At one time, computer hardware was the key differentiator in information technology—what gave an organization its competitive edge. Then, as hardware prices fell, software took center stage. Today, software has become a broadly shared commodity, and a new differentiator has emerged—usability. Applications, including Web sites, are usable if they are practical, useful, easy to work with, and satisfying. Usability is now the factor likeliest to give an organization a distinct advantage.

Institutionalization of Usability shows how to make user-centered design and development a routine practice within an enterprise. Other excellent books explain precisely how to make software usable; this book builds on that foundation, and focuses instead on how to get usability recognized and incorporated into an organization's values and culture. Based on author Eric Schaffer's extensive experience, the book provides a solid methodology for institutionalizing usability, guiding readers step by step with practical advice on topics like organizational change, milestones, toolsets, infrastructure, and staffing requirements needed to achieve fully mature usability engineering.

-A get-in, get-out Power Pack guide that focuses strictly on what PC technicians and serious hobbyists need to know to maintain, upgrade, and repair PCs
-Each chapter focuses on one particular hardware feature, briefly explaining its design, operation, characteristics, features, and purpose, with information and tips on installing, upgrading, troubleshooting, diagnosing, and problem solving
-Highly-illustrated approach-at least one figure for every two pages
-Find-a-Fix tool takes readers through all the most common symptoms of computer problems, helps them refine a diagnosis, and provides immediate solutions
-Ron Gilster is bestselling author of A+ Certification For Dummies, Second Edition (0-7645-0812-1) with more than 250,000 copies sold in all editions
-CD-ROM provides valuable diagnostic software, searchable text of the entire book and Find-a-Fix tool

This popular Build-It-Yourself (BIY) PC book covers everything you want to know about building your own system: Planning and picking out the right components, step-by-step instructions for assembling your perfect PC, and an insightful discussion of why you'd want to do it in the first place. Most big brand computers from HP, Dell and others use lower-quality components so they can meet their aggressive pricing targets. But component manufacturers also make high-quality parts that you can either purchase directly, or obtain through distributors and resellers. Consumers and corporations alike are opting to build rather than buy PCs to ensure high quality and compatibility.
The new edition of Building the Perfect PC shows you how to construct a variety of top-flight systems with the latest technology, including AMD Socket AM-2 and Intel Core 2 processors, that are Vista- and Linux-ready. The book includes several new options, including:

This highly illustrated, full color book tells you all you need to know to get up and running quickly using Adobe Premiere Pro to achieve professional results. It covers the essentials, so you can apply the knowledge to your project immediately.
All the important areas are covered: set up, the interface, editing, effects, integration with other Adobe products, and finishing.

An invaluable first read for users of all levels who want to achieve professional results.
* Companion web site with information on Premiere Pro 1.5
* Get up and running with Premiere Pro quickly
* Clear and concise coverage in full color

Fiber Optic Technician's Manual, now in its second edition, continues to serve as a practical guide for the designer, installer, and troubleshooter of fiber optic cable plants and networks used in today's communications systems. Comprehensive in scope, this book addresses applications of fiber optics including telephone, CATV, and computer networks. Discussion centers on the basics of the technology, the components used, and their installation. Based on materials developed by trainers for their own training programs, including the successful "Fiber U" program, Fiber Optic Technician's Manual, 2nd Edition has been thoughtfully updated and now features new applications, plus new components and processes that have become widely used in the industry. Hints at the future of this rapidly evolving technology are also included.

This book shows how to repair and upgrade all of your PC’s essential components:

— Motherboard, CPU, and Memory. Choose the optimal match of these core components to keep your PC running at top speed — Hard Drive, Optical Drive, and Removable Storage — Give your computer what it needs for long-term and short-term storage — Audio and Video. Enhance your computing experience with the right sound and graphics devices for your needs — Input Devices. Pick the best keyboard and mouse to keep your hands happy and healthy — Networking. Set up secure wireless networking to keep the bits flowing between your computers and the outside world — Cases and Power Supplies. Keep everything running cool and reliably.

Get ready to make the most of Sony’s awesome entertainment device, and hacker’s dream - the PSP. Hacking the PSP covers everything you need to know to:

Transfer video and DVDs to your PSP
Transfer audio books and text
Hack the games you play every day (including using the PSP as an XBox game save device)
Move your TiVo and Replay TV shows to your PSP
Convert your DVDs to run on your PSP
Create your own quick-charge battery packs
Learn how to program the PSP
Repair your PSP
Create your own hacks and run homebrew software
Find all the online and offline resources you need

Focusing on the latest research on hardware interfaces used in modern information technology, this reference covers universal external interfaces, peripheral device interfaces, external memory interfaces, expansion buses, wireless interfaces, network interfaces, and auxiliary serial interfaces. Specific technologies covered include LPT, COM, USB, FireWire, SCSI, mouse, monitor, printer, audio and video interfaces, Serial ATA and flash cards, ISA, PCI, EISA, PC/104, AGP, LPC, PCMCIA, CardBus, Bluetooth, SPI, MII, SMI, JTAG, and Ethernet. Also included is information on signal line definitions and signal arrangement on I/O connectors, time diagrams, adapters (ATA and NIC), controllers (DMA, PCI IDE, and FDC AT), interrupts, and multifunction cards.

PC Repair and Maintenance: A Practical Guide is a reader-friendly guide to repairing computers (running either Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, or XP) through easy-to-understand language, detailed diagrams, and video tutorials. The book emphasizes that a deep understanding of “how a computer works” is not necessary to diagnose and repair problems; it concentrates on practical, “hands-on” solutions that can be implemented right away. Focusing mainly on installing and troubleshooting hardware, the book also provides solutions to common operating system-related problems. In addition, thorough explanations for selecting re-placement and expansion components without paying top dollar are providedhelping users get the most out of their newly repaired PC. Regardless of your level of experience, this is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to repair a computer or is considering a career in the computer repair business.

Photos tell stories. And the more you can do with your digital camera, the better the story you can tell. So build a remote control and sneak up on that picture that keeps eluding you.

Create an adapter that lets you use SLR-type lenses on your point-and-shoot.

Play with lens magnification or create a pinhole lens. Beef up flash memory. And that’s just where the tale begins. The ending is up to you.

Including:

Building triggers, Accessing raw sensor data, Making accessory lens adapters, Eliminating the infrared blocking filter, Extending lenses, Making reverse macro adapters,Building a monopod, Creating bicycle and car mounts, Hacking microdrives from other devices