The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog (Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog) [Paperback]

Ed Krol (Author)

Book Description

Series: Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog | Publication Date: May 8, 1994

Still the best book on the Internet. The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog, 2nd Edition is a comprehensive introduction to the international network of computer systems called the Internet, a resource of almost unimaginable wealth.

As a complete introduction to the Internet, this book covers the basic utilities you use to access the network: mail, telnet, ftp, and news readers. But it also does much more. The Guide pays close attention to several important information servers (Archie, Wais, Gopher) that are, essentially, databases of databases: they help you find what you want among the millions of files and thousands of archives available. There's also coverage of the World Wide Web. We've also included our own database of databases: a resource index that covers a broad selection of several hundred important resources, ranging from the King James Bible to archives for USENET news.

So if you use the Internet for work or for pleasure -- or if you'd like to, but don't know how -- you need this book. If you've been around the Net for a few years, you'll still be able to discover resources you didn't know existed. Also includes a pull-out quick-reference card.

Now more comprehensive than ever, here's what you will find in the second edition:

• An expanded, easy-to-use resource catalog. New and experienced users alike can refer to the catalog to discover what's available on the Net.
• Descriptions of three resources that serve as the Internet's "card catalog": InterNIC, GNN, and Almanac (what they are, what they're for).
• An explanation of multimedia mail (MIME): what it means, how to deal with it.
• An introduction to pine, a popular mail program that supports MIME.
• More on ftp-mail servers, and different kinds of mailing list managers, including Majordomo and Almanac.
• An introduction to xarchie, a popular X-based Archie client with an FTP client built-in, along with other improvements to the Archie service.
• What's new in the "white pages," or the Internet's telephone book. In particular, the book covers Netfind.
• An introduction to tin, another popular newsreader.
• New features of Gopher, including Veronica and Jughead.
• New coverage of the swais line-oriented WAIS client.
• An expanded list of internet access providers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Still the best book on the Internet. The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog is a comprehensive introduction to the international network of computer systems called the Internet, a resource of almost unimaginable wealth. As a complete introduction to the Internet, this book covers the basic utilities you use to access the network: mail, telnet, ftp, and news readers. But it also does much more. The Guide pays close attention to several important information servers (Archie, Wais, Gopher) that are, essentially, databases of databases: they help you find what you want among the millions of files and thousands of archives available. There's also coverage of the World Wide Web. We've also included our own database of databases: a resource index that covers a broad selection of several hundred important resources, ranging from the King James Bible to archives for USENET news. So if you use the Internet for work or for pleasure -- or if you'd like to, but don't know how -- you need this book. If you've been around the Net for a few years, you'll still be able to discover resources you didn't know existed. Also includes a pull-out quick-reference card. Now more comprehensive than ever, here's what you will find in the second edition: An expanded, easy-to-use resource catalog. New and experienced users alike can refer to the catalog to discover what's available on the Net. Descriptions of three resources that serve as the Internet's "card catalog": InterNIC, GNN, and Almanac (what they are, what they're for). An explanation of multimedia mail (MIME): what it means, how to deal with it. An introduction to pine, a popular mail program that supports MIME. More on ftp-mail servers, and different kinds of mailing list managers, including Majordomo and Almanac. An introduction to xarchie, a popular X-based Archie client with an FTP client built-in, along with other improvements to the Archie service. What's new in the "white pages," or the Internet's telephone book. In particular, the book covers Netfind. An introduction to tin, another popular newsreader. New features of Gopher, including Veronica and Jughead. New coverage of the swais line-oriented WAIS client. An expanded list of internet access providers.

About the Author

Krol has a degree in computer science from the University of Illinois. He is assistant director for Network Information Services, Computing and Communications Service Office, University of Illinois.

Product Details

• Paperback: 574 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; Second Edition edition (May 8, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565920635
• ISBN-13: 978-1565920637
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,445,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Internet Handbook!, October 19, 1999

By 

Eileen ([e-mail]) (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whole Internet: User's Guide and Catalog - Academic Edition (Nutshell Handbook) (Paperback)

Very well written! The organization of this book offers the reader the option to learn a little or dig deeper, either way, the reader will gain functional, usable knowledge. Each chapter builds upon itself, making digestion of complex material very simple. I highly recommend reading this if you want more than AOL has to offer!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for net-novices who aren't computer-illiterates, February 9, 1998

By 

Levi (Reston, VA, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog (Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog) (Paperback)

The first book I ever read about the internet. I got this book way back in '92 (or perhaps the spring of '93). It was one of only two books that were out (at least that people knew about on the net), the other one being The Hitchikers Guide to the Internet, or something like that. I still have the old copy, so I can't vouch for the newest releases, but since the author is the same, I trust his text has only improved. It was a great book to start out learning about the net because it didn't just skim the surface, but got into the nitty gritty of many different aspects, including email, ftp, the web (then in its infancy), usenet news, telnet, WAIS, GOPHER, and even connecting your computer to the net (not an easy task in 1992!), and more, all in just 350 or so pages! It was enough to get me hooked and to make all the cryptic unix commands that you had to deal with if you were connecting via a university (not many other choices back then) seem a little less cryptic. If you are a relative newcomer to the net, this book is a great place to start, unless you are very computer-illiterate, in which case you'll probably have an easier time with a Dummies book which doesn't go into as much detail. Even for those who are not so new to the net, Kroll has a good deal of historical information about the net and some stuff on the actual network systems that connect everything - the mbones and all that - so you will gain a lot from this as well. All in all, a very useful book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, but slightly out of date, December 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog (Whole Internet User's Guide and Catalog) (Paperback)

I really liked this book. It was recommended to me by a web-designer friend. He gave me the book to read and told me what was out of date. The parts that are still usable were very informative, but when it comes to computers you must admit that it is better to get a new publication. I hope he writes a third edition soon, I'll buy the first copy.