Customer Reviews

Computer Desktop Encylopedia, 9th Ed.

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I did a thorough comparison...this book is more comprehensive and detailed, also wonderfully illustrated! I'm studying for my MCSE and consider this book indispensable, also it offers excellent value for the money.

I thumbed through at least three Computer Encyclopedias at the bookstore. Using specific words such as "chip", I would then read about that word in each of the various books. This book has just what I need at my level of understanding. I admit that this book was the most expensive. The illustrations are very helpful. Frequently there is a narrative of the history of the item, the discoverer, dates, and photos. For me, it beats the competition by a mile!

I work people whose computer knowledge varies from very little to a serious computer user. This reference manual is one book that all levels can benefit from. This book is the perfect manual to answer the questions in an easy to understand format without all that technical jargon.

The book is over 1100 pages and is loaded with pictures and figures to give a visual representation of the definition which makes is easier to understand some of the concepts covered. There is computer definitions, vendor breakdowns, and certification analysis and application definitions.

Some of the topics covered are networking, computers, MACs and applications. Some of the technologies included are CISCO, CompTIA, ATM, FDDI, Ethernet and token ring. Also included is a cd-rom which has over 5000 more definitions not included in the book. Overall a great addition to my technical library.

And too bad it's out of print. While this book will not teach you how to use a PC, it will define every computer related (and often electronics) term you can imagine. I was surprised on some of the really obsecure terms this book contained that I didn't expect it to mention. I got this book used and after reading over some of it, I'd say this is a must have on any nerd's desk as the it compares up there with as good as an internet search for explanations of PC related terms.

Unlike most other computer dictionaries/encyclopaedias in its class, the inclusion of a companion CD-ROM gave this "Computer Desktop Encyclopedia" a comfortable jump-start in the superiority contest.
The book (and its attached CD-ROM) covered, in the most definitive way, all the important terms and acronyms that apply to today's computer and networking technologies. Hardware, software, and allied peripherals were adequately represented.
It is descriptive and well-illustrated, and included all the commonly used file extensions. With over ten-thousand terms and definitions, its scope is rich: in comparison to what exist now.
This computer encyclopedia ranks among the best currently on sale. However, potential buyers may be frustrated (at the moment) by its limited availability.

It's a top product but needs updating with the latest info (1998)? If a new version is due for release I would be interested to hear about it.

Thanks Ian Leffers Australia

Also available on CD rom, updated quarterly!! I use this as much as any other application on my PC. Book is wonderful. CD-ROM is even better. Highest marks. Incredibly complete. From mainframes to Public Telephony. Incredibly up-to-date. Kudos to the computer language company!!

Here's what they say about Mac OS X:

Mac OS X
(Mac OS 10) Apple's next-generation operating system that is the successor to Mac OS 9. OS X runs legacy Mac applications (OS 9 and previous) as well as applications written for OS X. OS X Server was introduced in 1999, and the client version came out in 2001. OS X Server includes WebObjects, a development system for creating server applications accessible by any Web browser. OS X's new user interface is called "Aqua."

Entirely UNIX based and POSIX compliant, OS X adds protected memory, pre-emptive multitasking, multithreading and symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) to the Mac world. The rich set of UNIX commands also becomes available to Mac users. The heart of OS X is the open source "Darwin" kernel, which includes an enhanced BSD 4.4 operating system and Mach 2.5 microkernel.

Mac OS X natively supports three programming interfaces: (1) Classic (previously known as Blue Box) is the Mac Toolbox, which is the legacy Mac API (OS 9 and previous), (2) Cocoa (previously known as Yellow Box) is an enhanced version of the OpenStep API from NeXT, and (3) Carbon is an enhanced version of the Mac Toolbox for OS X. See Rhapsody and NeXT.

Now in a comprehensive, expanded and up-to-date ninth edition, Alan Freedman's Computer Desktop Encyclopedia useful reference text and CD-ROM package contains more than 10,000 terms and explanations - spanning a multitude of computer-related topics. More than a collection of definitions, the Computer Desktop Encyclopedia is a unique and practical reference which includes clear, detailed descriptions and illustrations of both basic and cutting-edge topics, and is a must-have for all computer professionals, students, teachers, and technicians alike. The Computer Desktop Encyclopedia includes clearly presented and "reader friendly" explanations of all the latest devices, operating systems, Internet-related technologies and acronyms. 1136 pp.

This book is a must have for anyone who is a novice or professional in the computer field. Great companion for the student in class. This book is so informative it's just simply amazing. Illustrations of past computer systems, and new technology. Well worth the investment.

If you ever wanted to know what a certain acronym used for computers means, then this book is the "Bible" for IT/Computer acronyms! Pictures are included for most items having an acronym, like "BIOS" for instance, it stands for "Basic Input Output System" and along with that info, this book will also go into detailed explanations for anything related to what you are looking up for a meaning. It's well worth full price, but I was fortunate enough to get a copy used for about 1/3 the original price! Way to go Amazon.com! I'll be back for future purchases of ALL of my books from Amazon.com.
Respectfully, Thomas Strong - Portland, Oregon