Internet Books

Steve Fishman's "Karaoke Nation" is an underrated and relatively undiscovered gem. It covers Fishman's attempted transition from journalist to entrepreneur, intermingled with essay-like takes by Fishman on business today. Those pieces feature some trenchant (and funny) observations on the likes of Fast Company, Tom (the spitter) Peters, The Brand Called You and other late-90s business phenomena.

Where the book really excels is in Fishman's recounting of his attempts to breathe life into Karaoke Nation concept. What I love is his recounting of the interactions between himself and advisors/partners-to-be Steve Reynolds (aptly called "Consigliere" thoughout the book by Fishman), web guru Peter Clemente and Oddcast CEO Adi Sideman. It's really fabulous writing. Hopefully, these three are happy with the way they've been depicted. I think Fishman has drawn each of them in a very positive light.

Other high points include meetings with hip hop entrepreneurs Russell Simmons and Chuck D. Fishman has a real ear and eye for what his readers want to hear out of those interactions.

I do take exception to the comment by another reviewer saying "of course the business failed." Not true. What did happen is that the entire Internet craze got pulled out from under Fishman and his circle (they tried to bring this live in the 1999 - 2000 timeframe). And, Fishman does have a completed product he can point to...see karaoke.oddcast.com for a licensed version of the technology. You can actually go there and record a karaoked version of 'The Tide Is High' and a small number of other tunes. It's pretty slick technology. Fishman got his vision into a product. He can hold his head pretty high.

I loved this book. Steve Fishman offers the reader two great stories in one: his own sometimes hysterical, sometimes bittersweet story of trying to become an internet entrepreneur and all the characters he meets along the way; and the story, the history, really, of American business ethic and practices - from Ben Franklin's principles through the dotcom dreamers and schemers.
Fishman has a wry sense of humor and you will laugh out loud at his encounters with all those who participate in the e-business romp, from his dry cleaner who also sells missiles online, to his colorful partners, to the distractible Israeli commando in pink bathrobe and wooly slippers.
It's no secret or surprise that journalist Fishman fails at business; but, lucky for us, he took lots of notes and turned the experience into a great read!

I was in a friends house yesterday and picked up his copy of kareoke nation. It took me thirty minutes to put it down and we missed our lunch reservation but it was worth it. I can't wait till my copy comes and I can go back to reading it.

Definately a must for people who are interested in wit, modern culture, and a whimsical look at fortunes folly.

I f you love adventure this is the book for you. Steve Fishman has the ability to turn a conversation at a cocktail party into a high wire act of observation. His meeting with Russell Simmons as well as his encounter with his missile selling dry cleaner are hilarious and deeply revealing about the nature of the business culture in this country. I've long been a fan of Mr. Fishman's writing in NY magazine and this book confirms his status as one of the leading reporters on our time.

The most redeeming factor about "Karaoke Nation" is that the concept, which reads like something Bill & Ted would have thought up, fails so miserably. Instead of another IPO story, what we get is a nonevent that proves that even during the nutty Internet boom VC's could occasionally be trusted to filter out unworthy projects.

Fishman, who spends almost a quarter of the book glorifying the 70's granola-flaky ideals that defined his sense of self at Brown University, makes a connection that the weird turned pro sometime during the 90's and things like research, development and execution just didn't matter to business anymore - all it took was an Idea, and Passion.

Unfortunately, Fishman has trouble even on these two counts. The Idea, after throwing away some amusingly low-caliber concepts like a "Hi-Five" dummy arm for lonely sports enthusiasts (don't ask) stumbles out of a bar with a vague concept having something to do with Karaoke (duh) and the Internet (because there's no manufacturing involved, so it sounds easy.) Through his journalistic connections, he ends up partnering with a couple folks who have enough experience to at least fake their way through their Power Point presentations and hype things up to some interesting audiences along the way.

The Passion part proves to be hard as well, partly because Fishman's exercising some truly new mental muscles here, and partly because it becomes increasingly obvious that he's the weak link in the chain. Ultimately, being the "Idea Man" isn't enough to keep his partners from deserting him, and Edison's "1% inspiration, 99% perspiration" success ratio holds true.

The downer for me is that Fishman should have read Tracey Kidder's "The Soul of a New Machine" before writing this book. As I mentioned, while 25% of the book is spent glorifying the marvels of EST, he totally missed out on the fact that the foosball-in-the-office sleep-on-the-floor cult of New Technology office life didn't spring from this; it evolved out of mid-1970's microcomputer engineering culture run amok. Fishman has nothing but disdain for programmers, tech workers, and anybody who actually has to develop things; he is, after all, an Idea Man and seems them as the logical extension of 1950's Organization Man. Even when OddCast provides Karaoke Nation's only saving grace in hacking up a quick demo, Fishman seems ungrateful; the fact that his shred of a non-idea ends up being bought out by his tech partner for a pittance seems poetic justice indeed.

And just in case you're wondering, the Million Dollars didn't happen, although Fishman did mange to find find a little bit of Glamour and Fulfillment along the way.

I am currently a student enrolled in the ECOT High School and I when I discovered this book I was excited to read it. I quickly bought myself a copy and couldn't put it down!! I think that more ECOT students need to read this book--it will really open your eyes and show you just how much work went into starting this school. ECOT has been wonderful for me because of my medical situation and I think this book made me appreciate it even more. I would definitely recommend it to anyone!!! Please read this book--it is definitely worth it!!

This is a great 'behind the scenes' look at one man's struggle to establish the nation's first public e-school. Sadly enough, many of the struggles the author faced stem from resistance posed by the educational establishment and its drive for self-preservation. While one might glibly assume a profit motive, the book reveals to us how the author's personal experiences drove him to beat the odds and make ECOT a reality. Rather than a money-making scheme, ECOT emerges as a labor of love.

One wonderful feature that maintained my interest was the student case history featured at the beginning of each chapter. These testimonials from successful ECOT graduates paint a wide and varied portrait of today's American students and the challenges they face. From school violence to teen pregnancy, lack of motivation, family illness and the demands of work, we get a firsthand account of the issues these students face and how the availability of publicly funded home e-schooling allowed them to cross the educational finish line.

Being one of the students featured in the book, I was thrilled when I first found out about the book. Upon reading it, I finally realizd how moch sweat and back breaking work went into ECOT. It truely has revolutionized the way that anyone will go to school. I enjoyed the time that I spent there, and can't wait until the day that it appears around the world.

I thought from the get-go, the book was mainly about Mr. Lager's approach to starting a school of this caliber, and I was right. From an idea to reality, this book really details what really went into making ECOT anything but an idea on a drawing board. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the future of schooling as we know it for one reason. It's here, alive and well and ready to go.

Bill Lager has truly changed the way I think about education. No more finger pointing, he has taken responsibility that the traditional education system can't - or won't. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in alternative forms of education for K-12 and for those who don't believe that online education can work. Lager has proven it can, and will - for a long time to come.

This was a great book; I really enjoyed reading it. More than anything, I loved reading the stories about the students whom were apart of the first e-classroom. This book proves a very important lesson; if you work hard and believe fully in what you are working at, anything is possible.

Thank you to Michael Busby for writing this book! I've had many reference books in the past and found them more frustrating than helpful. Not with this book! It is the only book right by my computer so I may refer to it as much as I need. I recommend it highly to anyone who needs help with searches.

This very well written book is a must for anybody wanting to learn more about Google. It goes beyond Google's Help section to provide all the pertinent information you need in a very organized way. Eliminate your search frustration and save time. The search challenge and search examples are great.

Michael Busby's new Book Learn Google helped me to catch on quickly to the fundamentals of Google that go beyond the simple "type in key words" searching. I found the writing very clear and concise, not filled with technical clutter, and the examples in latter parts of the book are easy to follow and enlightening in terms of the more advanced Google search features such as using the phone book, something not found easily in other references.

I found Learn Google to be very helpful in search techniques.
The use of examples makes this a terrific tool for the beginner as well as those who feel that they are beyond intoductory help books. Using the techniques described eliminates the frustration that results in many of us "giving up" on a search. The author makes it an enjoyable learning experience with search games.

I'm a research junkie -- have been almost all my life. My entrance essay for law school was about my various research projects. It worked -- I graduated from Harvard Law School in 1986.

Mr. Busby's book provided a critical guide to Google, showing much more independence of thought than "Google for Dummies" and "How to Do Everything with Google." His approach to the subject included technical information that I found much more user friendly than "Google Hacks" and "A Pocket Guide to Google."

I appreciated the tips on ancillary search issues including such topics as firewalls, Zone Alarm and Mcafee Visual Trace. I also appreciated the way he experimented with different search techniques to see what Google would let you do. It encouraged me to be brave when googling.

I definitely enjoyed the humor, including the last page of the Internet. The Search Challenge was great fun and I learned numerous search techniques from taking the challenge.

Learn Google is undoubtedly the best Google book on the market.

In this work, Rebecca Herold deftly lays out a framework that is easy to follow and comprehensive. She has skilfully managed to compile material that would otherwise take a significant amount of research, time and work to collect, and has created tools for the reader that are easily modified and transferred to any industry and indeed any country.

Ms. Herold consistently produces high quality written information centered around current and often complex subjects. The kernel of what she offers is the rare ability to present these topics as easy to understand and enjoyable to read.

As I live and work in Canada I was concerned that this book may be too centered on American laws and methodologies. I could not have been further off the mark. The methodology meticulously laid out by Ms. Herold could be applied in any country on the planet and ensure that whoever is following its plan is successful in their delivery.

In my 17+ years in Information engineering, security and education I have only kept a handful of texts on my bookshelf. This will be one of them.

If your organization is considering a security or privacy awareness program, this book will pay for itself many times over. I am not aware of any other resource that includes this much material about the art and science of awareness and training. Although this book is over 500 pages long, I found it easy to jump to specific chapters to get just the information I needed. The main chapters cover every aspect of program development including: planning, establishing a business case, budgeting, selling management, audience selection, material design and development, implementation, and measurement. Chapter 10 alone - which maps over 50 different awareness topics to various job roles - should save an organization thousands of dollars in program planning. And don't overlook the Appendices. Almost every sample form and worksheet you would need is available as an appendix. The assessment questionnaires alone should save dozens of hours of development. Definitely one of best security awareness investments your organization will ever make.

I am not a friend nor acquaintance of Ms. Herold. I believe this is a good book on Awareness Training and would recommend it to professionals in that field and to security professionals contemplating an awareness training program. I believe the book has especially good material on Legal and Regulatory requirements for training. However, it is too long at 515 pages. For a training program, the best bet is to collaborate with corporate training departments; security awareness training is no different from all the other types of awareness training. There is no point in security professionals reinventing the wheel on training methods. A collaborative approach will yield faster results than reading and understanding everything that is in this book.

The author introduces her book very eloquently: "I wrote this book to provide a starting point and an all-in-one resource for information security and privacy education practitioners. I incorporated much of the information and knowledge I obtained while working on my MA in computer science and education as applicable to providing education to adult learners. Additionally, I included the same type of information that I've used and found helpful over the years when creating awareness and training programs ... My goal was to provide a more comprehensive resource of everything involved with managing an information security and privacy training and awareness program than I had been able to find - a reference for practitioners to go to when implementing any part of their education program and get ideas that will help them be successful with their own program."

The entire `lifecycle' of a security awareness program is covered from program design (e.g. why awareness is important, legal and regulatory requirements and even `how not to do it') through program delivery and execution (getting started, gaining executive sponsorship and budget, topics to cover, methods of delivery/communications and motivational techniques, incorporating awareness into job responsibilities etc.) to program management (hints about planning, controlling and reporting progress) and program review (how to check that your program remains on-track and effective).

The book may appear overwhelming to someone just starting out on their information security and privacy awareness although it is not compulsory to read the entire book cover-to-cover in one sitting (tempting though that may be!). The chapter on `Getting started' is recommended reading, with details of how to identify key contacts, review the organization's existing approach to awareness and training, and a handy road-map that would serve as a good high level project plan. For more experienced information security professionals, and especially those considering or tasked with `doing awareness', this book is a must-read. Even seasoned security awareness practitioners would likely learn new things from this book, at least I did and suspect my copy will become well-thumbed in the months and years ahead.

The coverage is reasonably even throughout with plenty of meaty content in every section. The writing style is engaging, quite easy to read yet at the same time stimulating and thought provoking. The book is crammed full of good ideas, not just theoretical concepts but solid practical advice that can be put to use immediately. It really is hard to think of any way the book could have been better - praise indeed if you have read any of my reviews of other security awareness books.

This really *is* the definitive guide - a wonderful book for practitioners in our field, one I'm happy to recommend unreservedly.

I'll begin by saying that I have two broad comments about Ms. Herold's new book, Managing an Information Security and Privacy Awareness and Training Program. First, it may be the definitive book on the topic and seems to have enough meat to be the definitive book on the practice of information security in general. It approaches the profession in the right way: people-oriented. That is rare and important. Second, I actually read it from cover to cover - a rare thing for me. Professional books usually find their ways to my reference library and are used mostly for that purpose, not for general reading.

In the over twenty years I have been in the information security profession I have seen a lot of approaches to managing the security of organizational information. There is one common thread that ties all of those approaches together. The successful ones address the people who use and manage that information. Technology simply is a collection of tools to assist the information assurance manager with the task. It has been said that there are management solutions to technical problems but no technical issues to management problems. Ms. Herold addresses this homily head-on and does it with style, personality and skill.

Her experience shows as does the commentary from two icons in our profession, Donn Parker and Hal Tipton. If you have any questions about whether you should buy this book, read their comments in the Preface and Forward.

I have known Becky for many years and I respect her skill, experience and ability to present important issues clearly, concisely and understandably. Her latest book does all that and more.

If I was told that I was moving to a new office and could take only two boxes of books with me from my library, I would fill both with technical books but I would leave space for the only two general books on information assurance I will ever need. One is "The Computer Security Handbook" edited by my good friend and long-time colleague Dr. Mich Kabay. The other would have to be "Managing an Information Security and Privacy Awareness and Training Program". It would take more than the two boxes to cover technical issues in security, but I could put Mich's and Becky's books in my brief case. Then I would have the perfect security library.

This book is highly recommended for any information assurance professional (or aspiring professional), manager with information assurance responsibilities, or training coordinator. I'm sure there are others who need this new offering as well, but Amazon only allows so much space for these reviews. I also will be highly recommend this book to our students in the MSIA program at Norwich.

Peter R. Stephenson, PhD, CISSP, CISM, FICAF
Associate Program Director, MSIA
Norwich University

I recieved my copy of Excell within the specified time and have found the Maran Illustrated Excel 2003 and excellent manual to become a professional user of Excell

Thought of taking an Excel class? You can do it yourself with this book.

This book has made life so easy for me.I ordered the whole MS suite. They are user friendly and the color as well as concept are awsome. The book is in NEW condition!!!!!

Thanks

The Maran Illustrated computer series is excellent. Clear captures of computer screen images allows the reader to follow along easily to the explanations.

Although I have not completed the full book, I found it very good especially for beginners. I was not conversant at all with Excel and found that I needed it for my employment as my employer had changed my job and I needed the basics.

I found the illustrations very good and easy to follow, and anything I needed to know found easy to find in the book.

I would recommend this book, especially to anyone with little or no knowledge of Excel.

The best book on SharePoint Services 3.0 and I have read just about every book about SharePoint Services. Bookmark her blog at [...]. Also get Inside Microsoft Windows Services 3.0 by Ted Pattison and Daniel Larson and Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007 Step by Step by Penelope Coventry.

This is the only book on WSS 3.0 that I've found to be complete. It comes at over a thousand pages. No other title even comes close. It's well-written, interesting to read (no mean feat for a tech book!), and most important--it's accurate and relevant. It covers all the base admin stuff in more depth than any other book on the topic I've seen. If you only have budget for one WSS 3.0 book, here's where you should spend it.

After our recent adoption of WSS 3.0 I spent many a weeks in training classes and text books. What I found most difficult was finding a book that focused on WSS 3.0 from network administrators point of view. Most books I read were a 70/30 split with 70% about SharePoint and its webparts and lists and such and only 30% about the Networking side and things to look for in IIS, SQL, and general services that ran with WSS. This book fit the bill perfect and was also enjoyable to read. The author was humorous throughout as well as detailed in her presentation. All points of thought and option were geared from what NetAdmins are more concerned about, network performance / Security and less about how pretty a list can look for an end-user.

Recently I started thinking about Sharepoint for one of my clients. Since I'd never had an opportunity to really delve into it, I watched a couple of Microsoft Videos to get an overview. Then I purchased this book. Aside from an enormous amount of typos, this is an EXCELLENT book. It covers everything I want to know in a very organized and understandable way. I highly recommend it and hope they find an editor who can fix the annoying typos!!!

As a SharePoint instructor I am always on the lookout for additional references that I can recommend to my students and also use to improve my own delivery of a complex topic.

I think it is essential to have a clear understanding of Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) as the foundation of what MS refers to as "SharePoint Products and Technologies". Many people (myself included) dig right into MS Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) without a complete understanding of what is part of WSS what is only available with a MOSS license. This problem is exacerbated if the only SharePoint reference on your bookshelf is a MOSS reference (hint - book titles with SharePoint 2007 or SharePoint Server 2007 in the title are probably MOSS books).

I really like the authors writing style. I find the explanations clear and the style comfortable and accessible.

I highly recommend this book whether you are in a MOSS or WSS only environment.

I sincerely wish I had read this book before my journey into the abyss of Dot.com dating. Not a widow but a divorcee, it still pertained to all I have experienced. Sometimes laughing to the point of tears. Sometime feeling the sadness to the same degree. Thank you for taking us on a personal and heartfelt journey. I know what I'm giving my single forty something friends for Christmas. And I'm sure I will get a thank-you note THIS YEAR !
Kate Covington

"What does a woman want?" In her witty and poignant book, MatchDotBomb, Francine Pappadis Friedman gives a unique insight into the age-old question. Not only a candid look at computer dating-often hilarious-but also a moving story of how to deal with loss and survival. The author does give a clear perception to what women seek: kindness, honesty, accountability and to top it all off - a sense of humor is what they seek. What a wonderful read!

Great title! This book is so sweet and funny. Whether you've been on the internet dating scene or not, you can relate to the weary world of finding a companion. A well written and honest portray, you'll find yourself rooting for Francine, as she explores the dating world and learns so much about herself along the way.

Helen Gallagher, author Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way

When fellow Chicagoan Francine Pappadis Friedman found herself widowed in her fifties, she was devastated. "When I got married years ago it was .. 'til death do us part. I just never counted on that death part."

Spurred on by two good friends, Francine, an attractive, hard-working professional woman and fifty-something mother of two grown children, tried the world of Internet dating. Her encounters with a rogues's gallery of lonely men are hilarious; her dates range from the always-angry, cynical lawyer who sees a potential personal injury suit everywhere and the aging hippie with long white hair, earrings, tattoos, and a motorcycle to the extreme health nut, obviously much older than stated in his on-line profile, who talks only about his diet and exercise regimen. They are all there: the extremely needy, the seemingly deranged, the not-so-funny joker.

Along the way through her journey, Friedman also describes a trip to Greece when she was twelve. It was a family trip to the country and the tiny village where her father was born and raised. Understanding her heritage was important to her life journey, as was reflecting about her happy marriage and family life.

Francine Friendman seems to understand the men she meets very well, but this book is not really about Internet dating. She does not find her soul mate, but along the way, she finds herself. Discovering who we really are and what we really want and acting on that knowledge are what really matter. The author learns this lesson. Her book is about an awakening and about following one's own dreams.

Francine Pappadis Friedman accomplishes a great deal in this book. She gently moves her readers through moments in her life that reveal joy, heartbreak, survival and, ultimately, spiritual enlightenment. And on the path from here to there, you are treated to an amazing assortment of "close encounters" that keep you turning pages, shaking your head, laughing and sighing. I was deeply moved and thoroughly entertained if somewhat anxious, because the further I read, the more I was cheering Francine on. I wanted her to find her elusive soul mate. Of course, you will have to read the book to find out if that's what happened. MatchDotBomb is a gift to every person who, tired of the fix-ups and tired of the loneliness, chanced one fateful day to look at the computer screen and wonder..."what if"? If that is you, read this book. If you don't know online dating from fly-fishing, read this book. If you are a man, a woman, or even a semi-intelligent life form from another planet (many of whom, I am convinced, run personal ads on the Internet) read this book. Francine's story is a poignant reminder that life is not about the destination. It is about the journey.

This book covers all main areas associated with a SharePoint implementation project, focusing on:
- Planning the deployment
- Deploying and integration with other platforms
- Monitoring and performance measurement
It addresses all topics comprehensively and discusses web part development, customisation and extensibility options. I concur with the prevailing sentiment amongst the other reviewers and would add that this is one of the best technical books of any kind that I have seen lying around!

I bought this book and anthoer very npopular sharepint book. I think this book is the best. It covers almost everything you need both in depth and broad level. Great book...highly recommmand it.

SharePoint products have come together to produce a more tightly integrated and richer platform, upon which successful collaboration and information sharing can occur. Authors Kevin Laahs, Emer McKenna and Veli-Matti Vanamo have done an outstanding job in this book of covering almost every single aspect of SharePoint.

Laahs, McKenna and Vanamo begin this book by looking at the architecture of Windows SharePoint Services (WSS). In addition, the authors look at how a WSS site is used for the purpose of supporting multi author document collaboration. They also take a look at the architecture of SharePont Portable Server (SPS) and the key features that it brings to the collaboration landscape. Then, they focus on site personalization, delivered by WSS; profiles, delivered; personal sites, delivered by SPS; audience targeting, delivered by SPS; and, IM integration, delivered by Office 2003 and Messenger. The authors then look at the major components of search and how they can affect the features available to end users. Next, they introduce you to software and hardware architecture concepts that you should familiarize yourself with. Then, they take a brief look at the core server products you may want to integrate with your deployment and then focus on planning the features you can enable for SharePoint Products and Technologies. The authors continue by delving further into capacity and hardware planning for SharePoint Products and Technologies. Next, they cover the major aspects of deploying SharePoint Products and Technologies and walk you through a few example installation scenarios for both products. In addition, they cover some of the typical migration scenarios and tools available for you to perform them. The authors then look briefly at the architectures of both SPS 2001 and STS and how they evolved into the current SharePoint platform. Next, they examine the concept of Web Parts and Web Part Pages and where they fit into the overall SharePoint architecture. They then continue to expand upon the topic of deployment and explain the security framework surrounding Web Parts. In addition, the authors focus on the aspects of FrontPage and SharePoint integration that have the most impact. Finally, they take a look at some of the more advanced methods of customizing and extending your SharePoint implementation.

With the preceding in mind, the authors have done an excellent job of providing you with the basic knowledge and tools to begin applying the common customizations applicable to many organizations. Obviously, your requirements may be more specialized and require additional knowledge beyond what they were able to provide.

I found this book a very helpful reference and companion while implementing Sharepoint technologies
The authors have planned it carefully based on actual experience
Some other titles are just a copy of the help files or they tell you what you can easily find out yourself
Only drawbacks which (i forgive):
1. the index is not comprehensive, so it is sometimes difficult to find certain topics quickly
2. some issues are not addressed, viz. bugs, problems etc
3. a section on tips and tricks would have been very helpful (like adding friendly URLs in announcements)
All in all a great value for money and thumbs up to the authors.

I had to search and collate a lot of information off the MSDN library, couple of other SharePoint books and newsgroups -- which I could have easily obtained from this book at first glance.

The book approaches Microsoft's portal (and underlying) technology from an architecture perspective and dives into the various phases of any real SharePoint engagement; as promised by the book's title. I would recommend it for people new to SharePoint who are going to be involved seriously, and also to "experienced" people as a good source for reference.

If there was an advanced version of this book, I'd buy it!

Everyone's favorite witch is back, and the many fans of author Barbara Brooks Wallace are welcoming Miss Switch's return with open and eager arms.
Written with Ms. Wallace's usual wit, charm and impeccable plotting, the story reunites young Rupert P. Brown III with his former school teacher, that most admirable witch, Miss Switch, about whom he says, "Once you've had the best, nothing else is ever going to seem that good."
The same can be said for Ms. Wallace's book. In an age of heavy, morbidly serious children's fantasy, MISS SWITCH ONLINE comes as a welcome breath of fresh air, jiggling the reader's funny bone and charming a new generation of children looking for a good read and a good laugh.
Don't miss this one. It's a winner.

I like stories where I could be the main character, like Rubert in this book. Rubert doesn't have magic powers and I don't have them. If Rubert did he wouldn't need Miss Switch. I wish I had a teacher like Miss Switch. She is scary and funny. This book is fun and I am telling my friends about it.

Snap, crackle, pop! Sharp, prickly (but with a heart of gold) Miss Switch is back at last! It's been too many years since she first appeared, but what's a few years to a witch once condemned to sweep Witch's Mountain for one hundred fifty
years? The crazy computowitch returns, but this time as wicked Saturna's web site computowitch.com. Rupert P. Brown again humorously records the story in his journal, but make no mistake about it, he hasn't a magic (or scientific) power to his name, and considers himself lucky to have Miss Switch around to save his skin, and that of his whole class at Pepperdine Elementary School. This book is as funny as the first two! I hope that Rupert doesn't wait one hundred fifty years, give or take, to record another encounter with the fantastic Miss Switch.

This long-awaited third installment of the Miss Switch series is sure to please old fans and new. This time Rupert and Miss Switch (disguised as a substitute teacher) take on the evil witch Saturna who's spreading her nasty schemes through the Internet. Pure light-hearted fun guaranteed to make kids laugh (especially during the Romeo and Juliet scene: "I didn't come here to get insulted...I came here to woo"), MISS SWITCH ONLINE rules!

My children (and I!) once all enjoyed THE TROUBLE WITH MISS SWITCH and MISS SWITCH TO THE RESCUE so much I was happy to learn of the new book, MISS SWITCH ONLINE. I gave copies to my grandchildren, and they LOVE it! They think this is a "really, really funny" book. They dislike writing letters, but thought everyone should be told about this new Miss Switch book, in case they haven't already heard about it. I suggested thaat I might write a letter for them, which, as all can see, I have!

My approach to this book has been dictated from curiosity for this new technology more than for the implementation side of it. Mobile IP is a field where I have very little knowledge of this technology and needed to gain some background on it. My point of view will therefore ignore the configuration examples used in the book.

The authors did a great job in writing the book in a very simple English and using an informal style, which helps the reading by not making the text too tedious.

The first couple of chapters gave me a good overview of the basic principles of Mobile IP. The illustrations used in the book are very helpful to better explain the concepts described in the text. Some were a little too confusing because of all the acronyms and several times I had to give a quick glance at the pictures to resume myself the situation. The third chapter goes on with security issues that come back in almost all of the rest of the book. The fourth chapter goes in detail on how to set up a lab environment to apply the concepts explained in the rest of the book.

The following chapters show some basic case studies of mobile IP applications: Campus Mobility, Metro Mobility and Cisco Mobile Networks. These chapters require a good knowledge of tunneling, VPNs, routing and wireless concepts.

The last two chapters were more interesting for me as chapter 8 talked about scalability of the mobile IP solutions and the differences between different forms of IP addressing. The last part of the chapter shows some basic troubleshooting techniques. Chapter 9 called "A look ahead" is very valuable because it describes the various techniques discussed to bring the mobile IP technology to meet the IPv6 standard and what the idea of Cisco is in this area.

The book is thought as a companion book for studying and has the usual end-of-chapter questions that help the reader to check his understanding of the last things learned. The answers given in the Appendix A to all the questions are very explicative and help to review the entire concepts seen in the book.

A good book that has given me the basic understanding of the theory of Mobile IP. I suggest it both for those who want to have a look at Mobile IP and also to those who want a deeper understanding of the topic. A real-world case study would have given this book a top class touch.

Mobile IP Technology and Applications (ISBN 158705132x) is an introduction to IP mobility using an open-standard protocol called Mobile IP. There is a distinction made between true mobility and just "traveling" between different connections. This protocol enables users to keep their IP, stay connected, and allow others to find them while roaming between networks and equipment. In addition, detailed examples using real-world situations illustrate the applications of this technology. Advanced topics include reverse tunneling, firewalls, NAT, VPNs, authentication, scalability, and QoS.

Stefan Raab and Madhavi W. Chandra, authors, share their experience designing and developing network solutions using Mobile IP. Their credentials are impressive and give the learner confidence in the information they are imparting.

This book is designed for network administrators who are familiar with IP routing, protocols, applications, and Cisco IOS. Even though the real-world situations are generic, the configuration, troubleshooting, and management are explained using Cisco IOS. IT personnel who want to implement mobile technology can definitely benefit from this book as it explains the basics thoroughly before giving detailed examples and explanations. The index is complete; there is not a glossary. At the end of each chapter are review questions, so this book could easily be used in a classroom or in self-study. There are two appendices: one contains the answers to the chapter questions and the other contains the SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) MIB (Management Information Base) objects supported by Cisco IOS Mobile IP.

Raab and Chandra organized their book into nine chapters, each of which is a facet of Mobile IP. After an introduction of concepts and requirements of mobility and wireless networking, a detailed discussion of the Mobile IP protocol includes features, functions, and components. As with any network today, there are security concerns with protocol authentication and dynamic keying. The material presented in these early chapters is used in the scenarios in following chapters.

Mobility solution examples are provided for basic topologies, client-based Mobile IP, high availability, AAA servers, reverse tunneling, firewall and NAT traversal, and integration with VPN technologies. Basic configuration is introduced which leads into integration topics of redundancy, QoS, and VPN. The management and operation discussion leads to Home Address, scalability, and server management.

Future trends and uses for Mobile IP conclude the topics of this book: layer 2 integration challenges, Mobile IPv6, unstructured mobility, and ad hoc networking.

This book follows the linear, logical model of textbook organization that progresses from basic facts, to advanced topics, and concludes with end-to-end solutions. The authors feel that this book also enables someone to jump in at any chapter and navigate the subject by features and environment in which they are interested. They have created cross-references to assist readers who do not want to use the book in linear form. This works well for users with previous knowledge of the subject.

The examples, figures, and illustrations are clear, concise, and designed to help learners understand a complex subject. Cisco IOS knowledge is prerequisite, although the authors' expertise and explanations give logic behind implementation and options.
This book deserves a rating of 5 (highest) and is recommended for IT personnel wanting to move into true "mobility."

Mobile IP Technology and Applications
Reviewer: Glenn Bradley, Senior Network Engineer
Reviewer Certification: CCDA, CCNA, CCNP, ISSP

The authors have given us a text that serves as an excellent introduction to Mobile IP technologies. Using real-world scenarios limited enough in scope, they convey how Mobile IP is currently being used and hint at the size of an offering it is destined to become.

I would have liked to see a little more focus on the trend of Mobile IP in the `contained' workplace. However, the examples of PDA's, laptop's, fleet service applications, etc. are well laid out, easy to understand and presented in an order that leads the reader from an introductory approach through some reasonably high level discussion.

Like most recent Cisco Press books I have been looking at there is a minimum of page-flipping, back and forth to get from the text to the figures and tables. This may not seem like a monumental accomplishment but if you go through as many books as I do; the little things can become quite annoying. I should also mention here that another of my peeves; poor editing, is NOT present. Good solid references, annotations, etc.

If you are planning on getting into the Mobile IP world, or already have and feel you've missed something, I would highly recommend this book. It is actually an enjoyable read (for those of us who enjoy technical books) and I believe you'll find yourself breezing through so keep a highlighter or some post-it's near by to mark the high points.

In summary; a well written, readable text beneficial for entry level `enquiring minds' but thorough enough to serve as a reference for folks who are already deploying this technology.

Good book, strong coverage of Mobile IP. I definitely recommend this book to someone who is interested in Mobile IP basics, or who is planning to deploy a mobile IP solution. The authors build from the basics quite well. The first couple chapters effectively present the basics of Mobile IP. As should be expected, a basic routing knowledge is assumed on the part of the reader. This is certainly appropriate for a topic such as mobile IP. The background on wireless technologies provides enough detail to support the subsequent discussion, but does not become a pure tutorial on wireless infrastructure. The illustrations and examples are straightforward, and add value to the discussion.
The organization of the chapters allows the experienced reader to skip forward to an appropriate chapter. The discussion on the lab configuration is particularly helpful. It saves much of the time we often spend defining the lab environment to be practical and yet reflect enough of the real world to be useful. The evolution to larger, real world class environments is certainly of value. The insight to actual deployment of a solution helps to bring lab data into context. The examples and considerations in the latter part of the book, chapters 5-8, address many of the issues actual deployments may encounter. The ability to address as many of these issues during planning, instead of discovering them during the initial deployment certainly can make enabling a mobile solution less challenging.
Chapter 9 was of specific interest because we have a pending migration to IPv6. Any amount of insight into IPv6 world is of value.
On the negative side, the title is slightly misleading; the "Applications" referred to in the title is the application of mobile IP, vice applications that run over mobile IP. The subtitle is to the point "Real-world solutions for Mobile IP configuration and management."

I like the approach that this book takes in laying out the principal concepts of Mobile IP. There is good discussion about many of the realities of useful mobile ip implementation including handoff scenarios, address bindings and security associations. The latter chapters will be especially useful for those who already have their mobile ip merit badge. Worth the price of admission, I recommend this as a useful and practical study guide.