BKINEXMC.RVW   950308
 
"Internet Explorer Kit for Macintosh", Engst/Dickson, 1994, 1-56830-089-1,
U$29.95/C$39.95
explorers@tidbits.com
%A   Adam C. Engst ace@tidbits.com
%A   William Dickson wrd@beer.wa.com
%C   201 W. 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN   46290
%D   1994
%G   1-56830-089-1
%I   Hayden Books
%O   U$29.95/C$39.95 800-858-7674 75141.2102@compuserve.com 317-581-3743
%P   446
%T   "Internet Explorer Kit for Macintosh"
 
Maybe this should have been called "Adam and Bill's Excellent Internet
Adventure".  Like many successful net entities, it is more easily described by
what it is not, than by what it is.
 
This book is stated to be a companion volume to the "Internet Starter Kit for
Macintosh" (cf. BKINTSKM.RVW).  It is not, however, an extension or follow-up
to the previous volume, which it is almost, but not quite completely, unlike.
 
It isn't really a kit.  Mac client software for archie, finger, WAIS and Gopher
is included, but isn't really essential to the book.
 
It isn't really for the Macintosh.  The content has to do with people using the
net, and the access method doesn't really matter.
 
It is, in many senses, exploratory.  The material does not demonstrate great
expertise and is not complete.  Chapter two, for example, deals with the search
for people and email addresses, but doesn't even mention the MIT 
Usenet-addresses mail server.  The book *is* very realistic about how to 
approach the net.  The Internet "community" and "Try it, see what happens," 
feeling is there.
 
It is not the usual Internet "beginner's guide".  With chapters on searching
for people, discussion, live chat, "stuff", resources and information,
ejournals, and peace of mind, the closest comparison might be with Gilster's
"Finding It On the Internet" (cf. BKFNDINT.RVW).  Where Gilster's book is
organized and thoroughly explanatory, this is a lengthy conversation between
two witty netizens.  It's sometimes hard to follow, but entertaining and well
larded with tips, information and interesting points.  "Dave", the editor,
generally breaks in at the end of a chapter with a question or two, and the
resulting summary is a concise, but generally cogent, analysis of the uses and
pitfalls of the applications under discussion.  (The authors also occasionally
"dialogue" with non-interactive documents, such as Brad Templeton's "Ask Emily
Postnews" network etiquette satire, or the whitehouse.gov presidential
mailbots.)
 
Those primarily interested in getting down to work on the Internet will find
the organization and verbosity frustrating.  Those who are interested in
exploring, or playing with, the net will find a readable, funny, and friendly
guide.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1995   BKINEXMC.RVW   950308

==============                      
Vancouver      ROBERTS@decus.ca       | Computer user thinks
Institute for  Robert_Slade@sfu.ca    | the machine just works for him
Research into  Rob.Slade@f733.n153.z1/| Monkey disagrees
User                      .fidonet.org| 
Security       Canada V7K 2G6         |               - virus haiku