Customer Reviews

Client/Server Computing for Dummies

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If you've read several ...for Dummies books like I have, you know the quality in the series varies from excellent to mediocre to downright poor. Fortunately, C/S for Dummies ranks among the best of these yellow and black volumes which I keep as a handy reference.

Part I offers an excellent and insightful overview of what client/server computing is, what problems it addresses, and how it evolved to become a standard basic architecture in the IT industry. Also provides a nice explanation as to how C/S computing has played a major role in the industry's shift from merely automating common existing business processes (e.g. invoicing, accounts payable, acounts receivable, etc) to exploiting the technology to reingineer, eliminate or even create new opportunities that would not otherwise be possible. Automation of inefficient procedures does little more than produce fast ineficiency and partially explains why productivity gains during the 1980s were insignificant.

Part II, however, gives a rather superficial coverage of networks. Other than a survey of all the network jargon, the explanations are not very illuminating.

Part III's coverage of databases provides an insightful survery of database concepts, SQL, database design and system analysis. Also guides the reader through a working example of developing a logical two-tier application using Visual Basic. The example may seem simplistic but affords the reader a working understanding of a client font-end program's role in the system and how SQL queries interact with a database.

The remainder of the book delves into several topics such as transaction processing, followed by thorough coverage of the Internet and the Web as well as a survey of all pertinent tools.
The book is a bit dated as client/server is no longer the rage as it was in the early and mid 1990s. The push now seems to be to put applications on the Web either on the Internet or for internal use on a corporate intranet. Nevertheless, the author makes the book a complete reference of today's information systems (at least as of 1999) by complementing conventional C/S topic with coverage of the Web. The author also articulates why the Web is really a C/S system taken to the next logical level thus justifying it's inclusion in the text.

Readers can expect to finish the book with a high level understanding of client/server systems and the Web along with a survey of popular development tools, languages and database packages which are representative of all components of the system. While some explanations may seem shallow, the reader will at least have a good idea as to where to look for more in depth coverage of a topic and what function each piece plays in the overall system.

This book covers the basics of client server...Excellent intro. Dont expect any technical grit...but good treatment of the essential concepts. Good coverage of OSI, evolution of client server concepts, SQL basics.

This book dives into the basic concepts of client/server computing and does it in a way that the average person can quickly grasp what it's about. While it may not be a "techie" book, it is an entertaining and intriguing look at this technology, which is becoming an increasingly popular one.

I liked the author's use of analogies to introduce specific subjects, which helps the reader to understand all the different technologies (software, networking, terminals, PC, etc) that go into putting together a client/server system. Among the topics dicussed are what client/server is, how it can help your business, different types of "clients" and servers, a major section devoted to databases and client/server tools.

If you have been put in a situation where you need to learn this technology fast, this book is a good place to start.

I am having trouble finding anything in here about UNIX servers. For that matter I am having trouble finding anything on X servers. In the case of x servers the model is turned around 180 degrees. If there are no clients and no servers then this book is mislabeled. The Internet is based on UNIX. If it wanted to be an SQL book it should have said so. Again be sure to notice which the client is and which the server is as they are reversed in this book.

Networking All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

When our company made the decision to go to a client/server environment from the traditional mainframe shop, I was anxious to say the least! I have been a mainframe programmer for over 20 years! So I set out to find an easy read of a book which would assist me in transitioning and was pleasantly surprised to find Doug Lowe's book on the subject. He really does a beautiful job of explaining in simple, no-nonsense terminology what client/server computing is all about! I am very happy that I found this book and am reading it for the second time, because of all the valuable material it contains. Thank you Doug Lowe!!

I thought the book was excellent at filling in gaps in my understanding of client server computing. It listed hot products from top vendors, explained real-world uses for the products, and offered suggestions on how to approach the client/server decisionmaking process, all in an easy to understand manner. I must add that if I had not had previous experience with IT/Client/server, I would have been lost. I found it a superb introduction to client/server computing.