Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/book.reviews/inet.for.dummies-levine

Text File | 1995-01-01 | 6KB | 119 lines

Date: Wed, 27 Apr 1994 15:35:27 MDT
From: Rob Slade <[e-mail]>
Subject: Book Review: "Internet for Dummies" by Levine/Baroudi


BKINTDUM.RVW  940124

Macmillan of Canada
29 Birch Avenue
Toronto, Ontario  M4V 1E2
Elizabeth Wilson
416-963-8830
Fax: [phone]
or
IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.
International Data Group
155 Bovet Road, Suite 310
San Mateo, CA   94402   USA
415-312-0650
fax: [phone]
Brandon Nordin, Marketing and International Sales
"Internet for Dummies", Levine/Baroudi, 1993, 1-56884-024-1, U$19.95/C$26.95
[e-mail]

Generally speaking, most of this book is a good, basic overview of the
primary uses and tools of the Internet.  The ordering of material is
sound, and the formatting and presentation is friendly and useful.  I
would, however, note some relatively important tips that are missing,
and extensive material that has very limited usefulness.

I have some problem with the "... For Dummies" titles, but I have no
problems with the intent of providing an easily accessible "leg up"
for those who, as the Introduction has it, "have access to the
Internet," and, "are not interested in becoming the world's next great
Internet expert."  With that in mind, I have no idea why the six
chapters of part one are even in this book.  Nobody except technical
historians cares about ARPANET.  Nobody even understands the phrase,
"network of networks."  And I solemnly promise you that nobody except
IP routing programmers have to understand the concept of dynamic
rerouting.  Part one is well written, and it may even be of interest.
But it is certainly not required reading and doesn't deserve this
prior position in the book.

"Not so!" I hear Levine cry (seconded by Ed Krol).  "Part one tells
you how to get connected!"  Well, yes and no.  Chapters three, four
and five do go over some points, but I think the most apposite comment
is the statement that "[g]etting SLIP or PPP configured correctly is a
pain in the neck."  It is a pain which Levine is obviously not willing
to put much space or effort into.  Not that I blame him at all, but it
does severely restrict the usefulness of these chapters.

Following part one, however, the book improves immensely.  Part two
deals with what might be seen as personal communications: mail,
mailing and distribution lists, Usenet news and the real time
functions of talk and Internet Relay Chat (IRC).  The various tools
are well related where they intersect.  For example, both BITNET and
Internet LISTSERVs, although distinguished from one another, are
discussed together.  A nice feature is the inclusion of a brief list
of recommended resources for the user to try out (such as some well
chosen distribution lists when discussing LISTSERVs).  Parts three and
four carry on to discuss the more advanced tools, first telnet and
ftp, and then archive, gopher, WAIS and World Wide Web.

Part five is a collection of quick tips for troubleshooting, short
cuts, and a little fun.  Part six is a set of resource lists.  The
software listing is very useful, and quite possibly worth buying this
book for, in and of itself, if you really want to make your
workstation a part of the Internet.  The list of Internet providers is
less so: very US-centric and woefully incomplete.  Chapter
twenty-nine, listing sources of further information, gives contact
information for three magazines, three organizations -- and none of
the dozens of related books.

A book for beginners cannot be exhaustive.  The choice of topics must
be made carefully, and you can't include absolutely everything.  I am
very glad to see a strong emphasis on the interpersonal aspects of
communication.  Although there is no chapter on netiquette, per se,
there are a number of important tips strewn throughout the relevant
chapters on mail and news, and they possibly have a greater impact
that way.  Some omissions, however, are rather odd.  The number one
newbie mistake on distribution lists is sending administrative
messages to the list, itself, rather than the LISTSERV.  Levine gives
the correct information, but doesn't point out this common error.
Ftp-by-mail servers are mentioned but the one specified only works for
BITNET systems.  Under "cool things to do" is listed "read a book" --
but Project Gutenberg isn't mentioned at all.  The suggestions about
how to find email addresses on the Internet doesn't mention the most
helpful that I've found: the usenet- addresses mail-server at MIT.
(It is mentioned in the book -- under ftp sites.)

Some aspects of the book will be open to subjective reaction.  There
are numerous "well, maybe" errors, such as the statement that UNIX was
developed at Berkeley.  The "...For Dummies" format does not fit well
with this material.  The Internet cheat sheet, for example, is fine
for ftp and OK for news, but basically useless otherwise.

Although it is evident that Levine is most comfortable in UNIX, the
book does not have quite the UNIX bias as that of Krol (BKKROL.RVW) or
Dern (BKTIGFNU.RVW).  One prejudice that Levine does share with Krol
is the "whole Internet" elitism.  In a great many ways, the impression
is given that unless your machine has an IP connection, and you are
running your own gopher, ftp, WAIS and WWW clients, you aren't truly
on the Internet.

Overall, a good, solid intro to the Internet for beginners.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994   BKINTDUM.RVW  940124 - Distribution
restricted to TELECOM Digest and associated mailing lists.

Postscriptum - apparently an "Internet for Dummies Quick Reference" and "More
Internet for Dummies" are in the offing.

                    ======================
DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters
Editor and/or reviewer [e-mail], [e-mail], Rob Slade at 1:153/733
DECUS Symposium '95, Toronto, ON, February 13-17, 1995, contact: [e-mail]