1 comments about Dynamics: Analysis and Design of Systems in Motion.

1. very difficult to follow.
   The examples are easy enough to follow, but the homework is difficult.
   Not having the answers in the back of the book, also makes it difficult.
   
   There are answers online, but to selected problems only, and they are not always right.

No comments about Introducing AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009.

5 comments about Analysis of Transport Phenomena (Topics in Chemical Engineering).

1. This book would be better if the author didnt have a tendancy to leave steps out of most his examples. Problems at the end of the chapters can be really difficult. I highly suggest using another book, or atleast having a good undergraduate text to supplement this one.



2. This book is well organized, well detailed, and well articulated. The lessons are useful and the text approachable for an academic work. I've read / had to use many other textbooks in my pursuit of a chemical engineering education and this is the best. I give it a whole-hearted recommendation for any serious student.



3. I got so involved with this book that I virtually wrote notes on every single page. The amount of useful information in this book has exceeded the tolerance the binding has for my handling. And I even took good care of it too! After my organic chemistry text, I'd say that I spent more time with this book than any other on my shelf.



4. This book, so far, is well organized and provides a most excellent approach to transport phenomena. The author evidently has a deep understanding of the topic.
   
   On the negative side, this book could do with some revising. Example problems should have a better "ansatz," that is, a more clearly-defined starting point for the analysis of problems in transport (i.e. should we consider balance and constitutive equations simultaneous at the start of every problem?). When working out Example problems, equations throughout the chapter do not seem to be invoked in any order, so it can be hard to follow the author's train of thought. Another problem which cost me a couple hours of hard "figuring" was trying to determine the motivation for stating "C[A]" as evaluated at "L" (see p. 51-52). To summarize, much of the student's understanding of the subject is taken for granted (perhaps to be expected, since this is a graduate-level text on the subject).
   
   I agree with the review that says this book would be invaluable for research and obtaining a deep understanding of transport phenomena. This book would be perfect if the basic principles of transport phenomena were repeatedly touched upon (one example is the the equations on p. 4, which are mentioned once and used without citation or warning in several examples) for the first few chapters (and THEN steps could be skipped and the reader's knowledge can be taken for granted). Then, anyone with enough mathematical aptitude could obtain a very deep understanding of transport phenomena by reading this book.



5. Very good graduate level text. Not an introductory text. Like some of the other reviews say, the author does not spend much time with the basics, however if that is what you are after, look at B-S-L Transport Phenomena.

1 comments about Facility Managers Maintenance Handbook.

1. Great reference book. contains good information which can be used on a daily basis. Anyone in the facility management business should have a copy on their desk.

No comments about The Pipe Fabricators Blue Book.

5 comments about The Image Processing Handbook, Fifth Edition (Image Processing Handbook).

1. As others have stated, this book comes as close as you'll ever get to a single-source reference on image processing. But if I were ever going to shoot anything down in it, I'd say that a little more mathematical background on some topics (and maybe pseudocoded examples) would help. For example, in the satellite geometric correction section, only a very high level view is given yet this is a challenging topic that could use more depth. Geometric transformations in general could use more depth, e.g. camera calibrations or image warping/morphing/mapping to other projections for example. Another example would be the need for a little more depth on how to make slow algorithms fast ...like convolution multiplications for example. Sure, you could write out the multiplies and spot commonalities, then re-use results that appear in more than one subsequent equation and what not, but some exploration of matrix math and how to make it efficient would be nice. But again ...I'm picking at small things here, and if John's book covered everything that I'd like it to, then it would become 2 books, not one ...hey! Now THERE's an idea! A 2+ book set by John Russ that covers a broader range of topics and does so in greater depth! That's something that I'd pay for (and much better to read than Ballard & Brown)



2. This, the fifth edition of this industry standard reference book on image processing has been significantly expanded. There are some 600 new and revised images. A major feature of the new edition is to describe the new advances that have come about in hardware for image capture and printing. This includes both new versions of traditional equipment and new emerging technologies. The text has been expanded in areas like deconvolution, extended-dynamic-range images and multichannel imaging including principal-components analysis.
   
   In general this book does not cover the background mathematics that enables image processing. Those are left to specialty books on the subject. Instead this book is intended to be used in conjunction with hands-on equipment where the reader is encouraged to experiment with different methods to determine what is needed for the particular job.
   
   While suitable for use as a text, this book is really a handbook for technical users. The book is more oriented to what the various tools availavle to help actually do.



3. John Russ' book on image processing was never intended to be a textbook on how to understand and write your own image processing algorithms, as you might believe by looking through the table of contents. It does cover just about everything you would see in such a textbook, but from a user's standpoint of these operations, not as an author of image processing code who needs to understand the algorithms behind these operations. Instead, Russ explains all of the operations, their value in various applications, and provides many illustrations showing before and after pictures of what each operation does. There are no algorithms, pseudocode, or mathematics in this book.
   
   The jewel in the crown of this book is the companion CD. It contains over 200 Photoshop plug-ins for performing the operations mentioned in this book. These plug-ins work on 8-bit grayscale and 24 bit RGB images and are divided into the categories of image adjustment, color manipulation, image math, boolean operations, Fourier processing, morphological operations, neighborhood processing, distance-map operations, thresholding, feature measurement, calibration, stereology, and surface rendering. The bad news is that you have to obtain the CD separately. If you need to understand the detailed mathematics behind such operations, you might consult Digital Image Processing by Gonzalez and Woods, and then come back to this book for the tools to accomplish the operations explained in that book. The updates to this fifth edition include an additional chapter on human vision and how it ties into image processing. Also, the author has updated his sections on image acquisition hardware and software to describe the latest tools available. Finally, the topic of tomographic imaging has been expanded and given its own chapter and the chapter on 3-D image acquisition has been deleted.
   
   This is an excellent book on image processing from a systems engineering and user standpoint. You will be disappointed if you expect to learn the algorithms behind the techniques demonstrated in this book.



4. Image processing is used to improve the visual appearance and transmission of images to a the human eye. It also concerns the preparation of images with respect to measuring an image's features and structures. Now in a newly updated and significantly expanded fifth edition, "The Image Processing Handbook" by academician John C. Russ (Materials Science and Engineering Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina) "The Image Processing Handbook" features an informative chapter explaining which visual cues elicit a response from the viewer; descriptions of the latest hardware and software for image acquisition and printing including digital cameras; multichannel images and an analysis of their principle components; the issues of deconvolution, extended dynamic range images, and image enlargement and interpolation, and so much more. Enhanced with more than 2000 illustrations, and with the availability of a companion CD-ROM, "The Image Processing Handbook" is a seminal and essential addition to professional and academic library Computer Science and Electrical Engineering reference collections.



5. I am a biologist with a little background in math. Using this book and matlab I could quickly implement basic feature recognition tools to analyze microscope images. The book focuses on concepts and explains them in intuitive language rather than in mathematical terms. Overall, it worked perfectly for me, but could be over-simplying for people with technical background.

4 comments about Programming Microsoft® Robotics Studio.

1. This book is a good start but I can't wait for the next edition (if there is one). The author attempted too much coverage for the limited number of pages (a little over 200). I have completed all of the Microsoft Tutorials for MSRS and this book is a refreshing change. The author begins with coverage of SERVICES and does not include any illustrations. Microsoft Tutorials and Powerpoint presentations have several great illustrations on SERVICES. Also, the coverage of SERVICES is completed in an orderly manner but not in the same order used in the coding chapters (chapters 5 and later). There are the expected typos, as you expect in a new book. A couple can cause frustration until you figure out what happened.
   
   I will say that MSRS books are very much needed. While MSRS is not a huge software product, it contains several new concepts for many programmers. I have a background in C, C++, C#, and VB. MSRS is best when using C#.
   
   In summary:
   1. I would have liked to have had a thicker book (like the one coming out in June from other authors.
   2. The author of this book made the decision to only do superficial coverage of MSRS subjects such as Simulation and VPL which I believe will be used quite a bit in academic enviorments and more everywhere in the future. The VPL feature of C# code generation is important and deserved move attention.
   3. The author's style of writing is great and very readable. I wish her well and look forward to a 2nd edition.



2. I bought the book because I thought the MSRS tutorials weren't descriptive enough. I was looking for a organized and detailed guide to start using MSRS. This book turned to be useless, it's continuously referencing the tutorials and it does not provide any addiditional information. It uses profusely links to explain things... the author did not realize the the book was going to be printed on paper, so readers could not open those links and would not go to their PCs to hardcode the links in the browser...
   
   There is lack of illustrations and diagrams.
   
   Sometimes I thought that the writer had never used MSRS... and simply,she cut and pasted sentences from the internet to come up with a book...



3. This book is not very helpful for someone trying to learn MRDS. You would be better off sticking to the tutorials on the MS website. There is very little detail about how to actually get started writing robotics software. The best I can say about it is it references other interesting projects. I wonder if this author is actually a MRDS developer because if she was she would have gone into much more detail about the nuts and bolts of MRDS.



4. This book, much like Professional Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio (Wrox Programmer to Programmer), gives good examples, but only for what is explained. If you are interested in doing something like converting hardware robotics applications to simulations, then this is NOT the book for you. Also, to do the examples, you would require to have the robots, and each chapter makes use of a different robot.
   
   If you are only interested in the hardware and not the simulation, then this book is excellent. However simulations (one of the KEY features in MSRS-MRDS) is sorely missed. Especially in conversion between hardware and simulation projects.

5 comments about Two-Stroke Performance Tuning.

1. This book is fantastic. It explains the intracacies of 2T tuning from the basics to the finer points. This is a great reference full of formulas and tips that can be used while building up a motor.



2. this is a revised version of his fist book very detailed with tons of pics and drawing great for dirt bikes and go carts i have used it to modifiy my moped. a must have for the super tuner of tinkerer.



3. I just finished reading the complete book and was amazed at the level of detail and mathematical formulas provided to caluclate just about every aspect of 2-stroke performance.
   
   The book is written more for the racer than the home tinkerer but there are many hints and techniques provided that will help the hobbist to increase reliability and performance of any 2-stroke motor.
   
   I strongly recommend adding this book to your knowledge base.



4. This is the best book you can buy on 2 stroke tuning. I have read it 3 times to try and assimilate all the information. If you want to modify a 2 stroke engine, this is the best starting point you can get. Well written, easy to follow and very practical. I have many other tuning books, but this is by far the best. Has up to date information and well worth the money.



5. It's the 21st. century and two stoke engines are a thing of the past. In the near future they will be OUTLAWED!
   
   But until then. . .
   This is an outstanding book for information on 2 stroke air cooled engines. There are plenty of diagrams, charts, and B&W photos that help to explain the text. I am very happy that I got this book for my tech-library before it went out of print. Lots of good tips for people trying to get an extra 10 or 20 MPH out of their old moped or scooter!

4 comments about The HCS12/9S12: An Introduction to Hardware and Software Interfacing.

1. I'm an Electrical Enigineering student and do a lot of work with the Freescale MC9S12 family of 16-bit microcontrollers. After using just about every other book on the market for the HC(S)12 family, I can honestly say that this one is the best - by far. It's definitely the only one you will need on your desk if you work with these chips. The thing that makes it so useful is the wealth of code included in the text - both in assembly and C. Most books on the topic just include assembly, which is a fine place to start, but most of my work is done in C. So having the addition of the extra language is a huge selling point for me. And this book is for JUST the S12 family; it doesn't try to confuse things by adding the older HC12 family. The author includes code for everything that he goes over; and not just one or two snippets, there are many full examples for each of the topics covered. The author thoroughly discusses all of the hardware aboard the S12. It's like he takes the Freescale User Guides, interprets them into a form that's very easy to understand, and then gives you the code, both in assembly and C, to perform the task that was just explained. The author chose to use AsmIDE, MiniIDE, and GNU C for the code in the book. These software tools are freeware which makes the book more appealing to students or those without high-dollar development tools. In addition, they're included in the CD that comes with the book, and since they are freeware IDE's, they have no memory size restriction like the tools included with many other book CD's. Also, a plethora of practical applications are presented such as interfacing the S12 with stepper and DC motors, Servos, keypads, LCD's, external memory and much more. It also explains how to program the onboard Flash memory using both the resident booloader and a BDM. No other book that I have found even comes close to presenting just these two topics as well as Dr. Huang does. Before I had this book, I spent weeks trying to figure out Flash programming and Interrupts. This book makes it simple. Also, if you're just starting out and not familiar with a programming language, this book begins at the ground level introducing assembly and C. Basically, this is THE textbook on how to make the HCS12 microcontroller work. I use mine constantly and all of my other books just sit on the shelf - honestly. Come to think of it, the copy I have isn't even mine but my professor's :) To sum it up, I love this book because it's completely up-to-date, easy to use, and applicable to actual applications that one is likely use with the HCS12. You can tell that Dr. Huang actually uses the S12 and knows what he's talking about; not just a professor writing a text for an academic audience. This book is completely thorough and made to be used in the field. Money well invested! Thank-you Dr. Huang for such a great book!



2. Let me state that I'm a rank novice to microcontroller programming and embedded systems. This book seemed quite comprehensive, going as far as recommending demo boards and compilers to run the examples in. There were a few errors (i.e. Chapter 14, table 1 and figure 1 are the same) but the code all seemed to compile and run ok and the CD provided all of the source code for both assembly and C. All in all this book covered pretty much everything I wanted it to and would recommend it for any student looking to use the new HC9S12 family of microprocessors.



3. Fantastic reference.
   Great examples in asm and "C".
   Good explainations.
   A must have if you are using this family of MCU's.
   Covers tools as well.



4. I always seem to find the right book at the at the right price at amazon. This time was no exception. I went with amazon because of the free shipping and it arrived in a timely manner. I was not disappointed. The book arrived in described condition, and I hope to get my moneys worth out of it. Thanks Amazon.

5 comments about Fuel Cell Systems Explained (Second Edition).

1. This book is a must read for anyone wanting to get into the fuel cell industry. I am a graduate researcher at a fuel cell lab and after borrowing my copy several colleagues have purchased their own. It gives a complete survey of the major fuel cell technologies and additionally covers many of related issue effecting fuel cell commercialization such as fuel storage. This text is very suited for a undergraduate course in fuel cells.



2. When I read this book, I read it to find out and explore this new idea of fuel cells. I was amazed by how it told me all of its benfits and how much more efficient the fuel cell powered cars truly are, and how much more environmentally friendly they are. This book explained the enitre concept of fuel cells to me, without confusing me. It explained every new term and if there is anyone who is interested in fuel cells, tis is definitely the book to read!



3. Fuel cells is a very difficult topic to write about because of the interdisciplinary nature of the subject. I am using the book to learn about Fuel Cells myself and my feelings are mixed. While this book is an excellent starting point, there are some over simplifications and errors. As a Mechanical engineer, some descriptions in the text made me cringe. Watch out for errors in some equations.
   
   Excellent resource for someone with a technical background and general interest in fuel cells. For more serious users, recommend using in conjunction with maybe the DOE fuel cell handbook available from NETL or from OSTI.GOV



4. This book is extremely well written. I am a scientist and wanted to learn about Fuel Cells and chose this book. It gives you everything you need to know starting with an assumption that you dont knoe anything! i.e. starts from basics and brings you up to speed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Fuel Cells. The level of minimum education required to comprehend this book is around sophomore-junior. Enjoy learning fuel cells!



5. This book is extremely well written. I am a scientist and wanted to learn about Fuel Cells and chose this book. It gives you everything you need to know starting with an assumption that you dont knoe anything! i.e. starts from basics and brings you up to speed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Fuel Cells. The level of minimum education required to comprehend this book is around sophomore-junior. Enjoy learning fuel cells!