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Summary: Kudos for the most recent updated/enhanced edition
Review: Both our firm, and myself personally, over the years have purchased every edition of this outstanding technical resource.They all have provided an effective introductory overview, and summary of the most relevant areas of I.T. Networking and Telecommunications - further enhanced with numerous outside references, and "hot" links to obtain more detailed information as necessary. However, in many cases we have found that details contained in this text are more than sufficient "as is". When our firm's technical staff - at all levels - needs to "quickly" reference "one source" for concise general overviews of specific I.T. and Telecommunications technologies - your book is the only one everyone reaches for. We look forward to future updates, and new editions as appropriate. Bravo, well done - yet again.
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Summary: The Gold Standard in Reference Books
Review: Extraordinary! Tom Sheldon again raised the bar with his latest edition of the Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications. The Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications is the gold standard by which all other MIS/IT reference books must measure up to. Besides having an edition at work and home, I have the full text on my laptop via the CD-ROM. The CD-ROM has over 5,000 URLs. The CD-ROM and URLs alone are worth the book's price. After 19 years in the MIS/IT industry, I have yet to find a comparable resource or reference book. Jay Riccitelli
Senior Manager
Computer Sciences Corp.
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Summary: My IT Bible
Review: Firstly I'd like to say...Thanks Tom, for helping to keep me in a job! Up until recently I worked as a Network Administrator in Sydney and believe me, your books saved my bacon on more than a few occasions! I first received the electronic edition of the Encyclopedia of Networking whilst studying Computer Technology and e-business in Sydney. The encyclopedia was included as part of the overall course and many references were made in the college's learning guides to certain chapters when more detailed information was necessary on a particular topic. I'm currently involved in the area of Multimedia and Telecommunications and recently obtained a copy of the latest edition, The Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications and am amazed at how much extra and updated information has been included. I keep the book close by at all times and find myself referring to it quite regularly. I could now honestly say that it's become my IT bible! It covers all aspects of networking, the Internet, Electronic Communication, topologies, protocols, security and various configurations in absolute and thorough detail. The encyclopedia also comes with a CD that can be loaded onto your computer as a PDF file and the search facility works brilliantly. I must say that if anyone is involved in, or wants to know anything about Networking and Telecommunications this book is an absolute must! Personally, I can't see how I could do my job without it. Thanks a million Tom! ...John Botica
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Summary: This is a nice addition to my technical library.
Review: From a technical level I am always looking for great reference manuals. From a support standpoint I ma looking for books that I can use to explain to the end-user in a language they can understand. Now I have both with this book. I was amazed what was packed in this 1400 page book, everything from A to Z or should I say from 10BaseT to Z39.50 and everything in between. What the author has done is taken each word or topic and simplified the explanation in short snippets that give you a basic understanding of the material. There are pictures, figures, and web references for related topics, RFCs, tables and diagrams to make it easier to understand certain concepts. The book seems to be up to date and well documented. I have already used it in my job and found that it was easy for the end user to understand. The CD-rom included is the complete book in electronic format making this as portable as possible. The electronic format has web links to site with more information. Overall this combination of book and software make this a very good deal indeed.
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Summary: Encyclopedia of Networking & Telecommunications
Review: I found this book to be very helpful as a desk reference when needed. One can study the vast amount of information that the book contains and find answers to your question about your networks and telecommunications. This book is great and anyone who is serious about the networking world should have one. I highly recommend the book.
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Summary: Excellent resource!
Review: I have bought the last two editions of Encyclopedia of Networking, and I must say that it one of my favorite resources. The author goes into the appropriate level of detail to give one a general understanding of each topic. If more information is needed, references are provided. Once online, the accompanying Lictionary site will be a significant value-add to this work.
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Summary: Excellent resource!
Review: I have bought the last two editions of Encyclopedia of Networking, and I must say that it one of my favorite resources. The author goes into the appropriate level of detail to give one a general understanding of each topic. If more information is needed, references are provided. Once online, the accompanying Lictionary site will be a significant value-add to this work.
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Summary: How I learned to enjoy reading an encyclopedia
Review: I just bought the book and have spent the last several hours reading, which is a testament to the author and the subject matter. I have never spent this much time reading an encyclopedia. I am enjoying it immensely and believe it will help me a great deal understanding the new technology (and clarifying the old). To be honest, I can't stop reading it. The enclosed CD has invaluable links to White Papers on the Web, which discuss specific technology in depth. I have yet to encounter anything like this book because it acts as a clearinghouse for technical information. Finally, this isn't the first Technical Encyclopedia I've tried. It's just the first I've tried which kept my interest, and enthusiasm.
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Summary: Excellent for a Technology Refresh
Review: I needed a technology refresh on all the new concepts and terms buzzing around (e.g. SOAP). I was looking for a course or a conference or a good book. Last Sunday I found the Encyclopaedia of Networking & Telecommunications in a Waterstone's Book shop in London. Since then I have been thoroughly enjoying it, jumping from topic to topic, web site to web site. Its just what I needed, new (and old) technology concepts explained at the right level and with plenty of reference details if I need a deeper understanding. I also like the diagrams/illustrations. They simplify the explanations and aid in the rapid understanding of the concepts. All of a sudden I feel on top of the technology maze again. Thanks Tom, for providing a single source where us technology managers can go for a quick but comprehensive information update. Clinton Ritchie Director, Systems Planning & Development Operations & Systems ICO Global Communications, London
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Summary: Superb, Across-the-Board Reference
Review: I picked this volume up at TechEd 2001. The competition with other books in this category brought the race down to "McGraw-Hill's Encyclopedia of Networking & Telecommunications" winning by one length over the "Microsoft Encyclopedia of Networking".
Tom Sheldon provided the most well-grounded and well-rounded information to fulfill the title of an "encyclopedia of networking" compared to Mitch Tulloch's very good but more Microsofted (I think microsoft as a verb can now come into play) approach to the subject and its fields.
Sheldon's book contains a greater variety of entries and their corresponding information (i.e. terms/acronyms like "NSA" & "PKI") instead of a namebrand focused presentation. I would like to see a "Special Characters" index category like Tulloch's book has, but this is not as necessary when using the search capability of the book's CD edition (which is included and loaded with hyperlinks to outside information sources).
I highly recommend Tom Sheldon's book. It's useful, it's layout and design is easy on the eyes, and I'm glad to have it at my desk (when I'm able to return it there after tracking down who last borrowed it).
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