BKWNTNSH.RVW   990307

"Windows NT in a Nutshell", Eric Pearce, 1997, U$19.95/C$28.95,
U$19.95/C$28.95
%A   Eric Pearce
%C   103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA   95472
%D   1997
%G   1-56592-251-4
%I   O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
%O   U$19.95/C$28.95 707-829-0515 fax: 707-829-0104 nuts@ora.com
%P   350 p.
%S   Nutshell
%T   "Windows NT in a Nutshell"

While it isn't explicitly stated, this books appears to be aimed at
the intermediate or advanced PC user who is moving to NT for the first
time.  It is, as the preface does say, a reference, rather than a
tutorial.  The first chapter is a brief precis of concepts in NT that
are not to be found in previous versions of Windows.  A helpful
feature, for those who are moving to the NT world in a big way, is
that both Server and Workstation versions are covered in this single
volume, and the differences between them noted.

Chapter two reviews the Control Panel, and the various functions to be
found and accessed through it.  An attempt has been made to provide a
notation to the not altogether tractable problem of navigating through
the graphical menus.  While not an unqualified success, the notation
does have its uses.  The functions are listed alphabetically by top
level object in the Control Panel, which is not always the best way to
find something.  As noted in the preface, the index is probably the
place to start.  Administrative tools are covered in much the same
manner in chapter three.  Accessories are handled a bit differently in
chapter four.  For example, the calculator gives you precise
instructions on converting hexadecimal numbers to decimal equivalents-
-but nothing else.  Remote Access Service (RAS) gets all of chapter
five for itself and Dial Up Networking (DUN).  The material
concentrates on scripting, however, where setup, which takes the user
through many different parts of the system, could have used some
explanation.  Command line utilities are described in chapter six,
listed alphabetically under sections for NT networking, TCP-IP
networking, system administration, RAS, and miscellaneous.  Chapter
seven is a real grab bag, with some items that are simplistic, some
that are odd, and some that make uncommonly good sense.

For once I would have to say that this book does *not* have NT in a
Nutshell.  There is too much to the system that is missing from this
text.  On the other hand, it is quite a helpful little guide, with
some insights missing from other works.  On balance, you probably do
not want to rely on it alone, unless you are simply running a personal
workstation, but probably would like to have it as an adjunct to
another reference.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1999   BKWNTNSH.RVW   990307