Systems Architecture, Fourth Edition

Rating:
Summary: Painful Read
Review: Painful, boring, and essentially worthless textbook. It describes simple terms so badly that definitions blend together and add serious confusion when examining critically. Those experienced with the topic could barely sort out this jumbled mess, and beginners will simply be lost.

Rating:
Summary: Good kindling.
Review: This book is horrible. It is unfocused, out of date and often simply wrong. The entire book reads almost as if it were written by a student who doesn't actually understand the subject and is simply making it up. There is a section in the beginning that discusses the disadvantages of making mechanical computers (like, ones that use pieces of wood instead of electrons). He tells us how reaching the limits of that technology forced the U.S. during WWII to find the electrical solution to the problem. I don't think so. I'm fairly certain Eisenhower wasn't pounding his fist on the desk yelling "Damn it men, these steam-powered computers just aren't good enough to beat the Nazis!!" Or, did you know for instance that "optical drives are gradually replacing electrical and magnetic storage devices"? Look for that 300GB CDR from Maxtor any day now. People like Mr. Burd should switch from teaching IT to PE.