Windows XP Unwired
A Guide for Home, Office, and the Road
Book Review by Gerhard R. FischerDuring the last few years the networking of computers has become of increasing interest to small businesses as well as to home computer users with more than one computer. Because of the added flexibility the wireless networking solutions have lately become particularly appealing.
The present book is concerned exclusively with the various wireless networking technologies that are available and covers, among others, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infrared, as well as GPRS and CDMA2000 systems. The book also touches on so called wireless hotspots, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and MS Smart Display as well as security concerns.
The opening chapters feature a concise introduction to the Wireless Networking Fundamentals, Wi-Fi on your Notebook, Wi-Fi on the Road, and Communicating Securely. These chapters cover a variety of subjects ranging from IP addresses and transmission protocols to domain names, the characteristics and behavior of radio waves, wireless network standards, and various standards assuring the security of the wireless communications. Subsequent chapters of the book explain how to set up a wireless network and the configuring of wireless access points. A large amount of space is devoted to the Bluetooth system, followed by a discussion of infrared and cellular networking. The concluding chapters of the about 270 page book deal with Wi-Fi hotspots (a very timely and still emerging subject), global positioning systems (GPS), and Microsoft’s Smart Display and Remote Desktop.
The entire book is clearly and understandably written and the text is supported by a large number of explanatory figures. The book is well suited as an introduction for the reader just interested in learning about Wi-Fi or as a guide for the computer user who wishes to set up a wireless network on his own.
Windows XP Unwired
A Guide for Home, Office, and the Road
By Wei-Meng Lee
O’Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
US $24.95 US - CAN $38.95
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