Rating: 
Summary: Good direction, but bias will affect user experience
Review: A book *like* this has been needed for a long time. I think this book does a decent job of explaining things in a way that Windows users can understand. However, I fear that Gagne's obvious slant toward certain applications will negatively affect a newbie's experience with linux, thus bruising any notion of Linux's proliferation on the desktop. For (just one) example, Gagne pushes Konqueror pretty hard as an alternative web browser. Unfortunately, Konqueror, as supplied with Redhat 9 and Mandrake 9.1 (the two most popular desktop distributions in the US) is incapable of properly navigating some of the most used sites on the internet, like aol.com, parts of yahoo.com, cnn.com, and others. I'm an advanced Linux user who has moved several windows users to Linux, successfully, and I think Gagne might do well to stick to a more 'best of breed' approach in future editions and put his personal favorites aside. I'd love a book like this to give to people, but this one just doesn't make me reach for the wallet. It should be noted that I find this unfortunate, since I am otherwise a fan of Gagne's other books, and his regular magazine columns.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Book That Explains the Linux Basics
Review: After having taken an entire semester course in Unix/Linux, I was left desiring to know more. Unfortunately the course never covered dual booting, installation, ect. The teacher just said buy a book with a copy of linux and left it at that. Well most books I have found were targetting computer science majors or people who have a deep understanding of programming. I never felt confident enough to mess with my windows setup. I just needed a simple shot at installing the linux os and get it up and running so i could start using some of the shell programming and other topics covered in my course. Well this book seriously helps me out. It is a simple approach to get you up and running with linux, the missing link for me. I am very happy to have found this book!!! It is a great intro into the world of linux which doesnt skip the installation and go straight into administrative tasks and shell programming.... if you are in a similar situation get this book and you it will help you get on your feet and running linux.... if you already can install linux you should go on to more advanced books.
Rating:
Summary: Are you annoyed at times by Windows?
Review: Are you tired of Windows crashing all of the time? You have to admit that "Blue Screen of Death" is annoying to say the least. Are you looking for an inexpensive way to do all the things you're doing with Windows? Well... this book explains how to do it. This is the 'how-to' book for those interested in moving from Windows to Linux... and it's done in a simple, easy-to-read format. I'm sure that most could completely go from Windows to Linux in a few hours... the book is that easy to understand! It also includes a Knoppix CD... which is the easiest way to see how Linux works, while still using Windows. I absolutely loved this... I was able to see what I was getting into... instead of jumping in without a clue, and messing something up! This book is not for those that are familiar with Linux, though... it's written purely to explain how the Windows user can move to Linux without having issues, and what kind of programs exist in order to make the transition fairly seamless. If you want to move to Linux, or you've even thought about it, this is definitely a must-read book... you'll be hooked. :)
Rating:
Summary: Are you annoyed at times by Windows?
Review: Are you tired of Windows crashing all of the time? You have to admit that "Blue Screen of Death" is annoying to say the least. Are you looking for an inexpensive way to do all the things you're doing with Windows? Well... this book explains how to do it. This is the 'how-to' book for those interested in moving from Windows to Linux... and it's done in a simple, easy-to-read format. I'm sure that most could completely go from Windows to Linux in a few hours... the book is that easy to understand! It also includes a Knoppix CD... which is the easiest way to see how Linux works, while still using Windows. I absolutely loved this... I was able to see what I was getting into... instead of jumping in without a clue, and messing something up! This book is not for those that are familiar with Linux, though... it's written purely to explain how the Windows user can move to Linux without having issues, and what kind of programs exist in order to make the transition fairly seamless. If you want to move to Linux, or you've even thought about it, this is definitely a must-read book... you'll be hooked. :)
Rating:
Summary: Are you annoyed at times by Windows?
Review: Are you tired of Windows crashing all of the time? You have to admit that "Blue Screen of Death" is annoying to say the least. Are you looking for an inexpensive way to do all the things you're doing with Windows? Well... this book explains how to do it. This is the 'how-to' book for those interested in moving from Windows to Linux... and it's done in a simple, easy-to-read format. I'm sure that most could completely go from Windows to Linux in a few hours... the book is that easy to understand! It also includes a Knoppix CD... which is the easiest way to see how Linux works, while still using Windows. I absolutely loved this... I was able to see what I was getting into... instead of jumping in without a clue, and messing something up! This book is not for those that are familiar with Linux, though... it's written purely to explain how the Windows user can move to Linux without having issues, and what kind of programs exist in order to make the transition fairly seamless. If you want to move to Linux, or you've even thought about it, this is definitely a must-read book... you'll be hooked. :)
Rating: 
Summary: Linux is good
Review: I am an "advanced" computer user. Computer Nerd/Geek in other terms. Linux is usualy more customizable than Windows, if you have the knowledge.
Linux is getting easier to use every day.
Rating:
Summary: Moving is easy!
Review: I am not very "computer-literate" but know enough to realize that I don't want Microsoft to continue to run my system! A friend helped split our hard drive so that we could run and learn Linux while retaining Windows ME temporarily. I bought "Moving to Linux" to see if I could manipulate this much recommended operating system. Well, I can!! Gagne makes it easy and fun! His book has empowered me as a computer user and freed our computer from the tyranny and unreliability of Microsoft. (We now laugh at viruses on our e-mail!) I highly recommend Moving to Linux to anyone, expert or neophyte, who wants to learn more about the Linux operating system - in fact, I'm buying the book for my father and my nephew for Christmas!
Rating:
Summary: Moving is easy!
Review: I am not very "computer-literate" but know enough to realize that I don't want Microsoft to continue to run my system! A friend helped split our hard drive so that we could run and learn Linux while retaining Windows ME temporarily. I bought "Moving to Linux" to see if I could manipulate this much recommended operating system. Well, I can!! Gagne makes it easy and fun! His book has empowered me as a computer user and freed our computer from the tyranny and unreliability of Microsoft. (We now laugh at viruses on our e-mail!) I highly recommend Moving to Linux to anyone, expert or neophyte, who wants to learn more about the Linux operating system - in fact, I'm buying the book for my father and my nephew for Christmas!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I got the book since it's relatively recent and dealt with the SuSE9 linux distro. However, it was too general for me. It didn't help me deal with the failure of my monitor to display the GRUB loader for a dual boot, how to create a floppy-based version of GRUB loader, how to modify the menu to reflect a new software installation, how to test whether my SCSI devices were working, to mention only a few of the issues I faced installing SuSE. Any experienced Windows user doesn't need this book but for the less experienced it will hopefully encourage experimentation with Linux.
Rating: 
Summary: don't email author for help - you are on your own
Review: I was unable to get the "Knoppix" software to work with my dial-up modem(s), both of which other Linux distributions (Red Hat Fedora, SUSE Professional 9.0, etc.) had no problem finding. Sent author a email for help. Never heard back. Scrapped book and software. Have ordered "Moving from Windows to Linux" by Chuck Easttom.
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