The Internet by EMAIL

 From: mc@shore.net (Michael Crestohl)

Subject: REVIEW: THE INTERNET BY E-MAIL,  Ziff-Davis 1994

Date: 19 Nov 1994 06:10:19 -0500

Review: THE INTERNET BY E-MAIL 

Author: Clay  Shirky,   Ziff-Davis Press 1994   Paper $19.95

ISBN: 1-56276-240-0

This book is for the thousands of people who have "only E-mail" access

to the Internet and think all they're going to get is mail.  I get the

impression this book is intended for people who have just been "given"

an account and perhaps a cursory description of how to send and read

messages.  But we all can learn from it. It's amazing what you can do 

with Internet mail if you know how to do it.  Clay Shirky shows you how 

in a very easy-to-absorb, non-overpowering  title from Ziff-Davis 

titled THE INTERNET BY E-MAIL.  

Its really not that difficult to learn these magic tricks. Shirky begins

with brief description of what the Interet is and how e-mail fits into

the structure.  The second chapter is a quick course on using E-mail and

chapter three goes into mailing lists and electronic 'zines.  

However, chapter four is when we all start to learn something.... I 

always thought that you couldn't have access to USENET newsgroups but

it seems that you can.  There is a list of news -> mail gateways 

(which is constantly changing, as is almost everything else on the 

Internet).  Once you know the address of the gateway for the newsgroup

you want to read, you simply subscribe as you would to any other mailing

list, using LISTSERV or MAJORDOMO commands.  Shirky doesn't even waste

paper reproducing the list of news -> mail gateways; he tells you

how to get it, using E-mail of course.  The downside to this is that you

will receive every article posted to that newsgroup (and this can be

considerable) and only a small percentage of all USENET newsgroups are

available through gateways.

Next, the author shows us an impressive trick - FTP-mail!  This allows you

to get software and text files by anonymous FTP using your e-mail account.

Its a bit tricky to do and you'll have to learn a few new concepts, like

how to use UUENCODE/UUDECODE, file compression and ASCII/binary types of

software.  You'll also learn how to perform ARCHIE searches using only

your e-mail access to find where the software you want is located.

Other subjects covered are such subjects as finding e-mail addresses,

other e-mail accessible services, shopping, playing games, even how

to send e-mail to the President!  Final chapter addresses security,

privacy and Netiquette issues.  The book ends with several appendices

on resources, hardware/software topisc, troubleshooting & tips and

where to get e-mail access accounts.

I find this book very useful to all Net citizens who are laboring under

the handicap of e-mail only accounts.  It allows them to experience almost

all Internet features, with the exception of TELNET/RLOGIN.  Also, knowing

some of the tricks makes you feel less like a newbie and on your way to

the exalted level of Power User or Net Guru! The book is well produced, 

using high-quality paper, excellent graphics and takes a down-to-earth

hands-on approach.  Its well worth the $19.95 price.

Copyright 1994

Michael Crestohl

mc@shore.net