Date: Wed, 09 Nov 1994 13:14:50 EST From: "Rob Slade, Ed. DECrypt & ComNet, VARUG rep, 604-984-4067" Subject: "Finding it on the Internet" by Gilster BKFNDINT.RVW 940902 "Finding It On The Internet", Gilster, 1994, 0-471-03857-1, U$19.95 gilster@interpath.net %A Paul Gilster %C 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012 %D 1994 %G 0-471-03857-1 %I John Wiley & Sons, Inc. %O U$19.95 %P 288 %T "Finding It On The Internet" 22 Worchester Road Rexdale, Ontario M9W 9Z9 800-263-1590 800-567-4797 fax: 800-565-6802 or 800-CALL-WILEY 212-850-6630 Fax: 212-850-6799 Fax: 908-302-2300 jdemarra@jwiley.com aponnamm@jwiley.com Among the larger resource-oriented guides to the Internet, I hold Gilster's "The Internet Navigator" (BKINTNAV.RVW) to be best overall: clear, balanced and mature. (Not to be confused with "Navigating the Internet" by Gibbs and Smith, BKNAVINT.RVW.) Gilster has now affirmed his preeminent position on the Internet Bookshelf with this second work. Search tools are perhaps the most valuable of all computing applications. Paradoxically, they are precisely the applications that people have trouble learning and effectively using. This work concentrates on these vital aids. It could be seen as a superior form of documentation for archie, Gopher, veronica, WAIS, World Wide Web, HYTELNET, WHOIS, netfind and other programs. Gilster has, however, added cogent editorial comments, such as the times you might actually prefer an email search of archie or WAIS, or the best strategies to use for veronica queries. Gilster's approach is realistic based upon the proportion of users with different types of access. Telnet, rather than direct connection, is the major access route, and email servers are noted for all application except two. (The WWWs mail server at CERN is not mentioned. I do not know of any HYTELNET mail server.) His enthusiastic advocacy of Gopher and WWW is not allowed to get in the way of a fair presentation, and the weaknesses of the various tools are considered briefly towards the end of the book. That this fails to consider some of the bandwidth issues is perhaps the only failing in the work. This book should be at the desk-side of every serious Internet user. For trainers and resource people it is essential. Threaten your local bookseller with grievous bodily harm if they refuse to stock it. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994 BKFNDINT.RVW 940902 ====================== DECUS Canada Communications, Desktop, Education and Security group newsletters Editor and/or reviewer ROBERTS@decus.ca, RSlade@sfu.ca, Rob Slade at 1:153/733 Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" (contact: 1-800-SPRINGER)