Customer Reviews

Operating System Concepts with Java

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

 

 

This provides a solid introduction to the basics of operating system (OS) internals. After an introductory section, this covers the major subsystems in an orderly progression: processes, memory, storage, protection, distributed systems, and special purpose systems. Although I might quibble with some of the ordering, (e.g., virtual memory vis a vis process management), this gives a firm foundation for anyone teaching introductory OS internals. As an aside, instructors should also be aware of the additional support they'll find at the book's web site.

I have no real objections to this book, but find that some of its emphasis won't suit all readers. For example, 99% of all processors don't run Windows or Linux. Instead, they run your DVD player, car air bags, microwave, digital watch, and just about everything else with a power cord or battery. Engineering students headed for embedded system development will need supplementary material. Also, like every other undergrad text I know, this underplays the critical importance of standards in everything from APIs and file system structures to network protocols and safe coding guideline.

The Java emphasis definitely adds to this book's breadth. For years now, OS examples have featured the Unix API or, perhaps grudgingly, examples from Windows. They're not the only games in town, though. Java's API differs in many ways from the Winux (Lindows?) models, especially in areas having to do with threading and safe execution. When you add in Java's wide popularity and its role as conceptual predecessor to .NET and C#, that makes it a logical candidate for study. Compared to the non-Java version of this title, the additions are minor but well-chosen.

I've taught from the non-Java version of this book and from Tanenbaum and, to tell the truth, have no strong preference between the two. They present comparable material at roughly the same level, both offer good case studies, and both offer on-line support to students and instructors. Each outweighs the other on specific topics but, on the whole, that seems to balance out.

-- wiredweird

This is an easy to read book and offers numerous examples of the assignments. It offers diagrams and charts to visually see what you are learning on the page, and the website has numerous example files and code snippets. My only wish is that it has more examples, it offers Programming Exercises without good examples to base your answer on, which makes completing the assignments difficult. More code examples of the assignments would make this book perfect, because it is relatively tough to complete the assignments since the specific example are lacking, however, this is a more personal opinion. Also, more of the examples should be in Java, since this book is 'with Java', numerous examples are in C and I have to take extra time to rewrite the examples in Java (looking at APIs for both languages to find proper functions in the other language).

In the end this is an easy to follow book and is easy to read. If it has more examples that were more representative of the exercises it would be perfect!

Currently I am a CS student in my senior year. I am taking my final for the class tomorrow and the book has done an excellent job of taking some complex topics and translating them into legible english. That being said, I will just explain some of the flaws.

The first problem is the pictures or figures in book which are trying to give a visualization of the topics being explained. There a surprising amount of figures in the book that are completely horrid. I mean that they just either further add confusion or are just completely useless. Very shocking because the author/authors are very talented with words, yet seem to very bad when it comes to creating visualizations. There are a few with flat out errors as well.

The second problem is that the questions in the back of each chapter are a catastrophe. The questions are typically just very vague or just aren't very good questions. For instance, there is a question that is similar this

"Does virtual memory need to be supported by the operating system of a handheld system?"

The answer in the teachers guide is apparently "yes". But clearly, this answer is truly "no". Handheld device operating systems don't NEED to support virtual memory. There are plenty of handheld devices that don't, and certainly you don't ever NEED to support alot of things. The question really means to ask "Is it beneficial for a handheld device to support virtual memory?" The obvious answer that is "of course". I got this question wrong on my homework, but myself and a few others talked with the teacher and he quickly agreed that we were right. There are just far too many questions like this that are poorly written.

Regardless of these two problems, the book is really well done.

This is a well written book compared to other books about Java. It gives logical explanations and is easy to understand. Now I understand why my Prof. said they've used this book since he was in school studying Java. Its a great source for the novice, intermediate and advanced student. Great Book to keep if you ever need to refer to it in the future!

A little hard to read if you have no previous knowledge. A lot of information/content to learn but that was because i took it as a summer class. Read and understand the book properly as I did and i got rewarded with an A.

Great product, great price and great service " too good to be true", but it is.