Customer Reviews

Home Networking For Dummies

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is very simplistic. It covers basic topics and not in a logical order. In other words, this is not a how-to book. I was specifically looking to gain an understanding of neworking a home computers with a broadband Internet connection. This book could offer no help and had only one paragraph on routers (which wasn't very helpful). If you are just trying to understand what a home network is about then maybe this book will be helpful, but this will not help you set up a network.

I opened this book as soon as it arrived and started following the well-done, easy to understand, instructions. I was able to connect all the computers in my house into a network. My 12 year old son worked with me, and by following all the steps in the book we were able to move files between computers, print using the same printer, and all 3 people in the household got on the internet at the same time.

I've never seen such clear, easy to follow, instructions about hardware and software settings, which usually scare me.

This book does exactly what the title implies, it shows how to network your home computers. The hints about cabling and the well illustrated directions for installing hardware made it impossible to fail. I had a home network up and going in about an hour, and since then I carried this book to friends' homes and installed their networks. You could start a business with the help of this book.

Agree with a previous reviewer. Ms. Ivens' approach is disorganized and lacking in any cogent, "how-to" information. The book does provide a good overview of what home networks are, and why an individual may want a home network. But I was looking for a complete "how-to" book that would provide information on how to use what I already own. That is, I am a moderately proficient PC and Mac user. I already have a desktop PC (WinXP, wired) and Mac notebook (OS-X, wireless) which both utilize the same wireless router to access my broadband connection. I purchased this book because I wanted was a way to network the two devices to share files and a printer. This book did not provide that information.

This new fourth edition of Ms. Ivens best selling book has been expanded to cover the new Windows Vista operating system which has major changes and is up to date on Windows XP Service Pack 2 which again made changes in areas like security that could effect how your network runs.

This is a basic introductory book that begins with what a network is and why you might need one. It starts with simple things like cables and NICs and goes on from there to start talking about the software, using Windows XP and Vista. (No Linux discussion.)

It seems to me that there are three main reasons for having a home network: sharing printers, sharing files, and sharing a high speed internet connection. Chapter 9 is titles Printing Across the Network. Chapter 11 is Using Files from Other Computers.

There's a little bit here and there on sharing an internet connection, but Ms. Ivens, should you read this, I suggest that in your Fifth edition you put in a special chapter on connecting to DSL/Cable. You can explain about the need for a high speed modem, a router/switch, etc. Yes, I know, the material for this is basically there, but a single chapter tieing it all together would be a help.

My experience is that the book's title is somewhat misleading in that most of the content deals with network facets and WiFi issues not normally encountered by a typical homeowner. Hence I could make no use of it at all.

The book helped me to setup my printers. I have not yet every thing that are in the book but Iam using bit by bit as my need arises. I,just, do not want to do everything all at a time.

The title should be "Home Networking for Dummies that still use Windoz!" If you are looking for a book on the general subject of "Home Networking" this is not the one, look elsewhere.

nice manual for those of us who don't have time to read the whole book.

Everything from cables to equipment, this book will walk you through the process of getting your home network set up.