Date: Wed, 07 Jun 1995 14:26:36 EST From: "Rob Slade, Social Convener to the Net" Subject: "The Internet" by Hoffman BKINTPBS.RVW 950414 "The Internet", Paul Hoffman, John Levine ed., 1994, 1-56884-247-3, U$34.99/C$44.99/UK#33.99 %A Paul Hoffman %C 155 Bovet Road, Suite 310, San Mateo, CA 94402 %D 1994 %E John Levine dummies@iecc.com %G 1-56884-247-3 %I IDG Books %O U$34.99/C$44.99/UK#33.99 415-312-0650 fax: 415-286-2740 kaday@aol.com %P 241 %T "The Internet" The cover describes this as "the official book of the Public Television presentation, 'The Internet Show'". It is a kind of "computer literacy" level introduction to the Internet, with lots of pictures and lots of white space, and not much text. (Some of the pictures and sidebar comments will make little sense unless you have seen the show.) Within the limits of the space allowed, the text is clear and readable. Explanations of what the Internet is, and what you can do with it, are good, but very short on "how". NetManage's Chameleon software for Windows is provided with the book, and a set of "Instant Internet" providers who have agreed to handle billing for both software and service. Unfortunately, a) this is only good in areas of the United States, and b) the book, itself, is far >from clear on your license for use with providers outside this group. Nevertheless, if you wish to use one of the providers from the list, the setup is quite well automated. (The "registration" number for the software does work from Canada, and I've been told that a "perpetual license" for the software costs U$50. Some of the access providers listed do also provide access from Canada.) For those wishing to use the Internet in other ways, the lack of detail may be frustrating. As noted above, chapter three, on Internet tools and applications, does not explain use. Even more surprising is chapter four, "Interesting Content", which does describe some absorbing sites on the net, but, aside from newsgroup names, doesn't give a single, specific address. (Neither does chapter five, "Searching for Information on the Internet". Not even InterNIC.) copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995 BKINTPBS.RVW 950414 ====================== 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