Pournelle's PC Communications Bible 
The Ultimate Guide to Productivity with a Modem

Faced with a bewildering array of equipment and services, many users see
desktop communications as the final personal computing frontier. Now BYTE
magazine "Chaos Manor" columnist Jerry Pournelle takes the mystery out of
communicating with a modem in POURNELLE'S PC COMMUNICATIONS BIBLE, from
Microsoft Press.

Together with Windows Magazine contributing editor Michael Banks, Pournelle
shows readers how to get the most for their online time and money. Whether
it's looking up facts for a research project, conducting business with an
associate in another state, or enjoying a game of chess with an opponent
halfway around the world, going online has never been easier.

The book begins by ensuring that newcomers to the online world are
comfortable with the technology before they spend a dime on equipment. The
authors carefully explain basic telecommunications terminology and outline
the necessary hardware and software requirements for communicating using a
personal computer.

Next Pournelle and Banks tell readers what features to look for when
shopping for modems and communications software. They recommend the types
of equipment that work best, advise how to connect equipment properly, and
suggest where to turn when problems crop up.

Then, after they are up and running, Pournelle and Banks help readers
decide which online service is right for them--stock quotes and the latest
Hollywood gossip or sports scores and business news. The authors describe
more than 40 online services, highlight their strengths and weaknesses,
predict how much they'll cost to use, and offer a feature-by-feature
ranking.

Throughout the book, screen shots from many different services, helpful
comparison diagrams, and handy charts help readers make intelligent buying
decisions. "Pournelle's Picks" offer an insightful rating of favorite
modems, communications software packages, and online services. There's
even a section on international computer communications by experts Allan
Davidson and Akira Shinjo. A comprehensive index helps readers quickly
find information on any topic in the book.

Jerry Pournelle is perhaps best known to computer users as America's #1
computer user. His "Chaos Manor" column in BYTE and features in InfoWorld
have informed and entertained computer professionals and hobbyists since
before the small-computer revolution. Pournelle is also a noted
science-fiction writer and is the author of such works as The Mercenary
and A Spaceship for a King. He is also coauthor (with Larry Niven) of the
New York Times bestseller The Mote in God's Eye.

Michael A. Banks is a contributing editor of Windows Magazine, a
correspondent for Writer's Digest, and a columnist for Computer Shopper
and other magazines. He is also the author of more than two dozen novels
and nonfiction books and hundreds of short stories and magazine articles.

Microsoft Press is the book division of Microsoft Corporation and the
leading publisher of quality computer books on Microsoft products. More
than 10 million users of all skill levels rely on a complete line of
Microsoft Press books for training, reference, and on-the-job software
support. Tides ranging from streamlined tutorials for first-time computer
users to technical references for professional programmers are distributed
to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States
can also order directly from the publisher at 1-800-MSPRESS.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT') is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with
the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft Press, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399
206-882-8080

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