVDs, and FireWire). The CD comes in handy, too. Bottom line: if it's time to upgrade your copy of Upgrading & Repairing PCs, you might as well dual-boot.

Little or no new information here. Basically the same good review of hardware. I wanted SMP processor info specific to Linux, or Memory optimization info or maybe RAID card analysis for servers using Linux. But unfortunately what is here is lots of "plug and play" info and a pargraph or two in each chapter with newbie hints. If you own a copy at all, don't bother. The only thing Linux is the penguin on the cover. If you do not own a copy at all...it is a good hardware manual.