BKCIGGCT.RVW   950405
 
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Computer Terms", Joe Kraynak/Mary-Terese
Cagnina, 1993, 1-56761-266-0, U$9.95/C$12.95
%A   Joe Kraynak jkraynak@alpha.mcp.com
%A   Mary-Terese Cagnina
%C   201 W. 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN   46290
%D   1993
%G   1-56761-266-0
%I   Alpha Books
%O   U$9.95/C$12.95 800-858-7674 75141.2102@compuserve.com 
%P   323
%S   Complete Idiot's Guide ...
%T   "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Computer Terms"
 
Overall, I'm fairly pleased.  Though the material is limited to MS-DOS and Mac
platforms, and there are more references to specific products than might be
strictly necessary, the terms are generally well chosen and plainly defined.
 
Most of what I see as problems in the text are not so much errors as confusion
in wording, or opinions expressed as fact.  The entry on bad sectors seems to
imply that software utilities could recover physical damage.  Hackers are "not
always thought of as nice people".  Kermit is "slow".  Some entries are cross-
referenced, but there could be a *lot* more.  Referencing is also inconsistent: 
extended memory points to expanded, but not vice versa.  The entry for "bug" is
flatly wrong:  the classic story of Grace Murray Hopper and the moth involved
electro-mechanical relays, not tubes, and was not the first reference to bugs
in any case.
 
On the other hand, Hayes compatibility correctly stresses the modem commands,
and the interface between *your* software and *your* modem.  The definition of
hypertext is quite clear.  And the extreme relativity of user friendliness is
pointed out.
 
I'm glad to see an entry for "antivirus program", and it's reasonably good.  My
reaction to the explanations for vaccine and virus is, "Yes, but...".  The
facts that there are multiple types of antivirals, and the use of diskettes as
the major vector, is mentioned.  The types of antivirals, though, aren't quite
right, the destructive aspect of viral programs is overstressed, and the
difference between boot-sector and file infectors never comes up.  (This means
the old, "You can get them from modems," canard is still there.)
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995   BKCIGGCT.RVW   950405

==============                      
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