Usenet Books

Pirates, bacon, toxic pez ... this book has everything you need to know about the exciting world of USENET, where skyclad engineers ply their trade and svelte paparazzi pelt the crowd with Hot Pockets and microwave pork rinds! Once you read this book, you'll realize that your entire life has been a giant, sucking, empty lie ... but in a GOOD way. Read 'em and weep!

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*----BUY THIS BOOK----*
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This is a definitive but uniquely personal view of the whys and why nots of using the UNSENET.

More exiting than an a weekend in downtown Baghdad. The book that explained it all but then we went & forgot it all and still bought shares in the Internet Bubble.

In the end you are pulled into the whirlpool and mayhem of the electronic version of a corkboard. Do not to forget to look for SPOT, PIRATES and sugary foodstuff...

I am hoping to find a book that will let me set up a server similar too deja-talkway-remarq. Any suggestions?

I have never actually met Henry Spencer, despite having spent years at a Taddle Creek lab probably a stone's throw from the University of Toronto zoology department; I don't even really know what he did in Zoology, but I do know that right from the very beginning of my life online, Henry Spencer was there like a kindly grandfather, always patient, always helpful and always knowledgeable beyond our wildest imaginations. When google was collecting up parts to assemble their groups.google.com, it was Henry who provided many of the earliest archives dating back to the late 1980's (and preserving forever some of my more embarrasing novice posts ;) -- that name on the cover is more than a good sign, it's a veritable holographic guarantee of authenticity.

I needed to set up a news server for my company. Since I already had a Linux box that was not doing much of anything, I loaded INN (since it comes nicely packaged with Red Hat- although you need to install the security patch as well). I then needed a quick understanding of how Usenet/INN worked and did not have a lot of time to spend on it. This book gave me everything I need, I did not have to go anywhere else for information.

I've read some of them, wrote my own on it and saw Newsadmins trying to install Servers with them - I liked none of them. What tale and Henry did for Usenet and any beginning Newsmaster around by writing this book is great. From the history of usenet over compiling and installing CNews and INN - everything is there. Clear words, understandeable explanations and last, but not least, a very indeep look on Usenet and the law make this book a beginning Newsadmins be st companion. I wish I'd had it when I started :)

This book was a life-saver when I suddenly acquired news-admin responsibilities for a very large system. It is comprehensive, well-written, and not tied to any flavor of UNIX. On beyond the excellent technical discussions of nntp, C news, and INN, its guide to dealing with the Usenet community is very helpful. A fine addition to the tradition of helpful books from O'Reilly.

I love Wallace Wang's Steal This Computer Book 3. In this book, Wang takes his best-selling knowledge and writing style and focuses it on a new subject- sharing files.

I learned a lot in the opening section. I have been familiar with peer-to-peer (P2P) networking since the advent of Napster, but I was not aware that such a wide variety of sources existed for finding and sharing files. Wang points out web sites, FTP sites, instant messaging and chat rooms and more where you can share files.

Even better than that, he doesn't just list sites, but rather provides in-depth analysis of many, explaining what is good or bad about the different resources and pitfalls to watch out for. He also includes many graphic illustrations which help you understand the information better.

This book sheds light on a number of "fringe" file sharing tools and resources. The mainstream is familiar with the likes of Kazaa and Morpheus, but Wang delves into many more tools. He points out some of the things to watch out for when using some of the shadier tools and networks as well.

The RIAA and MPAA may not like it, but in some way, shape or form, file sharing is here to stay and this book will help you find what you need and use file sharing securely.

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Whether it's music, programs, games, books or other files it seems that everyone is downloading something over the Internet these days. If you want to know how to find the files you want and download them safely then you will be interested in this book.

The author covers a wide array of places to find files including newsgroups, websites, Instant Messenger, Internet Relay Chat, FTP, and networks that are designed specifically for file sharing such as Gnutella, FastTrack, and eDonkey. One of the most interesting parts for the average computer user is the one with information on how to remain anonymous when sharing files. Of course, this section also includes information on the problems of file sharing - viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, adware, and even warez.

I've traded files and worked on the Internet for years and I still learned a few tips in this book. The author includes lots of illustrations and specific web sites where you can download the programs he mentions as well as several alternative ones. Mr. Wang even provides a complete analysis of each program's advantages and disadvantages. One of the things I really like is the fact that he includes information on programs you should be careful downloading and using including Fast Track clients that come loaded with spyware like Kazaa and iMesh.

If you don't like AIM he even covers Private Internet Messenger products like Meet Gate, P2P Instant Messenger, and Pal Talk. The breadth of coverage is impressive, the writing and organization excellent. Steal This File-Sharing Book is highly recommended to anyone who shares files over the Internet.

Almost 90% of the information I found in this book can be found online in a matter of minutes from any major news source. All the concepts presented are basic in design and offer no technical explanation on how to do anything. The only positive points I saw in this book was it's website references. There are hundreds of websites listed with further information and software on every topic of file sharing and other copyright enigmas. It's decent for a beginner in file sharing to understand the basics. For everyone else, it makes for good reference material to find the information you were hoping to get from the book.

I got almost nothing out of this book. I've been file-sharing for about two months. The worst is that the book is totally out of date; it has almost nothing about bittorrent which has taken over the file-sharing world.

I would only get this book for someone who is new not just to file-sharing, but to the internet in general. Even then it is only good as an introduction to general concepts; there is little useful detailed technical information.

Wang's other book (Steal This Computer Book) explored the "dark underbelly" of the 'Net and this book in effect picks up where the other book leaves off. You can debate whether or not file sharing is legal and ethical, but no one can deny it is here to stay. Not only does Wang explain where to find files (at places like file sharing networks, newsgroups, chat rooms, etc.), he also describes ways to stay anonymous while doing so. There are also chapters on file formats, sharing music, movies, TV shows, even software, video games and the most popular item, pornography.

I find it interesting speaking of porn that porn producers seem to have found ways to deal with this issue and yet the "establishment" still feels the best way to fight it is through legal action. The book's last two chapters describe the future of file sharing and how the entertainment industries continue to fight back. They may try copy protection schemes, but it seems there's always someone who finds a way to defeat those schemes.

Regardless of how you feel about this issue, this is a well-written and informative book, written in the same spirit of Steal This Computer Book.

I agree with the other negative reviews.

The index is really very bad - I hardly ever find anything I'm looking for.

I can only describe it as a curious mix of sometimes very arcane information which may be useful for usenet gurus and absence of information for a novice user

As a neophyte to Usenet servers etc. I found this book very helpful and would recommened it. I wasn't looking for a Ph.D. on the subject from one reading--that takes hands-on experience in anything.

This book was almost a rehash of the various FAQ's -- just with less information. If you want to install and run on a Solaris machine it is a little more helpful. The index is horrible. There is more filler about good corporate policy than anything else. The only redeeming value (and the reason I gave it a three0 is that it does give step-by-step instructions on compiling innd. That's about it. Not what the directory hierarchy is for, no trouble shooting, nothing

Having never specified hardware for or managed a Usenet news server I was looking for high-quality technical guidance. Within minutes of buying this book I knew I wouldn't find it in these pages. The content is simplistic and slow paced. Each time it seems you will get to some meaty discussion the section ends leaving you still feeling hungry and not even providing an interesting taste. Many pages are wasted on instructions for installing Solaris and an overview of the topology of the Internet. The included CD might be useful for signaling passing aircraft but lacks anything more useful. You will be sorry you bought this book. Luckily this isn't the only choice. Take a look at "Managing Usenet". It is the book this one could have been.