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Understanding Operating Systems
Now in its Sixth Edition, UNDERSTANDING OPERATING SYSTEMS continues to provide a clear and straightforward explanation of operating theory and practice. As in previous editions, the book's highly-regarded structure begins with a discussion of fundamentals before moving on to specific operating systems. This edition has been updated and modernized; now included are enhanced discussions of the latest innovation evolutions (multi-core processing, wireless technologies, PDA and telephone operating systems, and Blu-ray optical storage) and how they affect operating systems. Revised Research Topics in the exercise section encourage independent research among students. Content in the final four chapters has been updated to include information about a few of the latest versions of UNIX (including specific mention of the latest Macintosh OS), Linux, and Windows.Kindle textbooks are functionally equivalent to the print textbook. In some cases, individual items such as ancillary images or multimedia have been removed for digital delivery due to rights restrictions.
608 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 23, 2025
This is a book that will more than likely fail to impart understanding about operating systems, no matter the background of the reader.
In the preface, the authors describe their goal as "[explaining] a very technical subject in a not- so-technical manner, putting the concepts of operating systems into words that many readers can quickly grasp." A few sentences later, they say "For readers with more technical backgrounds, this text introduces the subject concisely, describing the complexities of operating systems without going into intricate detail." Is it possible to meaningfully describe complexity without going into [intricate] detail? This book is filled with oxymorons and contradictions.
Again from the preface, "To do so, we’ve made some assumptions about our audiences. First, we assume the readers have some familiarity with computing systems. Second, we assume they have a working knowledge of how to use an operating system and how it interacts with them. We recommend (although we don’t require) that readers be familiar with at least one operating system." If a portion of the audience is assumed to have familiarity with operating systems (at what level? as a user? as a computer science student?) why are the authors so determined to avoid going into deeper detail about how OSes work -- if the book is titled, "Understanding Operating Systems"?! And isn't familiarity with OSes synonymous with having basic working knowledge of how to use at least one OS? The verbosity of the preface foreshadows the verbosity found throughout the book - ideas which only require a few sentences to explain are allocated multiple pages of explanations which are difficult to decipher due to the lack of precision in the language and an averseness to going into detail.
There are so many more issues with the book (illogical ordering of explanations when presenting new ideas, chapter bundling of sparsely related topics in what seems to be an attempt to pad book length, outdated technologies (even in 2018) being introduced in the present tense as if they are still in use, no mention of any concepts which first and second year university CS and engineering students should be familiar with from their CS and electronics courses) but unlike some books which are good but flawed -- and for which criticism can be insightful -- this one seems irredeemable. An absolute nightmare to read with hardly anything useful to offer.
In the preface, the authors describe their goal as "[explaining] a very technical subject in a not- so-technical manner, putting the concepts of operating systems into words that many readers can quickly grasp." A few sentences later, they say "For readers with more technical backgrounds, this text introduces the subject concisely, describing the complexities of operating systems without going into intricate detail." Is it possible to meaningfully describe complexity without going into [intricate] detail? This book is filled with oxymorons and contradictions.
Again from the preface, "To do so, we’ve made some assumptions about our audiences. First, we assume the readers have some familiarity with computing systems. Second, we assume they have a working knowledge of how to use an operating system and how it interacts with them. We recommend (although we don’t require) that readers be familiar with at least one operating system." If a portion of the audience is assumed to have familiarity with operating systems (at what level? as a user? as a computer science student?) why are the authors so determined to avoid going into deeper detail about how OSes work -- if the book is titled, "Understanding Operating Systems"?! And isn't familiarity with OSes synonymous with having basic working knowledge of how to use at least one OS? The verbosity of the preface foreshadows the verbosity found throughout the book - ideas which only require a few sentences to explain are allocated multiple pages of explanations which are difficult to decipher due to the lack of precision in the language and an averseness to going into detail.
There are so many more issues with the book (illogical ordering of explanations when presenting new ideas, chapter bundling of sparsely related topics in what seems to be an attempt to pad book length, outdated technologies (even in 2018) being introduced in the present tense as if they are still in use, no mention of any concepts which first and second year university CS and engineering students should be familiar with from their CS and electronics courses) but unlike some books which are good but flawed -- and for which criticism can be insightful -- this one seems irredeemable. An absolute nightmare to read with hardly anything useful to offer.
March 1, 2021
I kept forgetting what I’d just read: the explanations of the core concepts were often too padded and abstract, and I simply couldn’t create an organized mental model of a bare-bone operating system.
On top of that, I found a good number of modules unnecessary, such as the one describing the difference between process-based and object-based distributed OS and the one about patch management.
Overall, given the high price of the book, it wasn’t a good deal.
On top of that, I found a good number of modules unnecessary, such as the one describing the difference between process-based and object-based distributed OS and the one about patch management.
Overall, given the high price of the book, it wasn’t a good deal.
October 29, 2013
‘Understanding Operating Systems’ is for everyone, the uninitiated (like me) who have been using computers for years but never quite knew what makes this machine tick and the technical ones who already know it and want to brush up their knowledge. It presents a very technical subject in a not-so-technical manner which is not only relatable but creates a lasting impression on the readers mind. The authors present the concepts with a fun attitude while maintaining a constant flow to things such that the next topic is but an obvious consequence to its preceding topic. A good book and thoroughly enjoyable read.
Read the complete review at Aesthetic Blasphemy (Click here)
Read the complete review at Aesthetic Blasphemy (Click here)
April 6, 2020
Padded to 1.5x the length it needed to be
May 26, 2012
Very good book for anyone who is having trouble wondering WHY computers are somewhat complex.
June 22, 2012
Currently reading, but it is really in depth, it's well written, and has a lot of information (perhaps too much, but then it is a technical manual).
July 24, 2014
(read this before Goodreads, added this review years after reading the book)
Probably enjoyed it.
Probably enjoyed it.
January 11, 2015
the best . .
October 15, 2015
its fantastic
Currently reading
November 1, 2013best
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews