Computers and Internet Books

Safe Computing is an invaluable reference to protecting one's data, computer, money, privacy and warding off those nasty viruses and worms. It comes with a bonus CD-ROM relative to the contents of the book, for those of you fear too much separation from your computer.

It is written and formatted in a layout that is quickly accessible as you consider tossing caution to the winds and exposing your wider identity/credit card numbers to that amorphous and uncertain Cyber-World. Furthermore, when your eyes are burning, your back hunched like so many Quasimodo computer geeks, and your wrists twinging after all-night forays on the Internet, it offers a pleasing alternative to the computer screen. Unlike those software manuals, it is actually the sort of book that you may wish to keep close by your computer, for a much-needed chuckle at Mr Bentley's writing style, as well as its topical hints. It may even find its way into parents and parents-in-law Christmas stockings this year, to ward off those pesky questions concerning computing (which you can never seem to answer adequately anyhow).

A comprehensive reference manual it is, so toss out those slighter volumes about trying to protect your kids from all the mayhem on the net or how to sit up straight when typing away, and buy it.

Tom Bentley's self help manual offers lots of wonderful information to help anyone who deals with computers but, as a high school info tech (or computer)teacher I especially have found it beneficial. His pointers, advise and general information have practical application for the computer class, career preparation and business computing. I would even recommend it as a manual for employers who are concerned about the well being of employees and their computers.

Bentley has found a common sense approach for passing on information which is neither preechy or condescending. In short, I found this book to be a great read and a lot of help to me personally and the students I am teaching.

Safe Computing is a great book for the novice user. I manage a group of PC techs and this is exactly the kind of information that we try to communicate to our customers. The links are extremely helpful as is the sample CD. I will recommend this book to those users who would like an easy to understand and comprehensive reference for safe computing practices.

It's easy to become cavalier with your computer. This book tells you why that's risky & what you can do to protect your investment. Tom Bentley's gentle, whimsical book offers hands-on advice for every imaginable aspect of your computing world. Each chapter contains zillions of useful links that are 1.) actually relevant and 2.) still exist on the Web. I especially appreciated the chapter on data protection & the convenient table on backup devices. The book includes 4 pages of amusingly-illustrated stretching exercises which are so handy I've put them on my wall as reminders.

Bentley gives equal time to both Windows & Mac platforms, which means there's simply no excuse to avoid this book. It makes an excellent reference sourcebook which should be kept within arm's reach--make that an ergonomically correct reach--of everyone's workstation. "Safe Computing: How to Protect Your Computer, Your Body, Your Data, Your Money and Your Privacy in the Information Age" is both entertaining and educational, with nary a tinge of stuffiness.

Safe Computer: How To Protect Your Computer, Your Body, Your Data, Your Money And Your Privacy In The Information Age is specifically designed for anyone wanting or needing to use the computer for the personal and professional needs but are reluctant or uncomfortable in doing so because of all the stories they've heard about computer viruses, hackers, computer fraud, computer crashes, eyestrain, data loss, aching wrists, even identity theft. Tom Bentley takes a clear, comprehensive, reassuring, "reader friendly" approach in teaching the novice computer user how to protect and back up data; avoid computer usage caused aches, pains and repetitive stress injuries; avoid and overcome viruses, worms and Trojan Horses; foil hackers and identity thieves; keep secure from theft and fraud; preserve privacy while Web surfing, and much, much more. Very highly recommended reading guaranteed to restore operator confidence and assurance, Safe Computer is also enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM.

Teach Yourself Acid 3.0 is an excellent resource. Although Acid comes with a manual on PDF, everybody knows that switching between your software and Adobe Acrobat Reader is tedious and a strain on the eyes--which in turn means that you probably won't learn all about Acid's possibilities. With TYA 3.0, you can have the book open while you work with Acid (this alone vastly improves your learning curve); additionally, every chapter (or "hour") of this text has exercises and activities that you can do with the supplied CD-Rom loops. I really recommend doing the exercises--they WILL give you ideas for your own Acid projects.

While it might initially seem a little pricey, the tips, exercises, and CD-Rom make it invaluable.

This book is terrific! I just recently started experimenting with computer music using the ACID 3 programs, and this book makes an already easy to learn program even easier to understand. It is clearly written with the beginner in mind yet will take you as far up the technical ACID 3.0 learning curve as you wish. There is only one change I would make in the contents of Sam's Teach Yourself ACID 3.0 in 24 Hours, and that would be the inclusion of a comprehensive TROUBLESHOOTING section. The book is carefully written in a fashion, that if you follow the instructions to the letter, you should experience no technical problems. But as most will not have the infallibility to successfully follow the instructions without at least a few mistakes, I would wish there be a simple and quick to reference TROUBLESHOOTING section that helps you to easily go back and correct what you may have missed. But with this aside, the book is terrific. Definitely written for actual human beings. Well done.

As a Sonar user, a Sound Forge user, a Vegas Video user, I was completely amazed to discover the power hidden within Acid--whose very name unfortunately causes scornful and undeserved ridicule as with the review below.

Many see Acid as a toy, and it is anything but as anyone who digs beneath the surface will quickly discover.

Acid 3.0 is a professional tool used in professional environments to achieve professional results faster than ever before and where time is money, Acid shines.

For anyone wanting to push this tool past it's apparent limits, using it as the ultimate tool with which to bring together tracks from various sources (including Cubase) this book is essential to understanding its hidden strengths, and workarounds for inherent weaknesses found in some extreme BPM and pitch-shifting tasks. "Acid 3.0 in 24 Hours" is essential to understanding track management, bus usage, FX options, video scoring, and timing adjustments to name but a few.

Do not be fooled. Acid is a most powerful non-destructive digital audio construction tool, although its name may draw prejudice. This book is as worthy a companion and reference as exists for it.

Buy this book. Even the Acid experienced will learn from it.

i got the software and this book on friday, by monday i was making incredible music, i dont know anything about music
i am a flash developer and this works great for flash too.
i only read half of the book and it kicks ...!!!
acid pro 3 is to music what flash is to the internet. it will change everything... the book is excellent, it starts out basic and take you in fast, this book is great for the novice as well as the advanced user. also check out sound forge power book here at amazon, these two programs together and you can do anything.

This is a carefully-written explanation of a complex piece of computer technology. It takes way more hours than the title promises. But it is a wonderful introduction to the fascinating world of audio recording technology. Super Dooper!

I heartily recommend this book. It gives plenty of tips & tidbits on how time spent with your child on the Internet can be a top-notch experience for you both. Tonight, while exploring sites recommended in this book with my 7-year-old daughter Hannah, we came upon a science site with a geography game. We clicked "Easy" and saw a map of the United States with one state highlighted and 4 clickable possibilities from which to choose. Hannah called, "I'll get the globe!" hopped up out of her seat and retrieved the globe. She delightedly located the correct answer, time after time. I was impressed with how the game on the Internet sparked her interest and, just as author Evelyn Petersen says, inspired the child to connect with the world around her. Plus, it was a fun time for us both! What's more, Petersen organizes the book in a way I gratefully appreciate. Her numerous web site recommendations are listed in the back by chapter for easy reference, a nice touch. This feature alone is well worth the price of the book. In all, a five star report from this family!

What a clever, and important idea to write a book about e-parenting. The Petersens give us enough information and enough resources including important web-sites to find anything we want to know -- from discipline and other parenting issues for parents to stimulating and thought-provoking games and exercizes for their kids. In addition to the wealth of information given, we are helped to sift through and evaluate choice of existing web-sites so we can make responsible and informed choices of our own and help our kids learn how to choose and evaluate from the array of information available to them on the web as well.

I especially like the way the Petersens relate the child's e-world to his or own real world and how, for example e-friends, while important, must not replace school friends; e-homework help should not replace the library, a real book, or personal parent support.

In short, parenting by internet, while a tremendous addition, must not be a substitute for our personal and interpersonal worlds. The Petersens help us do that. Nice touch.

People who write about technology come in two varieties: the technophobes and the technophiles. The t-phobes argue that technology is diminishing the quality of human life. The t-philes assert that technology will bring us a new state-of-the-art paradise on Earth.

The tech-haters include heavyweight social thinkers such as Neil Postman (The Disappearance Of Childhood and Technopoly); Sven Birkerts (The Gutenberg Elegies); and Jane Healey (Endangered Minds and Failure To Connect).

Among the tech-lovers we should name Harley Hahn (Harley Hahn Teaches The Internet); Esther Dyson (Release 2.1); and two authors who I've just discovered, Evelyn Petersen and her daughter Karin. Their new book, Sams Teach Yourself E-Parenting Today, explains how using computers and the Internet can enhance our parenting skills.

Petersen and Petersen have set themselves two difficult goals: to counsel about parenting in general, and to explain how the Internet can help to forge a friendly relationship between parents and kids. In both these areas they have succeeded admirably. The person-to-person sections contain parenting advice which is savvy, compassionate, and sensible. The chapters about computers are clear, balanced, and written expertly.

The book contains excellent sections about many issues, some well-publicized and others little-known. How can children use the Internet to make friends worldwide? What does every parent need to know about the various aspects of Internet safety? How can using computers build family togetherness? Which web sites offer the most pertinent parenting activities and advice? ... I was especially impressed with Petersen's 40-page Appendix titled 'A Brief Guide To Child Development.' This section is eminently useful as a gage for helping us to understand what is "normal" (and abnormal) for children at various ages and stages of growth.

Ready or not, the Internet is here in our schools and homes. Computers are powerful tools, and -- let us not forget -- potentially dangerous ones. Children unsupervised, or children who receive poor computer instruction, will become at best technologically illiterate, and at worst harmed by misuse and over-use of these tremendous tools. Fortunately, for kids are who receive the right training, the Internet offers many remarkable benefits. The great virtue of Sams Teach Yourself E-Parenting Today is the way it teaches us to use technology well, while reminding us that creating a caring and enjoyable relationship with our children is the most important parenting skill of all.

Michael Pastore, Reviewer

The multi-generational authors deliver an insightful, obviously exhaustive work, which introduces the concept of e-Parenting with clarity and sensitivity.

For those of us facing the responsibility of raising children in the new millennium, this book is a treasure trove of helpful guidance. A wonderful combination of information and advice that is concise and practical while at the same time is on the cutting edge of our information age.

Using technology to enhance the parenting experience, while it would probably give our grandparents a coronary, is as practical today as Castor Oil must have been at the turn of the previous century. There is a misconception that e-Parenting means less hands-on involvement and interaction between parents and children. The authors shatter this myth by emphasizing that his brave new e-World is one to be shared, embraced and celebrated together.

The wealth of information and resources included here makes this book an invaluable tool. The care and enthusiasm of the authors makes it a pleasure to experience. It's scary to think of the hours the authors must have spent crawling around the Web for worthwhile sites to include and review. Lucky for us they did! It is their thorough work that makes this book one you'll want to keep handy the next time you log on.

David Katzner, President, The National Parenting Center

What a clever, and important idea to write a book about e-parenting. The Petersens give us enough information and enough resources including important web-sites to find anything we want to know -- from discipline and other parenting issues for parents to stimulating and thought-provoking games and exercizes for their kids. In addition to the wealth of information given, we are helped to sift through and evaluate choice of existing web-sites so we can make responsible and informed choices of our own and help our kids learn how to choose and evaluate from the array of information available to them on the web as well.

I especially like the way the Petersens relate the child's e-world to his or own real world and how, for example e-friends, while important, must not replace school friends; e-homework help should not replace the library, a real book, or personal parent support.

In short, parenting by internet, while a tremendous addition, must not be a substitute for our personal and interpersonal worlds. The Petersens help us do that. Nice touch.

I am currently working on a compiler that outputs SVG. 'Teach yourself SVG in 24 Hours' has enabled be to gain a good understanding of how to use some of the nice, handy features of SVG without having to spend ages geeking around on the internet looking for online tutorials!

It was a pleasent suprise to open a computing book that wasn't in too much jargon - quite a handy thing when its your first exposure to a new language. This book it written for everyone! (unless you have no interest in computers or the internet etc..)

I am a graphic artist using Adobe Illustrator and I wanted to learn more about SVG. I asked the Adobe people about this file format that is included with the newest versions of Illustrator but was unable to find out much. Finally I found this great book.

This book begins with an overview and describes the justification and process of development of SVG. In chapter 2 it jumps right in and teaches the nuts and bolts of creating images with SVG. As I am not a coder or programmer, I was amazed at the simplicity. Once a few basics had been explained I was off and running. Anyone with even the most basic computer and a simple text editor can create sophisticated graphics.

Towards the end of the book is a section on using Adobe Illustrator and in the back there is a reference section for oddball color conversion. The book also comes with the Adobe Web Collection CD that includes the viewer and tryout versions of Illustrator and Photoshop.

I'm really excited by the potential of this technology and can recommend this book to anyone who wants to develop some expertise in a hurry.

Good Luck...Tom Burns

Teach Yourself SVG in 24 Hours, I believe, is one of the best computer books I've read. I am a computer savvy with 5 years experiences in programming and network administration as well as database management. Recently I am working on a project involving SVG.

This book walked you through a series of detailed tutorials to build a dynamic weather forecast web page using SVG step by step. In each chapter, a new topic is covered in an easy-to-understand and informative manner, which makes the learning curve pretty flat. As the title suggests, this book is an introductory primer to a new technique so it is not intented to delve too deep into a specific topic. However, a good many hyperlinks to W3C's online SVG specification appear here and there for your reference if you would like to make your hands dirtier...In a nutshelll, if you would like to teach yourself SVG from the beginning, it is The book, though it may, by a large chance, take you more than 24 hours to go through it.

Web developers and designers alike should have a full acquaintance with this exciting new technology. There aren't many resources yet available, and this book will prove to be a trailblazer.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is an XML implementation utilizing a markup language similar to HTML but created specifically to render and control graphics. It is a robust mix of technologies including the DOM, CSS, Xlink, XSLT and JavaScript, and using the Adobe® SVG Viewer (a free plug-in), it supports static and dynamic graphics and WAV or MP3 audio.

Web developers should learn SVG because it is open-source and built in a simple text editor. It gives complete control of each graphic element. Web designers should use SVG because it is powerful -- graphics packages such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Jasc Web Draw and others support SVG output. SVG also enables flash-like animation. In fact, SVG is THE open-source solution to web animation. No longer do you need expensive proprietary software to get the job done.

Anyway, this book is what you need. (That's how I learned all this.) Author Micah Laaker, while presenting the material in a comprehensive, straightforward and exciting manner, will leave an excellent reference guide on your book shelf. Buy it, read it and keep it handy.

This is one of the best training material I have used in a long time, use it along with the VPC images and you gain a wealth of information on MOSS 2007.

I can't say enough about this DVD and the service at PilotHouse. I had version1 and noticed some problems so they let me download version2 with updated videos and information.

This is the best learning tool for SharePoint I have seen. i also used the 2003 version, but this is even better.

This Computer-Based Training (CBT) is without a doubt the best course (live or e-Learning) I've ever taken. Complex processes are explained in a clear and easy to understand fashion. The extra materials are worth the price alone (i.e. the virtual PC image, the code samples, the PPT decks and user's manual). My company provided Microsoft training in-house but I got 10 times as much from this DVD in much less time. This course was so good I suffeered from seperation anexiety when Andre finished the training. DESPITE WHAT OTHER REVIEWERS SAY, DO NOT BUY THE "SharePoint 2007 Fundamentals: Interactive Training Course (DVD-ROM)" SINCE ALL OF THE MATERIAL (AND MORE) IS INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE.

This is the best CBT I've ever used.
Before stating it, I was completely new to SharePoint.
After completing a half of the course I became rather proficient in my current project (customizing Microsoft SLK --SharePoint Learning Kit).
.
I strongly suggest downloading a disk image with preinstalled SharePoint and MS Visual Studio2005 to be run inside of VirtualPC (there is a link to company's web site with that file).
Playing along with course material helped me a lot.
It's worth every penny.

The presentation covers from set up to detailed development of lists, eventhandlers, and work flow. There is a load of information in the presentation, the presentations are then followed up with demonstrations. The DVD has a lab manual that can be used as a walk through after the demos to do the same things yourself. The DVD also has sample code and various SDKs for information on Sharepoint. The price is woth the sample code in itsself. The presentation is split up in easily accessable segments to review and re watch the segments you need to use as a refresher.

now that scientists are plotting to put microchips in human beings, this novel is more salient and relevant than ever. i think this should be required reading for anyone who thinks of cloning, genetic engineering, and cybernetics as mere larks. the villian in the piece is a little too realistic, if you know what i mean. this is a very enjoyable book.

While reading Silicon Sunset by Scott Grusky, I was shocked and horrified by many of its plotlines. If Grusky's vision and completely logical premonitions come true, the world will be a living computer application-- complete with a KILLER APP.....

Grusky, a newcomer to the Sci-Fi book world, could quite possibly be one of the greatest writers our time. Deftly intelligent and with quick-witted humor, Grusky explores the darker side of the high-technology trends.

This book will win awards this year. ***** 5 Stars

This was a very enjoyable book about an unpleasant version of the near future. The book started off following the main characters for a few days, giving the reader a glimpse at their daily lives. Beginning with the second section, which goes back over the history that led up to this "dystopia", I found it very hard to put down. I would recommend the book highly, particularly if you have liked books like Neuromancer, by Scott Gibson.

I truly hope Scott Grusky's vision of the future does not come to pass. He gives us a little sugar with our medicine, though. The story is clever, entertaining, and often funny. It's a fascinating tale of where society might be headed (although I hope not).

Let me begin by saying that I am not normally a science fiction reader. I also don't know a tremendous amount about computers or cyberculture in general. Perhaps that is why I'm even more impressed by Grusky's Silicon Sunset. He does a truly bang-up job of exploring foreign/technical territory and making it absolutely fascinating. His mind-numbingly detailed world, which is set in the year 2077 when all humans have been implanted with networked computer chips, has a multitude of clever and compelling features. Even several days after finishing the book, I find myself still pondering various aspects of the storyline, and still reaping little insights that Grusky planted about where we are headed as a civilization. I strongly recommend this book to anyone that is tired of formulaic plots and conventional logic. Grusky is really onto something universal here, so Internet newbies should not be put off by the high-tech subject matter. I don't see Silicon Sunset as stu! ck in any genre. It is a gem of a read for anyone who loves to think and discover new truths about our world!

The best part about this resource is that it assumes nothing. It takes a complete novice and explains that RSS means really simple syndication. Then it goes into the value of having changing content, the need to choose an RSS that is not only compatible with your content, but will add ever-changing, relevant content. I am using the resource to be sure that I have an accurate understanding of what it is, who it helps, how it helps, when to use one, and how to subscribe to an RSS Feed.

Being a sometime web developer, it is important to keep up with the latest web technologies. If you have never heard of RSS or are not that familiar with it, I recommend this book as a great introduction to what RSS is, and how you might use it in a website.
It is not expensive, and is a good foundation in that it explains the basics of news feeders and how they are used, but doesn't go into a lot of technical/code information. In other words, if you want to code your own newsreader, find another book. On the other hand, the author does explain how to syndicate any item you want for RSS.

I just finished reading Ellen's book. For a year or more, I have seen webfeeds on some websites, and those little XML and RSS buttons showing up everywhere. For the life of me (and I'm pretty technosavvy), I just couldn't put it all in context. This book lays it out concisely and makes a compelling case that news and webfeeds are the next communication phenomenon, likely to be as ubiquitous as faxes and email.

I'm not always a "Dummies" fan, but this one rocks! My website will have a feed very soon and I'm already thinking of many ways to use this new technology in creative marketing efforts and to deliver content in a more useful way to our clients.

Colorado divorce and family mediator, Lawrence King, J.D.
Divorce Resolutions, Colorado Center for Divorce Mediation

I love this book, it has broaden my horizons. I didn't know anything abour rss until i read this book, I'm now well on my way. If you are looking for a book that will teach you the basics of rss and that will get you started on your rss project, this is the book. Because of the vast amount of information in this book, you will actually be more confident in any rss project you start, even if you are just looking to buy another book on a related topic. This is the perfect book to start working on syndicating websites and rss, or just to understand why it works.

I should be finished this book in about two days. It has been very helpful and specific and a vast improvement on some others in the Dummies series. Ellen Finkelsrtein has done a good job and crafted a good book. I particularly like the wayu she says: go to this web site and do this this, So I go to the webiste and bookmark ans I find it very valuable.
feedvalidator.org was one such site. I went and it complained soem of my taigs.com blog was not properly validated: litle things like a ">" i na closing tag omitted. So I fixed them. Without this book, they would still be broken. The little things add up in this game.

Another thing: she does not waste time explaining irrelevant basics. She sticks to her topic and does not squander time telling you how to install this, that or the other. She also divides up the programming bit from the take it and go bit. There is an acompanying site which gives you the code to write your own feeds. All in all, I concur with the earlier reviews and give it top marks.

I'm a prime candidate for using voice over Internet (VOIP), so it was with much interest that I dove into this book. The first few chapters are background information describing VOIP, how it works, and how it is different (and the same) as landline phone service. There is even a comparison of what you might pay in each case.

Since there are a myriad of choices in the VOIP universe I was glad to see a clear (and sometimes humorous) explanation as to what each offers. It helped me select which way to go for my own personal situation. Implementing the information from this book is saving me at least $10 a month initially and perhaps a lot more in the future.

Anyone wanting to adopt VOIP should read Talk is Cheap before deciding which (if any) provider to use.

Now that there are alternatives to using Ma Bell, people are switching (or contemplating it) to broadband phone services. Granted, those on dialup are still out of luck, but some of the services offered provide motivation to get a broadband account. With the proliferation of broadband phone companies, it gets confusing when trying to decide which service is the best, or which one offers the options you need most.

This book explains the services that broadband companies like VONAGE offer, as well as the ones that companies like Skype offer. It also explains (in the first chapter) how internet phones work, as well as an explanation how Voice Over IP works. I also liked the analogy about how innovation over the years has forced traditional phone companies however grudgingly to offer better service. It makes one wonder how they eventually will adapt to VOIP.

There's also a chapter devoted to features that you now pay for that you can get for free using an Internet phone (several of them are the various fees your phone company adds on to your bill), such as call waiting and forwarding. I find it interesting how the phone company manages to slip in various fees as a "cost of doing business."

911 service is also touched upon. Broadband phones will likely have complete 911 service within the next two years, whereas their computer-centric counterparts may not for a few years. It seems to be one drawback to using this type of technology, but one that will likely be ironed out the more popular this technology becomes.

This is a great "consumer guide" to Internet telephony, one that you should buy if you're considering the move to Internet phones.

This book happened to arrive on my doorstep while I was doing my own researching on switching my traditional phone service over to Broadband. I had a lot of questions, and this book does a good job of providing answers to many common questions and technical details behind making the switch.

The author goes into great detail on both telephone-type broadband service (Vonage, one of the author's favorites) and computer-based Softphone systems (Skype, for example). He explains various packages, benefits and technical details behind each. For example, I want to keep my traditional telephones since for some reason my 15-year old, as computer-savy as he is, seems to have this need to "grasp" onto a traditional telephone receiver. Thanks to this book, I now know how to hook-up those phones (directly to the router provided by the broadband provider) and how to make sure that I maintain my current coverage throughout the house (get a base station phone setup with remote stations). I also found out a lot about how the services that are available as they compare to my traditional phone company today, and some of the pitfalls as well -- Fax machines don't work with broadband service without an extra fee from most providers, and my ADT alarm system is going to need to be retrofitted.

If you are curious as to how broaband phones work (and also want a short, but good overview of how traditional phones work) the author starts the book off with going behind the scenes to explain the details. How does my call from my broadband phone reach my mother, who still believes that computers are those strange machines in the basements of banks and other big companies that manage to overcharge her, who still uses a service provided by Ma Bell? How can I live in Missouri, but have a number in Las Vegas? How can I go on a month-long vacation and still receive all my phone calls? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie-Roll pop? Ok, so maybe the author doesn't cover that last one.

About the only gripe I had with this book was the author does a lot of moaning about the traditional phone companies. I am no big fan either, but I still realize they are necessary and will be so for many, many years to come. I also would have liked to seen a little less emphasis given to just Vonage and Skype, though to be fair they are the major market players at this stage in the game.

A good read for those considering making the switch. It's written well and is it times humorous which makes for a very easy read.

With Internet Telephony gathering acceptance and converts daily many people are trying to figure out what service will work best for them and the differences between the various offerings. With a straight-forward analysis of Internet telephony as compared to traditional phone lines and the various options available, this book is well done and very informative. I happen to use one of the services mentioned in the book and found the author's review of it right on the mark. He provided an excellent discussion of the differences between a broadband phone-centric service and a computer-centric service as well as the offerings of specific vendors. If you are thinking about making the move to Internet telephony this book will provide you with sufficient background information to determine if it would be useful for your needs as well as how to shop intelligently for the appropriate product. Although the information also applies to small businesses this book is aimed squarely at the home market. Written in a very non-technical style Talk is Cheap is easy to read and understand and suggested for anyone interested in learning about the subject.

Want to say good-bye to your plain old telephone service with the high cost of taxes, add-on fees, and long-distance? Check out James E. Gaskin's book Talk Is Cheap - Switching To Internet Telephones (O'Reilly). I certainly learned quite a bit from this book...

Contents: How Internet Telephone Calls Work; Your Internet Phone; Free Internet Phone Features That You're Paying For Now; Choosing Your Internet Phone Equipment; Vonage And Other Broadband Phone Carriers; Skype And Other Computer-centric Services; 911, Alarms, And Other Outgoing Calls; Tips, Tricks, And Techniques For Advanced Users; Go Wireless; Index

As more and more people switch to broadband internet access, there's an emerging option for telephony services in the home. Using your internet connection (DSL or cable), you can switch to internet telephony, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and go all digital. Gaskin does an excellent job in explaining exactly what this is, how it works, and the pros and cons of switching to a service like this. He's a pretty strong advocate of VoIP, so you can pretty much figure out where his bias is going to lie.

The book focuses on two major types of internet telephony: phone-centric and computer-centric. In the phone-centric area (using your phone much like before, but only through an internet service) he uses Vonage as the primary example of what to expect. On the computer-centric side (no telephone, just headphones and speakers attached to your computer), he uses the Skype package as the leader in that area. In this growing technology area, it's impossible to write a book covering every option such that it won't be out of date before it's printed. To Gaskin's credit, he does a good job in covering the current playing field, as well as giving enough detail to figure in new options as they emerge.

Even though you can come away from a book like this thinking all is rosy, that's not quite the case. There are very well documented customer service issues with Vonage, and no player in the field is mature enough to get it right as often as Ma Bell does. Still, if you're an early adopter of technology, this is definitely an area you need to check out. And if you have no exposure to residential VoIP up until now, I'd recommend a copy of this book to get you up to speed quickly.

This is a good book. The design is very approachable, and the writing is quite readable - especially in an age when people would *like* to explore telework, but don't quite know where to begin. From Telework 101 to senior-exec-level concepts, it explains much of what today's teleworker - and even the at-home entrepreneur - needs to launch a fully-functional home office, without losing touch or professional stature with the corporate community.

This book is a "must-read" for all potential, as well as current, teleworkers. It is packed full of tips and techniques for both the telecommuter and his/her employer. From setting up your home office to communicating with others, this book covers it all. I will keep this as a ready-reference. I recommend that all "driven knowledge workers" do the same.

Michael Dziak's book is very thorough, and is a comprehensive guide on telecommuting. The check lists, forms, and practical tips are very usefull. This book offers so much for anyone operating a home office, it is a good investment even if they don't telecommute. I agree with other reviewers this is the desk companion or bible for telecommuters. I highly recommend it.

Telecommuting Success is a great tool for the telecommuter. It is very easy to read and understand and gives tips that will help ensure that if you become a telecommuter you will be allowed to stay one. It shows you how to be successful and get the recognition for your work that you deserve, even if you are out of the office a good portion of the time. This is key to a successful teleworking relationship.

I highly recommend this book for any business that has or is implementing a telework program and would make it required reading for all teleworkers in that program.

I recently reviewed a number of books on telecommuting and distance collaboration for a research center (...) and Dziak's book was the best I found on telecommuting.

While some other books dwell too much on details of home office setup (which this book does cover thoroughly in ch 4) Dziak is by far the most insightful about the real challenges of telecommuting, which are social issues of staying in touch. The book gives prescriptive advice in easily-digestable forms. Dziak is quite fond of top-10 lists, but manages to pack a lot of good content into this somewhat gimmicky format. My most-reference part of the book was his '10 Ways to stay on the corporate radar screen' (p. 181).

This book has a great html and cascading style sheet reference. This alone is worth the $$ the book costs.

This book covers it all, from Perl to ASP to XML and more! Has several very informative and often entertaining examples. I already used one example at work, with a little customization. If you're new to webdev or have been doing it for years, this book is packed with coding gems. A must have for any real web coder!

Bookviews by Alan Caruba, February 2002

Thinking about starting a web site business? Well, the single most complete and authoritative reference available is The Ultimate Web Developer's Sourcebook by Jessica Keyes ... and it runs over 780 pages, is two and a half inches thick, and worth every penny! The author is a noted authority on the science and business of technology and the book has contributions from more than thirty web development experts. It is a one-stop guide and reference that will enhance any existing site and help insure the success of a new one.

I'm pretty new at this business of creating web sites. I think I must have bought 100 books but none of then got me more than a few steps into the process. The Ultimate Web Developer's Sourcebook put me on the right path. I now have a good first site. I'm going to use the advanced portion of the book to provide me with the info I need to add a shopping cart and some animation to the site.

I think that this is a great book.

I looked through the Dummies and Idiots book on this subject but they didn't offer much. What I wanted was a book that could start me out as a novice and then grow with me when I started getting good at it. This is the only book I found that could do all of that.