Useless for hard-core developers, but ok for business and IT people wanting to consider new ways of doing business. The case studies will likely help people think up new business ideas. Written as if it was a collection of journalist articles in infoweek or similar. I read (skimmed) it in under an hour.

P2P is a very informative look at how peer to peer is being used, how it can be used, and who is involved (both startups and mega corps). The author, Hassan M. Fattah, has a very readable writing style. In short the book is a great peer-to-peer primer for business executives and business technologist. I highly recommend this book.

This book is very up to date with the latest information about P2P (i.e., HailStorm and Jxta). The book is geared at a business reader, but it cover the salient technical aspects of how peep to peer works. P2P covers some of the biggest uses of P2P technology. P2P covers the biggest uses of P2P technology in the form of peer-to-peer collaboration, applications-interaction systems, resource utilization, and supercomputing applications.

P2P introduces Napster and does mention Napster occasionally, but refreshingly the book does not center on Napster. P2P provides many real world examples of P2P in action. The business reader will find that many of the examples are being deployed in businesses to solve business problems. For example, a large law firm, Intel, CareScience and several other businesses are covered as P2P success stories. P2P does a great job of separating hype from reality (application operating today) and addressing the shortcomings and concerns facing P2P.

P2P does not argue for P2P for the sake of the technology, but as a solution to a specific business problem. Before I read this book I really did not consider P2P a viable business technology. After I read this book I realized the P2P can be a good match to some business problems and should be considered when searching for a solution.

One of the best books on the topics written in a manner to keep you interested.

Each chapter begins with a real life scenario, and after sometimes i couldn't wait to get to the next chapter. He gives a lot of examples of what companies are doing and what would the impact of their action be, to do this he gives some practical examples of how other people have dealt with their problems using P2P.

A book which presents technology in a non technical way, lets you see it from a manager's point of view. Even if you are a programmer like me i would recommend this book as it would let you see the whole idea of P2P in another very useful manner.

A must read.

The authors both are long-time consultants for Visa and it is very apparent in this book. The discussion of MasterCard, Discover, and American Express is limited. The treatment of various legal actions (Nabanco, US DOJ, WalMart, duality) is one sided. There is minimal study of the economics of the business from vantage points (consumer, merchant, acquirer, Issuer, co-branding partner, etc.) other than the card association.

It's clear from some of the statistical material prsented that Visa particpated in the book.

Ever see JAG? It's about a real portrayl of the Navy & Marine Corp as this is of the card industry.

I picked up this book because I have always been interested in the history of money and the power of gold as currency. If you are fascinated by the concept of money and how it makes the world go round, Paying With Plastic will whet your appetite.

To many a layperson, paper money has intrinsic value ostensibly because it is backed by gold. That, is furthest from the centre of gravity. Since Bretton Woods, paper money has not been backed by gold and has absolutely no value. The "value" of paper money is perceived and has "value" only because governments say so and because we believe in it. In fact, paper money forms only a very small portion of the money that is in circulation. These days, money is in the form of digits, bits and bytes - expressed as numbers in some computer harddisk.

Paying With Plastic explores a new form of money and how credit cards are the latest form of money - evolving from metal coins, bills of exchange, and paper money. The book traces the early and painful development of what was initially a clumsy mode of payment to what is today one of the most effecient, organised and widespread form of payment.

Paying With Plastic is the leading book of its kind - thorough, yet readable. If you are interested in the concept of money and how the credit card system works, then this book is for you.

The authors bring disciplined methodology to the study of "industrial development," using credit cards as a case study. The book is useful not just for its anecdotal review of how credit cards got started & how they are used; and not just for the wealth of statistics it provides on how card & other payment usage has changed over the years; but most importantly, by putting some structure around all that material so that we can understand it coherently. So many books on banking & on industrial development (like things by guru Tom Peters) are just so many anecdotes strung together for 100s of pages, with no "system" for understanding what's being talked about. This book's strength is that it provides the reader with a way of interpreting not only what's in the book but with a way of understanding the incessant new developments in the industry that we read about in the trade press every day. I recommend this book highly to anyone in banking or interested in what's going on in the payments system.

Foreigners contemplating a move to Mexico have yet another source of useful information, this one form the business community. Covering everything from clothing size conversions to house-hunting, the magazine-style publication "Relocating to Mexico" is produced by the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico and International Relocation Services.

The guide is intended to be a resource "for companies sending personnel to Mexico, retirees, students, entrepreneurs, cross-cultural trainers, relocation companies and anyone else who may be making a move to Mexico." says the forward.

The 84-page publication begins with a brief getting-acquainted chapter that attempts to warn foreigners that life in Mexico is going to be different. "It is important to arrive in Mexico with a clear and open mind about the land, people and culture. Mexico is not like the image normally depicted in Hollywood productions, " the authors write.

The guide offers an excellent reading list of 15 books for those who really want to comprehend the history and culture of Mexico. The second chapter deals with the technical and logistical aspects of moving to Mexico --visa applications, moving household goods, bringing a car to Mexico and even the family pet.

Other chapters include staying in contact (mail and telephone service, news sources, embassy contacts, Internet service providers); adapting to Mexican culture (the meals schedule, entertaining, business cutstoms,holidays, learning Spanish): the housing hut (rental agreements, prices); setting up your home (getting phone service, domestic help, bill paying; going places (car tax, traffic rules, public transportation, car theft); managing finances (exchange rates, banking, ATM safety tips); keeping healthy (water problems, air contaminants, preventative strategies, earthquakes), and taking care of the kids (schools, birthday parties, having a baby).

Each chapter includes a list of places to contact for services plus useful Websites. "Relocating to Mexico" is a supplement to the American Chamber of Commerce's "Guide to Mexico for Business."

The Colony Reporter, October 30-November 5, 1999

Don't drink the water. That's usually one of the first things people advise when you announce you're moving to Mexico City. Followed by 'don't take street cabs at night,' and 'don't eat food off the street.' One bad taco and a week-long battle with Moctezuma's revenge is usually enough to teach any foreigner a quick lesson on adaption to the varieties of Mexican cuisine, but what about the things like getting your FM-3 papers in order or figuring how to get your mail forwarded to you and actually receive it in Mexico? Questions ranging from the conversion of clothing sizes to how to get your dog across the border can be answered in the book "Relocating to Mexico," published by the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (Amcham/Mexico). There's something for everyone in this book - from retirees to professionals to students - the book provides information specific to Mexico that cannot be found in a regular tour guide, such as rental prices in different areas of the city, how to open a bank account and much more. "Relocating to Mexico" is a supplement to "The Guide to Mexico for Business" and was developed after it became apparent that there was a market for this book. Vacationing in Mexico and living here are experiences that are worlds apart. "The most important difference between this book and others similar to it, is that "Relocating to Mexico" was actually written by foreigners who are living in Mexico and have actually gone through the relocating experience", said Natasha Hirtzel, Subdirector of International Trade at Amcham/Mexico.

By Fayola Shakes, The News (Daily Newspaper in English), Mexico City

Ive been here for three years and I thought I knew everything

I have read three books on Online auctions so far ("Getting started in internet auctions"; "Confessions of an Internet Auction Junkie": and this book). I have to admit that I prefer "confessions over the other two. This book is good for someone thinking about or in the early stages of planning a Internet auction business.
The biggest draw back about all of the "Auction" books is the lack of information on how to structure the business. I really would like to know what to name a business such as this? What form of business is common...LLC, Inc., or what. I came away with a lot of questions. Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. It just left me wanting more. That's why I gave it three stars.

Here a book that can inform you on what you should do and the things you need to know in order to get your online auction business up and going

This book is mistitled. The title should read "How to Succeed at Life". I know that probably seems a stretch when we're talking an online auction book but it struck me that way. The author not only covers the static knowledge required to start up and maintain an online business, he also throws in some great philosophy while he's at it.

I had been wanting to make the pluge into online auctioning as a business for some time. I had even started selling and buying a few items online. That was good, because I knew enough to know what I needed to learn. I had stockpiled quite a few questions and the author hit them one by one. The book covers everything from the self examination all of us should take before we make commitments in life, to the nitty gritty details of the online auction process. The author then throws in some "outside the box" (I really hate that phrase) thoughts in his "Going Beyond Business as Usual" Chapter. Good stuff. The book has a very logical flow to it and the "Insider Tips" show the author has been there in the trenches. Call me polyanna, but I'm ready to charge.

I have enjoyed Mr. McCormack's earlier books very much. So I was surprised that I did not find this one very valuable. If you read many of my reviews, you know it is unusual for me to grade a book down to a 3 star rating. Let me explain why I did so in this case.

First, the title suggests that the book will provide lots of perspective on the Internet Age. Wrong! In fact, there is very little discussion of the Internet. And most of that discussion is in the introduction where Mr. McCormack points out that he doesn't even use a computer. He makes several self-revealing comments. "But let's say I'm a reluctant convert to the Internet gospel." "My only problem is that I don't understand what it will grow into." "I have the luxury of being in the sports business which, as far as I can tell, is one 'industry' that's immune to the Internet." In a few other cases he provides anecdotes from his business career about people overusing e-mail rather than talking to each other by telephone or face-to-face. As a result, he misses important questions. How can his agency develop more business by using the Internet in new ways? So, I think the title is very misleading. Anyone who wants to get practical advice for working with the Internet should avoid this book.

The second problem I saw was that I saw no important new material in the book. The principles are all covered in his earlier books. You get 90 principles described here in 2-4 pages. The examples are all from the author's business, so you get little sense of other businesses or perspectives that might be best practices. They also reflect a perspective that many may not share.

Here are some of the subjects:

Giving Yourself a Reality Check

Speed, the Defining Factor

Giving the Workplace a Reality Check

Office Politics

Acquiring a Power Base

Promotions, Demotions, and other Career Hiccups

Rules for Deal Makers

When You Are in Charge

Etiquette for the New Millennium

As you can see, this perspective focuses on the larger organization (the kind that fewer people work for these days) and someone who wants to climb up the organization (something that is less important than self-fulfillment and contribution to many).

The book is at its best when it argues for treating people well, being considerate as though one were dealing with one's neighbor in a small town. That advice is timeless. The book is also excellent in helping to unveil the sources of misconception that cause each of us to overestimate our performance and to misperceive what we need to be doing. I heartily approve of these messages.

If you have read Mark McCormack before, I recommend you skip this book. It will add almost nothing but occasional nuances to what you have learned from him already.

If you have not read him before, I suggest you read one of his earlier books instead. What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School is a classic.

In either case, I suggest you skip this one.

If you insist on reading this book, focus on parts one, three, six, seven and nine. They are the most helpful and appropriate for today.

Ask yourself after you read this book then "Who are the people who can provide relevant perspectives that are relevant for today?" Getting the right advice often means asking the right person.

This book is about career management and office politics. It contains a lot of straight-forward, down-to-earth tips for getting along with co-workers, bosses, and clients. This "Arli$$- agent's" clientele includes Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Venus and Serena Williams. What he offers is common sense as applied to a plethora of topics like goal setting, picking up the check, managing time, dealing with enemies, managing your work- just doing business in a "smart" way. Thinking of all those Olympic atheletes who will be returning to their respective countries to assimilate back into the work force, or pursue endorsements or dreams of gold in 2004, it seems to me another astute book about self-management is timely, especially coming from the chief executive of a sport and entertainment conglomerate like International Creative Management. It is a step up from his previous book, "What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School". Mr McCormack's book seeks to prepare readers for life in the fast lane, and for success. Interesting! A very interesting presentation.

The title just uses the buzzword "internet" to get your attention. It could have been called "career and business tips," which is basically what it is. McCormack's writing has gotten better since his earlier books, so I found this one good on that account. His tips have a bit more depth here, too. He mentions how his 2nd wife has helped him learn to "stop and smell the roses," and perhaps that's why this book seems less "combat"-like than some of his past books. Plus, his arrogance, that would bleed between the lines in past books was, thankfully, missing. (For example, in earlier books he said, "I made a lot of money at a young age, so I never resented others who did," not considering that perhaps some readers are young and broke, or old and broke, and might resent HIM. And also he said, "99% of people should work for someone else," which conveniently puts him in the elite 1%, and, never mind that through most of history, until the industrial revolution, most people were self-employed.) Anyway, this book is readable and helpful, with some tips I don't think I would have seen anywhere else. He does reuse anecdotes that he uses in other books, but I didnt' mind. If you want a general career-tips book, this is as good as any recent ones I've read recently.

This guide to web commerce will help you identify the different solutions available today and find a system that works best for your business. Learn to develop strategies for making your site successful, whether you're a large or small company.

It evaluates the leading solutions available today while the numerous case studies (including in-depth examinations of Horizon Tours and Cisco Systems) describe in detail what's required to set up the system, both from a cost and resource standpoint.

Web commerce is still in its infancy and companies are busy figuring out what makes sense for them. This book is for executives eager to understand business on the Internet and want to get started now, before your competitors steal a march on you.

Kate Maddox and Dana Blankenhorn are journalists with Advertising Age magazine.

This is really excellent for people really considering a business on the internet, it gives you details on encryption, statistics on where the web is going and how you can get in on a business and also the pitfalls of E-commerce

This book provides a wealth of information on Web Commerce. From links of successful web sites to contacts of the companies that are changing the digital business technology. This book is a must read for anybody who wants to know what's available and what can be done to do business on the Internet today. A well organized non technical book which covers all the aspects of Web Commerce.

Wireless Rules challenges the reader to consider the marketing and customer service strategies and applications of wireless connectivity. The authors demonstrate that, while relying on the backbone of the Internet, wireless commerce will permeate the consumer's life to a far greater degree than the Internet ever has. Newell and Newell-Lemon rely upon the theme that wireless commerce is "the world of anytime, anywhere."

As the authors reviewed the technologies behind wireless Internet access, it became clear that while significant technological advances have been made in the area, there are still a number of hurdles to overcome, including security, hardware limitations and legal enforceability of wireless transactions.

Wireless Rules touches on the important topic of wireless etiquette, which could also be described as using wireless technology to reach the customer without offending them or overburdening them. Rules, either formal or informal, will have to be adopted to facilitate wireless commerce, particularly advertising. The authors propose five "wireless location-based marketing rules."

Wireless Rules discusses, at length, the marketing and customer service possibilities of wireless technology. By virtue of a location-based connection to the consumer, marketing efforts can be tailored to that customer's physical surroundings and likely needs. This pervasiveness can also lead to technology being misapplied. For example, a customer may not respond positively to advertisements for life insurance while they are waiting for a delayed airline flight. The true power behind wireless commerce is its ability to provide marketing and response contemporaneously with the needs and desires of the consumer. Correct utilization, or rather the avoidance of incorrect utilization, of that ability will be critical.

Though the authors' information is now two years old, Wireless Rules demonstrates the sizeable lead that international firms and customers have in wireless technology over the United States market.

The premise of Wireless Rules is that wireless technology is coming and will have a tremendous impact on the relationship between business and consumers. The underlying rhetorical question is "Are you ready?"

I am involved in many aspects of the commercial and retail banking industry. The banking industry has explored the implications of wireless technology on its customer relationships. The paramount concern to the industry is the security aspects of wireless transmissions and transactions. Virtually all of the date that a financial institution could impart to the customer is subject to numerous state and federal laws regarding secrecy and confidentiality. Banks are concerned with the potential liability if customer data were intercepted and misused.

Coupled with security concerns are concerns for the necessity and profitability of wireless banking. A recent report by Celent Communications shows that bank customers demand for wireless banking services has significantly waned. Accordingly, financial institutions have decreased spending on wireless technology.

The banking industry has, to a degree, developed wireless capabilities. However, the availability of that technology will be limited until the marketplace demands it and the security issues can be solved.

Wireless Rules discusses the emerging application of wireless technology on financial institutions and their customers. Despite a spirited defense of the need for banks to go wireless, the premise relied upon by the authors, "[t]he customers (should) rule", has proven out the caution of the industry to exploit wireless technology.

The authors provide an interesting discussion of the difficulties arising out of establishing a payment system for the consummation of wireless transactions. This discussion is reminiscent of the challenges faced when the payment systems for stored value or "smart" cards was were established.

The message of Wireless Rules will resonate for the near future. As time passes, though, technology will develop and adapt to the needs of the marketplace. Unforeseen developments, whether economic, political or scientific, will continue to shape the development of wireless technology. I do not foresee Wireless Rules, at least in its current format, being a significant piece of marketing literature in five years.

That said, Wireless Rules does provide a contemporary insight into the commercial possibilities and potential pit falls of wireless technology facing American business. I would recommend this book to managers faced with long term strategic planning. IT professionals will find it self-gratifying, however I believe the practical significance of Wireless Rules is limited.

The ultimate 'holy grail' of the marketing world is 'anyone at anytime at anyplace. The authors, a consultant and academic (and also it appears father and daughter) refer to this phenomenon as "Madison Avenue meets Main Street out for a walk. Mobile commerce is their focus along with how to incorporate that opportunity into your corporate customer relationship management (CRM) campaign. The biggest challenge of this book and many of the new wireless books is that if you don't know the lingo you might be left out. No glossary is included although there is an extensive 'endnotes' section to see where they got the info from.
In 31 chapters they cover lots of ground from the future of marketing to advertising-on-the-go to retailer advice. They tell us that more than 1 billion web-enabled phones and PDAs (personal digital assistants will be in the use worldwide (300 million in the US, compared to about 120 million today). They cover examples in b2b(business to business) and in direct-to-consumer marketing. So many chapters, so many topics, if there is any criticism it is that they set out to cover it all. How does wireless fit into the new multi-channel approach to marketing, sales and advertising? What's the new business eco-system that is evolving? Would have loved to have had more of an overview in the beginning. Alas, also no photos or screenshots of the ads and alerts leave us wondering what wireless will look like. Talking about 3G without seeing a phone or a screen is challenging. They do a nice job. Good book to give you an overview. Read with a yellow marker in hand so you can underline what's relevant to your background/mandate. Good reference book. One of the earliest wireless marketing books out there. Would have loved to see a full CRM plan for sample business arenas is retail, franchises, hospitality etc to see how wireless fits into a complete customer relations program. They do mention many applications but are not always specific about what technology, service and integration is used to complete the wireless apps. Would be fascinated to see a review by someone not deeply entrenched in the wireless world. Kudos to the authors for covering the ground they did...

Just when you were starting to get comfortable with using the Internet as part of your business model, along comes wireless electronic communications to complicate matters! Much of what you learned about working with the Internet will not work with wireless electronic connections. For example, the amount of information the a screen holds is tiny. Also, a cellular telephone message can be more intrusive. Those who receive the messages can more easily be overwhelmed. And on the problems go.

Before you start to think that all of this will be something that others will have to deal with, think again! Wireless connectivity already reaches tens of millions of people in Europe, Japan, and the United States. The numbers will swell to hundreds of millions of people within five years. So, wireless communications for business will expand faster than the Internet did. Are you ready? Probably not.

This excellent book explains the likely shape of the new technologies, the practical problems that businesses will have, and how customers and consumers will probably react to the kinds of offerings that people routinely make on the Internet. In many cases, the reaction will be negative. Do you really want to get a discount offer for life insurance while traveling on a highway trying to make a plane?

Although no one knows what forms of business will work best on wireless devices (cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, and devices yet to be designed), whenever these are created there will be a tidal wave of opportunity for the early innovators that will make dot-com mania look small by comparison. This book won't answer that question either, but it will help you avoid making many of the worst mistakes as you conceptualize, design, test, and implement.

Clearly, business-to-business applications will work pretty well. Adding information to mobility will usually make it easier to do your job. On the other hand, it will be harder for business people to get away from serving their clients . . . unless they provide great ways for the clients to serve themselves.

The dicey part comes with consumers. Imagine getting hundreds of e-mails daily on your cellular phone, trying to sell you something you don't want, each one of which costs you money. The cellular carriers can make a bundle, but consumers will be steaming!

Clearly, the solution will be all kinds of more elaborate permission marketing that give consumers more flexibility about receiving and responding to communications. Etiquette and consideration will become more important, as will ease of interaction.

Anyone who works in a business or uses a cellular telephone will find this book valuable. Read it now to reap the best of the immediate future, or weep as you are victimized by these changes! The wireless business model is about to land like a 8000 pound gorilla on your wireless device!

After you finish this book, I suggest that you think about what tasks you can do better with wireless communications than in any other way . . . and how to make those communications pleasant and welcome for you and the recipients!

Get straight to the point that the hearer or viewer greatly cares about!

The Small Business Guide to the Internet: A Practical Guide to Going Online is the only book I've read that gives the a list of practical marketing ideas a business should use if it is to be successful online.

A sound guide to creating a strategy that keeps you in touch with your consumers in this fast-changing, new media environment. The fundamentals of advertising on the Internet are no different than other media. As a marketer, you need "reach" and "targeting" and Barratt's and Armstrong's guide will help you devise the strategy that suits you and your company's needs.

This book has a series of good thought provoking ideas, though in some places, it can be a bit repetitive.

While I think the book is trying not to limit its readers' imaginations, a few more example of where expert systems are or could be implemented would be useful. These example would lend more credibility to the ideas, since they would show that the systems that are vaguely described in the book could actually be implemented.

A must read for those that want to change the world using IT.

I am one of the lucky 10,000+ students who have been taught by Larry Smith in economics at the University of Waterloo. True to his intentions, this book inspires computer scientists to develop a new generation of software tools that will truly revolutionize the world we live in today, namely expert systems. The book does an excellent job at instilling ideas in the mind of the reader of new expert systems that ultimately will be created. Larry Smith has a good grasp on IT as well as economics, and is truly one of the industry's visionaries. Although it lacks in examples, like Prof. Smith said in class, the book is designed to get people thinking about these fantastic expert systems.

This book focused too much on "on-line banner". It also covered sucessful on-line brand which we are just too familiar. There isn't much effort in providing other example. The book appear to be more like a report for reader to understand what is happening on the interent today, rather than providing useful insight for reader to use in the near future. The tag line of "On-line Branding for Marketing Success" does not seem to fit.

It's good for readers who is not familiar with on-line marketing as this book offers very basic information.This is just another book about Branding via Internet.

As a business consultant and former internet executive , I found Branding.com to be well organized and well thought out. It presents the basics of internet branding and marketing in a manner that marketing managers, as well as non-marketing managers and executives, can utilize effectively. In addition to providing the basics, it does provide a variety of strategic directions that can help all firms that are interested in establishing their on-line brand. Overall, I'd rate this book as one that any manager involved with internet commerce should have on their bookshelf!