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Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet
 
 
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Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet (Paperback)

by Katie Hafner (Author), Matthew Lyon (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Touchstone ed edition (7 Sep 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0684832674
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684832678
  • Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 14 x 1.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 197,005 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Considering that the history of the Internet is perhaps better documented internally than any other technological construct, it is remarkable how shadowy its origins have been to most people, including die-hard Net-denizens!

At last, Hafner and Lyon have written a well-researched story of the origins of the Internet substantiated by extensive interviews with its creators who delve into many interesting details such as the controversy surrounding the adoption of our now beloved "@" sign as the separator of usernames and machine addresses. Essential reading for anyone interested in the past--and the future--of the Net specifically, and telecommunications generally.

With the incredible growth of the Internet in the 1990s and revolutions occurring almost daily, it is easy to overlook the origins of this cultural phenomenon. Katie Hafner and Matthew Lyon have captured the history of the Internet in this solid account. They explain the system's genesis as a device to link computer resources around the country--not to prepare communications for nuclear war strikes as is often thought--and how, as with many of us, e-mail was the application of choice for many users. It also tells of the story of the buttoned-up engineers who invented the Internet- -in contrast to the late-night hackers who pushed its evolution. In all, an interesting history about a medium that has fostered an aversion to the past.

Review
Richard Bernstein

"The New York Times Book Review"

If you always wanted to know who put the 'at' sign in your E-mail address, then "Where Wizards Stay Up Late" is the book for you.



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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Internet is older than you thought, 22 Jan 2001
This is an excellent book for all those who would guess that Bolt, Beranek and Newman is a law firm. It may sound like one, but it isn't. BBN - now a subsidiary of GTE/Verizon - is a company which is most intimately tied to the birth of what is nowadays known as the internet. And if the BBN's marketing guys would have been half as good as their engineers, we would probably hear a lot more about BBN today and less about, say, Cisco.

In a clear and highly readable style, Hafner and Lyon have covered the history of the packet switching networks with encyclopedic breadth. You'll learn both about the early theoretical fathers of packet switching, like Paul Baran and Donald Davies; you have the people in the DoD's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) like Joseph Licklider, Bob Taylor or Larry Roberts, who not only had a grand view of computer networking or obtained the necessary governmental funding, but were also able to specify their wishes precisely enough that the engineers were able to build the network based on their plans. And finally, there is Frank Heart's team at BBN, guys who actually built the darn thing.

The subtitle - The origins of the internet - is well chosen. Most of the book focuses on the years 1968-1972, from Roberts' draft proposal, to the 1972 international conference on computer communication. Other development, either earlier or later, is covered only fragmentary. There are other interesting stories, like the origins of USENET, internet news exchange service, but they are not the scope of this book.

The book leaves a pleasant impression that the authors actually understand the necessary technical background of the topic they are writing about. Some diagrams might help further, but I am sure that numerous metaphors used in the book will also alone help the casual reader to understand the idea of packet switching. Chapter notes and bibliography section deserve special praise, and the subject index comes in handy, too. Overall, a very satisfying book.

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An informative History of the birth of the Internet, 21 Jan 2002
This book is a must for anyone teaching in the subject, or for Internet enthusiasts.

The book is factual in that important dates places and people are well documented.

Progression towards the present day Internet as we know it is presented in structured chunks of easy to read text, with the characters coming to life at all times. Reading this book makes one realise how much hard work went on before a solution to communication between computers was finalised.

The problem is that once you start reading it you want to carry on to the end!

Once you've reached the end you want to start again.

An important book for students who are serious about their studies. As a lecturer in computing and IT I find it invaluable.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Highly interesting book to read., 31 Jan 2003
By MR C A J BUTCHER (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
If you really want to know how the Internet was designed and built. Then this IS the book to read. Since you are sitting there reading this webpage, think of those guys. They helped put the technology there in the first place. Everything ranged from computers, packet switching, emails, ftp etc is all here. Looking at the photos of the team that helps design APRAnet (known as the internet nowadays), the building of the data traffic machines etc shows you how much obstacles they have overcome in order to get their project working. Recommended!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Background to the Internet
I always did wonder how it all started.

This answered my questions.

Doesn't really mention Cisco though! Read more

Published on 7 Jul 2002 by yada_yada_yada99

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good introduction to the history of the Internet
I have read this book from cover to cover serveral times as it is a set book for the Open University course 'You, your computer and the net'. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Account of the Internet's Birth!
If you've ever wanted to know how the Internet came about then this has to be the book for you!

I've read many books on the Birth of the Internet and I don't think any have... Read more

Published on 3 Oct 2000 by stumartin@btinternet.com

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable History
We all know that most people of us weren't interested in History during school time, but this book makes history enjoyable. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2000 by freakazoid2901

4.0 out of 5 stars essential read for ou course (T171)
I hadn't read this type of book before and thought I would find it very hard work to read, but it was surprisingly enjoyable.
Published on 6 Jun 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and very indepth
However at times it may be a bit too indepth. The Authors have done an amazing amount of research but they also seem to be unable to cut out bits that are of no use to the overall... Read more
Published on 6 May 2000

1.0 out of 5 stars concept great, information is there if you can sort it out.
Very informative, but unfortunately bombards you with perifery, jumping backwards and forwards. Glimpses of history in the making. Shame most was very mixed up.
Published on 20 Nov 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical review of the Internet
I was very impressed by this book. I, along with myriad others, work in the Internet field and I, along with myriad others, had only a hazy understanding of where the Internet... Read more
Published on 22 Dec 1998

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