Solaris 9 For Dummies

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Posted by timothy on Wednesday July 30, 2003 @05:45AM from the built-in-joke dept.

Spencerian writes with a review combining two things you might not expect in one volume: the "For Dummies" label and Sun Solaris. (Raise your hand if you've never, ever looked through a "For Dummies" book.) Read on for Spencerian's summary of Solaris 9 For Dummies, which he says is a good book for the Solaris newbies, but not for everyone. Solaris 9 For Dummies author Dave Taylor pages 354 publisher Wiley Publishing rating 8 reviewer Kevin Spencer ISBN 0764539698 summary A" ...For Dummies" book like Solaris 9 For Dummies will never make you popular with other geeks. However, if you are a Solaris admin, perhaps giving this book to your users might stop them from asking you the same questions over and over.

I'm pretty intimate with the ...For Dummies book formula. I worked at the company a few years ago. The ownership of the book series has changed a bit, as has its cover art, but the basic setup remains.

Solaris 9 For Dummies is, as with many ...For Dummies books, a starter guide and reference. This isn't a book for administrators, and says so. Solaris 9 For Dummies maintains the book series' reputation as strong general references for users who are thrust (sometimes unwillingly) into new or different technology and need the basics in getting around, fast.

Author Dave Taylor is no stranger to UNIX, having written several notable UNIX beginner, intermediate and advanced references on UNIX in general, including books on Red Hat Linux, Solaris, and Mac OS X. Solaris 9 For Dummies works for SPARC hardware as well as Intel-based hardware. More about Dave Taylor's work can be found at his web site, Intuitive.com.

The ...For Dummies series books are pure references. They aren't meant to be read from cover to cover, which gives the author an advantage by writing topics and chapters without a lot of preamble. The information is just shallow enough to understand but never trivial, giving readers typically only what they require. The typical cross-references and tips are available to guide you along. Chapters delve into topics you expect from discussing a UNIX such as Solaris, such as moving about the new GNOME interface (which will replace the old CDE interface over time), running the basic applications and utilities, and the like. In the traditional format of these books, Solaris 9 For Dummies comes with a tear-out cheat sheet. This cheat sheet gives readers a basic CDE and GNOME interface menu command tree to make it easily to find, say, the Empty Trash command.

The book's topics include details on:

File management
Making a decent password
Shells
Text editors
Using Writer and StarOffice
Internet, Web, and Mail access
Essential system administration

The author knows that UNIX isn't UNIX without a certain level of geekspeak, and so provides readers with a well-crafted introduction in the use of command lines and how they can be a Good Thing when using Solaris often for particular tasks. Many UNIX writers (especially developers) wrongly assume that anyone who uses a UNIX knows where and how to find or do what most might consider a routine task. In a ...For Dummies book, this thinking is not allowed, so the author adds enough background for you to get the gist, guides you on the essentials, and provides information that points you to find more complex answers elsewhere.

Solaris 9 For Dummies will not make your whites brighter, increase your personal intimate pleasure, or bring peace to the Middle East, and it's certainly not flashy. It's just a good book for the Solaris newbies, plain and simple. If you hack your kernel just for pleasure (gotta shave your palms regularly, I'm sure), you can be reasonably guaranteed this isn't the book for you. However, if you are an Solaris administrator and get plagued with user questions about basic tasks, maybe you should have your boss buy a few copies of Solaris 9 For Dummies for your users so you can continue your Quake3 fragfest uninterrupted.

You can purchase Solaris 9 For Dummies from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.

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Solaris 9 by sstory · 2003-07-30 05:55 · Score: 1, Troll

I would love to try Solaris on x86, but I don't know if a couple essential programs are available. Are there many companies which offer their products for x86 solaris? Mathematica, for instance, is essential. Though I've tried everything from BeOS to Mandrake to Win2k (my fave), I can't use an operating system which has a weak selection of apps.
GNAA! ( Score 5 : Infolmative ) by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 06:07 · Score: -1, Troll

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GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the fastest-growing GAY NIGGER community with THOUSANDS of members all over United States of America. You, too, can be a part of GNAA if you join today!

Why not? It's quick and easy - only 3 simple steps!
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Third, you need to join the official GNAA irc channel #GNAA on EFNet, and apply for membership.
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If you are having trouble locating #GNAA, the official GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA irc channel, you might be on a wrong irc network. The correct network is EFNet, and you can connect to irc.secsup.org or irc.isprime.com as one of the EFNet servers.
If you do not have an IRC client handy, you are free to use the GNAA Java IRC client by clicking here.

If you have mod points and would like to support GNAA, please moderate this post up.

This post brought to you by linuxfreak , a proud member of the GNAA

G_____________________________________naann_______ ________G N_____________________________nnnaa__nanaaa_______ ________A A____________________aanana__nannaa_nna_an________ ________Y A_____________annna_nnnnnan_aan_aa__na__aa________ ________* G____________nnaana_nnn__nn_aa__nn__na_anaann_MERI CA______N N___________ana__nn_an___an_aa_anaaannnanaa_______ ________I A___________aa__ana_nn___nn_nnnnaa___ana__________ ________G A__________nna__an__na___nn__nnn___SSOCIATION_of__ ________G G__________ana_naa__an___nnn______________________ ________E N__________ananan___nn___aan_IGGER________________ ________R A__________nnna____naa____________________________ ________S A________nnaa_____anan____________________________ ________* G________anaannana________________________________ ________A N________ananaannn_AY_____________________________ ________S A________ana____nn_________IRC-EFNET-#GNAA________ ________S A_______nn_____na_________________________________ ________O *_______aaaan_____________________________________ ________C Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam mollis, libero non facilisis vehicula, quam sem fermentum urna, at porttitor neque odio nec purus. Morbi felis. Mauris arcu turpis, dignissim sed, tristique sit amet, euismod ac, tellus. Pellentesque sit amet nulla. Vestibulum volutpat. Fusce viverra mattis orci. Phasellus sed ante. Vivamu
Re:Alternative by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 06:11 · Score: -1, Troll

ah there you go. you don't have a SIRHAXALOT COLLECT REFERRAL MONEY link for this book ready (you haven't read it), so you're posting your AMAZON BOOK REFERRAL LINK for a different book, also recommending it without reading it.
SHUT UP, SIR SPAMS-A-LOT!
c
Score +5, Informative by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 06:12 · Score: -1, Troll

GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the first organization which
gathers GAY NIGGERS from all over America and abroad for one common goal - being GAY NIGGERS.

Are you GAY [klerck.org]?
Are you a NIGGER [tux.org]?
Are you a GAY NIGGER [gay-sex-access.com]?

If you answered "Yes" to any of the above questions, then GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) might be exactly what you've been looking for!
Join GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) today, and enjoy all the benefits of being a full-time GNAA member.
GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the fastest-growing GAY NIGGER community with THOUSANDS of members all over United States of America. You, too, can be a part of GNAA if you join today!

Why not? It's quick and easy - only 3 simple steps!
First, you have to obtain a copy of GAY NIGGERS FROM OUTER SPACE THE MOVIE [imdb.com] and watch it.
Second, you need to succeed in posting a GNAA "first post" on slashdot.org [slashdot.org], a popular "news for trolls" website
Third, you need to join the official GNAA irc channel #GNAA on EFNet, and apply for membership.
Talk to one of the ops or any of the other members in the channel to sign up today!

If you are having trouble locating #GNAA, the official GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA irc channel, you might be on a wrong irc network. The correct network is EFNet, and you can connect to irc.secsup.org or irc.isprime.com as one of the EFNet servers.
If you do not have an IRC client handy, you are free to use the GNAA Java IRC client by clicking here [nero-online.org].

If you have mod points and would like to support GNAA, please moderate this post up.

This post brought to you by marehumper [horsexxx.com] , a proud member of the GNAA

G_____________________________________naann_______ ________G N_____________________________nnnaa__nanaaa_______ ________A A____________________aanana__nannaa_nna_an________ ________Y A_____________annna_nnnnnan_aan_aa__na__aa________ ________* G____________nnaana_nnn__nn_aa__nn__na_anaann_MERI CA______N N___________ana__nn_an___an_aa_anaaannnanaa_______ ________I A___________aa__ana_nn___nn_nnnnaa___ana__________ ________G A__________nna__an__na___nn__nnn___SSOCIATION_of__ ________G G__________ana_naa__an___nnn______________________ ________E N__________ananan___nn___aan_IGGER________________ ________R A__________nnna____naa____________________________ ________S A________nnaa_____anan____________________________ ________* G________anaannana________________________________ ________A N________ananaannn_AY_____________________________ ________S A________ana____nn_________IRC-EFNET-#GNAA________ ________S A_______nn_____na_________________________________ ________O *_______aaaan_____________________________________ ________C Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam mollis, libero non facilisis vehicula, quam sem fermentum urna, at porttitor neque odio nec purus. Morbi felis. Mauris arcu turpis, dignissim sed, tristique sit amet, euis
EVERYONE FAILS IT by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 06:20 · Score: -1, Troll

Quit posting these incredibly lame SCO jokes. I, for one, and entirely tired of reading them. Stuff can only go on so long and still remain funny. The fact that there are still 4 people with mod points willing to waste them does not mean you should post the joke. It is just shameless karma whoring now. One last time: QUIT!
Das GNAA hat one kiloploxien by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 06:20 · Score: -1, Troll

SO STOP MODDING US DOWN! WE WILL CRAPFLOOD FOREVER!
GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the first organization which
gathers GAY NIGGERS from all over America and abroad for one common goal - being GAY NIGGERS.

Are you GAY ?
Are you a NIGGER ?
Are you a GAY NIGGER ?

If you answered "Yes" to any of the above questions, then GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) might be exactly what you've been looking for!
Join GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) today, and enjoy all the benefits of being a full-time GNAA member.
GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the fastest-growing GAY NIGGER community with THOUSANDS of members all over United States of America. You, too, can be a part of GNAA if you join today!

Why not? It's quick and easy - only 3 simple steps!
First, you have to obtain a copy of GAY NIGGERS FROM OUTER SPACE THE MOVIE and watch it.
Second, you need to succeed in posting a GNAA "first post" on slashdot.org, a popular "news for trolls" website
Third, you need to join the official GNAA irc channel #GNAA on EFNet, and apply for membership.
Talk to one of the ops or any of the other members in the channel to sign up today!

If you are having trouble locating #GNAA, the official GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA irc channel, you might be on a wrong irc network. The correct network is EFNet, and you can connect to irc.secsup.org or irc.isprime.com as one of the EFNet servers.
If you do not have an IRC client handy, you are free to use the GNAA Java IRC client by clicking here.

If you have mod points and would like to support GNAA, please moderate this post up.

This post brought to you by Makudonarudo Hanbaagaa! , a proud member of the GNAA

G_____________________________________naann_______ ________G N_____________________________nnnaa__nanaaa_______ ________A A____________________aanana__nannaa_nna_an________ ________Y A_____________annna_nnnnnan_aan_aa__na__aa________ ________* G____________nnaana_nnn__nn_aa__nn__na_anaann_MERI CA______N N___________ana__nn_an___an_aa_anaaannnanaa_______ ________I A___________aa__ana_nn___nn_nnnnaa___ana__________ ________G A__________nna__an__na___nn__nnn___SSOCIATION_of__ ________G G__________ana_naa__an___nnn______________________ ________E N__________ananan___nn___aan_IGGER________________ ________R A__________nnna____naa____________________________ ________S A________nnaa_____anan____________________________ ________* G________anaannana________________________________ ________A N________ananaannn_AY_____________________________ ________S A________ana____nn_________IRC-EFNET-#GNAA________ ________S A_______nn_____na_________________________________ ________O *_______aaaan_____________________________________ ________C Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam mollis, libero non facilisis vehicula, quam sem fermentum urna, at porttitor neque odio nec purus. Morbi felis. Mauris arcu turpis, dignissim sed, tristique sit amet, euismod ac, tellus. Pellentesque sit amet nulla. Vestibulum volu
Score +5, Interesting by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 06:22 · Score: -1, Troll

GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the first organization which
gathers GAY NIGGERS from all over America and abroad for one common goal - being GAY NIGGERS.

Are you GAY [klerck.org]?
Are you a NIGGER [tux.org]?
Are you a GAY NIGGER [gay-sex-access.com]?

If you answered "Yes" to any of the above questions, then GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) might be exactly what you've been looking for!
Join GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) today, and enjoy all the benefits of being a full-time GNAA member.
GNAA (GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA) is the fastest-growing GAY NIGGER community with THOUSANDS of members all over United States of America. You, too, can be a part of GNAA if you join today!

Why not? It's quick and easy - only 3 simple steps!
First, you have to obtain a copy of GAY NIGGERS FROM OUTER SPACE THE MOVIE [imdb.com] and watch it.
Second, you need to succeed in posting a GNAA "first post" on slashdot.org [slashdot.org], a popular "news for trolls" website
Third, you need to join the official GNAA irc channel #GNAA on EFNet, and apply for membership.
Talk to one of the ops or any of the other members in the channel to sign up today!

If you are having trouble locating #GNAA, the official GAY NIGGER ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA irc channel, you might be on a wrong irc network. The correct network is EFNet, and you can connect to irc.secsup.org or irc.isprime.com as one of the EFNet servers.
If you do not have an IRC client handy, you are free to use the GNAA Java IRC client by clicking here [nero-online.org].

If you have mod points and would like to support GNAA, please moderate this post up.

This post brought to you by marehumper [horsexxx.com] , a proud member of the GNAA

G_____________________________________naann_______ ________G N_____________________________nnnaa__nanaaa_______ ________A A____________________aanana__nannaa_nna_an________ ________Y A_____________annna_nnnnnan_aan_aa__na__aa________ ________* G____________nnaana_nnn__nn_aa__nn__na_anaann_MERI CA______N N___________ana__nn_an___an_aa_anaaannnanaa_______ ________I A___________aa__ana_nn___nn_nnnnaa___ana__________ ________G A__________nna__an__na___nn__nnn___SSOCIATION_of__ ________G G__________ana_naa__an___nnn______________________ ________E N__________ananan___nn___aan_IGGER________________ ________R A__________nnna____naa____________________________ ________S A________nnaa_____anan____________________________ ________* G________anaannana________________________________ ________A N________ananaannn_AY_____________________________ ________S A________ana____nn_________IRC-EFNET-#GNAA________ ________S A_______nn_____na_________________________________ ________O *_______aaaan_____________________________________ ________C Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aliquam mollis, libero non facilisis vehicula, quam sem fermentum urna, at porttitor neque odio nec purus. Morbi felis. Mauris arcu turpis, dignissim sed, tristique sit amet, euis
Re:Other titles to boggle the mind by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 06:49 · Score: -1, Troll

I guess you didn't know that MAC is the official computer of the GNAA.
Re:Well of course by The+Bungi · 2003-07-30 07:00 · Score: 0, Troll

Some of the titles in my collection:

"Being Nice to Foriegners", a French government publication
"How To Be A Good Sport", by Tonya Harding (feat. Mike Tyson)
"How To Win The Super Bowl", by Jim Kelly
"The Engineer's Guide to Fashion", a ThinkGeek Book
"Easy to use Linux", by Theo de Raadt
"Corect Sppeling and Gramar in,, english", by The Slashdot Crew
"Business Ethics" by Ken Lay
"How to Tell the Truth" by Bill Clinton
"Successful Business Plans Using Linux", a Loki Games publication
"How to Write Software People Would Want to Buy" by Richard Stallman
"Successful Dictatorships", by Saddam Hussein
Re:Other titles to boggle the mind by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 07:06 · Score: -1, Troll

That's because those titles are redundant!
Sun officially on endangered species list by Ars-Fartsica · 2003-07-30 07:16 · Score: 1, Troll

Sun's latest revenues show a company cut off at the knees. The Sparc architecture is essentially dead in the eyes of the market. Solaris has little new adoption or new mindshare.
This company is in big trouble and trash-talking Scott McNealy's act is getting very old. Some advice:
1. Fire McNealy. Sun can never go forward while this dinosaur of the software wars is in the chair. Thanks for the memories Scott, but Sun lost the war.
2. Get out of the hardware business. Sun hardware is not coming back. Ever. Sell the maintainence business to IBM or HP.
3. Turn Sun into a software company focusing on Java. This means saying YES to Windows and Linux in a big way.
Re:Next From Wiley Publishing by cant_get_a_good_nick · 2003-07-30 07:27 · Score: 0, Troll
- the Federal Budget for Dummies
Does Bush have one of these?
- Nuclear Engineering for Dummies
For Bush, thats Nookyular Engineering for Dummies...