This Wired Home: The Microsoft Guide to Home Networking Second Edition (Eu-Independent) [Paperback]

Alan Neibauer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Eu-Independent | Publication Date: October 27, 2000

For every home running more than one PC under its roof, "This Wired Home" explains how to build a simple network that quickly multiplies the computing power for a family or home office. The second edition of this popular book delivers easy step-by-step instructions for creating a secure and reliable network using Microsoft technologies -- including all-new information about the Windows Millennium Edition and Windows 2000 Professional operating systems. It also delivers updated content on the latest home networking protocols and technologies. "This Wired Home" is written in plain, nontechnical language so readers can put the information to work right away. It's the indispensable guide for every multi-PC home!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For a family whose members use computers every day, there are few easier ways to increase fun and productivity than with a small local area network (LAN). With a LAN in place, you can use any computer in the house to run your finance software and access your electronic mail. A LAN also makes it easy for the whole family to share an Internet connection, particularly a fast cable or xDSL one. This Wired Home: The Microsoft Guide to Home Networking is the gospel of home LANs according to Microsoft. It provides excellent instruction on designing, assembling, and configuring a home LAN that involves computers running Windows 98 or Windows NT 4. With its explicit statements of what to buy and what to do, you'll be happy with Alan Neibauer's work (unless you own a Macintosh).

Thankfully, Neibauer doesn't assume that a full-fledged LAN is the correct solution for everyone. He explains how to share a printer simply, using only a couple of extra cables and a switch box. But the real value in this book is in its clear explanations of installing network interface cards (NICs), setting up hubs, running cable, and configuring the software properly. Illustrations combine high-quality drawings (for hardware assembly sections) with screen shots (for sections on software setup). Even when explaining the complicated matters associated with sharing an Internet connection, Neibauer sticks to his clear, businesslike style. --David Wall

Topics covered: Advantages of a home network, alternatives to a full local area network (LAN), installing network interface cards (NICs), running cable, configuring Windows computers for LAN service, sharing an Internet connection, and performing specific tasks (printing, file sharing, and game playing) on the network. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press; 2 edition (October 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735611580
• ISBN-13: 978-0735611580
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,694,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Strong on basics, not enough on broadband, November 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: This Wired Home: The Microsoft Guide to Home Networking Second Edition (Eu-Independent) (Paperback)

If you want to interconnect all your computers and printers this book explains all the basics you will need. But if you want DSL there is not enough - in fact there's really nothing. It also does not explain any details about phone line complexities if you want to link your home computers over your phone lines, e.g. how to also use a modem or phone line DSL over the same system.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent source of information on home networking., June 2, 2001

By 

"admay" (Lexington, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Wired Home: The Microsoft Guide to Home Networking Second Edition (Eu-Independent) (Paperback)

In "This Wired Home", Alan Neibauer provides a pragmatic view of home networking. His text covers topics from various types of hardware involved, to the configuration of sofware utilities and applications used for an assortment of network communication services.

If I had to knock the book, it would be for a lack of coverage on cable fabrication. If you're going to be fishing cable through walls, chances are you're not going to be using prefabricated cables with connectors already attached. I would have liked to have seen better coverage of tools and methods used for crimping RJ-45 connectors onto Cat 5 cabling, etc.

The material is well written, and is geared very much toward the novice network user. Experienced users will find this book to be a quick, easy read.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Guide to Home and Office Networking!, November 27, 1999

By 

Beowulf (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Wired Home: The Microsoft Guide to Home Networking (Eu-Independent) (Paperback)

This is the best book I have ever come across for home and office networking using Windows95/98. It's easy to read and understand. Alan Neibauer takes you through each process step by step along with helpful follow along images. If your new to networking this is the book to get.