Computing: A Concise History (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)

This eBook was required for a computer class, and although it is a little bit of a dry read, it was full of very good, detailed information about the history of computing. Was useful in giving me a handle on how everything started.

Very successful discussion of the digital evolution. As with every history a reader may take issue with some emphasis. In my own case I think Ada was given short shrift and there is much debate as to who is entitled to “inventor” of the ‘digital computer’

It is as the title says, concise history with main events and interesting tad bits. Including mention of early internet forums such as Unix forums than later geocities and goes all the way back to the ENIAC.

Good at being concise about major bullet points in computer history. However it’s poorly written and leaves me wanting to pick up another book that does a better job of connecting the story between milestones.

Very easy to get through and will teach you the basics.

There may be some quibbling with terms and exactly who did what when, but if you want to get the broad outline of how we got to where we are (and you don't want to spend an entire semester doing it) this is the book for you. Its a one-day, couple-of-hours read that covers most of the big points.

I use this for my computer literacy class as a short text with a good history of the machine. There are more complete but longer histories but for a survey, this one is great.

The title is computing but the content is mostly networking. Very dry reading and not concise. Foggy. Snippits from research abound. Leaves out the dynamic minicomputer and workstation era with very lttle reported about significant companies like Sun and DEC.Starts with tube computers an IBM and then jumps to the internet. A mish mash of information, bits and pieces of information thrown in without continuity and not well written. This is not a book that covers the true history of computers.Go read something interesting like "Accidental Empires" by Robert X Cringely or Canion's "Open"about PCs. for a good story.I worked in the computer industry from 1962 to the present day and this book does not do that timeframe justice.

The way is organized makes it hard to read. I just finished and I don't remember anything or I already knew everything and this book does not bring a new thing.

Loved reading it. Only thing delivery duration was too long.

An easy book to pick up and read, covering all the main events in the short history of computing. Aesthetically, a little too much black ink which makes it feel like a “dark” book.Well worth reading if you like learning about how computing has developed over recent decades.

História concisa mas com todos os fatos relevantes da computação, tanto na área de hardware como de software. Em inglês.

There are larger and longer books on the history of computing, but this lovely concise work is well researched, well written, and enjoyable to read. A great addition to any history-of-computing reader's bookshelf.