Understanding Operating Systems [Hardcover]

Ida M. Flynn (Author), Ann McLver-McHoes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0534950930 | ISBN-13: 978-0534950934 | Edition: 2nd

Providing a very basic introduction to the theory and application of operating systems, this text is intended for students who will become information managers or MIS professionals, and who need a basic understanding of operating systems theory, a survey of the major operating systems in use, and a grasp of the technical and operational tradeoffs among them. It combines an overview of operating systems concepts and a survey of major commercial operating systems.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is wonderful. It is a joy to be able to provide students with a text that does such a good job at explaining how things work when it comes to operating systems." ---Tim Young, Indiana University--Purdue University Indianapolis --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Pws Pub Co; 2nd edition (February 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534950930
• ISBN-13: 978-0534950934
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,781,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Complicated Concepts, Clearly Communicated, February 21, 2000

By 

Ed Hayes (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Operating Systems (Hardcover)

This is a good introduction to how operating systems work -- not nearly as technical as hard-core books written for computer scientists. The first 11 chapters explains the common basics of all operating systems, how OS's manage main memory, processors, devices, files etc. The last 5 chapters describe specific OS's for PCs and mainframes, and how they apply the features discussed in the first 11 chapters.

Being an "old-teckie-timer", I've worked with the big, medium, and small boxes, in several operating systems, and many languauges. I've taught this stuff to non-techs, too. My task is always to "simplify and communicate, without losing the meaning". I'm a techo-translator. So are Flynn/McHoes.

As a classroom textbook or a supplement to a technical CS book, it's great because it's easy to read and understand. But it's not "OS for Dummies." I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the nuts and bolts of operating systems without having to read or write the code that runs the machine.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book makes it easy to understand, October 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Operating Systems (Hardcover)

This text will defintely help the reader understand the principles of an operating system. It is designed as a textbook, and in that sense I feel that it oversimplifies some things.

Overall, though, I feel it is an excellent book to use to start learning about operating systems (to get the concepts correct in your mind) before you move on to more technical and detail oriented texts.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for newbies, February 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Operating Systems (Hardcover)

This book already assumes you know almost everything. Not good if your a newbie. You'd be better served with a different book. If you're an advanced PC user, this book will work great. Uses few pictures, so if you're a visual learner (like me), you'll get lost quick. Much of this book went right over my head. It's just words on paper. Wish the author would have used a Shelly-Cashman style of writing, using more diagrams and pictures to communicate their thoughts.