ATM for Dummies [Paperback]

Cathy Gadecki (Author), Christine Heckart (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764500651 | ISBN-13: 978-0764500657 | Publication Date: February 19, 1997 | Edition: 1

If you thought that ATM was nothing more than the name of the machine from which you withdraw money, prepare to meet an ATM of a more esoteric sort. The esoteric ATM is Asynchronous Transfer Mode, an important innovation in high-speed networking technology. In ATM For Dummies, networking experts Cathy Gadecki and Christine Heckart explain what ATM is, how it works, what its implications are, and (most important) how you can take advantage of it. Find out how to exploit ATM's capabilities for supporting mission-critical applications, for faster Internet access, and for more efficient intranets. The authors enlisted the help of many industry professionals who share their real-world ATM experiences with you. With plenty of practical information on everything from evaluating equipment and services to mixing existing systems effectively with new ATM hardware and software, ATM For Dummies offers the quickest and easiest access to this important, cutting-edge technology.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Find out how to clear your network's traffic jam!

Explains ATM acronyms and buzzwords — in plain English!

Your first aid kit^® for streamlining your network communication From the pros and cons of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) to pointers on network planning, this friendly guide will help you determine whether this communications networking technology is right for you. Inside, you'll find explanations of how this technology rapidly moves data, voice, and video, plus helpful case studies of businesses that have successfully implemented ATM.

Discover how to: Save on wiring and access costs Understand multiplexing and routing Connect remote systems with ATM Manage network connections Conserve network bandwidth

The Dummies Way^™ Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily^™ e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

About the Author

Cathy Gadecki, a senior broadband consultant with TeleChoice, and Christine Heckart, the vice president of Broadband Data Consulting for TeleChoice, helped launch the industry's first ATM-based carrier services.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (February 19, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764500651
• ISBN-13: 978-0764500657
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,950,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good start to understanding ATM, May 23, 2000

By 

Todd Wylie "toddwylie" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: ATM for Dummies (Paperback)

I realize there is a little debate going on over the value of this book. Like all technical books it depends on what you're looking for. If you are approaching this as a person with little-or-no ATM experience (i.e., you're not an engineer and for whatever reason you'd like a basic understanding of ATM)--This is a good resource. Also, if you are someone who trains the non-technical and you'd like a book that helps you translate ATM into ENGLISH this is a good pick. And let's be reasonable here, at this book's low-price, you're not really making that much of a financial commitment. The information in this book helped me to screen the more expensive books so that I could do further research.

Bottom line: If you're someone that knows nothing about ATM and are afraid that any book you purchase will be over your head, rest easy, and order this book. If however you understand ATM and are looking for a detailed treatment on the subject consider migrating to other sources.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to ATM, September 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: ATM for Dummies (Paperback)

I found this to be an excellent introduction to ATM. This book does not talk down to you but at the same time does not skimp on the technical details. Many a times, when I come across technical jargons in trade magazines that seems arcane, I am pleasantly suprised that the book contains explanations of the jargons in ways that i can really comprehend. Also, the book is written by well established authors (Vice president and director of Telechoice !). They have a wealth of experience in product management and being a product manager myself, this book is really indispensable. Believe me, the title is misleading. This is, to me, the best introduction to ATM !

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If I could rate it lower, I would, September 19, 2001

By 

Chris Leiter (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ATM for Dummies (Paperback)

I'm the type of person who will keep a book, even if I have no intention of reading it, because you never know when it will come in handy. Since I have enough wood stockpiled for my fireplace this winter, I'll be taking this one back.

The most frustrating thing about this is the constant "ATM is great, as long as other technologies don't advance, don't become cheaper, and retain their current popularities." Additionally, the fact that this book was written five years ago, and refers to "upcoming plans for later implementations as late as 1998" makes me wonder just how much of technology mentioned in the book is not even valid anymore.