Hardware Books

I've only gotten into chapter 3, with a few peeks in the back, but so far this book has lived up to my expectations and more. It has all sorts of basic information for people who haven't had much experience with tinkering with electronics. There's also plenty of reassuring and cautionary information for those concerned that their attempts to play with or improve their Roomba will break it instead. I'm looking forward to trying the experiments -- the book will be worth reading even if I never get around to them, though.

I received a "Rootooth" adapter as a Christmas present so I bought this book to expand on hacking Roomba. It is very detailed and easy to follow. The book assumes that you have some basic programming knowledge (i.e. MS VB, MS C#, MS C++, Java)to get the most out of it. You need to know how to compile and execute Java code to do the experiments in this book. It has some cool experiments and a lot of references to downloads for any utlities you will need to hack Roomba. I would highly recommend "Hacking Roomba" as a must have.

Thank you Tod for putting all of your (and some other Roomba enthusiasts) hacks in one place for easy reference. While my initial reason for buying the book was to read the section about my kids' business, myRoomBud, I was just as interested in the information to help with the multiple Roomba hacking projects I have underway. I am not a hardware guy so having an abundance of pictures and diagrams is essential for explaining the hacks. On the software side, every hack has source code making the hacks usable right from the get go. I cannot count the number of hacking books that only give you pseudo code that is often close to useless. [...]

As a SW programmer interested in SW Robotics Control, this book goes over a lot of those things you would want to do with the Roomba. The iRobot Roomba is a great platform for this and the book highlights these features nicely. Well worth the purchase.

IN A NUTSHELL: DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE UPDATED

Quicksilver hasn't changed as fast as computers and a chameleon couldn't keep up with personal computing over the last twenty years. Therefore, why should one be surprised to find this wonderfully insightful how-to personal computing handbook, a bit obsolete.

The problem with this text is simply that it needs to be made into a new edition, since reading through it leaves an anxious kind of nostalgia as though all of this happened about 100 years ago.

WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT: BEFORE WINDOWS 2000 - USB - BURNING CDs & BROADBAND INTERNET CONNECTIONS

Accepting the fact that this book, featuring Windows 95, modems, old fashioned serial port connections and the like could never have been published before being a bit obsolete, it is still useful to people just getting the hang of personal computers -- like my 86 year old mother. In most cases, whatever computer they have or have had will be around there household as long as it works. So Windows 2000 and other newer applications may not be essential or even relevant for the Grandma Bunny in your lives.

HELPFUL FOR BASIC HOME COMPUTING INCLUDING INTERNET COMMUNICATION VIA A MODEM

Everything in this book is easily understood and comes with a lot of illustrations and practical advice. In essence, this book can act as a surrogate computer tech for people who have recently decided to delve into personal computing for the internet and possibly to communicate with family - long distance. Everything you need, including a handy CD to plug into your PC comes with this book and it can be quite a security blanket while your getting started. Even a troubleshooting section is included a covers most of the most likely problems in computing along with most of the solutions that may be predicted. Though broadband connections and burning CDs are not even mentioned here, most people just getting into PCs are probably getting the internet via a modem and aren't thinking about burning CDs yet.

IN 2000 THIS TEXT WAS $49.95

Writing letters, using Windows Works, PowerPoint and other Windows programs are illustrated and reinforced by the CD that is included. For people that are not in need of the cutting edge applications and programs this book and the helpful CD that is included is a real steal today at just $1-2 plus S&H. It is also highly available from public libraries, which is where I found the copy I have read.

BOTTOM LINE: A UPDATED EDITION IS SORELY NEEDED BUT THIS IS STILL A USEFUL AID

I purchased this book for my senior parents who have in the past year bought not one, but two new computers. Brave as they are, computer jargon is new to them, and sometimes I am hard pressed to help them out long distance. It was great to find this book that looks SO MUCH like the red Reader's Digest Do-It-Yourself book that has occupied my father's bookshelves for as long as I can remember. That familiarity is bound to feel something like climbing a new mountain in a pair of comfortable old jeans.

As a technophobe whose spine turns to syrup when I encounter video machine instructions or, worse still, who feels positively assaulted by those iniquitously obscure computer manuals, I was delighted to have been given this lucid new computer book.

And, having completed a few of the useful but easy projects, my enthusiasm transmuted into gratitude and respect, for HOW TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ON A COMPUTER is the most invaluable and accessible book of its kind I've ever seen, designed for those who dislike obscurity and who, conversely, enjoy clarity, lack of prententiousness and extreme utility.

Such excellence of communication is the Reader's Digest hallmark, and this magnificent book is a premier example of a story well told - and a superb guide to unleashing your computer's awesome power.

As you turn its pages, you are taken on a vivid tour that makes your computer your servant rather than your master. It, literally, puts you in the pilot's seat. No longer will your home computer merely be used to churn out those tedious Christmas Round Robins, but you'll find that it will, with the aid of this book, sprout wings and whisk you into the New Millennium with a host of engaging projects.

Now you can engage your wider family with an impressive full-colour family magazine instead of the Round Robin. And it will be enhanced by the inclusion of home-scanned photographs of little Sally's first walk. Within minutes you'll be turning out professional letterheads, creating menu planners or eye-catching CVs. Indeed, as the title suggests, you and your family will now be able to turn out 'just about anything'. Amazingly, this book shows you how to use your computer to compose music, paint pictures and much more!

You'll be taught how to use Internet - in minutes rather than hours! - and shown how to do historical research. It will lead you step-by-step (and, thankfully, picture by picture) through such arcane obscurities as how to inject more 'oomph' into your PC, how to maximise disc space and how to chase away those naughty viruses.

This book does everything a major and thoroughly entertaining computer course would do - and is suitable not only for the beginner but also for the middle-weight and the advanced user. As a face-to-face course could cost thousands of dollars, the value of this book is, accordingly, immense.

And in comtemplating the myriad of uses readers would find for this book, I thought at once of how teachers would find it invaluable, for they are always seeking clear and well-organised classroom material. This book is ideal for them - not only for instructional use - but also as an essential inclusion in every school or college library.

The Reader's Digest have a knack with language and have found a formula for reaching the great, vibrant majority of mankind. This book exemplifies these skills, for it is as accessible and as appealing to ten-year-olds as it is to post-docs. Created, I'm told, partly in response to the growing need of baby boomers to learn skills they missed in their youth, this comprehensive book will surely satisfy their needs handsomely.

Congratulations, Reader's Digest, for opening the doors to the wonderful world of computers for the vast mass of mankind - and for having so sensitively considered the fears of technophobes!

I purchased this book for my senior parents who have in the past year bought not one, but two new computers. Brave as they are, computer jargon is new to them, and sometimes I am hard pressed to help them out long distance. It was great to find this book that looks SO MUCH like the red Reader's Digest Do-It-Yourself book that has occupied my father's bookshelves for as long as I can remember. That familiarity is bound to feel something like climbing a new mountain in a pair of comfortable old jeans.

I read your book and find it quite enjoyable. While most computer books are boring, yours is not. I hope you will do another someday.

This book helped me with a number of computer problems. The author makes it easy to read and easy to find information.

Sandy Berger is one of us. She understands that not all of us are computer geeks, yet nearly all of us have or will soon have a computer. This book is written in easy to chew bytes and makes the process of purchasing and maintaining a computer system something other than a horrible experience.

This book is a great way to discover what all the interplanetary terms and acronyms salespeople smirkingly throw at you while wandering around a computer store. SCUZZI? Local Bus? PCMCIA slots? Flash BIOS? The average buyer knows not of these things. I liked the way this book takes you by the hand and gently guides you through the maze of the computer world.

I'm a self-taught, read-as-you-go, experiment-at-will designer and have learned software without professional guidance. And there is much basic computerese I have missed along the way. My suggestion would be for all of you out there who are either considering purchasing a computer system or have one but are fairly clueless as to REALLY understanding what you have at your fingertips, to purchase this book immediately, read it from cover to cover, and sit back smugly with a cup of coffee, secure in the knowledge that you now are at least as smart as your computer.

Can this be a 'serious' computing guide? Yes, it is. Sandy weaves lots of clear-spoken, practical help for the layperson with a very inspiring view of what computing can do to expand your world. The title does indeed capture the essence. We teach at-home computing for Seniors; this book paves a nice path for our work.

Your book, How To Use Your Mac, is excellent.I wish I had it even earlier in my learning curve. Beautifully organized and easy to find subjects. Illustrations are very reader friendly for the beginner. A nice piece of work that I hope receives the recognition it deserves. This is the real missing manual for beginners!

Your book, How To Use Your Mac, is excellent. I wish I had it even earlier in my learning curve. Beautifully organized and easy to find subjects.

Illustrations are very reader friendly for the beginner. A nice piece of work that I hope receives the recognition it deserves. This is the real missing manual for beginners.

Full of detailed, easy to read, step by step directions. Comprehensive and easly to follow for a novice like myself. I have been acquintaed with PC's, but purchased a MAC for graphics. This book gave full istructions from connecting a printer to adding a digital camera and scanner. Great book.

If you're a beginner for Mac. Go get this one! It's easy to understand with nice visually illustrations like others in series "HOW TO USE" ..but poor illustrations for capture Mac photographs (..so amateur) But if you really wanna dig deeper in details for everything about your mac....this is not your choice (you can find the other one of Gene Steinberg in Mac OS9 The Complete Reference..emphasis in OS)

Internet Security for the Macintosh - A Guide for the Rest of Us is I believe a "Must Have" Computer Manual, alongside David Pouges "Missing Manual" and Steve Schwartz "Internet Explorer for Macintosh" for every serious Mac Users reference library

The authors, Oppenheimer and Whittaker come impeccably credentialed and their expertise as filtered by joint authorship has clearly made use of their backgrounds with measured and pragmatic effective advice taking you carefully through security requirements from the bottom up. One undeniable advantage in this respect is that they also currently provide ISP services so they know what the real world is about and it shines through.

In addition the timing of the publication is excellent.

Whilst it is Mac specific it could well be considered an essential basic Internet Security Manual for PC Users as well.

The Manual of around 400 pages and 18 chapters is broken down into four sections 1. General Security Principles 2. Securing Internet Services 3. Enhancing Overall Security and 4. Advanced Topics.

The message comes through. If you don't get the basics right even if you apply the advanced advice there may be holes in your system (Microsoft where have we experienced this before!)

There are chapters on Viruses, Personal Firewalls, Home Networking, Securing Mac OS X and an intriguing - Just say no to FTP!

Here I believe in the one place is pragmatic and sensible advice which if followed will make your computer far less vulnerable to Villains, Hackers and Mischief Makers, particularly now that the migration to Cable, ADSL and other broadband DSL technologies leave us a lot more vulnerable than with dial up connections.

Peachpit Press has set up a website to facilitate feedback updates and more recent information for purchasers of the guide.

The book excellently and up-to-date describes the technical issues and is so well-written that we may read it and be glad we did, but it is also so nice and lacks an inspiring ending that we may not do much about Internet security for our Macintoshes once we have put the book down.

At last..a timely and well written book that specifically details the essentials of Mac security...highly recommended

This book is just what it promises, "a guide for the rest of us." It explains how things work, clearly and in logical order, and is laid out so you can easily pick out the parts you need to read.
I used the book to set up a firewall. I had previously purchased a perfectly good one with simple controls, but had no idea what all the buttons meant in terms of blocking unwanted intrusions while retaining normal Internet access. (I'm an experienced Macintosh user, but naive about the underlying mechanisms of the Internet.)
Oppenheimer defines the underlying concepts and provides simple instructions, and with his book I was able to set up my computer security system in less than an hour.

A "must have" for anyone serious about understanding IBM's Information Management System. Clear, concise information for those in the know too! Don't format your RAA without it!

I've been documenting IMS- and DB2-related products for almost 20 years. I had the pleasure of working with Dean Meltz on a long ago version of IMS, and knew then that his knowledge of the database was detailed and comprehensive.

I'm so glad that he was able to put much of that knowledge into one, easy-to-understand IMS primer. While many IMS gurus are retiring, and replacements are hard to find, I think this book is a staple for any IMS shop. This is not an operator's reference. (IMS already has a good one of those.) But it does provide a good overview of database structure and design and explains key points well, with very good illustrations.

This book is a much needed addition to IMS literature. I'm sure it will stand the test of decades, just as the database has done.

After giving a very brief history of IMS, the authors give us a guided tour of its extensive capabilities.

You will learn that IMS has continually evolved from its roots as a hierarchical database to an industrial strength transaction manager that services both SNA and TCP/IP and supports Java, XML and SQL access via stored procedures.

This book does not attempt to describe every nuance of all the IMS features. Instead, it touches upon each capability and discusses the most-used functions. If there is more to know, the reader is directed to the applicable IMS manuals (available on the web).

You can sit down and read this book cover to cover, or you can reference individual chapters to find out what you need, when you need it.

This reference will be close at hand on my bookshelf.

This is the most complete reference book for IMS I have ever seen.

I found this book is very useful. It is really helpful for those who have no idea about Multicasting.

Ip Multicasting : The Complete Guide to Interactive Corporate Networks by David R. Kosiur, Dave Kosiur

Networks Network Addresses Internetworks Protocol Structure Protocol Implementations TCP/IP Application Layer Protocols

David does a very good job of explaining the concepts of IP multicasting and how to use it. He writes in a manner that is easy for the network novice, as well as the experienced network professional to understand. I highly recommend this book.

This is a GR8 second reference book for the iPhone..:-)
Small enough to carry around & not look like too big of a geek..:-)

How could a book dedicated to my little iBreen, Addie go wrong. :-)
It is a perfect companion to tuck into your backpack or the storage
compartment in your car. You will find it to be a great reference,
written in that witty and informative style which is precisely the
trademark feature of Christopher Breen. As it says on the cover,
"All the Secrets of the iPhone, Pocket Sized"

A very useful reference for the iPhone. I've been using Mac's since 96, but wanted to know as much useful information as possible about the iPhone. Chris Breen, for those who don't know him, is a witty, articulate editor for Macworld magazine, and contributes much to Macintosh community. You won't be sorry you got this book, unless you designed the phone yourself you'll be helped and entertained by this book,
Like his other book, The iTunes & iPod Pocket Guide this book won't fit in your average pocket.
You can't go wrong

I love this book! Without it I would miss many of the finer points of the IPhone. Easy to read and understand. Had a quick tutorial at the Apple Store but this book is much better.

The focus of this book is not on formal definitions and theoricals models so much as it is on practical form. But in this book as many other books, does not address these topics in sufficient detail.

Instead, this book emphasizes the use of the security applications, as well as how the applications work and why they are necessary and many other interesting topics.

Yes, this is not the best book about security in linux servers, but yes is a good book for beginners and intermediate users using small LANs.

despite its smallish size (550 pages) this book is packed full of useful info. the first couple of chapters are a whistle stop tour of the all the ways a linux box can be hacked, and the rest of the book describes how to fix these problems. most of the book is intermediate level, but a couple of the later chapters are more advanced. but i think this is a good thing because it means the book goes into much more detail than most others.

If you are a network administrator who needs to get a quick handle on Linux security this would be a very good choice. It covers the basics of security in general (weak passwords, key logging, Trojans, network topology, etc.) as well as security issues that are specific to Linux.

It does a good job of explaining how Iptables are used in a firewall and how to tune the network. Linux Network Security does appear to thoroughly cover all the basic system security considerations including the passwd file, shadowing, enforcing security, using PAM, and SUDO security. The best part of the book is when the author gets to how to choose an appropriate distribution, use a chroot jail, and protect memory.

In addition to the basic Linux security common to all distributions the author discusses role based access control, the Linux Intrusion Detection System, and the secure Linux distribution SeLinux. The book ends with sections on securing the most common services for Linux - Apache, SSH, NFS, NIS, DNS, BIND, and FTP. It also includes a section on keeping your system secure using Tripwire.

If you need additional help on specific issues there are six appendixes which cover recompiling the kernel, kernel configuration for networking, firewall scripts, and cryptography. This book is obviously intended for the Linux network administrator, but the level of knowledge assumed is somewhat confusing. For some pieces it seems to assume no prior knowledge (like Chapters 1 and 2) and for other areas it seems to assume some basic prior understanding of Linux (although admittedly minimal). Keep in mind that there are whole books on some of these items (like securing Apache) so there is obviously much more detailed information available if you have a specific need. Linux Network Security is highly recommended to network administrators who are dealing with a basic file and print sharing network or who need a solid overview of Linux security and some of the security problems with common services.

Security is one of those things that everyone knows they should do but typically doesn't until too late. In spite of all the warnings most companies ignore the pleadings of the assigned security specialist until all of a sudden they are hit in the face with a penetration. And this is the theme of the introductory chapter, except that he explains it a lot better.

The second chapter starts with an explanation of John The Ripper. This is a program that attempts to automatically crack your system's password file. (The John The Ripper program is included on the books CD so you can use it to test your own system.)

By this point he had my attention. It was clear that if he wished he could get into my system and do whatever he wished. I interrupted my reading at this point and changed several system passwords to make them a lot more difficult.

After that I went on to read the rest of the book on finding, fixing and preventing holes in a Linux network. I never realized it was so easy.

The book is a combined explanation of what's happening and a wealth of software on the CD. This software, described in the text part of the book, is a selection of software off of the net. The net has a huge amount of software available. Here the author has selected a dozen or so packages that he discusses enough for you to use and to have some faith that the results you are getting are worthwhile.

Perhaps the best book on Linux security ever.

We use this book almost every day... and we wrote it. It's a compilation of the most useful (and effective) techniques that we know to simplify life with Linux.

In this book, we show you simple ways to streamline security, administration, backup, monitoring, and more. The first few sections are dedicated to tailoring your desktop and command-line environment. You'll find out how to use the KDE network protocols and the GNOME virtual file systems (and how to define file associations in either environment). Quick tips on using the bash shell will streamline your work at the command-line.

The "Good Housekeeping" sections show you how to get the most from your filesystem, install and upgrade Linux software, and even customize (and build) your kernel.

The system security topics we've chosen for this book include PAM authentication, e-mail (and file) encryption, using SUDO instead of su, SSH and SCP. We also cover network and system security tools such as Nessus and Bastille.

We've included a whole section on tuning up servers: Apache, MySQL, sendmail, and more. We'll explain how to install and configure SpamAssassin and show you how to keep the rulebase up to date with a daily dose of RulesDuJour. If you use the Evolution e-mail client, you'll want to read the section that shows how to connect Evolution to SpamAssassin.

Are you a Hotmail or Lycos e-mail user? Find out how to deliver your HTTPMail accounts straight into your e-mail client without navigating through ads in your Web browser.

If you want to try out new software without endangering your system, read the section on building UML jails, with or without
the LIDS security system.

We cover many more topics in this book than we can mention here - this book is a good addition to your library whether you are a Linux newbie or an experienced administrator. We had a lot of fun writing it and hope you enjoy using it.

-- Susan and Korry

I was the technical editor of this book and I can say without a doubt that this book is great. I have been using Linux for many years and have written several Linux books so I have a good grasp of Linux. I was amazed at the information I discovered reading this book and how useful it was to me.

I have used many of the techniques in this book on my home systems as well as the servers I run at work. Many of the techniques are real time savers for some everyday administrative tasks, while others are useful for maximizing your system's performance. I highly recommend this book!

Even though it's a bit beyond where I am right now with Linux, I was impressed with Susan Douglas and Korry Douglas's book Linux Timesaving Techniques For Dummies (Wiley). There are a lot of gems found in these pages...

Chapter List: Making The Desktop Work for You; Getting the Most from Your File System; Good Housekeeping with Linux; Tweaking the Kernal on Your Linux System; Securing Your Workspace; Networking Like a Professional; Monitoring Your System; Serving Up the Internet and More; Backing Up Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry; Programming Tricks; The Scary (Or Fun!) Stuff; Index

In many ways, this reminds me of a Hacks-style book. There are 62 techniques outlined here that you can use to make sure your system is running at peak efficiency or to save you time during normal administration chores. It's targeted for Fedora Core 2, SuSe, and Mandrake, so if you're running one of those distributions, you should be able to benefit from the information. So what are some of the techniques? #44 helps you get a MySQL server up and running quickly. #24 helps you learn how to customize your Linux kernel if you're really into that sort of thing. #22, Spring Cleaning Essentials, is also very beneficial both from an efficiency standpoint (fewer active processes) and a security standpoint (fewer potential paths into your system). All the tips are like this... very practical, and well documented.

And if you've had the impression that Dummies titles are majorly dumbed down, this volume will squelch that opinion. There's nothing in this book that pertains to "dummies". I consider this a good read for someone who has a few months of active Linux experience under their belt, and they want to start exploring a few topics that start to wander from just the basic commands. I'll be keeping this one with the rest of my Linux titles, and hopefully about six months from now I'll realize the full benefit from it.

Usually I always walk away from books titled for Dummies. Mostly because I have been using Linux for some time and I do low level linux C programming and sys admin. I have to respect the work of the book's authors, it is neat and very good. I am sure that this book will help a lot of folks to use Linux and realize how powerfull it is. Best of all, doing it without wasting time.

If you are a Linux beginner you will find this book quite enlighting, if you are a Linux user chances are you will find usefull stuff inside. Also, this is not an expensive book.

Do realize I have never met the authors and I am not associated to them.

The other comments before are from the Authors and from a editor. Hey, it is not a crime to vote for yourself, isn it?

Kudos to the Douglas!