This was originally published on August 5, 1995 

Teach Yourself UNIX in a Week is the daunting title of a recent book I read. The book is authored by the legendary Dave Taylor, the programmer behind the ELM electronic mail utility, so you know the content is at least technically correct. But can it really teach you UNIX in a week?

The answers is a qualified yes. Yes if you have enough time in each day to achieve your goal. The book weighs in at a hefty 710 pages of which 624 are part of your weekly lesson. That's almost 90 pages of text to read each day. Hmmm. If you need to learn UNIX in a week you can, but typically it will take about two weeks to go through the book. The subject matter is exhaustive and includes, but is not limited to, moving around the file system, ownership's and permissions, filters and piping, vi tutor, using your shell, job control, printing functions and even how to program in C with UNIX. Yes, there is a section on the Internet.

My original interest in the book spawned from the fact I am an MSDOS expert, but put me in front of my shell account's % sign and I turn to mush. After reading the book and spending a considerable amount of time in front of my shell I can truly say I have learned to master thy force called UNIX!

Dave Taylor spells out your course on the inside cover of the book. He breaks down each day and explains what you'll be working on. For the most part this outline is logical, but after reading through the book I would argue that the VI section should have been 300 pages <grin>.

The book is written for people who are comfortable around computers and have experience with MSDOS. I found it very reassuring that when demonstrating commands such as MV the author comments that UNIX doesn't have a RENAME command like MSDOS. The comparisons and contrasts to MSDOS helped me perceive the differences between the operating systems. Kudos!

Another neat tip of Dave's is to phonetically demonstrate how to say a command. You know a neophyte if they say M-K DIR instead of MakeDir. I found this to be particularly helpful in resolving technical issues with my service provider. I knew the lingo, so I could follow along!

At the end of each chapter the author provides a Lesson Summary where key terms are discussed and defined. This helps reinforce the previous chapter's terms. As well, there is also a set of questions testing your knowledge of what you have learned. Unlike other books that limit these questions to what was learned in the chapter, several of these test your accumulative knowledge! Super feature!

I must admit I was very biased when I first received the book for review. Many of these "in a week" books don't teach the subject material very well or even cover enough to warrant your attention. In this case Dave Taylor has hit the bullseye not only in content and presentation, but in delivery as well!

Teach Yourself UNIX in a Week by Dave Taylor Sams Publishing A Division of Prentice Hall 201 West 103rd Street Indianapolis, IN 46290 CompuServe: GO PHCP URL: http://mcp.com/sams/

Reviewed By: Missy Grote
Date: July 17, 2003 (Previously Published)
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: New Riders
Authors: Jakob Nielsen, Marie Tahir
Pages: 138
Retail Price: $39.99
Dot Journal Buy It Now Price: $27.99

I remember back in college I took a class that exposed us to many different websites and how they might be effective for our chosen professions. We actually had time to delve into websites that we've heard might be useful, and after checking the link out we would judge for ourselves if the site had information worthwhile enough to bookmark. Boy, was that fun! Since college, I haven't fully explored that many websites until I browsed through the book, Homepage Usability, 50 Websites Deconstructed. Quite frankly, I haven't had the time. That is one of the wonderful features of this book. You actually get to learn about the website without ever dialing in and waiting for the page to load! With this book you get to explore 50 homepages along with an inkling of the information contained within the site.

Ironically, this book Homepage Usability, 50 Websites Deconstructed, written by Jakob Nielsen & Marie Tahir, was not written with the intent of flooding the reader with bookmarks. Instead, the focus is on the looking at 50 popular homepages and analyzing how "user-friendly" they are. By dissecting 50 homepages with heavy traffic, the authors give tons of great examples that show how to create a home page that people will want to come back to.

The book begins by looking at general guidelines for creating a winning homepage. Just by reading through this section web designers will get practical suggestions for how to make sure their efforts are worthwhile. The next section gives a bunch of homepage design statistics, which may or may not impact your future design (or redesign). As designer you might want to know that it is highly recommended that you use white for your search box color and that you put your logo in the upper left corner. You may even want to heed the advice that you use only 5-15% of space on graphics. Just by looking at these recommendations you'll be able to take a lot of guesswork out of design process.

The next section is what I call the real meat and bones of the book, where 50 homepages are analyzed for their design and content. Along with the purpose and key site features, Nielsen & Tahir go in great depth looking at all of the design elements of the homepage along with possible suggestions for improving the overall user-friendliness.

Speaking of user-friendly, this book is tops! The book is beautifully organized & laid out with full-color pages and guide words on each page. You can easily look up a web page by the company name or the URL. There is also an appendix in back which includes some quick fingertip facts.

Just hearing that the authors typically charge $10,000 to review a company's homepage, you might quickly agree that this book is a bargain for $39.99. I think though, the biggest bargain you will receive by reading this book, is that afterwards you will have the knowledge on how to design a homepage with a winning 1st impression, and one that works. After all, you don't want users to come just once to your site, but instead frequent on a regular basis. Homepage Usability will show you how.

Reviewed By: Missy Grote
Date: July 19, 2003 (Previously Published)
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: Osborne Books
Authors: Paula Moreira & Robyn Thorpe
Pages: 256
Retail Price: $14.99
Dot Journal Buy It Now Price: $14.99

Most IT professionals are wonderful problem solvers and pride themselves on all the extent of their knowledge. Just look at all the letters that follow their names: MCSE CNE MCP CCNA & A+ are just a few. Despite all this technology know-how, anyone in the IT field knows that when looking for a job, showcasing all of one's knowledge and experience can be a challenge.

If you're one of these technical gurus & you're looking to broaden your horizons with a new job opportunity or if you're an up-and-coming wannabe, there's a book that might make your search more productive. ACE the IT Resume! is a book that will show you how to create a winning IT resume and get the job you want. Authors Paula Moreira & Robyn Thorpe covered not just how to write a successful resume, but cover letters as well. I always appreciate books that include actual samples of what the authors are talking about!

Even though there are a lot of job books out there this one is anything but generic. From the get-go, the book clearly states its goal to get you the job of your dreams. Since your resume often acts as the first contact with prospective employers, it is important that it contains enough information, worded in the right way, so that hiring managers will feel it will be worthwhile to give you a call. This book will guide you through the resume-writing process to do just that. There is even a section which discusses keywords that IT managers tend to look for. Just reviewing this section alone could broaden your prospects.

After you are finished writing your winning resume this book still proves to be an asset. I'm sort of dated because I favor sending resumes via snail mail. My logic is supported by wanting to make a good impression with the fancy resume paper and starched white envelopes that I have stockpiled. Looking over the section on e-mail etiquette I realized this venue is something I need to brush up on. Just think about it: someone can e-mail their resume to the actual hiring manager and have it arrive before they get in the office on Monday morning. I'm not throwing all my fancy paper away just yet (it's good for making paper airplanes too). In any event, this section will help you brush up on professional e-mail etiquette.

ACE the IT Resume! is a valuable resource for hi-tech job seekers. You will have the tools needed to create a winning resume to get you noticed. You will also get tips on how to find jobs online as well as a few suggestions for interviewing. Land the job of your dreams - this book will show you how.

Reviewed By: Patrick Grote
Date: February 4, 2004
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: O'Reilly Books
Authors: Paul Bausch
Pages: 302
Retail Price: $24.95
Dot Journal Buy It Now Price: $17.47

Ever bought anything from Amazon? It's like a mall online. It reminds me of the early days of the Internet when people tried to cobble together merchandise offerings and call it emall or ishopping or some other nonsense. Amazon has actually pulled off the mall experience online, but without the food court.

While no longer a simple shopping site, Amazon has grown to become the predominate shopping site on the Internet. Harnessing this power is as simple as a search, but there is more to it. Much more.

Amazon Hacks brings you a comprehensive look at how to get even more out of the Amazon experience. Starting with Browsing and Searching and ending with Web Services, the author touches on Your Information, Amazon Community, Selling on Amazon and the Associates program between.

The book is clever in that the hacks are presented in a wave that moves from simple to complex. Almost everyone will gain an education from the Browsing and Searching section, but very few will gain from the Amazon Web Services. That's ok, since the book does a great job explaining each hack even those who don't have the means to implement them will learn.

One of the confusing things you come across in books like this is their inability to tie the parts together. Presented as islands of information, it's hard to associate the topics in one cohesive manner. The author doesn't allow that to happen here. Sections refer to one another and tie back in the most unusual ways. Sometimes this works without you knowing it as the community and searching hacks demonstrate. How nice is it the book executes this without you even being aware of it?

If you sell on Amazon or through Amazon via their associates program, you'll be pleasantly surprised. The sections presented are competent and walk you through many aspects you may not know about. These include linking to items, creating banners ads, adding associate information to blog tools such as Moveable Type.

The final section focuses on the most advanced topic of using web services to interact with Amazon. Web services presented through Amazon's API are easy to understand with this book. So simple in fact that if you want to dabble, using XML and the steps in this book, make it a breeze.

Anyone who likes Amazon and wants to enrich their experience should purchase and read this book. Not only will you learn more about the super seller Amazon, but you'll enjoy your experience.

Help support Dot Journal by buying this book through Dot Journal Amazon . 

Reviewed By: Patrick Grote
Date: February 9, 2004
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: O'Reilly Books
Authors: Wei Meng Lee
Pages: 267
Retail Price: $24.95
Dot Journal Buy It Now Price: $17.47

Thinking about taking the jump into wireless networking? The first question is, "What's taken you so long?"

Wireless networking is growing in popularity not only for low cost, but the ease of use. No longer do you have to run cables between rooms or worry about how to configure your machines. It's pretty much plug and play. Or is it?

O'Reilly presents a wireless book that looks into adding the feature to your Windows XP computer. The author, Wei Meng Lee, does a masterful job of bringing you into the world of wireless gently, while ensuring you understand that basics of what it is you're doing. Many times a technical book glosses over the basics or waters it down to the point where it's bland. The author doesn't do that in this case.

The book begins by examining the advantages of moving to wireless. Beyond the obvious flexibility in networking, you gain an appreciation for the power of wireless networking. Others have described wireless networking as ubiquitous, but it's more ethereal. Once you have joined the wireless party your network connectivity can come from anywhere in the world.

After discussing the reasons to go wireless, the definitions start. By explaining the differences in the wireless methods, the author does a very good job. 802.11b, a, and g, infrared, Bluetooth, CDMA2000 and GPRS are all defined and explained so that the reader can understand appreciate them.

The meat of the book discusses actually adding wireless to your Windows XP machine. This is done in a balanced method where each protocol, service and driver is explained in terms you can understand. Rather than focusing on one vendor over another, the book looks at a range of vendors, which makes it even more valuable as a resource.

Had the book stopped here it would have been a success, but it ventures further. The author then discusses and explains the networking utilities of Windows XP and how they relate to wireless. These include VPN and firewalls, but more importantly remote desktop.

As a service of Windows XP, the remote desktop doesn't receive much attention from the technical population. That's too bad as remote desktop is a fantastic utility that can be used by people to remotely control other machines on a network.

If you're looking for a book that will help you understand wireless networking on Windows XP, this is it. After reading this book and putting your knowledge into action, you'll end up with a working, secure, functional wireless network.

Reviewed By: Patrick Grote
Date: February 23, 2004
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: O'Reilly Books
Authors: Cyrus Peikari and Anton Chuvakin
Pages: 531
Retail Price: $44.95
Dot Journal Buy It Now Price: $31.47

Security Warrior is O'Reilly is known for their all encompassing technical books. Typically they are adorned with pictures, engravings really, of animals. Sometimes offbeat, sometimes not, this book features a group of sumo wrestlers in intimidating poses. You know you're in for a good read when the book starts off by quoting a samurai warrior. And that is what this books does. It teaches you that the only way to protect yourself is to know your attacker. Through this you'll learn your vulnerabilities.

In the voluminous 513 pages you'll find that the book is broken down into 22 chapters. That may sound daunting, but it's not. The chapters are arranged logically and flow well. As an example, the beginning chapters deal with software followed by section on networks, platforms and then defense. This allows the reader to follow the natural progression of attack prevention. Very good idea.

There are two things that stand out when reading this book. First you don't just have the author's knowledge to draw upon. Each chapter ends with a list of references that typically have associated URLs. This is a fantastic idea for those who want to follow-up on certain aspects of the material. Using the references ensures that not only do you have the knowledge you need, but you have access to further, timely information.

The second thing that stands out is the book's use of two icons. Using a animal track to signify tips or notes and a bear trap to signify warnings, your eye is drawn to the information that is important.

The information is provided like I imagine the secret service trains its agents. You're walked through all the ins and outs of a would be hacker on your system. The chapter on overflow attacks really brings this to bear. Starting with a simple explanation of overflow attacks and how they occur, the chapter winds through an explanation of buffers, "smashing the stack" and heap overflows. Each topic is discussed as if you had a solid technical background, but need to understand the security aspects of issues. This is good, since many books like this talk down to you by using terms and ideas that only a PHD can understand.

Another great read is the section on honeypots. I understand the idea behind honeypots, but never knew all the uses for them. Simply stated a honeypot is a system designed and created to attack hackers. Think of it as a bear stalking the honey of bees. The bear is going to get that honey no matter what, but it provides an opportunity for you to watch and observe the bear. This is exactly what the system is designed to do. Allow you to watch and observe the hacker.

Rather than sitting on a simple definition, the authors demonstrate the honeypot process with a very simple, yet profound diagram. It really ties your understand together. They then continue to explain how to set up a honeypot system and what steps to take to ensure that you can watch the data as the hackers come.

Regardless of your level of technical knowledge, this book is one of a kind. Security Warrior gets your game face on with the ideas, explanations and tools needed to understand your enemy. It doesn't just pull back the sheets, it turns the bed upside down.

Reviewed By: Missy Grote
Date: July 4, 2004
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: Que
Author: Gareth Branwyn
Pages: 384
Retail Price: $18.95
Dot Journal Price: $13.27

Robots 101…. That is basically what you’ll find here in the new book, Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Building Robots, by Gareth Branwyn. The book actually reminds me of a High School class where before you get your feet wet, you first need to learn all the definitions. The book promises from the front cover that “no prior robot building experience is necessary.” That is exactly right! To emphasize this point, Branwyn will assume you know nothing about robots and will bring you up to speed with some robotic terminology. No small feat as a third of the book is focused on educating the reader about robots to increase their own comfort level on the often misunderstood subject matter. You’ll learn all about the history of robots and what we can expect in the future. Did any of you know that there is already robot “Olympics?”

If you’re serious about building robots as a new hobby I recommend not skipping over chapter four. Here is where you’ll learn everything about the anatomy of a robot and all the parts that comprise a robot including circuit boards, batteries, sensors, controllers and more.

The next section of the book is dedicated to the building of three hobby robots. You learn about the tools needed and how to set up your robot workshop. For each robot you will have a supply list comprised of fairly common household items. Branwyn then breaks it down step by step with great illustrations on how to build your robot. The pictures make the book. It sounds silly, but there is something oddly god-like about seeing something come alive.

The final section contains a plethora of resources to make your robot-building hobby even easier! You will find an assortment of places to buy supplies for your new hobby as well as where to buy kits that you can put together. Most stores have a web address as well as an 800 toll free number. Other resources include recommended books, magazines, websites, and clubs for the up-and-coming robot enthusiast. Hopefully this book will inspire you as realize how simple building robots can be!

Reviewed By: Missy Grote
Date: July 4, 2004
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: Sams
Author: Jennifer Fulton
Pages: 352
Retail Price: $19.99
Dot Journal Price: $13.99

Paint Shop Pro has been around for awhile now and it amazes me that 8 versions later JASC still brings out even more and better features into their popular graphics program. The only problem though for average users is learning all the new features without losing precious productivity time.

Paint Shop Pro 8 in a Snap is just like what the title says… it makes learning a SNAP! From the very first turn of the opening cover you will notice that information is easy to find. The inside flap is an invaluable tool with a “Contents at a Glance” spreadsheet where you can visually see the layout of the book separated by topics that are arranged by page number. You’ll love being able to open the flap and quickly see how to age a photograph on page 427 in section 142. A snap! Also paging through the book, you will also notice that information is literally at your fingertips. Sidebars include tips, notes, key terms, and further sections to look up regarding the page’s topic. The screenshots alone also add incredible value by showing you exactly what PSP 8 menu’s look like. (This alone will aid anyone who prefers pictures to words.)

For me, the best part of the book was found right in the middle where you will find a 16 page Color Gallery. This section is on the major terms and features in Paint Shop Pro 8. Here you will see what a picture will look like that has the color balanced automatically, as well as on one that is not. You will see what an old photograph that has been restored looks like. The Color Gallery also includes what chapter and section in the book you can find the explanation in, so that you can learn more.

Ever felt like a program was too big for you? Paint Shop Pro 8 in a Snap brings it all to you in a quick, easy and fun way! Within in moments you can double your productivity in Paint Shop Pro 8.

Reviewed By: Missy Grote
Date: July 4, 2004
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: Paraglyph Press
Authors: Joli Ballew and Jeff Duntemann
Pages: 320
Retail Price: $24.99
Dot Journal Price: $16.99

I think I’m not the only one who has felt frustrated with their PC. With even slower boot times and programs crashing more regularly, I catch myself paying more and more attention to the commercials advertising faster computers at a shrinking price. Why should I have to buy a new PC until I am ready? Until then, I have found a book that has made me feel confident that I can tweak it back into its impressive state when I first brought it home. Degunking Windows, by Joli Ballew and Jeff Duntemann was written with the intention of helping you, dear reader, degunk your PC and make it as fast and reliable as the day you got it.

The best thing about Degunking Windows is that even though delving into technical terms, it still manages to translate each step into plain English so that even computer novices can follow along. To help you not feel overwhelmed, degunking tasks are segregated depending on how much time you have available. From a quick 10 minutes to a half day revamp, your PC will hum smoother with each completed task. It starts by getting you the most results in the least amount of time.

The book adopts a 12 step process for degunking your PC. The first few chapters help to give you a better understanding about why you have to degunk in the first place. By looking this over you’ll be more aware of the warning signs to look for during normal PC usage. After this, you begin the nuts of bolts of starting to really dig into your PC. You’ll be walked through deleting files and programs that you no longer need, and get ideas on how to better organize your folders. I really liked the suggestion of not emptying the recycle bin right away after purging files and programs. Then after a certain time has passed, they suggest restarting all programs just to make sure you are not deleting a needed file; talk about a potential lifesaver. Tips for uncluttering your bloated desktop and systray are also included.

Degunking Windows covers all the critical topics you need to know about to increase your computer’s performance. From reducing spam and uncluttering your email to cleaning the complex registry, this book guides you through each degunking task without the technical jargon. I particularly liked the chapter dedicated to controlling spam where I learned some new information regarding the usefulness of obfuscating your email address! In addition, many free or close-to-free programs are discussed to help you in your degunking quest.

Reviewed By: Missy Grote
Date: July 4, 2004
Section: Book Reviews
Publisher: Que
Authors: Donna Williams with Michael Miller
Pages: 416
Retail Price: $19.99
Dot Journal Price: $13.99

Supposedly, businesses are tightening up on travel expenses nowadays, but that’s what they want you to think. The truth is business travel is still very much booming despite nationwide conference calls and live video feeds. Traditionally it used to be that salespeople were the only ones thought of as having to travel often. Now many professions require at least some travel, even if it’s just for a few weeks of out-of-town training. It’s a sure bet that even firefighters have some periodic travel.

If you find yourself doing any business traveling, you need a copy of the Business Travel Almanac. Published by Que and written by Donna Williams with Michael Miller, this is a comprehensive travel tool that is geared to assist the business traveler. An ideal travel companion while on the road, it also serves as an invaluable reference in your office before making travel arrangements. The book is written with the knowledge that business travelers are short on time and need useful information fast! You’ll appreciate the simple addition of having the categories in red bold letters. Your eyes seem to jump from one bit of useful information to the next.

The first section of the book dishes out a plethora of information on air travel, lodging, rental cars, Amtrak, and on the road business vendors. The Business Travel Almanac profiles 17 airlines, 78 hotel chains, and 13 rental car companies as well as dispensing useful travel tips. Don’t forget to check out page 144 where you can take heed of a list of prohibited and permitted travel items. There are hundreds of phone numbers, web sites, figures, and comparison charts to assist you quickly.

The remaining section of the book highlights 15 popular US cities with useful information for the business traveler. Along with maps and information on getting there, you’ll also get tips on getting around in the city. You’ll be directed to the best restaurants and hotels in the area and even let you know when rush hour is. The 15 cities are: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Las Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC.

Whether you’re a weary traveler or manage to travel only occasionally, you’ll definitely want to get a copy of the Business Travel Almanac. Fast facts are just a few page turns away!