Computing Internet Books

Are you a network or system administrator? If you are, then this book is for you. Authors Scott Firestone, Thiya Ramalingam and Steve Fry, have done an outstanding job of writing a book for those that are involved in the design, development, deployment and support of audio and video conferencing products.

Firestone, Ramalingam and Fry, begin by reviewing the elementary concepts of conferencing, describing the various types of conferences and the features found in each. Then, the authors review conferencing system design and the underlying components used in their construction. Next, they discuss the basics of video compression algorithms used by four major codecs: H.261, H.263, H.264 and MPEG-4 part 2. The authors also discuss the basics of Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) and Real-Time Transport Control Protocol and their usage in conferencing systems. They continue by discussing the fundamentals of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and its relevance to audio and video conferencing. Then, the authors provide a brief overview of the H.323 protocol, with an emphasis on conferencing systems. Next, they analyze the end-to-end data pipeline of a video conferencing system and discuss the process of achieving lip synchronization in an RTP-based video conferencing product. Finally, the authors go into depth on many aspects of video conferencing security, including encryption, authentication, attack prevention, firewall traversal, and network-level hardening.

The goal of this most excellent book is to provide an understanding of different video conferencing deployment models, including centralized and distributed architectures, by using real-world examples. Perhaps more importantly, this book provides a comparison of the most widely used video codecs, in a concise reference format.

The authors have put together a primer on explaining e-commerce. The ideal audience for this book appears to be an IT manager or perhaps a programmer. The discussion is mostly at a level above actual programming. You don't need working knowledge of JavaScript, HTML, Java, web servers or other related topics.

The book delves into key ideas of organising a web service, such as what is an n-tier application. Cryptography also gets good coverage. A qualitative explanation is given of the Public Key Infrastructure and Certificate Authorities, without descending into the maths of number theory.

Malware is also covered. Though, given its increasing severity, perhaps a more extensive analysis may have been warranted.

Overall, the book places all these topics in the context of building and running a large e-commerce service. If you do wish to go in this direction, the book is a good start. Though you will certainly need more specialised texts later.

Yes must agree with Brett. The A+ section of this book is woeful and extremely boring! Many Factual inaccuracies which make it impossible to use this book as a passing guide for the A+ exam. For instance the Power connectors to the MB in the A+ section are totally wrong! (it lists most of then as +1v connectors and does not list any 12V connectors) Also the 2nd A+ guide practically repeats the First section of the A+ guide. Don't bother reading it, my biggest mistake!

However the Networks+ guide seems to be far superior. I have not seen as many errors (yet still one or two). But the content is quite interesting. It is also on the ball in discussing IPSEC PAP, Chap, MS-Chap, Routing, etc. Most of what you want to know about in Network technology and communication. My recommendation if you know what you are doing forget A+ (saving you $600 in examination fees) go straight to Network+ and security+ Will update when I pass Network+

I used this guide to study for my A+ exams. It was a decent guide, but there were some pretty large technical errors in the book. This wouldn't be such a big deal, if it weren't for the fact that the most glaring of the errors is in there *twice* (once for the A+ Essentials exam, and once for the A+ 602/603/604 exam), and the reader is advised to *memorize* specific voltages which are obviously wrong. Other errors include a few practice questions with wrong answers (including one that directly contradicts an earlier warning in the book), and a couple of errors with regards to inputs commonly found on the back of computers.

It's also worth mentioning that I haven't yet read the Security+ or Network+ portions of the book, and obviously, since I bought the book, I definitely am not intimately familiar with everything it covers, yet I have found 6 major technical errors. If this weren't a book written as a test prep guide, this wouldn't be such a big deal, but as it stands, I recommend against purchasing this book.

Like most of the other O'Reilly exam study guides, 'A+, Network+, Security+ Exams in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference' by Pawan Bhardwaj is another great source for better preparation and RESULTS. Nearly 800 pages of material are combined within, broken up into 12 chapters:

A+ Essentials

01. Overview of A+ Essentials Exam
02. A+ Essentials Study Guide
03. Prep and Practice for the A+ Essentials Exam

A+ Exams 220-602, 220-603, 220-604

04. Overview of the A+ Exams 220-602, 220-603, 220-604
05. Study Guide for A+ Exams 220-602, 220-603, 220-604
06. Prep and Practice for the A+ Exams 220-602, 220-603, 220-604

Network+

07. Overview of the Network+ Exam
08. Network+ Exam Study Guide
09. Network+ Exam Prep and Practice

Security+

10. Overview of Security+ Exam
11. Security+ Exam Study Guide
12. Security+ Exam Prep and Practice

I find the exam books to be the hardest to review but the material is so good inside these O'Reilly ones. Pick this up to improve your results!!

**** RECOMMENDED

Whether you are new to eBay or just looking to sharpen up your skills, Absolute Beginner's Guide to eBay is a pretty good bet. This book includes full instructions on how to set up an eBay account and getting started buying or selling merchandise. It also explains special features such as product reviews, eBay stores, [...], and eBay Express.

I've been using eBay for a few years now but I still learned a few new tricks from this guide. To me, the most useful portions of the book were the sections that gave tips on searching eBay and bid strategies. I also learned the ins and outs of Dutch Auctions, selling more than one item at a time.

This book is even better than expected! Product was well-packaged and shipped immediately. Recommend this seller and product highly

Since I was a beginner when I started to read this book now that I finished it I feel more confident at ebay it touch every area of ebay from registering to buy and sell, listing, shipping and a lot more, I even started to sell my first two items one of them I already got a bidding, anyway, if you are a real beginner you can't go wrong with this book.
Well now that I finished it I'm gonna sell it on ebay see ya there and happy bidding.

I have a few books on ebay and this one is the easiest most user friendly book i have encountered. Love the cartoons and the bit of tongue-in-cheek fun along the way. It is well organized and actually fun to read.

Reference: Fourth Edition

As an introduction to eBay, I found this book to be most helpful to a first time user of eBay. The index section added to the value of the text. The "special elements" such as "Note" and "Caution" were a nice bonus.

I am fully satisfied with the book. It fully fill up my expectations. Hence I recommend to study also another sources such as The Linux Documentation Project, Distributions sites and so on. It is impossible to include knowledge for CompTia Linux+ exam only to one simple book.

The Linux+ exam is pretty rough and this book didn't cover it all. Still, it is better than the prior edition.

Sybex is one of the most requested and relied on publishers when it comes to certification exams. This book covers XK0-002, the most recent Linux+ xam. One word of warning, do not rely on just one book to pass the exam. Study well, combine this study guide with more books covering systems administration on Linux and you will be good to go.
The book covers such topics as: Installation, commands, user management, disk management, package and process management, security, networking, hardware and documentation.
Again, this is a study guide. If you need to review some topics in detail, supplement this material with live OS exercises and reference books.
Kudos to Roderick W. Smith on this solid study guide!

The book lacks clearly defined 'practice sections' where you can test some of the commands and features explained in the book.

Last April I bought this book along with Linux+ 2005 by Jason Eckert to pass the Linux+ exam. I read both books twice over a 4 month period and passed the exam the first time. I am an MCSE and CCNA with minimal Unix/Linux experience, and I was pleased with the background the books provided for the test questions. For me, both books were worth the money and I keep them handy as reference material.

My book arrived 2 days earlier than expected.
That night I pretty much scanned it from cover to cover, stopping at the parts that caught my eye.
I bought two books, the other being "How To Build a Car PC". This book far exceeded the other one in knowledge, projects, etc.
My goal is to build the car PC, but I know nothing about car electronics, that's where this book came in, with tips on how to wire it, how to load balance the battery, so the PC doesn't crash on start up, etc.
If you are looking for info on Car PC's and OTHER hacks, this book will stear you in the right direction, if not give you all the info you need.
I loaned it to my neighbor who is a mechanic, and I still haven't gotten it back!!! (Little does he know, he's going to help me now)

This is not a book about how to hack the controllers in your car's engine to make it go fast, burn different fuel mixtures, etc. Just like the title says, it is about car computers-and this means everything from actual onboard computers, to audio and video configurations. Like the other books in the "Hack" series, this is not a long narrative about Car PCs, it is simply a book full of 75 projects arranged by topic. Some of the tamer projects include installing headrest video screens, listening to email on the road once you've rigged up your computer to receive free wi-fi, installing a back-up camera and screen, receiving satellite TV, and rigging a free GPS-based navi-system. Of course, since all this stuff is power-heavy, there's also a bunch of hacks on how to strengthen your car's electrical system. To give you an idea, one of the hacks shows how to install a heavier-duty alternator. Throughout the book there are plenty of instructive diagrams, cross references to other relevant hacks in the book, and lots of links to web addresses where further instruction and freeware can be found.
There are seven chapters in Car PC Hacks, each covering a different way to turn your car into a functioning computer with cupholders. Amazon does not show the complete list of hacks, so I do that here:
Chapter 1. Car Power Basics
1. Understand Car Electrical Systems
2. Prevent Electrical Fires
3. Gauge Your Wires
4. Connect Your Wires
5. Calculate Your Car's Battery Life
6. Upgrade Your Car Battery
7. Add New Power Connectors Throughout Your Car
8. Use a Huge Capacitor to Sustain Power
9. Upgrade Your Car's Alternator
10. Add a Second Car Battery
11. Put Home Power Outlets in Your Car
Chapter 2. Automotive Audio Entertainment
12. Get a Headful About Your Car Audio
13. Install a New Head Unit
14. Get Computer Audio into Your Head Unit
15. Amp Up Your Computer Audio
16. Make a Very Cheap AUX-in
17. Reduce Your Audio System's Noise
18. Control Your iPod with Your Car Stereo Knobs
19. Tune Your PC for Radio Reception
20. Record Radio Shows
21. Listen to Email, Weblogs, and RSS Feeds on the Road
22. Find Out What Was Playing on the Radio
Chapter 3. Automotive Video Entertainment
23. Understand Video Connectors
24. Choose Your Screens
25. Install a Headrest Screen
26. Install a VGA Touchscreen in Your Dashboard
27. Install a Sun Visor Screen
28. Install a Motorized Fold-out Screen
29. Install a Fold-Down Ceiling-Mounted Screen
30. Supersize Your Fold-Down LCD Screen
31. Turn Your Laptop into a Fold-Down or Dashboard Screen
32. Connect a Car PC to Your Factory Screen
33. Install a Rearview Mirror Screen and Camera
34. Boost Your Video Signal for Multiple Screens
35. Customize Each Passenger's Video
36. Tune in TV in the Car
37. Receive Satellite TV While Driving
38. Play DVDs with Your in-Car Computer
39. Put Multi-Channel DVD Surround Sound in Your Car
40. Install a Video Game Console Computer in Your Car
Chapter 4. In-Car Computers
41. Choose an in-Car PC Hardware Platform
42. Power Your Car PC
43. Start Up and Shut Down Your Car PC
44. Reduce the Boot Time of Your in-Car Computer
45. Keep Your Computer on During Engine Cranking
46. Turn On Your Car Computer Before You Start Your Car
47. Boot Your Car Computer on a Schedule
48. Choose an in-Car PC Software Platform
49. Install Windows on a CompactFlash Card
50. Power Your Portable Devices in the Car
51. Install USB Ports in Your Car
52. Build an in-Car PC
53. Build an in-Car Macintosh
54. Install a Mac Mini in Your Car
Chapter 5. Car PC Interface Options
55. Control Your Car PC with a Keyboard and Mouse
56. Control Your Car PC with a Handheld Remote
57. Control Your Car PC with a Touchscreen
58. Car-Enable Clunky Applications
59. Listen to What Your Car Computer Is Saying
60. Control Your Car PC with Voice Recognition
61. Find More Ways to Control Your in-Car Computer
Chapter 6. Wireless Connectivity and in-Car Internet
62. Get Online in Your Car
63. Make Your Mobile Phone Hands-Free with Your Car PC
64. Transfer Data to and from Your Car PC
65. View Real-Time Traffic Data on the Road
66. Videoconference from Your Car
67. Use GPS on Your Car PC
68. Find WiFi Hotspots on the Road
Chapter 7. In-Car Applications
69. Plug into Your Car's Built-in Computer
70. Put a Video Jukebox in Your Car Theater
71. Choose Your in-Car Navigation Software
72. Play Thousands of Games by Emulating Video Game Consoles
73. Use CENTRAFUSE as Your Car PC Frontend
74. Use Neocar Media Center as Your Car PC Frontend
75. Use FrodoPlayer as Your Car PC Frontend

This book gave a good introduction for CarPC newbie.
I'm coming from computer background but have no idea about car electricity, AC/DC, etc. The guide was comprehensive and very clear.

This book has almost everything you need to get started with hacking a car pc. Its great to have.

Car PC Hacks tells you how to install a computer and all sorts of cool tech in your car.

It includes 75 projects. Well, the first few are not really projects, but very helpful explanations of automotive electrical systems. I was most interested in the chapters on how to install LCD screens, how to integrate a computer in your car, and how to power everything from the car battery.

This book is obviously written by people who have installed a lot of computers in their own cars and used them for their own and their families' entertainment. It has just the information I needed to be able to do these projects. Excuse me, I'm going to geek my ride now.

I thought I knew a lot about computers before reading this book. Turns out I really only knew a lot about Windows. However, this book has taught me a great deal about computers and I feel that, because of Mike Meyers, I am off on the path to the career I want. This book is very well written, using lively, active language to keep the book interesting. Unlike most textbooks, this one is written as if the author is speaking to you, and is very thorough and informative. The book goes in-depth into several areas of computer technology, devoting chapters to specific components such as processors, memory, input/output, etc...
I read this book one time all the way through, and passed the CompTIA A+ Certification exam because of it. I'd shake the authors hand if I had a chance to meet the guy. I definitely recommend this book to anybody who is interested in becoming CompTIA A+ Certified.

A lot of the first hacks of the book might seem old-hat to a Blackberry 101 graduate. But as the book progresses it gets deeper into the BB's relationship with the servers, but not in an overly-complex way. It seems designed toward folks who have already read the manual and want a little bit more, but aren't quite ready to become systems engineers.

Toward the end it describes, again in simple language, how to download the development environment from RIM, and actually start building simple applications, starting with a simple stock quote Java program, with source, that can then be used as a beginning example for further development. In just a few pages a programmer can start with the sample, build an app, and prepare it for both OTA and desktop installation. It is at about the same level as the first K&R C chapter where we were taught how to write "hello world", compile and link, and run our first program. I always do best when they give me and example rather than trying to explain in english how to do it. And Mabes makes that really simple.

If you want to do more than just use the Blackberry, and want some tips on little known tricks, and want to actually write code for the blackberries, without having to read all of "Professional Blackberry" and ALL of the RIM literature, this is a good place to start.

Mike Jalkut, Embedded Systems Compiler Developer

I thought I knew a lot about BlackBerries... I design software for them and use my 8700, 7100T and BlackBerry Pearl all day and part of the night. I learned more from BlackBerry Hacks in the first 30 minutes than in months of combing through forums. The ticks I picked up save me time every day and makes it more fun to use my growing collection of BlackBerries.
Marc
Ascendo

Had I read the intro section about what is considered a "hack" for the purposes of this book (in a series of similar ones), I may have had second thoughts about purchasing it. Doesn't take much to qualify as one, apparently. As a result, the book is really a very nicely made operations manual, repeating lots of already documented BB functions with a few of not-so-well-known tricks thrown in. For the power user, I saw only a couple of things I hadn't known about before. Super for the beginner, good for the everyday user, nothing new for the power user.

I read some of the warning reviews but as they were directed at power users I thought they didn't apply to me. Wrong! Having bought a Blackberry Pearl and wanting something to bring me up to speed on the Blackberry operating system with some nifty tricks, I was sorely disappointed. There are no real hacks in this book. It is mostly a long compilation of 3 party software available on the web in many cases out of date. Most of the tricks shown are so obvious that I had already figured them out such as how to hide an Icon. How to make your own autotext entries etc. Skip this book unless you want a very bland overview of what you can do with your blackberry. Don't expect any inner secrets to the os to be revealed to you.

Everyone from the end user to the BlackBerry administrator to the developer will find conveniences in the BlackBerry that don't exist on other platforms. In this book, you'll find clever uses for some of these enhancements and new tricks for using some features that have been there from the beginning. This book can be read from cover to cover, but each hack stands on its own, so jumping around shouldn't hinder your comprehension. If there's a prerequisite you need to know about, a cross-reference will guide you to the right hack.

Chapter 1 uncovers some of the tricks you may not have known your device was capable of. New users will be happy to know what's just below the surface: a clipboard [Hack #2], multitasking [Hack #6], and wireless calendaring [Hack #4]. The hackers in the crowd might like to display the signal strength in decibels instead of bars [Hack #17], use your computer as a wireless headset [Hack #16], or get mobile Internet access on your computer [Hack #9].

Rather than building an organizer and then retrofitting email support onto it, Research In Motion (RIM) designed the BlackBerry for email from the beginning and only then added support for other features. Highly secure, push based email is what has made the BlackBerry so popular in the business world. Every effort was made to allow users to efficiently process the mountain of email messages they receive daily. Email is great, but it can quickly become a burden. There are a number of hidden features of the BlackBerry you can use to your advantage. You can clear a bunch of messages at once [Hack #22], filter your messages [Hack #24], and make your email doubly secure [Hack #28].

Although the BlackBerry is optimized for the suit-and-tie business crowd, newcomers are pleasantly surprised at the graphics capabilities of the device. Currently, Magmic Games has a big lead in the BlackBerry gaming market, which is the subject of chapter 3. There are even some games that you can play against online opponents. While Magmic pushes the limit of BlackBerry games, there are plenty of free games you can download and install over the air in seconds. You could even use the device simulator [Hack #93] to play the games.

With the advent of the Mobile Data Service and TCP/IP on the BlackBerry [Hack #37], an entire world of Internet services became accessible on the BlackBerry. Some of the best applications in existence are accessed by using some type of client software (perhaps just a browser), but the real power comes with its integration with a central service where users and data meet in interesting and exciting ways. Very few client-only software packages carry the same importance as one that integrates well with a web service. With your BlackBerry, you can track your to-do list [Hack #47], corral your bookmarks [Hack #46], and even use instant messaging [Hack #44].

Chapter 5 is about free software. If you tried out every commercial program that interested you, you'd be nickeled and dimed to death. Luckily there are custom applications that come free of charge--if you know where to look. Because RIM chose J2ME as their platform for the BlackBerry, the device is seen as a viable operating system by the millions of Java developers worldwide. This chapter includes a small subset of the free applications available for the BlackBerry. You can view the night sky [Hack #55], go shopping [Hack #58], and even put your device through the paces in a stress test [Hack #54] to see how it stacks up. As the BlackBerry third-party application explosion continues, the number of free programs available for the device will continue to grow.

In places where the BlackBerry comes up a little short, there are a growing number of third-party developers ready to fill the void. Chapter 6 showcases the entrepreneurial spirit of the BlackBerry application developer. Most of these providers are small businesses that have found a nice niche with the BlackBerry. RIM's loyal customer base makes a nice, motivated target audience for third-party applications. If you've got a need, there's a good chance there is a BlackBerry application that can fill it. Chapter 6 highlights some useful third-party programs to get you started: a real-time stock quote program [Hack #70], a program to modify Office documents [Hack #68], an alternate web browser [Hack #66], and an alternate email program [Hack #67].

It's fairly easy to get a BlackBerry Enterprise Server off the ground. However, as many a BlackBerry administrator will tell you, it is a difficult and time-consuming chore to keep the service running smoothly. For the most part, it is no fault of RIM's--there are many tools provided that continue to go unused in many BlackBerry shops. There are more than a few tips and tricks to keep the BlackBerry server and your users happy. The motivated BlackBerry administrator will find several gems in chapter 7 from simply adding several users in one fell swoop [Hack #72] to implementing security [Hack #73]. There are several hacks you can use to send yourself proactive alerts when problems arise.

One of the most significant innovations in RIM's short history is the addition of the BlackBerry Browser to the operating system. In combination with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server's Mobile Data Service (MDS), this instantly unlocks entire intranets along with mountains of rich corporate data. Unfortunately though, corporate networks are full of lazily coded FrontPage web sites that were designed for ancient versions of Internet Explorer viewed with large monitors. To make those sites viewable on the BlackBerry, some sites will require minor tweaks [Hack #88]. For others, it might be easier to start from scratch. For especially time-sensitive data, you can push that data [Hack #90] to your users' BlackBerry devices.

The final chapter is about application development. There are applications for getting real-time stock quotes [Hack #70] as well as spellchecking [Hack #65]. If you speak a little Java, you can write your own application to communicate with web servers [Hack #94]. Best of all, there are no license fees to get started--in fact, you don't even need to own a BlackBerry device [Hack #93]. RIM provides free access to the BlackBerry JDE, a development kit that includes an IDE, or integrated development environment. The other nice feature of the BlackBerry platform is there are a variety of ways [Hack #97] for your users to install your program over the air wherever they happen to be.

Walters' comprehensive knowledge of the world of IT and incredible ability to explain complex concepts make this book a fascinating read for any gadget geek interested in how stuff actually works. And he doesn't settle for simple, surface level explanations. Instead of shying away from the details and tech-speak, Walters takes you one step further than you thought you could ever go through insightful examples and meaningful analogies.

In addition, his ability to put technological developments in context allow the reader to see the larger factors and trends that have and continue to drive change. A seemingly chaotic and overwhelmingly fast-changing industry suddenly seems logical and "trackable" after reading Walters' book. In this way, it's easy to forgive the fact that the text is a bit out of date. Everything I've read about today's technology I've easily been able to connect back to the ideas I learned here.

Truly one of a kind.

It is very cool book, I would say valuable book to build up your understanding of IT in general. It converges many technologies into one coherent pattern so you start to understand many things. I combined reading of this book with "UNIX Essentials" DVD and it nice to explore many of the conceptions in action. If you are lacking some evenness with your IT knowledge pick this one it is nicely shape your vision of it.

With 6+ years marketing management experience and an MBA, I feel this book was very helpful in understanding the many facets of technology and its evolution through time. The book is a must read for anyone who needs to build or brush up on a solid but basic understanding of technology. However, many of the newest trends in technology are only briefly covered. This is due, I believe, to the fact that many of the pervasive technologies and collaborative applications now being pushed in the marketplace didn't make the editor's draft of the book even though the published date is 2001.

There is a great breadth of information presented in a very lucid fashion. The material is easy to understand, and the author adds a great sense of humor.
However, with the rapid advancements in technology, the book is a bit dated. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a gain a great breadth of knowledge in the field of Information technology, in a short period of time.

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO COMPUTING is simply an extraordinary achievement. It reflects a breadth of knowledge and clarity of presentation that is remarkable. It makes every effort to distill knowledge about computers and computing in an easy, reader-friendly, memorable way. For computer users everywhere -- in organizations, schools, colleges and universities, and individuals -- this volume gives multiple ways of getting to know more about computing in its fast changing environment. First, you get to know the foundations of how computers and computing works in practical, everyday language. Second, you get a reference book that explains key terms, key workings, and key interconnections among the parts.

The most noteworthy aspect of the book is its superb coherence in presenting vast amounts of computing knowledge arranged in for easy understanding. Information and explanations in one chapter are referenced in subsequent ones, never failing to explain connections among them, with a view to present an overall picture of how computers and computing works.

Each chapter highlights technical terms related to computing and information technology, provides an overview of specific aspects as for example "An Overview of How Storage Works" (Chapter 2, p.40), and highlights in grey explanations of widely used terms such as "Disks From a User's Perspective" (p. 56). Each chapter also ends with a summary list of questions that focus on self-evaluating one's grasp of the chapter's contents.

E. Garrison Walters' book will continue to enrich the understanding of all who enjoy working with computers at work or for pleasure. I wish this book had been available to guide me in computing long before I found it, and, that I had written it ! It is a remarkable achievement!