How the Internet Works: Special Edition

Gralla, Preston

ISBN 10: 1562765523 / ISBN 13: 9781562765521

Published by Ziff Davis Pr, 1997

Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00096915572

Synopsis:

A basic introduction to the Internet and the World Wide Web explains how online information services and communications technologies work, answering questions about ISDN lines, modems, Java, offline browsers, push and pull, and other important topics. Original. (Beginner).

Review: Written by the knowledgeable Preston Gralla and superbly illustrated, this book is an excellent and technically versed introduction to the technology behind the Internet.

How the Internet Works takes some complicated concepts, like the workings of TCP/IP (the protocol which drives the Internet) and the principles of mark-up languages such as HTML, and removes much of mystique sometimes associated with this global exchange of bits and bytes. At times, the book does skirt over some of the more daunting and indigestible issues, and due to space constraints doesn't always provide the detail and comprehensive coverage to satiate the inquisitive reader. For example, it talks about server-side imagemaps, without even mentioning that many are implemented with client-side scripting.

The choice of content is excellent and covers the tip of the technological iceberg, with discussions of Real Audio, VRML (Virtual Reality), Java and Pointcast. This isn't a practical guide for Internet beginners, but for those who've read the dummies guide and want to know not just how to work it, but how it works, this is a fascinating read. --Josh Smith

Bibliographic Details

Title: How the Internet Works: Special Edition
Publisher: Ziff Davis Pr
Publication Date: 1997
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Good