Rating:  Summary: Best ATM book I've seen, or read. Review: Ms. Pildush both loves ATM, and believes in it. However, she is also a realist, and clearly aware of how well positioned ATM's competitors are. I found this highly technical book hard to put down, because it articulated a viewpoint. In an understated and very professional way she makes a strong case for ATM vs. Gigabit Ethernet, and ATM vs. IP over Sonet.Still, there were a couple of minor disappointments. Firstly, I didn't get a clear picture of the physical network landscape. I would like someone to draw a map--either a nationwide or global map--that lays out existing wide area networks (ATM, Frame Relay, etc.), and clearly shows what their role is. Secondly, although she does say she prefers ATM as the protocol for DSL, there's almost no discussion of DSL. If ATM becomes the protocol of choice for ADSL, and Ethernet for cable modems, wouldn't the total amount of data strongly affect the overall competition? There's discussion of enumerable routers (why am I not surprised?), and many details (standards, layered architectures, etc.), but even with all the detail, the material seems effortlessly presented, and is easily understood. On balance, a fine job.
Rating:  Summary: Best ATM book I've seen, or read. Review: Ms. Pildush both loves ATM, and believes in it. However, she is also a realist, and clearly aware of how well positioned ATM's competitors are. I found this highly technical book hard to put down, because it articulated a viewpoint. In an understated and very professional way she makes a strong case for ATM vs. Gigabit Ethernet, and ATM vs. IP over Sonet. Still, there were a couple of minor disappointments. Firstly, I didn't get a clear picture of the physical network landscape. I would like someone to draw a map--either a nationwide or global map--that lays out existing wide area networks (ATM, Frame Relay, etc.), and clearly shows what their role is. Secondly, although she does say she prefers ATM as the protocol for DSL, there's almost no discussion of DSL. If ATM becomes the protocol of choice for ADSL, and Ethernet for cable modems, wouldn't the total amount of data strongly affect the overall competition? There's discussion of enumerable routers (why am I not surprised?), and many details (standards, layered architectures, etc.), but even with all the detail, the material seems effortlessly presented, and is easily understood. On balance, a fine job.
Rating:  Summary: Almost there !! Review: Nicely written & very informative.Though I was left with a lot of knowledge of the terms / build up of ATM ... I just did not get a real good enough 'grip' on this subject by reading this book !! Considering the reviews that this book already has from other readers, I'm sure I must be just the exception !!
Rating:  Summary: Almost there !! Review: Nicely written & very informative.Though I was left with a lot of knowledge of the terms / build up of ATM ... I just did not get a real good enough 'grip' on this subject by reading this book !! Considering the reviews that this book already has from other readers, I'm sure I must be just the exception !!
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