"Using E-Mail", Gibbons et al, 1994, 0-7897-0023-9, U$24.99/C$33.99/UK#22.99
Dave Gibbons dgibbons@bigcat.missouri.edu 70007.5106@compuserve.com
David Fox
Alan Westenbroek alan@datastorm.com awestcnb@bigcat.missouri.edu
Dick Cravens 73324.2743@compuserve.com
Andrew B. Shafran shafran@cis.ohio-state.edu
201 W. 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290
1994
0-7897-0023-9
Que/MacMillan Computer Publishing (MCP)
U$24.99/C$33.99/UK#22.99 75141.2102@compuserve.com
376
"Using E-Mail"
Although large chunks of this book are simply versions of product
documentation, there are many sections of good, thoughtful, useful
advice as well.
Chapter one is a good introduction and a breakdown of the mail
system into the mail user agent (MUA, called "front end" in the
book) and the mail transport agent (MTA). Later parts of the
chapter may become too technical in discussions of wide area
networks, to no purpose. Chapters two and three give a very good
overview of email use and evaluation. The material is broad-ranging
and generally excellent, with the notable exception of deficiencies
in the coverage of security and file attachments. Chapters four
through seven document uses and commands for cc:Mail, MS-Mail,
Novell Groupwise, Lotus Notes and Windows for Workgroups.
Chapters eight to fourteen cover what is generally the "mail
Internet"; BBS networks, commercial services, and the Internet,
itself. Except for two sizeable chapters on Compuserve and America
Online, the material is quite terse, though an acceptable
introduction. Directions and tables of internetwork addressing are
a strong point, here.
(For a book discussing global email, there is much evidence of US-
centrism. This may explain some of the blind spots with regard to
security issues.)
A fair amount of the book could be discarded with no appreciable
loss, and a few points (such as netiquette) could stand some
boosting. Overall, though, this is a solid introduction to the
topic. And the authors show admirable restraint in not promoting
ProComm.