The content is also quite sparse in places. While I can appreciate the desire to write for the non-technical user, the truth is that computer communications is still a field requiring some background to set up. There simply isn't enough information here even to start to diagnose or rectify an interrupt conflict problem. The book even suggests that COM ports on computers are so labelled, an unlikely eventuality. This style follows through to the communications parameter settings.
Wood does give good suggestions for default settings, but no means of determining problems.
The book does contain a smattering of everything. There is a bit on portable communications, online services of various types, netiquette, and so forth. For novices, this does give a good starting guide, but only that. You will still need your knowledgeable friend.