BKPCHDCT.RVW   960606
 
"Dictionary of PC Hardware and Data Communications Terms", Mitchell Shnier,
1996, 1-56592-158-5, U$19.95/C$28.95
%A   Mitchell Shnier
%C   103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA   95472
%D   1996
%G   1-56592-158-5
%I   O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
%O   U$19.95/C$28.95 800-998-9938 707-829-0515 fax: 707-829-0104 nuts@ora.com
%P   532
%T   "Dictionary of PC Hardware and Data Communications Terms"
 
Given the title, it is difficult to say what could *not* be included in this
book.  And, given the size of other, similar dictionaries, and the comparative
length of the entries, something must be.  It is, though, very difficult to say
what might be.  Most of the information and terms are here, although they might
be hard to find.  Hamming code, for example, doesn't have a listing, although
it is mentioned under the entry for ECC (error correcting code).  On the other
hand, I didn't find any mention of viruses at all.
 
The material is quite detailed, with some entries covering eight pages or more. 
There is a good level of technical detail.  The definitions and explanations
are reliable (although I did wonder why a fellow Canadian had never heard of a
British Naval Connector, and Kermit was named for a Muppet calendar, not
because it was "easy to work with and fun").  The text is easy to read, and
well leavened with humour, such as the entries for RTFM and G.723.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1996   BKPCHDCT.RVW   960606

==============
Vancouver      ROBERTS@decus.ca         | "My son, beware ... of the
Institute for  rslade@vcn.bc.ca         |  making of books there is
Research into  Rob.Slade@f733.n153.z1/  |  no end, and much study is
User                      .fidonet.org  |  a weariness of the flesh."
Security       Canada V7K 2G6           |          Ecclesiastes 12:12