Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!gatech!purdue!decwrl!ucbvax!LBL.GOV!forrest
From: forrest@LBL.GOV
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Davidson's book vs. Comer's book
Message-ID: <880512092448.2260d215@Csa4.LBL.Gov>
Date: 12 May 88 16:24:48 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 20

I recently read both books, starting off as a complete novice. As I recall,
the introduction to Davidson's book states that the book used to be a
document that was distributed to marketing and sales people so that they'd
have some idea what all the buzz words mean (my interpretation). With this
as a goal the book is OK. But, I wanted a more in depth study of TCP/IP which
is why I turned to Comer's book. Comer's book is MUCH better although some
of the chapters (specifically those dealing with routing) didn't feel right.
This is probably my fault and I intend to reread the whole book a second time.

For the time being, Comer's book is the only entry in the race for the
perfect TCP/IP book. Anyone new to TCP/IP, or anyone who wants to fill in
holes in their knowledge would benefit greatly from reading it. I know I did.

By the way, on page 40, the second high order bit on a class C address is
shown incorrectly in Figure 4.1 (this was pointed out to me by someone else).
I've submitted this type to the tcp-typos account.

Jon Forrest
Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
FORREST@LBL.GOV