Digital Computer Electronics

Rating:
Summary: Great, GREAT book on computer architecture!!
Review: Have you ever wondered whether you could actually build your own computer, and by that I mean actually design your own processor and program the microcode? If so, then this is the book for you. I recommend it wholeheartedly to any computer scientist, physicist or anyone else who wishes to learn about computer architecture and the secret to actually designing and building a basic CPU. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't tell you how to build a Pentium processor! But before you do that, you have to understand binary numbers, logic gates, full-adders, registers, ALU's, stacks, microcode etc. etc. and then get to understand the fundamental essentials of a CPU. Malvino does this beautifully by taking your hand right from the beginning at binary numbers and culminates by explaining the design of three 'simple as possible' (SAP) processor architectures of increasing complexity. By the end of it, you will feel ready to actually go out, buy a whole bunch of logic gates, EPROMs and RAM and build your own very basic 8 or 16 bit processor!! I have already started desigining my own 16 bit CPU (inspired by some clever guys I found on the net, see "Bill's" webpage www.homebrewcpu.com), and hope to actually complete construction next year.

After reading this book you will then be ready to read the numerous more advanced texts on modern computer architecture, that will take you through the unimaginable intricacies of Pentium-like processors. But the Pentium, SPARC etc is just a much more HIGHLY engineered version of what you're going to learn about by reading this book!

A note about Malvino's style. Suits me just fine! He makes it clear from the outset that anyone in the world can understand ANYTHING in the domain of human knowledge, as long as you start from exactly what he/she already knows and build up their knowledge step by step from there. This is the approach he takes in this book, an immensely accessible and educational one. I gave this book to my father to read, and he knows NOTHING about binary numbers, logic gates or computers at all. He's just finished chapter 2 and already he's showing off to the staff in operating theatre (he's a surgeon) about how he can convert any number they give him into binary!

I bought this book originally because part of my research work involves designing nanoprocessor architectures, and I felt there were some huge gaps in my knowledge that needed correction (my training is as a physicist). This book has filled that gap, and even inspired me to build my own early 1980's processor as a side project! Don't be put off by the age of this book (it is 27 years old, as old as me!), most of what it describes is timeless. For the physicist with an interest in computation I would suggest reading this book together with the Feynman Lectures on Computation (Feynman, Hey), Feynman and Computation (Hey), Biophysics of Computation (Koch), Quantum Computation and Quantum Information (Nielsen and Chuang), Introduction to Quantum Computation and Information (Lo, Popescu, Miller), The Physics of Information Technology (Gershenfeld), Elements of Information Theory (Cover & Thomas), Maxwell's Demon 2 (Leff and Rex) etc.

This book is also a great introduction if you want to just learn digital electronics. Don't be too concerned about whether to get the first edition or second, save some money and buy the first one. You'll be just as happy with it!

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book for building concept
Review: I read this book back in 80's while doing my bachelor in electronics engineering.
This book gave me a solid understanding of the heart and sole of a computer.
Later I used this book for my lectures at various levels. A must have book for every one who wants a real foundation in computer science career.

Rating:
Summary: digital computer electronics
Review: I want a copy of this reviewer, addressing modes, editor and compiler by Albert Paul Malvino

Rating:
Summary: digital computer electronics
Review: I want a copy of this reviewer, addressing modes, editor and compiler by Albert Paul Malvino

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding text
Review: I'm not sure if this is a later edition of the book I used or not 20 years ago, because it was just titled Digital Electronics back them. But if it is, and it's as good as the original edition, it was probably the best introduction to the subject I'd ever read. Clear and concise explanations of basic principles and digital circuit components made this a valuable reference and study book for me. In fact, as a result of reading this book on my own, I was able to test out of the introductory digital circuits class at my college and get into the second semester class. The book was a standard textbook for years at the colleges near my home, and it has taught thousands of electronic hobbyists, technicians, and engineers over the last 20 years this important field of electronics. Truly a great classic by an outstanding teacher.

Rating:
Summary: Digital Computer Electronics
Review: In general the approach of this book is definitely a good one for a beginner as well as a student well versed on the subject.
The material covered in this book does require one to put the "full" effort forward, but with great effect. The only negative
part of the book is that the SAP-2 model is not done correctly. Other then this, the book is great for learning digital logic.

Rating:
Summary: Digital Computer Electronics
Review: In general the approach of this book is definitely a good one for a beginner as well as a student well versed on the subject.
The material covered in this book does require one to put the "full" effort forward, but with great effect. The only negative
part of the book is that the SAP-2 model is not done correctly. Other then this, the book is great for learning digital logic.

Rating:
Summary: Digital Computer Electronics
Review: In general the approach of this book is definitely a good one for a beginner as well as a student well versed on the subject.
The material covered in this book does require one to put the "full" effort forward, but with great effect. The only negative
part of the book is that the SAP-2 model is not done correctly. Other then this, the book is great for learning digital logic.

Rating:
Summary: Good start for non-engineering students
Review: This book provides a good start point to study computer hardwares for people at any levels, including those who don't have engineering background. It is easy to read and understand the contents. I like this book.

Rating:
Summary: Dated, but still better than all the rest
Review: This is hands-down the best introduction to the principles of digital electronics that I have ever read. With clear, concise explanations, I have used it as a self-teaching aid when I was first learning about digital logic as well as a source of material for my classes. The basic educational model is the example/solution and there is a self-testing review and problems at the end of each chapter. Solutions to the odd problems are included in an appendix.
While the hardware used in the exercises is very dated, that does not detract from the main point of the book, which is to teach the principles of digital logic. I still use it as a major reference when I teach those principles in an upper level course in computer structure.