Xref: utzoo comp.misc:3154 comp.std.misc:48 comp.mail.misc:1186 comp.mail.uucp:1667
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!pilchuck!amc!iconnect!mohsen
From: mohsen@iconnect.UUCP (Mohsen Banan)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.std.misc,comp.mail.misc,comp.mail.uucp
Subject: Re: Standardizing Email?
Keywords: Wouldn't it be nice
Message-ID: <107@iconnect.UUCP>
Date: 17 Aug 88 21:13:10 GMT
References: <788@vsi.UUCP> <145@chiron.UUCP>
Reply-To: mohsen@.UUCP (Mohsen Banan)
Distribution: comp
Organization: InterConnections Inc., Bellevue, Wa.
Lines: 45

In article <145@chiron.UUCP> jon@chiron.UUCP (Jon L. Griffeth) writes:
>
> ....
>The 1984 release is called the "Red Book".  The 1988 release, called the
>"Blue Book," is not currently available (or wasn't the last time I heard,
>which was about two months ago).  You shouldn't expect to see it until
>sometime next year.  A draft version is out, but only to selected groups.
>
>The "Blue Book" is MUCH more extensive than the "Red Book".  Also, the
>authors seem to have taken a perverse pleasure in making it as unreadable
>as possible (in my opinion).
>
>I had a lot of hope for X.400.  However, after hearing some comments 
>("X.400 is the SNA of electronic mail"), I'm no longer sure.
>
>Jon L. Griffeth
>jon@chiron.UUCP
>
>P.S.  If anyone can direct me towards a GOOD book on OSI, I would
>again be greatful.  OSI is the basis for an international networking
>standard.  Anyone wanting to learn about X.400 should learn this as
>well.

I have read a few books on the subject. My favorit is:

Standards for Open Systems Interconnection.
McGraw-Hill Book Company
ISBN 0-07-035119-8
Authors:
Keith G. Knightson
Terry Knowles
John Larmouth

In general my problems with many books on this subject is that
I don't trust them. 
Most often the best source is the IS standards themselves.
If you are just getting started, ISO7498 (X.200) is the best starting place.

My two cents about X.400:
It is real. It is here now. It addresses all of today's needs and some
of tomorrow's.
We'll see its wide spread use in the US in early 1990s.

P.S.
When are the Blue Books going to be ready?