The Internet for Dummies Quick Reference: Quick Reference (4th ed)

Big things come in small packages, and you won't find anything better than The Internet For Dummies Quick Reference, 4th Edition, your all-in-one, concise guide to what you need to know about the ever-expanding Internet. Here's the quick and easy way to make surfing the Internet fun (and profitable), with plain-speaking explanations to guide you through the intricacies of Internet life, from ASDL to ZIP files, and everything imaginable in between. The Internet For Dummies Quick Reference, 4th Edition, is designed for practical use, with a lay-flat, hands-free binding to keep this slim volume open to the page you want. A complete index and glossary take you straight to the information you're looking for, so you don't have to waste your precious time leafing through page after page of your old Internet books for answers. The Internet For Dummies Quick Reference, 4th Edition, is your fast-and-friendly way to navigate the Net.

Even if you're not a dummy, the sixth edition of The Internet for Dummies is one of the best user's guides to the Internet now available. Many so-called Internet books are nothing more than printed collections of Web addresses, but John Levine, Carol Baroudi, and Margaret Levine Young recognize that deciding to use the Internet involves financial commitments and computer-hardware decisions as much as it does looking at neat pictures. That said, don't expect to set up your own e-commerce site with this book, and don't expect to find step-by-step instructions for starting your computer. But do expect to get some good advice about picking an ISP (Internet Service Provider), protecting your privacy (and your kids), and connecting with Windows or a Mac. The authors also do an exceptional job of explaining such terms as PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) and what it is for, and they even talk about the old Unix shell account (with a Lynx text browser) for those not getting a PPP account. You'll find tips for optimizing your browser for speed, building your first Web page, managing e-mail, subscribing to mailing lists, and, yes, shopping. What is most impressive, however, is the balanced approach the authors take in evaluating Web sites (they do give some Web addresses), online services, and browser software. They offer the pros and cons and let you sort it out. They also include their own Web address so you can look for updates to the book and check on their latest favorites. --Patrick O'Kelley