Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/book.reviews/internet.unleased

Internet Message Format | 1995-01-05 | 4KB

Date: Tue, 23 Aug 1994 01:52:07 MDT
From: Rob Slade <[e-mail]>
Subject: Book Review: "The Internet Unleashed"


BKINTUNL.RVW  940520

Sams Publishing
11711 N. College Ave., Suite 140
Carmel, IN   46032-5634
317-573-2500   317-581-3535
800-428-5331   800-428-3804
or
201 West 103rd St.
Indianapolis, IN   46290
317-581-3718  fax: [phone]
[e-mail] [e-mail]
[e-mail]
"The Internet Unleashed", various, 1994, 0-672-30466-X, U$44.95/C$58.95

At over 1400 pages in total, this book weighs in as the most massive
Internet tome received to date.  It is "net-like" in another way: it
seems to have been produced the way the Internet is run, by consensual
anarchy.  No one is taking responsibility here; there isn't even an
editor listed.

Individual items in the book are excellent.  Overall, there is a
tremendous resource of Internet information.  Unfortunately, there are
also inconsistencies in the quality, style, audience, and technical
level of the material.  One chapter may contain an in-depth analysis
of certain RFCs and specifications, while the next is a "gee-whiz-isn't-
this-neat" puff piece.

There are sixty-two chapters, and a detailed table of contents which
takes up thirty-two pages, alone.  The five chapters of parts one and
two are the usual conceptual and historical introduction.  Part three
is a guide to access and connection, and generally pretty useful.
Part four covers communication, including mail, mailing lists, Usenet
news and real time chat systems.  Some of the chapters give great
detailed documentation on, for example, various UNIX mail readers, but
related chapters give little coverage of the use of mail for
information gathering and dissemination.  Part five should probably
have been two parts, as it deals with both access tools for obtaining
information, and resource tools for finding information.  True, there
is a reason for linking related access and resource tools, but that is
not how the chapters are organized in any case.  Parts six to nine
look at specific uses for business, libraries, education, and
community purposes.  A good idea, but mostly weak material.  Part ten
looks at issues and controversies; by no means exhaustive, and
inconsistent in quality.  Part ten lists diversions.  The appendices
contain some solid information; the PDIAL list, handy Internet tools,
UNIX basics; and some miscellaneous stuff.

The volume of paper does not correspond to an equal volume of
material.  There is much duplication of content.  Chapter two covers
the growth of the Internet and acceptable use policies -- topics which
spawn two later chapters (thirty-five and thirty-seven) with almost
identical information.  Chapter fourteen, on internetwork addressing,
has a very helpful and practical section on finding email addresses.
This is also the topic of chapter twenty, which has a broader range of
directory tools, but is far less helpful, and misses a number of the
most useful.

There are also a number of holes in the coverage.  The chapter on the
use of mailing and distribution lists concentrates almost exclusively
on the BITNET LISTSERV system, with only token mention of the others.
These and other gaps should have been filled, rather than wasting
forty pages giving sample gopher screens, or the two chapters which
are little more than advertising for commercial systems.

There is some good information and a few great pieces.  The tips on
how to set up a mailing list or gopher could be very useful, and the
list of Internet related tools is first rate.  However, there are also
holes, errors and dross.  I would recommend this as a resource, but
not necessarily as a sole source.