如今，几乎每台家用计算机(home computer)都连接到某种网络。虽然设置和连接到网络比以前容易得多，但对很多人来说，它仍然是一个困难且难以理解的“神秘计算(mystery computing)”领域。由于我们大多数人都必须处理网络，因此使整个主题易于理解的指南可以成为真正的救星。我们查看了其他网络书籍，发现它们非常有帮助。Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies会是另一本添加到您的参考图书馆(reference library)的好书吗？让我们(Let)来了解一下。
注意：(NOTE:)这本书的版权为 2008 年，并未专门涵盖Windows 7。但是，有关网络和联网的信息对所有操作系统都很有用，而且有关Windows Vista的信息与(Windows Vista)Windows 7的工作方式非常接近，可以正常工作。如果您有兴趣，还可以了解如何使用Mac OS X 或 Ubuntu Linux联网。(Mac OS X or Ubuntu Linux)
真的不适合傻瓜
与傻瓜(Dummies)系列中的所有其他书籍一样，傻瓜家庭网络多合一桌面参考的(Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies)目的是用简单的术语解释所有内容，但不要与读者交谈或使用只有某人才能使用的高级极客术语已经知道这个主题的人会理解。添加了一些幽默来简化学习过程(learning process)，这总是有帮助的。本书前面有一个有用的“备忘单”，解释了常见的网络术语。由于这是一本“一体式”指南，它包括七个部分，出版商称之为迷你书。它们是：网络简介、网络设置、网络安全、连接和共享、网络故障排除、网络小工具(Introduction to Networking, Setting up Networks, Network Security, Connecting and Sharing, Network Troubleshooting, Networking Gadgets,)和Wi-Fi 热点(Wi-Fi Hotspots)。
你好，网络，很高兴认识你
介绍部分很好地解释了网络术语。几年前，当我上大学的网络课程时，我希望我能有这样一个直截了当的解释，而不是我的教科书采用的面向技术的方法。(college course)与大多数事情一样，一旦一个人对这个概念有了很好的基本了解，剩下的就容易多了。操作系统一章对Windows Vista 网络(Windows Vista networking)的清晰说明将涵盖Windows 7的工作原理，因为Microsoft对(Microsoft)Windows Vista进行了重大改进，这些改进显然值得为Windows 7保留。傻瓜家庭网络多合一桌面参考(Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies)' 对调制解调器和路由器的解释是我见过的最好的解释之一。人们通常认为这些设备太复杂而难以理解，而这本书用简单的术语很好地解释了它们。如果人们对硬件有很好的基本了解，他们可以避免很多头痛和挫败感，如果您在致电Internet 服务(Internet service)提供商寻求帮助时知道自己在说什么，也可以更轻松地获得技术支持。
设置、计划和连接
关于设置和使用用户帐户的一般信息很好，但本章内容过多地引用了不再常用的操作系统（Windows 2000，有人知道吗？）。处理Windows Vista的部分同样适用于Windows 7并有助于解释用户帐户控制(User Account Control)，但UAC在(UAC)Windows 7中的设置比在Windows Vista中的用户友好得多（谢天谢地）。描述各种高速互联网的部分(Internet)连接是永恒的，它解释了不同类型连接的工作方式以及每种连接可能需要哪些设备。关于网络适配器(network adapter)的章节也是如此，尽管该章节显示了它的年代。如今，一台没有安装某种网络适配器(network adapter)的计算机确实是一种罕见的野兽。关于设置和配置网络的部分非常好，因为许多人将不得不处理路由器配置过程(router-configuration process)。傻瓜家庭网络多合一桌面参考(Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies)可以通过其分步指南真正帮助您了解所涉及的内容和发生的情况。DHCP、MAC地址(MAC address)等常用术语的解释，和SSID特别好。还有一节是关于更新和调整路由器固件的，它以 D-Link 路由器为例，但解释的过程足够清楚，读者可以在任何其他品牌的路由器上处理相同的过程。由于许多人使用流行的第三方软件如DD-WRT来提高他们的路由器的性能，解释如何使用它的部分是一个加号。与处理放大无线路由器的部分一样(wireless router)的信号和扩展无线覆盖范围。在这里有点乱七八糟的事情，我想说的是处理故障排除的迷你书非常出色，没有被过时的参考资料拖累，并且让读者对可能出现的问题和什么有一个很好的、扎实的理解做正确的事。
旧的胜过新的
这本关于网络和 Internet 安全(network and Internet security)的迷你书有很多很好的基本信息，但对特定硬件和软件(hardware and software)的引用当然已经过时了。傻瓜家庭网络多合一桌面参考(Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies)确实详细介绍了使用不安全的无线连接(wireless connection)可能导致的问题，并解释了保护自己免受入侵、黑客和爱管闲事的邻居的最佳方法他们对你的无线连接(wireless connection)太感兴趣了。我认为MAC地址(MAC address)过滤的解释特别好。有一个很好的互联网描述(Internet)对于儿童和家长控制，包括有关这些控制如何在Windows Vista中工作的详细部分，也适用于 Windows 7。不幸的是，涵盖连接和共享(Connecting and Sharing)的迷你书对于过时的操作系统来说信息量太大了。翻阅所有内容以查找与Windows 7相关的Windows Vista 信息(Windows Vista information)，麻烦多于其价值。虚拟专用网络部分内容广泛，但也已过时，文件和硬件共享(file and hardware sharing)、DNS 和 FTP(DNS and FTP)部分也是如此。关于网络小工具(Networking Gadgets)和WiFi 热点(WiFi Hotspots)的最终迷你书也过时了，虽然有一些有用的信息。Networking Gadgets部分有一章专门介绍Cisco 产品(Cisco product)Network Magic ，该产品仍然可用，可能值得一看，因为它几乎简化了有关网络的所有内容。该软件的当前价格（40 美元或 30 美元，取决于您选择的版本）对于大多数人来说并非遥不可及，但我没有个人经验，所以我不能说我是否同意作者的网络魔法(Network Magic)值得购买。
好和坏
优点：(Pro:)这本书包含有用的信息、清晰的解释和大量的插图。每个主题都以直截了当的方式进行讨论，并带有恰到好处的幽默感，使阅读变得值得(reading worth)。为了更好地理解网络基础知识，家庭网络多合一桌面参考手册(Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies)真的很出色。
缺点：(Con:) 2008 年的版权日期(copyright date)（意味着这本书可能写于 2007 年）意味着太多信息已经过时或根本不再适用。没有提到Windows 7，但我发现Windows Vista的说明对于大多数(Windows Vista)Windows 7任务来说已经足够好了。
判决
因为在家庭网络多合一桌面参考中提供了大量关于(Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies)家庭网络(home networking)的优秀介绍的信息，我认为值得从图书馆借阅。我参加了大学水平(college level course)的网络课程，但本书中仍然有一些我不知道的事情清楚地解释了。但是，过多的过时信息意味着如果您对Windows 7网络感兴趣，则可能不值得购买这本书。要购买和保留Windows 7网络书籍，有更好的选择，例如我们自己的Network Your Computers & Devices Step by Step。
Book Review - Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies
Nearly every home computer is attached tо a network of some kind these days. While it hаs gotten much easier to set up аnd connect to a network than it used to be, it still feels like a difficult and mostly incomprehensible area of "mystery computing" to a lot of people. Ѕince most of us have to deal with networks, a guide that makеs the whole subjеct easy to understand can be a real lifesaver. We'vе reviewed other networking books and found thеm νery helpful. Wіll Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies be another good book to add to your reference library? Let's find out.
NOTE: The book was copyrighted 2008 and does not cover Windows 7 specifically. However, the information on networks and networking is useful for all operating systems, and the information on Windows Vista is close enough to the way Windows 7 does things that it will work just fine. You can also learn about networking with Mac OS X or Ubuntu Linux if you're interested.
Not really for dummies
As with all the other books in the Dummies series, the aim of Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies is to explain everything in simple terms, but without talking down to the reader or using high-level geek terms that only someone who already knows the subject would understand. There's a bit of humor added to ease the learning process, which always helps. There's a helpful "cheat sheet" in the front of the book that explains common networking terms. Since this is an "all in one" guide, it includes seven sections, which the publisher calls minibooks. They are: Introduction to Networking, Setting up Networks, Network Security, Connecting and Sharing, Network Troubleshooting, Networking Gadgets, and Wi-Fi Hotspots.
Hello, network, nice to meet you
The introductory section does a great job of explaining networking terminology. When I took a college course on networking a few years ago, I wish I'd had a straightforward explanation like this, rather than the tech-oriented approach my textbook took. As with most things, once a person has a good basic understanding of the concept, the rest is a lot easier. The operating-system chapter's clear, well-illustrated description of Windows Vista networking will cover how Windows 7 works, since Microsoft made major improvements in Windows Vista that were clearly worth keeping for Windows 7. Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies' explanation of modems and routers is one of the best I've seen. People often think these devices are too complex to understand, and the book does a great job of explaining them in simple terms. People can save themselves a lot of headaches and frustration if they've got a good basic understanding of the hardware, and it makes getting tech support easier too if you know what you're talking about when you call your Internet service provider for help.
The setup, the plan, and the connection
The general information on setting up and working with user accounts is good, but the chapter is overloaded with references to operating systems that are not in common use any more (Windows 2000, anyone?). The sections that deal with Windows Vista are equally applicable to Windows 7 and help explain the User Account Control, but UAC is set up to be much more user friendly in Windows 7 than it is in Windows Vista (and thank goodness for that). The section that describes the various kinds of high speed Internet connections is timeless and explains the way the different types of connections work and which equipment you're likely to need for each one. The same goes for the chapter on network adapters, although that chapter shows its age a bit. Nowadays a computer that does not come with some kind of network adapter already installed is a rare beast indeed. The section on setting up and configuring the network is excellent, and since many people will have to deal with the router-configuration process. Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies can really help with its step by step guide to what's involved and what happens. The explanations of commonly used terms like DHCP, MAC address, and SSID are particularly good. There is also a section on updating and tweaking a router's firmware that uses a D-Link router as an example but explains the process clearly enough that the reader could tackle the same process on any other brand of router just as well. Since many people use popular third-party software like DD-WRT to improve their routers' performance, the section that explains how to use it is a plus. As is the section that deals with amplifying a wireless router's signal and extending wireless coverage. Taking things a little out of order here, I'd say that the minibook that deals with troubleshooting is excellent, not weighed down by out-of-date references, and gives the reader a good, solid understanding of what could go wrong and what to do to make it right.
The old outweighs the new
The minibook on network and Internet security has a lot of good, basic information, but of course the references to specific hardware and software are out of date. Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies does go into detail about the problems you can cause yourself if you use an unsecured wireless connection, and explains the best ways to protect yourself from intrusions, hackers, and nosy neighbors with too much time on their hands and too much interest in your wireless connection. I thought the explanation of MAC address filtering was particularly good. There's a good description of Internet for children and parental controls, including an extensive section on how those controls work in Windows Vista that would be applicable to Windows 7 as well. The minibook that covers Connecting and Sharing is, unfortunately, way too full of information for outdated operating systems. Paging through it all to find the Windows Vista information that's relevant to Windows 7 is more trouble than it's worth. The section on virtual private networks was extensive, but also out of date, as were the section on file and hardware sharing, DNS and FTP. The final minibooks on Networking Gadgets and WiFi Hotspots are also out of date, although there is some useful information. The Networking Gadgets section has a chapter devoted to a Cisco product called Network Magic that is still available, and which may be worth a look since it simplifies almost everything about networking. The current price of the software ($40 or $30 depending on which version you choose) is not out of reach for most people, but I have no personal experience with it so I can't say if I agree with the author that the Network Magic is worth buying.
The good and the bad
Pro: The book is packed with useful information, clear explanations and plenty of illustrations. Each topic is discussed in a straightforward manner and with just the right touch of humor to make the reading worth while. For a good solid understanding of the basics of networking, Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies really shines.
Con: The 2008 copyright date (meaning the book was likely written in 2007) means that way too much information is out of date or simply not applicable anymore. No mention of Windows 7, but I found that the instructions for Windows Vista were good enough for most Windows 7 tasks.
Verdict
Because there is so much information in Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies that provides an excellent introduction to home networking, I'd say it would be worth borrowing from the library. I took a college level course in networking and there were still some things that this book explained clearly that I did not know. However, the overload of outdated information means it might not be worth buying the book if what you're interested in is Windows 7 networking. For Windows 7 networking books to buy and keep there are far better choices, like our own Network Your Computers & Devices Step by Step.
