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Linux for the Rest of Us
The author uses many anecdotes and personal experiences which give the instruction a real-world feel and which also gives it a human element. I enjoyed the occasional tongue-in-cheek humor as well.
The book is very concise, written in a quick guide format, which I found more user-friendly than some of the larger, intimidating tomes available on the subject. The 108 pages are densely packed with information with step-by-step instructions on installing, formatting hard drives for dual boot use, using the bundled graphics and text editors, and configuring a Linux machine for use as a server. It includes essential elements in a quick reference format in the manner I would draw up my own cheat sheets.
I think the book would also make a great gift for new users. Its small size encourages browsing by people who may be hesitant about taking the plunge into Linux. It is a practical way for Linux fans to encourage others to try Linux.
There are a few shortcomings, but these are the exception rather than the rule. Initially I was a little dismayed that the author did not spend more time on the desktop environment and describing some more features of KDE/Gnome etc. I would have also liked for the author to help guide beginners with tips for other useful programs such as Evolution.
One of the strongest aspects of this book, aside from overtly doing new Linux users a huge favor by helping them along the tricky steps, is that the author includes a healthy dose of real-world experiences.
And real-world experiences are indeed included, as I slowly realized that although the author, Rais, was both very gentle and down to earth in tone and writing, his experiences with Linux and technology are significant. His subtle remarks throughout the book about how he helped set up Linux servers with colleagues almost hides the point that some of these servers were involved in serving content to staging servers for some high profile sites, including Netscape.com and aol.com.
I would have enjoyed some further anecdotes about the author's own experiences. He includes a number of useful tips from his experience, but as I read the section "Stories from the Field" I felt like the author probably had a lot more to share and only for sake of brevity did not include more.
Rais maintains a very helpful and encouraging tone, which is rare among users as experienced as he is. The author obviously knows Linux well and still walks the reader through the subject matter much as a mentor would.
The book is also a substantive reference of sorts, enabling easy lookup of critical line commands or troubleshooting errors. It's limited in scope in some areas, and few Linux experts would pick this up as a reference, but as a tool to encourage hesitant new users, it is beneficial.
Linux for the Rest of Us is convenient, easy to read, and inexpensive. Also, note that all proceeds (after tax and print costs) are to be donated to charity.
You can purchase Linux For the Rest of Us from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
"Also, note that all proceeds (after tax and print costs) are to be donated to charity."
It is nice that they are supporting Mandrake.
*ducks*
Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
I only identify two groups:
1) The entire world whole uses Windows, makes money, produces things, and participates in a capitalist commercial society.
2) Filthy stinky hippies who enjoy using some shitty alternative operating system who think they're sticking it to "the man" but really they're just fucking themselves since they can't get any work done. They spend more time editing obscure cfg files and it's a good thing, since they sure as fuck aren't running any apps. Other than the few bullshit ones written by some fat pimply hippy in his mother's basement.
So who is the "rest of us?" People who want to use an easy alternative OS and be able to do something productive with it, I guess. In which case they sure as fuck aren't using that smelly Linux. Linux is as filthy as a port-o-john can less documented. It's the world's public condom.
Congrats! A book just for you!