 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Windows XP Comms Tools For the Bookshelf Major Keary |
 |
The XP Files carries a sub-title, Windows' Hidden Tools for Secure
Sharing, Communication, and Collaboration. Microsoft encourages people to use Windows Messenger and
leaves its other tools (such as NetMeeting and Phone Dialer) buried from sight. By default
users of Windows Messenger in Win XP are required to get a .NET Passport, which in turn provides a
trail of the user's activities.
If you are using WinXP and elect to stay with it for your communications, especially in a shared connection
environment, then I recommend you look at Guy Hart-Davis's book. It explains what the various tools
(NetMeeting, Phone Dialler, Outlook Express, HyperTerminal, and Messenger) do, and which is
preferred for particular tasks.
A chapter covers Internet connections and security; it discusses connection types (POTS, ISDN, wireless, and
so on), considerations in selection of an ISP, configuration issues, firewalls, and Internet Connection
Sharing. The descriptions of the various connection options are interesting and informative.
Establishing a digital identity and privacy protection takes up a chapter of some forty pages and includes a
substantial discussion of the downside of .NET, something that is well worth reading.
Other chapters cover the creation and management of free email accounts with Hotmail and the use of
Outlook Express; chat sessions (with a detailed comparison of NetMeeting and Messenger);
voice and video conference calls; file sharing; collaboration on online projects with other users; and
building online communities.
Most American books - with the exception of professional-level texts - misuse the term 'bandwidth', and this
title is no exception. However, for any WinXP user who wants to take advantage of its comms tools, maintain a
reasonable level of security, and avoid having information stored by Microsoft, this is a well presented and
comprehensive resource, and it is well priced.
| Guy Hart-Davis: The XP Files ISBN 0-07-222401-0 Published by Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 335 pp., RRP $46.95 incl. GST. |
 |
Reprinted from the June 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
   |