Possibilities - Introduction to PC Communications

Contact:   eSoft, Inc. (Makers of TBBS)
           15200 E. Girard Ave., Suite 3000
           Aurora, CO  80014
           (303) 699-6565      Voice
           (303) 699-6872      Fax
           (303) 699-8222      BBS
           support@esoft.com   E-Mail

INTRODUCTION TO PC COMMUNICATIONS
---------------------------------

*** From February 1992 Possibilities Newsletter ***
*** Copyright 1992 by eSoft, Inc.  All Rights Reserved ***

Introduction to PC Communications -- What's in Phil's Book?
By eSoft Staff

One of the most common questions we hear at eSoft goes like this -- "Where 
can I find a book that will tell me about modem communications?"  It has 
been tough to answer this question until now.  There are a number of books 
which discuss one or another of the technical aspects of PC communications, 
but these are usually aimed at the programmer or technical person and thus
they don't provide a good starting point.  The books which try to cover 
several areas of PC communications tend to either be surveys of the software 
and hardware available, or are so light that they don't explain the material 
well.

One reason for this is that there are very few people in the world who 
really understand how all these pieces work and go together.  We are lucky 
at eSoft to have such a person in Phil Becker and often take access to his 
vast knowledge base for granted.  Countless times an issue comes up, we ask 
Phil a question, get a quick answer, and continue without realizing how few 
people know the answer -- let alone have the years of experience necessary 
to access and use it quickly (and apparently effortlessly).  Phil has been 
in the computer business for 26 years.  This means he has been involved with 
computer communications almost as long as there have been computer 
communications and personally knew and worked with many of the pioneers who 
developed the techniques we use today.

Now at least a portion of his expertise has been placed in black and white 
in the form of QUE's "Introduction to PC Communications" (ISBN 0-88022-747-8 
$24.95).  Phil summarizes the reason he wrote this book in his foreword 
about as well as we can.  "When I began my computer career in 1966, I found 
the one area which even the most capable computer people feared was computer 
communications ... I discovered that it really wasn't as difficult as it is 
portrayed to be.

"The problem, it turns out, is that no one ever really quite tells you how 
computer communications work.  Often those who use computer communications 
every day don't themselves know how they work; they have just discovered 
enough about communications through trial and error to get by. ...

"I have created this book because of my desire to put in one place as much 
information as I can about how computer communications really works in terms 
that you can understand.  My goal with this book is to give you a 
fundamental understanding of computer communications of all types and also 
to acquaint you with the techniques and capabilities of this unique aspect 
of computing.  This book will enable you to gain access to the world of 
computer communications in a way that was previously only possible if you 
spent years surrounded by experts in the field. [It] will not only lead you 
to understand communications if you don't know anything about them, but it 
will stay with you as a reference work even if you become a programmer who 
works in the field of computer communications.

"Finding out how computer communications works is difficult at every level.  
I hope you will find this book will clear away much of the mystery ... and 
enable you to understand why I find [computer communications] to be the most 
exciting area of computing today."

The question that always arises when a technical person writes a book is 
"can I read it and understand it?"  With this book the answer is an 
unqualified YES!  Phil has written this book in a style that is very easy to 
read and understand.  He uses history to give a perspective to the 
technology that makes it easier to understand.  He also has resisted the 
engineers affliction of telling us too much detail at once and making things 
impossible to follow.  Boardwatch magazine gave this book its "highest 
recommendation" and if you have read that magazine you know that means the 
book can be read!

This book covers nearly every aspect of PC communications you will 
encounter.  It begins by explaining what serial communications is and what 
its hardware and software components are.  Along the way you will learn 
about file transfer protocols, UARTS, bits, bytes, and parity.  You will 
find shareware, freeware, and viruses described including the history behind 
them (the very first shareware screen in history is shown for example).

The book then moves on to describe electronic mail in all its forms, 
Commercial services, Bulletin Boards, FidoNet, and Internet.  Each chapter 
has a wealth of information you won't find anywhere else.  The chapter on 
running a BBS includes a stripped down version of Phil's popular "how to 
make money with a BBS" presentation.  It is brief compared to his seminars 
on the subject, but contains all of the essential points.

Ever wonder what your modem is doing when it makes all those tones during 
connection?  In one of our favorite scenes Phil manages to bring this 
process alive. You can actually visualize the modems measuring the echo 
delay times and adjusting themselves to the telephone lines.  You'll be able 
to amaze your friends with this explanation and as with so many areas of 
this book you can become not only an "instant expert" -- but one who really 
knows what V.25 means.

You can also learn about IBM's SNA, Digital's DECNET, and TCP/IP 
connections.  In each case you will learn not only the details, but Phil 
"tells the story" so you will develop that all important understanding at 
the "feeling" level that allows you to use the technology (instead of 
fighting it every inch of the way).

Programmers will be pleased with the discussion on how to program the IBM PC 
communications interrupts (complete with an immediately useable INT 14 
replacement program).  Everyone will benefit from the detailed modem 
troubleshooting flowchart that helps you debug your modem installation step 
by step.

There is much more to Phil's book, but you get the  point.  This 700 page 
book is a bargain at its list price of $24.95 and is available in bookstores 
everywhere.  eSoft is providing this book for $19.95 plus shipping.  In 
addition Phil has agreed to autograph the books eSoft sells as long as his 
hand can hold out.  We have already sold several hundred copies and he has 
autographed every one, so it looks like you can count on getting an 
autographed copy for quite a while yet.  We encourage you to drop by your 
local bookstore and examine Phil's book.  We think that everyone will feel 
more comfortable using and discussing PC communications after reading it.  
If so, then Phil has succeeded in his goal (and we think he has).

- END -
PS0292-5
Rev. 2/92

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
to distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any
interested party.  Any other use requires the written permission of
eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you
or your organization.

