Book Review: The Principles of Computer Hardware

hardware, emphasis being concentrated on a specific microprocessor, the MOSTEK 6502. With the present work however the treatment is very much more general. Emphasis is centred on the role of the instruction format in differentiating between the characteristics of different types of mini and micro-computer central processor. While a significant number of specific microprocessor and minicomputer families are mentioned, the reader is not burdened with a substantial amount of detailed information. A general treatment is adopted throughout. Only in a final summary by way of an appendix are the characteristics of specific small computers compared and contrasted. The approach is to be commended. The writers take for granted a knowledge of Boolean algebra, number systems and elementary combinational and sequential logic. As a result, after a brief introduction to computer systems in chapter 1, instruction sets of central processors are discussed in chapter 2 so that the attention of the reader is brought into sharp focus at a very early stage. Inevitably, considerable attention is devoted to addressing modes and data transfer within a computer system. Interrupts and DMA receive careful attention. In view of the ever-increasing interest in the organisation of large memories, memory-management techniques are considered in detail in chapter 8, which is a new chapter additional to the material previously covered in the First Edition. The first edition was reviewed in IJEEE, Vol. 16, No.3, p. 270. The reviewer provided the comment 'likely to prove popular with students, who will find packed into its pages a surprisingly large amount of information'. The present reviewer sees no reason to disagree with the earlier assessment. Within its self-imposed limitations the book could hardly be improved. It is recommended with enthusiasm. M. G. HARTLEY, Department ofElectrical Engineering and Electronics, UMIST