The good points are that the book is written in a friendly way and easy to understand for beginners to intermediate users.Drawback is the lack of depth.
Overall some good approach suggestion and quick read.

The first edition was very good (see all the other reviews below). This edition, with the exception of some "troubleshooting technique" chapters, appears to be almost an entirely new book (I am glad I got both -- a LOT has changed since 1998, and Feldman has kept up with the times.) There are many more concrete examples that will be useful both for networking pros and the casual office network guy. Good windows coverage...good wireless...with easy-to-read, intelligent and funny writing.

I took Feldman's book to my first systems job as a newly-minted MCSE with no on the job experience. Feldman was my good companion during those first terrifying weeks when I was on my own and didn't know a data packet from a date. Unlike MCSE exam tomes and Microsoft guides, Feldman explains *networking* concepts w/o the Windoze myopia and offers concrete troubleshooting and discovery tools available freely to anyone. As the fog clears the stuff seems almost fun! Indispensable...I sometimes go back to it just to refresh my knowledge and rediscover certain basic concepts that one tends to forget. If you've been voted the "IT guy" at your small company, this is a friendly and useful guide. Thanks Jonathan!

Although not specific to any OS, architecture, or network design, this is an excellent text for anyone beginning a computer networking career. Some may claim that the first few chapters cover common sense, but these chapters superbly augment troubleshooting techniques used in repairing anything technical. The 2nd half explores the most common operating platforms, whetting the reader's appetite for further study in a myriad of networking concepts. This book alone won't make you an expert in any one area, and it doesn't claim (thank God) to be the definitive text for passing some certification exam, but it does offer essential general information any Sysdamin needs to hear again and again.

I read the Descriptions and Reviews of 4 or 5 other books, before I made the purchase. I'm glad I bought this book! Jonathan Feldman is someone who has "been there and done that". In this book, he shares a *lot* of knowledge he's gained, over the years, working with Networks. I have recommended this book to friends and colleagues. One year ago, I purchased my first book about networks, "Networking Home PCs for Dummies". That book is now much too basic for me. I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about networks and how to fix problems in our home LAN. This book is oriented to people working with *much* larger networks than we have in our house and it will serve them well. It will also help people with small networks in their homes. I'm going to read it again, slowly, and this time do the exercises, to learn more.