Customer Reviews
Its ok, but not enough detail - By: M. Caswell, 03 Jan 2007 
This book is a really easy read (not unexpected from a "For Dummies" book). It gives a very good overview on the subject & covers a lot of ground (e.g. how to get a company to make up your own PCBs; how to use an oscilloscope etc). For me though it just isn't detailed enoughin the basics. I am a complete novice & hoped to be able to start building some basic circuits of my own from this book. I now understand at a high level what all the basic components do, & can construct a circuit from a schematic. I do not however feel I have enough information to design a circuit of my own beyond the very very simple.
Often schematics are presented with only cursory explanations of how they work. This did not help me really get under the covers of what was going on, & understand why the circuit behaved as it did.
The book is clearly written for an American audience, with lots of hints & tips about where to source supplies fromin the US. Completely meaningless to mein the UK! I found this quite irritating after a while.
In summary its ok if you want a high level look at the subject. If you want more than that though I'd look elsewhere. I have just ordered another book, to see if I get any further with that one.
Real basic, and in American. - By: T. Penfold, 29 Sep 2006 
Not a bad book. Really basic - as you would expect from a "for dummies" book. The sense of humour can get a little tiresome but they are trying to make it light & easy to read. It is basically perparing you to do electronics projects at home, (building simple circuits & stuff). Includes descriptions of the basic electronic components, help on soldering & making your own PCBs.
I thought I spotted some mistakes, (4 on one page!). On one page anodes are positive, on the next they are negative.
Note that the units, & symbols are American & not always the same as British. They don't have crocodile clips, they have alligator clips. That made me laugh.
On the whole, I though it was good for beginners or even just to brush up on some basic knowledge. Good to keep for reference to formulas & things to.
It's OK but... - By: S. Webster, 22 Aug 2006 Not bad, but I think there are better books out there. Needs more detailin some areas.
Give it a try! - By: Mr. R. Walker, 31 Mar 2006 
What you get out of this book will largely depend on your experience. I have been asked for my new job to do a coursein Electrical/Electronic Engineering.
I have no prior knowledge & joined the course a month late. I'm now doing okin the course & it's with no small ammount of thanks to this book.
It's a brilliant into to Electronics, but Electronics only. Depending on your course you will need a separate book for Electrical principles which isn't really covered here. I'd recommend a John Bird book for that.
This book is a really easy intoduction to the subject & at this price would definately suggest you look at it if you want a pretty thorough introduction based at beginner level.
okay I guess - By: Mr. E. T. Williams, 14 Nov 2005 Perhaps a bit too patronising if you're not a total novice. It seems to go into great detail on some areas whilst skimping on others. Or maybe I'm just too >dumb< to understand...?
