Date: Sat, 24 Dec 1994 14:16:24 EST From: "Rob Slade, Social Convener to the Net" Subject: "Hands-On Internet" by Sachs/Stair BKHNDINT.RVW 941027 "Hands-On Internet", Sachs/Stair, 1994, 0-13-056392-7 %A David Sachs %A Henry Stair %C 113 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 %D 1994 %G 0-13-056392-7 %I PTR Prentice Hall %O phyllis@prenhall.com mfranz@prenhall.com beth_hespe@prenhall.com %P 275 %T "Hands-On Internet" In the preface, the authors state that they intend to fill the gap left by other books which do not address the issue of how to access the Internet. Sachs and Stair don't have anything to add in this area, as many other books provide better discussion and instruction on how to get connected. The book does provide a basic guide to the basic Internet applications. The first two chapters, called "Introduction" and "Session One", assume that you are in an institution with access to the Internet and a help desk. It also assumes you are using UNIX. As many have noted, some basic understanding of UNIX commands and file structures can be very helpful on the Internet, but because the remainder of the book concentrates on a "button-pushing" level of instruction, the functions of specific programs may differ from the examples given. Chapters two through seven look at email (using mail), news (using nn), etiquette on Usenet, mailing lists (describing "-request" lists but listing primarily LISTSERVs), telnet and ftp. Chapter eight is a grab bag of gopher, archie, WAIS and WWW. Each chapter ends with a summary of commands and some vocabulary: these are collected to form chapter nine. For those with MS-DOS machines, there is a copy of Telix Lite included with the book. The documentation for it, Appendix B, is probably supposed to be the assistance you need to get online. If so, it is insufficient. Other appendices list a minimalist bibliography, ads for three east coast US Internet providers, and an application to join the Internet Society. For those who have access, some basic directions, but too program-specific. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994 BKHNDINT.RVW 941027 ====================== 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" 0-387-94311-0/3-540-94311-0