Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/book.reviews/internet.book-comer

Text File | 1995-01-02 | 3.7 KB | 77 lines

From: Rob Slade <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 1994 06:27:49 MDT
Subject: Book Review: "The Internet Book" by Comer


I hope I'm not releasing this *too* far in advance.  I haven't yet
seen the final copy of this book, but I find it to be a very interesting
and valuable work, and it has come to the top of the pile, so:

BKINTBOK.RVW  940408

Prentice Hall
113 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, NJ   07632
[phone]  FAX [phone]
[e-mail] Alan Apt
Beth Mullen-Hespe [e-mail]
"The Internet Book:  Everything You Need to Know About Computer Networking and
How the Internet Works", Comer, (forthcoming)
[e-mail]

It is difficult to find books which give some background to the
Internet.  Most guides assume that readers are either already
thoroughly familiar with computer communications, or are uninterested.
The history of the Internet often vaguely mentions military or
government projects without giving much idea of the problems which
needed solving.  Given the growth in computer networking, a reference
is needed which lies between non-explanations ("This computer is
connected to that computer and they talk to each other.") and the
TCP/IP programming manuals.

This book fills a lot of those gaps.  After an initial introduction to
the current state of the Internet, chapters two through six give a
very simple introduction to data communications and the need therefor.
Those who have any kind of technical background may find the
explanations a touch simplistic.  With such rapid Internet growth,
however, and for those who need some level of explanation without
getting beyond their technical depth, this is likely to be very
useful.  It's easily readable.  (It's also accurate.)  Chapters seven
to ten explain the drive for, and growth of, the Internet including
excellent explanations of "why".  The basic underlying concepts of the
Internet protocols are covered in chapters eleven to seventeen, before
the remaining nine chapters describe the primary application level
tools of the system.

(Actually, I'm jumping the gun a bit here.  I've seen two drafts of
the book, but the final version isn't done yet.  The drafts I've seen
have had some problems, particularly in regard to repetition of
material and significant variation in reading level from ome section
to another.  A section addressing the concept of bandwidth,
particularly as applied to text versus sound versus video application
might also be helpful.  The explanation of the tools of the Internet
is quite reasonable, although mailing lists get dismissed very briefly
while Usenet news gets perhaps a trifle more ink than it really
deserves.  The latest version, though, shows improvement in many of
these areas, and I have great hopes for the final work.)

The problems notwithstanding, this is an important addition to the
library of Internet references.  I heartily recommend it to those
involved in network training.  To date, the primary source material
for the study of the development of the Internet, aside from the RFCs
themselves, has been the "Internet System Handbook" (cf BKINTSYS.RVW),
but it tends to be written at a technical or academic level.  For
those at the non-technical level who are wondering what the heck the
Internet is (and one of Comer's anecdotes points out the hilarious
misconceptions that are abroad), and what it all means, this is your
book.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994   BKINTBOK.RVW  940408. Distribution
permitted in TELECOM Digest and associated newsgroups/mailing lists.

DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters
Editor and/or reviewer [e-mail], [e-mail], Rob Slade at 1:153/733
DECUS Symposium '95, Toronto, ON, February 13-17, 1995, contact: [e-mail]