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This collection is the most imaginative concept for one that I have seen done by New Yorker cartoon editor, Robert Mankoff. Unfortunately, the selection of the cartoons failed to take into account the rapid advance in computer savvy and awareness. So cutting edge cartoons of 1996 often seem like ancient history in 2001. On the other hand, the book contains a CD-ROM to allow you to have a digital copy of each cartoon. You are allowed as much noncommercial use as you want.

The book contains 100 black and white cartoons, the CD-ROM with the 100 cartoons (many in color) plus 50 more, and directions for using the CD-ROM on a Macintosh or with Windows and e-mailing the images. There is a brief introduction by editor and contributor, Robert Mankoff.

I graded the book down one star for having so many dated cartoons, down another star for having a too limited introductory essay, and down a third star for having too few cartoons on too small pages for the price. I graded it up two stars for the CD-ROM and license for personal use features. That's how I ended up at four stars.

The theme of these cartoons is "a new playground for Murphy's Law." Some of the cartoons were probably never very funny. Was it really credible to say that a restaurant cannot serve the meals you want on time because the computer is down? I don't think so, but 2 of 100 cartoons have that theme. Jokes about getting or printing out messages by e-mail also quickly wear thin. There are too many of those in the book.

Normally, I would complain about the editor selecting 16 of his own cartoons for a 100 cartoon collection, but I must agree with Mr. Mankoff that his work deserves it compared to the others.

On the other hand, some of these cartoons are priceless. Here are a few of my favorites:

"America Off-Line" with a man lying in a hammock, by Robert Mankoff

"The e-mail isn't functioning -- pass it on." Four computer users are sitting side by side as one turns to the other, by Robert Mankoff

"Good graphics, Dave, but the answer is still no." A woman turning down a man proposing on his knees, holding a video of a wedding ceremony running on a portable computer, by Robert Mankoff

"Home-Pageless" A sign held by a street person looking for a handout, by Mick Stevens

"Marge, this is davelow@meth.smu.com and anncann@bur.com -- I met them on the Internet." A man introducing a couple to his wife in the living room, by Michael Maslin

"A computer virus ate my homework." A boy explaining to his teacher, by Arnie Levin

"The computers are fine, the staff's down." A picture of collapsed abstract people, by Charles Barsotti

"Nightly Lap Top Dancing" A sign in a computer store window, by P.C. Vey

"I think I'll head back to the house for a little Net-sex and a nap." A man to his wife on the beach, by Michael Crawford

"Thanks pal, let me put you on my mailing list." Street person to man giving money while typing into a portable computer, by P.C. Vey

"Select All" and "Select None" The thoughts of a group of men and a group of women looking at each other in a bar, by Joe Dator

"I can be upgraded. Can you?" Message on computer screen, by Aaron Bacall

"On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog." One dog to another, by Peter Steiner

"Believe me, the e-check is in the e-mail." Robert Mankoff

"You are entitled to one call, one fax, or one e-mail." Man with two policemen in the stationhouse, by Arnie Levin

"The Bill Gates Wealth Clock" by Jon Agee

"There's nothing wrong with your personal finance software. You just don't have any money." A man talking to another man, by Ted Goff

After viewing this collection, I think you will agree that cartoons about being compulsive about the Internet would have been even more fun. I was surprised that there were no jokes about on-line ordering of products and trading of stocks. Clearly, our uses of the Internet and computers are evolving very rapidly. As the examples above show, there certainly do seem to be themes that work well over time by playing on the fundamental human foibles.

So you can turn this book into a five star offering if you can simply find a friend who will e-mail all the cartoons to you for free! Maybe that's the purpose of the e-mail a friend feature on each book's page.

Seriously, this book can give you much food for thought about how computers are affecting the way we relate to each other. In many cases, computers become barriers to communication rather than facilitators. Think through your day today, and consider how many of these jokes could have been made at your expense. How can you humanize your work with computers?

Make progress at light speed, and keep laughing all the while!

Internet years are like dog years, so this book is really 28 years old (originally published in 1996 using cartoons BEFORE 1996). The cartoons are as amusing as 28 year old NEW YORKER cartoons would be. The book includes my favorite Internet classic, "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog." Release is given to use these cartoons for personal use - commercial use without permission is explicitly prohibited. You get 100 NEW YORKER type cartoons in black and white in the book. On the CD, you get 100 GIF files duplicated in both black and white and in color. There are three different directories (Show, Print, Email). Most pictures are about 50k (min is 11k, max is 215k).

a great book. Has many cartoons dealing with computers. Thebook comes with a CD-Rom that has files of each cartoon that can beprinted in b&w or color, or emailed or posted on web pages.

Even with the CD, there's just not enough content here..