with a textbook, I bought it. not good, but not bad
Rating: 3 / 5

Probably my biggest problem with this book is in the fact that it doesn’t accurately describe the OSI Model. There are 7 layers to the OSI. The fundamentals of networking have not changed in nearly thrity years. This book totally ignores the Session and Presentation layers of the OSI. For a student that read this textbook with no previous knowledge of networks, then they are led to the conclusion that there are only 5 layrers in networking. I do not agree with this book trying to simplify the OSI model. Also this is a textbook, the author and publisher need to understand that textbooks get resold. As a student I don’t always have lots of extra money to spend, and therefore I buy used as much as possible. This book provides a code to access a website. The problem is that it’s only good for the first student that uses it. After that, they expect you to fork over more money to get access to the content on the website. ridiculous. Furthermore, like I said earlier, the fundamentals of networking have not changed in 30 years. Although there are advances being made in gigabit ethernet and wireless networking, the fundamentals remain the same. Releasing new editions every few years is a gimmick intended to plunder students and rob us of what little money we have. I’ve just finished a BS degree in Computer Science, over 90% of what I learned was theoretical. Very little of what I learned is current, cutting edge technology. I seriously doubt the “new” third edition will have any additional information that would justify a new edition.
Rating: 1 / 5