Rating: 
Summary: Shoddy effort
Review: Although "DSL for Dummies" contains some useful information, one can't help but feel cheated by its extremely poor organization and inflated size. The information in this book could have been presented clearly and concisely in about 40 well-written pages, but to make it a book the author and editors have resorted to simply repeating the same information over and over (not in an edifying way, but in a copy-and-paste kind of way). In fact, much of the book has nothing to do with DSL but instead constitutes a list of all the great things one can do with the Internet. The most annoying part is that all of this has less to do with incompetence than a calculated desire to inflate the size (and price) of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Intro & How-To for beginner
Review: Good for Intro & overall picture of the xDSL how-to in the Windows platform prospective-straight to the point. However, due to the on going development of the technology, some parts of the issues/infos are not longer valid...
Rating:
Summary: A review from "the other side"
Review: I am not shopping for a DSL connection, I bought this book for a completely different reason. I work for a supplier of DSL equipment (both network side and CPE) and I recently had to argue for our solutions to an ILEC (not in the U.S./Canada) with whom we were trying to do business. What we in the business calls "access networks" were new to me, so in addition to a quick technical overview I needed to know how ILECs/CLECs/ISPs position themselves with their services; I needed to know how they planned to make their money. (Also we ex-techies need to become bean-counters of sorts...) DSL for Dummies actually provided that. It also gave me an explanation of the most common buzzwords and abbreviations so I could hold my own when talking to the real DSL nerds. I would have liked to see more what's going on on the other side of the DSLAM (the datanetwork to the ISP), that would have added the fifth star.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy this book before you chose a DSL provider!
Review: I bought this book half way through my search for a DSL provider. I wish that I had it when I started! It made the search for DSL so much easier. After reading the book, I knew what I was looking for and what questions to ask. After having DSL for two months, I feel this book helped me to choose the best provider and options for me.
Rating:
Summary: Reviewing the previous edition
Review: I purchased the prior edition since I am actively considering installing DSL now for my home business. This book is a must read for anyone who is thinking installing DSL in their home/office. Well written and easily understood, the author makes this difficult subject easy to understand and makes the subject totally comprehensible. It is a tremendous help to me in researching who, what, when, why, and how I will install DSL.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but a little repetitious
Review: I read this book mainly because I needed a quick overview of DSL technology before investing in it for home use. I was lucky enough to find it brand new on the local library shelf so immediately checked it out, on the premise that I don't really need a serious technical reference text on this subject, just a good overview before signing any long-term contract for DSL Internet service. This book packs a lot of useful information into a light, fun format that is readable even at the beach or poolside, yet gives you a good overview of the subject matter. It does a great job of laying out the basics of acquiring and utilizing high speed DSL service and covers all the flavors of DSL, ILECS and CLECS, and what questions to ask an ISP about their DSL Internet service. It looks at simple home or small business network design including NAT, firewalls and connection sharing, as well as a good practical review of the TCP/IP protocol. I was able to breeze through most of the operating system sections once I read the first one, as it was somewhat repetitious boilerplate with minor OS specific differences. I didn't need to be reminded with the same paragraphs quite so many times that high speed internet has incredible potential and value and all that you could do with it once you got it, but that didn't stop me from finishing the book feeling satisfied that I had learned a thing or two that I didn't already know. Overall I liked the book and think the reading was spare time well spent. Joe Buchberger
Rating:
Summary: Ignore the naysayers. this book is great.
Review: I think most of the reviewers who gave this book a low rating were annoyed because they already knew material covered in the book. Which is the absolute wrong reason to pan a book. I wanted a backgrounder on DSL and info on the variety of ways one could hookup one or more PCs to DSL, and this book does a great job. It also offers good advice on what to look for when shopping around for DSL. The only warning is that it PC-oriented, so if you're a Mac user it might not be as useful to you. This book has restored my faith in the Dummies brand.
Rating:
Summary: Get this book if you want DSL!
Review: Mr. Angell's "DSL for Dummies" is an informative book on what DSL is, what one can do with DSL, and how does one purchase DSL. There are lists of service and equipment providers, applications of DSL, a section on IP networking and security, and advice on the benefits of different providers. As an added bonus, there is a convenient crib-sheet containing information on provider URLs, DSL flavors, a DSL shopping checklist, and a list of questions to ask when inquiring about DSL service. If you are looking to purchase DSL service or are just interested in learning more about the technology and uses of DSL, then "DSL for Dummies" by David Angell is for you. This book is thorough and informative without being overbearing. The information is organized in a way that allows for easy reference while purchasing or using DSL service. This book will allow the reader to sort out and choose providers and services, and help make the most of DSL. This book is a necessary companion in one's quest for DSL services, an inexpensive high-speed data access solution.
Rating:
Summary: Get this book if you want DSL!
Review: Mr. Angell's "DSL for Dummies" is an informative book on what DSL is, what one can do with DSL, and how does one purchase DSL. There are lists of service and equipment providers, applications of DSL, a section on IP networking and security, and advice on the benefits of different providers. As an added bonus, there is a convenient crib-sheet containing information on provider URLs, DSL flavors, a DSL shopping checklist, and a list of questions to ask when inquiring about DSL service. If you are looking to purchase DSL service or are just interested in learning more about the technology and uses of DSL, then "DSL for Dummies" by David Angell is for you. This book is thorough and informative without being overbearing. The information is organized in a way that allows for easy reference while purchasing or using DSL service. This book will allow the reader to sort out and choose providers and services, and help make the most of DSL. This book is a necessary companion in one's quest for DSL services, an inexpensive high-speed data access solution.
Rating:
Summary: quite good for beginners
Review: Of course this is the 4dummies philosophy: being nice and friendly with absolute beginners; but this book can be read also by experts (especially from Europe) due to the large "american view" of the technology inside it. Good, really good ...
| 
