BKEMLCMP.RVW  941118
 
"The E-Mail Companion", Quarterman/Carl-Mitchell, 1994, 0-201-40658-6,
U$19.95/C$25.95
jsq@tic.com smoot@zilker.net
%A   John S. Quarterman
%A   Smoot Carl-Mitchell
%C   1 Jacob Way, Reading, MA   01867-9984
%D   1994
%G   0-201-40658-6
%I   Addison-Wesley Publishing Co.
%O   U$19.95/C$25.95 800-822-6339 617-944-3700 Fax: (617) 944-7273
%O   73171.657@Compuserve.com tiffanym@aw.com leslies@aw.com barbarw@aw.com
%P   318
%T   "The E-Mail Companion"
 
The formal definition of the Internet is limited to computers internetworked
using the TCP/IP protocol.  This excludes BITNET, Usenet, Fidonet, and a number
of large commercial services which are otherwise included under an umbrella of
those systems which can send and receive mail to and from each other:  the
"mail Internet".  In fact, there is almost nothing available on the Internet
which cannot be obtained by email.  Finally, email is one of only three and
arguably the most effective, means of accessing the greatest Internet resource
of all, the millions of users and thousands of groups on the net.
 
It is, then, time and past time for a good book on electronic mail.  This is a
broadly-based coverage of the use and uses of email, basic operations, common
problems, mailing lists, and the use of email for other access tasks.
 
While I recommend the book as an introduction to this vital tool, I should note
that later parts of the work are not as good as the beginning.  The
introduction of more technical subjects, starting with chapter six, marks a
change to a more academic tone, which may discourage some readers.  At the same
time, certain formatting and layout decisions make it sometimes difficult to
distinguish between figures and text, and to follow the text.  The chapter on
mailing lists compares two of the major mailing list programs, but may leave
the impression that these are the *only* two.  The chapter on other resources
fails to mention a whole class of mail servers, World Wide Web by email and,
most amusingly in light of many comparisons of fax and email, email-to-fax
servers.  The chapter on finding email addresses gives only one server type
(whois) among many, excluding specific discussion of much more useful resources
(although some do get named).  The bibliography is abysmal.
 
Those who have only email access to the Internet often fail to understand the
full range of resources open to them.  This book helps to open up that world. 
In its present form, however, it requires the specifics of operation of a work
such as "Finding It On the Internet" (BKFNDINT.RVW), the resource listings of
"The Internet Navigator" (BKINTNAV.RVW) and perhaps some of the listings of
"Internet: Mailing Lists" (BKINTMAL.RVW).
 
Perhaps future editions can add value to a good beginning.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994   BKEMLCMP.RVW  941118

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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)