Dictionary of the Internet: Book and CD-ROM

On the Internet, nobody knows you're using reference books. Darrel Ince's Dictionary of the Internet will guide readers through the twisty passages of current jargon, slang, and technical terms with aplomb. The dictionary is thorough--over 4,000 entries cover commercial, recreational, and propeller-head (geek) language.

Acknowledging the weakness of ink-and-paper references in the digital age, the book comes with a CD-ROM containing all of the text, linked and ready for Web updates. "Checksum," "gossip architecture," and "Zen mail" all find homes here, and the appendices explaining Internet country codes, common emoticons, and standard chat abbreviations will be welcome by any networked computer. The information is scalable--newbies should get as much out of it as hardcore nerds, and the excellent cross-referencing makes it perfect for bootstrapping self-learners. --Rob Lightner