Rating: 
Summary: To basic for a prior windows user.
Review: This book has an oversimplified installation explanation(20pages), and then jumps right into KDE. I prefer GNOME so this book was a waste of money for me. I have been working towards switching to Linux for a few years, switching to a browser and office program available for both Windoz and Linux to simplify the transition, and playing with Linux on an old computer. I had hoped this book would help with the final step, but it didn't. Installation is a tedious process, even the "pros" don't get it right om the first try. I bought a new computer with Linux preinstalled, and it didn't work, and had to be reinstalled. A beginners book as this claims to be needs a thorough installation section, but less for the desktop which has many similarities to windoz.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and Easy to Follow
Review: This book takes the reader on a journey to that "other" operating system known as Linux. The one that is so seemingly mysterious and "geeky," except this book proves Linux is neither of those things and is in fact a wonderful and easy to use alternative to Windows. The book's beginning chapters do a lot to demystify Linux and along with a CD featuring a bootable Linux system, you're off and running in just a few minutes.And what fun it was for me to start playing around with Linux. Of course, I do have experience using UNIX so it was easier for me to get used to using it than some. But for those not used to using UNIX, the book's author makes learning about using Linux easy. There's an introduction to Linux followed by a chapter on how to acquire a copy of a Linux OS. Then comes the installation which actually is not as hard as I was previously led to believe. Subsequent chapters discuss getting familiar with your Linux desktop (customizing it, creating file directories, moving files around, etc) and also describing Konqueror, a kind of combination file manager and web browser. There's also information here about connecting to the Internet, email, net surfing, and also basic applications (word processors, spreadsheets, and graphics). I also enjoyed reading about how to play video or music files in Linux (good for when I might want to listen to some mp3's), and even discovering what games are out there for Linux users. Appendix B was near and dear to my heart, a list of shell commands, which reminded me of my days using the UNIX shell. Fun stuff. All in all, I found this book to be an excellent introduction to Linux and how to "convert" from the wild and wooly world of Windows over to it.
Rating:
Summary: If you were curious about linux....
Review: This is the best book for a newbie to linux or someone who is teaching a newbie how to use linux. The author gives a great overview of linux, different distros, and the most commonly used programs. The book is written with humor and without insulting anyones intelligence. He coveres a broad range of topics and gives enough information without overwhelming the reader. References are made to where a person can go to a web site to read more info on the particular topic. Try the CD, its great.
Rating:
Summary: If you were curious about linux....
Review: This is the best book for a newbie to linux or someone who is teaching a newbie how to use linux. The author gives a great overview of linux, different distros, and the most commonly used programs. The book is written with humor and without insulting anyones intelligence. He coveres a broad range of topics and gives enough information without overwhelming the reader. References are made to where a person can go to a web site to read more info on the particular topic. Try the CD, its great.
Rating:
Summary: It's Time to Try Linux with "Moving to Linux..."
Review: Yes, you can do in Linux what you do in Microsoft Windows and more. Marcel Gagne's latest book paves the way for Microsoft Windows users to make the transition to Linux. It is an excellent resource with tips on both Linux itself and applications that many people will use. The bootable "Knoppix" Linux CD included with the book, provides a comprehensive look of what Linux can do plus some applications that run on it. I have made the move from Microsoft Office to OpenOffice without looking back. Give Linux a try and keep Marcel Gagne's latest book near your desk.
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