BKEMALES.RVW 940901 "E-Mail Essentials", Tittel/Robbins, 1994, 0-12-691397-8, 75730.1451@compuserve.com mrobbins@wixer.bga.com 76376.606@compuserve.com etittel@zilker.net %A Ed Tittel %A Margaret Robbins %C 955 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 %D 1994 %G 0-12-691397-8 %I Academic Press, Inc. %O U$24.95 %P 298 %S Essentials %T "E-Mail Essentials" Josh Mills, Marketing, jmills@acad.com publisher@igc.org I find it very difficult to define who, or what, this book is for, but I would recommend it primarily to managers in charge of large networks and possibly internetworks needing to evaluate email systems with extended functionality. The title would suggest this is a discussion of the basics of email. That is true only in the most simplistic and superficial way. Terse comments on email use appear in various places throughout the book, but, in total, these amount to only a few pages. Even at that level, some material is questionable. At one point, the book states that any file can be attached to any email message. To be fair, some later references point out that your mail system needs to have this capability. It never is pointed out that not only must the receiver have this capability, but also that both mail systems must be compatible in this regard. Since the book is part of a series on LANs, one would expect a discussion of LAN-based email systems. Again, this is true only in general. A few specific systems are noted, and these just in passing. (The directory of vendors in Appendix B is helpful.) There is discussion of installation and maintenance, but in terms so vague that they could apply to *any* network application. The introduction states that the book is intended to tell you everything you need to know about setting up your email system. In this regard it is either unnecessary or inadequate. Most network systems come with an email capability and need little setup. For those who have to install or manage email over disparate systems, there is not much of use to be gained here. There *is* discussion of addressing and formats, some talk of routing, a checklist of features to look for in email systems and an overwiew of groupware. The social side of email gets some ink, with a look at privacy and netiquette, and some interesting research on user naming. For those setting up either a large corporate system or a commercial enterprise relying on email, this guide can indicate apsects to be considered. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994 BKEMALES.RVW 940901 ====================== 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)