Computer Science Illuminated, Fourth Edition [Paperback]

Nell Dale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0763776467 | ISBN-13: 978-0763776466 | Edition: 4

Revised and updated with the latest information in the field, the Fourth Edition of Computer Science Illuminated continues to engage and enlighten students on the fundamental concepts and diverse capabilities of computing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.; 4 edition (November 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763776467
• ISBN-13: 978-0763776466
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,784 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great "CS 0" text, November 14, 2007

By 

Lisa Michaud - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Computer Science Illuminated (Paperback)

I am currently using this text for the fifth time in my survey course for non-majors. It does exactly what I want it to do: it gives the students a feel for each of the topics with just enough depth to be rigorous for non-majors without being overwhelming. It's not perfect for my tastes; I do less than a full chapter, for example, when talking about languages (only covering the introductions to Chapters 7 and 8), whereas I do a full week on an expanded coverage of databases (Chapter 12). But I have a hard time imagining a text with a better fit, and I have used this since its first edition.

30 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars OVERPRICED MEDIOCRE TEXT, February 21, 2005

By 

E - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Science Illuminated, 2 volume set (Paperback)

It's been a semester since I had to buy this expensive shrink-wrapped textbook for my Intro to Computer Science class. In a text like this, topics are glossed over in an attempt to cover a wide range of ideas related to general CS. Even after a semester of CS and having gotten my feet wet in related areas (3D graphics programming, networking, and network security), I still say this text falls short of providing any real material to the budding computer scientist/engineer.

The author Nell Dale's writing inadequately explains certain concepts, something which could make these first time topics even more distant, or even further confuse those - particularly those with no prior programming or computer experience, especially those taking Intro to CS as an elective. For example, our professor taught us a more adequate technique in binary arithmetic. Dale's explanations of binary arithmetic are slightly confusing, especially to the uninitiated.

While the focus of the first semester was on beginning OOP with C++, we ended the semester with basic programming concepts (e.g. functions, data types, pointers, etc.) and the fundamentals of the OO paradigm (using C++). The chapter on programming paradigms, in my opinion, is utterly TERRIBLE. Although I took time outside of class to read better books on the subject, had I solely based my budding knowledge of OOP on this textbook, I would've been in trouble down the road -- I didn't understand a thing of OOP based upon this book's explanations. 3-4 pages are solely dedicated to the seemingly Stone Age concept of using "class cards".

Although this textbook was a complete waste of money, my personal experience with this book was even worse because I had a professor who taught Intro to CS as if we were Software Engineering seniors. If you have to buy this book for class but what a better understanding of CS in general (before you get into the details), either buy or check your local or school's library for Computer Science: An Overview by J. Glenn Brookshear (ISBN: 0201781301). If you're buying this, the latest edition is the 8th but the last edition, the 7th, you can get used for about $5-$7.

If you're like me and your class is covering more basic OOP programming techniques using a OOP "optimized" language than learning a generalized overview of many CS topics (e.g. operating systems, artificial intelligence, etc.), another really good book to check out and/or buy is Introduction to Computer Science Using C++, 2nd Edition by Todd Knowlton (ISBN: 0538676000). The last I checked, you can get this hardcover used from the Amazon Marketplace for about $3.50-$5 used. This book covers nothing but basic programming concepts such as variables, loops, operators, strings, I/O, functions, on and on and on.

Again, if you have to get this book, I would highly recommended supplementing your learning by reading one of the aforementioned books (not necessarily the whole book however) along with CS Illuminated. Some people may think this book is okay, but I would still say that to really get a firm grasp of what basic programming is all about, you'll need a better text to give you that foundation. Perhaps the reason why this textbook fails overall is that it gives too much attention to too many different topics. Had if focused on basic programming (which it seems most Intro to CS teachers emphasize anyway) like Introduction to Computer Science Using C++, it may have been better. Anyway, good luck to all!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Computer Science Illuminated, April 26, 2006

By 

Blake Gardner (Baltimore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Computer Science Illuminated, 2 volume set (Paperback)

I am currently taking a computer science class with this book. It was pretty useful and explained the basics of computer science. The book is illustrated with charts, tables, and pictures that help explain the concepts better.

The book was helpful but, the book is somewhat confusing with the more complex and conceptual topics of Computer Science. For an introductory class, it is sometimes hard to grasp the conceptual topics because the book doesn't lay it out very clearly.