Rating: 
Summary: Try something else if you have XP
Review: I was not impressed with the book. I did pick up a few small tips, however, it seemed that the author was a windows ME user and that is what most all of the book was written around. Very very little mention of windows XP. Wish the author and/or publisher had been more upfront and named the book "A little knowledge of Home Networking for Windows ME"...I would have known a bit more what to expect.
Rating: 
Summary: A Book that Doesn't Treat You Like a "Dummy" or an "Idiot"
Review: Lots of books explain how to network your home. David Strom's "Home Networking Survival Guide" is better. Here's why: Strom doesn't look down on you like you are a "dummy" or an "idiot." Unlike some other books, the tone in which Strom writes is never condescending, never preachy. It's just you and Dave, sittin' on the patio in the back yard, sippin' lemonade, watchin' the clouds float by, and having a good ol' talk about sharing PCs and Macs, files, printers, and that all important Internet connection. Dave puts his arm around your shoulder, says "come with me," and he shows you the way. He won't make you feel stupid. You've become his partner, not his lab experiment.
The chapters are concept-based: home wiring (or wireless) choices, sharing files, sharing printers, sharing an Internet connection, using e-mail, intrusion security, and protecting your family--from their own actions. Dave walks you through choosing and installing a solution, but he doesn't just dictate a list of steps to follow. He takes the time to explain why. Too many books just say 'do this' without educating the reader. What good is that? In summary, this book is like that blue blanket you had as a kid. It makes you feel secure and empowers you to conquer, well, home networking in this case. Next time your cable company or phone carrier says you can't have several computers on your cable or DSL connection, you'll know better. -Joel Shore, Reference Guide Inc.
Rating: 
Summary: for home use only
Review: THis book is only for home peer-to-peer networks that use a router or gateway type hub. If you are a SOHO or plan on using a server to do DHCP, NDS, etc. this book is NOT for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent instruction and refererence for home networking
Review: This is an excellent book for those who are new to setting up LANs in their homes. It covers all of the essentials and many of the advanced issues thoroughly and in an educational manner. A good companion to this book (not a substitute) is Michael Wolf's "Speed! Understanding and Installing Home Networks". If you get both of these books you will be very well informed, able to install your own home LAN, share the internet, etc. Very readable, very useful, and very complete.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent instruction and refererence for home networking
Review: This is an excellent book for those who are new to setting up LANs in their homes. It covers all of the essentials and many of the advanced issues thoroughly and in an educational manner. A good companion to this book (not a substitute) is Michael Wolf's "Speed! Understanding and Installing Home Networks". If you get both of these books you will be very well informed, able to install your own home LAN, share the internet, etc. Very readable, very useful, and very complete.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing coverage of topics
Review: Thought this book would be perfect A-Z reference for my home-networking needs, but alas, coverage of key topics was disappointing. Details and comparisons of networking protocols was scant. A common file sharing error, which i frequently experience was not covered at all (Windows File Error: 1026). Also this book recommends Norton AntiVirus, one of the most disappointing and buggy AV applications i have tried. I found "Sams Teach Yourself Windows Networking in 24 Hours" to be much more informative for my needs (at a lower price).
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing coverage of topics
Review: Thought this book would be perfect A-Z reference for my home-networking needs, but alas, coverage of key topics was disappointing. Details and comparisons of networking protocols was scant. A common file sharing error, which i frequently experience was not covered at all (Windows File Error: 1026). Also this book recommends Norton AntiVirus, one of the most disappointing and buggy AV applications i have tried. I found "Sams Teach Yourself Windows Networking in 24 Hours" to be much more informative for my needs (at a lower price).
Rating:
Summary: Much more than a Survival Guide
Review: Two weeks ago I ordered a DSL/Cable router to network our current two PCs at home, knowing I absolutely had to find some way of sharing the DSL connection to the internet. Last week, I successfully installed the router and started to enjoy the benefits of sharing the fast internet connection. But the network cables were simply strung from the router to the laptop computer temporarily set up in the next room. My challenge this week: to complete the network and enable each computer to see/use files on the other PC and/or to share the laser printer. Unfortunately, the installation guide for the router was useless. And the Dummy/Idiot guides seemed only slightly better. Unlike some other reviewers, I don't know David Strom, but I feel he must know me, or at least he knows what it feels like to be well (over?) educated but very confused by the challenge of wiring together and configuring each PC to complete a basic home network. Strom's approach was perfect: my first scan of the book lead me to three specific sections I needed to read to understand the basics and some of the pitfalls I was likely to encounter. I bought the book, finished intalling the network cable, then used Strom's book to troubleshoot problems on each computer. Strom's Survival Guide fully covers several different methods for "wiring" (phoneline, ethernet cables, wireless, mixed PC/Mac environments); configuration/troubleshooting for various flavors of Windows + Mac OS; recommendations on the best equipment to use to share a DSL/cable modem connection to the internet; troubleshooting tips to fix 22+ Windows Network Problems; and more. There were answers to all my questions and helpful tips at every step along the way. Along the way it felt like I was in touch with a very understanding and very thorough help desk (unlike the "hurt" desk I am forced to rely on at the office).
Rating:
Summary: the one and only book i'll buy on home networking
Review: what i really like about this book is the fact that it covers the gamut from wiring, to configuration, to parental controls, with tips from a lot of third parties. i'll confess: i know david strom and i have his phone number. so, whenever i go to install a new piece of equipment, i call strom and ask why it's not working. "can't get the windows ce thing to work with the wireless lan?" i say. "turn off encryption and try again" he says. "my isp is acting flakey, who should i switch to?" i say. "go to this url" he says. imagine my surprise when i found this book and found all of my questions and his answers in them. using this book is really going to cut down on my long distance bill! besides you have to love a book with a section called "Threats from Microsoft Office Users".
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