This excellent, up-to-date, well-organized dictionary covers a surprisingly large number of terms. The definitions are clear and to the point. The cross-referencing is very good. To cite a typical instance, in defining “reduced instruction set chip,” just about every word used that had anything to do with computers could be found elsewhere in the dictionary. No, the book does not include every single computer term that exists--it does not have “metafile” or “DBX,” for instance. Also, perhaps more space ought to be given to software products, but that area is by no means neglected. On the other hand, why is the ordinary geometry term “chord” listed, with an illustration to help the definition? That sort of lapse seems to have been isolated, however; nothing about this book suggests padding. The editing job was also good--I found no spelling errors, misprints, or other flaws in the text.

This volume is a fine reference work. Unfortunately, in this fast-moving field, the reader will have to accept a high rate of obsolescence, even from a book as creditable as this.