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Computing: A Concise History (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

Computing: A Concise History (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

Bottom line: The Computing: A Concise History ($10.29 on Amazon as of 2026-10-20 22:29 UTC): Written by Paul E. Ceruzzi, a well-known historian of computing; main trade-off: A concise history means individual eras get limited depth.

$10.29

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By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For retro PC hardware and period-correct parts, synthesises manufacturer documentation, community compatibility lists and marketplace listings rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference.

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-20. Price and availability subject to change.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ Written by Paul E. Ceruzzi, a well-known historian of computing
  • ✓ Part of MIT Press Essential Knowledge, a series built for general readers
  • ✓ Short format covers the whole history of computing quickly
  • ✓ Gives retro PC hobbyists historical context for vintage hardware
  • ✓ Paperback format is light and easy to carry or keep on a workbench

Cons

  • ✗ A concise history means individual eras get limited depth
  • ✗ Not a technical repair or restoration manual for vintage machines
  • ✗ Listing gives no page count or edition details
  • ✗ May not cover the latest developments; check the publication date

Manufacturer description

Computing: A Concise History by Paul E. Ceruzzi is a paperback in The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series. It is a short, focused overview of how computing developed, written for readers who want the full arc of the story without working through a multi-volume reference set. If you collect retro PCs, restore vintage hardware, or just wonder how today's machines came to be, this book puts that history in context. It explains where the ideas came from, which developments mattered, and how one era of computing led to the next. Reading the history makes the hardware on your bench easier to…

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored Computing: A Concise History using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the retro reference & guides category. Paul E. Ceruzzi(Author)Format:Paperback's retro reference & guides lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for retro reference & guides of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote Computing: A Concise History?

Paul E. Ceruzzi wrote it. It is published in The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series.

Is this book good for beginners with no technical background?

Yes. The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series explains complex subjects to general readers, so you don't need a programming or engineering background to follow it.

Will this help me repair or restore a vintage computer?

Not directly. It is a history book, not a repair manual. It explains where vintage machines came from and why they matter, so pair it with model-specific service documentation for hands-on work.

What format is this edition?

This listing is the paperback edition. Check the product listing for page count, dimensions and any other available formats.

Does it cover the most recent developments in computing?

It is a concise historical overview, so very recent developments may not be covered. Check the publication date and edition on the product listing to see how current it is.

Full Specifications

BrandPaul E. Ceruzzi(Author)Format:Paperback

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Computing: A Concise History (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series) is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

Buy on Amazon — $10.29

*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-20. Price and availability subject to change.

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Computing: A Concise History (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)
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