[748] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Opinions sought
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (glee.Cady@um.cc.umich.edu)
Wed Jul 15 18:41:53 1992
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1992 17:24:19 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: glee.Cady@um.cc.umich.edu
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
Please respond directly to Daniel Dern, address at end of file. Thanks,
Dana
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Daniel Dern is writing "The Internet Guide for New Users" for
McGraw-Hill; the book is intended to be available early in 1993.
Daniel would like to know what you think and asks that you
send him your thoughts and opinions.
He posted this message to another couple of lists and I append it
for possible distribution to PACS-L because the PACS-L community
always has interesting thoughts on these matters. Please send your
thoughts to Daniel, whose address is at the end of the posting,
or to me for passing on. Thanks to all of you.
/glee cady (glee.cady@um.cc.umich.edu)
_____________
From Daniel P. Dern:
_____________
This book is intended as a "Intro & Driver's Ed Manual" for new Internet
users who may not necessarily have ever used a computer or network
before, and who may not yet have end-user connectivity to the Internet.
(Yes, I'm aware of, and have copies of, SRI's "Getting Started," "Zen
and..," "Hitchhikers Guide...," and the NorthWestNet User Services IRG,"
not to mention Matrix, Tracey LaQuey's User Directory of Computer Networks,
and Frey's "!%@::")
Some things this book WILL (hopefully) do:
o Explain what the Internet is/isn't; what people do using the
Internet (types of users, communities, applications)
o Provide enough info to connect as an end user (terminal dial-
up, TCP/IP with PPP/SLIP & POP, etc); locating lists of
account and service providers
o Explain how to use basic TCP/IP services (telnet, ftp, email, etc)
o Explain/discuss emerging Internet resource discovery/use services
(archie, Gopher, KIS, WAIS, WWW, hypertext front ends to telnet/ftp)
o Give overview of Internet resources (libraries, databases, archives,
services, etc) and communities (education, library, research,
technical, etc)
o Include associated information such as 'netiquette,' security;
lists/pointers to further reading: books, magazines, newsgroups,
mailing lists; activities (conferences, shows, etc)
o Include some great pictures of the Internet toaster (and Lego loader),
CD-Player, and bicycle.
This book ISN'T intended to:
o Provide a list/directory of Internet resources
o Provide a comprehensive list of network contacts
o Act as a guide for connecting a site to the Internet
o Be a guide for system administrators or network operators
o Be sufficient for network application developers.
I'm particularly interested in thoughts, comments and suggestions
from members of the Internet community regarding:
* What DO (and don't) new users need to know? Want to do?
* What common mistakes and misunderstandings do new users suffer from?
What basics do SysAdmins, network operators, and folks at the NICs,
NOCs, NISCs and other information centers wish new users would know?
* What do you consider to be some of the key readings and resources for
the non-technical network novice (other than this book :-)?
I'd love to chat with sysadmins, users, trainers, net admins, and trainers
to get your thoughts. I anticipate quoting numerous people throughout the
book, giving explicit credit and references to where appropriate, and, if
I find the need to quote extensively from existing documents, obtain
appropriate permissions and other arrangements as needed.
FYI, I expect to be spinning off a number of magazine articles before,
during and after the writing of this book -- a sequel in Byte to my first
article, scheduled for Oct 92 and one much sooner in Mac Week, for example.
(As a self-employed full-time free-lance writer, I have to keep the $$
coming in.)
Please feel free to contact me by phone, e-mail, fax, snailmail or over
lunch, and feel free to redistribute this message. Information, opinions
and feedback from the Internet community will clearly make a big difference
in the value of the final product -- so I'd like to hear from you!
[ Versions of this message have also been posted to the usenet
alt.internet.services group and Bitnet NETTRAIN mailing list.]
Thanks!
Daniel P. Dern (also editor, Meckler's Internet World newsletter)
ddern@world.std.com
SnailMail: P.O. Box 309 Newton Center, MA 02159
Phone: 617-926-8743 until late July; new # t.b.d.
FAX 617-926-3048 " " " " " "
