Networks Books

This book was a tremendous help for me. I not only learned a great deal but had fun with this book as I began creating my blogs. I highly recommend this book. Makes a great gift. you'll love it.

I have been contemplating writing a book and a few people suggested creating a blog to test out ideas. I stumbled on this book and figured I would give it a read.

This is a great book if you have little or no idea of what you want to do with a blog.

It gives some good suggestions for things overlooked such as creating a sense of trust by filling out your profile so you give a possible reader an idea of why they should consider trusting you.

It discusses the free services such as blogger and typepad and it discusses what they offer to assist in choosing a provider if you go that route.

There are numerous links throughout the book that help with searching the Net for examples and ideas on what you may want to try.

There are many advice points such as backing up your blog and being careful about blogging at work which causes people to get fired.

There are suggestions for getting your blog noticed and some tools to assist your blogging.

As I am new I can't judge all the material but I found it useful as it gave me a better idea about blogging and where to look for more detailed information.

As mentioned this book is good for someone that is considering a blog and knows little or nothing. Someone who has already researched blogging, probably does not need this book. An advanced blogger can skip this book

Very easy to read. Will get you exciting about blogging and get you started quickly.

If you know absolutely nothing about blogging, this is the book for you. The book spends as much time talking about the culture, community, and benefits of blogging, as it does walking you through the steps for setting up a simple blog.

If you've already done a little homework on blogs, this book will be too basic. Skip it and get the Dummies book on blogging, which spends more time helping you compare and choose the right blogging platform for your needs.

The 4 stars? It's a 5 star book for the beginner, but only a 3 star book for the advanced beginner and beyond.

Once you read or skim the book, you understand blogging and can start your own blog. The book made me think about what kind of blog I wanted to start.

The book compares the major blogging sites in text and chart form. It gives advanced information on photo, audio, and video blogging. The resources section lists a lot of free web sites and articles, and I have used it many times.

Bottom line: this is as good as a source on blogging as any book will be, but any book on blogging needs to be supplemented by surfing the web.

I taught a course in computer security and a course in advanced networking during the spring semester of 2008. Both of those classes contained some coverage of the role of computer firewalls and the techniques they use to protect computers from malicious entities. This was the primary resource I used in my presentations of firewalls and in that context, I found it invaluable.
There are three main sections:

*) Introduction to firewalls
*) How firewalls work
*) Managing and maintaining firewalls

For the computer security course, the second section was the most valuable, for in that course we discussed the mechanics of how security is provided on the border of the network with the exterior world. Specifically, chapter 8 "Application Proxy Firewalls" and chapter 9, "Where Firewalls Fit in a Network" were useful.
The last section was of major importance in the advanced networking course since the emphasis in the course was on network management. I required the students to write a major document on network management policy and the ruleset for managing the firewall(s) was a major section of it. Specifically, chapter 10 "Firewall Security Policies" and chapter 11 "Firewall Policies/Rulesets" were useful.
This book is an excellent introduction to firewalls and contains enough advanced material for it to be useful for the training of networking professionals.

Don't let the title fool you into thinking the book is only of value to novices. Instead the book goes into unexpected levels of detail while still staying easy to read. I was surprised at how much detail there was. There was a lot more information that I would have expected. I think a wide range of skill levels can still find value in the book as an everyday reference, or to study up on the topic. I would highly recommend this as a vendor-neutral book for your networking collection.

Firewall Fundamentals provides what I see as the first clear book in many years on the oldest known protection for the Information Technology field. Authors Wes Noonan and Ido Dubrawsky take the concepts of protection at the basic level and slowly walk the reader through protection and defense from the introduction of threats to the details of advanced firewalls like the Cisco PIX and ASA appliances to Microsoft's ISA application. While this book may to be advanced in nature, it explains in detail the simple items that make the understanding of Firewalls and their technology important. Even from the goal of the book "...personal and desktop..." where the authors clear state that no level will be untouched does this book make one feel comfortable and unafraid.

Considering that this is a Cisco Press, book it surprised me that the amount of non-Cisco detail the authors' included, from Checkpoint and Microsoft ISA in the larger areas to Trend-Micro in the smaller areas. These guys ensured in this book a level of detail and understanding that will guarantee a complete read; even a Security Engineer, like myself who has learned the advanced concepts and deployment methods/reasons for security, gained new insight into the world I work in. For both Noonan and Dubrawsky present the items I sometimes miss, the obvious and clear issues that the regular individuals encounter and need to help them.

Noonan and Dubrawsky start with the simple items and basic concepts slowly and adding to them while not forgetting the assumed reader. This book is divided into four sections including the Appendixes: The first of the major section as always the Introduction which covers the basics from what a threat is to the difference between a personal (computer) based firewall to a network firewall.

After the basics are covered the authors' begin moving into the how of firewall technology from the personal computer to the common home-office like Linksys and finally into the realm of small office and hardware that include the Cisco platforms. While these chapters may appear to focus more on the Cisco Products they do include important other chapters that deal with items like where a firewalls belongs within the network. Within this section of the book we see items as mentioned like the Linksys and Cisco products, but we also see NetFilter and other freeware and pay products including Microsoft's ISA and Checkpoint mentioned, configured and discussed in detail. Within Chapter 7 the Linux products that are slowly advancing in the industry due to their cost and availability are detailed with the NetFilter product. Flow-charts and diagrams again help to explain not only this product, but the key concepts behind firewall technologies and examples of scripting help individuals learn and understanding what should be occurring with the product.

Finally the last key section deals with the importance of Managing and Maintenance any Firewall. From policy management to troubleshooting they do not leave anything out. I personally found the chapter entitled "What is My Firewall Telling Me?" very different from what I would expect in a simple how to read the logs chapter. The authors took time to explain the concepts of logging, the importance and different methods to read the log. Again they showed that this is not a book that is Cisco centric on Cisco heavy by using products and screen shots of non-Cisco items like Microsoft and NetIQ.

What this book is missing is a disclaimer that while published by Cisco Press it is not entirely Cisco Centric and this is a good thing. Yes as many people know Cisco is a large player in the field of networking and information security these author's do everything to ensure a fair and equal play of the others I have mentioned before. I feel that if you where looking for a book to help anyone with a small or home office environment protect it, this is the book you need. While I found adding it to my collection a positive and enjoyable experience, I can only hope that you will too.

As an IT professional, I know and understand that firewalls are a requirement in today's computing environment. But as a developer, the details of firewalls are pretty much a black box to me. I was pleasantly surprised with the book Firewall Fundamentals - An introduction to network and computer firewall security by Wes Noonan & Ido Dubrawsky. I actually understood most of it! :)

Contents:
Part 1 - Introduction to Firewalls: Introduction to Firewalls; Firewall Basics; TCP/IP for Firewalls
Part 2 - How Firewalls Work: Personal Firewalls - Windows Firewall and Trend Micro's PC-cillin; Broadband Routers and Firewalls; Cisco PIX Firewall and ASA Security Appliance; Linux-Based Firewalls; Application Proxy Firewalls; Where Firewalls Fit in a Network
Part 3 - Managing and Maintaining Firewalls: Firewall Security Policies; Managing Firewalls; What Is My Firewall Telling Me?; Troubleshooting Firewalls; Going Beyond Basic Firewall Features
Part 4 - Appendixes: Firewall and Security Tools; Firewall and Security Resources; Index

There were actually a number of surprising aspects to this book (all good). The first thing that surprised me is that this is a Cisco Press book. As such, I would have expected a huge bias towards Cisco technology at the expense of everything else. Yes, most of the options and solutions covered include the Cisco offering in that category. But the overall focus is on the underlying technology instead of the vendor offering. That means that you are getting great information on firewalls, not just how Cisco does it. Another surprising aspect for me was the range of experience that is targeted in the book (and successfully at that). Part 1 was perfect for someone like me who isn't intimately acquainted with the inner workings of a firewall. Part 2 covers the range of solutions, both hardware and software, personal and enterprise. And Part 3 is one of those sections that you'd likely use on a regular basis at work if you're responsible for the care and feeding of network security. The information is extremely practical, and having checklists for troubleshooting may just be something that bails you out of some ugly situations...

There's not too many books that can pull off the difficult task of reaching all experience levels on a subject. The fact that this book does it while being published under a vendor imprint is even more impressive. Definitely a book I'd recommend on the topic of firewalls...

Firewalls have gone from a luxury to a necessity in the computer world, and today a thorough understanding of their function and setup is required reading for any serious networker, programmer, or computer operator. Firewall Fundamentals: An Introduction To Network And Computer Firewall Security addresses all issues, providing a through introduction to firewalls, how they protect, up to more advanced TCP/IP protocols and firewall configuration for Linux and other systems. From application proxy firewalls to security policies and rules, Firewall Fundamentals holds it all.

Seifert walks you through and gives you the core concepts you need to understand the evolution of Ethernet to the Gigabit and Multi-Gigabit speeds. Very well layed out.

An excellent and must have book on ethernet. Glad to see someone involved in the standards process decipher the ethernet, fast eternet and gigabit standards. Very easy to understand and focuses on the practical aspects.

This book not only covers Gigabit Ethernet, but ethernet in all its varieties. Rich Seifert covers everything very clearly systematically.

There is a fair amount of repetition across chapters, possibly so that each chapter can be read independently and out of sequence.

This book is fantastic if you need to get a grasp of Gigabit Ethernet fairly quickly. The explanations are clear and concise and it's fairly easy to read. I skipped the first couple of chapters because I wasn't concerned with some of the historical perspective, and the book was still very readable.

It has the best explanation of 8b/10b encoding and autoconfiguration I've found as well as doing a good job describing the differences between Gigabit Ethernet and the 10Mbps and 100Mbps versions.

There's even a little humor to spice the book up. It is bad engineering humor, but humor nonetheless.

Well written and full of information. Excellent comparison in the last chapter of ATM to Gb E-net. If you need a book on Ethernet, get this one. So many books just have a lot of text with very dry information in the form of opinions (nothing you can sink your teeth into) but this book has very good information presented very cogently.

If you want just one book on networking and specifically upon Ethernet, get this book! If you are installing or supporting a network, get this book! It has tables on "Ethernet Media Designations" (e.g. 10Base-FL) so you buy the right stuff, and other tables such as "Switching vs Repeating", "Full-Duplex Media Support", and "Link Propagation Delays" which are very clear and helpful.

I wish I had had this book three years ago when I was converting our old network over from coax to UTP/10BaseT.

Wow! This book is great! It combines two great subjects NASA and Computers! This book inspired me to use computers, and learn C++ programing! I think children ages 8-13 would enjoy this book very much.

This book is great! I bought this book and have read it at least 50 times

Cyber.kdz #3 is really number one. This is the book where we learn how the cyber kids met and live their first adventure together. Deeder is the first cyber kid and the secret club forms as a means to clear his father of suspicion in a new AI program that went all wrong and scrubbed a big NASA shuttle launch. Deeder's clumsy approach to Josh and Paul by anonymous email is funny. They both think Deeder is some kind of spooky weirdo. It is through the efforts of Tereza that ... well, read the book ... you'll understand! And, HEY!!, it's really good.

I loved this book. It was really suspenseful and exciting. I checked it out from the library and don't want to give it back!

I think this is a great book. It tells about when the Cyber.kdz are just starting to locate each other. Deeder goes to Florida to meet his dad.While they're at the shuttle something goes wrong and Deeder has to go home along with his dad. They are both depressed. But with the help of the Cyber.kdz, they solve the mystery.

This is a good resource that serves as a starting point for anyone in the unenviable position of needing to get a network into a more secure posture. If this is your role it is a must have. It covers a lot of ground in a "how-to" manner, instead of the normal books of theory. There are lots of screen prints and step by step instructions for setting up things like TACACS, IPSEC, firewalls, ACL's etc...

If you are a LAN administrator you NEED this book for the section entitled, "Do This Now!", and you'll find the later sections informative as well. If you are involved in network planning or security design this is a must have. The book is laid out well and easy to read with a good logical flow from one topic to another. The language the author chose to use makes it a much easier read than some of the other stuff out there I've seen. I'm definitely glad I picked this one up!

It is evident that the author has real world knowledge and experience. His writing style is clear and easy to read but he still keeps it too a high technical level. The author isn't afraid to get into specifics on how to secure your infrastructure. Too many authors today seem to write their security books with vague suggestions on security but don't really give you anything really solid. I began using this book as a reference immediately for a big project I had coming up it gave me the info I needed. This book should be on anybody's shelf that's serious about security

I have been reading networking and infrastructure books for over 15 years and there are a few that make the grade as a keeper.. (one that ends up on ebay or sold in a garage sale is NOT a keeper :) I have this as my new 'keeper' and it will stay by my side and make a few trips up and down the west coast in my trusty laptop bag.
The fact that there are examples of each 'fix' or procedure that is important is a goldmine of information. My favorite line was early in the book when Wes made the statement.

"If you don't have a firewall, stop reading this book right now and go buy or build one and implement it on your network."

Now, how many books actually tell you to put it down and go do something then show you HOW to if you run into problems or have some questions.
Wes really wants to help you in beginning those first steps to protecting your data and network all the while being able to talk to all levels who touch or SHOULD be touching security.
From the CIO/CTO/IS Manager all the way down to the guy sitting in from of a Cisco command prompt. They are all taken care of with this book in clear concise explanations and very easy to grasp diagrams..

Rating: Buy...

rob in kirkland

Practical, hands-on 'guide' to securing your environment. Even includes securing those pesky wireless network upstarts! Very nuts-&-bolts. Real world applications, as shown by Mr. Noonan's inclusion of various network equipment and its operations. From implementations of firewall ACLs, AAA, routers & switches command line/GUI consoles, to deployment of VLANs, DMZs and intrusion detection systems - this book has got it all!!! No network admin should not have this on their book shelf!

This book cover internet security in an informal ways (conversation dialogue). Easy to understand for novice computer users.
The only reason I didn't give a 5 stars is because I didn't learn anything new.

I have enjoyed all the Harley Hahn books I've read so far, but this book is my all time favourite. As always, Harley combines a fun style of writing with useful technical instruction and the reader will learn a lot of interesting facts in a very enjoyable way.

As I read Internet Insecurity, I wished that Harley had written it 3 years ago, when I was just beginning to use the internet. If I'd known then what I've since learned from the book, I would have avoided learning about online relationships the hard way, for instance. Because the dangers of the internet are not what we commonly think of, and although we need to know about computer viruses, and be aware of privacy issues, the most painful mistakes that we make are due to a lack of understanding of this new technology, which is set to change our lives in so many ways.

I would recommend Internet Insecurity to anyone using the internet. As well as being a fascinating way to learn all about the origins of the internet, computer viruses, online shopping, sex and relationships, it is the only book I have found which addresses the concerns we all have, and separates the real from the imaginery fears associated with the internet. I found the book both thought provoking and yet entertaining, and I have certainly learned a lot from reading it.

I found this book by accident while looking for another computer book. I flipped through it. It captured me so I decided to buy.

Even though I work on computers for a living, I still found several useful information from the book. Reading the last chapter which touched on the relationship issue, I wished the author had written the book several years ago. If I'd had the book then, I might have saved myself several regrets and become wiser without having to learn what I know now the hard way myself.

Other than a light touch of useful technical info, the author gives a very insightful perspective on the computer technology, esp. the internet world itself. I really, really enjoyed this book as I savored and immersed myself in the author deep thoughts and the extensive background info, which gave me a better understanding of how things've become.

I give this book 2 thumbs up and highly recommend it as a must read for anyone who'd love to broaden their mind and perspective.

Along with the thoughts of previous reviewers, I find it difficult to come up with more adequate adjectives for this fine book. Such a wealth of information, based on extensive research!!
I was hardly prepared for the fascinating history, psychology, education, and thoroughly compelling subjects covered in this humorous, personal approach. It is not a book that you can put down and refer to periodically. It's a page turner from cover to cover.
If all who participate in activities on the web were to seriously consider the observations and suggestions provided within these pages, what a considerate, happy place the net would remain.
Hopefully, all responsible human beings will follow these guidelines.

On the second page of his latest book, "Internet Insecurity," Harley Hahn says, "this is not a normal computer book, not by a long shot." And he keeps the promise.
The computer sections of bookstores are filled with volumes on hacking and computer safety, many of them written for people who run servers, networks and large computer operations or who are charged with tracking the hackers. Some of them seemingly just want to scare us into shutting down out computers and never accessing the Internet.
Hahn's book is neither of these. It's written so even beginners can understand it, and it follows through on another promise made on the first page:
"I do not want you worrying needlessly about things that are not really a problem. For example, regardless of what you might hear, you do not need to worry about computer viruses or about unknown perpetrators breaking into your system -- not if you take a few simple precautions ... There are far more important things I want you to think about: how the Internet affects your privacy, your security, your money, your relationships, your work and your family."
I cringed when I read that, but Hahn is well-respected, and I wanted to see what he had to say, so I bought the book. While I'm not going to give up my anti-virus software or my firewall, I understand where he's coming from and agree that -- if we all followed his advice -- we'd probably be safe. I'm just not sure that most people are willing to follow the advice he offers.
I'll come back to this, but first let's look at some other parts of the book, which covers such topics as business and the Internet, privacy (how much you can really expect and ways to keep as much as you can), Internet communication (e-mail and chatting) and privacy, viruses and protecting yourself against them, money and the Internet and your family and the Internet.
First, Hahn doesn't write about just technology. He discusses, as he puts it, "psychology, history, philosophy, science, money and relationships." And, yes, they really do all tie together and are related to the Internet.
For instance, it's not easy to understand privacy and what we think we know about it without understanding why we think we need it and knowing that, despite what you think, it's not guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. And it's difficult to grasp business practices until, as Hahn points out, we stop thinking of corporations as individuals rather than as ... well, corporations. Businesses do what they do to improve the bottom line. If that includes using personal information they gather about you to sell you more products, they will do so. They're even likely to sell that information to others to make even more money.
Summarizing such ideas in just a few words doesn't do them justice. Hahn builds his cases carefully and logically and gives you the information you need to protect yourself against what he sees as the real dangers.
The chapters on Internet communications and its effects on families are among the most important in the book -- because the subject seems to be considered so seldom. No one questions the value of e-mail, but, Hahn emphasizes that neither e-mail nor a chat room is true personal contact. In chat rooms especially, you don't know for sure that the person you're chatting with is who -- or what -- he or she says, or even if it's truly a he or a she.
It's dangerously easy, he says, to believe you truly know and have connected with someone simply because you've shared personal information via a keyboard and computer screen.
"...The Internet is important because it is capable of bringing great emotional forces into our relationships, forces which we were not designed to bear. These forces are strong and, if we are not careful, they may cause significant damage to the emotional fabric of our lives and to the lives of our loved ones," he writes.
"Does this mean that we should avoid having relationships that depend on the Net? In some cases, yes. Certain activities are nothing more than a breeding ground for unhappiness and only serve to distract us from what is really important in our lives."
Now, as for viruses, Hahn lists the kinds of attachments that can be dangerous to your computer, explains how to show full file names (Windows hides the extensions by default) so you can recognize them and then says not to open them if they arrive by e-mail. Simple? Reasonably so, if you have any experience at all with using Windows Explorer. Advice we all have the will power to follow? I'm not so sure.
Firewalls? Unless you're running a server or a business network, you don't need one, he says. Such programs are more intrusive than anti-virus programs, the false alarms they set off will "scare you silly, and if you really want to scare yourself silly, there are much better ways to do it."
I visited Hahn's Web site, signed up for his newsletter and left a comment that I enjoyed the book but was uncomfortable with his antivirus and firewall advice. I commented that I'd keep them because I'd rather "be a little safer" with my Norton AntiVirus and Zone Alarm.
To my surprise, he replied:
"Are you sure that it's not really that you would rather 'be a little safer' but that, perhaps, you would rather 'feel a little safer'? Remember, most people aren't technically apt, and AV and IF programs can cause them a *lot* of mysterious problems. ..."
Good point on the "feel a little safer." But, because I do need to get e-mail attachments as editor of The Outer Edge, I'll stick with the programs for a comfort zone.
Is the book worth the cost? If you're concerned about what problems you can have on the Internet and how to protect yourself against them, definitely.

This is by far the most useful book I have ever found for developing successful software strategies. Brush has analyzed the works of the leading strategic thinkers: Porter, Mintzberg, Hamel, Ansoff and on and on (the book's bibliography is ten pages of leading writers and practioners) and then applied them using her long career as a high-tech practitioner. (A good combo of theory and practice.) The book is complete with templates and step by step instructions that has made my formerly dreaded regular exercise of reviewing and developing new product and marketing strategies a greatly simplified task.

High-Tech Strategies in the Internet Era is a must for anyone in High-Tech or anyone who uses technology a key source of differentiation to compete. It is extremely thorough and provides complete checklists for setting-up and implementing strategy. In today's fast-paced marketplace it can be the difference between survival and failure.

High-Tech Strategies In The Internet Era is a basic, A to Z, introduction and instruction book on the high-tech strategy process that a business must master in today's computerized and Internet-linked marketing and business environment. Kathleen Brush lays down a step-by-step guide by which any company can achieve a successful, fixed yet flexible course in today's high-technology, Internet communications era. Readers will learn that partners play a critical role in the Internet era; that industry selection is the key to success; that management must learn to live with an empowered workforce; that the role of marketing communications has greatly increased as a factor in the success or failure of a business enterprise; that high-tech strategies are, by necessity, global strategies; and that strategy is the essence of commercial survival in today's global, Internet oriented marketplace. High-Tech Strategies In The Internet Era is essential, invaluable, highly accessible reading for aspiring business entrepreneurs, corporate managers, industry analysts and investors.

An opus in the sense that it took some degree of creativity to skirt the customary publishing procedures . . . way to go, Dr. Kathy!

High-Tech Strategies in the Internet Era is a must for anyone in High-Tech or anyone who uses technology a key source of differentiation to compete. It is extremely thorough and provides complete checklists for setting-up and implementing strategy. In today's fast-paced marketplace it can be the difference between survival and failure.

As an interim CEO of software firms, I see the the problems created by no strategy or poor strategy. This book gives a thorough mthodology to avoid having someone like me take over a company.

College leaders would do well to ensure that a copy of young Professor Trinkle's "The History Highway" is on the desktop of each faculty member, and then interview him or her a month later on what they discovered when navigating around the "new literacy". In pointed contrast, I remember too well a much older and "very retiring" professor at a highly ranked college recently insisting that "this Pen is My computer".
A journey through knowledge begins with but a single, small step --as ancient seers would remind us. "The History Highway" offers anyone (older or young) a "roadmap" to their own choice of any of 2000 or so stepping off points. For example, "images taken from the Bayeaux Tapestry [embroidery 230 feet long; the original story document presented to an illiterate population] make this a visually appealing and useful site (Norman Invasion of England, 1066)". But wait, there's more: "Periodic updates to the text are available online."
Our new digital lifestyle can (will?) transform Academia "before you can say Great Scott!" Or at least, for certain, a lot more quickly than the Gutenberg effect transformed schooling and culture.

As a history student I am constantly looking for sources and articles for research purposes. This book puts the most important internet history sites at my finger tip. When I teach my history classes in a few years I will require all of my students to purchase this book.

If you are at all interested in history, this book is indispensable. It offers an exhaustive guide to the reliable and worthwhile historical materials available on the Internet. The entries have been sifted by an international team of subject experts, and there is a resource mentioned for every lover or student of history.

Everyone who has ever stared in awe at a search engine result listing 1 million hits on some subject owes Drs. Trinkle and Merriman a debt of gratitude. This book will take you to the materials you really want to use or explore. It is not only worth the time and money you will invest--it will save you time and pay handsome dividends.

What else can one say--it is this history student's new best friend.

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, The History Highway 2000: A Guide To Internet Resources continues to provide the most extensive and reliable coverage available. Reflecting the swift growth of the Internet, featured are more than twice as many entries (2,500) and many new sections (Australian, New Zealand, Greek, Western History, Agricultural History, Rural Studies, Psychohistory, Historiography, Historical Population Databases, and Historical Book Dealers. The History Highway 2000 is further enhanced with a detailed cross-index offering instant access to every subject and every entry; an expanded glossary of multimedia and web-format terms; as well as periodic updates to the text which are available online. The History Highway 2000 is an invaluable, highly recommended resource for history students, teachers, researchers, librarians, authors, and the general public.

At 600 pages this behemoth is more than twice the length of the first edition. And every page of this guide to history related internet resources is worthwhile. The detailed Table of Contents lists a diverse range of site categories, such as General History, Early American History - 1783-1860, Jewish Holocaust Studies, Geneaology, and Archives and Manuscript collections.

The introductory chapter gives internet startup information, so the book is useful to newbies and experienced web users alike. Later chapters list specific websites along with a paragraph or so of information about the site written by a historian or specialist.

Of particular interest to family history researchers will be the genealogy section, which lists a variety of sites. Instructors and researchers of American History will find useful the 101 pages (expanded and updated from the 33 pages in the first edition) devoted to a chronological list of sites on specific segments of United States History. Also expanded in the new edition is the Women's History segment, which is now 17 pages long and contains a more diverse range of websites than the first edition.

Finally, entries are cross referenced in the index, with internet sites listed in italics. This work is both a useful and enjoyable reference title, and well worth its price.

Having gone through a non related medical problem with a close family member I could really relate to this book and only wish I had known about it sooner. There were so many things that I wished I had Patricia Footes advice on. The check lists were really helpful and I actually made copies of them to share with my family members and take to doctors visits.

Get this book now! When faced suddenly with a bad lab result or those dreaded words, "The doctor would like you to come in for more tests," few of us have the wherewithal to be objective about what is happening. Fear and dread freeze our thought processes, leaving us at the mercy of experts. This woman has been there! Her book is like the hand of a friend, calming us, offering the reader practical advice and restoring our objectivity and humor. Don't wait until you--or someone you love--needs it. Keep one on the shelf.

Ms. Foote's book is an informative and inspirational read for anyone who has dealt with a medical crisis, misdiagnosis or management of a chronic illness. The author provides the reader with emotional support and practical advice on conquering the mystique of the medical community and emerging as more than a survivor. Purely positive!

Patricia Foote's odyssey from sickness to health is a journey remarkable for its observations and insights into what a person can do to take control of his/her medical care. With stunning recollection and detail, the author takes us from her diagnosis of a rare genetic cancer to her present day status as a cancer survivor of more than five years. She offers us practical advice and suggestions about how to talk with doctors, and how to let caregivers and other support people know what we need from them. She shows us how to move beyond that sense of disbelief that comes with a devastating medical diagnlosis to a healthy perspective on how to live the rest of one's life. This is a book you can share with friends and loved ones in the hope you'll never need it, but in the comfort of knowing it's there.

Patricia Foote's odyssey from sickness to health is a journey remarkable for its observations and insights into what a person can do to take control of his/her medical care.

With stunning recollection and detail, Ms. Foote takes us from her diagnosis of a rare genetic cancer to her present day status as a cancer survivor of more than five years. She offers us practical advice and suggestions about how to talk with doctors, and how to let caregivers and other support people know what we need from them. She shows us how to move beyond that sense of disbelief that comes with a devastating medical diagnosis to a healthy perspective on how to live the rest of one's life.

This is a book you can share with friends and loved ones in the hope you'll never need it, but in the comfort of knowing it's there.

Excellent insight into a topic and technology that seems likely to become prevalent on a global scale in the very near future.

Whilst my interest in buying this book and researching i-mode is more from a business rather than technical perspective, both angles seem to have been covered equally well. I appreciated Frengle's well thought through and clearly outlined discussions on a broad variety of topics relating to i-mode and the mobile industry in Japan. The text was very useful in clarifying a number of questions I had and overall I felt the contents in the book was easily accessible and user friendly.

It's definitely worth a read for anyone interested in the mobile industry in Japan or i-mode in general.

I was developing Java apps for i-mode phones in under 4 hours. That was after reading 2 chapters. The rest of the book was a bonus read. The text is a bit outdated w.r.t. European WAP phones, he doesn't seem to realise we have long battery lifes too, WAP on gprs to boot! That's not going to stop me giving it 5 stars. One of the downloads you really need is no longer at the link published in the book. I sent an e-mail to the author late one night pointing this out. When I woke and checked my mail he had answered and I could get what I needed.

This book was worth it as a "get started with i-mode development" and was interesting as a "how they made wireless internet economically viable".

Frengle definitely hits the nail on the head in this book: He tells us all we need to know about the i-mode business model, the i-mode content business, and i-mode's history. Calling this book a 'primer' is apt--it gives us the basic information we need to understand i-mode. But Frengle goes further, in the technical sections, telling us how to program i-mode Java programs, design data driven i-mode applications, and even simple things like how to get sounds on to an i-mode phone, and how to optimize graphics for use on i-mode.
Frengle knows his stuff, working in this field, it says on the back cover, in Tokyo. That definitely matters to me, and is more than can be said for the author of the other book (i-mode Crash Course) that I read about i-mode.
Great job! So, now that we have this excellent book, when do we actually get i-mode in Boston? AT&T Wireless will get the same five stars from me when they do that!

This book delivers exactly what the title promises, and more, with its surprisingly broad and deep look at every aspect of i-mode. In addition to being a guide for programmers, "i-mode A Primer" has valuable information for business readers. Although the focus is on i-mode and DoCoMo in Japan, the case studies in particular provide lessons applicable to anyone considering a mobile solution. Although I haven't had a chance to play with them yet, I'm looking forward to exploring the goodies on the CD included with the book.

An excellent buy. Very readable and well laid out, I'll keep this one within arm's reach for easy reference for the next long while.

PS Okay, I'm not sure what my review title means, but I thought it was catchy.

I like to explore new topics and areas within computers to see what other things are out there. This book is an insight into a whole new arena for me. Judging from the content and the detail of the content, this author has certainly has shown me that he is one the foremost experts on the topic of i-mode.

Over 480 pages make up this manual which covers the model that Japan has found to be the best cash-for content model out there. In part 1 of the book you have the opportunity to look into the history of the i-mode as well as the hardware and software beginnings.

Part 2 is the i-mode environment, who would use the product, what type of audience can and do you target. Making it work so you can enhance the revenue. Finally part 3 is how to develop in i-mode. What application are used for development and the language used to create i-mode pages.

While most of the concepts are still a little beyond my understanding with the cd included , which has Java SDK, Forte for Java, a demo of Adobe Go Live and several other applications, I am beginning to understand what it takes.

Overall the author has spent a great deal of time and effort inputting together a seriously complete reference manual - well done.