Essential Guide to Networking, The

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Well Done
Review: I always found computer networking mystifying in the way it can transport my words around the world in a fraction of a second. I've read a lot of books on the subject, but this is the only one I found that clearly explains this process. The book is full of networking jargon, but that shouldn't scare you because each is explained in a way anyone can understand. He uses the highway metaphor, so if you understand how cars travel the highway then you'll easily relate to how words and pictures travel on a network. I recommend this book hands down.

Rating:
Summary: Better Than Networking For Dummies
Review: I'm a big fan of the Dummies series and never thought I'd find anything to compete with it except for the Idiot's Guides. I was wrong. I found this book covers the topic much better than the Dummies and Idiot's guides. The author writes in my kind of language - plain and simple so the average guy can understand. And the indepth coverage of the industry is a bonus. I really like the author's down to earth style of writing. This is a buy.

Rating:
Summary: Essential Guide to Networking Review
Review: I'm a college instructor. During the summer I was asked to teach a basic network course for the fall term designed for students who are beginning their networking studies. Books I used for my other networking courses were MCSE books that were too detailed for my students. Then I came across this book, which is perfect for my class. The material is detailed enough so students come away with a good understanding of the concepts, yet not too detailed to overwhlem them. This is a perfect blend - and the companion website to this book offers slides and test questions free. I highly recommend this book to any instructor - or any student.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect introduction to network techonogy and the industry
Review: I've taken a course that introduced me to computer networks and I wished the instructor used this book as the text. Not only does the author cover the basics, but his writing style and practical approach - including a few war stories - takes the pain out of such a dry subject. After reading this book I now know what happens after I call help desk whenever our network is down. This book also gave me a good picture of the networking industry, which helps me with my dabble in the stock market. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn how networks including how the Internet works.

Rating:
Summary: The best Yet
Review: If you're looking to pass the MCSE, then don't buy this book. But if you're like most of us who have to use networks and need a clear, easy to read tour of networking then I highly recommend this book. The author seems to have written this book for someone like me - who knows very little about how a computer network works. He begins by telling you how letters of your document get on the cable that connects your computer to the network. It all seems magical until you read this book. And he doesn't stop with technology. He also gives a play by play commentary on the network industry and the players. Must read for anyone who wants to know more about how your corporate network and the internet really works. After reading this, I feel I can give our whiz kids in IT a run for there money.

Rating:
Summary: Balanced overview for non-engineers
Review: Keogh keeps an excellent balance between material for "complete idiots" and material for engineers. He uses simple metaphors (lots of highway traffic comparisons) to explain the "why" and "how" of networks, and anticipates reader's questions fairly well. The book is up to date, and covers just about any subject you need to be familiar with if you want to talk to engineers using their vernacular. The industry overview, covering major players, was particularly useful. There is one flaw, whose importance depends on your own reading habits: the writing style is atrocious, and it looks as if the book never went through an editor at Prentice Hall. While the conversational style makes the material easier to absorb, there is a good number of spots that would be marked in red all over if this was an English 101 paper. Still worth it, though.

Rating:
Summary: Balanced overview for non-engineers
Review: Keogh keeps an excellent balance between material for "complete idiots" and material for engineers. He uses simple metaphors (lots of highway traffic comparisons) to explain the "why" and "how" of networks, and anticipates reader's questions fairly well. The book is up to date, and covers just about any subject you need to be familiar with if you want to talk to engineers using their vernacular. The industry overview, covering major players, was particularly useful. There is one flaw, whose importance depends on your own reading habits: the writing style is atrocious, and it looks as if the book never went through an editor at Prentice Hall. While the conversational style makes the material easier to absorb, there is a good number of spots that would be marked in red all over if this was an English 101 paper. Still worth it, though.