Customer Reviews

A Programmer's View of Computer Architecture: With Assembly Language Examples from the MIPS RISC Architecture

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

 

 

To be fair, the first printing of this book did have a LOT of errors. But that was in 1993! And some of those copies are still circulating, especially in Madison, WI. But I only know of about three errors in the latest printing, and they are all very subtle.

Having taken the class at UW-Madison for which this book was written, and my instructor being Karen Miller (one of the authors), even she admitted to the great number of errors. It is highly frustrating to open the book read something, and then wonder, "Gee, is this correct?" Constantly referring to Karen's list of webpage errors was frustrating. Chapter 9 was completely re-written and made available to us in PDF format because the book's version was poor.

I'm shocked that the university is still using the text. Though it was only slightly easier to follow the material since the author was also my instructor, she also seemed annoyed that through some departmental/political/publishing snafu that they are still using the text 10yrs later.

Avoid this book if you have a choice.

Based on the author's review I tried to get a copy of a newer edition than 1993. According to Oxford Press, the newer edition is in press but has not been printed and they have no publication date available.

THIS BOOK STARTS OUT WELL, AND THEN DEGENERATES INTO ERRORS, ERRORS, ERRORS, AND MORE ERRORS. THE CONCEPTS IN THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS ARE EXPLAINED TERRIBLY. I FEEL GENUINELY SORRY FOR ANYBODY TRYING TO GET AN INTRO TO COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE CONCEPTS BY READING THIS BOOK.

THIS BOOK STARTS OUT WELL, AND THEN DEGENERATES INTO ERRORS, ERRORS, ERRORS, AND MORE ERRORS. THE CONCEPTS IN THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS ARE EXPLAINED TERRIBLY. I FEEL GENUINELY SORRY FOR ANYBODY TRYING TO GET AN INTRO TO COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE CONCEPTS BY READING THIS BOOK.