BKJARGON.RVW 950306 "Jargon", Robin Williams, 1993, 0-938151-84-3, U$22.00/C$31.00 %A Robin Williams %C 2414 6th St., Berkeley, CA 94710 %D 1993 %G 0-938151-84-3 %I Peachpit Press %O U$22.00/C$31.00 510-548-4393 fax: 510-548-5991 800-283-9444 %P 676 %T "Jargon" For the vast majority of computer users, this reference could be quite a help. Plenty of jargon is defined here, all in easily readable form. Many of the definitions provide lengthy explanations, some giving mini-tutorials of important concepts. The technically literate will have some difficulty with the book. For one thing, it is concerned only with personal computers (with a *very* heavy emphasis on the Mac). The entry for "alias" refers to the Mac function and a similar feature in Windows, with no mention of UNIX. Some of the entries, while not precisely wrong, may not be terribly helpful. An entry for "any key" refers to the joke--but doesn't mention that "Shift", "Control" and other keys may not trigger this function. Readers are advised to avoid Kermit--it's "too slow". Williams is not above making up jargon as she goes along. There is no entry for "smiley", though there is one for emoticon--which points to the phrase "baudy language" where you will at last find the definition. I assume the entry for "cornicello" was inspired by a personal friendship. Although without the analysis and research (and wit!) of "The New Hacker's Dictionary" (cf. BKNHACKD.RVW), this book has substantially more value than "The Illustrated Computer Dictionary for Dummies" (cf. BKILDCDM.RVW). For basic user-level work, the readable entries and extensive indexing should be a great help. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995 BKJARGON.RVW 950306 ============== Vancouver ROBERTS@decus.ca | "Daughters of feminists love to wear Institute for Robert_Slade@sfu.ca | pink and white short frilly dresses Research into rslade@cyberstore.ca| and talk of successes with boys/ User rslade@sfu.ca | It annoys/ Security Canada V7K 2G6 | Their Mums ..." - Nancy White