Customer Reviews

Introducing WebTV

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Where do you get one when you have Webtv and don't know how to get around. Several of my friends are in need and have ask me to order copies when available. When??? will copies be available.

Very Candid look at the WebTv internet terminal.Despite being offically endorsed by WebTv and published by Microsoft Press this book truthfully reviews the strengths and weaknesses of using WebTv to surf the net instead of a computer. Most of the information in this book will be helpful for the new user. Advanced users will find they are beyond it however.

Although I am both Internet and computer literate, I purchased a WebTV terminal for someone who was assuredly neither of these. In looking at this book, I asked myself "Would a totally clueless newbie be able to use it unassisted?". Alas, the answer is no. The book tends to ramble, and lacks focus and organization. The illustrations are disappointing, especially those which are screen shots. These latter are fuzzy and sometimes differ sufficiently from the actual WebTV screens to confuse the beginner. The most dissapointing aspect of the book is its presupposing some knowledge of the on-line world. I would have been a lot happier to see the basics of e-mail, chat, newsgroups, IRC, etc., gently introduced and carefully explained. The entire book is written in a very conversational style. This may suit some, but I would have preferred succinct exposition. Without the conversational content, the book might well have been half as thick. I don't mean this to be quite as negative as it may sound. The book does cover its subject (it's all in there ... somewhere and to some degree), and I found no mistakes whatsoever. But I would have liked a book I could have handed to my clueless newbie friend and said "Here, this is all you need to start using your WebTV". Unfortunately, what I must do instead is say "Here, see how far you can get reading this and we'll meet on several weekends and go over it together".