Hardware Hacking

Blaine Hilton writes "Hardware Hacking starts by going over the basics of electronics, just enough so you can understand what is happening later in the book. This gentle beginning means the book is great for people who work with computers on the software side, or people who like to play with electronics. You do not need to be an electrical engineer to understand what they are talking about in this book. As the title suggests, the authors walk you through different methods and processes of modifying common hardware." Read on for the rest of Hilton's review of Hardware Hacking. Hardware Hacking author Joe Grand, Ryan Russell and Kevin Mitnick pages 537 publisher Syngress rating 8 reviewer Blaine Hilton ISBN 1932266836 summary Walks anyone through the process of modifying common electronic hardware.

The authors' explanations of many of the terms and concepts used in the book are very good. For example, the description of "power" on page 20 is the best description of the term that I've ever heard or read. From first-hand experience trying to explain this concept to others I wish I'd known such a lucid explanation -- it explained the concept much better than longer, dryer text would have.

Another positive point to this book is the pace and order of the book. It starts with part one, which is an overview of working with hardware; part two is a collection of hacks that one can do on different devices. If, like me, you never really did any thing with the Atari, you could skip those chapters and still proceed with the book. This book is easy to carry because there the authors frequently provide directions to other resources rather than trying to cram everything into this one book.

Like I said, I'm not too interested in Atari hacking, but the idea presented in this book (in an Atari-centric context) for a standard power connector is good for other things too. This is one of the biggest strengths of this book: The examples themselves are highly specific, but the thinking behind them can easily be generalized.

The first part of the book briefly explores tools that are going to be used later in the hacks and how to use them. However I found it a bit odd that the authors tell you to use a heat gun and heat-shrink tubing, but do not list these items in the tools section.

The fun really begins in part two with the actual hardware hacking. I have never really done anything with hardware before. It seems like whenever I took something apart I could never get it back again, and that those times that I did get something back it would never quite work as it should again. Those experiences have taught me to not mess with things I shouldn't and, this is why I think it's great that part two begins with the ubiquitous and cheap CueCat. I had a couple of these lying around and didn't really care about them so I jumped right in, following the many clear explanatory photos.

Starting with something like this gave me the confidence that I can take stuff apart, and if I'm careful, it will go back again.

The order of chapters seemed a bit odd in part two, though. A book must be arranged in some type of order, and my gut feeling is that it should be by order of difficulty. The second part started off great, going over tools and then the CueCat, but then it seems like the chapters that follow are tossed in at random. This could be from my lack of hardware experience, or that the chapters were designed to be random. This fact really didn't distract from anything though. Just don't expect a linear progression.

I was able to appreciate the integration between the hardware and the software. Hardware Hacking also goes over the software side of the hardware involved.

One of the areas I wish they had given more attention to was in the chapter on the Macintosh where they are hacking a CRT monitor. I believe that the safety warning should probably be a bit bolder, especially considering the earlier, prominent advice about static energy and grounding.

The authors have used part three as a technical reference, including some frank talk about Linux vs. Windows in chapter six. Sure, many people like Linux better, however you have to take into consideration who will be using the system. In a system the whole family uses, it has to be user-friendly enough for the whole family to use.

If changing hardware to better suit your needs sounds like something you would like to try, but you don't know how and are worried about what might happen, then this book may just be able to convince you go for it, along with enough information to make your next warranty-voiding attempt a success.

You can purchase Hardware Hacking from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.

Comments

Sample Chapter

[ryanr]

Sample chapter here if you're interested (.pdf). That's Joe's intro chapter. I did the HTPC chapter (the Linux vs. Windows Chapter 6 mentioned.) :)

Re:Book Breakthough?

[Mateito]

> God help us when books start at part two.

Or when movies start at Part IV.

Mitnick

[vasqzr]

I seen his name, instinctivley picked the book up, and read a few chapters, spent nearly an hour leaned up against the shelf and Barnes and Noble. I guess they have chairs there for a reason...

It's a pretty good read, but it's not quite for the 'Tech TV' crowd, it's actually kind of advanced and detailed.

How about wetware hacking?

[linzeal]

Personally I think the far more interesting engineering that geeks forget to study is the human one. As we have evolved larger brains most humans have neglected to study some of the proposed methods one can learn to change it with. Besides the obvious future augmentation with nanotechnology or its ilk we have a scant few that have pondered its intracies. Most of them are flakes, all of them are partially 'out there' but maybe you have been a little 'out there' to get 'in here'.

Hardware hacking of all kinds is cool, but as I more intimately familiar with mechanical engineering and know that I have to take electrical engineering courses beginning next year perhaps this book will help. Can anyone second the review?

This book is a walking DMCA violater's manual!

[Anonymous Coward]

I had to take a shower after handling this book at my friendly Bookstar, so dirty I felt just from reading these recipes for being an ILLEGAL COPYRIGHT and PATENT violating criminal! I see nothing but wicked intructions on violating the legally and rightly conferred DMCA rights of the benevolent corporations of this country. I will be referring this unholy tome to the proper authorities so that this matter is handled promptly.

Thanks for all the comments!

[joespandex]

Thanks to Blaine for the no-nonsense review. It's nice to hear people's thoughts without being sugar-coated.

For what it's worth, the full title of the book is "Hardware Hacking: Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty".

As for the real mindset of a (hardware) hacker, true, that cannot be taught. But, it doesn't mean that more mainstream readers are not curious about tinkering with hardware. Getting people to think outside of what they are normally taught is the important thing and hopefully they'll benefit from the book.

I wanted to try and include something for everybody in this book. So, the introductory EE, coding, and OS chapters are for people who might not have a sense of those things (to tell you the truth, I use the EE chapter, which I wrote, as a reference guide all the time). The hacks range from easy (changing the LED in a Macintosh mouse or Atari 7800 Power indicator) to complex (Marcus Brown's Playstation 2 Independence Day hack). And, there's a wide range of hardware to play with, too.

I'd like to think there is something for everyone (well, almost everyone). You don't have to have extreme hardware skills or have an engineering degree to enjoy the book and rip your products apart. The worst you can do is break something, but that's part of the fun! :)

Joe

PS - PDFs of the TOC, Foreword, and Introduction can be found here.

Re:Good review - NOT

[Anonymous Coward]

Table of Contents

Mental image

[computational super]

... hacking a CRT monitor. I believe that the safety warning should probably be a bit bolder, especially considering the earlier, prominent advice about static energy and grounding.

I suddenly have this mental image of Wile E. Coyote standing over an open monitor, covered in black soot, smoke swirling off of his head...