Most Popular Books by Robert Bruce Thompson

For students, DIY hobbyists, and science buffs, who can no longer get real chemistry sets, this one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry -- not just to make pretty colors and stinky smells, but to learn how to do real lab work: Purify alcohol by distillation Produce hydrogen and oxygen gas by electrolysis Smelt metallic copper from copper ore you make yourself Analyze the makeup of seawater, bone, and other common substances Synthesize oil of wintergreen from aspirin and rayon fiber from paper Perform forensics tests for fingerprints, blood, drugs, and poisons and much more From the 1930s through the 1970s, chemistry sets were among the most popular Christmas gifts, selling in the millions. But two decades ago, real chemistry sets began to disappear as manufacturers and retailers became concerned about liability. ,emu003eThe Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments steps up to the plate with lessons on how to equip your home chemistry lab, master laboratory skills, and work safely in your lab. The bulk of this book consists of 17 hands-on chapters that include multiple laboratory sessions on the following topics: Separating Mixtures Solubility and Solutions Colligative Properties of Solutions Introduction to Chemical Reactions & Stoichiometry Reduction-Oxidation (Redox) Reactions Acid-Base Chemistry Chemical Kinetics Chemical Equilibrium and Le Chatelier''s Principle Gas Chemistry Thermochemistry and Calorimetry Electrochemistry Photochemistry Colloids and Suspensions Qualitative Analysis Quantitative Analysis Synthesis of Useful Compounds Forensic Chemistry With plenty of full-color illustrations and photos, Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments offers introductory level sessions suitable for a middle school or first-year high school chemistry laboratory course, and more advanced sessions suitable for students who intend to take the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry exam. A student who completes all of the laboratories in this book will have done the equivalent of two full years of high school chemistry lab work or a first-year college general chemistry laboratory course. This hands-on introduction to real chemistry -- using real equipment, real chemicals, and real quantitative experiments -- is ideal for the many thousands of young people and adults who want to experience the magic of chemistry.

Explaining everything a beginner needs to know to get started, this heavily graphical book provides a solid grounding in the fundamental concepts and terminology of astronomy and includes specific advice about choosing, buying, using, and maintaining observing equipment.

Why use the traditional approach to study the stars when you can turn computers, handheld devices, and telescopes into out-of-this-world stargazing tools? Whether you''re a first timer or an advanced hobbyist, you''ll find Astronomy Hacks both useful and fun. From upgrading your optical finder to photographing stars, this book is the perfect cosmic companion.This handy field guide covers the basics of observing, and what you need to know about tweaking, tuning, adjusting, and tricking out a ''scope. Expect priceless tips and tools for using a Dobsonian Telescope, the large-aperture telescope you can inexpensively build in your garage. Get advice on protocols involved with using electronics including in dark places without ruining the party.Astronomy Hacks begins the space exploration by getting you set up with the right equipment for observing and admiring the stars in an urban setting. Along for the trip are first rate tips for making most of observations. The hacks show you how to: Dark-Adapt Your Notebook Computer Choose the Best Binocular Clean Your Eyepieces and Lenses Safely Upgrade Your Optical Finder Photograph the Stars with Basic Equipment The O''Reilly Hacks series has reclaimed the term "hacking" to mean innovating, unearthing, and creating shortcuts, gizmos, and gears. With these hacks, you don''t dream it-you do it--and Astronomy Hacks brings space dreams to life. The book is essential for anyone who wants to get the most out of an evening under the stars and have memorable celestial adventures.

Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administrationis a complete guide to setting up and running a TCP/IP network on Windows NT. Windows NT and TCP/IP have long had a close association, and this is the first book to focus exclusively on NT networking with TCP/IP. It starts with the fundamentals--what the protocols do and how they work, how addresses and routing move data through the network, and how to set up your network connection. Beyond that, all the important networking services provided as part of Windows NT-- including IIS, RRAS, DNS, WINS, and DHCP--are presented in detail. This book is the NT administrator''s indispensable guide. Contents include: Overview Delivering the data Network services Getting started Installing and configuring NT TCP/IP Using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Using Windows Internet Name Service Using Domain Name Service Configuring Email Service Using Microsoft routing Using Remote Access Service Troubleshooting TCP/IP Network Security Internet Information Server Appendixes on the TCP/IP commands, PPP script language reference, and DNS resource records

Experience the magic of biology in your own home lab. This hands-on introduction includes more than 30 educational (and fun) experiments that help you explore this fascinating field on your own. Perfect for middle- and high-school students and DIY enthusiasts, this full-color guide teaches you the basics of biology lab work and shows you how to set up a safe lab at home. The Illustrated Guide to Home Biology Experiments is also written with the needs of homeschoolers firmly in mind, as well as adults who are eager to explore the science of nature as a life-long hobby. To get the most from the experiments, we recommend using this guide in conjunction with a standard biology text, such as the freely downloadable CK-12 Biology (ck-12.org). Master the use of the microscope, including sectioning and staining Build and observe microcosms, soda-bottle worlds of pond life Investigate the chemistry of life from simple acids, bases, and buffers to complex carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes, and DNA Extract, isolate, and observe DNA Explore photosynthesis, osmosis, nitrogen fixation, and other life processes Investigate the cell cycle (mitosis and cytokinesis) Observe populations and ecosystems, and perform air and water pollution tests Investigate genetics and inheritance Do hands-on microbiology, from simple culturing to micro-evolution of bacteria by forced selection Gain hands-on lab experience to prepare for the AP Biology exam Through their company, The Home Scientist, LLC (thehomescientist.com/biology), the authors also offer inexpensive custom kits that provide specialized equipment and supplies you’ll need to complete the experiments. Add a microscope and some common household items and you’re good to go.

Have you ever wondered whether the forensic science you’ve seen on TV is anything like the real thing? There’s no better way to find out than to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself. This full-color book offers advice for setting up an inexpensive home lab, and includes more than 50 hands-on lab sessions that deal with forensic science experiments in biology, chemistry, and physics. You’ll learn the practical skills and fundamental knowledge needed to pursue forensics as a lifelong hobby—or even a career. The forensic science procedures in this book are not merely educational, they’re the real deal. Each chapter includes one or more lab sessions devoted to a particular topic. You’ll find a complete list of equipment and chemicals you need for each session. Analyze soil, hair, and fibers Match glass and plastic specimens Develop latent fingerprints and reveal blood traces Conduct drug and toxicology tests Analyze gunshot and explosives residues Detect forgeries and fakes Analyze impressions, such as tool marks and footprints Match pollen and diatom samples Extract, isolate, and visualize DNA samples Through their company, The Home Scientist, LLC (thehomescientist.com/forensics), the authors also offer inexpensive custom kits that provide specialized equipment and supplies you’ll need to complete the experiments. Add a microscope and some common household items and you’re good to go.

This guide is a shopping companion for people who wish to build their own desktop computer. It helps you choose which parts are best for you by ensuring compatibility and performance. Features a component overview, valuable rules of thumb, and a quick-lookup reference chart with recommended brands and models

Fully updated and expanded, this is a comprehensive guide to buying, building, upgrading, troubleshooting and repairing Intel-based PCs. The wide range of topics should appeal to a broad audience.

A guide to building a custom PC provides information on planning the project, choosing the components, and constructing five different systems, including a mainstream PC and a home theater PC

Take the mystery out of installation and configuration with Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Communications Handbook. The text is an excellent guide to the variety of communications vehicles available in Windows NT Workstation. The book covers the use and integration of MS Exchange, FAX, and telephony features of the Internet, all major online services as well as company networks.

Most computer users think that fiddling with the insides of their PC is taboo. They fear that by removing the screws that hold the case on, they''re crossing into forbidden territory. And even for those who know they can open the box and fix or upgrade their PC, analysis paralysis often stops them in their tracks: Which upgrades offer the best bang for the buck? How do you pinpoint the faulty component that''s making your system freeze? What about compatibility issues? Get ready to get unstuck and get your PC running fast and running right. Repairing and Upgrading Your PC delivers start-to-finish instructions, simple enough for even the most inexperienced PC owner, for troubleshooting, repairing, and upgrading your computer. Written by hardware experts Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson, this book covers it all: how to troubleshoot a troublesome PC, how to identify which components make sense for an upgrade, and how to tear it all down and put it back together. 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 With its straightforward language, clear instructions, and extensive illustrations, this book makes it a breeze for PC owners of any skill level to work on their computer.

Sales of Windows NT have been growing steadily, partially at the expense of Novell NetWare. In response to this phenomenon, this new book from O''Reilly and Associates provides a fast-track means for experienced NetWare administrators to build on their knowledge and master the fundamentals of using Microsoft Windows NT Server. The broad coverage of many aspects of Windows NT Server is balanced by a tightly focused approach of comparison, contrast, and differentiation between NetWare and NT features and methodologies. The book is aimed directly at NetWare administrators who are thinking, "I know how to do this with NetWare; how do I do it with NT?" Topics covered inWindows NT Server 4.0 for NetWare Administratorsinclude: Windows NT network configuration (DHCP, WINS, DNS, and RAS) Disk configuration and administration User management and access control Print services Backup and restore Introduction to the NT Registry NetWare integration tools Mixed NetWare and NT server environments Table of Contents Introduction to Windows NT Server Introduction to Microsoft Networking Configuring Windows NT Server Networking Managing Disk Storage with Windows NT Server Managing Users and Groups Controlling Access to Volumes, Folders and Files Printing with Windows NT Server Backing Up Windows NT Server Working with the Windows NT Registry Monitoring and Optimizing Server Performance Understanding TCP/IP Using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Using Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) Using Domain Name Service (DNS) Using Remote Access Service (RAS) Microsoft Tools for NetWare Integration Building Clients for Mixed NetWare and Windows NT Server Environments Using Gateway Service for NetWare (GSNW) Using File and Print Services for NetWare (FPNW) Managing Servers in a Mixed NetWare and Windows NT Server Environment Migrating to a Pure Windows NT Server Environment Appendix A. Windows NT Server Resources Appendix B. Norton Utilities for Windows NT