Book details of 'Using the Internet'

Title	Using the Internet
Author(s)	Barbara Kasser
ISBN	0789715848
Language	English
Published	June 1998
Publisher	Que

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Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
The first edition of this title that I reviewed was not impressive. I was, therefore, more than willing to pan this one. However, the author of this edition has added not only a fresh and readable voice, but an understanding of the net that can portray important concepts in clear language without simplifying to the point that accuracy is lost. Part one covers the fundamentals of the Internet. Chapter one is a basic introduction that manages to get across the crucial character of the net without once dragging in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Getting connected to the Internet covers a lot of ground, but chapter two does a good job of covering the major topics. It is, however, restricted to the specifics of Windows 95 release 2 with IE 4. While I still maintain that, for anyone who has used the Internet for any length of time, email is the killer application, for those coming to the net as newcomers these days the Web is what they have heard about. Both Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer are briefly described in chapter three. Part two moves into actual use of the net. Again the Web takes pride of place and gets a solid introduction in chapter four. Search tools, both engines and directories, are described in chapter five. The discussion of files and downloading, in chapter six, is marred in several ways. The browser is the only downloading tool described, the section on viruses is extremely poor, ZIP is the only archive format mentioned, and the security concerns with component programs are not reviewed. Also, I am not sure why telnet is considered (and discarded) here. Part three looks at email and Usenet newsgroups. Chapter seven covers configuration of Outlook and Netscape. The management issues chapter eight covers are attachments, distribution lists, and mail folders. Chapter nine mentions other mail programs, but only describes Eudora Lite. Configuration and activities in Usenet news, and even the very useful DejaNews archive, are overviewed in chapter ten. Part four seems to be a bit of a grab bag. Chapter eleven is a very quick look at children's material and issues. Education gets a bit more space in chapter twelve. The material in chapter thirteen on job searching is much better than is found in most general works of this type. Online commerce is handled well in chapter fourteen, including the security issues surrounding cookies. The one caveat I should submit is that Internet shopping is not quite as easy, convenient, and available as the presentation may make it appear. I am nowhere near as enthusiastic about push technology as the author, but the information in chapter fifteen is useful if you want to explore it. I do not, however, know why people finders are listed at the end of it. Part five looks at real time communications, but in a limited way. Chapter sixteen does not really cover IRC (Internet Relay Chat) at all, even though MSChat will use it. Conferencing only uses the NetMeeting and Netscape Conference programs in chapter seventeen. There is essentially no coverage of Internet telephony, although CU- SeeMe gets a terse mention. Part six discusses producing content for the Web. Chapter eighteen walks through the generation of a personal Web page with page creation software. The important parts of getting a business up on the Web are covered, although there are lots of details that can't be included, in chapter nineteen. While the author does attempt to cover both the MS Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator browsers, there is a definite Microsoft bias to the material. There are also numerous and very definite gaps in the coverage, even for the neophyte. However, as an introduction to the net, this is quite acceptable. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998
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Book description:

This book helps the user who is interested in learning only what he needs to become more productive in his professional and personal life. Topics covered: what is the Internet, getting connected, choosing and using a browser, moving through the Web, searching for information on the Web, and getting software and files off the Web. Also covered are entertainment and hobbies, internet style, the Web for kids, the Internet as an educational resource, finding a new career, buying on the Web, getting news and information on the Web, incorporating the Web into your daily life, sending and receiving E-mail, joining a newsgroup, chatting across the Internet, conducting an Internet conference, creating your own Web site, and setting up a small business on the Web.