BKCIGUSN.RVW 950330 "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Usenet Newsgroups", Paul McFedries, 1995, 1- 56761-592-9, U$16.99/C$23.95 %A Paul McFedries paulmcf@hookup.Net %C 201 W. 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290 %D 1995 %G 1-56761-592-9 %I Alpha Books %O U$16.99/C$23.95 800-858-7674 75141.2102@compuserve.com %P 317 %S Complete Idiot's Guide ... %T "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Usenet Newsgroups" Usenet news is not, primarily, about technology, competing newsreaders or massive data transfers. Usenet news is about discussion. McFedries keeps this idea firmly in mind, and presents a very useful, helpful, and acceptable introduction to the topic and activity. Part one covers the basics and background concepts. Netiquette is covered early, while jargon is presented as necessary for the reader's understanding, without suggesting that it be used (Bravo!). Part two covers the mechanics of newsreaders, not only on host systems (trn, rn and tin) and client programs (Trumpet, AIR News, Netscape and Newswatcher), but also on Compuserve, America Online and Delphi. McFedries' guide to newsgroups, in part three, is more logically laid out than most, but I did note some gaping holes in the coverage. The level of the material is neither oversimplified to the point of inaccuracy, nor bogged down in technical depth. There are gaps in the information which could have been filled without upsetting this balance. (For example, only the University of Texas mail-to-news gateway is mentioned.) Overall, however, this is a valuable starting point. copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995 BKCIGUSN.RVW 950330 ============== _________________________ Vancouver ROBERTS@decus.ca | | |\^/| | | swiped Institute for Robert_Slade@sfu.ca | | _|\| |/|_ | | from Research into rslade@cyberstore.ca| | > < | | Alan User rslade@sfu.ca | | >_./|\._< | | Tai Security Canada V7K 2G6 |____|_______^_______|____|