Broadband Bible

If you're looking for a book to explain the array of options when it comes to high-speed internet access, get a copy of the book Broadband Bible Desktop Edition by James E. Gaskin (Wiley). This is a really good book... Chapter list: Why You Need Broadband Internet Access; Getting Familiar with Broadband Technology; Types of Broadband Providers; Types of Alternative Broadband Providers; Emerging Broadband Service Options; Pros and Cons: Choosing Your Best Broadband Option; Understanding Computer Security; Examining Your Home Broadband Hookup; Examining the Multitenant Broadband Hookup; Server and Storage Options; What You Need To Know About Desktop Networking; What You Need to Know About TCP/IP Networks and Routing; Backup and Disaster Recovery; Wired Connection Options; Wireless Connection Options; Wireless Security in Depth; Avoiding Wireless Eavesdropping and Hacking; Troubleshooting Internet Access Problems; Troubleshooting Your Side of the Connection; Quick Hits Roundup; Additional Web Directory Listings; Broadband, Internet, and Networking Definitions; Index If you haven't yet made the jump to broadband internet access, you may be confused over all the options and terminology. Cable vs. DSL? Home networking? Routers? Gaskin does an excellent job in this book to explain everything you need to know to make the move. The flow of the book is well-done, in that it moves from "why do you need broadband" to "here's how you decide which option is best". Even for those of us who have had broadband for awhile, it's a good read to catch up on some other options that are becoming more viable, such as broadband over power lines. The writing is clear and concise, without falling into endless jargon that defies the reader to understand it. This book would have helped me out immensely when I made the jump from a slower DSL line to 3MB cable internet access. Since we have a number of computers in the home, I wasn't quite sure how to make sure I did and bought the right things to allow me to get them all to access the internet. Although I ended up being successful at the whole setup, there was a lot of fear and trepidation on my part. With Gaskin's book, I would have been much more confident up front. Even now, there's some information in here that will help me debug an issue I'm having with communication between two of the computers. For a single source of understandable information on moving to high-speed internet access, you won't go wrong with this book. Highly recommended.