« My book reviews for 2002 »

Reviews : Oct - Dec 2002

Been too busy again!

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Networking 3rd edition - By Chrispher Negus & Bill Wagner
  ...   Que Publishing: ISBN 0-7897-2469-3

Not a bad little book, especially for beginners wanting to set up a small network for their home or office or as a stepping stone / aid to networking courses like HNC, NVQ and even Network+. Coverage includes a look at switches and routers and a breakdown of the OSI layers.

Don't let the "Idiot's" part of the title decieve you either. There's a decent coverage of the advantages and disadvantes of different network topologies and the various Network Operating Systems to choose for them. From there is goes on to administration, backup options and security. Interestingly it finishes off covering wireless technologies and even running household appliances over the internet!

Windows 2000 Server for Dummies by Ed Tittel with Mary T. Madden, James Michael Stewart
  ...   ©1999 [ www.idgbooks.com ] IDG Books ~ Dummies Press ISBN 0-7645-0341-3

Actually I'm quite a fan of the Dummies range which can be quite enlightening at times. The sometimes irreverant cartoons are always good too.

One thing that intrigued me though was the topics covered. Protocols and topologies, yep, sure, but installing a network card? That in itself is a bit strange; if you are spending a few thousand pound on a server based network you should be seriously au fait with the hardware side. The curious thing was it included coverage of archaic buses like EISA and VL-Bus, both of which became obsolete in the mid 90's, a few years before W2K was even released. I assume current reprints correct this but even so, waste of good paper in my opinion!

The rest of it is OK mind. It wouldn't get you through an MCSE by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a good starting point. For me though, I reckon the book should have been dedicated to the name in its title - Windows 2000 Server. As it was almost half the tome was given over to networking fundamentals, most if not all of which is duplicated in "Networking for Dummies". The half that bothers to cover W2K is OK but I still felt cheated. For all these reasons I'll only give it bare 4/10.

Footnote: If the publishers are reading this... A chapter about handling "SNAFU's"?
Watches the English look up the dictionary definition and coughs loudly!

Visual Basic 6 Interactive Course By [ www.waite.com/ezone ] The Waite Group Inc., © 1998
  ...   Sams Publishing: ISBN 1-57169-133-2

Visual Basic Controls in a Nutshell By Evan S Dictor
  ...   © 1999 O’Reilly & Associates: ISBN 1-56592-294-8

In a nutshell, it's an excellent resource. That's a posh way of saying it belongs of your bookshelf if you are serious about learning VB intimately but a light read it isn't.

Visual Basic 6 from the Group Up By Gary Cornell
Osbourne / © 1998 The McGraw-Hill Companies: ISBN 0-07-882508-3

At over 900 pages it's a fairly hefty tome, but it is full of useful hints, tips and essential advice. Thoroughly recommended.

Sams Teach Yourself Visual Basic 6 in 24 hours starter kit By Greg Perry with Sanjaya Hettihewa
  ...  © 1998 Sams Publishing: ISBN 0-672-31533-5

Macmillan Master Series:
Mastering Visual Basic By Stephen Saxon and Diane Saxon © 1997
  ...   MacMillan Press Ltd: ISBN 0-333-69599-2

This is too is OK with a brief across the board introduction. Goes into using graphics a touch too, which is to the good. Noticeably better the Made Simple book below, but still another "also ran"

Visual Basic 6 Made Simple By Stephen Morris © 2001
  ...  Butter-Heinemann - Made Simple Books : ISBN 0-7506-5189-X

This is OK with a brief across the board introduction. Whilst there's nothing bad to say about it, neither is there anything good enough to recommend it. An "also ran".

Visual Basic in Easy Steps By Tim Anderson
  ...   © 1997 Computer Step: ISBN 1-874029-74-1

How to Use Visual basic 6 - Visually in Full Colour by Shimon Mordzynski and Lowell Mauer
  ...   © 1999 Sams Publishing ISBN: 0-672-31443-6

Shelly Cashman Series®:
Microsoft Visual Basic 6 - Complete Concepts and Techniques
By Gary B. Shelly, Thomas J. Cashman, John F. Repede and Michael L. Mick
  ...   © 1999 Course Technology - ITP* : ISBN 0-7895-4654-X

(*International Thomson Publishing)

Ready-to-Run Visual Basic Code Library - Tips, Tricks and Workarounds for Better Programming
By Rod Stephens © 1999
  ...   John Wiley and Sons: ISBN 0-471-33345-X

Visit the authors site at: VB-Helper.com

Using Visual Basic By P.R.M. Oliver and N. Kantaris


  ...  © Bernard Babani (publishing) Ltd.ISBN 0-85934-498-3

Schaum’s Outlines Visual Basic By Byron S. Gottfried, Ph.D
  ...   © 2001 McGraw-Hill, Inc: ISBN 0-07-135671-1

For your information - the full title appears to be:
Schaum's Outline of Theory and Problems of Programming with Visual Basic

Am first I was going to highly recommend this, then after I left it for a while for the life of me I couldn't remember what I liked about it. On second reading I think it was the structured approach. The author has a background in proper languages like C and it shows. Makes it easier if you come to drag and drop OOP...

Chapters include branching and looping, control fundamentals, debugging, procedures and arrays. I'll give it 6.5/10

Reviews : May 2002

No, I never for a minute stopped reading, the reviews had to take a back bench while I concentrated on college work, amongst other things..

Practical SSADM version 4+ - A complete tutorial guide (Second Edition)
By Philip L Weaver, Nicholas Lambrou and Matthew Walkley, © 1998
  ...   Published by Prentice Hall: ISBN 0-273-62675-2

A Pearson Education title

Verbiage to follow

System Analysis and Design (International Edition : Fourth Edition) by Kendall and Kendall
  ...   Published by © 1999 Prentice Hall: ISBN 0-13-954934-X

The related web site contains a wealth of critical learning and support tools which can keep class discussions exciting.

Verbiage to follow

R.A. Salvatore - The Demon Trilogy

  The Demon Awakens ISBN 1-85798-827-2
  The Demon Spirit ISBN 1-85798-904-X
  The Demon Apostle ISBN 1-85798-923-6
  ...   Published by Millennium Fantasy

As a fan of Salvatore how could I not read these three meaty tomes. There's a lot in these besides the words, but that's a philosophical matter. You'll notice it or not, as is your bent. So, what are these three volumes about and did I like them ?

There's a lot of reflective thinking on the part of the main character - the ranger Elbryan Wynden - but I reckon it all adds the plot and is very well done. The story follows the line that mans greediness and general self-centered nature when it escalates (like it has these past few decades in the real world...) leads to real Demons awakening and urging folk to ever worse acts. The plot follows one such Demons rise and banquishment (or not) by a Elbryan and his childhood sweetheart, a drunken monk, a rowdy Centaur, a few Elves and a few ne'er-do-wells.

I'd give is a 4/5 I reckon. Worth it just for the descriptiveness of a few of the battles. Leaves itself open for furthers adventures too.

Baldurs Gate novels - based on the computer games

  Baldurs Gateby Philip Athans   ISBN...
  Baldurs Gate II Shadows of Amnby Philip Athans   ISBN 9-780786-915699
  Baldurs Gate II Throne of Bhaal   by Drew Karpyshyn   ISBN 9-780786-926305
  ...   Published by Wizards of the Coast

There are a pleasant enough read, if a bit thin. If you've played the game it will be an interesting angle for you at least. The "Hero" is a giant, battle ready fighter and you follow his trails and tribulations towards godhood. The only objection I have to the books is in the last one which portrays Minsc (one of the computer characters) as having flowing red hair...

Hey Drew, Minsc of the righteous butt kicking fame is as bald as the proverbial coot...