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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.
If Slashdot users are the "Rest of Us" who are the other Linux users?
I doubt Slashdot readers are the "Rest of Us". I would think Slashdotters might buy this book and give it to those poor souls who don't like Windows but don't know how to run anything else.
The book's philosophy is that Linux is a viable alternative OS that is also fun
When people ask me about Linux I tell them it's a great default OS for most of their work. It can be very easy.
"Well, I can play games on it like windows, right?"
"Yes, there are a few games available for it," I reply. "You can also play some Windows games under Wine, which is software that emulates parts of Windows."
"Is that easy?"
Uhm...
The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
NewToLinux - with excellent tutorials that guide you through the basics step by step
JustLinux - with forums to ask all those annoying questions, and again not get insulted
Though buying a book is usually also a good idea, especially for when you can't access the web ;)
Congrats! A book just for you!
There may be more non-linux users reading Slashdot than some posters think. I happen to really like the technology, free speech, open source, and other information and breeze through most of the Linux specific stuff because I don't use it. Not that I wouldn't like to but time commitments at work and other interests outside of work have pushed adopting linux to the back burner. Nonetheless I advocate for it and talk about it regularly with non-tech people. Which makes up most the American population. Anything that makes open source software more accessable to the general public is a good thing. Posting reviews like this one on slashdot gives people who don't think non-linux using non-technology oriented people are unevolved neadrethals more tools with which to educate, support and encourage linux adoption among the general public. So even if only a couple people get introduced to Linux because someone read the review and used the book to get them started that accomplishes more than 1000 flames about the stupidity of non-linux users.
I'm gonna have to disagree with the contention that there needs to be a focus on the desktops as opposed to the command stuff.
I've been using RH8 almost exclusively since I first installed it on my notebook six months ago, and I'm of the opinion that Gnome and KDE should be no problem at all for the new user who's even mildly technically inclined.
On the other hand, I sure as hell could have used some clear, concise info on basic command line stuff, as well as a basic introduction to common multimedia tools. Most of the n00b guides seem to spend half the book on installation, a few chapters jumping around the terminal (usually with not-immediately-clear examples), then the remainder on the desktops and the totally frickin obvious apps. I mean, if I couln't figure out how to use Netscape on my own, a new OS is probably a bit outta my league, innit?
Thank god for linuxnewbie.org....
hang brain.
Best to just give them a few CDs you burnt along with the book.