Computer Networks and Internets with Internet Applications (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Here's what they're saying about Computer Networks and Internets by Douglas E. Comer: "Comer provides instructor assistance, exercises, and demonstrates the concepts in an easily understandable manner. It is an excellent book, with or without a class!" - CHOICE magazine. "Comer, a recognized expert at crafting this field's textbooks, writes in a very readable and comprehensible style." - Elizabeth Zinkann, SYS Admin magazine. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

"I just could not put it down before I finished it. It was simply superb." — Lalit y. Raju, Regional Engineering College, India

"An excellent book for beginners and professionals alike. The coverage is comprehensive and up-to-date (including IP Telephony and NAT). The chapters are concise and easy to follow, a hallmark of Dr. Comer's writing style." -John Lin, Bell Labs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 768 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (August 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131433512
• ISBN-13: 978-0131433519
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #470,328 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best intro to networking book I've seen..., September 20, 2000

By	A. Enriquez "altanic" (Oregon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Computer Networks & Internets (Hardcover)

This is the best book to read for people who want to start into the world of computer networks, but may not come from a computer science background. If you've got a good background in CS, or are already familiar with computer/math theory, go get Andrew Tanenbaum's 'Computer Networks', as Comers book will probably not hold enough technical details for you.

This book does not require much rigorous/mathematical thinking to read through and gives a great introduction to many networking topics. (a quick example of this is how Comer mentions the CRC computing techniques only to a certain, friendly level while Tanenbaum's book jumps right into the explicit details of doing the computations by hand!!!)

In his over-all progression from the physical, data transmitting wires of a network to software application's that use networks, Comer covers a good chunk of what networks are and how they work without losing you in detail's involving lot's of 0's and 1's. :) And if after reading this book you're still hungry for more knowledge on what you'll then know to be Computer Networks, then go read Tanenbaum's book.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb beginning for basic network theory!, April 18, 2000

By	Bibb (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Networks & Internets (Hardcover)

This is an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to learn more about the internet, networking and some of the underlying hardware architecture and software theories. A non-technical book, designed to give readers a general understanding. If you're new, unexperienced and feel a little intimidated, don't worry. Mr. Comer will guide you step by step and soon you will become familiar with some of the technologies used today. LAN/WAN? ATM? DNS? Switches? Routers? OC? TCP/IP? ICMP? FTP? SNMP? You will be able to define all of these and know what they are used for. Although remember, theory only! Mid-level networking professionals may gain a little knowledge by skimming through the book, but experience users will probably find this book a bore. This book is catered toward the novice, and it's a good one at that. A nice piece of work.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful to me as an IT starter in e-infrastructure, June 14, 2000

By	alibaba (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Networks & Internets (Hardcover)

This book serves me well as an IT project trainee with no engineering background. I find this book wonderful as it covers a wide range of IT terms and concepts in a simplified (at least understandable to me) and structured way. Low from the types of wires (like copper wire and glass fibres) and transmission media (such as infrared and laser) and then layer 1 hardware, up the layers IP/TCP, sockets, DNS, technologies of FTP, CGI, Java, and lands on network security. It is not that technical in nature but explains the concepts and how each item works. It really helps me much in conceptual nature. So if you are an IT starter like me and looking for an elementary widely-covered book, I do recommend this for you.