Date: Thu, 18 May 1995 16:16:33 EST From: "Rob Slade, Social Convener to the Net" Subject: "The Canadian Business Guide to Using the Internet" by Richards BKCBGTUI.RVW 950330 "The Canadian Business Guide to Using the Internet", Linda Richards, 1995, 0- 88908-849-7, C$14.95 %A Linda Richards scribe@mindlink.bc.ca %C 1481 Charlotte Road, North Vancouver, BC V7J 1H1 %D 1995 %G 0-88908-849-7 %I Self-Counsel Press %O C$14.95 +1-604-986-3366 fax: +1-604-986-3947 %P 133 %T "The Canadian Business Guide to Using the Internet" I suppose it is faint praise, indeed, to say that a book is "no worse" than the others which are available. Richards' book is, though, no worse than any of the other "Business on the Internet" books I've reviewed, and no worse than (the first edition of) "The Canadian Internet Handbook" (cf. BKCANINT.RVW). It also has the three advantages of being shorter, cheaper, and having better cartoons and is, therefore, to be recommended over the above. All business guides to the Internet stress the need to know the community, and rightly so. This author betrays no more faux pas than others. Netizens will, however, note a lack of familiarity which shows up in many ways, including system-specific (and incorrect) references to Usenet newsgroups. A technical background is also lacking: discussion of Internet attachment completely misses the dedicated connection that provides complete linking for a company. The book is, of course, intended specifically for small business owners and those who do not have either technical background or staff. Still, the lack of material in this area does leave those interested in actually providing information on the net dependent upon specialty "business" Internet providers and those who "rent out" commercial cyberspace. For those interested in getting connected, this does, at least, provide a very quick starting point, as well as salutary advice: "Just do it." copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995 BKCBGTUI.RVW 950330 ============== Vancouver ROBERTS@decus.ca | Slade's Law of Computer Institute for Robert_Slade@sfu.ca | Literacy: Research into Rob.Slade@f733.n153.z1/ | - There is no such thing User .fidonet.org | as "computer illiteracy"; Security Canada V7K 2G6 | only illiteracy itself.