Rating: 
Summary: Just what I wanted, except . . .
Review: I was sure this book would be perfect for me. I've been watching Linux development for a few years, waiting for it to become "Ready for Prime Time". When I leafed through this book, and noticed it contained a full Fedora Core distribution, I decided that 35 bucks wasn't too much, after all.
The style is light, the writing excellent, the instructions clear and concises. All was wonderful, until my installation was nearing completion. I partitioned my hard drive, configured my boot loader, life was good! Then I reached the "Package Group Selection" screen.
Suddenly a box popped up with an error message: "You are trying to install on a machine which isn't supported by this release of Fedora Core". Now, my machine certainly isn't state-of-the-art. But it easily met the requirements cited in the book. Worse, this error message doesn't give enough information to identify the problem!
I went to the book's web site, but evidently the author isn't interested in feedback or problems--the web site doesn't have a contact page. The publisher's web site doesn't, either.
So, I just blew 35 bucks on a book that's useless because the software it gives details about doesn't work! I'm going to the Fedora home page, to try getting the regular version of the program. I don't know how much it varies from the "publisher's version". If it isn't TOO different, maybe i won't have wasted my money!
Rating: 
Summary: Getting Started with Linux
Review: I'm writing this on my notebook. My main desktop computer is sitting to my left infected with the CoolWebSearch virus or trojan or whatever it is, to the extent that it is useless. None of the virus/adware/whatever removal software touches it. www.Microsoft.com says that I have no critical updates available at this time. I've been thinking that I need to go down to the bookstore and buy a Linux distribution and blow away XP. When a virus becomes so strong that it kills its own host it too will die, maybe that will happen with CoolWebSearch.Anyway, I then found this book. In the first couple of pages it is describing who this book is for, and he says "people who have read or heard about Linux and are wondering whether or not they are ready to deal with it, perhaps being held back by the Linux-is-for-geeks stereotype." Then he says, "if you're looking for a power-user Linux book, try the next book on the shelf." Okay, he's talking directly to me, I don't want to be a geek, I just want to get some use out of my now useless computer. Then he says, the book "comes with a full Linux distribution on two CD's that includes more than enough software to" make the machine useful. What more could you ask? As soon as I hit enter I'm opening the CD envelope and moving over to the other machine.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for discovering Linux!!!
Review: I've bought several different Linux distributions in book/CD combos over the years. They all installed more or less automatically (which was great) but then I was left with wondering what to do with my new system. It was confusing--not knowing what the included programs did or how to find and install new ones, how to navigate the file system or configure hardware--that kind of stuff. I have several Microsoft certifications and know my way quite well around the Microsoft OS, but Linux was always too weird and didn't explain itself too well. I decided to try this one out based on the feedback here. I'm really glad I did.
The book proceeds in project format, from the installation and configuring the system to installing hardware and software and using the system. The tips along the way are great. Some of this information I might have discovered on my own maybe a year from now, but that's only if I made it that far without getting discouraged. And I was sort of worried that it might be too basic for my skillset. It wasn't. The book is easy to read, the information is relevant, and the projects are fun to do. And the information for installing RPM's, APT's, and tarball packages makes it well worth it all.
The only qualm I could possibly have is that it includes Fedora Core 1. Core 2 is out and Core 3 is in beta--but that's because the Fedora Project is all about frequent releases. I upgraded to Core 2 and continued on with the projects just fine.
I love my new system too. It looks awesome and it performs great and it's fun to discover new stuff to do with it. I'm not scared of Linux anymore.
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