Customer Reviews

Essential Client/Server Survival Guide, Second Edition

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

 

 

I recently picked this book up second-hand and found it to be a quite enjoyable read. I only wish it was current, for the modern marketplace needs more books like it.

Rather than focus on a particular vendor's products or certification exam, the authors explain the big picture of client/server networking in an acronym-rich format that only a "big iron" programmer could love. Exhaustive coverage of database systems, groupware, and transaction processing are also presented, elaborated on by silly cartoons reminiscent of Greg Perry's early work.

Alas, times have changed. "Cairo" is obsolete now, and OS/2 did not provide the panacea to every client/server ill. I would strongly suggest that any reader of this review obtain a copy of the much newer third edition (ISBN: 0471316156). I certainly will.

You cannot imagine the things this book provide. I was invited to prepare a lecture to introduce some Cobol developers to the C/S world. I took 10 days to read the book and 2 weeks after the lecture, we observe that all that guys aren't just talking different. Most important; they are THINKING different. This is the real benefit. Congratulations to the authors. Their approach, their style and their humor are great.

The is the first time I've taken the time to write a review - and for a technology book 2 years out of date! I love the style and organization. This is a lot of very relevent information packed into 600 pages that will give anyone new to client/server architectures a great understanding of the market(s). Take a look at the table of Contents to see what I mean. And trust me, it's not ..For Dummies drivel. The author's "soapboxes" (mostly predictions) are great reading for where they were right on (most of the time) and just close (e.g. CORBA). I can't wait for a new edition to address XML in all of it's flavors.

The book is a good source of information for people who have been hearing all the buzz words of Client/Server technology but didn't really know what these words meant. The reader will get enough knowledge of these technologies to at least do BS when talking about Client/Server with his boss. Client/Server technology covers a lot of aspects, but the authors have very methodically covered almost all these aspects. I would recommend this book to people making an entrance to the world of Client/Server. One thing a didn't like: the book is full of cartoon characters who aren't really helping you get any concepts. Also these cartoons have been given too much space in terms of space/page.

The Essential Client/Server Survival Guide, Second Edition, demystifies many of the complex concepts and technologies with which we struggle daily in this world of information systems. In addition, it is a good read! The authors have written with a sense of humor (and with the tongue planted firmly in cheek), but do not talk down to the reading audience in any way. The information contained in the book is well-organized and thoughtfully presented. I use this book as a reference, and, starting in the winter quarter, I will be using this book as the required text for a database technology seminar course I teach at a local university -- by popular student request! Congratulations to the authors on a job well done!

Michelle Poolet, MCIS MCP Adjunct Faculty, University College University of Denver Denver Colorado

This book is a complete guide to client/server computing. It introduces you to industry standards, vendors, their products, and architectures. The authors have an excellent understanding of the issues in the IT industry today.

The definitive encyclopedia of the morass of technology called client server. This book is not very detailed but is methodical in its approach to explaining this vast technology in laymen's terms. Crammed with acronyms and specific product details, this book serves as an indispensable resource for technology managers of medium to large corporations who undoubtedly are confronted with making decisions about client/server, LAN's and WAN's. This is an excellent reference for individuals chartered with constructing an Intranet or Extranet with connections to legacy systems and databases. This is also a great starting point for students interested in computer science or programming and system maintenance persons working with LAN's and WAN's. Keep watching for new editions of this book because the technology changes rapidly and books of this nature have a relatively short shelf life.

Up front, there are two problems with this book: 1. The authors didn't include a glossary of terms; and 2. it hasn't been up-dated since the text was finished in early 1996. Given the multitudes of industry terms and acronyms, a glossary would have required a second volume. If they hadn't finished in time for me to find this book in August '96, I would have missed a very good introduction to a topic I knew little about. I bought a very good glossary and got along just fine. The bottom line... the authors' comments about the potential importance of distributed computing, distributed objects, and the internet have been born out by Netscape's major move into their Networked Enterprise product line of Netscape Communicator, Netscape SuiteSpot, and its open platform strategy to freeze Microsoft out of the client/server, networked enterprise market. OwyheeMud

I stumbled upon this book in the new releases section of my local library and I'm glad I did. It presents a good overview of the late 1995/early 1996 state of the art in Client/Server technology. Given the rate of change in this area, some parts are already a bit misleading (OpenDoc and Apple related comments...unfortunately..), but it's a great read anyway for anyone who wants an overview of this subject

This is an excellent "Get me caught up quick" book on client server technology and I would recommend it for anyone who has been in mainframeland and wants to get a perspective on the C/S paradigm. I enjoyed the easy fluid style of presentation. This book is an investment.