Customer Reviews

Online! The Book

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The Internet doesn't come with a manual, but if it did, this is it. This sounds like an exaggeration, but it is not because the book literally covers almost everything for people at all levels computer literacy.

That sounds like a tall order, doesn't it? I agree, yet Dvorak, Pirillo, and Taylor have pulled it off. The book has almost 700 pages of rock solid content in 28 chapters covering hardware, music, meeting people, gaming, networking, email, and more.

Though I read as much as I can about technology since getting my first computer in 1980, the book has material that cover areas I know less about such as enterprise instant messaging and peer-to-peer communication.

The topics are tackled at the 30-foot level and the 30,000-foot level. For example, we know emails are those messages that fill up our mailboxes with some in the ugly disguise of spam. The email chapter has contents on its history, protocols, clients, spam (of course), header analysis, filtering, and etiquette.

Protocols, header analysis, and filtering are uncomfortable terms for some people. Techie words and concepts are clearly explained without leaving the reader scratching his head and re-reading the paragraph until his eyes cross. Most of the technical terms and tips are in a gray box, so if you don't want to deal with it you skip over the visual cue. Tips are also in little boxes with a photo of Pirillo running into a window (again) or Dvorak in his Hulk Hogan wanna-be garb.

Business folk benefit from chapters on commuting, Internet marketing, content management, business Web sites, Internet law, and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). The Ten-Step Commute chapter takes a trip into the world of teleworking with advice on how to sell it to the boss, setting up remote access, and security.

This is not the heavy, boring textbook students lug around campus. The authors throw in their senses of humor throughout the manual. You could find the stuff in the book (where else?) online, but it takes many searches and hours to find the gold nuggets. Take a break and let the book do its job.

Believe it or not, I didn't notice the sub-title of the book when I wrote the first paragraph. When I got the book, I went right inside the cover. Online! The Book lives up to its sub-title, "Because the Internet does not come with a manual."

P.S. I take book reviews seriously. Some of you may know I write for Chris Pirillo's Lockergnome.com. If I didn't like the book, you wouldn't be reading this. No, he didn't pay me to say this. In fact, he doesn't know I've read the book and wrote a review.

Dvorak & Co.'s book should be shipped with each new computer sold because it really IS the manual for the Internet. Gateway would be well-advised to contract for the 2nd edition. Meanwhile, get it now. The good stuff on the 'net it directs to, and the traps and sheer junk on the 'net it helps one avoid, makes it pay for itself almost instantly.

Now everyone's doing it. Doing what? Signing on to the internet. Each day countless millions venture into cyberspace to chat, search, buy, sell, and the numbers continue to mount. However, there are times when even the most accomplished online user needs a little help, and that's what this practical volume is all about. Whether you're a newbie or an old hand, there's something for everyone in Online! The Book.

Twenty-eight informative chapters cover all aspects of internet use beginning with "The Online World," a description of the net and concluding with "Voice Over Internet Protocol," readers may glean all manner of valuable tips.

Concerned about hackers and their tools? Get the lowdown here. Confused about the ISPs (Internet Service Providers)? A handy explanation. Chat rooms - good, bad or so-so? Read all about them. Want to buy at the lowest price and sell at the highest? Advice is offered.

Think of Online! The Book as your guide through the mysteries of computing, and keep it handy.

- Gail Cooke

This is a new book at the bookstore...and I stood in there for almost twenty minutes looking at it, trying to decide if I could afford to buy ANOTHER computer book. There is just too much in the book! Every time I flipped to another page there was something that caught my eye. This isn't like all the ohter books on the shelves...that you almost fall asleep as you turn the pages and it beats the suhbject to death. This is one that I want to read. I decided to buy it, and spent most of the night reading it. It's great.

This book covers everything you need to know about the internet and how to navigate it. For those that were curious how to make the most out of their experience with the world of being online, I would definitely suggest this book... whether someone new, or a seasoned veteran. It covers numerous topics on email, spam, webpages, viruses, streaming media... the list goes on and on. Definitely a 'must have' book. :)

Online! The Book was hard for me to read, and didn't reward my efforts very well. I have never found a book that contained so many details that I was not interested in, did not help me or did not add to my knowledge. I don't really care to know the complete history of every development on the Internet. Further, many chapters repeated the same points (such as on Spam).

The book is pitched as being helpful for everyone from those who have never logged on before to those who are techies and want to know more. While that may be true, the book's structure makes no attempt to separate beginner information from advanced. So beginners will probably get the idea that they need to know everything here. In addition, in the areas where I am very interested in learning more . . . there wasn't enough detail for me. I suspect most people will prefer more specialized books in their areas of interest.

The main benefit I got from the book was some new Web sites to check out on subjects that interest me. But that wasn't enough benefit to make it worth reading the whole book. I could probably have picked up similar information by surfing the Web or reading more focused books in much less time.

Here are the chapter subjects: The Online World; Hardware Basics; Internet Service Providers; Finding What You Need; Music; E-Commerce; Meeting People; Gaming; Downloading Online Content; Email and Spam; Security; Viruses; Get Your Web Site; Web Programming Languages; Blogs; Streaming Media; How Modems Work; Networking; Portable Devices; Internet Commuting; Webcams; Content Management; Business Web Sites; Enterprise Instant Messaging; Peer-to-Peer Communications; Internet Law; and Voice Over Internet Protocol.

While the authors seem knowledgeable (and their credentials suggest that they should be), they needed to have some professional readers to help them shape the content to readers' needs. For example, in all of the discussion about hardware I saw nothing about how a newbie might call Dell and have a custom machine designed and built to fit their needs. Also, there's nothing here for a newbie who enters a library and wants to use an Internet computer. Both experiences are probably pretty widespread, but are ignored here.

If you are new to computers and the Internet, find someone who is kind and patient to teach you the basics. Start out by telling that person what you want to do, and they can get you going in much less time than it takes to read this book.

As I finished the book, I found myself thinking about how important it is to get feedback from readers as authors write their books. Otherwise, the books are mainly relevant to the authors.

This is an excellent book for most anyone who uses the web. I found LOTS of stuff in it that was valuable, and it's easy to read.
Good Xmas gift.

By nature, I'm the type of Internet user who only goes looking for information when I absolutely need it. It is pretty easy to get lost while online. Not to mention, distracted by tantalizing tidbits of information.

Most books about the Internet seem to focus on websites or specific Web toys and topics. This book not only covers all the basics of online life, it also fills in the gaps with amazing secrets you won't find anywhere else. Yes, there are also plenty of URLs, yet that is not the main focus.

John C. Dvorak and Chris Pirillo have created the ultimate Internet manual. In a matter of hours, you can read the latest information on hardware basics, ISPs, Music Downloads, E-Commerce, Gaming, Downloading, Email, Spam, Security, Viruses, Creating Your Own Web Site, Web Programming Languages, The Blog Phenomenon, Streaming Media, The Inner workings of a Modem, Networking, PDAs, Internet Marketing, Webcams, Content Management Instant Messaging, Peer-to-Peer Communication and Internet Law.

John C. Dvorak writes the Inside Track column for PC Magazine and has been writing opinion columns about computers since the 1970s. Internet Guru Chris Pirillo has a site where you can find everything from the "Top 50 Windows XP Tips and Tricks" to "The 10 Quick Steps to Being a Great Radio Guest." If you are a Windows Fanatic or want to keep your mind updated with the latest information, Chris has it covered. Ok, so he has lots of sites and even developed a Brain Trust.

Wendy Taylor, the former editor of PC Computing, worked as the project manager and coordinated the knowledge flowing in from a team of experts from various organizations. Her organization of the material is awe inspiring.

This Book is divided into four main sections:

The Basics of Surfing - Shows the value of the Internet
Detailed Information on Downloads, Security and Virus Protection
How to Create a Web site
A Collection of Technical Information

So, how will this book be of benefit to you?

1. Are you buying a new computer? - Read chapter 2 on Hardware Basics and find out that in exclusive circles people are talking about "overclocking." Beware the blue screen of death. The great feature of this chapter is the ability to quickly find information fast. If you are ordering a computer online and want to know the details about SDRAM, pg. 32 gives a basic overview. Then, skip on over to chapter 11 to read about security and chapter 12 to learn about viruses. Read about some famous viruses and learn how they operate. Did you know your computer is probably filled with spyware? Learn how to delete cookies and install antivirus programs.

2. Love to Shop? This book has ideas on how to get the best combination of price and service for your next purchase. It also shows you how to establish yourself as a seller at major sites like eBay and Amazon Marketplace. You can sell just about anything at Amazon. There are a variety of programs and I've tried zShops and loved how fast items sold. Amazon now sells gourmet food!

3. Did your phone company offer to rent you a Cable modem or DSL router? How much are you willing to pay to surf fast? Do you want to save money? How much time do you think you will be spending online? This book has helpful advice for every question I've ever had about online life.

4. Interested in Meeting People? I'm glad the authors to talk about the emotional strain of online life. While it can be freeing to tell your best friend all the details of your life, it can be equally unpleasant to find you trusted the wrong person. It is however, very likely that you have a number of soul mates out there who can make your online life feel more like home. You might never meet them unless you were online. This section discusses chatrooms, lurking, netiquette, instant messaging, online dating, emoticons, acronyms, chat shorthand and even an interesting section on Japanese emoticons.

5. Do you have your own Web site? The authors have summarized the basics. These are all concepts I learned by trial and error. I'll agree, FrontPage is amazing. Chapter 14 explains the basics of web programming Languages. HTML, WML, HDML, XML and JavaScript all make their appearance.

6. Want to go Wireless? Read about how you can wear your computer or buy a smartphone.

7. Starting a Business? Read the chapters on Internet Marketing and E-Commerce.

8. Interested in Downloading Music? Read an article about the RIAA and Napster.

An Exclusive Online Guide should appear soon. You have to love books that have their own site with additional information.

"Online! The Book!" is the Official Netizen Brain Update! My little online heart also did a few flips. There is some exciting information in this book. I spent all night in a reading trance except when I was giggling over the witty lines. You can spend two years finding some of the secrets of online life, or you can just spend the evening dining on intellectual treats from "Online! The Book!"

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~The Rebecca Review

Just came back from Staceys bookstore (SF). Saw this book & Checked it out. My comments're: this book's f/ the newbies who need the guidance of the gurus. It has everything one needs to understand the complexity of the Web. 600+ pages of ["pure quality"] & way better than any web book from the [Dummies] series.

Nice job John, (& Mimi who performed most of the editing), Chris and Wendy.

if you get this book and start reading it, you will not be able to put it down! the written style is one of fun and lots of information. the author goes into detail about everything you want to know about the web, and lots of things you didn't even think of. it is a must have for someone that wants to get the most for their money.