Computers and Internet Books

Wow! For someone like me who could never get into technical articles and books about the Internet, Ralf Hirt's 8W8 Global Space Tribes is as refreshing as a cool breeze in Death Valley.

I found myself thinking I was one of the characters in the novel waking up in EA-RA and sitting down for breakfast wondering what new insights, digital or otherwise, waited to be revealed to me that day. It made me think what different ideas I might have come up with if I had been sitting down at the table with the Golden Skyers.

I read 8W8 on a flight from New York City to LA. I was doing the Okay Fellow trip in reverse. It was almost spooky as when I began looking down and trying to put myself in his position. I began wondering what it was that I was seeing. All of a sudden, I realized that I had always had a nagging feeling that what I had been seeing wasn't really what it appeared to be. By the time we circled in from the ocean into LAX, I had stopped thinking LA as a basin and, instead, I was seeing it as a huge mountain with a large base rising higher than Everest. I remember thinking it was a good thing that the pilot was back in Web 2, because we might have crashed right into that mountain.

Before 8W8, I had never understood the future of the Internet so clearly and what it meant to me personally or the world in particular.

R. Arnold

"8W8 Global Space Tribes" leads us trough a flattened pre-Columbian InterWorld which defines the next metamorphosis of the Internet Web 3, and perhaps beyond. Rather than following a convoluted trail through a multidimensional world, the writer brings us to one spot, a vortex where all aspects of our physical world come together; where each individual identifies her or himself as a member of a tribe. Members of these tribes can be living in the Amazon, the Urals or Nebraska, however, more than a common mindset knits these tribes together: they share a common weltanschauung.

Using the clever device of a helicopter (8W8 Heli), resources, markets and capital flow can be mapped like rain water forming rivulets; then streams, rivers and, ultimately oceans. For me as a businessperson and a fan of new technologies, this book has been awesome since it reveals what, hithertofore, had been invisible... the "Golden" flow.

Ralf Hirt's 8W8 Global Space Tribes goes beyond the concept of a flat
world, it draws the reader into a virtual "What if?" reality. What if
the Internet could be used to erase national borders and
ethno-cultural divides creating entirely new social systems... global
space tribes!

Taking a ride in Hirt's 8W8 Global Space Tribes' Helicopter is more
than experiencing the Web 3.0 envisioned by Tim Berners-Lee as "an
overlay of scalable vector graphics (with) everything rippling and
folding and looking misty:" it's entering a 5-D world where Time and
Space serve as connective tissue further compressing an already
flattened world.

Eschewing technical jargon that could alienate the average
non-techgeek, Hirt, instead, introduces the reader to 15 individuals
who call themselves the Golden Sky. They are an IT think tank composed
of international business people, lawyers, politicians,
environmentalists, a musician, a doctor and a philosopher, all of whom
share one thing in common--a futuristic vision of the future. They come
together on the Big Island of Hawaii, in the home of one of their
members, Winston Chee, an IT entrepreneur, for a week-long break out
in which they intend to focus on an IT conundrum: how to make the
invisible, visible.

The author cleverly uses the house, itself, as a living entity that,
in many ways, embodies many of the same elements as their quest.
Called EA-RA, it is a six-story mansion built into the side of a
mountain. It's exterior is a semicircular sheet of black glass infused
with golden fiber which faces south and stretches in a semicircle 180
degrees from east to west. The effect is that it not only catches the
sunrise but the setting sun as well, all the while reflecting the
sun's rays like a golden mirror. Unseen and undetected from outside is
the vast interior which encloses a self-sustaining environment
including a farm on its ground floor, the entire panoply and
requisites of a modern spa and convention center on the the five top
floors, all of which are hidden from view to the outside observer.

The hero of the piece is a San Francisco based IT journalist called
Oskar Kiernan Feller, or more commonly called by his friends, O.K.
Fellow. He is probably a manifestation of the author, himself,
conflicted and driven. It is O.K. Fellow whom we first meet as he sits
in an airplane flying from San Francisco to an IT conference in
Berlin. It is a trip he has made many times in the past, but on this
trip he is gripped with a sense of anxiety. He has flown millions of
miles without an incident, but his mind has made a calculation that at
some point there had to be a "statistical fluctuation" which might
result in...? He tries to stop thinking about it by repeating a mantra
silently to himself.

Ultimately, somewhere over St. Louis he experiences an existential
moment when he begins to question what he is seeing. That results in a
dialectical switch where, for a moment, he is watching himself trying
to find like-minded individuals among the houses and buildings below.
We are introduced to all the main characters in the first two
chapters. Except for their different vocations, they all share the
same uneasiness as O.K. Fellow. They want to see the unseen elements
of their world. For some, it's a search to find people as
themselves,for the others, it is to be able to see the actual flow of
elements into streams and rivers which make up what they call "Global
Space Tribes."

Eventually, they develop the concept of a virtual helicopter which
they imagine could hover above the earth with an instrument panel.
This tool could discern hidden values from single elements to
concentrations of elements, "mountains," as they eventually see them.

This is a fast and enjoyable read for both the lay reader as well as
the technophile.

Programmers working, or starting to work with Java on OpenVMS (Virtual Memory System) are certain to appreciate this excellent, hands-on tome on working with this language (complete with accompanying CD)--but as author Roland Hughes makes clear, interested programmers should first read his earlier book, The Minimum You Need to Know to Be an Open VMS Application Developer, since this book builds comprehensively on that one. A sequel (Volume 2)is in the wings. Hughes begins with an introduction that frames the basic reasons programmers are having to use JAVA in these applications and candidly lays out the major pitfalls programmers will encounter when applying JAVA to VMS. He focuses in particular on problems that C and C++ programmers have with JAVA, paying special attention to the momentum of the C and C++ mindset they bring to the table and the problems that can generate. For example, he points out that in JAVA, most things are classes--and while they may look similar in C and C++, they are not. He feels that many of these problems stem from the syntax and the origin of the language. Because Java was originally created as a pure OOP language used in imbedded systems (like the system in your microwave or VCR), almost everything in it is a class. Hughes makes it clear that in order to use JAVA successfully on Open VMS, you need to develop a Free Class Library, and reveals how to create JAVA classes with the Java Native Interface (JNI). Hughes provides a plethora of useful tips for transcending these difficulties, framed in a pragmatic approach that distains expensive shortcuts, and enables programmers to descend into the bowels of the applications with a knowledgeable voice at their elbow. The text contains many hand-on practical exercises that teach programmers to build applications while simultaneously constructing infrastructures, rewriting the same application with each new tool under review. At each step there are detailed explanations, examples and illustrations that allow the reader to move back and forth between the text and the application, providing a rich learning experience in working with JAVA on OpenVMS. Part of what makes the book especially valuable is Hughes' comprehensive candor about the flaws of JAVA when it is applied to OpenVMS. In addition to discussing the problems faced by C and C++ programmers as they try to change their mindset as they learn to work with JAVA, Hughes' explores a series of other challenges they are likely to encounter, including problems relating to case sensitivity and case sensitivity inside the compiler, plus problems resulting from the fact that JAVA is only a semi-interpreted language. While conveying much useful substance, the author also engages in lively, cogent (and sometimes humorous) commentary on what is driving the increased use of JAVA on Open VMS in contemporary IT culture. As he looks at not only the "how to," but he "why" of Java in these applications, it is clear that his sympathy is clearly with veteran C and C++ programmers and not IT management. A significant part of the problem, he feels, lies in the roots of the process and the way a great deal of IT business is being conducted not just with reference to JAVA, but with software projects in general. In recent years, many software projects have had a tendency to turn into monsters, destroying schedules and budgets, and raising programming costs late in the curve--a trend that does not serve IT goals well. As software budgets rise, management is desperately seeking "silver bullets," tools to cut costs while trying to achieve ever more challenging IT goals. But as Fred Brooks observed in his IT classic, The Mythical Man-month, the root of the problem is not just rising costs, but something inherent in the evolving nature of the information revolution. As the amount of data available rises faster than the ability to process it, programming tasks become ever more challenging. As a result, even as hardware costs are dropping, many software costs continue to rise. To cut costs, many projects start cheap, and are forced to add staff later when problems emerge. Unfortunately, the addition of people to a software project late in the process actually makes things worse. In a similar vein, Hughes suggests that IT management, by looking for a silver bullet, is ignoring the roots of the problem by only seeking short-term cost-cutting solutions. Silver bullets are often advertised, but do they really exist? Hughes clearly feels that in the end, quick fixes and short term cost cutting measures are penny wise and pound foolish. In the final section of the book, "Ruminations," Hughes engages in a colorful and educational rant about the state of the IT industry and the programmers that work in it, offering useful advice and insight that will be valued by novice and veteran programmers alike. Bravo, Mr. Hughes! Any IT professional using VMS should have this book on his/her shelf, and the "prequel" and sequel as well.

Stop right there. If you haven't read Roland Hughes' first book in this series, The Minimum You Need to Know to be an OpenVMS Application Developer you'll need to do so. Think of it as the prerequisite of a college course. Now, you are ready for the second book, The Minimum You Need to Know About Java on OpenVMS. Why two books? Java wasn't covered so thoroughly in the first. Believe me; you'll be glad you have both.

The concept of this book is "how to convert your existing core business application to use Java, yet still preserve your investment in the most stable platform on earth." In other words, Hughes shows programmers how to create all the tools you need to make Java a usable language on OpenVMS. Java is an object-oriented programming language somewhat similar to C and C++ but really very different. Hughes goes into great comparison. Java has classes, but has a unique class called an Array with no defined constructor. This means values can be stored anywhere and in no specific order. You're going to learn to build the tools you need to build the tools you want. Pretty simple, right?

As in the first book, Hughes uses the same application to demonstrate each new tool, in this book, using Java with FMS and RDB. He shows how to develop a generic class that will be usable by Indexed Files, also how to use JNI to access RMS, FMS, system services, and operating system provided libraries. Programmers learn to create an infrastructure MMS Procedure and how to use the supporting classes the procedure creates. Hughes also shows how to access RDB via the JDBC driver, demonstrating the importance of SQL. An accompanying CD-ROM contains the Class source.

This isn't just flat textbook reading though. Hughes uses humor and casual language to engage his readers. He comfortably refers to things like geek books and nerd attitude. He knows that this work is on the intense side of life. The information within the book is very professionally presented, with detailed analysis and explanations, troubleshooting and error experiencing tips, and exercise quizzes that test your knowledge. You have to know these things!

The final chapter examines the future of IT and the choices you make going into it. So you want to be a computer programmer huh? Are you sure? Don't listen to your guidance counselor without reading this book (and the first) first. Triple digit hourly rates, six figure salaries...maybe not. Downsizing, layoffs, feast or famine? Maybe so. When looking for sage advice on IT, go to the guru, Roland Hughes.

Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (8/07)

While Java has exploded in the world of the Web and high tech toys, "The Minimum You Need to Know about Java on OpenVMS," focuses on "converting existing core business applications to use Java, yet still preserving your investment on the most stable platform on earth." For maximum understanding and success, this book should be read as a companion to "The Minimum You Need to Know to be an OpenVMS Application Developer."

In true "tell it like it is" Hughes' fashion you realize early on in this book that the author is not a big fan of Java. To a seasoned C/ C++ user, the similarities and yet vast differences of Java and C++ can make it a cumbersome (if not extremely frustrating) language to work with. The good news is this is not a sugar-coated book on Java; Hughes confronts the biggest setbacks of working with Java and what you need to do to work through them.

"The Minimum You Need To Know about Java on OpenVMS" covers basic code for using RTL and SYS functions, tips and tools for accessing RMS indexed files, the why's and how's of interfacing with FMS, details (including code) on creating a sample application (Mega Zillionare, as used in "The Minimum You Need to Know to be an OpenVMS Application Developer"), as well as some additional knowledge transfer and insights from the author.

As with the first book in "The Minimum You Need to Know" series, "The Minimum You Need to Know about Java and OpenVMS" provides the reader with invaluable tips and tricks, includes a CD full of code, hands-on-programming exercises, and questions for review. The book reads as though you are being coached through the process of using Java on OpenVMS, as well as being provided with a few insights (and opinions!) along the way.

"The Minimum You Need to Know about Java on OpenVMS" is an essential tool for anyone tasked with using Java on OpenVMS.

Hands-on lessons, easy to follow, useful tips and introductions to the latest features. Not a lot of unnecessary (boring!) reading, just straightforward instructions and key explanations.

Once you've mastered the basics of Dreamweaver CS3 and web design, this is a great resource for taking the next step and designing more complex sites with richer content. Easy to use, very descriptive and comprehensive.

As a web developer who codes by hand, I wanted a quick intro to Dreamweaver for a client who insisted I use the software. I had worked with Noble in the past and knew the book would be my best bet. But I was surprised at how concise and efficient this book was. It exceeded my expectations and taught me so quickly that the time saved more than compensated for the hefty price tag.

This book starts out strong with 3 chapters fully devoted to creating a sample application using the Publishing API. While the code examples are copious they are (necessarily) somewhat redundant. The authors chose to create an administration tool as the most effective means of illustrating the Publishing API's capability. This was an effective technique in that it exposed the core of the API very quickly to the reader, as well as having the added benefit of communicating the purpose of the MCMS Server. If you are uncertain, as I was, on what problems Microsoft Content Management Server may or may not be the right solution for, this book will take you a long way towards understanding the product and its role in the platform.

After finishing the baseline administration tool, the book takes a refreshing detour on the topic of search engines. Rather than going into detail I will summarize this chapter by saying this, if you need a primer on the basics of Search Engine Optimization, give this chapter a shot. I think you will like it.

Next, the authors spend three chapters on SharePoint integration and configuration. If you are using SharePoint as a foundation for your product or the enabling technology for your internal portal, you should consider the benefits of integrating with MCMS or possibly using MCMS in lieu of SharePoint. My experiences with SharePoint have always reminded me of the end of a brewery tour; fraught with bloat. While SharePoint is remarkably feature-rich, it always seems that the average user either isn't interested in the features or is intimidated by them. The appealing aspect of MCMS, from my perspective, is that the Publishing API is designed to allow you to write your applications/sites your way (with some caveats), and still have the added benefit of a tool that handles the administrative duties (transactional document management). I quickly got the feeling that if my singular goal was to manage web content across any number of channels then MCMS was a nice lightweight alternative to SharePoint. In fact, I kept thinking about website design firms and wondering how a product like this could impact the efficiency of their business.

The refreshing thing to learn, for me at least, was that while MCMS can and does integrate with SharePoint, SharePoint is not required. In fact the book does a fine job of illustrating how to avoid using SharePoint altogether.

With SharePoint fully dealt with, the book moves on from that point to discuss the intricacies of the aforementioned caveats of implementing dynamic content, validating dynamic content, and staging static content as well. Also of note are chapters devoted to integrating InfoPath as an editing tool and integrating RSS feeds into yours site, all with full code samples.

All in all, this book was enjoyable. With the exception of the unavoidable SharePoint section, the book was devoted to MCMS development and as such had a lot of example code to sift through. As a testament to this book, I think you could read the code examples alone and get an introduction to the Publishing API. One disclaimer, the example applications in this book are intentionally straight forward. All the sample code is procedural in nature. Take it for what it is, a readable set of examples. This book is not intended to address issues of application design, and if you expect that you will be sorely disappointed.

If you've ever been involved with MCMS 2002, you will know the authors of this title, and the great work they do for the Content Management Server community. They are either Microsoft employees or MVPs and are recognised experts in CMS development.

This book is next in line after the title, "Building Websites with Microsoft Content Management Server". It delves deep into the more advanced development topics on the MCMS platform. To help you understand the topics and areas presented, there is an abundance of code which is essential. The best thing about the code examples is that they are not throw away HelloWorld demonstrations, but real life applications and uses of functionality that you will more than likely adapt to use in your own implementation. That's where the experience of the authors shines through.

As well as pure MCMS content, there are also a number of chapters dedicated to explaining and demonstrating Sharepoint integration points and searching (a major feature lacking from MCMS). For many company intranets, MCMS or Sharepoint are not enough on their own and must be combined to provide a complete solution. This book goes some way towards making the combination less painful.

My only (selfish) criticism of this book is the timing of its release. It would have been an awesome training tool when I was getting into MCMS development!! That aside, the examples given are still very relevant for development today and will offer even the seasoned developer new tricks, give them a deeper understanding of the APIs, and provoke new ideas and thoughts on what can be achieved. Chapters on RSS enabling your sites and integrating Infopath forms to web services in MCMS are two areas that probably wouldn't have been covered a few years ago, but are now hot topics.

The book also includes a number of "essential how-tos, tips and tricks" that are obviously taken from the authors' own experiences with MCMS customers. You too will have wondered how to do these things, and if you worked it out alone, would be cursing not having had this book in your collection at the time.

I consider this book, along with its predecessor, `must have' guides with material for anybody involved in MCMS development. You will definitely get a lot out of them.

This book offers a hands-on approach to learning MCMS topics that mimic real world problems. While most books and manuals focus on the ideal or typical scenario, this book explores how to deal with the tough scenarios where the product shortcomings need to be overcome by creative and innovative solutions. Definitive answers are provided to many of the tough questions that every developer asks when delving deep into MCMS. Working code samples make up a significant portion of the book and are extremely valuable in understanding the topics being explained.

A few chapters of the book focus on the integration of MCMS and SharePoint technologies which while being a failry popular topic in industry is not something that has been well documented until now. Integration of MCMS with SharePoint or RSS is viewed as a difficult task but has now been made significantly easier.

This book is meant for developers that want to push MCMS past the typical scenario and get the most out of the product. It is not meant to teach MCMS but to help developers familiar with the product to get to the next level of expertise.

I could review this book in one word: Indispensable! Abdul Alkalimat is a sociologist and pioneer in the development of Black Studies, currently serving as moderator of H-Afro-Am electronic discussion forum. Books about Internet resources can become outdated quickly as web sites move and administrators needlessly change directory naming protocols. But this book is so much more than a mere directory of useful sites that it will have a long shelf life. It provides extensive annotation and an interpretive framework for Black Studies, organized by major historical periods and themes. It includes a wealth of printed resources as well, making it valuable even to someone who rarely ventures online. No college or community library should be without it. And at this price, neither should any home bookshelf.

Dr. Alkalimat's book is that rare print guide to the Web which will endure even as the Web grows. Not only are the sites described and listed the richest and most stable, but the organization of the book will clarify your understanding of the African American experience in cyberspace and out. It has been so slow and frustrating to dig through search engines for the good stuff -- this book is near my computer for good. Should be near any family, school, university or community PC/Mac as well. A model approach for presenting the work of any population that is mistakenly understood as unplugged. And low priced too.

This book is OFF THE HOOK!

Everybody is online and uses Google.com or some other search engine but often a typical search gets mixed results. And you can't always count on the first ten selections taking you where you want to go.

THIS BOOK IS A ROAD MAP to resources in cyberspace that make up an entire curriculum for people in school or just anyone trying to become wise about the historical experiences of the Black community.

There is an organized table of contents and a detailed index, so its great for browsing or finding a specific site - checking things out in general or searching to answer a specific question.

Every Black Studies program should require all students to get this, and then use it for all their classes. We all go to the web for everything anyway, so we might as well all use the best road map to Black cyberspace.

It's a very useful resource for families too!

This book gives the reader a peak into real-world projects and reveals work flow and creative process. It's a lot of fun too. It should be called After Effects @ PLAY.

So easy to understand it should be called "After Effects @ Play" but seriously it's got info from 11 pro's in the Motion Graphics Industry and if you aren't a pro, then this book will help all you "youtubers" out there to post some pretty amazing stuff.
I just recently purchased this book and read it all and gave some of the projects a whirl. I'm a big user and fan of After Effects so I say this book deserves a 5 Star.

Interesting projects and great authors. This book is actually a collection of 12 authors who each wrote a chapter. The projects are varied and each of the authors has a different style and experience to bring to the tutorials. Even though the authors are different, the editing and design of the book allows the book to have a cohesive feel.

As someone who helped Curt edit his book, I have had countless opportunities to pore over the material. I learned so much from reading his arguments and hearing his stories in person.

"All Your Money Won't Another Minute Buy: Valuing Time as a Business Resource" gives an in-depth look at how tracking your time can make you more profitable. Simply put, keeping track of how time is spent allows you to better manage projects, make strategic business decisions, pay your employees, bill your customers and meet important federal regulations. There isn't a company out there that couldn't implement this simple method in order to increase profitability.

All Your Money Won't Another Minute Buy: Valuing Time as a Business Resource lives up to its title with a wealth of tips, tricks and techniques for business decision-makers to efficiently manage company time. From choosing the right time tracking software and negotiating with the appropriate vendors, to automating payroll and billing, to staying in step with government regulations and much more, All Your Money Won't Another Minute Buy walks the reader through solutions to time-wasting problems large and small. Highly recommended, especially for service organizations; since time is money, All Your Money Won't Another Minute Buy quite literally pays for itself.

"All Your Money Won't Another Minute Buy" is an excellent book for anyone responsible for managing people and projects. Curt Finch presents a compelling case for the importance of time tracking and choosing the right timekeeping software. After a lengthy search and lots of time spent with various vendors, our company selected Journyx Timesheet as a key component to our accounting services business. I wish this book was available when we went through the selection process--it is a great guide to analyze timekeeping requirements and vendor capabilities and has many case studies that demonstrate that time tracking will make your business more profitable.

I like reading AutoCAD books. I think Shumaker and Madsen are the best authors'. This book guides you through advance designing such as Technical drawings and other information for fast tips.

The one book you'll need to use AutoCAD-14 efficiantly.It makes the task, of learning one of the most difficult programs, manageable. It's the text most used at collage. Get it!!

Great for advanced students. Easy to understand with thousands of pictures to help guide you through your studies.

Awesome Internet Sites For Kids is a compilation of reviews on hundreds of the best websites for children ages 5 to 13. Compiled by Sandra Antoniani with the help of friends, this compendium of safe and appealing Internet resources can enable children to utilize their computers to learn, to expand their interests, and to have fun. Also included are important tips on accessing the Internet safely, responsibly and effectively. Special sections such as "Community Building" and "Save Our Planet" reinforce the importance of being a responsible global citizen. Enhanced with entertaining illustrations, fascinating facts, engaging questions, and useful activities, Awesome Internet Sites For Kids is a confidently recommended reference for any family seeking to safeguard their children from the hazards and depredations of the Internet, while assisting them to utilize and take full advantage of the wonderful resources available for homework, projects, sports, and hobbies, as well as communication with friends and family.

"Awesome Internet Sites for Kids" certainly lives up to its title. The nearly 300 kid-friendly websites surveyed by co-authors Sandra Antoniani, Robyn Rektor, Lisa Slage Robinson, and Fiona Rowan cover everything from animals to world cultures. Each entry, geared toward nine- to twelve-year-old readers, provides a pithy description of a particular site's contents and a helpful age-range indicator. (My sons have especially enjoyed the Jokes, Music, and Fun & Games sections.) Colorful illustrations by Terri Lee, along with "Did You Know?" and other sidebar features, make the book fun for all ages.

I don't know why anyone hasn't reviewed this book yet! My daughter received this book for her birthday a few weeks ago and she just loves it! I find this book to be very safe for my children to use. I don't have to worry about them going to an inappropriate site! Aside from all the fun sites, they find the information sites a great asset for their homework assignments. It helped my children to see that the Internet has so much more to offer than they were taking advantage of. I found some great sites for myself, too. This is definitely a great book for children to have! The little Smorkie guy is really cute, love the graphics!

I've lived on Long Island my entire life and didn't realize how much my daughter and I were missing out on. Thank you for giving us so many great ideas for fun family days. I will cherish this book and highly recommend it to all of my Long Island friends!!!!

This book is outstanding in every way!! It is so informative giving descriptons of events and activities on L.I. and NYC. It gives you internet listings, phone numbers, directions, costs etc.. When you are wondering what to do on your day off with the children....This is a MUST BOOK!!! You will love it, so will your children and you will be the coolest parent on your block!!

This is the greatest book ever. You may want to keep these phenomenal secrets to yourself. Now I'm the coolest parent on my block!!