Networking for Home and Small Businesses, CCNA Discovery Learning Guide Review

Networking for Home and Small Businesses, CCNA Discovery Learning Guide
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Purchased this as a textbook for an Introduction to Networking course. Only negative is that CISCO is still using Windows XP on ALL their labs. If you are using Vista or Windows 7, you will need to adapt to different screen shots. As this is a thick text, I took it to FedEx Office [formerly Kinko's] and had it spiral bound into 3 sections: 1. Textbook, 2. Labs & 3. Answers, glossary & index. Good basic intro book.

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Networking for Home and Small BusinessesCCNA Discovery Learning GuideAllan Reid•Jim LorenzNetworking for Home and Small Businesses, CCNA Discovery Learning Guide is the official supplemental textbook for the Networking for Home and Small Businesses course in the Cisco® Networking Academy® CCNA® Discovery curriculum version 4. The course, the first of four in the new curriculum, teaches networking concepts by applying them to a type of network you may encounter in a home or small office. The Learning Guide, written and edited by instructors, is designed as a portable desk reference to use anytime, anywhere to reinforce the material from the course and organize your time. In addition, the book includes expanded coverage of CCENT™/CCNA exam topics.The book's features help you focus on important concepts to succeed in this course:Chapter Objectives–Review core concepts by answering the focus questions listed at the beginning of each chapter.Key Terms–Refer to the lists of networking vocabulary introduced and highlighted in context in each chapter. The Glossary defines each key term.Summary of Activities and Labs–Maximize your study time with this complete list of all associated exercises at the end of each chapter.Check Your Understanding–Evaluate your readiness with the end-of-chapter questions that match the style of questions you see in the online course quizzes. The answer key explains each answer.Challenge Questions and Activities–Apply a deeper understanding of the concepts with these challenging end-of-chapter questions and activities. The answer key explains each answer.Hands-on Labs–Master the practical, hands-on skills of the course by performing all the tasks in the course labs and additional challenge labs included in Part II of the Learning Guide.Allan Reid is the curriculum lead for CCNA and a CCNA and CCNP® instructor at the Centennial College CATC in Toronto, Canada.Jim Lorenz is an instructor and curriculum developer for the Cisco Networking Academy.How To–Look for this icon to study the steps you need to learn to perform certain tasks.Interactive Activities–Reinforce your understanding of topics with more than 50 different exercises from the online course identified through-out the book with this icon. The files for these activities are on the accompanying CD-ROM.Packet Tracer Activities– Explore and visualize networking concepts using Packet Tracer exercises interspersed throughout some chapters. The files for these activities are on the accompanying CD-ROM. Packet Tracer v4.1 software developed by Cisco is available separately.Hands-on Labs–Work through all 26 course labs and 3 additional challenge labs included in Part II of the book. The labs are an integral part of the CCNA Discovery curriculum, so you can review the core text and the lab material to prepare for all your exams.Companion CD-ROMThe CD-ROM includesInteractive ActivitiesPacket Tracer Activity filesIT Career InformationTaking NotesLifelong LearningOSI Model OverviewThis book is part of the Cisco Networking Academy Series from Cisco Press®. Books in this series support and complement the Cisco Networking Academy curriculum.

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Computer Networks (5th Edition) Review

Computer Networks (5th Edition)
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The book maintain the classic structure of subjects based on the OSI model (which is good and proven to work for those who learn about networking)...you will notice the author has updated contents in several sections of the book: from entire new paragraphs, going trough the examples to the jokes itself, adapting them to the modern context in which we live.
New interesting topics as RFID and 3g-4g cellular networks are also commented in good detail...I would say not "mile wide, inch deep", but "mile wide, two inches deep"
I do not give them 5 stars because the problems and exercises at the end of each chapter do not have the solution (or at least the correct answer)...why not sharing the information once and for all???...

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Computer Networks, 5/e is appropriate for Computer Networking or Introduction to Networking courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, CIS, MIS, and Business Departments.

Tanenbaum takes a structured approach to explaining how networks work from the inside out. He starts with an explanation of the physical layer of networking, computer hardware and transmission systems; then works his way up to network applications. Tanenbaum's in-depth application coverage includes email; the domain name system; the World Wide Web (both client- and server-side); and multimedia (including voice over IP, Internet radio video on demand, video conferencing, and streaming media. Each chapter follows a consistent approach: Tanenbaum presents key principles, then illustrates them utilizing real-world example networks that run through the entire book—the Internet, and wireless networks, including Wireless LANs, broadband wireless and Bluetooth. The Fifth Edition includes a chapter devoted exclusively to network security. The textbook is supplemented by a Solutions Manual, as well as a Website containing PowerPoint slides, art in various forms, and other tools for instruction, including a protocol simulator whereby students can develop and test their own network protocols.


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CompTIA A+ Cert Guide (220-701 and 220-702) (2nd Edition) Review

CompTIA A+ Cert Guide (220-701 and 220-702) (2nd Edition)
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I have been reading books authored and co-authored by Scott Mueller since 1998. I have sworn by his Upgrading and Repairing PCs books (now in its 19th Edition with over two million copies sold from the book series) for my own use and for the use of my students in the classes that I teach. I always tell them "if you are going to buy any additional companion book for this A+ certification class, be it for studying for the exam itself or for your reference down the road, get a book written by Scott Mueller - he is THE subject matter expert for all things relating to computer hardware."
Having a CompTIA A+ certification guide written by this master is the best of both worlds - you have a comprehensive study guide for the certification exams as well as a solid reference book for future use.
The publishers found the only way I could think of to up this ante by combining the talent from two additional experts in the field - Mark Edward Soper and David L. Prowse - to make this book a great pick to anyone that is looking to learn more about computer hardware and / or take the CompTIA certification exam for the 220-701 and 220-702 series exams.
The book covers all the topics in the 220-701 and 220-702 series exams which has been updated to include information on the Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft.
The 18 chapters of the book are succinctly broken down by topic and subject matter.
The chapters include a study feature that I have often recommended to my students. There is a pre-assessment quiz at the beginning of the chapter that allows you to gauge your knowledge of the material being covered in the chapter. If you take the pre-assessment quiz and are able to get a very high score you discover that you already have most of the in-depth knowledge for the subject matter of that chapter. That would allow you to safely gloss over the information in quick review fashion. If you were unable to score very well this would allow you to understand that full study of the material in that chapter would be needed in order to better understand the material. This approach benefits the up and coming student as it allows them to focus on areas with additional study time where they are weak with respect to the material which is a huge time saver. Time is also saved by underscoring the limited need to "cram" an area where they are already proficient.
The DVD that accompanies the book includes 2 complete practice exams that can be executed in different testing modes (study mode and practice exam mode) as well as e-book pages for the glossary and appendixes from the main guide.
The CompTIA A+ Cert Guide (220-701 and 220-702) (2nd Edition) is a "must have" for anyone starting out on a new IT career and / or for anyone that has a need for a solid reference and resource guide for computer hardware.

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Includes Coverage of Windows 7Start-to-finish A+ preparation from the world's #1 PC hardware expert, Scott Mueller!Master every topic on both new 2011 A+ exams.Assess your knowledge and focus your learning.Get the practical workplace knowledge you need!Master every A+ topic!Essential concepts and troubleshooting principlesBIOS and CMOSMemory types and characteristics I/O ports and multimedia devicesVideo cards and displaysMotherboards, CPUs, and adapter cardsLaptop componentsNetworking SecurityWindows 7, XP, and 2000Power supplies and system coolingPrintersSafety and environmental concernsTest your knowledge, build your confidence, and succeed!Packed with visuals to help you learn fastDozens of troubleshooting scenariosReal-world A+ prep advice from expertsEasy-to-use exam preparation task listsDo I Know This Already? quizzes help you gauge your knowledge, focus your study, and review the materialDVD Features 2 COMPLETE SAMPLE EXAMSDetailed explanations of correct and incorrect answersMultiple test modesRandom questions and order of answersSample videos from CompTIA A+ Cert KitMark Edward Soper has taught computer troubleshooting and other technical subjects since 1992. He is the author of Sams Teach Yourself Windows 7 in 10 Minutes, Absolute Beginner's Guide to A+ Certification, and many other titles on Windows, networking, and hardware upgrades. He is a CompTIA A+ Certified technician.Scott Mueller is the PC industry's most trusted, authoritative hardware expert. He has personally taught PC repair to thousands of pros and enthusiasts. His book, Upgrading and Repairing PCs, has sold more than 2.2 million copies, making him the world's most successful PC hardware author.David L. Prowse is a computer network specialist, author, and technical trainer. He has taught CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ certification courses to more than 2,000 students, both in the classroom and via the Internet. As a consultant, he installs and secures the latest in computer and networking technology. He has authored and coauthored a number of networking and computer titles for Pearson Education, including CompTIA A+ Exam Cram, Fourth Edition.

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Data and Computer Communications (9th Edition) Review

Data and Computer Communications (9th Edition)
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For the stated audience -- academics and self-study professionals -- it is hard to envision a better single volume study of datacom principles. Divided into five primary parts (overview, data communications, WANs, LANs, and Networking Protocols), it can provide excellent first course source material to provide a general overview of datacom principles and techniques.
Note that, with as much information as being presented, the book is much more useful as a course text for study than for casual reading. However, it covers sufficient areas to be useful as a reference for the data & computer communications professional. Additional information is maintained by the author on his web site which provides more up-to-date information than can ever be maintained in a printed volume.

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Data and Computer Communications, 9e, is a two-time winner of the best Computer Science and Engineering textbook of the year award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association. It is ideal for one/two-semester courses in Computer Networks, Data Communications, and Communications Networks in CS, CIS, and Electrical Engineering departments.With a focus on the most current technology and a convenient modular format, this best-selling text offers a clear and comprehensive survey of the entire data and computer communications field. Emphasizing both the fundamental principles as well as the critical role of performance in driving protocol and network design, it explores in detail all the critical technical areas in data communications, wide-area networking, local area networking, and protocol design.

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Seeing What's Next: Using Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change Review

Seeing What's Next: Using Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change
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Seldom do I remember a book that totally replaces the old and popular business literature quite as effectively as Seeing What's Next does in superceding The Innovator's Dilemma and The Innovator's Solution. If you have not read either of those books, you can skip them now and read Seeing What's Next instead. If you have already read those books, you will be delighted to see how much more practical the advice is in Seeing What's Next than in the earlier two efforts.
Before going into the details of what the book covers, I want to especially compliment Professor Christensen for overcoming in Seeing What's Next two of the three most serious weaknesses of The Innovator's Solution -- the lack of discussing business model innovation and the omission of leading technology business model innovation examples.
In Seeing What's Next, the authors take on the challenge of helping executives and managers consider the likelihood of disruptive technology changes occurring and how they should evaluate their potential responses in light of current information. The analysis looks at both the perspective of the companies that will be disrupted and displaced as well as those who are leading the disruptions.
The book is a remarkable combination of theory, process suggestions and detailed case histories to explain the suggested process. As a result, this book will be the most practical guide available for technology executives until Professor Christensen brings out the next installment of his thinking in a future book.
In Part I, the authors use existing theories about disruptive innovations to suggest which signals to pay attention to as suggesting that opportunities exist, how to determine if competitors will be a factor in disruption, choosing an appropriate response and considering how government and other nonmarket influences can affect the result.
In Part II, the process of applying the Part I theories are exemplified in higher education, commercial aviation, semiconductor customer benefits, health care productivity, non-U.S.-based innovations and strategies, and the telecommunications industry.
The book also contains a stimulating conclusion and helpful summary of key concepts in the appendix.
As usual, Professor Christensen and his colleagues have provided many interesting and valuable footnotes. I usually found them to be as interesting as or more interesting than the text.
Having said so many nice things, you are probably wondering what the book's weaknesses are. I found a few that are worth considering before you start reading the book . . . which everyone should do.
1. The proposed analysis of signals and competitors is extremely elementary. It reminded me of the state-of-the-art in strategic thinking in 1971 when I first started as a strategy consultant at The Boston Consulting Group. Today, much better sources of information and means of analysis are available. I was surprised to see such primitive suggestions to such important questions.
2. In the competitive analysis, the book assumes rational competitors who understand where they are. In my experience, innovative situations have everyone confused and they mill about aimlessly . . . often acting against their own rational best interest.
3. The authors take the rationalist view that the future can be predicted well enough in one direction that you can plan and act based on that. Most experienced business people would not agree with that assessment. The opposing view is that you should develop scenarios of what might happen along a number of different extreme lines, and then look for directions that leave you better off regardless of which scenario occurs.
4. While the authors do a wonderful job of describing many disruptive innovations, they do a relatively poor job of discussing how to develop, nurture and accelerate the impact of such innovations. Hopefully, the next book will be much more of a "how to" effort in this direction.
5. Finally, while business model innovations are described in abundance, there's little connection in the book to a process for pursuing business model innovation along with technical innovation. As a result, the table is set . . . but no meal is served in this area.
How good is this book? Many people tell me that Good to Great is the most helpful business book they have ever read. I found Seeing What's Next to be a vastly better and more useful book. Try it.



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Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn't Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution Review

Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn't Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution
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I've followed the terrific work of Ann Louise Gittleman, MS, CNS, PhD for years, and it's clear that after 30 books, many of them bestsellers, she has established herself as a leader in identifying the latest health challenges, as well as in presenting cutting-edge, common sense approaches to help resolve them.
Zapped is an eye opener. A fascinating, well-researched, and well-referenced book that looks at the health consequences of our constant exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and electronic pollution.
We are marinating in electromagnetic fields -- with homes and offices filled with wireless wi-fi internet, smart phones, laptops, electronic games, cordless devices and appliances everywhere. In Zapped, Dr. Gittleman makes a compelling argument for the health impact of this constant exposure, and outlines the research and studies behind the latest health concerns related to electronic pollution. In particular, Dr. Gittleman talks about -- and includes in her references list -- many of the studies that have found that exposure to electromagnetic fields may be associated with Alzheimer's disease, ALS, heart disease, miscarriage, birth defects, infertility, mood disturbances such as depression, and quality of sleep. Of particular concern is the link between EMFs and cancer, especially brain tumors in cell phone users. She also outlines her concerns about the particular danger that electronic pollution poses for children.
The most practical part of the book is the room-by-room guidelines to help you minimize exposure. And, as a holistic nutritionist by training, recognizing that some exposure can not be avoided, Dr. Gittleman also provides strategies -- including nutritional and lifestyle approaches -- that may help physically shield us against the negative health effects of electronic pollution and EMFs.
In the book, Dr. Gittleman asks you to mentally take a walk through your grandparents house, and count up the number of electric and electronic appliances. In most cases, there are very few -- a television, a radio, a phonograph, some electric lamps, maybe a few electric kitchen appliances, and perhaps an alarm clock in the bedroom. Then, you think about just your own bedroom, and you realize the extent of the electronic pollution.
In just my own bedroom, there's a tv, a DVD player, a cable box, an alarm clock, my laptop, my Kindle, a cell phone charging, an Ipod charging, not to mention the cordless phone, and the wi-fi that goes throughout the house. I have to admit that after I read Zapped, I felt so uneasy about the extent to which my family and I are exposed to various electronic devices that I already started making changes recommended by Dr. Gittleman, including:
* When making cell phone calls, switch sides frequently
* Use "Electronic Feng Shui" to reposition appliances and electronics in the home to minimize exposure to EMFs
* Remove Wi-Fi and cordless phone chargers in the bedrooms
* Do not locate sofas and beds on the other side of a wall from a refrigerator
* Don't cradle your laptop in your lap, and especially not when pregnant
* Keep cell phone calls short
* Get the cell phone out of your pocket
* Text rather than call whenever possible
* Use the phone in hands-free mode versus up to your head/ear
As a patient advocate, I know how important it is to overall health that we identify and minimize our exposure to toxins and chronic environmental stressors. While we are surrounded constantly by electronic pollution, Dr. Gittleman has given us a practical program to help us identify the greatest risks, minimize exposure, and protect ourselves and our families from the needless and potentially harmful dangers of electronic pollution.
~ Mary Shomon, Thyroid Patient Advocate, Author

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Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal Review

Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal
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Over and over through the years as I've read books about real life spies ("Comrade" Kim Philby and Sidney Reilly among others) I've been struck by how much more amazing these non-fiction stories were than those concocted as would-be pulp fiction thrillers. I've also been struck at how all the best spies were anything but good people, and they shared traits of cruelty and self-love that bordered on sociopathic narcissism. Ben Macintyre's biography of Eddie Chapman gives us a man who continues that dubious tradition. This page-turner is fact-filled and well-written and the life it tells of outdoes anything fiction has cranked out in quite a while. It's a very enjoyable read that presented the history of someone I personally had never heard of before I was introduced to him in this book.
Eddie Chapman was no James Bond or even a Sidney Reilly, but he was one of the boldest, most brazen con men ever to serve a nation or a cause, and in so doing he found some redemption from the wrongs of his earlier life. From his days as a roguish charmer who infiltrated high society and first infatuated and later blackmailed rich women in the most callous and base ways imaginable, this safecracker, thief and extortionist found himself sprung by the Germans early in the war when he was then serving a fifteen-year sentence in an English prison in the Channel Islands.
The charismatic Chapman, as liked by his German liberators as by those who'd known him back home, was then recruited by the Nazis as a spy who agreed to do their bidding and sabotage a British aircraft factory in Hertfordshire. He parachuted back onto his native soil during the busy Christmas season of 1942, only to prove his ultimate loyalty by going to the British and offering to in turn spy on the Germans. Ultimately faking the attack in Hertfordshire and returning to Germany through neutral Portugal, Chapman concocted a plan in which he would assassinate Adolph Hitler at a political rally. Although this plan obviously never came to fruition, Chapman bravely continued his double agency thru to the war's conclusion, an astounding feat of skill, luck and sheer courage all the more amazing considering the short lifespan of most other double agents.
So skilled was he at his falsehoods that Chapman was befriended by a number of well-placed Nazi personnel, and was decorated for his service to the Third Reich. Eventually after a posting in German-held Norway, late in the war Chapman was again smuggled into the United Kingdom where in his most noble deed he saved countless lives by concocting false reports to the Germans on the accuracy of their V1 and V2 rockets. In his communiqués Chapman claimed these flying bombs were landing beyond their intended targets, causing the Luftwaffe to re-adjust them to locations the British deemed less populated and therefore safer.
Incredibly after this the gifted liar and actor Chapman returned yet again to Nazi-controlled Norway, where he continued to be of service to his government in London, this time by turning over misleading information to the by-then moribund German military.
Chapman's life was one of amazing luck, daring, and amorality, but his story is also one of a man who betrayed nearly every friend who ever trusted him, and who ruined many lives, even as his service record shows he saved many others. He went on to not only survive the Second World War but live to old age, profiting from an MI5 pension and from the proceeds of the book and film royalties to his remarkable story. Macintyre skillfully takes us into the deeds and era of this confidence man turned double agent, and in doing so has given his readers a fine work of non-fiction that is a pleasure to complete.


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