39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best in its price range, January 6, 2010
This review is from: Cloud Computing For Dummies (Paperback)
but for a few extra dollars you can get much better bang for the buck. Hurwitz has made a great improvement over her SOA book. Cloud Computing for Dummies is well organized and keeps to the mainstream of current thought on the subject. All the same it is superficial and padded with questionable and obsolescent details such as pricing structures that were copied from vendor sites.
You'll find Cloud Computing Explained (Rhoton) is easier to read and describes what cloud computing involves more thoroughly. Cloud COmputing and SOA Convergence (Linthicum) presents SOA and how it relates to cloud computing very well. That's important because architecture is key to cloud computing. Cloud Application Architectures (Reese) has a narrow Amazon focus but some of his discussion of resilience applies generally. You'll also want to look at Cloud Security and Privacy (Mather). There is no way you can implement cloud services without a careful look at data security issues.
The bottom line is that cloud computing is a vast subject. If you are serious about it and want to understand every aspect of it then you have to dish out a handsome sum and get at least four books. On top of that there are special focus books on each of the service providers that could be pertinent depending on which services you choose. You can get detailed information online and in the blogosphere but it's not as easy as reading it in a book.
If you are on a tight budget and just want to skim the headlines this book may be just right for you. Elseways I advise further research.
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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good generalist's introduction to cloud computing, January 8, 2010
This review is from: Cloud Computing For Dummies (Paperback)
Over the last year, I have spent an increasing amount of time trying to explain to people what cloud computing is and what it means for their business.
With this book, my explaining job just got a lot easier. No, it is not perfect, but it provides a fast way to get up to speed on a very broad topic.
Cloud computing has turned into everybody's favorite buzzword, complete with its own jargon (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS and many more aaS-es).
Cloud Computing For Dummies provides a plain English introduction to cloud computing. It answers basic questions like: What it cloud computing; How can cloud computing impact my business; and How can you explain cloud computing to your bosses' boss (using small, non-technical words)?
Don't be fooled by the "Dummies" title - this book has good technical information as well. In particular, it discusses practical advice for how to handle issues like monitoring, data management and security.
In summary this book is good for:
- Business people who want a clear explanation of cloud computing with just enough detail to be dangerous
- Technical people who are new to cloud computing and want a broad overview that gets them up to speed quickly
This book is probably not ideal for:
- Technical specialists who want an in-depth guide to specific cloud technologies
- Hardcore developers who want detailed information on a particular cloud solution like Amazon EC2
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
the book is ok. I was hoping for me but this also was created early on the cloud craze, February 8, 2011
This review is from: Cloud Computing For Dummies (Paperback)
I was looking for some additional information both for the practical word as well as the ccsk. the book did explain something but I was hoping for more meat in it. I've been reading dummies book since they were published under idg. there are several chapters that are so light you're in and out in a matter of mins. I've burped longer than it took to read something like chapters 10, 13 or 16. personally I see cloud computing largely being overused for almost everything and is just the latest marketing spin on technology that's been in use for years. I'm not saying I did not learn anything or was able to put a few things into perspective but this is not quite up to the standards I expected. if there was a 3nd edition (since this was written in 2009) I think some of the areas I see lacking might be filled in better
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