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Probability, statistics, and queueing theory with computer science applications
Allen A., Academic Press Prof., Inc., San Diego, CA, 1990. Type: Book (9780120510511)
Date Reviewed: Jun 1 1992

My book is the second edition of a book originally published in 1978, which had 11 printings and sold 20,768 copies, including 503 copies in 1990, the year the second edition was released. It received 12 favorable to very favorable reviews. J. P. Buzen (<CR>, March 1979, Review 34,198) said, “Allen’s book is a most welcome contribution: it is self-contained, well-focused, and replete with instructive examples.” Adam Wolisz of Gliwice in Mathematical Reviews said, “The author, who has a long record of research and teaching of computer system performance evaluation methods, has produced an excellent textbook which is equally suitable for students and practitioners in data processing and data communication systems.” W. C. McGee in Popular Computing said, “This is a well-executed, useful book which should be in every computer scientist’s library.” Monte Ung of the University of Southern California said,

This book covers just enough theory so that the practical aspects can be illustrated.…Over the last decade my graduate students, 95% of whom are now practicing engineers in industry, keep telling me how useful the book is as a reference….

Donald T. Gantz said,

I have used the text in a two-semester course in Probability and Stochastic Processes at George Mason University. I chose the text because of its complete coverage of these subjects and its organization of topics…. The treatment of stochastic processes and queueing theory was exactly what I wanted for my O.R.-oriented audience. The book was very complete and clear in its explanations, and it includes many excellent examples and exercises. I was quite pleased with my class’s success with this text, and am looking forward to using the new edition.

My new book is very similar to the first edition in approach. It differs from the first in having a new chapter on regression, many more examples and exercises, and in demonstrations of the use of the two statistical packages most commonly used by computer scientists and engineers, that is, SAS and MINITAB. In addition, there are APL programs similar to the ones in the first edition and two Mathematica packages.

The new book is selling very well and has been well received by instructors and reviewers other than Niemiec. Peter King, who has written a competing book, said in University Computing: “For use with computer science students, the exercises almost make the book worthwhile by themselves. They, and the examples used, are all drawn from computer science, and show the relevance of, and need for, the techniques described far more clearly than a standard mathematical treatment, or a treatment aimed at other sciences. As well as these appropriate exercises and examples, the author writes clearly and unambiguously.” Jay Stewart in CMG Transactions said, “This book is a must for every performance evaluator and capacity planner.” David Finkel in ACM Sigmetrics Performance Evaluation Review said,

This is a revision of the classic probability and statistics text originally written in 1978.…

Unlike the first edition, there is now a substantial section on queueing networks, ending with a discussion of BCMP networks, and exact and approximate algorithms for solving certain networks. …There is a new section on exploratory data analysis, and a new chapter on regression and correlation analysis.

Throughout the book, the new edition demonstrates the use of software packages to perform the necessary calculations. A number of APL and Mathematica programs are given in the Appendices, and the text also discusses the use of commercial statistics and queueing theory packages.

I hope those who have read Niemiec’s review will also read some of the other reviews. I would like to hear suggestions for the third edition from readers. I can be reached by mail at 1420 Wabash Way, Roseville, CA 95678 and by email at arnold@hpptc16.rose.com.

Reviewer:  A. Allen Review #: CR114876
1) Abramowitz, M. and Stegun, I., Eds. Handbook of mathematical functions with formulas, graphs, and mathematical tables. Dover, New York, 1964.
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Probability And Statistics (G.3 )
 
 
Queueing Theory (G.m ... )
 
 
Physical Sciences And Engineering (J.2 )
 
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