Customer Rating: 
Summary: A Classic
Comment: Thirty years ago, Madnick and Donovan were respected profs at MIT and this book is based on class tested material on operating system theory and design. It is largely based on the IBM MVS OS implemented on the IBM 360 architecture, two of the finest achievements in computer history.
The book covers the fundamentals of OS design, including memory, processor, device, and data management with lots of discussion on the pros and cons of design choices and problem/question sets to make the reader think through design alternatives.
The specifics relating to hardware constraints are obsolete, but the book serves to remind one of the logic and efficiency of true operating systems.
By contrast, the grotesque travesty of an OS called "DOS/Windows" reminds one of the illogic and gross inefficiency of a design based on marketing campaigns of prettified appearances. If the Windows authors had read Madnick's book we'd all be better off computing today.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Microsoft lackey
Comment: This book is written by the guy who appeared as an expert witness for MS in the anti-trust proceedings. When asked by a government prosecutor if he knew of any operating systems (other than MS brand OS's) that would cease functioning if you removed the browser component (as MS claims for Windows) he replied, "Yes. KDE".
Of course, as the government prosecutor pointed out, KDE isn't an OS, but a desktop environment that runs on Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. Pressed for other examples, he replied, "Uhh, GNOME?" GNOME is, of course, KDE's major competition as a Unix desktop. In this context, Madnick might as well have just blurted out "KDE" again.
Consider this an object lesson in what can happen to your credibility if you sell yourself to tell someone else's lies for them.(btw, I haven't read this book & never will. I just thought any prospective buyers should know the preceding bit of info)
