Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers (3rd Edition) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For undergraduate courses in assembly language programming and introductory courses in computer systems and computer architecture. This complete and fully updated study of assembly language for the IBM-PC teaches students how to write and debug programs at the machine level. Based on the Intel processor family, the text simplifies and demystifies concepts that students need to grasp before they can go on to more advanced computer architecture or operating systems courses. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

This text is designed for students and professionals interested in learning the basics of operating systems, architecture, and programming in the context of a microprocessor. In his eagerly anticipated fourth edition, Kip Irvine concentrates on the combined Windows/MS-DOS operating system and thoroughly covers 32-bit assembly language applications for Intel-based computers.

Focusing on how to approach programming problems with a machine-level mindset, Assembly Language for Intel(r)-Based Computers includes the following features:

• Detailed tutorials on numbering systems and data storage fundamentals.
• All programs tested with the Microsoft(r) MASM 6.15(tm) assembler.
• Inline assembly code, as well as linking assembly language to C/C++ in both Real and Protected modes.
• Extensive instruction set reference that includes instruction formats and CPU flag usage.
• Interrupt vectoring and device I/O.
• CD-ROM that includes the full professional version of the Microsoft(r) MASM 6.15(tm) Assembly Language Development System, a programmer's editor, a macro library, and the book's source code.

New to the fourth edition:
• Win32 programming, including the console API and a graphical application.
• Expanded coverage of procedures, recursion, stack parameters, structures, and unions.
• Boolean expressions, truth tables, and flowcharts.
• Basic string handling, sorting and searching algorithms.
• Bit-mapped graphics in both Real and Protected modes.
• IEEE floating-point binary representation.
• Virtual machine architecture; IA-32 Protected mode segmentation and paging.
• Introductory explanations of the instruction execution cycle, memory I/O, multitasking, pipelining, and superscalar architecture.
• Disk fundamentals, including disk geometry, FAT32 and NTFS file structures.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 676 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3rd edition (September 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0136603904
• ISBN-13: 978-0136603900
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,149,406 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers, 4th Ed., August 31, 2002

By	V. J. Welsh (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers (4th Edition) (Hardcover)

This is a review for the Fourth Edition of Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers by Kip Irvine. This book has just been released.

I teach Assembly Language at a community college, and have used the third edition with much success. Matter of fact, I was so impressed by it that when Dr. Irvine asked if any of the current teachers who'd registered at his site wanted to review the fourth edition, which was still being written, I volunteered. The fourth edition is an organizational improvement on an already well-written book.

The first nine chapters cover what I need to teach for an introduction to Assembly Language, required by Computer Science departments for a major in that field. Engineering programs can teach introductory hardware using it as well, with the emphasis on different chapters.

The book starts with basic concepts of data representation and number-base conversions and moves on to the Intel IA-32 processor architecture. By the time we start to actually discuss Assembly Language in Chapter 3, the student understands why Assembly works the way it does. That's no small feat.

Unlike many Computer Science books purported to be for beginners, this one really is written for students near the beginning of their studies. It's aimed at those who have taken maybe one previous programming class. Dr. Irvine has a knack for reducing a very complex topic to its elements and explaining those elements so they're easily understood.

It's possible to learn Assembly Language using this book alone, not taking a formal class, even though the text isn't really designed to be a Teach Yourself program. Assembly Language is a rather difficult topic, so the student would have to be very motivated.

Instead of having a series of review questions at the ends of the chapters, this book has section reviews. This focuses the student on what was just read, reinforcing a smaller amount of data, so it sticks more easily. Students have access to answers to odd-numbered questions. For teachers who prefer to have students look in the textbook for the answers, the even-numbered questions cover material similar to what's asked by the odds. There are programming exercises at the ends of chapters, too.

The author maintains a web site for the book. There are sections for students who use the book and parts just for teachers. Odd-numbered problem answers are on the students' site. Security is maintained at the teachers' site. When I logged in, I found sample tests, PowerPoint presentations, and FAQ's, to name but some of it.

Rather than describe the contents of the book further, I'll give you the author's website. He has the complete table of contents posted, as well as a few sample chapters. Take a look for yourself. [URL].

I'm going to enjoy teaching from the Fourth Edition of Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers. I feel like I have a well-organized book that covers what I have to teach, so I don't need to design my course around several textbooks. There's plenty of supplemental material on the website, which saves me lots of my most precious commodity - time.

58 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heavy On DOS, But Still A Good Starter Book, December 26, 1999

By	Pat M. Lasswell "[e-mail]" (Seattle, USA) - See all my reviews

This is a good starter book, but recognize that it focuses on DOS and does not "thoroughly cover assembly language for Intel-based computers" as the back jacket claims. No reasonably-sized book could do that.

The book description states that it is "Designed for students and professionals interested in learning the basics of operating systems and architecture in the context of a microprocessor." Although the book covers some of the critical topics necessary for operating systems programming on the Intel Architecture, e.g. I/O, segmentation, interrupts, it fails to do so adequately, and it omits discussion of protection, paging, and privileged mode instructions, to name three among many. I grant that you could learn enough to understand the basics of real-mode DOS, but not any of the Windows flavors, OS/2, nor the varieties of Minix/Linux.

That being said, it *is* a good book to learn Intel assembly from, and if you want to do OS programming then get the manuals from Intel's web site (downloadable in .pdf form). You may still find the DOS focus distracting, but you'll have everything you need.

... and don't think you'll find it all in one book. Intel's manuals alone are over 1500 pages.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Does NOT Make The Grade, January 30, 2000

By	James L. Johnson (USA) - See all my reviews

I have recently completed a university course in Assembly Language programming. The instructor opted to use this book as the text for the course. First, the book is riddled with typos that are serious errors which can confuse a student into a state of mindless frustration. I would like to write a lengthy review, but for the sake of brevity, I can tell all in the few words that follow. In short, I shelved the book during the duration of the course and read "Peter Norton's Assembly Language Guide." I received a 4.0 (A) in the course which others who continued using the Irvine book struggled to make a passing mark. If all the errors are corrected in the text, this might be a worthwhile reference, but as it stands, it's more damaging than helpful. No offense intended for the author, just a bit of constructive criticism.