The Internet: The Missing Manual: Taming the Jungles of the Internet

A Book Review by Harry {doc} Babad and Ted Bade

Publisher’s Overview

About MissingManuals.com (Excerpts quoted from the book Introduction)

“The Internet: The Missing Manuel is designed to accommodate readers at every technical level. If you’re just getting into this whole Internet thing, great; you’ll find the introductory material at the beginning of each discussion will help you along from square one.

“But even if you’re already online and comfortable with the Net, you’ll find useful tips not to mention a world of wisdom in capsule summaries of the Internet’s most useful websites.

“Here in one tidy atlas of the Web, is a summary of the very best ways to find stuff on the Web; do research; shop; manage stocks and finances; make travel reservations; play games and place bets; find and buy music, movies, and TV; post digital photos (or look at other people’s); find love on the worlds biggest personal-ad matchmaking services; and lots more.

Review Introduction

Now Ted and I have been long time Internet users, initially using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and at times, Netscape Navigator and now on our Tiger-equipped Macintoshes, both Safari and Firefox. As sophisticated users of the Internet, it of course piqued our curiosity to see what David Pogue, one of the Macintosh saints, had to say about the subject. Thus this joint review was born.

The Book Itself

Divided into five parts and 21 chapters, the book covers the Internet in all of its possible myriad uses. In keeping with the style of previous Missing Manuals, authors J.D. Biersdorfer and David Pogue take a humorous yet objective look at the Internet. The author’s aim of course is to help you tame the beast that is the Internet.

As noted in the recent New Tech Review article, http://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/newsinfo.asp?NewsID=3141

“Famous for making incomprehensible technical subjects easy to master, and entertaining their readers in the process, the authors will help people cut through all the technical jargon and teach them not only how to connect to the Internet, but to eliminate the confusion of search engines, downloadable music and movies, multi-user games, podcasts, instant messaging programs, and more.”

The book includes tips on how to:

• Getting Online. Readers will have all the information they need to decide what kind of broadband connection works best for them, which browser they should use, and what kind of spyware-fighting and virus-and spam-protection measures they need to protect themselves.
• Finding Information. Google may be the leading search site, but it's certainly not the only game in town. This book introduces a diverse and useful collection of sites that help uncover everything from health care information, to shopping, travel and finance, to dependable reviews and ratings.
• Movies, music, and photos. The Web's teeming with entertainment--and not just the sort of postage-stamp sized videos that only a geek could love. Learn where to download movies, watch TV online, listen to music, play games, and post and share photos with friends.
• Keeping in touch. Email's only the beginning. This book introduces readers to the many tools that make the modern Internet such a great way to stay connected. From Web-based discussion groups to instant messaging programs, and from blogs and podcasts to Internet-based phone calls, this book will help you join the conversation.

“Whether you're an Internet novice or an experienced user, this book will provide you with helpful information and useful tips to make the most of everything the Internet has to offer.”

In the table below we list a few items that either especially caught our attention or which were minor omissions. For the complete Table of Contents, check out http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/internettmm/toc.html

The Virtual CD – To get the most out of this book, also visit http://www.missingmanuals.com. Click the “Missing CD-ROM" link to reveal a neat, organized, chapter-by-chapter list of the shareware and freeware mentioned in this book.” The website will also allow you to both post corrections for inclusion in the next printing, and to read what other have found in the way of errors in book.

In addition, I {doc} also appreciated the authors balanced inclusion Macintosh and PC treatment of both the provided information and in the illustrations provided.

Discomforts

Chapter 21. Based on my review of Steal this Book … too little too late in the book on Internet security. What is there is excellent, but the FUD factor is too low for the intended audience. Those of you who have read my review Steal this Computer Book 4.0 – What They won’t Tell You About the Internet (macC August 2006) will understand what I mean. To the rest of you, please take Internet security, even on a Macintosh very seriously. Paranoia can also reflect actual reality.

I also would have appreciated it, if the authors have shared the fact that by using Internet (only) specific sites in searching for products, users have the advantage of virtual warehouses and the “long-tail” effect. Virtual warehouses have no physical space limitations, so catalogs contain less popular, but more interesting (to you) materials. Such virtual warehouses are one of the best things that have happened to collectors. Those of us who appreciate and at times want to buy items that never makes the top 10 or hundred or thousand lists. Horray!

In Closing

The Internet is almost synonymous with change--that's one of its charms, and one of its headaches. You may think you know the Internet, but are you really up to speed on Internet telephones, movie and TV downloading, blogging, gaming, online banking, dating, and photo sharing? You’re likely not up to speed. This book is ideal for anyone just venturing into cyberspace. This book is also perfect for more experienced users who could use an update to today's most exciting Internet applications. Don’t forget the virtual CD that accompanies this book; it has more relevant toys and tools than you could possibly use, well, all at once.

Overall, between the interesting ands useful new links we found, and shareware doc_Babad previously missed, this review was a fun and useful experience that reminded us of all the aspects of the Internet we so routinely take for granted. Rating: 5.0 macCs

Author BIOs

David Pogue, Yale '85, is the personal-technology columnist for the New York Times. With nearly 3 million books in print, he is also one of the world's bestselling how-to authors, having written or co-written seven books in the "for Dummies" series (including Macs, Magic, Opera, and Classical Music), along with several computer-humor books and a technothriller, "Hard Drive" (a New York Times "notable book of the year").

Pogue is also the creator and primary author of the Missing Manual series of complete, funny computer books, a joint venture with O'Reilly Media, Inc. Titles in the series include Mac OS X, Windows XP, iPod, Microsoft Office, iPhoto, Dreamweaver, iMovie 2, and many others. His Web page is www.davidpogue.com, and his email address is david@pogueman.com. [I rarely come across an article by Dave Pogue that I don’t stop and read, despite often otherwise pressing priorities – HB]

Jude Biersdorfer has been writing the weekly Q&A column for the Circuits section of The New York Times since 1998, and she occasionally writes feature stories and how-to articles for the same section. She has written for Rolling Stone, The New York Times Book Review and the AIGA Journal of Graphic Design, among other publications, and has contributed essays on the collision of pop culture and technology for the books The Education of the E-Designer (2001) and Sex Appeal (2000), both published by Allworth Press. In her limited spare time, she likes to watch documentaries and torture the neighbors with her clawhammer banjo playing. She lives in New York City.