[.uk] Data and Computer Communications, Seventh Edition (ISBN 0131006819)

well presented explanations:
(A review of the 8th EDITION, that was published in late 2006.) Stallings takes the student reader through an extensive introduction to current computer networking. Focusing naturally on TCP/IP, as the Internet is the largest computer network in the world. He shows how TCP/IP can be related to the theoretical 7 layer OSI model. The 5 layers of TCP/IP have proved to be well adequate to this date. En route, he provides very simple analogies to the protocol stack, as this sometimes gives students grief. One analogy is for the physical layer to be mapped to a telephone line. Then on one side, there is a stack for ordering pizza - consisting of a guest at a hotel, a host and a telephone. The other stack has the pizza cook, the order clerk and a telephone. Here, we see a 3 (or 4) layer stack, that is readily understandable. (It's easier to see the structure in the book's diagram.) Well, if you can follow this, then TCP/IP is not so different. The book also explains various multiplexing methods, like frequency division or time division, without drowning the student in maths. The treatment is qualitative, and does not replace a full course in communications theory. The discussion on routing, however, while also qualitative, is closer to actual implementations. The routing strategies can be quite adequately understood at the level given in the text. There is one chapter devoted to wireless networks (ie. for cellphones). Given the still strong rise in cellphone usage in developing countries, this chapter might well be expanded in future editions of the book. WiFi is covered, but not WiMax. Well, it is still early days for deployment of the latter, whereas WiFi's popularity is established.

Writing Accuracy:
Just one issue: The text would repeatedly refer to various devices, procedures, menus, etc. inaccurately. It made using IT Guru frustrating at times because I wasn't always sure if I was selecting or doing the right thing. Perhaps they should have had someone actually use it before they published. "?"

Interesting stuff.:
most interesting part of this book was adsl, cable, vdsl because our family are using FastAccess DSL(adsl with 1.5 megabyte patch)from Bellsouth(which is merged with At & T).

A+ in the NW and Data Comm hard to find books.:
The subject of Networking and Data communication is hard to teach and the good books are also hard to find. For anyone interested in the details of Networking and its mathematical and logical scales, there is no other book that represents this wide subject in an easy to read, understand and comprehend the subject. Although this is only my second required textbook in the Networking and Data communication, one undergrad and now grad school, it is my ...probably 10th book to read/use as a reference in my daily tasks. All or partial of the text might be presented as grad level course or subject, but it is presented in a simple way. Go ahead, read it...you buy it or borrow it at the local library you won't be disappointed. TL

A Good Resource:
This book does not cover as many topics as I would have liked, but it is very current and appears to be accurate. Stallings can be a bit dry.