BKUNNTTC.RVW   961119
 
"Understanding Networking Technology", Mark Norris, 1996, 0-89006-879-8,
U$49.00
%A   Mark Norris m.norris@axion.bt.co.uk
%C   685 Canton St., Norwood, MA   02062
%D   1996
%G   0-89006-879-8
%I   Artech House/Horizon
%O   U$49.00 617-769-9750 800-225-9977 fax: 617-769-6334 artech@world.std.com
%P   241
%T   "Understanding Networking Technology: Concepts, Terms, and Trends"
 
I must admit I was a bit surprised to open a book with that title and find that
it was a glossary.  On second thought, however, why not?  (According to
psycholinguistics, language *is* understanding.)  Norris has put more than a
bare definition into many of the entries, and the result is similar to a
smaller and less complete version of Shnier's "Dictionary of PC Hardware and
Data Communications Terms" (cf. BKPCHDCT.RVW).  There is a concluding essay on
trends in information technology.
 
There are errors.  I suspect Norris mixed up ABI (Application Binary Interface)
and API (Application Programming Interface).  Kermit is *not* public domain,
and *not* slow (unless you can't be bothered to find the proper parameters)
although it is robust.  Some choices are odd: I have no idea what dithering has
to do with networking, and would rather have seen the space devoted to more
details of Manchester encoding.  The definition of virus is no good, although
the explanation of a worm is.  There are a number of acronym expansions that I
was not aware of (ping, daemon), but I rather think many of them are "after the
fact" contructions, like veronica.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1996   BKUNNTTC.RVW   961119

======================
roberts@decus.ca           rslade@vcn.bc.ca           rslade@vanisl.decus.ca
              Ceterum censeo CNA Financial Services delendam esse
  Please note the Peterson story - http://www.netmind.com/~padgett/trial.htm